Steyr LP10

Steyr LP 10 Silver
Steyr LP 10 Silver
Type	PCP air pistol
Place of origin	Austria
Service history
Used by	10 m air pistol shooters
Production history
Manufacturer	Steyr Sportwaffen GmbH
Produced	2000 -
Variants	LP 10 E
Specifications
Weight	0.968 kg (2.13 lb) (empty weight, without barrel weights) 1.06 kg (2.34 lb) (total weight, with filled cylinder)
Length	400 mm (15.75 in)
Barrel length	227 mm (8.94 in)
Width	50 mm (1.97 in)
Height	142 mm (5.6 in)
Cartridge	4.5 mm (0.177 in) diabolo air gun pellets
Action	Pre-Charged Pneumatic
Muzzle velocity	160 m/s approximately (adjustable)
Feed system	single air gun pellet
Sights	open, fully adjustable

The Steyr LP 10 is a single shot 4.5 mm (0.177 in) calibre pre-charged pneumatic air pistol designed for the 10 metre air pistol ISSF shooting events. It is manufactured by Steyr Sportwaffen GmbH of Austria.

To promote comfortable and accurate shooting from a standing position match air pistols must have fast lock times, shoot practically recoilless and vibration free and exhibit minimal movement and balance shifts during discharge. The pistol must also be able to be tailored by adjustable user interfaces and various accessories to individual shooters personal preferences. Combined with appropriate match pellets the pistol has to produce a consistent 10 ring performance, so a non maximal result during the initial phase can be attributed to the participant.

After its introduction in 2000 the LP 10 has proven to be a competitive match air pistol. It was used by top competition shooters to achieve the current (2009) 10 metre air pistol world record and win all the gold medals in the men's and women's 2012 Summer Olympics, 2010 ISSF World Shooting Championships, 2008 Summer Olympics, 2006 ISSF World Shooting Championships, 2004 Summer Olympics and 2002 ISSF World Shooting Championships. In ISSF World Cup events competitors equipped with LP 10s also won multiple medals.

The pistol uses dehumidified compressed air as propellant for the diabolo air gun pellets. This is stored in compressed-air cylinders that have a maximum filling pressure of 200 bar and built-in pressure gauges that indicate the current pressure level in the cylinder. The air for actual shooting is drawn from the compressed-air storage cylinder and reduced by a reduction valve to the pistols working pressure of about 55 bar. According to Steyr their compressed-air cylinders have a storage capacity for about 180 shots.