The Hy-Score 800C “Target Model” air pistol is a U.S. designed air pistol that was manufactured by the Hy-Score Arms Company from 1948 to 1961. Although production ended in 1961, it was still available to purchase until about 1970.
The Hy-Score 800 Target model is a single shot air pistol of a concentric design piston and barrel. That is to say that the barrel runs through the piston all the way to the breech. Thus, rather than the piston moving forward in the usual conventional manner, the piston moves rearwards forcing the air towards the breech and then into the barrel. At the rear of the pistol is a knurled end cap. Turning this anti-clockwise causes the breech cover to open to allow a pellet to be dropped into the barrel. Turning the end cap clockwise causes the sliding breech seal to close. It’s quite a unique mechanism!
To cock the pistol, the release catch on the right-hand side is slid forwards. This releases the combined compression chamber from the grip. The pistol is then “pulled apart” using the grip and barrel which causes a lever to compress the mainspring until it locks against the sear. The pistol is then closed, pellet loaded and it is ready to fire.
There is no safety mechanism although the trigger is not connected to the sear until the two halves are closed together.
In all, there were three versions on the 800. The 800 “B”, “C” and “BB”. The B and C models were blued or chrome-plated respectively and were available in .177 or .22 rifled barrels. The BB, as you’ve probably guessed, is the BB model which was blued with a smoothbore barrel.
There were a variety of plastic or tenite grips fitted to the 800 including brown, walnut, petrified wood, ivory, onyx and mottled white. The most common being brown found on the blued pistols with ivory fitted to the chrome variants. Any models fitted with grips other than brown are very rare along with the chrome model.
Remarkably, this pistol is in incredible condition, shoots well and fits into the collection nicely!
Until next time, happy shooting!
Jimmie Dee
Hi Jimmie…would you happen to know if parts can be found for one of the core 800 pistols?
The only place I know that might have spares is jgairguns.biz
Ok thanks.
I have one of these But no instructions on how to use and maintaining the gun.
Mario-message me directly and I will find a way to send you copies og the paperwork that accompanied these pistols. Jeter
Found one in an old trailer..wondering what its worth
Delete my previous comment-I thought you were talking about a Hy-Score 700. The 800’s are far more common and range in value from $50.00 to $250.00 depending on condition and accouterments.
I was going to say that your valuation seemed very high for such a common air pistol.
“Twas the 1948 date that caught my eye, and my single-cell brain isn’t quite awake yet (no coffee).
Do you have a picture of the trigger spring placement? My Nephew jammed it up, and tried to “fix” it. Took the grip off, and the trigger spring is out, and I don’t know how it goes back in.
Does this help any? https://airgunwarriors.com/wp-content/uploads/wpforo/attachments/2311/8806-Hy-Score-Air-Pistol-Inside-Box-Charts.jpg
No Jimmie, I have the box with the picture similar to that. It shows the spring, but not how it fits into the trigger assembly, and the 2 sides are different length, that are not shown in the drawing. Mine is a 800 for .177, single shot.
I have an 800 B with the brown grip in .177 cal. The sear has worn down so it will not engage the catch on the piston. I’m not having any luck finding a replacement sear. It seems it would be easy to replace if I could find one. Any ideas?