Hammerli 280
- Category
- Pistol
- Barrel
- 117 mm
- Weight, empty
- 992 g
- Introduced
- 1988
About
What it is, and why it matters
The Hammerli 280 is a Swiss semi-automatic target pistol chambered in .22 Long Rifle, introduced in 1988 by Hämmerli AG of Lenzburg. Designed for ISSF sport-pistol and rapid-fire disciplines, it was the first match pistol built around a carbon-fibre frame, giving a light, rigid platform with a modular, fully adjustable trigger, sights and anatomical grip. A .32 S&W Long Wadcutter version was offered for centrefire events.
When it arrived in 1988, the 280 was celebrated as the first competition handgun to use a carbon-fibre frame, a technology borrowed from motorsport and aerospace that later became commonplace in high-end target pistols.
The 280 was notable for pioneering carbon-fibre frame construction in a competition handgun. Its blued steel barrel and receiver assembly sat on the composite frame, with a stippled walnut grip featuring an adjustable palm shelf. The trigger is adjustable for pull weight, take-up, let-off and creep.
Specification
Everything measured
IdentityWhat it is, who built it and when.
- Manufacturer
- Hämmerli
- Category
- Pistol
- Country
- Switzerland
- Status
- Discontinued
- Produced
- 1988 to 2000
DimensionsAs issued, without a magazine or an optic.
- Barrel
- 117 mm
- Overall length
- 300 mm
- Sight radius
- 221 mm
- Weight, empty
- 992 g
ActionHow it cycles, what trips it, and what feeds it.
- Action
- Blowback
- Firing mechanism
- Hammer fired
- Trigger
- Single action
- Trigger pull
- 10.0 N
- Capacity
- 5
- Magazine
- Detachable box
MaterialsEach swatch is the material itself, not a colour chosen to stand for it.
- Frame
- Carbon fiber
- Slide
- Steel
- Barrel
- Steel
- Stock
- Walnut
- Finish
- Blued
BallisticsFrom the service cartridge, not a handload.
- Muzzle velocity
- 330 m/s
- Muzzle energy
- 141 J
- Effective range
- 50 m
Trajectory
What the round does downrange
Solved from the muzzle figures and the bullet. The dashed rule is the effective range on the record, and the crosses are the steps the solver returned.
No load solved for this record yetThe flight path is computed from a cartridge and a bullet. This record has no ammunition filed against its chambering, so there is nothing to solve.
Features
What it has
What the record lists as fitted, drawn from the catalogue.
Adjustable trigger
Adjustable sights- Adjustable palm shelf
Anatomical grip
Modular design
Carbon fiber frame
Standing
How it compares
Each figure against the firearms of the same type and cartridge that record it, or of the same type where that cartridge has too few. Positions are read to the nearest tenth.
| Measurement | This firearm | Median | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Empty weightAmong 151 .22 Long Rifle pistols | 992 g | 900 g | Heavier than about 60% |
| Overall lengthAmong 144 .22 Long Rifle pistols | 300 mm | 241 mm | Longer than about 80% |
| Barrel lengthAmong 155 .22 Long Rifle pistols | 117 mm | 140 mm | Shorter than about 60% |
| Magazine capacityAmong 156 .22 Long Rifle pistols | 5 | 9 | Holds fewer rounds than about 80% |
Answers
Questions about the Hammerli 280
How much does the Hammerli 280 weigh?
The Hammerli 280 weighs 992 g (2.19 lb) empty.
What caliber is the Hammerli 280?
The Hammerli 280 is chambered in .22 Long Rifle.
How many rounds does the Hammerli 280 hold?
The Hammerli 280 holds 5 rounds, fed from a detachable box magazine.
How long is the Hammerli 280?
The Hammerli 280 is 300 mm (11.81 in) long overall, with a 117 mm (4.61 in) barrel.
Who makes the Hammerli 280?
The Hammerli 280 is made by Hämmerli (Switzerland). It was designed by Hämmerli AG.
When was the Hammerli 280 introduced?
The Hammerli 280 was introduced in 1988 and discontinued in 2000.
How does the Hammerli 280 operate?
The Hammerli 280 uses a blowback action, and its firing mechanism is hammer fired.
Compatibility
Which parts fit this firearm
Studio
Every part that mounts on this, resolved
Not a list the maker typed out: the answer comes from the mounts this firearm exposes and the interface each part needs, so it stays right when either one changes.
- Every part that mounts on any firearm in the catalogue
- Interface standards, platforms and fit overrides
- The same answers through the API and the MCP server
Requires a signed-in GunSpec account on the Studio plan. The answer is computed per part, so it is not part of the public record.
Provenance
What the record holds
Every figure above was taken from one of these pages. The confidence reflects how much of the record came from a page a claim can be checked against.
In service
- ISSF competitive shooters
- 1988
Provenance
Confidence in this record
72%
Stockists
Where to buy
Offers link straight to the shop. GunSpec never takes the order.
No shop has listed this firearm yet
Stock and prices come from the shops themselves. If you sell this firearm, you can list it and it appears here.
List a firearmMCP
Ask an assistant about it
The same record, reached the way a person asks for it rather than the way a program does.
Ask GunSpec
Works with
Point an MCP client at GunSpec and it answers from the catalogue rather than from memory. A free key covers the read tools.
API
The call that returns this record
The same fields, in the same units, from the same endpoint the page reads.
curl --request GET \ --url 'https://api.gunspec.io/v1/firearms/hammerli-280' \ --header 'X-API-Key: your_key'{ "id": "hammerli-280", "name": "Hammerli 280", "manufacturer": { "id": "hammerli", "name": "Hämmerli", "countryCode": "CH", "foundedYear": 1863, "website": "https://waltherarms.com", "logoUrl": null, "description": null, "status": null, "defunctYear": null, "stateOwned": null, "makesFirearms": null, "parentId": null, "predecessorId": null, "createdAt": "2026-02-18 03:40:45", "updatedAt": "2026-02-18 03:40:45", "version": "e1209cd056d8e246d5f5bd05c752faecd47fbc79eba9c411b20e724db5ca3e62" }, "category": { "id": "pistol", "name": "Pistol", "description": "Handguns designed to be fired with one or two hands" }, "country_of_origin": "CH", "year_introduced": 1988, "barrel_length_mm": 117, "weight_empty_g": 992, "action_type": "blowback"}