30 feet is not really a long enough distance to test out a Spring Piston Break Barrel Air Rifle but it’s been pretty rainy outside as the weather here in British Columbia has progresses into full on rainy fall weather. So we will have to make do with the 30 foot limitation I have here in the Replica Airguns Sea Can Indoor Shooting Range. At least it is warm and the lighting is perfect :) In this Filed Test Shooting Video for the Beeman Black Panther Dual Caliber Break Barrel Pellet Rifle I test out the velocity in fps along with the accuracy at 30 feet away. For both of these tests I use 15.43 grain .22 caliber Gamo lead pellets. If you are more invested in details and specifications along with some closer up video then watch my Table Top Video for the Beeman Black Panther.
Beeman claims just under 500 fps for the Beeman Black Panther Dual Caliber Break Barrel Pellet Rifle but it is unclear if this is with .177 caliber or .22 caliber pellets and what kind of pellet are being used? Light weigth Alloy or standard Lead pellets. I decided to go with the .22 caliber barrel for all my testing but may try out the .177 caliber barrel in a future update Field Test Video. I placed 5 shots through my Chronograph using the 15.43 grain .22 caliber lead pellets and was able to get an average velocity of 422 fps. The slowest shot was 418 fps with the fastest shot hitting a max of 429 fps so all fairly close together. In terms of energy output, a pellet that weighs 15.43 grain travelling at 422 fps has a foot pound energy of 6.1.
I am not the best shot when it comes to sprig Piston Air Rifles, but I did my best here. I shot a total of 8 shots on the paper target and the main group was about 1 inch in diameter, this consisted of 6 pellets in that main group with 2 pellets that came out one shot a bit high and one shot a bit to the right. I was using the built in post and notch fiber optic sights rather than installing the 4x32 scope. After all the target was only 30 feet away. I am pretty sure one could easily get a .5 inch grouping at this range with perhaps a 1 inch grouping at distances closer to the 50-60 foot mark, which should make this a decent pest control option when using the .22 caliber ammo as I feel it would get the job done with a bit more authority.
The Beeman Black Panther Dual Caliber Break Barrel Pellet Rifle comes with two barres offering the ability to shoot using .177 caliber pellets or .22 caliber pellets with a quick barrel change. .177 caliber pellets could be used for smaller pest control but I would mainly use the .177 barrel for basic target practice as .177 caliber pellets are definitely cheaper than .22 caliber pellets. When you do require that slight additional stopping power, then go with the .22 caliber barrel for sure!
Type: Pellet Rifle. Manufacturer: Beeman Model: Black Panther Dual Caliber. Materials: Metal and Synthetic Plastic. Weight: 7.2pounds (2.3kg). Total Length: 44 inches (111.8cm). Barrel: 16.75 inches (42.5cm). Propulsion: Spring Piston. Action: Single Action Single Shot. AmmunitionType: .177 & .22 Caliber Pellets. AmmunitionCapacity: 1. MaxFPS: 495 Claimed.
Trigger Pull: The trigger on the Beeman Black Panther Dual Caliber Break Barrel Pellet Rifle is single action only requiring you to break the barrel and compress the internal spring piston before you can shoot it. This will also engage the safety which you have to disengage for each shot manually as an added security measure. The actual trigger pull is I would say a medium pull with an easy first stage then a more firm second stage. I am pretty sure the Black Panther uses the Sportsman tigger setup which does have some adjustment for trigger pull as far as I am aware of. Once I get a chance to shoot the Beeman Black Panther Dual Caliber Break Barrel Pellet Rifle I will be able to tell you more about how the trigger feels.
Accuracy: I have not performed any shooting tests with the Beeman Black Panther Dual Caliber Break Barrel Pellet Rifle so far, I will be making a Video Review next in the next few weeks “weather permitting” as I want to get outdoors for this test to be able to shoot the Black Panther at longer ranges. I expect the Beeman Black Panther Dual Caliber Break Barrel Pellet Rifle to perform well in the accuracy department using the 4x32 optical scope. In terms of power the spring does seem to take a bit of effort so I am hoping for a decent fps in both .177 caliber and .22 caliber!
Build Quality: The Beeman Black Panther Dual Caliber Break Barrel Pellet Rifle is made in China but looks to be fairly well made. It is mostly metal including the front and rear sights with a synthetic plastic stock and feels good to hold resting the cushioned rubber butt-pad to your shoulder. The stock and trigger guard are a one piece design, that said the trigger guard is fairly thick so it should stand up to some abuse.
Realism: The Beeman Black Panther Dual Caliber Break Barrel Pellet Rifle is not a copy of any real steel gun in production but does have that overall rifle shape to it so it looks like a gun but most people will be able to immediately see that it is a Pellet Rifle and that is exactly what it is since it is not trying to be a Replica Airgun or copy of any real steel rifle in production.
Pros:
All Weather durable ambidextrous synthetic stock.
All metal front and rear fiver optic sights.
Can shoot both .177 and .22 caliber pellets for multi purpose shooting.
Sportsman trigger (adjustable) with automatic safety system.
Comes with included 4x32 scope and mounts.
Very solid build at 9.92 pounds.
Nice cushioned rubber butt-plate looks good and adds to shooting comfort.
Has a scope-stop so your scope will stay nicely in place.
Cons:
Hard to tell if the claimed 495 fps is for .177 or .22 caliber lead or alloy pellets?
Hard to find this exact gun for info, not even on Beeman’s own website.
Made in China.
Comments: The Beeman Black Panther Dual Caliber Break Barrel Pellet Rifle is designed to be a more affordable Break Barrel Spring Piston Pellet Rifle with metal where it counts and a synthetic stock for durability and resiliency to weather conditions. You do have the option of shooting either .177 caliber pellets for a faster flatter trajectory or if you use the .22 caliber barrel, you benefit from perhaps a bit more downrange energy and less effect from windy conditions. You can also choose between shooting with the open fully adjustable metal sights or install the 4x32 scope for longer range shooting. You for sure get a versatile Spring Piston Air Rifle with the Beeman Black Panther Dual Caliber Break Barrel Pellet Rifle at the end of the day.
In this Replica Airguns Unboxing Video I take a look at 6 Airguns consisting of 2 Paintball Pistols, 3 Airsoft Rifles and one Pellet Rifle. This is not a full review in any way but is rather a preview of what i will be doing full Reviews for over the next several weeks.
This is not exclusive to Airguns since trends of Airguns are highly influenced by what type of Real Steel Pistols are popular to people. This is often based on what people see portrayed in movies and TV Series, and also promoted online. There is for sure an overlap in what is popular and it is hard to say what is influencing what? Is it the popularity of Pistols out in the real world that influences what we see being used in the movies and on TV? Or is it what we see in Movies and TV that influences our choices of pistols out in the real world? Perhaps it is a combination of both?
My list is based on my own personal experience and does not represent the entirety of types of Pistol designs available.
As always I placed a brand new C02 in the Gamo P-430 CO2 Dual Ammo BB Pellet Pistol to get maximum power and the temperature was around 21 degrees Celsius or about 70 degrees Fahrenheit which is warm enough to get good velocity results but not hot enough for maximum fps so keep that in mond. I deiced to shoot 4 Steel BB’s, and 4 Lead Pellets through my chronograph and averaged the velocities out for each ammo type. The Steel BB’s weigh about 5.1 grain while the Lead Pellets weigh a bit over 7 grain so I was expecting to see higher numbers with the BB’s which is exactly what I got but not near as high as the claimed 495 fps.
My actual velocity result for Lead Pellets was a 4 shot average of 332 fps with the slowest being 313 and the fastest shot hitting 359. For steel BB’s I was able to average 346 fps so not a lot faster at the end of the day but close. My slowest Steel BB Chronograph reading was 342 with the fastest shot at 356 which was actually just a bit slower than the Lead Pellet fastest velocity reading. Lead Pellets tend to seal in the barrel better than Steel BB’s so even though they are a bit heavier they still get pretty close velocity readings to BB’s since the less CO2 blows by the ammo with Lead Pellets.
Sine the Gamo P-430 CO2 Dual Ammo BB Pellet Pistol has a double sided rotary magazine that holds 8 rounds on each end, I loaded one side with BB’s and one side with Pellets and proceeded to see how tight of a grouping each ammo type was capable of with 8 rounds. As expected again the Lead Pellets performed better getting about a 1.5 inch grouping well centered up a down on the bullseye but a tad to the left of it. The Steel BB’s did spread out somewhat getting closer to a 4 inch grouping that this time was better centered side to side but a little bit low of the Bullseye. Out of the box the sights seem to be fairly well centered which is nice since they are not adjustable.
So the Gamo P-430 CO2 Dual Ammo BB Pellet Pistol isn’t the flashiest Replica Airgun out there, maybe not the most powerful or accurate Airgun either but it is fun to shoot and does offer more options in terms of ammo choices when shooting. Velocity is really close between Steel BB’s and Lead Pellets and since the Lead Pellets are about 2 grain heavier they will have more energy downrange when they hit a target. The Lead Pellets also performed better in the accuracy department and shot a respectable 1.5 inch 8 shot grouping so if this was my Airgun I would probably go with Lead Pellets as long as I had some on hand, but if all you have around is Steel BB’s than at least you can keep on shooting which is what it’s really about at the end of the day.
You may be thinking, not another KWC 1911 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol Review! I get it, there are so many renditions of this 1911 Air Pistol either direct from KWC or distributed through almost all the big Airgun companies with their unique branding and licensing. Is there anything different about this version? In terms of performance not really, they all shoot about the same which is good. Not the highest fps but great triggers, nice heavy blowback operation and pretty consistent and decent accuracy. Really the only difference with the BARRA 4006 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol is it is a bit chunkier than most other KWC based 1911’s which is mostly from the more beefy picatinny rail. You can watch my Table Top Video Review for more details and specification along with more close up video of the Barra 4006 here.
Getting right into the Field Test part of this Review video, I shot 5 rounds through my Chronograph using a brand new CO2 in average room temperature conditions and I was able to average 292 fps with the slowest velocity hitting 286 fps and the fastest velocity hitting 300 fps. The general claimed fps for Full Blowback CO2 BB KWC 1911’s is around 330 as a best case most likely in very warm conditions. 300 fps is all you need to shoot pop cans and paper targets 30 feet away and feel like a champ doing so.
When it comes to the accuracy of the BARRA 4006 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol, I was not surprised to get around a 2 inch 10 round grouping at 30 feet away shooting at a paper target. This is pretty much exactly what I get from all the KWC Full Blowback 1911 BB shooters out there. Out of the box I did shoot a tad bit to the left but in terms of elevation the BARRA 4006 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol was up for the job at 30 feet out. Since the white dot sights are non-adjustable, you will have to shoot just slightly to the right to drop pop cans consistently but this again is going to be the case with just about any BB or pellet pistol that does not have adjustable sights. They rarely ever shoot perfectly dead center on the bullseye. You could add an adjustable laser sight to the picatinny rail if you do want more precision aiming.
So that brings us to the concluding of this Filed Test Shooting Video for the BARRA 4006 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol. All in all a super fun 1911 Replica Airgun with one of the best trigger out there, nice heavy blowback action, velocity that gets the job done and accuracy to match. I have a soft spot for 1911’s and I love full blowback all metal Airguns, the BARRA 4006 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol seems to have little bit more heft to me (@ 2.2 pounds) which I like in a 1911, perhaps closer to a real steel 1911 in this case. Another great CO2 Blowback BB Pistol to chooses from!
I was really looking forward to testing the ASG 1911 US-C CO2 Blowback BB Pistol in the Replica Airguns Sea Can Indoor Shooting Range, mainly because it offers a new type of system for loading BB’s into the Breach that does not require any trigger effort while still providing more efficient CO2 usage. I am happy to say that the ASG 1911 US-C CO2 Blowback BB Pistol does provide a higher velocity with this system, more efficient CO2 usage and it still maintains good accuracy with a really great feeling single action only trigger, the same as you would fid on a classic 1911! If you are mainly interested in details and specifications along with more close up video of the ASG 1911 US-C CO2 Blowback BB Pistol then watch my Table Top Video Review.
So let’s get right into the performance… As always I started out with my Chronograph Velocity Test to see what the actual fps is for the ASG 1911 US-C CO2 Blowback BB Pistol. ASG claims 420fps which is about 100 fps higher than what you can expect best case scenario from a KWC Full Blowback CO2 1911. My 5 shot average in this test was 372fps using a brand new CO2 in medium temperature settings. In a warmer shooting situation you may get a little bit higher fps but I would not expect a lot more out of this pistol. Still I would say on average about 70fps faster than the Full Blowback KWC 1911’s I have tested in the past.
Moving on to my accuracy test, I shot 10 rounds at a fresh paper target from 30 feet away using a semi rested shooting position with my hands rested on a sand bag up front and sitting on a stool in the back. My 10 shot grouping ended up being around 2 inches which is a little on the tighter side than you would expect from most Blowback BB Pistols. It did shoot a little bit low but side to side was very well centered. The trigger felt really good while the blowback action is very fast and snappy as compared to the full blowback KWC 1911’s I have reviewed in the past.
I was very happy with the performance of the ASG 1911 US-C CO2 Blowback BB Pistol overall! The trigger was short and light as I was hoping for, the velocity was perfect for a blowback CO2 Pistol getting really close to 400 fps, and the partial blowback action although not as aggressive as some otters blowback CO2 BB Pistols was still strong enough to give some good feedback while shooting. One point I would like to make with this pistol is to not take the magazine out or rack the slide between magazine reloading as you can very easily double load a BB into the breach either resulting in a double shot or possible BB jam. If you want a Blowback 1911 with that classic 1911 trigger and a little bit better performance than most other blowback 1911’s ,then the ASG 1911 US-C CO2 Blowback BB Pistol is a really great choice!
Type: Non-blowback CO2 BB and Pellet Pistol. Manufacturer: Distributed by Gamo. Model:P-430. Materials: Mostly plastic. Weight: .94 pounds (427 grams). Total Length: 8 inches (203mm). Barrel: 4.75 inches (121mm) metal non-rifled. Propulsion: CO2 x 1. Action: Semi auto non-blowback, DOA trigger. Ammunition Type: .4.5mm steel BB’s and .177 caliber pellets. Ammunition Capacity: 16 round drop out plastic stick magazine. FPS: Claimed 495.
Trigger Pull: The Gamo P-430 CO2 Dual Ammo BB Pellet Pistol is typical of a double action tiger in that it is a longer trigger pull that requires more effort to pull. The Gamo P-430 trigger is I would say good for a DOA trigger as it is not overly heavy and does allow for fairly quick rapid fire shooting. The trigger pull not only cocks the hammer, it also rotates the rotary magazine on either end of the stick magazine so there is a lot going on here but it still is not overly heavy which is nice.
Accuracy: I have yet to shoot the Gamo P-430 CO2 Dual Ammo BB Pellet Pistol or performed my standard Field Test shooting Video so I can not comment at this time on the performance other than what is claimed in terms of fps. Which if accurate will be one of the more powerful CO2 BB/Pellet guns, but we will see when I do my Field Test Shooting video. Accuracy is not claimed so hopefully the accuracy out of the box is as good as the claimed fps…
Build Quality: The Gamo P-430 CO2 Dual Ammo BB Pellet Pistol is a pretty much all plastic Airgun with only a few metal parts I can make out. The trigger is metal along with the inner barrel and the area where the CO2 goes in. Because of the plastic build, it is fairly light weight which can actually be good in a fall as the mass is low resulting in less damage if you were to drop it on a hard surface. Scratches will also be less noticeable on a plastic Airgun over a metal Airgun as the material on a plastic Airgun is all black rather than a painted surface that will show blemishes a lot more. The simplicity of the design means you should get a lot of shots from the Gamo P-430 CO2 Dual Ammo BB Pellet Pistol before encountering any problems.
Realism: The Gamo P-430 CO2 Dual Ammo BB Pellet Pistol is not a replica of a specific real steel gun in production but it does share a lot of cosmetic characteristics as a Sig Sauer Pistol such as the M17 and P226. There are few external mechanical working parts on the Gamo P-430 other than the trigger, safety and magazine release and as mentioned already the Gamo P-430 CO2 Dual Ammo BB Pellet Pistol is rather light weigth which takes away from the realism. The barrel is slightly recessed and the CO2 tab is hidden in the grip which helps in terms of realism.
Pros:
Claimed high velocity of 495 fps.
Expect lots of shots per CO2 as compared to a blowback Airgun.
Simple design means it will have less to go wrong over time.
Picatinny rail for add on accessories.
Can use either 4.5mm Steel BB’s or .177 caliber pellets.
Cross bolt safety to prevent accidental shots.
Has a Sig Sauer like look to it which is a good thing.
Double ended stick magazine works well and does not add too much friction to the trigger pull.
Well hidden CO2 Screw, no tools required.
Fit and warning instructions on Airgun is embossed and color matched so it is very subtle.
Cons:
Mostly all plastic Build.
No white dot sights so will be harder to see on darker backgrounds, also not adjustable.
Light weight with no blowback action so not as good realism and a cheaper feel to it.
Trigger is a bit long but not crazy heavy.
Comments:
I personally prefer blowback Airguns that have a more solid weight and feel to them, but again there is a lot more that can go wrong and parts tend to wear out over usage a lot quicker than a more simple design like in the case of the Gamo P-430 CO2 Dual Ammo BB Pellet Pistol. Price is also going to be a lot less when looking at the Gamo P-430 as the plastic build is a lot cheaper to produce. On the other hand these non-blowback CO2 airguns do tend to have a much higher velocity and also generally you will also get more shots per CO2 than a similar CO2 Blowback Pistol so you have to give to get, it really depends what features you want more and in this case you also get a more cost effective Air Pistol with plenty of shooting enjoyment.
Type: Blowback CO2 BB Pistol. Manufacturer: Distributed by BARRA/KWC. Model:1911 4006. Materials: Mostly Metal. Weight: 2.1 pounds (953 grams). Total Length: 8.7 inches (220mm). Barrel: 4.7 inches (119mm) metal non-rifled. Propulsion: CO2 x 1. Action: Semi auto blowback, SOA trigger. Ammunition Type: .4.5mm steel BB’s. Ammunition Capacity: 17 round drop out full size metal magazine. FPS: Claimed 370.
Trigger Pull: The Single Action Only trigger pull on the BARRA 4006 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol is like all other KWC design full blowback 1911’s. This is a good thing since it is one of the best triggers on a KWC Airgun, really short and really light! The main reason for the excellent SAO trigger is because the blowback action not only cycles the slide but it also load a BB in the breach and also cocks the hammer allowing for a simple hammer release by way of the trigger action.
Accuracy: At this point I have not shot the BARRA 4006 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol or performed my Field Test shooting Video. That said since I have reviewed a ton of the KWC 1911’s and they all share the same mechanics features, I expect the BARRA 4006 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol to get similar results which is an fps about 330 and decent accuracy at 30 feet out.
Build Quality: I says this about just about every KWC based Airgun and the BARRA 4006 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol is no exception, overall the fit and finish is good but the finish can wear a bit over time on the high spots. I will say KWC has gotten better over time with their finish process seeming to wear a lot less than their earlier made products. Like almost all KWC Airguns the BARRA 4006 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol is pretty much full metal with the exception of the grips and the air nozzle.
Realism: The BARRA 4006 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol is a fantastic replica of a real steel Tactical 1911. And again broken record time here… The entire line of KWC blowback BB Pistols replicates the look and action of their real steel counterparts super closely so unless you get right up n this Replica BB Gun and really inspect it you will not be able to tell it apart from the real version.
Pros:
Has that well liked KWC 1911 look in a more modernized tactical design.
Has that classic 1911 short and light single action only trigger we all love.
Field Strippable just like the real steel version.
All working parts just like a real steel 1911.
Working grip safety.
Full size drop out metal magazine that holds the CO2 and 17 BB’s.
Accessory rail on bottom of the frame for add on accessories.
Ambitious thumb safety.
Recessed barrel for realism.
Full blowback action for simulated recoil and a smoother trigger.
Good overall fit and finish.
Cons:
Painted markings on slide are a bit much.
Full blowback operation robs power and shots per CO2.
Sights are not adjustable.
Comments:
What can I really say about the BARRA 4006 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol? It’s pretty much exactly like all the other KWC built 1911’s but perhaps with i't’s own slightly different look to it. Thats not a bad thing since this design has been around for I am not sure but I want to say over a decade now so anything that needed to be worked out has been worked out. I loved the KWC 1911 when it first came out and still love any one of these new version today. If you’re in the market for a full blowback CO2 BB Pistol then take your pick, I like the heft and tactical modern design of the BARRA 4006 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol and also appreciate that it still has some classic 1911 component going on.
Type: Blowback CO2 BB Pistol. Manufacturer: Distributed by ASG. Model: 1911 US-C. Materials: MostlyMetal. Weight: 1.9 pounds (874 grams). Total Length: 8.7 inches (220mm). Barrel: 4.7 inches (119mm) metal non-rifled. Propulsion: CO2 x 1. Action: Semi auto blowback, SOA trigger. Ammunition Type: .4.5mm steel BB’s. Ammunition Capacity: 18 round drop out full size metal magazine. FPS: Claimed 420.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the ASG 1911 US-C CO2 Blowback BB Pistol is surprisingly really good as this is a new design mechanically different than the standard KWC 1911. There is a slide nozzle on the top of the magazine that pushes a BB into the breach area of the barrel and seals off the magazine for the barrel allowing for higher fps and I would imagine better CO2 efficiency. There are other Blowback Airguns that do this but most incorporate the trigger force to push the slide nozzle forward causing some friction and creating more of a double action trigger feel. I believe the ASG 1911 US-C CO2 Blowback BB Pistol uses the blowback action to engage this slide nozzle allowing for a true short and light single action trigger. Which the ASG 1911 US-C CO2 Blowback BB Pistol does have.
Accuracy: At this point I have not shot the ASG 1911 US-C CO2 Blowback BB Pistol or done my Field Test Performance Video. I really have no idea what to expect from it as this a new design I have never seen or shot before. I have high expectations based mainly on the advertised specifications but also from my observations looking over the mechanics and how this Airgun feels in the hand. Hopefully it performs as good as I am wishing for…
Build Quality: The ASG 1911 US-C CO2 Blowback BB Pistol has good fit and finish, I would compare it to a KWC 1911 in this department, I have a feeling it may be made in the KWC factory as the manual uses some of the same graphics found in most KWC manuals. I could be wrong here. That said the ASG 1911 US-C CO2 Blowback BB Pistol is mostly all metal with the exception of the pistol grips as expected.
Realism: The ASG 1911 US-C CO2 Blowback BB Pistol looks exactly like a real steel 1911 with the exception of an additional pin in the frame. The slide also does not cycle as much as a real steel 1911 or even like a standard KWC 1911 and field striping will not be done in the conventional manner since the slide catch release does not easily come out. All that said I feel like tis 1911 airgun design may be a nice compromise between performance and realism.
Pros:
Has that well liked KWC 1911 look but with different internals.
Looks to have a nice short and light single action only trigger.
Because of new type design I expect really good fps and lots of shots per CO2.
All working parts just like a real steel 1911.
Working safety and grip safety.
Full size drop out metal magazine that holds the CO2 and 18 rounds.
Integrated CO2 Allen key tool.
Recessed barrel for realism.
Blowback action for simulated recoil and a smoother trigger.
Good overall fit and finish.
Cons:
Painted markings on slide are a bit much.
Field strip is not conventional.
Sights are not adjustable.
Comments:
I am really optimistic that the ASG 1911 US-C CO2 Blowback BB Pistol will be a real winner here as it has a lot going for it! First of all it’s a 1911 and who doesn’t like a 1911? It is also a really solid replica on its own rights so it should check most boxes here with its blowback action, full size drop out metal magazine, nice SAO trigger and all metal build. On top of this all ,the specifications look really good with higher velocity than the standard KWC 1911 and I am also assuming better CO2 efficiency. Take all of this into account and the ASG 1911 US-C CO2 Blowback BB Pistol could be the new 1911 standard to go by.
In this Update Preview Video I take a look at three CO2 Air Pistols from ASG, Gamo and Barra. All shoot 4.5mm steel BB’s and one can also shoot .177 caliber pellets. two of them have blowback action. Two are also styled after the popular 1911 Semi Auto Pistol. The ASG 1911 has a unique magazine and chambering system that is the first I have seen of this in a Blowback Airgun. It offers with blowback operation along higher fps and a nice light semi auto trigger, which is a combination not offered in many Airguns.
Airguns are generally cheaper to buy and for sure cheaper to shoot. Airguns can cost as little as $50-100 to buy while real guns in similar models will cost many time more. Cost of ammo is so much less expensive than Real Gun ammo by a mile!
Difficulty to Obtain:
Airguns in most countries do not require any licensing or registration. Generally there are more available options in Airgun choices than Real Gun choices as restrictions often prohibit many Real Guns to be obtained.
Places to Shoot:
Unless you live in a super remote locations and your laws allow you to shoot Real Guns in those locations, then in most cases you can shoot an Airgun almost anywhere within reason. You can even shoot certain Airgun models in your basement. Airsoft is a great option for indoor shooting as the plastic ammo does not carry very much energy so with minimal effort you can make a backstop that will trap the ammo very well.
Trigger Time:
Because ammo is much less expensive and places you can shoot are easier to find, you can get a lot more Trigger Time under your belt which will also improve your shotgun with Real Guns and after all it’s just fun to shoot guns even if they are Airguns.
Safety:
I am not talking about safety in terms of protection. I am talking about safety as in if you do something stupid and your Gun goes off accidentally. If you accidentally fire your Airgun indoors, the bullet will not travel through floors or walls and potentially harm or kill someone on the other side. If you do manage to shoot yourself with an Airgun, the consequence are much less severe than shooting yourself with a Real Gun. That said, always treat an Airgun as if it was a Real Loaded Gun, as server injury and even death can occur even with an Airgun.
Ware Games and Training Situations:
There is no way you can use a standard Real Gun to shoot at people, unless extensively altered with special parts that make the Real Gun unusable to shoot live ammo. With Airguns you have the choice of using an Airsoft or Paintball gun that are both designed specifically for this purpose.
Pest Control:
If you have the need for pest control in an urban area where you do not want a stray bullet to travel too far or penetrate buildings if a shot where to go awry, then an Airgun designed for accuracy and power may be perfect for the job. Accuracy with target and hunting Airguns is on par if not better than many Real Guns and are have powerful enough to kill a pest humanely without having too much power for the job and having to worry as much about your background.
Prop Guns:
As mentioned already, Airguns can look a lot like Real Guns, so they are perfect to be used as a stand-in or Prop Gun when you need to simulate the look and function of a Real Gun. Again they are easier and cheaper to obtain and if something does go wrong, the consequences are much less severe.
Social Stigma:
Unfortunately Real Guns and perhaps any gun these days are looked upon with a social stigma as being the cause of the Crime rather than a tool used in a Crime. And so people blame Guns for these crimes rather than the people committing these crimes. If a person is motivated enough to do something bad, they are going to do it either way and will use whatever means is available to them to commit these Crimes. Including other means like: Knives, Blunt Objects, Poisons, Vehicles, Explosives… Sad but true! Airguns are not used in homicides or mass shootings as they are completely underpowered for a crime like this. They can however be used in crimes as a show of threat, as they do look a lot like real guns, generally people that use Airguns for real crimes, if challenged will give up immediately as they are completely outgunned. Don’t bring an Airgun to a Real Gun fight, you have better chance with a knife!
In this Comparison Video I show several models of Glock Replica Airguns distributed under the Umarex/Glock license. Umarex has brought to market several Glock Replica Airguns to date including BB, Pellet, Airsoft and even Paintball versions in a variety of models. I showcase only a few of these models in this video but it is a good selection to give most people an idea of what is available from our Replica Airguns website in terms of Glock Pistols.
I have made a fair amount of video reviews for the Dan Wesson Line of AIrguns that encompass Table Top and Field Test Reviews on several versions of the Dan Wesson line: BB, Pellet, Airsoft, in a variety of barrel and color choices. It has been a while, so why not make another Review Video to revisit the Dan Wesson Line and so this time here we have the Steel BB version in a 2.5 inch barrel length. As always I will test they CO2 Revolver to find out what the velocity is and how accurate it is shooting at a paper target. Also make sure to watch my Table Top Video for specifications, details and closeup video.
Here we go with the Velocity test! I placed a brand new CO2 in the ASG Dan Wesson 2.5 inch Gold CO2 BB Revolver and shot a cylinder full of 4.5mm steel BB’s that weigh 5.1 grain through my Chronograph. The temperature was average so about room temperature. Only the last 4 of my shots registered on my Chronograph as it was acting up a bit on me at first two shots but I did manage to average 332 fps with the last four. The first two shots would have been a little bit faster had they registered on my chronograph so this may have brought up the average a bit to say around 334…
I then placed a fresh paper target 30 feet down range and proceeded to unload a full 6 round cylinder into it, I was shooting in single action with the hammer cocked back between shots. I was also using a semi rested shooting position with my hands resting on a sand bag up front and seated in the back for stability. Generally speaking even with Steel BB’s I can get close to a 1-2 inch grouping with hess Dan Wessons but this time my 6 shot grouping only produced a 3 inch group? It was probably me as there is always some human error involved and each test can result in different results so keep that in mind. The grouping was well centered out of the box but the ASG Dan Wesson 2.5 inch Gold CO2 BB Revolver does have fully adjustable sights in case yours is a bit off.
It never get’s old loading up the shells with ammo and placing them in the cylinder followed by either quick action shooting or more relaxed and accurate single action shooting, then repeating again and again… The original Dan Wesson line of revelers has been around for a long time now and if I am not mistaken was the first Airgun revolver to use reloadable shells. We now have more refined 715 version of the Dan Wesson which does have some improvement but the original versions still hold strong and are very capable and fun shell loading revolvers that come it a bit lower price tag then the newer 715 versions so no matter which version you get you will have lot of fun shooting and reloading these enjoyable Airguns!
The Umarex Glock 17 Gen 5 CO2 Blowback Pellet Pistol is a looker for sure replicating the look of a Glock 17 Gen 5 which includes Umarex Glock licensing, lots of metal parts and solid blowback action. That’s all great but does it shoot good? In this Filed Test Shooting video for the Umarex Glock 17 Gen 5 CO2 Blowback Pellet Pistol I put it through its paces using my Chronograph to find out the real world velocity and I also place 10 shots on a paper target to see what kind of accuracy we can get from 30 feet away.
Starting with my power or velocity test I put 5 rounds through my Chronograph using lead pellets that where just over 7 gran. I was all using a brand new CO2 and the temperature being around 21 degrees Celsius or 70 degrees Fahrenheit, so not too hot or cold. Full disclaimer, I was having some feeding problems with the magazine at first but it did seem to sort itself out near the end of this review… All that said, I was able to get an average of 320 fps with my slowest shoot hitting 309 fps and my fastest shot hitting 327 fps, so pretty consistent overall.
I then moved on to my accuracy portion of the Field Test for the Umarex Glock 17 Gen 5 CO2 Blowback Pellet Pistol Luckily the pellet feeding and trigger seemed to work better for me during this portion of the test but the trigger pull was very unpredictable being super hard with some shots and rather easy for others. This is not ideal for getting a good accuracy result, but I did the best I could and surprisingly got around a 3 inch grouping with a very uncooperative trigger. My grouping did hit the target a little bit to the left but was well centered up and down.
I am not a fan of belt fed magazines over all even though Sig Sauer does seem to be able to pull them off better than anyone. Maybe Umarex needs to do a little bit more work here to get better trigger pull consistency and an overall lighter trigger pull. Maybe the Umarex Glock 17 Gen 5 CO2 Blowback Pellet Pistol needs a bit more break in time as it did seem to perform better near the end of my Field Test Review. I would also like to try adding some silicone lubrication ot the magazine as friction seems to be the enemy of belt fed magazines… I am not sure if the Umarex Glock 17 Gen 5 CO2 Blowback Pellet Pistol is a big recommendation for me or not, but it is a really decent CO2 Airgun in many ways. If you're willing to take a bit of a chance that the trigger will improve over time and perhaps a bit of lube will improve things then checkout the Umarex Glock 17 Gen 5 CO2 Blowback Pellet Pistol in our Canada and US online Replica Airguns Stores.
Type: Blowback CO2 Pellet Pistol. Manufacturer: Distributed by Umarex. Model:Glock 17 Gen 5. Materials: Metal & Polymer. Weight: 1.6 pounds (725 grams). Barrel: 4.5 inches metal non-rifled. Propulsion: CO2 x 1. Action: Semi auto blowback, DOA trigger. Ammunition Type: .177 caliber pellets. Ammunition Capacity: 21 round drop out full size metal magazine. FPS: Claimed 370.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Umarex Glock 17 Gen 5 CO2 Blowback Pellet Pistol is what I would describe as closer to a DOA (Double Action Only) trigger. The blowback action does retract the internal hammer/striker which does relieve some of the trigger pull but the trigger is also used to rotate the belt magazine which gives the trigger a kind of friction feel especially right at the end of the pull where the rotation occurs. That said it is not a terrible trigger like some other belt fed Airguns but it is certainly nutlike a standard SAO type Glock trigger.
Accuracy: At this point I have not shot the Umarex Glock 17 Gen 5 CO2 Blowback Pellet Pistol so I can only quote what Umarex is saying in terms of FP2 which is 370. That sounds a bit high for a pellet Airgun but they may be claiming this velocity using a light weight pellets perhaps made out of an alloy rather than lead? I guess we will find out the real world fps using lead pellets and also how accurate it will be when I do my Full Field Test Shooting Video.
Build Quality: The Umarex Glock 17 Gen 5 CO2 Blowback Pellet Pistol like most of the Umarex Glocks is very well made. I am thinking that Glock to allow Umarex to license Glock Pistols hammy have a quality control as part of this license agreement? Either way the Umarex Glock 17 Gen 5 CO2 Blowback Pellet Pistol is a solid and well built Airgun all around with quality material and very good fit and finish.
Realism: The Umarex Glock 17 Gen 5 CO2 Blowback Pellet Pistol in terms of realism as compared to a real steel Glock 19 Gen 5 for sure hits the mark in most categories. It is a bit lighter and you can not field strip it easily, there is also the not so much recessed barrel that is a bit of a giveaway but in terms of most other attributes the Umarex Glock 17 Gen 5 replicates a real Glock… Including the basic looks and feel, the metal slide and polymer frame, the full size drop out metal magazine, the blowback action and most of the working parts including the slide catch release, magazine release and trigger safety.
Pros:
Good weight and feel to it, build quality and fit and finish seem very good.
Really nice looking and full featured replica of the original Glock 17 Gen 5.
Fully Glock licensed via Umarex.
Easy to see white dot sights front and back.
Working trigger safety.
Accessory rail for adding a laser or tactical light.
Full size drop out metal magazine that holds the CO2 and .177 caliber pellets.
Nice high 21 round capacity.
Slide spring feels nice and heavy provide a decent blowback recoil effect.
Safety built into the serial number plate area keeps it well hidden.
Can see through ejection port when magazine is out.
Warning instruction are nice and discreet under trigger guard.
370 claimed fps is good for a CO2 blowback pellet pistol.
Cons:
Barrel is not really all that recessed.
No way to easily field strip it.
Don’t like the clam shell packaging.
Trigger is a bit on the heavy side.
Comments:
I think many of us having been waiting for a pellet shooting version of the Glock from Umarex. I am a bit surprised they went with a belt fed version as belt fed magazines tend to be a bit on the heavy trigger pull side. Yes the Umarex Glock 17 Gen 5 CO2 Blowback Pellet Pistol has a stronger trigger pull as compared to a 4.5mm BB or 6mm Airsoft version of the same Umarex gun, as most of these Umarex based Glocks utilize a SAO trigger which is more comparable to a real steel Glock. On the plus side the Pellet version should be a bit more accurate, but we will see how this pans out when I do my comprehensive Field Test Shooting Video for the Umarex Glock 17 Gen 5 CO2 Blowback Pellet Pistol.
Type: BB Revolvers. Manufacturer: ASG Model: Dan Wesson 2.5 inch Gold Materials: Mostly metal. Weight: 1.9 pounds. (862 grams) Barrel: Metal non-rifled. Propulsion: CO2 x 1. Action: Revolver, single and double action. Ammunition Type: 4.5mm Steel BB's. Ammunition Capacity: 6 rounds (removable shells). FPS: 327
Trigger Pull: The ASG Dan Wesson 2.5 inch Gold CO2 BB Revolver shoots in true modern revolver style offering single and double action. The double action has a bit of friction to it since the cylinder is being rotate during the first part of the trigger pull and there is a spring fed metal gasket between the barrel and the cylinder that creates a seal but does add some resistance to the trigger pull in double action. Single action is much lighter as expected since pulling the hammer back turns the cylinder removing that friction point from the equasion.
.Accuracy: So far I have not done my Filed Test Shooting Video for the ASG Dan Wesson 2.5 inch Gold CO2 BB Revolver, but I plan to in the near future as a revisit since I have made a lot of similar Field Test Videos for the Dan Wesson line of products in 4.5mm Steel BB and 6mm Airsoft, here is a link to me shooting the 8 inch a while back in my old setup. Wow, this one goes back to 2014 almost 10 years ago!
Build Quality: The ASG Dan Wesson 2.5 inch Gold CO2 BB Revolver overall is really well built with good weight to it and a nice fit and finish, I do like the Gold version in this 2.5 inch version. It is almost all metal with the exception of the grips which are made of a semi hard plastic. One beef I have with the original ASG Dan Wesson line of revolvers are how the grips slide back to access the CO2, closing them can be a bit of a chore as they can come off their track super easily. The other complaint I hear about them is the play in the trigger and hammer side to side.
Realism: The ASG Dan Wesson 2.5 inch Gold CO2 BB Revolver like all the other ASG Dan Wesson Revolvers is very realistic with its realistic pop out cylinder and 6 removable shells you can reuse and load up for numerous rounds of shooting. You can also buy additional shells and have them preloaded and ready to go in the Speed loader to speed things up. Two things about the ASG Dan Wesson 2.5 inch Gold CO2 BB Revolver that take away a bit from the realism would be the non recessed barrel and the rather large space in front of the hammer. A real steel Dan Wesson or even most revolvers do not have this large space. I believe they did this to allow for the internal valve system. The newer Dan Wesson 715 however was designed with a smaller space in front of the hammer.
Pros:
It's a revolver with actual shells! Gives you the feeling of a real 6 shooter.
Almost all metal design with good weight and feel.
Lots of detail in this gun, very well made, fit and finish is very good.
Good power and good accuracy. (going off of already done older reviews)
Fully adjustable rear sight for windage and elevation.
Can add the included accessory rail for more options (optical or red dot sight…).
Dan Wesson licensed via ASG.
Gold finish is unique. (Gold is the Best!)
Moulded and textured pistol grips.
Grips fully hide CO2 screw.
Can shoot in both double and single action for action shooting or more accurate shot placement.
Cons:
Plastic CO2 screw tab.
Plastic grip setup can be a bit awkward to close.
2.5 inch does not have the recessed barrel.
Hammer and trigger are a bit sloppy compared to 715 version.
Comments:
It’s been a while since I reviewed one of the first generation ASG Dan Wesson Revolvers and the ASG Dan Wesson 2.5 inch Gold CO2 BB Revolver does bring back some memories for me going back almost a decade. If I’m not mistaken this revolver was the first one to implement actual removable and reloadable shells making Airgun Replica Revolvers a lot more interesting and realistic! I do kind of prefer the newer 715 version as they are even beefier than the original ASG Dan Wessons and ASG has fixed the sloppy hammer and trigger along with the space in front of the hammer has been reduce making the 715 even that much more realistic.
Watch my Vimeo Video Table Top Review for the Dan Wesson 2.5 Inch Gold BB Revolver:
In this Preview Review Video I take a look at 4 newer products now in our Replica Airguns Online Store. One is a 4.5mm Steel BB Revolver, two are 6mm Airsoft Pistols and one is a .68 caliber Paintball Shotgun.
The first item I take look at in this video is the Umarex HK30 AEG Airsoft Pistol, this product is pretty entry level with analyst all plastic build and is very light to hold. It does however shoot in both semi and full auto since it is an AEG Airsfto Pistol (not many of them out there). The fps is rather low at a claimed fps at just under 200, the Umarex HK30 AEG Airsoft Pistol also comes with two 16 round remove; plastic magazines. Who knows, maybe it will be fun?
Next I take a look at the ASG Dan Wesson 2.5 inch 4.5mm Steel BB Gold Revolver. This is a CO2 powered shell loading BB revolver very much like similar ones I have reviewed in the past but in Gold finish. Will the gold finishes make it perform better, well I guess we better find out!
I then take a look at a “Glock Like” CO2 Blowback Airsoft Pistol for KJWorks called the KP13. It has a full size drop out metal magazine that holds the CO2 along with 24 rounds of 6mm Airsoft BB’s. The KJWorks KP-13 has a metal slide, metal magazine and polymer frame with a velocity over 360fps using the included barrel extension.
Last but perhaps the most interesting for me is the Umarex T4E HDB which is a lower cost Paintball/Rubber Ball Shotgun which could possibly be used for home protection? The T4E HDB is a mostly plastic constructed rifle with decent weight to it and uses an internal spring fed 16 round magazine. You will find all kinds of mounting points for accessories and for a sling on the Umarex T4E HDB and again at much lower cost than similar T4E rifle based Paintball/Rubber ball Airguns.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Umarex NXG CO2 BB Pump Shotgun is pretty decent, there is a short task up and fairly easy release as the pump action not only turns the rotary magazine but also cocks the internal hammer/striker system. So you will need to pump it before your first shot and after each shot.
Accuracy: I have not Field Test Reviewed the Umarex NXG CO2 BB Pump Shotgun yet but will be making a full Fields Test Review this week to find out what to expect in terms of accuracy and velocity. So we will find out if the fps is closer to the on the box specs of 450 fps or the mostly online specs of 490 fps. Perhaps somewhere in-between?
Build Quality: The Umarex NXG CO2 BB Pump Shotgun is almost all plastic which is not a bad thing in terms of quality and durability. The fact that it only weighs in at 2 pounds may make it feel kind of light and cheap but in a drop or fall situation it means it will most lily not sustain any damage because of the light weight. Most of todays airguns when made out of metals generally are made out of pot metal or zinc alloy which is a nice heavy metal that looks and feels great but is not super strong so when you drop a heavier gun made out of this material it can easily get damaged.
Realism: The Umarex NXG CO2 BB Pump Shotgun looks like a traditional pump action shotgun and even has a little bit of a recessed barrel to make it more believable but it is smaller in size since it is designed more for younger and smaller shooters. The light weight is not only a giveaway but makes ti feel more like a toy than a real gun. If you can ignore that then hopefully you can enjoy the Umarex NXG CO2 BB Pump Shotgun for what it is which is a low cost compact BB rifle made for customs interested in Airguns liek the Red Ryder but that perhaps want a bit more power.
Pros:
Low cost CO2 rifle great for all ages and sizes.
Has a fiber optic front sight.
Comes in a nice looking two tone Black/FDE color scheme.
Fairly easy to pump since the pumping action is not required to activate a spring or compress air.
Built in manual thumb safety.
Stock and high check rest position feel good and a good size length for smaller younger shooters.
Rotary drop out magazine holds 10 4.5mm steel BB’s for quick follow up shots.
Trigger feels pretty good, short and fairly light.
Full ambidextrous design.
Perhaps a step up for entry level shooter over a Red Ryder type BB rifle in terms of power.
Overall a decent looking air rifle.
Cons:
Mostly plastic, so a bit on the light weight side.
Sights are not adjustable in any way.
May be a bit cramped for larger shooters.
Comments: The Umarex NXG CO2 BB Pump Shotgun is not going to win any prizes for quality and realism but keep in mind it is really designed more for entry level younger shooters getting into the Airgun hobby. For them this will be not so intimidating as a larger, heavier more realistic version of a replica Shotgun. I think it will be realistic enough for most new Airgun Shooters and in terms of performance and features it is for sure a step up form something like a Red Ryder BB Rifle. I am looking forward to my upcoming Field Test Shooting Review out what the actual velocity is and what kind of groupings I can get shooting 30 feet down range on a paper target.
My Table Top Video of the Umarex NXG CO2 BB Pump Shotgun:
Umarex has released yet another Legends Replica Airgun and perhaps this one may be the most iconic yet, the M3 Grease gun with a history as far back as 1942. It was put into service int 1944 and then the later variant the M3A1 was used in the Korean War. Also make sure to watch my Table top Video for it for specifications and details along with more close up video.
Getting back to the Field Test Review for the Umarex Legends CO2 Blowback Full Auto M3 Grease Gun, as always I like to test each gun out in the Replace Airguns Indoor Sea Can Airguns Range first placing 5 rounds through my Chronograph to find out the real world velocity of each test gun, then I shoot 10 rounds in semi auto at a distance of 30 feet onto a paper target to see how tight of a grouping I can get shooting from a seated and rested position. With full auto Airguns I like to then perform a full auto shooting test to see how it groups in full auto as often times the full auto grouping will open up somewhat as some Blowback Full Auto Airguns do tend to move around a lot more in full auto mode.
For my Power or Velocity test I was using dual brand new CO2 cartages. Umarex does state that the Umarex Legends CO2 Blowback Full Auto M3 Grease Gun will shoot around 450 fps and with my 5 shot test I was able to confirm this and get close to this mark averaging 436fps. The temperature in the Sea Can was around 20 degrees Celsius or around 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Perhaps in warmer conditions I might hit the claimed 450 fps but I was close either way.
For my accuracy test I setup a new paper target 30 feet downrange and proceeded to place 10 shots into it using the peep sight on the Umarex Legends CO2 Blowback Full Auto M3 Grease Gun. I was fairly pleased with a fairly tight 1.5 inch grouping in semi auto. I then switched over to full auto fun mode and with the remaining BB’s I unloaded 50 or so rounds in very short order and as expected the grouping opened up to closer to a 4 inch grouping. This was kind of expected since the Umarex Legends CO2 Blowback Full Auto M3 Grease Gun uses an open bolt system which has a fairly heavy bolt which makes the blowback action more intense, similar to the KWC Mini Uzi but to a lessor degree.
Any time a company puts out another Full Auto Replica Rifle, especially full auto firing, I am 100% in on it. Both Crosman and Umarex have done a great job doing this and the Umarex Legends CO2 Blowback Full Auto M3 Grease Gun is another example of a well thought out and what I expect to be very popular Full Auto BB Rifle. Their Legends series encompasses guns of the later era which I personally really like since they are harder to come by in their real steel versions, so having them available in an easier to acquire version that you can even shoot in your back yard is a win win for everyone. I am also happy to confirm the high capacity double stack 60 round magazine seemed to feed pretty good for me only miss-feeding once during my testing while doing the Chronograph portion but it got back on track right away. If you’re into Full Auto Legendary Airguns then for sure pick one up from us!
