In this comparison video I look at a variety of different Beretta 92/Taurus PT92 Airguns and compare them to each other to determine which one I feel is the best Beretta/Taurus Airgun. Keep in mind what's best in for me may not be best for you.
In this comparison video I look at a variety of different 1911 Airguns and compare them to each other to determine which one I feel is the best 1911 Airgun, well at least for me.
Another revisit for an inexpensive and fun BB shooter, the Crosman Marlin Cowboy BB Rifle! I have done some previous video reviews and comparisons for the Crosman Marlin Cowboy BB Rifle so make sure to check them out. I also recently did an update Field Test Shooting Video for the Daisy Red Ryder BB gun which is a very comparable airgun to the Crosman Marlin Cowboy BB Rifle.
Here is a quick overview of the Crosman Marlin Cowboy BB Rifle, it's designed for younger smaller shooter with it's short stock but it's still fun of all ages! You can store 700 4.5mm Steel BB's in its internal magazine and Crosman claims a max velocity of 350 fps. Like the Daisy Red Ryder the power source is a spring piston that is activated by the lever action.
Now let's talk about how the Crosman Marlin Cowboy BB Rifle performed in my Sea Can Field Test Shooting test... Crosman claims a max fps of 350, my Chronograph results came in at a 5 shot average of 316 fps which is not bad compared to the Daisy Red Ryder that also has a claimed fps of 350 but only shot around 240 fps.
So the Crosman Marlin Cowboy BB Rifle is the clear winner in terms of velocity over the Daisy Red Ryder but what about accuracy? That's a different story, the Crosman did not perform all that great for me shooting at a paper target 30 feet away using a rested shooting position. I shot 10 rounds at my paper target and got about a 5-6 inch grouping, there was an underlying smaller tight group that was closer to about 3 inches but a god 3-4 of the BB's came out of it spreading out the group significantly. Compare that to the Daisy Red Ryder with a nice tight 2 inch group.
So what do you want? Power or accuracy? I figure since the Crosman Marlin Cowboy BB Rifle is really targeted of the younger more entry level shooter that it should have good accuracy so they know when they are doing it right and less concerned on if the gun is performing as it should. Sure power is fun and smashing your targets does give a certain satisfaction but you have to hit the target first :)
Type: Air Pistol. Manufacturer: Sig Sauer Model:Sig Sauer Spartan & Max Michel 1911 Materials: Mostly all metal build. Weight: 2.06 pounds (934 Grams). Barrel: 5 inches - Non-rifled. Propulsion: 12 gram CO2. Action: Blowback single action only. Ammunition Type: 4.5mm Steel BB's. Ammunition Capacity: 16 round stick magazine. Max FPS: 410.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Sig 1911 CO2 blowback pistols is excellent! juts like a real 1911 it is single action only and both Sig Sauer 1911's have very short and very light trigger pulls. To make the shooting experience even more realistic you will need to engage the working back strap safety in order to shot these guns, again just like a real 1911.
Accuracy: I have not done my official Field Test Shooting Video for the these Sig Sauer CO2 Blowback 1911's but I did do a shooting field test for the Daisy Winchester Model 11 which these guns are built in design from. The Daisy Model 11 on a rather cold day shot around 360 fps so I am expecting better results from the new updated Sig Sauer Max Michal and Spartan especially in warmer shooting conditions. during my previous Daisy Model 11 testing I was also able to get around a 2 inch 10 shot grouping from a 30 foot shooting position.
Build Quality: Both of the Sig Sauer Spartan and Max Michel Blowback CO2 airguns are built really well, they feel solid in the hand and all the mechanical parts feel tight, the finish is also nice and does not show any signs of wearing. You will find metal parts pretty much everywhere except the magazines, even the safety, magazine release and slide catch are metal, it's kind of too bad the magazine was also not metal?
Realism: Sig Sauer modeled the Spartan and Max Michel after their real steel version and overall they are very similar with the exception that neither of the real steel version have under barrel rails, you will also find adjustable sights on both of the real steel versions and of course proper full size magazines. Other than that both the Sig Sauer CO2 Blowback 1911/s look the part and have full Sig Sauer Licensing and branding,
Good overall replica of the real steel 1911 Sig Sauer pistols.
Really nice single action trigger.
Full Sig Sauer markings and licensing.
Cam lever system for easy CO2 loading.
Working grip safety.
Can expect reasonably decent blowback feel.
Higher fps than the KWC 1911’s range.
White dot sights front and back.
Rail for accessories.
Cons:
Plastic stick magazine.
Rail would not be on the original Sig Sauer pistols.
Sights are pretty basic and none adjustable.
Would have liked a more recessed barrel.
CO2 Grip comes off pretty easily.
Comments: I know that everyone seems to like airguns with full size drop out metal magazines and yes it does make the airgun look and feel more realistic but once the magazine is in the gun the experience for the most part is the same. Having a stick magazine in this case allows for a more efficient CO2 delivery which should increase power and shots per CO2, I know a lot of people complain about the low FPS of the KWC 1911's so if this is you then perhaps you then you may need to give up a full size mag for more power and shots per CO2? Other then the stick mag issue both the Sig Sauer Spartan and Max Michel are really nice CO2 Blowback Airguns and I am really hoping they perform well when I get to my field test shooting review shortly.
My Vimeo Table Top Review of the Sig Sauer Spartan & Max Michel Blowback CO2 BB Pistols:
The Sig Sauer ASP P320 CO2 Blowback .177 Caliber Pellet Pistol is a really nice evolution to the already existing line of Sig Sauer ASP Pellet Pistols. The 30 round belt fed pellet magazine is what really sets it apart from the Sig ASP P250 and Sig ASP P226 which both share the traditional double sided 8 round rotary pellet magazines found in other CO2 pellet pistols like the Umarex PX4 and ASG CZ P-09 Duty.
The big question I had was how is the trigger going to feel and is a 30 round belt magazine going to be reliable? Will other aspects of the Sig Sauer ASP P320 CO2 Blowback .177 Caliber Pellet Pistol function and perform like its rotary magazine brothers?
During my Chronograph feet per second shooting test I compared all three blowback pellet pistols shooting five rounds from each of them using a brand new CO2 and Sig Sauer 5.25 grain Match Ballistic Alloy Pellets. It was a close race with the Sig ASP P250 averaging 413 fps, the Sig ASP P226 just under with a 409 fps average and the Sig ASP P320 coming in a very close third at 405 fps. Only about 8 fps separating all of them!
Moving on to the target portion of my testing. As per my standard Field Test Shooting Reviews I setup my paper targets about 30 feet from my rested shooting position and since the ASP P250 and P226 both have 8 rounds per side rotary magazines I decided to shoot an 8 round grouping with all three Sig ASP pellet pistols. It was really close and perhaps one could say most of the variability was because of the human factor. All three CO2 Blowback Pellet Pistols shot about 2 inch groupings with perhaps one or two outliers, again most likely my fault :) I would say the Sig Sauer ASP P250 was perhaps the most accurate with the tightest of the three groups and also the most centered. The Sig Sauer ASP P226 and Sig Sauer ASP P320 where both a close second with both of them shooting just a tad left on target but pretty close to the center.
What about that Sig Sauer ASP P320 CO2 Blowback .177 Caliber Pellet Pistol trigger and belt fed magazine? The trigger actually felt great, much lighter than I was expecting and I did not have one pellet feed error during my entire testing. At the end of the day all three Sig ASP pellet guns performed about the same, but I have to say having 30 rounds at your disposal without having to reload or rotate the stick mag really makes the Sig ASP P320 stand out and perhaps make it the winner in a very close contest.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Umarex Beretta APX CO2 Blowback BB Pistol is a little different then that of the real steel APX. On the real steel APX there is actually a trigger safety and the actual gun uses a striker based system with a fairly short reset and take-up. On the replica Airgun version the trigger does not have a built in safety and the reset and take-up are much longer (full length). I have read that both the real steal and BB versions of the APX both have about 6 pounds trigger pulls but I personally felt like the Airgun version was heavier than that, perhaps because of the long pull. Overall the Umarex Beretta APX CO2 Blowback BB Pistol trigger is acceptable but not my favorite.
Accuracy: I have not shot the Umarex Beretta APX CO2 Blowback BB Pistol so far but based on similar blowback stick magazine BB air pistols from Umarex with around 400 fps performance, I know that it will have a medium blowback feel and should shoot pretty close to the claimed 395 fps. I also expect at least a 2 inch or smaller 10 shot grouping from 30 feet back.
Build Quality: Very good, the Umarex Beretta APX CO2 Blowback BB Pistol feels heavier than 1.5 pounds in the hand, perhaps because it is a more compact gun. The metal slide, metal stick mag and internal metal parts all help to balance off the polymer frame nicely. Fit and finish is also good.
Realism: The Umarex Beretta APX CO2 Blowback BB Pistol overall is a really close replica to the real steel APX other than the added safety and missing trigger safety. The added safety does not stand out too much and does serve a purpose while the missing trigger safety could of at least been there for show if not an actual working safety. Other than that the Umarex Beretta APX CO2 Blowback BB Pistol is very close to the Beretta APX with its full licensing, open ejection port, recessed barrel working slide catch release and blowback operation. Available at the:Replica Airguns Store
Pros:
Great weight and feel to it, build quality seems really good.
Really nice replica of the original Beretta APX in most ways.
Working slide catch and release.
Fully Beretta licensed.
Easy to see white dot sights front and back.
Recessed barrel and open ejection port for added realism.
Accessory rail for adding a laser or tactical light.
Stick magazine but plate gives the elusion of a full size magazine and covers the CO2 tab.
Warning instruction are nice and discreet!
Cons:
Trigger is a bit long and perhaps heavier than the real steel APX trigger. It also does not have the trigger safety.
Has a stick magazine rather than a full size magazine.
Sights are non-adjustable which is common with airguns like this one.
Comments:
It's always nice to get another airgun replica for fans of that particular real steel gun so they have a low cost shooting option they can use in a lot more locations for some safe trigger time. The Umarex Beretta APX CO2 Blowback BB Pistol is a great addition for sure and it's also nice that it is somewhat Glock like in looks and operation for those Glock fans out there that are having a tuff time locating a Glock airgun replica :) Other than my trigger beef, I really like the Umarex Beretta APX CO2 Blowback BB Pistol. I hope it performs as good as it looks when I do my field test shooting video in a bit.
My Vimeo Videos for the Umarex Beretta APX CO2 Blowback BB Pistol:
I know this video is going to excite many of you if you already like the basic KWC 1911 and PT92, also known as the Tanfoglio Witness, GSG 92 and many other almost exactly the same guns from Swiss Arms, Gletcher, Cybergun and even Umarex and Crosman.
There are tons of these KWC CO2 Blowback BB Pistols and Airsoft Pistols on the market in various versions with all kinds of different licensing on them and I have seen lots of custom modification photos from my viewers showing me how thy have striped and polished their KWC blowback Air Pistols and even added real wood grips.
That's why I think it's super cool that now you can get your already blinged out and polished Cybergun/KWC 1911 or PT92 and realy for not a lot more money at the end of the day! The real problems is availability since these stainless versions are in high demand.
So what are we looking at in this video? I have two Cybergun/KWC 1911's one is a basic 1911 A1 with a parkerized and stainless frame and slide, you also have a real wood look grip (Looks like wood but is not actually wood...) The basic Swiss Arms 1911 has been called the SA 1911 Seventies Stainless Pistol while the more tactical Swiss Arms SA 1911 is rightfully called the SA 1911 Tactical Rail System since it has a lot more tactical features like a rail, ambidextrous safety, white dot sights, and tactical trigger and hammer.
The Swiss Arms SA 92 Stainless which is essentially very similar to the GSG 92 or KWC PT92 again offers a parkerized and stainless frame and slide with the simulated wood grips.
Make sure to watch my update video for these three very attractive Swiss Arms CO2 Blowback BB Pistols from Cybergun/KWC and if you're interested in purchasing one you like then see if we have them in stock in our Canada Replica Airguns Store.
Type: Air Pistol. Manufacturer: Sig Sauer ASP Model:Sig Sauer ASP P320. Materials: Metal and plastic build. Weight: 1.81 pounds (821 Grams). Barrel: 4.75 inches - Rifled steel. Propulsion: 12 gram CO2. Action: Blowback single and double action. Ammunition Type: .177 caliber pellets and 4.5mm Steel BB's. Ammunition Capacity: 30 round belt fed stick magazine. Max FPS: 430.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Sig Sauer ASP P320 CO2 Blowback .177 Caliber Pellet Pistol is a lot better than I thought it was going to be considering each time you pull the trigger it has to advance the 30 round belt fed magazine and cock the internal hammer since it is double action only. The blowback operation is really only for show and feel since it does not cock the hammer for a more single action type trigger pull. You can expect a fairly long trigger pull because it is double action only but overall it is not too heavy.
Accuracy: I have not done my official Field Test Shooting Video for the Sig Sauer ASP P320 CO2 Blowback .177 Caliber Pellet Pistol but hope to have it done shortly. Since I also haven't really done an official shooting test for the Sig Sauer P350 and P226, I figure I will test out all three of them at the same time.
Build Quality: The Sig Sauer ASP P320 CO2 Blowback .177 Caliber Pellet Pistol is a bit heavier (closer to 2 pounds) than the P250 which hits the scale at only 1.5 pounds , this does make the Sig Sauer P320 feel a bit more solid in the hand. The Sig Sauer P320 has a metal slide and polymer frames similar to the real steel version which gives it authentic weight, balance and handling. Sig claims that their entire APS line of pellet guns is life tested for 15,000 shots so you know this gun is going to last and provide years of shooting fun. The fit and finish seem really good, so far no real paint or finish problems and all mechanically everything is operating as it should.
Realism: The Sig Sauer ASP P320 CO2 Blowback .177 Caliber Pellet Pistol is a very close replica of the real steel Sig Sauer P320. The hammer, slide catch release and take down leaver are purely for show with the hammer being moulded into the slide and frame. One slight disappointment for me is when a gun does not have a cut out ejection port, that is also the case with the otters ASP Sig Sauer airguns like the P226 and P250 but it does not take away from the shooting fun in any way.
Good overall replica of the real steel Sig Sauer P320.
Designed by Sig Sauer and made in Japan, fully Sig Sauer licensed.
Should have nice heavy blowback operation like the ASP P250 and P226.
Has better weight than the P250, almost half a pound heavier.
White dot sights for easy target acquisition and accessory rail for add ons.
Super high capacity 30 round belt feed magazine.
Decent feel to the trigger not heavy or as sticky as I thought it might be having a 30 round belt fed magazine.
Cons:
Hammer is moulded into the slide and frame, does not function at all.
Sight are non adjustable.
Ejection port is not cut out and there is no working slide catch.
Comments: I was happy when Sig Sauer released their ASP Sig P250 and P226 CO2 Blowback Pellet Pistols with their 16 round double sided stick magazines like we have seen in several otters CO2 Pellet Pistols. But I love the introduction of the 30 round belt fed magazine. I am hoping the belt fed magazine performs while actually shooting pellets as good as it feels when dry firing it, I guess we will have to wait and see when I do my Field Test Shooting Video :) Overall the new Sig Sauer ASP P320 Pellet Pistol looks to be an upgrade of sure to the P250 in terms of improved weight and a higher capacity magazine.
My Vimeo Table Top Review of the Sig Sauer ASP P320 CO2 Blowback .177 Caliber Pellet Pistol:
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the ASG/KJWorks Beretta X9 Classic is very good in both single and double action. Double action is a bit longer and heavier than when shooting in single action since the hammer is being drawn back, but not overly heavy by any means. Single action shooting is short, light and crisp as you would expect when shooting a real steel Beretta 92 style pistol.
Accuracy: I have not done my actual Field Test Shooting video review for the ASG/KJWorks Beretta X9 Classic CO2 BB Pistol but I did get the chance to make a short preview video where I shot the Airsoft version of this M9 Beretta at some clay pigeons setup around 20 feet away. I was able to pop the center out of the clay pigeons no problem and found that even without any practice I was consistently hitting dead center on most shots. I am not sure exactly what the FPS will be btu it shoudl for sure get at least the claimed 312 fps if not a bit more.
Build Quality: As expected, the ASG X9 Classic Beretta M9 CO2 Blowback 4.5mm BB Pistol build quality is just like all the other KJWorks Airsoft guns I've tested so far. The ASG 4.5mm Steel BB shooting X9 Classic has more of a Matt finish but I kind of like it, not so many finger prints on the gun. All the tolerances between the moving parts like the slide and frame are very tight showing excellent workmanship and machining from KJWorks.
Realism: The ASG X9 Classic Beretta M9 CO2 Blowback 4.5mm BB Pistol is an excellent copy of the real steel popular Beretta M9, it is really hard to tell it apart from the real version and the ASG X9 Classic can even be field stripped in the same manor as a real Beretta M9 Semi Auto pistol with the similar functioning parts. The only missing aspect would be Beretta Licensing since the ASG version is unlicensed.
All metal design, fit and finish is very good as is with all KJWorks made guns.
Strong slide spring so should have nice heavy blowback action.
Realistic working safety and working slide catch and release.
Full size dropout metal magazine that holds steel BB's and CO2.
Can be field stripped like original Beretta M9.
KJWorks quality.
Cons:
Not licensed like the Umarex version.
None adjustable sights and white dot sights are kind of light.
Will eat up CO2 pretty quickly.
Comments:
There are very few 4.5mm Steel BB guns made by KJWorks and it seems that ASG as far as I know is the only distributer that has teamed up with KJWork to have them make some of their guns, I reviewed the ASG CZ 75 which is another ASG/KJWorks distributer 4.5mm CO2 Blowback Pistol. I don't even think you can get the 4.5mm Steel BB shooting version direct from KJWork? What I love most of all about the ASG X9 Classic Beretta M9 CO2 Blowback 4.5mm BB Pistol is that it is made by KJWorks since there are already a lot of Beretta M9's and Mod. 92's already out there but if I could only have one it would probably be the ASG X9 Classsic!
My Vimeo Table Top Review of the ASG X9 Classic Beretta M9 CO2 Blowback 4.5mm BB Pistol:
First off, I want to thank Crosman for providing these two guns for review! Now they're not exactly new guns by any means but for sure worth showing and doing some update reviews for.
Starting with the Crosman PFAM98 Taurus PT-92:
The Crosman PFAM98 Taurus PT-92 is essential a KWC made M92 also branded as the same gun as the Cybergun GSG 92 and the Swiss Arms P92.
So for all intense and purposes if you have watched any of my other revise on this line of KWC Beretta /Taurus BB pistols and even Airsoft versions then this BB gun should be really familiar to you.
History of the Taurus PT-92:
It is often referred to as a Berate 92 copy but in fact it is a Taurus PT-92 replica. The Taurus PT-92 is a product of Brazil, Taurus actually bought the entire Brazilian Beretta factory back in 1980 including drawings, tooling, machinery, and a very experienced work force to make the guns. Taurusimmediately sought to improve on the Beretta design, resulting in the popular and acclaimed Taurus PT-92.
Specifications for the Crosman PFAM98 Taurus PT-92:
Crosman use to make a similar version of the Crosman American Classic P1322 called the Back Packer which had a slightly longer barrel and came with a removable stock. You can kind of replicate this gun by adding the stock but it will have a shorter barrel. Keep in mind there are a ton of mods available for this series of Crosman airguns including barrels, bolts, trigger, Internals stocks, scope mounts…
PHOTOSpecifications for the Crosman American Classic P1322:
Metal and plastic construction.
Pneumatic pump.
.22 caliber lead pellets.
Single shot bolt action.
Rifled metal barrel.
Single action only.
Up to 460fps using lead pellets (10 pumps).
1.88 pounds (853 grams)
Keep posted for my full update reviews for these airguns...
Materials: Mostly clear plastic exterior with metal magazine and internal metal parts.
Weight: 1.2 pounds (544 grams).
Barrel: 4 inches, metal non-rifled with internal Hop-up.
Propulsion: CO2 x 1.
Action: Semi auto, double action only.
Ammunition Type: 6mm Plastic BB's.
Ammunition Capacity: 16 round full size drop out magazine.
FPS: 360 (.12 gram BB's).
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Umarex HK USP Clear CO2 Airsoft Gun is pretty light for a Double Action Only trigger and it will allow for some pretty quick rapid fire action shooting. The hammer is basically for show as the hammer is actually situated internally.
Accuracy: So far I have not had a chance to test the Umarex HK USP Clear CO2 Airsoft Gun out but I expect it to get around 300 fps using .20 gram plastic Airsoft BB's and with the internal hop-up it should also be fairly accurate. We will have to find out later on when I get outside and perform my Field Test Shooting Video Review.
Build Quality: My first impressions of a clear plastic gun are that it is going to be cheaply made but this is not the case with the Umarex HK USP Clear CO2 Airsoft Gun. For the most part it is exactly like the all black Steel BB version I already reviewed other than the clear plastic shell. Everything else about the Umarex HK USP Clear CO2 Airsoft Gun is the same and there is a lot internal metal parts including a metal barrel and breach and a full internal metal chassis. I would have like to have seen a metal trigger, hammer, safety and slide catch release.
Realism: The Umarex HK USP Clear CO2 Airsoft Gun is a fully licensed replica of the real H&K USP automatic pistol. Other than it being clear and having a red tip is an extremely close looking and accurate replica of the real steel version. It does not operate the same since it is non blowback and does not have a moving slide but visually it is a very good copy.
Relatively low cost gun, even less than the Steel BB version that is the same other than the clear plastic portions.
Nice full size drop out magazine that holds the CO2 and Airsoft BB’s.
Lots of internal metal parts gives decent weight to the gun even though much of the shell is plastic.
Rail for accessories.
CO2 screw is well hidden in magazine.
H&K licensing via Umarex.
Red dot sights are easy to see on most targets.
Should have justthe right amount of power for indoor CQB style Airsoft games.
Makes a good starter pistol for someone getting into the hobby that may not want a gun that looks too realistic.
Cons:
Being a clear gun obviously takes away from the realism but that is the point of this gun so as not be confused with a real gun..
Would have been nice if the magazine was metal like earlier versions of the HK USP.
Also would have been nice to see more metal parts like the hammer, magazine release, safety, and slide catch release.
Comments:
As I mentioned in my video of the Umarex P99 Clear Plastic Spring Airsoft Pistol, I can be a bit of an Airgun snob and I tend to stay away from the clear Airsoft guns since I like mostly metal guns with blowback operation. That said there is a place for these clear Airsoft pistols. The Umarex HK USP Clear CO2 Airsoft Gun other than being clear looks like a gun and shoots like a gun but will not be confused as being a real gun which can offer some more safety and less stress to all parties involved.
My Vimeo Video Review for the Umarex HK USP Clear CO2 Airsoft Gun:
This Vimeo Unboxing Preview Video focuses on two AR M4 styled AEG Airsoft Rifles. The G&G CM16 Rifles are all pretty much the same other than the barrel lengths and come in the following versions, the CM16 SRS, CM16 SRL and CM16 SRXL. I also showcase the Umarex HK M27 which is distributed by Umarex but made by VFC which is knwo for their high quality products. I will be following up this Preview Unboxing Video with individual more detailed Review videos for each AEG AR M4 rifle.
This Unboxing Preview Video focuses on three Bullpup designed AEG Airsoft Rifles. The two Steyr Aug Bullpups are distributed through ASG while the IWI Tavor 21 is distributed via Umarex. In this Unboxing Preveiw video I take each gun out of the box and go over some basic specification and show you around each AEG Bullpup Rifle a little bit. I will be following up this Preview Unboxing Video with individual more detailed Review videos for each AEG rifle.
Here are some of the basic Specifications for each AEG Airsoft Rifle.
This has got to be one of the most asked questions when people are trying to decide on which CO2 BB Pistol they want to buy. The reality is that most non blowback CO2 BB pistols will generally shoot just over 400 fps and most blowback BB pistols will shoot around 350 fps. Some may shoot a little faster and some may shoot a little slower.
My question is this… What difference will it make if you are shooting a BB at 350 fps versus say 450 fps? I honesty think that some people believe that if they purchase a CO2 BB pistol that shoots a whopping 499 fps, then they have acquired a deadly weapon with crazy stopping power.
The truth of the matter is that even a 500 fps BB gun is still not suitable for even small pest control or hunting, you would only be causing the animal to suffer if you shot it with such a lower powered airgun. So using an air pistol for any kind of personal protection on human sized targets is completely out off the question.
Let’s talk about what CO2 BB pistols are really used for. Shooting at pop cans, shooting paper targets, perhaps setting up some army men and picking them off one by one. stuff like that. So does it really matter if the BB is going 350 fps versus 450 fps? It’s still going to go clean though a pop can even filled with water, paper is no match for a BB traveling even under 300 fps, and Army men stand no chance when head shot by a steel BB the size of a canon ball to them.
When is power really going to be important in a CO2 BB Pistol? Perhaps if you plan to shoot out at longer ranges but in this case Steel BB’s are not really meant to shoot out at long ranges as most BB pistols do not have rifled barrels meant for long range accuracy. I have found Steel BB guns to be very accurate up to 30 feet or so, even grouping within in a half inch with some CO2 BB pistols, but further out than that and the BB’s start to wander.
Normally higher velocity is what you want when you plan on using your airgun for hunting or pest control but again a CO2 BB pistol simply is not the tool for this job.
One comment I hear a lot from people is that they would prefer more power over blowback action and that they feel that blowback action robs the gun of too much power. Yes blowback does sacrifice some power since it uses a little bit of the CO2 to operate the slide but the benefits of blowback in my opinion are worth the 50 or so fps loss in power. Blowback operation adds realism to the CO2 BB gun simulating recoil, allowing true single action trigger operation and many CO2 BB Pistols will even lock the slide back on the last shot so you know you are out of ammo and can practice your magazine drop and reloading.
Power Sources Covered in this review: CO2 - Green Gas / Propane - Spring - AEG / AEP (Automatic Electric Gun - Airsoft Electric Pistol)
Pro’s:
CO2 Airsoft Guns allow for fast repeat shooting, great for action shooters, generally CO2 Airsoft Guns will have a little more power then Green Gas Airsoft Guns. There is no need to pump or cock your CO2 powered Airsoft gun in-between shots and a CO2 power source can allow for a very realistic action of the gun you are shooting.
Green Gas (Propane) Airsoft Guns operate much the same as CO2 Airsoft guns so they all make for great action shooters and the Green Gas powers the mechanical operation allowing for very realistic operation. Green Gas (Propane) Airsoft Guns can cost a little bit less to operate that a CO2 Airsoft Gun especially if you plan to use Propane as it can be cheaper to buy than the smaller 12 gram CO2 Cartridges.
Spring Airsoft Guns are generally fairly basic and low cost so they are the usually the most affordable Airsoft guns to buy. There is no need to buy CO2 or Green Gas or even a Battery and Charger Setup so the cost to shoot Spring Airsoft Guns is only going to be subject to the Airsoft BB’s you plan on buying.
AEG (Automatic Electric Guns) have the most consistent power as they use a spring internally that the electric motor draws back before each shot, the internal spring will essentially apply the same force to the Airsoft BB’s with each shot. AEG (Automatic Electric Guns) are a great option when you are wanting a Full Auto Airsoft gun since there is no cool down effect and as long as your batteries are charged and you have Airsoft BB’s in your magazine, the gun will simply keep shooting. AEG (Automatic Electric Guns) allow for the highest capacity magazines and often hold as many as 500 Airsoft BB’s in a single magazine. So if you’re looking for raw firepower an AEG or AEP Airsoft Gun is your best option. Once you have purchased your AEG (Automatic Electric Gun) and a battery and charger setup, they are fairly inexpensive to operate since no CO2 or Green Gas is required.
Con’s:
CO2 Airsoft Guns require the additional cost to buy the CO2 cartridges as they will not function without it. CO2 Airsoft Guns have a limited power output and lose power as you shoot and use up the CO2. CO2 Airsoft Guns are effected by hot and cold temperatures and will have less power in colder temperatures and may not even work in super cold environments. CO2 Airsoft Guns will have a more conservative ammunition capacity since too high of a capacity magazine would freeze up the magazine and even the gun.
Again since Green Gas (Propane) Airsoft Guns work much like CO2 Airsoft Guns, they are effected by cool down and lose power when shoot quickly or as the Green Gas or Propane runs low. Green Gas does not expand as much as CO2 so it will not be as powerful and even less effective in colder temperatures. Green Gas Airsoft Guns will have a more conservative ammunition capacity since too high of a capacity magazine would freeze up.
Spring Airsoft Guns are not the best action shooters since you need to manually operate the slide to pullback the spring prior to each shot, this does work well with Pump, Lever and Bolt Action Airsoft guns but is not the best option for pistols since most real steel pistols operate in semi auto mode.
If you plan to use your AEG (Automatic Electric Gun) in a battle then it will require a multi battery setup which does cost a bit more upfront. AEG (Automatic Electric Guns) are know to not operate as realistically as a CO2 or Green Gas Airsoft gun since CO2 and Green Gas Guns do allow for the same realistic mechanical operation which can give very believable blowback operation, this is hard to replica with an AEG Airsoft Gun.
Power: Generally speaking a longer barrel is going to allow for more power. If you compare most CO2 pellet pistols to CO2 Pellet Rifles, you will find that the CO2 Pellet Pistol will generally shoot about 300-400 fps using a standard lead Pellet. On the other hand many CO2 Pellet Rifles can get up to as high as 600 fps which is much better speed for humanly shooting some smaller pests.
If you are talking about Springer or Variable Pump Air Pistols versus their Air Rifle counterparts, again the Air rifles will generally shoot with much more power. I have seen some none CO2 Air Pistols shoot up into the 500-600 fps range but again compered to none CO2 Air Rifles, they can even double these numbers.
Some of you may ask about Steel BB Pistols and Rifles. I personally would never really sue this type of ammunition for pest control simply because most BB Rifles have much less raw power than Pellet Rifles and steel BB’s will not be as accurate at any type of longer distance.
Stability: When holding any rifle from the shoulder, you have three point of contact with your body spread out in a much longer distance than a two handed pistol grip. Holding steady even without a rested position is much easier using a rifle. Even when using a rested position, the rifle will more stable.
Accuracy: A big factor in accuracy is stability but there are also other factors to consider. Barrel length its self does not make the gun more accurate, you only need a few inches of barrel length to get constant accurate results from a gun. What makes longer barreled guns more accurate is the distance between the rear and front sight. The closer the sights are together, the more margin for error there is, the longer you spread out the sights from each other, the more accurate the sighting system becomes.
Overall More Humain: When you consider Air Rifles tend to have higher power, better accuracy and overall more consistency than shorter barreled Air Pistols. The logical choice for humanly shooting a Pest is to use the Air Rifle. The last thing you want to do is make any animal suffer, even if it has been causing a lot of havoc around your home or farm or place of business.
This is not to say that a “Real Gun” is not as good as an Airgun or better in other ways, in this video I’m just pointing out how an Airgun in some cases can actually be better suited than a Real Gun.
Availability: What I mean by this, is that in many countries Real Guns can be very hard to acquire and often require safety course and applications before one can purchase a Real Gun. I have no problem with this but it is a reality that must be considered. Having an Airgun versus not having a gun at all makes it a better option for people that live in countries that have strict gun laws. Here in Canada we are allowed Real Guns, even pistols but we do have restriction on our pistols and so I can only get certain guns in an Airgun version. As a collector this is better than not having the gun at all.
Price to Buy: Generally speaking you can pickup an enter level Airgun for much less money than a real gun.
Cost to Shoot: Real gun ammo prices have been steadily increasing to the point that a day out shooting can cost several hundred dollars just on the ammunition alone.
Comparison of Price:
50 rounds of 9mm ammo will cost around $18.00
6000 rounds of 4.5mm Steel BB will cost about $18.00
CO2 is a bit less than $1 per 12 gram Cylinder which can yield up to 100 shots each.
To shoot 100 rounds of 9mm will cost close to $40 versus 100 shots of 4.5mm steel BB at around $1.
For this reason alone an Airgun can make a lot of sense even for Real Gun owners looking to get more cost effective practice time.
Access to Shooting Locations: Depending on where you live you will have to consider your local laws and where you are allowed to shoot both types of guns but typically you can shoot an Airgun safely just about anywhere as long as you implement some backstop safety precautions. Here in Canada we can only shoot a pistol at designated gun ranges, where as Airguns have a lot more allowances to shot them as long as you are not braking any city bylaws.
Training Guns: Even if you plan to eventually step up to a Real Gun at some point, an airgun is a great option to first learn proper gun handling skills since if you where to make a mistake, the consequences are much less severe. Airguns are also a lot less intimidating than a real gun since they are much quieter and have less recoil, you don’t even need to wear ear protection with most Airguns which means an instructor can communicate to his pupil on the range a lot easier.
Prop Guns: Since Replica Airguns look so much like real guns these day, they can often be used as a safer substitute for use in Movie, TV or other Photo and Video productions. Using a Real Gun on set generally requires a certified “Gun Wrangler” be on hand as Real Guns must be transported, stored and handled using very strict regulations. Airguns generally do not need to follow the same rigid regulations that Real Guns are bound to.
Tactical Training with Live Targets: Obviously shooting a real gun at a live target would not fair well for anyone involved, so that is completely out of the question. Airsoft Airguns are however perfect for Tactical Training and other weapons based simulations. All that is required for safety when using Airsoft guns is the use of eye protection and generally some heavy clothing.
I am sure there are some more areas in which Airguns may have the advantage over a Real Gun but these are the main ones that I could think of.
I have often been asked which of the Shells for the Shell Loading Revolvers work in which Shell Loading Revolvers? After all many of them look a lot alike so can you mix and match Shells for the various types of Shell Loading Revolvers?
In this Vimeo Instructional Video I test out a bunch of Shells to see which ones actually will work or not work in several of the most popular Shell Loading Revolvers.
Some of the Shell Loading Revovers Tested in this Instructional Video are:
To make this as comparable a test as possible I used two KWC/Gletcher Makarov Full Blowback Pistols each with their own separate magazine, again one with a 12 gram CO2 and one using the ANT system.
HPA or High Presure Air is not effected by cold weather which makes this setup ideal for shooting in cold situations since fps is not effected at all. As CO2 requires heat to expand, the colder the outside temperature the less amount of expansion you get from the CO2 whihc results in less power, this is really noticeable on your follow-up magazines as the CO2, magazine and even the gun will have started to cool down from the CO2 exposure.
The ANT Advanced Novelty Tech FIRE CO2 HPA Conversion Kit even when using large 20 ounce CO2 tanks will help with the cool down effect since the large CO2 tanks will take much longer to cool down and even freeze up as compared to the smaller 12 gram CO2 which can get frosty even after the first magazine.
I did notice in this Field Test Shooting Review that the CO2 did pretty good as it was my first magazine and the temperature was not all that cold out. I can say the HPA System was shooting much harder, after making this video I popped off another couple magazine with each gun shooting out to at least 100 feet and the ANT FIRE HPA setup was really throwing the 4.5mm Steel BB's out there quickly. As expected the 12 gram CO2 mags really started to trail off especially on the third magazine of shots.
All in all, the ANT Advanced Novelty Tech FIRE CO2 HPA Conversion Kit will not only bring your cost per shot down significantly but it allows you to keep shooting with no down time waiting for your gun to warm back up and the ability to use HPA (High Pressure Air) means you will get even more fps performance out of your air guns but also much more consistent shot performance all day long!
Well ANT (Advanced Novelty Tech) made an update model that supports a bunch more guns, that's a good thing of course. This new model is called the "FIRE" and it supports the following guns. I did find however that ANT list that the Gletcher NGT and Webley Mark VI Revolvers where supported by the FIRE but my findings indicated the CO2 screw on both these guns had a smaller diameter so they where not compatible. Other than that small discrepancy most of the other guns on their list should work just fine.
What exactly is the ANT Advanced Novelty Tech FIRE CO2 HPA Conversion Kit?
The Advanced Novelty Tech FIRE CO2/HPA Conversion Kit is a remote line adapter for Airsoft, BB, and pellet guns. Compatible with over 60 guns, it is easy to install and converts a compatible gun for use with a Paintball remote line and CO2 or HPA tank. Eliminating the need for disposable CO2 cartridges, while still being interchangeable with disposable CO2 cartridges, it delivers a longer, more powerful, and more consistent shooting experience between refills.
So what is the ANT Advanced Novelty Tech FIRE CO2 HPA Conversion Kit going to do for you?
Eliminate the need for the more expensive disposable 12 gram CO2 cartridges.
Use interchangeably with disposable 12 gram CO2 cartridges.
Use in conjunction with a Paintball remote line with standard quick disconnect fittings and a CO2 or HPA tank. (recommended use up to 1000 psi)
Shoot thousands of rounds before needing to refill your CO2.
Fits compatible Airsoft, BB, and pellet gun CO2 pistols.
Easy drop-in installation.
Overall cost savings.
More consistent FPS especially when shooting fast or in full auto.
