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:
Almost a year or so ago I made my Table Top Review Video for both the 6mm Airsoft and 4.5mm Steel BB shooting KWC Mac 11 M11 CO2 Pistols, and no they are not machine pistols since they only shoot in semi auto mode. Well anyway, I finally got around to testing these low cost Mac 11 replicas out shooting them through my Chrony Chronograph to find out their real world fps velocity along with my standard 30 foot back semi rested paper target accuracy test. Both CO2 Replica Pistols performed rather well for me and turned out to be both powerful and accurate.
In terms of power, KWC claims 120 meters per second or 394 feet per second for the 4.5mm Steel BB KWC M11 while the 6mm Airsoft Mac 11 had a claimed fps of 152 mps or 499 fps. During my testing both guns actually shot much faster than claimed with the steel BB M11 shooting 5.1 grain steel 4.5mm BB's at an average of 453 fps. The Airsoft KWC Mac 11 with its lighter .20 gram 6mm plastic Airsoft BB's averaged a very hot 556 fps which is probably going to be too hot for most Airsoft fields but a lot of fun shooting in your back yard!
Both the Steel BB and Plastic Airsoft BB KWC M11's have an internal fixed hop-up system which did seem to help out a lot with accuracy. From my semi rested shooting position with paper targets setup 30 feet away, I was able to get well centered 1-5 to 2 inch groupings from both versions of the KWC Mac 11 CO2 Pistols.The Airsoft KWC M11 did shoot a little high and to the right but not a lot while the Steel BB M11 was centered well left to right but again just a little high.
Both KWC Mac 11 M11 CO2 Pistols shoot in double action and have what I would consider to be about medium pull triggers since there are not a lot of moving parts or any type of blowback operation. This means they will be more CO2 efficient and likely to have very few problems since they are very simple in design. If you want a great performing low cost and simple in design Mac 11 Replica then take your pick, 4.5mm Steel BB KWC M11 or 6mm Plastic Airsoft KWC M11!
It has been a while since I picked out some of my favorite guns, after all my favorite gun picks change on a daily basis since there are so many awesome guns out there to pick from.
This Vimeo video is a little different since I pick out my favorites from a bunch of mostly replica gun categories including Steel BB, Pellet, Airsoft, Revolvers and Blank Pistols.
You may notice most of my picks happen to be blowback guns but to me airguns are all about being as realistic as possible and having blowback operation to me help to simulate the realism that much more. The exception in this video is in the pellet gun category since I decided on a pellet gun that was more about function and purpose over being any type of real replica.
Hopefully you take the time to watch my entire Vimeo video since I also bring out some close runner ups but here is a list of my top picks on this day, tomorrow it could be a completely different list of guns ;)
In this Field Test Shooting video I test out both the Daisy Powerline 5501 and Daisy Powerline 5502 CO2 Blowback BB pistols to determine what the real work velocity is and also how well they performs in terms of accuracy. To test velocities for both Airguns I use a my Chrony Chronograph and do my best to get 5 good readings which I then average out. I always use a brand new 12 gram CO2 cartridge and generally use 5.1 grain Zink Coated Steel BB's for my entire Field Testing. For my accuracy test, I set myself up 30 feet back using a semi rested position, to do this I place a sand bag up front to rest my hands and gun on and then stand securely in the back while I place 10 rounds on a paper target. There will obviously be some humane factor involved since I am not perfect but I can usually get a good idea on how accurate a given gun is using this method.
During my Velocity or FPS Chronograph testing, I managed to get 4 good readings out of 15 shots with the Daisy Powerline 5501 scoring an average of 367fps. Amazingly my first 5 shots with the Daisy Powerline 5502 all ready perfectly on my Chronograph even though they where moving a good 50fps faster, go figure? My average velocity for this 5 shot sting of shots was 417fps.
For my accuracy testing I was expecting both guns to perform about the same since mechanically they arevirtually the same other than a longer barrel on the 5502. The Daisy Powerline 5501 however seemed to struggle with consistency, it did group well left to right and up and down on the target but the spread was about 5 inches and it should of gotten closer to 2-3 inches in my books for a blowback pistol like this. The Daisy Powerline 5502 did perform better in terms of accuracy getting closer to a 2-3 inch grouping so overall I have to give the Powerline 5502 the advantage in both velocity and accuracy.
Another noteworthy point to mention is how much quieter the Daisy Powerline 5502 is in person! I am assuming the longer barrel along with the compensator perhaps muffling the sound a bit plays a roll in this. Both Daisy Powerline CO2 Blowback BB Pistols have a nice solid blowback action simulating some recoil and the triggers on both are fairly decent being that they simulate more of a double action feel with their long medium weight pull.
I do like the look of the more simplified Daisy Powerline 5501 with it's chrome frame but the performance and accessory option of the Powerline 5502 are a definite benefit for this model.
Action: Semi auto, single & double action with full blowback.
Ammunition Type: 6mm plastic Airsoft BB's.
Ammunition Capacity: 25 round full size drop out metal magazine.
FPS: 366+ with extended barrel.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the VFC FN Herstal FNX45 Tactical GBB Airsoft Pistol is surprisingly light in single action mode, there is also minimal takeup. When shooting in double action the trigger pull length is much longer and heavier and has a bit of a stickiness too it but since this is a blowback pistol most of your shooting will be in single action mode where the trigger feels great!
Accuracy: I haven't done a dedicated Field Test Shooting Video yet for the VFC FN Herstal FNX45 Tactical GBB Airsoft Pistol but I did get the chance to play around with it when I did my I.C.U. 2.0 HD Action Camera review. In terms of power and accuracy it feels pretty good and you can expect to get decent power and accuracy out of it, we will have to wait and see how it performs on paper targets and when tested on the Chrony.
Build Quality: The VFC FN Herstal FNX45 Tactical GBB Airsoft Pistol is well made overall, I have found pretty much all the VFC airguns I have gotten my hands on seem to be well made and very realistic. you will find metal parts where they would be on the real Steel version of this pistol and same goes for plastic parts like the frame in this case. The finish seems to be holding up nicely too for me.
Realism: VFC really seams to pay a lot of attention to every detail of their Airsoft guns and the VFC FN Herstal FNX45 Tactical GBB Airsoft Pistol is no exception. All the mechanical working parts on this Airsoft version work as they would on the real .45 ACP FN Herstal FNX45, even the extractor is a separate part not moulded into the slide like you would find on most Airsoft pistols. You also get Interchangeable Back Straps to accommodate different hand sizes and of course it's fully FN licensed!
Excellent reproduction of the real steel FN Herstal FNX45 in looks and operation.
Very Crisp Firm full blowback operation.
Excellent fit and finish.
Everything is Ambidextrous so great for lefties too.
High Rise sighs suitable for the addition of a moc suppressor.
Comes with two interchangeable internal barrel lengths.
Fully field strip-able.
Fully FN Herstal Licensed.
Cons:
Comes with a red tip.
Magazine is kind of shiny
My serial number plate fell off while shooting it so make sure yours is on tight.
Comments:
Like I have mentioned throughout this review, VFC not only makes super realistic Airsoft guns, they also make a really high quality product. The VFC FN Herstal FNX45 Tactical GBB Airsoft Pistol is another example of this and offers everything you would hope to expect in an Airsoft Replica! The only down side is the orange tip but that can be sorted out easy enough after you get it. It's definitely not a small gun so keep that in mind when deciding on buying it, overall the VFC FN Herstal FNX45 Tactical GBB Airsoft Pistol is a really nice Airsoft gun at a reasonable price point.
My Vimeo Video Review for the VFC FN Herstal FNX45 Tactical GBB Airsoft Pistol:
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the KJWorks KP-11 1911 is very good since it is modeled after a real steel 1911 which makes it short and crisp with a nice light trigger pull. There is a very slight take-up at the very beginning of the pull but once your get past this the release is crisp and predictable. Since it is not a double action trigger you will need to either rack the slide for your first shot or pull the hammer back if you have already chambered a round.
Accuracy: I have not done my actual Field Test Shooting video review for the KJWorks KP-11 M1911 Airsoft Pistol so I do not have any definitive feedback for you but based on my experiences shooting other KJWorks 1911 styled Airsoft CO2 Pistols I expect it to have great blowback action recoil, a nice trigger and good overall FPS and accuracy. In terms of reliability, KJWorks pistols are solid in this department.
Build Quality: As expected, the KJWorks KP-11 Hi-Capa 1911 CO2 Blowback Airsoft Pistol build quality is exactly like all the other KJWorks Airsoft guns I've tested so far, Build quality for the price point is top notch with tolerances between the moving parts like the slide and frame are extremely tight showing excellent workmanship and machining from KJWorks. The finish is always a step above other similar styled Airsoft and BB guns, youn really don't have to worry about the finish coming of as easy.
Realism: The KJWorks CO2 KP-11 Hi-Capa 1911 Blowback Airsoft Pistol copies the real steel very popular even today Colt 1911 45 caliber pistol, it can be field stripped very similarly to a real 1911 Semi Auto pistol and all parts function virtually the same including a working safety, grip safety, slide catch-release, magazine release and hammer. This Hi-Capa version has a more tactical look with a wider frame for what would be a double stack hi capacity styled magazine.
Has really good weight but not too heavy since it has a polymer frame..
Expect to have typical KJWorks crisp and firm full blowback operation.
Excellent fit and finish. I like the mat textured finish which looks to bed super durable.
Nice bright white dot sights, really easy to see.
I like the look of the tactical hammer and trigger.
Nice high capacity magazine with a little extra zing for the CO2 Mag.
Fully field strip-able.
Cons:
Is not really setup up for left handers with no real ambidextrous components.
CO2 magazine is long to accommodate the 12 gram CO2.
Grips may be a bit thick for smaller hands.
Comments:
I love 1911 pistols and enjoy shooting them, there is something about how they feel in the hand that is different form most other pistols. They always feel so solid. The KJWorks Airsoft versions capture that feeling exactly and again the little bit more you may pay for a KJWorks 1911 over some other lesser quality Full blowback 1911's is worth the cost in my books. This Hi-Capa 1911 version with it's tactical look and finish would make a great game player for sure!
My Vimeo Table Top Review of the KJWorks KP-11 Hi-Capa 1911 CO2 Blowback Airsoft Pistol:
This comparison Review Video serves a few purposes, first to compare the ASG Dan Wesson 715 Revolver 4.5mm steel BB version to the 6mm plastic Airsoft version in both velocity and accuracy. Secondly to give my new Chrony Chronograph with lighting kit a test to see if I can get more reliable readings in lower light and thirdly to try and redeem the Steel BB version of the Dan Wesson 715 as last time I tested it, it did not get all that high of fps readings, well below the claimed 430 on the box.
In this review video I test both Dan Wesson 715 Revolvers out, first with my Chrony Chronograph and then all in one take I setup and shoot 6 rounds each on separate paper targets from 30 feet back to see how accurate the smaller heavier Steel BB rounds are compared to the larger lighter Plastic BB's. I used 5.1 grain RWS 4.5mm Steel BB's and .20 gram 6mm plastic BB's and installed brand new 12 gram CO2 cartridges in both guns.
In terms of my Chrony consistency, the smaller steel BB's still struggled to get consistent readings with only 2 out of 6 shots while the larger Airsoft BB's managed to get a good reading 4 out of 6 shots. Steel BB velocity was right around 350 fps while the Airsoft BB's where travelling much faster at closer to 450 fps.
Both the Steel BB and Airsoft CO2 Dan Wesson 715 Revolvers shot 6 round grouping of about 2 inches with 4 out of the 6 shots making a much tighter 1 inch group again with both ammo types. The Airsoft Dan Wesson 715 seemed to be centered on target well while the Steel BB Dan Wesson 715 shot a bit low.
As most my Vimeo Subscribers and Viewers will already know, I have been struggling with my Chrony Shooting Chronograph for a while now. I know some of it is to do with the bad lighting under my deck but over time my Chrony F-1 Shooting Chronograph has become less and less reliable to the point now that I simply don't get any usable feedback from it. If I'm lucky on a good day I might get one FPS reading out of ten shots which is nothing I can use.
So recently I went out and purchased a new Chrony Shooting Chronograph, I actually upgraded a little bit and got the higher end Chrony Beta Shooting Chronograph version which has more options than my older F-1 Chrony like:
Selector switch to change from FPS (feet per second) to MPS (meter per second).
Delivers Measurements and Statistics such as - High, Low and Average Velocities, Extreme Spread and Standard Deviation.
Retrieve individual Shot Velocities and Statistics.
Has temporary working memory.
Has 60 shot permanent memory (divided into 6 numbered strings of up to 10 shots each, with one set of Statistics for each string).
Delete individual shots (with automatic adjustment of Statistics).
Delete the content of a whole string or all data from memory.
Can be switched off, taken home & switched on again for reviewing and information retrieval.
Memory will stay even without battery.
Moves instantly from string to string, interrupts shooting on any string without memory loss, returns to any string to continue where you left off.
Change string size.
Stereo Jack for optional Printer or Remote Control.
Forget Button - To clear individual strings instantly.
In this review video I mainly show you around my new Chrony Beta Shooting Chronograph and don't really talk too much about features since it is all new to me and I have not played around with my new Beta Chrony much so far.
Make sure to watch my Vimeo video for this Comparison Review as I go into a lot of detail about the similarities and difference with each of these CO2 Blowback Pellet Guns.
All of these CO2 blowback pellet guns are made for each company in Japan (I am assuming from the same factory?)
All of the listed Pellet Airguns shoot .177 caliber pellets (Can be Alloy or Lead)
They all have double sided rotary stick magazines that hold 8 rounds on each end for a total of 16 shots per magazine.
All of the Airguns use 12 gram CO2.
All compared pellet guns have Blowback operation.
All of these pellet pistols have single and double action triggers except for the Gamo MP9 which is single action only and needs to be charged on the first shot.
They all have rifled barrels.
Here is where we find some key differences between these CO2 Blowback Pellet Pistols:
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Sig Sauer ASP P250 CO2 Blowback .177 Caliber Pellet Pistol is a lot better than I thought it was going to be. The blowback operation does place the hammer in the cocked position for single action type shooting but the the trigger is still required to index or advance the next pellet to line up with the barrel. Because of this, trigger pull is full length even in single action mode but you can barely feel any added friction from the indexing of the rotary magazine. All of this makes for a slightly longer trigger pull but one that is light weight with a fairly nice and easy release. For some reason the Sig Sauer P226 trigger does feel a little smoother with a slightly easier release.
Accuracy: I have not done my official Field Test Shooting Video with the Sig Sauer ASP P250 CO2 Blowback .177 Caliber Pellet Pistol and I am not sure when I am going to get the chance to do so since I am waiting on a replacement Chronograph for my velocity portion of my testing. That said I can say that Sig has already done some of the work for me and conducted their own "real world" velocity testing for their ASP line of CO2 Pellet Guns. Sig tested both a standard 8.18 grain lead pellet and a high velocity 5.25 grain alloy pellet shooting an 8 shot string with each to find out average fps performance for both pellet types. The 8.18 grain lead pellet average 353 fps while the 5.25 grain alloy pellet average 399 fps. In terms of accuracy, I was able to get just under a 2 inch 16 shot well centered grouping on two separate 30 foot back tests which is pretty decent. I did notice that when shooting a 16 shot string, the first and last shot velocity will vary a fair amount as the CO2 cools the gun and lowers the fps. I would recommend taking your time in-between reloads to let the Sig Sauer ASP P250 CO2 Blowback .177 Caliber Pellet Pistol warm back up.
Build Quality: The Sig Sauer ASP P250 CO2 Blowback .177 Caliber Pellet Pistol is a bit on the lighter side coming in around 1.5 pounds since it does incorporate both metal and plastic construction. You will find the Sig Sauer P250 has a metal slide and plastic frames similar to the real steel version. Weighing it at 1.45 pounds, the P250 is lighter then a standard Sig Sauer P250. 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 P250 CO2 Blowback .177 Caliber Pellet Pistol is a very close replica of the real steel Sig Sauer P250. I really like the fact that the safety also works as a working decoker just as it would on the real Sig P250. Other similar working parts are the magazine release and the hammer that stays back for true single action shooting. The slide catch release and take down leaver are purely for show but they are not moulded in parts so they look good and realistic. One slight disappointment for me is when a gun does not have a cut out ejection port, that is the case with both the Sig Sauer ASP 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 P250.
Designed by Sig and made in Japan, fully Sig Sauer licensed.
Nice heavy blowback operation.
It might feel a bit light weight at first but out of the two Sig Sauer ASP pellet pistols this one seems to shoot a bit better.
Got respectable accuracy and seemed to shoot pretty hard.
Safety works as the de-cocker same as the real Sig Sauer P250.
White dot sights and accessory rail.
Great feel to the trigger not heavy or sticky in any way.
Cons:
Shots tended to slow down a bit near the end of a 16 shot strong as the gun cooled down.
Sight are non adjustable.
Ejection port is not cut out.
Comments:
What I really like about the Sig Sauer ASP P250 CO2 Blowback .177 Caliber Pellet Pistol is that like all the other APS Airgun from Sig, it is a product that Sig has decided to invest a lot of their time and effort to develop rather then simply grab an existing Airgun product from a manufacturer and slap their license on it. Sigs product ingenuity is what will help to improve the airgun industry overall. Getting back to the Sig Sauer ASP P250 CO2 Blowback .177 Caliber Pellet Pistol, it may feel a bit light weight at first but the heavy blowback will rock you unexpectedly! I found in terms of comparison to the Sig Sauer ASP P226, the P250 was more accurate and well centered on target for me as well. If you're a Sig Sauer P250 owner you are for sure going to want to pick yourself up one of these ASP CO2 Blowback Airgun versions so you can get some extra practice time in for pennies per shot and the ability to shoot in a lot more locations..
My Vimeo Table Top Review of the Sig Sauer ASP P250 CO2 Blowback .177 Caliber Pellet Pistol:
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Sig Sauer ASP P226 CO2 Blowback .177 Caliber Pellet Pistol is a lot better than I thought it was going to be. The blowback operation does place the hammer in the cocked position for single action type shooting but the the trigger is still required to index or advance the next pellet to line up with the barrel. Because of this, trigger pull is full length even in single action mode but you can barely feel any added friction from the indexing of the rotary magazine. All of this makes for a slightly longer trigger pull but one that is light weight with a fairly nice and easy release.
Accuracy: I have not done my official Field Test Shooting Video with the Sig Sauer ASP P226 CO2 Blowback .177 Caliber Pellet Pistol and I am not sure when I am going to get the chance to do so since I am waiting on a replacement Chronograph for my velocity portion of my testing. That said I can say that Sig has already done some of the work for me and conducted their own "real world" velocity testing for their ASP line of CO2 Pellet Guns. Sig tested both a standard 8.18 grain lead pellet and a high velocity 5.25 grain alloy pellet shooting an 8 shot string with each to find out average fps performance for both pellet types. The 8.18 grain lead pellet average 359 fps while the 5.25 grain alloy pellet average 403 fps. In terms of accuracy, I was able to get about a 2 inch 16 shot grouping on two separate 30 foot back tests which is pretty decent. I did notice that when shooting a 16 shot string, the first and last shot velocity will vary a fair amount as the CO2 cools the gun and lowers the fps. I would recommend taking your time in-between reloads to let the Sig Sauer ASP P226 CO2 Blowback .177 Caliber Pellet Pistol warm back up.
Build Quality: The Sig Sauer ASP P226 CO2 Blowback .177 Caliber Pellet Pistol is a very solid feeling pistol with its all metal construction. Weighing it at 2.35 pounds, it is actually a tad bit heavier then the real steel version but not by much. 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 P226 CO2 Blowback .177 Caliber Pellet Pistol is a very close replica of the real steel Sig Sauer P226, I would say it most closely takes after the MK-25 Threaded Barrel version. I really like the fact that the safety also works as a working decoker just as it would on the real P226. Other similar working parts are the magazine release and the hammer that stays back for true single action shooting. The slide catch release and take down leaver are purely for show but they are not moulded in parts so they look the part. One slight disappointment for me is when a gun does not have a cut out ejection port, that is the case with both the Sig Sauer ASP 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 P250.
Really solid feeling gun, has awesome weight to it with it’s all mental construction, pretty close in weight the real steel version.
Designed by Sig and made in Japan, fully Sig Sauer licensed.
Nice heavy blowback operation.
Got respectable accuracy and seemed to shoot pretty hard.
Safety works as the de-cocker same as the real Sig Sauer P226.
White dot sights and accessory rail.
Super easy CO2 loading system, no having to tighten a CO2 tab.
Great feel to the trigger not heavy or sticky in any way.
Cons:
Shots tended to slow down a bit near the end of a 16 shot strong as the gun cooled down.
Sight are non adjustable.
Ejection port is not cut out.
Comments:
What I really like about the Sig Sauer ASP P226 CO2 Blowback .177 Caliber Pellet Pistol is that like all the other APS airguns from Sig, it is a product that Sig has decided to invest a lot of their time and effort to develop rather then simply grab an existing arigun product from a manufacturer and slap their license on it. Sigs product ingenuity is what will help to improve the airgun industry overall. Getting back to the Sig Sauer ASP P226 CO2 Blowback .177 Caliber Pellet Pistol, it's a really solid CO2 Pellet pistol that is a lot of fun to shoot and for Sig Sauer P226 owners, the pellet shooting airgun version offers a super economical and safe way to get some practice in using a product that looks, feels and shoots similarly to their real steel counterpart.
My Vimeo Table Top Review of the Sig Sauer ASP P226 CO2 Blowback .177 Caliber Pellet Pistol:
Materials: Plastic main body with some metal parts.
Weight: 1.6 pounds (708 grams).
Barrel: 5.5 inches - Metal none rifled.
Propulsion: 12 gram CO2.
Action: Blowback single action only.
Ammunition Type: 4.5mm Steel BB's.
Ammunition Capacity: 20 round top loading stick magazine.
FPS: 350+.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Daisy Powerline Model 400 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol is single action only and has about a medium pull to it, not the lightest single action trigger I have shot by far but not too heavy by any means. There is some initial take-up with a noticeable release point.
Accuracy: Make sure to watch my full Field Test Shooting video for th PHOTO4 Daisy Powerline Model 400 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol. When performing my usual 30 foot out paper target shooting performance test I was able to get about a 2 inch 10 shot grouping using a semi rested stance. This pistol did shoot rather on the high side so you will have to aim low as the sights are non-adjustable. In terms of velocity I was able to get fairly consistent 350fps performance using a brand new CO2, this is pretty good considering this is a 20 year old pistol and may have been one of the first blowback airguns to hit the market. The Daisy Powerline Model 400 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol was a bit of a CO2 hog only getting around 50 shots out of one 12 gram CO2.
Build Quality: The Daisy Powerline Model 400 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol is a mainly all metal airgun but it is solid and well built, The plastics used long ago in my opinion are superior in terms of longevity to today plastics. Being a Japan built gun is also a plus and you will find metal parts where they need to be as in the hammer, trigger, barrel, safety and many other internal parts. Keep my used pistol is over 20 years old and still looks and works like new.
Realism: The Daisy Powerline Model 400 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol is an obvious replica of a Desert Eagle Semi Auto Pistol, there are no licensed markings but there is no doubt what this gun is intended to look like. In terms of size and overall appearance it is a good copy of a real steel Desert Eagle but it does weigh in a lot lighter being made mostly from plastics. Some mechanical parts are moulded into the gun like the safety and slide catch but the blowback operation helps add back to the realism. Of course the top loading 20 round BB magazine is not at all what you would expect to find on the real Desert Eagle, that said it is practical for loading a BB gun.
Trigger Pull: The trigger on the SM Mod 110 8mm Blank Pistol is single action only so you will need to rack the slide to not only chamber a round but also cock the internal hammer / striker, follow up shots will case the slide to cycle on it own allowing for single action shooting. The trigger is rather nice with just a slight bit of take-up followed by a light release.
Accuracy: NA.
Build Quality: The SM Mod 110 8mm Blank Pistol was made in West Germany sometime back in the Mid 70's so this pistol is 30-40 years old and still looks great. Mine does have some slight pitting on the right side I am assuming from sitting in the box up against the manual which more than likely may have an acidic property to it. Even so this pitting is minor and the gun is in good condition overall. Like most blank pistols much of the gun is made out of pot metal (a zinc alloy) but it does have hardened steel parts where they need to be (Barrel, ejector, hammer, pins, screws and magazine).
Realism: The SM Mod 110 8mm Blank Pistol is not a true replica as far as I can tell is not an actual replica of any real steel semi-auto pistol in production but it does look a bit like the American Derringer LM5. In terms of looking like a gun it looks like what you would expect a small caliber sub compact pistol should look like and all operation is exactly like a semi auto pistol with the exception that the SM Mod 110 only shoots blanks since the barrel is obstructed with a metal rod.
I really like unique blank guns since they are so hard to locate here in Canada. When I saw this sitting on the table at my local gun show I kind of wondered if someone had accidentally left out a prohibited firearm but once I inspected it I quickly realized it was a blank shooter and decided right there and then I had to have it. I did pay close to $200 for it but to me it is worth it simply because this little blank shooter is a rare find and it was also in really good condition and even came with the original 8mm self defence pepper blanks. The SM Mod 110 8mm Blank Pistol is for sure a blank shooter I will be holding onto for some time...
My Vimeo Table Top Review for the SM Mod 110 8mm Blank Pistol:
I was personally confused about some of the similarities and differences between several models of KJWorks Beretta M9 CO2 Blowback Airsoft Pistols, so I decided to make a video where I go over 4 models of KJWorks M9 Pistols and point out the commonalities and differences between them.
Here are the 4 versions of KJWorks Beretta M9 CO2 Blowback Airsoft Pistols:
All of them come with interchangeable 25 round CO2 Magazines.
All of them shoot around 360+ fps.
All have a metal slide and frame.
All weigh close to the same weight (2.1 - 2.4 pounds).
All shoot in single and double action.
All have ambidextrous safeties.
All have white dot sights.
Prices range from $184 -$200.
Here is a list of the differences between them:
The VE, Vertex and M9A1 come in a semi gloss finish while the Tactical is more of a matt black.
The VE and M9A1 have rails for accessory attachments while the Vertex and Tactical do not.
The Vertec, Tactical and M9A1 have laniard loops while the VE does not.
Some slight trigger guard differences between the models but very subtle.
The Vertex and M9A1 share the same style classic Beretta pistol grip, The Tactical has a tactical finger pistol grip and the VE has it’s own unique pistol grip.
Make sure to watch my Vimeo video where I cover this information in detail:
Trigger Pull: The single action only trigger pull on the Umarex Smith & Wesson M&P40 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol is very nice, there is some take up required be for the release but the release or break point is very smooth, perhaps a little too smooth since there is no real noticeable resistance so you will have to get use to the range in the trigger pull in which the release takes place. Since there is no external hammer you will need to draw the slide back in order to cock the internal striker.
Accuracy: Make sure to checkout my full Field Test Shooting Video for the Umarex Smith & Wesson M&P40 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol where I test out this fun S&W M&P40 BB shooting replica by shooting some BB's through my chronograph and also at a paper target to find out how it performs. In summary I was able to get an average of around 300 fps and accuracy in the 2 inch size groupings from 30 feet away. Not bad for a full blowback short barrel CO2 BB pistol. It did shoot a little low so some manual target sighting adjustments may be required.
Build Quality: Very good, with metal and plastic construction where you would find it on the real steel S&W M&P40. I am fairly certain the the Umarex Smith & Wesson M&P40 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol is made by KWC which has produce some other nice quality examples of other full blowback replica BB and Airsoft pistols. As with most KWC powder coated airguns, you will get some wear in the high spots of the finish over time but this is true even with real steel blued guns.
Realism: This is by far the best example of a 4.5mm BB shooting Smith & Wesson M&P out there, I have had several real steel M&P40 owners comment on how accurate this BB copy really is including how the barrel drops from its locked position and angles down and up during blowback operation. You even get interchangeable grip backstraps to accommodate different sized hands. And of course all the mechanical parts function as you would expect them to including being able to fully field strip the Umarex Smith & Wesson M&P40 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol.
Most accurate looking steel BB shooting replica of the S&W M&P40 to date.
Good weight and feel to it.
Metal and plastic parts where you would find them on the real steel version.
Realistic working safety and working slide catch and release.
Full size dropout metal magazine that holds BB's and CO2.
Can be field stripped like original Smith & Wesson M&P40.
Fully Smith & Wesson licensed via Umarex.
Rail for add on accessories.
White dot sight with adjustable front sight for windage.
Comes with three sizes of interchangeable grip backstraps.
Cons:
FPS may be low for some people that like the more powerful CO2 pistols.
Shoots a bit low out of the box.
Ugly white warning instruction on the slide.
Comments:
Many of us have been waiting for a blowback Smith & Wesson M&P and now we have one. Thanks to Umarex, we also get it in a fully licensed version to make it even more realistic! Everything about the Umarex Smith & Wesson M&P40 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol is so very accurate to the real steel version other than of course the fact that it shoots 4.5mm Steel BB's using CO2 but isn't that why we are interested in it in the first place? If you are a Real Steel S&W M&P owner than you are going to have to get yourself one of these as a low cost and easily accessible training alternative. A great choice fro anyone else looking for an ultra realistic 4.5mm CO2 blowback pistol what ever your purpose is.
My Vimeo Videos for the Umarex Smith & Wesson M&P40 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol:
