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.
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.
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.
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.
Starting with what the actual velocity of the KWC 24/7 TAC Non-Blowback CO2 Pellet Pistol. I made sure to keep the Sea Can and Airgun nice and warm before making this test and I also placed a brand new 12 gram CO2 cartridge in it and went with lead pellets I am guesstimating where around 7 grain so not super heavy or super light, definitely not high velocity alloy pellets. I was a bit shocked that my average fps was no where near the claimed 360 fps. My 5 shot average came to 259 fps with a couple shots even shooting under 200 fps which I through out. Is that good enough for shorter range plinking? I would say so but but way off the claimed 360 fps. Maybe the manufacturers claim was using high velocity light weight alloy pellets?
Next as with all my Field Test Shooting Videos for the KWC 24/7 TAC Non-Blowback CO2 Pellet Pistol I performed my accuracy portion of the test and reloaded the 16 round magazine which is actually a dual 8 round rotary magazine you manually switch sides to unload all rounds. My first 8 shots for the most part where decently centered perhaps a bit to the right but the grouping was rather spread out close to a around 5 inches maybe even a bit more. I then rotated the magazine to the other side of fully loaded pellets and this time I had several malfunctions/jams where rounds did not rotate properly therefore getting squished rather than going down the barrel. I have a feeling this is a problem with this specific magazine as I had the same problem during my Velocity test. I even switched to pointed pellets for the accrual test from flat head pellets but it did not seem to help. The best I could do on this day with this gun was to get around a 5-6 inch grouping which is not very good for a pellet shooter at 30 feet out
As I mentioned in the video I only test the guns, I don’t make them and as with any product out there it is possible I got a lemon since it seems to me like only one side of the rotary magazine was giving me the problems with jamming pellets. That said even the side that was more consistent did not shoot a very tight grouping for me. If it was my money to spend and I wanted a 24/7 styled Replica Airgun I would probably go with the blowback CO2 BB version since I had a lot better performance from that pistol with the addition of blowback action and a much lighter single action trigger.
In this Field Test Shooting Review of the KWC PM Makarov Non-Blowback CO2 Pellet Pistol I find out what the actual Velocity is and how accurately I can shoot it at a paper target setup 30 feet down range. If you have not already watched my Table Top Review for the KWC PM Makarov Non-Blowback CO2 Pellet Pistol then make sure to do so to see some nice closeup video of it and all the details and specifications laid out for everyone.
Starting with what the actual velocity of the KWC PM Makarov Non-Blowback CO2 Pellet Pistol. I made sure to keep it nice and warm before making this test and I also placed a brand new 12 gram CO2 cartridge in it and went with lead pellets I am guesstimating where around 7 grain so not super heavy or super light, definitely not a high velocity pellets. I was a bit shocked that my average fps was no where near the claimed 340 fps. My 5 shot average came to 263 fps with the highest being 272 fps and the lowest being 256 fps. Is that good enough for shorter range plinking? For sure but far off the called 340 fps. Maybe the manufacturers claim was using high velocity super light weigth pellets?
Next I performed my accuracy portion of the test and reloaded the 12 round magazine which is actually a dual 6 round rotary magazine you manually switch sides to unload all rounds. My first 6 shots I pointed the KWC PM Makarov Non-Blowback CO2 Pellet Pistol right at the bulls eye and found out it shoot a bit on the low side so only two rounds actually made it on the paper. I then switched to the other 6 round rotary magazine and aimed a bit higher, this time I was able to get fairly well centered on the target and produce about a 3 inch grouping. So in other words no awards are going to be handed out for this pistol in terms of accuracy or power. By the way I was using my standard shooting stance which is with my hands stabilized on a sand bag up front and sitting on a stool in the back.
The KWC PM Makarov Non-Blowback CO2 Pellet Pistol is not listed as any sort of target pistol so I was not expecting world class performance but I was expecting it to shoot a little bit better than your average blowback CO2 BB shooter and it really didn’t at the end of the day. If you’re specifically looking for a pellet shooting Makarov then this will be your Airgun since I am pretty sure it is the only one out there at this time but personally I would go with one of the CO2 Blowback BB versions since they shoot a bit harder and are maybe even more accurate not to mention you also get that blowback recoil with a nice light single action trigger.
Type: Pellet Air Pistol. Distributer:KWC. Model: KWC 24/7 TAC NBB Pellet. Materials: Metal and polymer build. Weight: 1.76 pounds (799 grams). Barrel: Rifled steel. Propulsion: CO2 x1. Action: Semi auto non-blowback, double action only. Ammunition Type: .177 caliber pellets. Ammunition Capacity: 16 rounds (2x8). FPS: 360-370.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the KWC 24/7 TAC Non-Blowback CO2 Pellet Pistol is a bit on the medium to heavy side so it’s not going to make for the best action shooter as it is a double action only shooter when compared to a single action only trigger or a single and double action trigger. As with most double action triggers it is a bit longer and slightly heavy but not unusable, just be prepared to get a little bit of a finger workout.
Accuracy: I have not shot the KWC 24/7 TAC Non-Blowback CO2 Pellet Pistol just yet but will be doing so probably next week so stay posted for my Full Field Test Shooting Video for the KWC 24/7 TAC Non-Blowback CO2 Pellet Pistol. I expect it to perform well in terms of accuracy and power since there is no blowback operation to have to compensate for. Having a rifled barrel should also help with accuracy! We will see shortly.
Build Quality: The KWC 24/7 TAC Non-Blowback CO2 Pellet Pistol is built as expected just like all the other KWC Airguns. KWC has been making Airguns for a while not just for themselves but for other companies like Umarex, Gletcher, ASG, Crosman and even Sig Sauer and so quality control and durability have to stand up to these manufacturers standards. You will find metal on this gun where it matter. The slide, the full size drop out metal magazine and of course lots of internal parts. The frame, magazine release, trigger and safety are all plastic. I do like the feel of the rubberized grips for sure! Fit and finish is good overall and the fact that this is a fairly simple Airgun design with no blowback action or even a moving slide, so less moving parts means there is less chance for something to go wrong so it should last a while even with a fair amount of use.
Realism: The KWC 24/7 TAC Non-Blowback CO2 Pellet Pistol shares it’s looks with the Taurus 24/7 but is not an exact replica. The trigger guard is a bit different and so is the placement of the controls and even the slide and frame are not exact but very similar. In terms of size, weight and vernal overall design for sure the KWC 24/7 TAC Non-Blowback CO2 Pellet Pistol looks a lot like a Real Steel Taurus 24/7 at first glance.
Good weight and solid feeling gun. Lots of metal where you need it in the slide, magazine and other internals.
All metal full size drop out magazine holds CO2 and 16 pellets.
Decent looking replica (but not bang on) of a Taurus 24/7.
Not a lot of writing on the gun, very clean looking (Non Ranger version).
Recessed barrel helps with look of realism.
Fiber Optic front and back sights for easy sight acquisition.
Rifled barrel will help with accuracy.
Non-blowback operation with increased fps and CO2 efficiency.
Rail on top of slide and frame for lots of accessory add on options.
Double action trigger is long but not overly heavy so should be OK for action shooting.
Cons:
No blowback, slide is fixed and does not move but can be removed with a tool for internal access and cleaning.
No single action shooting so may not be the most accurate for slowed down shooting.
Sights are not adjustable but you can add an adjustable red dot to it using the rail setup.
Hard to tell when out of ammo, have to listen to the sound or count shots.
Comments:
It is nice to see more full size drop out metal magazine Replica Pellet Pistols coming out in the Airgun market just liek the KWC Makarov PM I just reviewed. Generally speaking most are going to be non-blowback but there are a few blowback options. That said a Non-blowback CO2 Pellet Pistol like the KWC 24/7 TAC Non-Blowback CO2 Pellet Pistol will typically give you a high velocity and more shots per CO2 and can even be a little bit better in the accuracy department since there is virtually no recoil from them. The KWC 24/7 TAC Non-Blowback CO2 Pellet Pistol is a nice little Taurus 24/7 looking Airgun that has a nice modern look and feel to it. Hopefully it performs well for me during my Field Test Shooting Video I will be making soon for it.
My Vimeo Videos for the KWC 24/7 TAC Non-Blowback CO2 Pellet Pistol:
Type: Pellet Air Pistol. Distributer:KWC. Model: PM Makarov Pellet. Materials: Metal and polymer build. Weight: 1.7 pounds (754 grams). Barrel: Rifled steel. Propulsion: CO2 x1. Action: Semi auto non-blowback, double action only. Ammunition Type: .177 caliber pellets. Ammunition Capacity: 12 rounds (2x6). FPS: 344-370.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the KWC PM Makarov Non-Blowback CO2 Pellet Pistol is not going to make for the best action shooter out there as it is a double action only shooter when compared to a single action only trigger or a single and double action trigger. That said it works fairly well as long as you make sure to fully release it after each shot, short releases may result in the hammer not going back all the way and a misfire. As with most double action triggers it is a bit long and slightly heavy but not unusable, just be prepared to get a little bit of a finger workout.
Accuracy: I have not shot the KWC PM Makarov Non-Blowback CO2 Pellet Pistol just yet but will be doing so shortly so stay posted for my Full Field Test Shooting Video for the KWC PM Makarov Non-Blowback CO2 Pellet Pistol. I expect it to do fairly well in terms of accuracy and power since there is no blowback, it is a pellet shooter after all and the barrel is rifled. We will see shortly…
Build Quality: The KWC PM Makarov Non-Blowback CO2 Pellet Pistol is built just like all the other KWC Airguns, it’s not going to be the best quality but it is decent and KWC has been making Airguns for a while not just for themselves but for other companies like Umarex, Gletcher, ASG, Crosman and even Sig Sauer. You will find metal on this gun where it matter. The slide, the full size drop out metal magazine and of course lots of internal parts. The frame, trigger, fake hammer and safety are all plastic. Fit and finish is good overall and the fact that this is a fairly simple Airgun design with no blowback, so less moving parts means there is less chance for something to go wrong so it should last a while even with lots of use.
Realism: The KWC PM Makarov Non-Blowback CO2 Pellet Pistol really does look and feel like a real steel Makarov PM semi auto pistol with the exception of the ejection port which is not cut out. everything is really believable even though not all the parts work like the slide, slide catch release and fake hammer. On a real Makarov PM the frame would also be metal adding to the overall weight but the KWC PM Makarov Non-Blowback CO2 Pellet Pistol comes in at 1.7 pounds which is actually very close to the weight of a non-loaded real steel Makarov PM which weighs around 1.6 pounds but will be a lot heavier fully loaded.
Good weight and solid feeling gun. Lots of metal where you need it in the slide, magazine and other internals.
All metal full size drop out magazine holds CO2 and 12 pellets.
Decent looking replica of a Makarov PM.
Not a lot of writing on the gun, very clean looking (Non Ranger version).
Recessed barrel helps with look of realism.
Rifled barrel will help with accuracy.
Non-blowback operation with increased fps and CO2 efficiency.
Working safety in same position as real steel version.
Double action trigger is a bit long but not overly heavy so should be decent for action shooting.
Cons:
No blowback, slide is fixed and does not move either.
Hammer moves but does not cock back for single action shooting and is made out of plastic.
Sights are not adjustable and are all black so shooting at darker objects will be a bit more challenging.
Hard to tell when out of ammo, have to listen to the sound or count shots.
Comments:
It is nice to see more full size drop out metal magazine Replica Pellet Pistols coming out in the Airgun market. Generally speaking most are going to be non-blowback but there are a few blowback options. That said a Non-blowback CO2 Pellet Pistol like the KWC PM Makarov Non-Blowback CO2 Pellet Pistol will typically give you a high velocity and more shots per CO2 and can even be a little bit better in the accuracy department since there is virtually no recoil from them. The KWC PM Makarov Non-Blowback CO2 Pellet Pistol is a nice little Replica Airgun that looks the part, feels the part and hopefully turns out to be a fun and accurate Pellet Plinker at the end of the day.
My Vimeo Videos for the KWC PM Makarov Non-Blowback CO2 Pellet Pistol:
Type: Pellet Pistol. Distributer:Umarex. Model:Stainless Ruger Mark IV. Materials: Metal and polymer build. Weight: 1.56 pounds (708 grams). Barrel: 5.3 inches (135mm). Total Length: 11 inches (279mm). Propulsion: Spring Piston. Action: SAO Break Barrel. Ammunition Type: .177 caliber pellets. Ammunition Capacity: 1 round. FPS: 320.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Stainless Ruger Mark IV Break Barrel .177 Cal Pellet Pistolis not too bad, I feel it is a around 6-7 pounds or so without measuring. In comparison to a real steel 22LR semi auto SAO trigger pistol, the trigger is much heavier but most of these 22LR pistols of this nature have what I would consider to be near perfect triggers. Over time once you get use to the pressure and release point accuracy with this pistol it is for sure possible.
Accuracy: I have tested out the all black version of this pistol which will perform exactly the same or should I say is expected to perform the same since they are virtually the exact same Pellet Pistol but in different finishes. You can watch my Field Test Shooting Video for the all black version but in case you don’t make it there I will fill you in on the basic results… In terms of velocity I averaged 312 fps using 7 grain lead pellets and got around a 2 inch 7 rounds grouping but expect with a bit more trigger time to get closer to 1 inch.
Build Quality: The Stainless Ruger Mark IV Break Barrel .177 Cal Pellet Pistolis a low cost target plinker that also doubles as a licensed Replica for that coolness factor so you won’t get an all metal super top quality build here. That said metal and plastics are well used and for sure details in the fit and finish have been improved over the Buck Mark URX version where I found the barrel felt a bit sloppy and the trigger was plastic. The Umarex Ruger Mark IV Break Barrel .177 Cal Pellet Pistol has a much tighter barrel fit when closed and the trigger is now metal! Maybe Umarex watched my video back in the day and took some notes?
Realism: The Umarex Ruger Mark IV Break Barrel .177 Cal Pellet Pistol most resembles the Mark IV Hunter edition and is pretty much bang on in terms of being a replica other than the tell tail hinge just under the barrel required for a spring piston design, there really is no way to get around this so I’m not going to criticize this minor difference. The real steel version is almost 3 pounds and so the pellet shooting version is a bit under weight so it would have been to have had more metal perhaps in the barrel and lower frame. Again since the pellet shooting version is a springer you will not have any working bolts or slide catches or a built in magazine.
Pros:
It's a decent Ruger Mark IV Replica!
Feels well built overall.
Expect it to have really good accuracy like the Umarex Browning Buck Mark URX since they share similar mechanical design.
Barrel locks into place much better than the Umarex Browning Buck Mark URX did.
Fully adjustable rear sight with fiber optic front sight.
Auto locking safety, just don’t forget to unlock before each shot
Actual metal trigger in this version.
Nice and compact, not too heavy.
Full Ruger licensed via Umarex.
Fairly low price tag.
Cons:
No built in rail for a sight system like the Umarex Browning Buck Mark URX.
Would have liked a metal trigger and maybe a slightly lighter trigger pull to match the real Buck Mark's very light trigger pull.
A bit more metal would have been nice.
Significantly more expensive than the black version which is the same exact gun in a different color.
Comments: The Stainless Ruger Mark IV Break Barrel .177 Cal Pellet Pistol is a decent looking replica and a decent pellet shooting target pistol and if you own the real steel version in 22LR you may just want to get your hands on one of these Break Barrel Replica Pellet shooters. The only real question is do you get the Stainless version with simulated wood grips or the all black version? If you like the look of the stainless version and don’t care about money whatsoever, then pickup that one up since it is a Limited Edition version that will only go up in value over time. If you are on a budget and don’t mind the look of the all black versions or maybe even prefer it then by all means grab one since at the end of the day they will both perform exactly the same.
My Vimeo Table Top Review Videos for the Umarex Stainless Ruger Mark IV Break Barrel .177 Cal Pellet Pistol:
This time I have a tiny Mystery Box to unpack and show you guys, this time there are only two pistols, one is a Spring Piston Single Shot .177 Caliber Pellet Pistol and the other is a 6mm Airsoft Blowback BB Pistol, both are Licensed Replicas for Umarex. If you want to find out more about each Air Pistol then make sure to watch this Mystery Box Unboxing Preview Video!
This will be my only video this week as I am in what is called Peak Week in preparation for the Vancouver Fall Calssic Fitness show I am competing in this upcoming weekend. Peak Week really takes a lot out of me and is rather time consuming with the physical activity I am doing and daily blog styled videos I am posting for my other channel www.GetFitOver40.com.
If you are interested in what I do fitness wise then checkout that channel and follow me along this week as I hope to kick some but competing against dudes half my age.
I have another Huge Mystery Box to open and share with everyone, this one was even larger and heavier than the last one! You are going to have to watch the video to get all the details on what is actually inside but I can say there are 4 AEG Airsoft Rifles from a new to us company called Arcturus in both AR and AK versions and 2 CO2 Non Blowback Replica Pellet Pistols from KWC.
I do have a some more videos to make from the last Mystery Box Preview being a Specna Arms AEG PDW AR Airsoft Rifle and a Paintball Pump Shotgun that I still need to make both Table Top and Field Test Shooting Video for.
Starting with my velocity test, I shot 3 rounds through my Chronograph using .177 caliber 7 grain lead pellets achieving 482, 489 and 466 fps with an average of 479 for the three shots. Not bad for a fairly compact Break Barrel Airgun. This is perhaps fast enough for small game like mice and small rats but you would need to get proficient on your shot accuracy to make sure you got a good head or lung shot to make it a more humane pest control.
For the accuracy portion of this Field test Shooting Review I proceeded to fire 6 rounds into a paper target setup 30 feet away. I use a semi rested shooting position with the Umarex HK MP7 .177 Cal Break Barrel Pellet Gun resting on a sand bag up front and me sitting on a stool for stability. My 6 shot grouping was all within around 1.5 inches but I feel like this Pellet gun can do better with me getting a bit more use ot it, still not bad out of the box and with my first round shooting it.
I really like the Umarex HK MP7 .177 Cal Break Barrel Pellet Gun as not only a Replica but it also shoed itself ot be a decent target Airgun at the end of the day. I do have to say the trigger is a bit long but not heavy at all, it has a smooth pull with a soft release. Most pimple should be able towel with this just fine. SO if you are looking for a Replica but also want an Airgun that can shoot hard and with decent accuracy then look no further than the Umarex HK MP7 .177 Cal Break Barrel Pellet Gun.
Type:Pellet Rifle. Manufacturer: Umarex Model:HK MP7 .177. Materials: Metal and Polymer. Weight: 4.4 pounds (2kg). Barrel: 11.7 inches (29.7cm). Total Length: 31 inches (78.7cm). Propulsion: Break Barrel Spring Piston. Action: Single Action Single Shot. Ammunition Type: .177 Caliber Pellets. Ammunition Capacity: 1. Max FPS: 490 Claimed.
Trigger Pull: The trigger on the Umarex HK MP7 .177 Cal Break Barrel Pellet Gun is single action only requiring you to break the barrel and compress the internal spring piston before you can shoot it. The actual trigger pull is pretty decent overall. There is very little take-up but the creep is on the longer side but fairly smooth requiring medium pressure. The release is a bit hard at first to predict but nothing some trigger time can’t get you use to.
Accuracy: I have not performed any shooting tests with the Umarex HK MP7 .177 Cal Break Barrel Pellet Gun so far. I hope to make that Video Review next week. I expect the Umarex HK MP7 .177 Cal Break Barrel Pellet Gun to perform well in the accuracy department especially with the included Red Dot Optical Scope installed. I hope the velocity rating from Umarex is based on lead pellets and not hyper velocity light weight pellets but we will find out the story when I perform my Field Test Shooting Video shortly!
Build Quality: The Umarex HK MP7 .177 Cal Break Barrel Pellet Gun is a China made Airgun but looks to be well made. It has lots of metal parts as you would expect from a Spring Piston Rifle which adds a nice weight and feel to it. I did however have an issue with the front plastic mock Suppressor/Compensator as it does not seem to be attached to the metal barrel very well other than being pressure fit which is not going to cut it with all the vibration a spring piston system makes. My first shot loosened the mock Suppressor/Compensator so I will either have to hold it when shooting or find another way to make sure it stays in place.
Realism: The Umarex HK MP7 .177 Cal Break Barrel Pellet Gun is kind of unique in this department as most break barrel rifles are not Replicas, especially the more compact sub machine gun styled ones. Umarex did good job making the Umarex HK MP7 .177 Cal Break Barrel Pellet Gun look like a real HK MP7 for the most part. Of course it is a Spring Piston Rifle at its core so exceptions had to be made to make this work including molded non working parts like the magazine release, sector switch and, bolt/ejection port. That said all in all it is a decent looking replica considering it is a Break Barrel Airgun under the skin.
Pros:
Not many Replica Pellet Rifles on the market, especially in a more compact gun.
Comes with Red Dot sight.
Lots of rails for adding accessories to it.
Full HK Licensed by Umarex.
Collapsible Wire Stock.
Nice high claimed 490 fps.
No need for CO2 so low cost to cooperate.
Not effected by temperature like a CO2 Airgun.
Should have better accuracy than most BB Replica Airguns.
Very solid feel to it, good overall weight and feel.
Cons:
Not going to be an action shooter, have to reload after each shot.
A good overall Replica but not as Realistic or full operation as a BB version would be.
Mock Suppressor/Compensator poorly attached to barrel.
Comments: The Umarex HK MP7 .177 Cal Break Barrel Pellet Gun is an interesting product, on one hadn't it is a Replica Airgun and most people expect a Replica Airgun to have all of the appropriate working parts similar to what would be found on the real steel version. But since this is a Break Barrel Airgun at the core the Umarex HK MP7 .177 Cal Break Barrel Pellet Gun will not function the same as the Real Steel version so as long as you don’t expect it to and appreciate the fact that it should be a nice accurate low cost to operate target rifle then I think you will understand this product and enjoy it for what it is… A Single Shot Pellet Rifle that looks a lot like a HK MP7.
As the title suggest this a video about a Huge Mystery Box so I am not going to say what’s in it, I can say that their are 4 main products mostly rifles per-say. One is a Futuristic Full Auto BB Rifle, one is a Paintball Shotgun, One is an AEG Airsoft Rifle and one is a Replica Break Barrel Pellet Rifle.
So I have a lot of variety here to show everyone! I did absolutely zero research on any of the products I show in this video since like you I had no real idea what was inside other than how many and that most where rifle based.
Enjoy finding out what new products I will be reviewing over the next month with dedicated Table Top and Field Test Shooting videos.
Gun Safeties generally are going to be similar for all types of guns, so Safeties used with Airguns are often the same types as used with Real Steel Guns. Some guns will have no Safeties at all while other guns many have multiple Safeties on them. In this informative video I go over six of the more common types of Gun Safeties used in Real Steel Guns and Air Guns.
Here is a list of the more common types of gun Safeties.
I sometimes mention in my review videos that a gun is either Full Blowback or Partial Blowback and some people may not understand exactly what this means and how it effects the Airguns Blowback Action and Performance so I figured it would be best to make a dedicated video talking about the differences and also some of the Pro’s and Con’s of each type of Blowback Action.
In the video I obviously go into a fair amount of detail and show you around each type of Airgun and Magazine as they do differ a fair amount but to summaries for you here in this written form, the main difference is going to be how much the slide moves back and forth. With Full Blowback Airguns the slide will move much longer back and forth on the frame of the Airgun much like a real gun does and the slide Catch/Lock generally locks back further too. With a Partial Blowback Airgun the slide generally has a shorter range of movement back and forth on the frame with the slide locks usually about half of the distance compared to a Full Blowback Airgun.
The magazines are also very different as a Full Blowbacks Airgun generally has a partially exposed BB which is pushed into the barrel by the nozzle with each slide cycle. With a Partial Blowback Airgun the BB is generally not exposed and either the trigger action or simply the CO2 force is required to transfer the BB in the breach of the Airgun.
Another point to mention is that Full Blowback Airguns tend to use more CO2 and have a slightly lower velocity as compared to Partial Blowback Airguns but this is not a rule.
There are many types of magazines used in Airguns and some of this is dependent on the ammunition used.
For instance a stacked type of magazine often used for Steel BB and Airsoft can not be used for Pellets as pellets tend to deform when stacked in such a way since there is no metal casting protecting them from mashing into each other.
So what type of magazines do we generally see in Airguns? The most common Airgun magazines are as follows:
Simple Stick Magazine
Mostly used with Steel BB but also found in some Airsoft Airguns.
Some Pellet Airguns use a type of stick magazine with a rotary magazine on each end.
Used in non-blowback and blowback Airguns.
Can be made from plastic or steel or a combination of both materials.
Full Size Drop Out Magazine
Used with Steel BB and Airsoft guns.
Generally you will find these types magazines hold both the BB’s and CO2.
Used in non-blowback and blowback Airguns.
Commonly used with Airsoft Rifles in mid to high capacity.
Can be made from plastic or steel or a combination of both materials.
Rotary magazine
Used with Steel BB, Airsoft and Pellet Airguns.
Used in non-blowback and blowback Airguns.
Can be made from plastic or steel.
Can often use mixed ammo types as in both 4.5mm Steel BB and .177 caliber pellet.
Belt Fed Magazine
Like rotary magazine belt fed magazine can accommodate Steel BB, Pellet and Airsoft but are most often used with Pellet Airguns.
Usually found in a full size magazine that also holds the CO2.
Used in non-blowback and blowback Airguns.
Can be made from plastic or steel or a combination of both materials.
Internal Magazine
Used with Steel BB, Airsoft.
Can have a hopper built in hat feeds a spring fed magazine.
Usually found in lesser expensive Airguns but not a rule.
In this Video I go through each type of Airgun Magazine and talk about their differences and uses.