Can I use Airsoft BB's in my BB Pistol? I would have to say this is by far the number one question I get asked in the comments section of my Vimeo videos. I have made several videos where this question gets addressed within the video but so far to date I have not made a stand alone video just covering Airsoft BB use in BB Guns.
So here it is, and now I have a video I can link to this so very common question, if you where wondering about this yourself than please watch my YouTube Video on this topic as it goes into a fair amount of detail about it.
The short answer to this question is no, you can not use 6mm Airsoft BB's in a 4.5mm Steel BB Pistol or Rifle. For the simple reason that 6mm is larger than 4.5mm and so the physical diameter of a6mm Plastic Airsoft BB is just to large to fit inside of a 4.5mm Steel BB magazine or barrel.
People have commented about using a 4.5mm plastic Airsoft BB in a 4.5mm BB gun and yes this could in theory be an option but I discuss why I feel this is not a good idea based on size and mass.
I'm getting close to uploading 600 videos now over on the Replica Airguns Vimeo channel, so there are bound to be a lot of similar questions and popular discussions. In this Replica Airguns Vimeo Video I address what I feel are my Top 10 Most Common Airgun Questions and Discussions.
Ammunition Capacity: 15 round full size metal magazine.
FPS: 300+
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the ASG Socom Gear US Marine MEU SOC 1911 GBB Airsoft Pistol is I would have to say one of the nicest 1911 single action triggers I have tested so far. The take-up is very slight with an extremely light trigger pull required to release the hammer. Any lighter and I would say it would be too light and perhaps prone to accidental firing.The three hole tactical trigger extends out a little further than some 1911's but feels secure on the finger.
Accuracy: At this point I have not shot the ASG Socom Gear US Marine MEU SOC 1911 GBB Airsoft Pistol but have high expectations based on the overall quality of this pistol and form other reviews I have read on this Airsoft 1911 replica. According to the manufacturers claimed fps, we should get somewhere right around 300 fps. The ASG Socom Gear US Marine MEU SOC 1911 GBB Airsoft Pistol has an adjustable rear sight for windage and we can take care of elevation using the adjustable hop-up so zoning in the Socom Gear US Marine MEU SOC 1911 to shoot dead center on target should not be too difficult.
Build Quality: The ASG Socom Gear US Marine MEU SOC 1911 GBB Airsoft Pistol is one of those Airguns that really catches your eye, and once you pick it up and hold it in your hands you discover that not only does it look really great but it also feels really great in your hands! The tolerances of the parts are excellent, everything mechanical is smooth without any friction and you can even see the texture of the metal grain through the quality matt black powder finish.
Realism: The ASG Socom Gear US Marine MEU SOC 1911 GBB Airsoft Pistol is a a fantastic replica of a real steel MEU SOC 1911 used by the US Marine Corps' Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU). The balance and weight really make this 1911 Airsoft pistol feel like your holding the real deal, all the mechanic parts function as they would compared to the original and the ASG Socom Gear US Marine MEU SOC 1911 GBB Airsoft Pistol is fully field stripable.
Excellent quality, durable black powder coat matte finish .
Enhanced Pro-Grip with brass marine inserts
MEU SOC 1911 Licensed.
Three hole tactical trigger with skeleton hammer.
Comes in a hard shell case with Gemtech Outback II 5-inch silencer and lanyard.
Rail for adding accessories.
Cons:
FPS is kind of low for Canada Market so not one we can regularly get in stock.
A bit on the pricy side.
No option of CO2 magazine.
Comments:
With all the BB and Airsoft 1911's out there what makes the ASG Socom Gear US Marine MEU SOC 1911 GBB Airsoft Pistol stand out from the rest. First off it feel the most believabel when holding it in your hand, it seems ot have that perfect weight and balance that is often hard to replicate in an Airgun. With features like enhanced Pro-Grips with brass marine inserts, MEU SOC 1911 licensing, three hole tactical trigger, ambidextrous safety, super smooth and light single action trigger, White dot adjustable sights and the included hard shell case with lanyard and Gemtech silencer you can not go wrong with the ASG Socom Gear US Marine MEU SOC 1911 GBB Airsoft Pistol.
My Vimeo Video Review for the ASG Socom Gear US Marine MEU SOC 1911 GBB Airsoft Pistol:
During this Field Test Shooting Review Video I test out the ASG - Marushin Chrome Derringer 6mm Gas Airsoft Pistol by shooting some rounds through the Chronograph to get an idea on how powerful it really is. I also step back 30 feet and place some rounds down range on my paper target to see just how accurate this little surprise double shot Airsoft pistol is.
In terms of power, all I had to go on was the factory claimed power rating of .6 joules. So I filled up the ASG - Marushin Chrome Derringer 6mm Gas Airsoft Pistol with Propane gas, loaded two .20 gram BB's and shot them both one after the other though my Chrony. I did find that topping up the gas was necessary between loading this gun as the gas chamber is very small. You will only get three shots out of a fill but the last shot is really slow.
I did find that I consistently got right around 250 fps on the fist shot and pretty much bang on 200 fps for the follow-up shot. Not super fast but fast enough to hit a small paper target 30 feet away pretty much every shot. Shooting 6 rounds on my paper target from 30 feet back using a semi rested position I was able to get 5 out of 6 shots pretty well placed on my paper target. I am not sure what happened to the 6th shot but it seemed to hook really hard to the right, perhaps the Airsoft BB was deformed? My 6 shot grouping with the excepting of the one shot that went MIA ended up being about 5 inches, not bad for such a small little low fps pistol.
So in terms of usefulness what can you expect from the ASG - Marushin Chrome Derringer 6mm Gas Airsoft Pistol? Well you are for sure not going to be sniping anyone with it but it could for sure come in handy as a surprise back for your backup gun!
Action: Over-under double barrel single action only.
Ammunition Type: 6mm plastic Airsoft BB's.
Ammunition Capacity: 2 rounds.
Energy: .6 Joules.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the ASG - Marushin Chrome Derringer is single action only so you will have to cock the hammer separately for each of the two shots. The action of the single action trigger is extremely short with virtually no take-up to speak of. The trigger pull is also very light.
Accuracy: This part of the review is yet to be determined as I have not done my Field Test or Shooting tests for this pistol. I will put a link in here when I have done my official Field Shooting Test. I have done a little bit of playing around with the ASG - Marushin Chrome Derringer 6mm Gas Airsoft Pistol and can say it is not going to be the most accurate or powerful gun out there but that's not really what this ultra compact gun is meant for, more of a surprise, hey where did that come from kind of gun!
Build Quality: The ASG Chrome Derringer 6mm Gas Airsoft Pistol is built by Marushin and as a Japanese based company it is going to be mostly plastic but with that said this little pistol is built really well, the mechanical parts that need to be metal are, like the grips hammer, trigger, safety and many of the pins and screws. Everything is tight and the tolerances are excellent. The finish is also pretty much flawless.With the added metal parts this .5 pounds pistol actually feels pretty solid in the hand and it's hard to tell so much of it it is actually plastic.
Realism: The ASG - Marushin Chrome Derringer 6mm Gas Airsoft Pistol looks the part of a real steel Derringer in terms of size and mechanical parts all functioning as they would. Even the over-under barrels are recessed to look like a much larger caliber than 6mm. The only real give away would be the small gas valve located under the handle and of coursee the lighter weight.
Not a lot of meat parts but the metal grips, hammer, trigger and safety seem to add enough weight to make this Derringer feel pretty solid in the hand.
Nice recessed over-under barrels.
Mechanical part feel solid and tight.
Cons:
Main gun build is plastic, typical of Marushin guns.
Not a lot of power from my preliminary testing.
Only 2 shots so make them count!
Comments:
The ASG - Marushin Chrome Derringer is a rather unique 6mm Gas Airsoft Pistol and is not going to make a very good primary weapon or for that matter even a good secondary weapon, but on that off chance you want surprise on your side then this little guy would make a really great last resort gun for when you only have that one shot up close and personal and it's now or never... There's also the fact that it's a Derringer and how cool is that!
My Vimeo Table Top Video Review for this ASG Chrome Derringer 6mm Gas Airsoft Pistol:
In this Field Test Shooting video I test out the performance of the KJWorks KP01-E2 (Sig Sauer P226) CO2 Blowback Airsoft Pistol using my Chronograph to get a real world (FPS) Feet Per Second rating. I also position myself 30 feet back and shoot 10 rounds at a paper target using a semi-rested shooting position (Sand bag up front and standing in the back).
In terms of velocity the KJWorks KP01-E2 (Sig Sauer P226) CO2 Blowback Airsoft Pistol shot a bit on the fast side at 414 FPS when averaging a 5 shot strong using .20 gram BB's with a brand new CO2. Keep in mind I was using the CO2 magazine which will have more power than the Gas Magazine version. I would assume the Gas mag version would shoot right around the mid 300's which may be more suited for indoor Airsoft games. For outside Airsoft wars you may want the extra power of the CO2 mag for shooting at targets further distances out.
Stepping back 30 feet and shooting at my paper target, the KJWorks KP01-E2 (Sig Sauer P226) CO2 Blowback Airsoft Pistol produced a decent 2 inch 10 shot grouping that was just a hair low but well centered left and right. The low factor could be adjusted up using some Hop-up tweaking. The trigger in single action mode is light and the release is crisp. Even the double action trigger is fairly light for double action, but there is a lot more take up since your finger is doing all the work that the blowback action would normally do for you when shooting in single action.
With the heavy blowback and high FPS the KJWorks KP01-E2 (Sig Sauer P226) CO2 Blowback Airsoft Pistol creates a really great shooting experience. It would be great for some target practice, getting some additional trigger time in if you are a Sig Sauer P226 owner and would make an excellent outdoor Airsfot war backup weapon. The quality is excellent and as a lover of the Sig Sauer lineup of guns I highly recommend this Airsoft pistol from KJWorks.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the KJWorks KP01-E2 Sig Sauer P226 Airsoft Replica is good in both single and double action. Once the slide is pulled back and released the first round is chambered and the hammer will remain back placing the KJWorks P226 in single action mode, the pull is light and the take-up is nice and short, most of your shots will be in single action mode unless you use the de-cocker to lower the hammer for a subsequent double action follow-up shot, double action shots are still pretty light but much longer in order to cock the hammer back.
Accuracy: (I have not shot the KJWorks distributed CO2 Mag version but I have already done a Field Test Shootinng Review for the same KJWORKS gun distributed and licensed by Cybergun in the Gas Mag version. Here is what I had to say about the Cybergun Gas Magazine version: "Shooting the Cybergun Sig P226 from 20 feet out in semi rested position I was able to get very good results. I placed 10 rounds in about 1.5 inches with the shot placement being a bit low possibly due to my barrel mod, adjusting the hop-up may bring the aim point back up to where it should be. The Sig Sauer P226 Airsoft Replica shot right around the 316 fps range while conducting my 5 shot average chrony testing which was lower than advertised but I was using much heavier .20 gram BB's. You can expect to get a full magazine worth of shots out of each gas fill-up but I did notice that as the magazine got colder it did tend to become much less efficient and also seemed to vent a lot of vapor."
Build Quality: The build quality for all KJWorks guns in my opinion is one of the best in the business. Fit and finish is top notch with close tolerances in the working parts as you would find in a real steel gun. The paint is excellent and in general will wear much better than other Airsoft guns out there. The KJWorks KP01-E2 (Sig Sauer P226) CO2 Blowback Airsoft Pistol is pretty much all metal and feels it, the recoil spring is nice and firm and all working parts are smooth and crisp when operated.
Realism: The KJWorks KP01-E2 (Sig Sauer P226) CO2 Blowback Airsoft Pistol is a replica of the real steel Sig Sauer P226 with the exception of the licensing. The KJWorks KP01-E2 really is a great looking and functioning Airsoft Replica. You can field strip this gun exactly like a real Sig Sauer and all the mechanical parts work just the same including a working de-cocker and adjustable front sight. It is really hard to distinguish the Airsoft version from the real Sig P226 in both looks and feel.
All metal pistol with good overall realistic weight to it.
Very crisp and firm full blowback operation.
Some of the best fit and finish in the industry. Especially in price range.
Nice accurate looking and working Sig Sauer P226 Replica.
Working de-cocker.
White dot sights for quick target acquisition.
Front sight is adjustable for windage.
Full size drop out magazine holds Airsoft BB's and CO2.
Fully field strip-able.
Cons:
No actual Sig Sauer Licensing but very clean look.
CO2 Mag does stick out a bit and add to size
Comments:
I am a huge Sig Sauer fan so I have kind of high expectations with a replica gun! The KJWorks lineup as a whole is really fantastic, and what I say about the KJWorks KP01-E2 (Sig Sauer P226) CO2 Blowback Airsoft Pistol can be said about the entire lineup. KJWorks makes a super well built product that replicates the real steal version almost exactly other then they shoot Airsoft BB's instead of actual bullets. When holding a KJWorks gun in the hand you can feel the quality, in weight, ballence and especially when operating the slide, trigger and other working parts. Everything just feels so perfect and responsive. For the money you can not go wrong with the KJWorks KP01-E2 (Sig Sauer P226) CO2 Blowback Airsoft Pistol or any other KJWorks gun for that matter.
My Vimeo Table Top Review of the KJWorks KP01-E2 (Sig Sauer P226) CO2 Blowback Airsoft Pistol:
This First Person Shooting Clay Pigeons Video with my KJWorks M9A1 and 1911 Airsoft Pistol is to serve two purposes: Number one and really the only reason needed to make a video like this... To get outside on a nice warm summer day and practice some tactile shooting all while recording it in first person so you can come along and enjoy it with me :)
Secondly I wanted to inform everyone that the video uploads will be a bit lighter for the next week or so since I am on what I call a working holiday. I am focusing on a Fitness Contest this weekend along with a Fitness Expo the following weekend, nothing to do with Replica Airguns but it does coincide with my other Website and YouTube channelGetFitOver40.com. The Fitness contest is the Victoria Cup where I will be competing in the Men's Physique (Masters - Over 40) and (Open - All Ages) divisions. The Fitness Expo is called "theFitExpo" and it is in Anaheim California.
So if you want to watch more of my videos then you will have to checkout my other fitness channel for the next week where I will be posting lots of related content on what's going on fitness wise in my life right now.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the KJWorks Beretta M9 & M9A1 is very good in both single and double action. Double action is a bit longer and heavier than when shooting in single action but not heavy by any means. Single action shooting is short, light and crisp as you would expect when shooting a real steel Beretta 92 style pistol.
Accuracy: I have not done my actual Field Test Shooting video review for the KJWorks M9 and M9A1 Airsoft pistols but I did get the chance to make a short preview video where I shot both guns at some clay pigeons setup around 20 feet away. I was able to pop the center out of the clay pigeons no problem and found that even without any practice I was consistently hitting dead center on most shots. I am not sure exactly what the FPS will be but considering both theses versions of the KJWorks M9 & M9A1 have the CO2 mags they should shoot up into the 360+ fps range using .20 gram Airsoft BB's. Blowback operation is strong and the slides cycle full length. Keep posted for my upcoming Field Test Shooting Video for both pistols.
Build Quality: As expected, the KJWorks M9 & M9A1 build quality is just like all the other KJWorks Airsoft guns I've tested so far, excellent the fit and finish is the best in my opinion even when compared to my my 4.5mm steel BB shooters. When using these guns regularly, areas that are painted like the metal friction areas show very light wear which is rarely the case with metal built blowback Airguns. Again the tolerances between the moving parts like the slide and frame are very tight showing excellent workmanship and machining from KJWorks.
Realism: Both the KJWorks M9 & M9A1 are copies of the real steel popular Beretta M9 & M9A1, it is really hard to tell them apart from the real versions. Both the M9 and M9A1 are very similar in design with the M9A1 having some slight cosmetic differences, the biggest being the addition of a tactical rail built into the frame. Both KJWorks Beretta's can be field stripped in the same manor as a real Beretta M9 Semi Auto pistol and all parts function the same.
Pretty much all metal pistols with good weight to them.
Full heavy blowback operation.
Excellent fit and finish as always with KJWorks pistols.
High capacity full size drop out magazine that holds the Airsoft BB’s and CO2. (Can get Green Gas mags)
Seem to be very accuracy and well centered on target.
White dot sights make it easy to shoot an most backgrounds.
Ambidextrous safeties.
Field strip-able like the real steel versions.
Cons:
Sight are non-adjustable but elevation can be adjusted using the hop-up.
Grips may be a bit wide for some small handed people.
CO2 magazines sticks out a bit when using the CO2 mags.
Comments: The KJWorks Full Metal M9 & M9A1 are yet more examples of excellent full blowback Airsoft pistols from KJWorks. They are built to very high standards, are near perfect replicas of the real steel Beretta M9 & M9A1 and performance is also excellent. Yes the price is slightly higher than a similar Airsoft gun from KWC but the quality on the KJWorks is definitely worth the extra cost. Make sure to drop by our Replica Airguns Canada Store and checkout our new lower pricing on the KJWorks line of Airsoft guns.
My YouTube Table Top Review of the KJWorks M9and M9A1 Full Metal Blowback Airsoft Pistol:
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the KJWorks 1911 is very good since it is modeled after a real steel 1911 which makes it short and crisp with a very 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 perceptible. 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 1911 Airsoft Pistol but I did get the chance to make a short preview video where I shot some clay pigeons setup around 20 feet away. The KJWorks Full Metal CO2 Airsoft 1911 was a lot of fun to shoot at the clay pigeons and I had no trouble hitting them form that range over and over again. I am not sure exactly what the FPS will be but considering this version of the KJWorks 1911 has the CO2 mag it should shoot up into the 360+ fps range using .20 gram Airsoft BB's. Blowback operation is strong and the slide cycles full length. Keep posted for my upcoming Field Test Shooting Video for the KJWorks Full Metal 1911 CO2 Airsoft Pistol.
Build Quality: As expected, the KJWorks 1911 build quality is just like all the other KJWorks Airsoft guns I've tested so far, excellent the fit and finish is the best in my opinion even when compared to any of my 4.5mm steel BB shooters or 6 mm Airsoft pistols. When using KJWorks guns regularly, areas that are painted like the metal friction areas and high spots show very light wear which is rarely the case with metal built blowback Airguns. Again the tolerances between the moving parts like the slide and frame are extremely tight showing excellent workmanship and machining from KJWorks.
Realism: The KJWorks CO2 Full Metal 1911 Blowback Airsoft Pistol copies the real steel very popular even today Colt 1911 A1, it is really hard to tell the KJWorks Airsoft 1911 apart from the real 45 caliber version. The KJWorks 1911 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.
Pretty much all metal pistol with good realistic weight to it.
Full cycle heavy blowback operation.
Excellent fit and finish as always with KJWorks pistols.
High capacity 28 round full size drop out magazine that holds the Airsoft BB’s and CO2. (Can get Green Gas mags)
Seems to be accurate and well centered on target.
Nice two tone finish.
Working grip safety.
Nice light true single action only trigger.
Field strip-able.
Cons:
Sights are non-adjustable but you can adjust elevation using the hop-up.
Field strips a little different than a real 1911.
CO2 magazine sticks out a bit but KJWorks makes Gas Mags also.
Comments:
I am a big fan of 1911 pistols and love getting my hands on pretty much any version weather it be a Real Steel 45 caliber 1911, a 4.5mm Steel BB version or 6mm Airsoft Pistol. As long as it has that true 1911 single action short light trigger to it. I love the way the slide cycles a bit slower than most semi auto pistols and this can be found in many Airgun and Airsoft version like this KJWorks 1911 making the shooting experience even more realistic. The fit, Finish and overall quality of the KJWorks 1911 over other brands is worth the slight additional costs so if you don't mind paying juts a tad bit more for that extra quality and you're looking for a CO2 1911 then you will not be disappointed with the KJWorks Full Metal CO2 Airsoft 1911.
My Vimeo Table Top Review of the KJWorks M9and M9A1 Full Metal Blowback Airsoft Pistol:
We recently received some new pistols from KJWorks, The CO2 versions in Full Metal of the Colt 1911, the Berretta M9 and the Berretta M9A1. All of these guns are really well made, the fit and finish is excellent. Definitely a very high quality Airsoft pistol and worth spending a little bit more to get this extra quality. We have even lowered the price on many of our new KJWorks guns to make them even more affordable so check them out in our Canada Replica Airguns Store!
So I made a quick demo preview video where I get away from my table top and go outside to show them off a bit and shoot a few rounds through them at some clay pigeons. I did have some camera issues but you will get a good idea on how these guns look and perform.
My main goal in this Shooting Performance Test was to see how the ANT Advanced Novelty Tech CO2 HPAConversion Kit performed side by side with a standard 12 gram CO2. Keep in mind that you can also switch over at any time to a regular 12 gram CO2 even after installing the ANT adaptor system in the gun or magazine.
My choice of Airgun for this test was the KWC - Cybergun Mini UZIConverted to Full Auto. I chose this Blowback 4.5mm CO2 BB Gun because it uses a lot of CO2 with each shot and when shooting in full auto it literally eats CO2. I knew this airguns would really put the ANT Advanced Novelty Tech CO2 HPA Conversion Kit to the test.
My first performance test was to comparing both systems using a Chronograph so I could see how the fps velocity slowed down because of the CO2 cool down effect. The 12 gram CO2 did pretty well emptying a full 25 round magazine but keep in mind I was shooting in semi auto only for the sake of using a Chronograph. I did notice a drop in velocity from a high of over 300 fps to a low of around 260. When I switched over to the Bulk CO2 ANT System and performed the same test the fps started out a bit lower but stayed pretty much about the same with a few ups and downs. The initial lower fps may have been a result of using separate magazines for each test since the valves in each magazine are most likely tuned a bit differently to let out more or less CO2 with each shot.
My second and most impressive test was to empty a full 25 round magazine in full auto mode! Again a started out using the standard 12 gram CO2 and to make this a real world test, I did not replace the 12 gram CO2 form the previous test. I figured 50 shots was a realist amount of shots to get from a single 12 gram CO2 and after all I was only shooting in semi auto which uses a lot less CO2 then shooting in full auto.
My KWC Blowback Mini UZI rocked pretty good using the 12 gram CO2 until it hit about a third the way through the magazine and then it stated to slow down and pretty much stop dead in its tracks with about 5-6 rounds still left in the magazine. The CO2 was all gone and I was left a bit unsatisfied :(
Without any significant break time to let my KWC Mini UZI warm up again, I switched over to the ANT Advanced Novelty Tech CO2 HPA Conversion Kit magazine and unloaded the full magazine in no time with no cycle rate slow down at all, even after the magazine was deprived of Steel BB's I kept squeezing the trigger and letting the blowback hammer my shoulder for several more satisfying bursts. Now that is what you expect from a full auto Blowback BB Machine gun!
In conclusion, when shooting in semi auto you will see better fps consistency using the ANT Advanced Novelty Tech CO2 HPA Conversion Kit but where this system really shines at least for me is I can shoot as fast as as long as I want and it will feel same as the very first shoot I take even when using a full auto system. No more switching out 12 gram CO2 every few magazines, just speed load some more BB's in and your good to go.
I was sent a really cool new product form a company called ANT (Advanced Novelty Tech). Their CO2/HPA Converter allows you to hook up either a large CO2 tank or High Pressure Air system using standard Paintball hose system.
What's kind of neat with the Advanced Novelty Tech CO2 HPA Conversion Kit, is that you can still interchange your 12 gram CO2 if you want to even after modifying your gun to use Bulk CO2 or HPA!
The ANT Advanced Novelty Tech CO2 HPA Conversion Kit works with well over 100 BB, Pellet and Airsoft guns most of which would be Pistols but some rifles are included in this list.
The main advantages over using standard 12 gram CO2 cartridges would be a significant lower cost for CO2, along with less fps velocity fall off, so better performance overall.
Stay posted as I will be making a field test performance test using the ANT Advanced Novelty Tech CO2 HPA Conversion Kit with my KWC Mini UZI Full Auto BB Machine gun :)
First off let’s get one thing straight! What I’m looking for in a BB gun is more than likely going to be way different than what someone else is looking for in what they think is the “Best BB Gun” available.
Many people will determine the Best BB Gun as the BB gun that has the highest price tag, usually you get better quality the higher the price goes up but not always, there are times when perhaps you are paying for a name brand or cosmetic add ons that don’t always make the gun better or the best.
On the other hand, some people will determine the best BB gun as the one that is the least cost since they may not have a lot of money to spend, and an expensive BB gun is a BB gun that that person would not be able to afford or even own, far from an ideal or the Best BB Gun for them.
Many people only look at the specifications to determine if that particular BB gun is the outright best BB Gun. One specification that people seem to fixate on is how powerful is the BB gun in question? If it has the highest FPS then surely it must be the best BB Gun! That Pop can never saw it coming! What about cost of operation, so things like reliability and how many shots per CO2 you can get out of a BB gun. All important features to consider when picking out the Best BB Gun!
Style is another important part of what makes a BB Gun the Best option for you, are you wanting a classic BB Pistol? Perhaps a Modern BB Gun, Maybe even a BB gun that you can not get in your area because of gun laws? Style is a very individual preference and what looks good to me may look terrible to someone else.
One aspect that is very important to me, is realism, does the BB Gun operate the same and does it have similar metal and plastic parts as the real steel version? Does the BB gun I am considering have blowback operation and a true single or double action trigger like it’s big brother? What about a full size drop out magazine and the ability to field strip the BB Gun?
Some people want their BB gun for simple backyard good old fun shooting and so as long as it shoots pretty straight and works as it’s supposed to, then that is all they care about. Many real steel shooters want a BB Gun to operate exactly like their real steel version, so they can practice with it to get in more trigger time when going to a gun range is not an option.
Of course there are aspects like Reliability, Performance, Fit and Finish, Licensing and Build Quality that all determine what makes the Best BB Gun and again it really depends which of these qualities are most important to you that will determine which BB Gun is the best BB Gun.
So how do you determine which is the Best BB Gun? Make a list of what you are looking for in a BB Gun. Attributes like Cost, Performance, Build Quality, Style, Realism, Availability…
Once you have narrowed down your Best BB Gun list, get as much information on each BB Gun you are considering, to narrow the list down even more. There are tons of Youtube videos you can watch for your Best BB Gun final short list to help you determine your ultimate choice.
So please don’t ask me what the Best BB Gun is? I can not even tell you which one I like the best since my wish list changes from day to day…
First off we are not talking about 6mm Plastic Airsoft Guns but rather 4.5mm Steel BB versus .177 caliber Pellet.
Same but Different:
Generally speaking a BB CO2 Pistol and a Pellet CO2 Pistol are very similar, they just shoot a bit different types of ammo, that will determine a couple mechanical differences in both guns. You may come across a CO2 Pistol that can shoot both Pellets and BB's but these are not as common.
Magazine Types:
The fist main difference is usually the magazine design, since lead pellets don’t stack on top of each other very well compared to steel BB’s, action CO2 BB and Pellet pistols will have a very different types of magazine designs. Pellet CO2 Pistols will generally use a rotary type magazine while BB Pistols will use a stick or stacked ammo magazine. In terms of realism, a stick or stacked magazine is better suited than a rotary magazine. Some Action Pellet Pistols will have what looks like a stick magazine, but the stick will actually have two rotary magazine on either side. You will often find higher capacity magazines in BB CO2 Pistols since Rotary magazines usually only offer around 8 rounds (16 on a double sided stick style).
Another downside to a rotary magazine is knowing when you are out of ammo, a rotary magazine does not allow for this, it will just keep turning around and around no matter if there is ammo in it or not, so you need to listen to the the sound of the CO2 gun to determine when a rotary type magazine is empty. BB Action shooters do not have this problem since in most cases the magazine BB spring follower acts exactly the same as real steel gun follower locking back the slide on the last shot, stopping any follow up shots from happening.
Ammo Size:
Steel BB’s traditionally only come in 4.5mm which is the same as .177 caliber. Lead pellets can come in a myriad of sizes, the most comma being .177, .20 and .22 caliber but they can go as large as 50 caliber for PCP air rifles used to hunt even large game.
Barrel Rifling:
Another common difference between BB and Pellet CO2 Pistols is the rifling inside the barrels. Lead pellets need to spin in order for them to shoot straight. Steel BB’s on the other hand fly pretty true thought the air weather they spin or not. Rifling is most often not used in steel BB pistols because the hardened steel can damage the rifling and since there is little to no benefit in adding rifling to a BB guns barrel in terms of accuracy, then why even have it. Pellet pistols with their softer lead ammunition need to have the rifling in order to create the spin that keeps the pellet true and straight while in flight.
Accuracy:
Even though many BB CO2 Pistols can shoot accurately at close to medium ranges, they are not as accurate as a Pellet CO2 Pistol, especially as the distance become greater to your target. Not only does the spinning of the pellet help accuracy, but also the added mass of the lead pellet keeps them from being as effected by cross winds and airborne debris.
Hunting and/or Pest Control:
In most cases I do not recommend using a pistol for pest control because, plain and simple they are harder to shoot accurately. This is because there is no stock on a pistol to help steady the gun, and the front and rear sight are much closer together on a pistol than compared to rifle sights which means there is more margin for error when signing in a target. Pistols are generally lower powered than rifles which also plays a roll when considering a pistol for pest control since it may not have enough power to get the job done humanly. That said, there are pellet pistols deigned with power in mind, usually these are spring piston, or pressurized air powered air guns which can have a lot more power than a standard CO2 BB or Pellet Pistol.
Pistols versus Rifles:
This is not the forum for a full pistol versus rifle comparison. I can tell you that you will find a lot more pellet rifles than your will find BB rifles, they both exist but for the most part rifles are geared more towards target shooting and hunting. Most of the BB rifles available would be styled after replicas so the focus is not necessarily on power and or accuracy in these models.
Abundance:
In terms of Replica Action Shooters, BB Pistols outweigh the Pellet pistols by a land-slide. BB’s just work better in action pistols because the round hard steel ammo operates much easier and more reliably than the softer lead pellets, at least for action shooters. And the point of Replica Action Shooters is not so much power and accuracy but more so towards rapid fire good old back yard fun shooting.
Which is Best?
Well… Neither one is best, it just depends what you are looking for.
Do you want accuracy at longer ranges - if so maybe get a Pellet CO2 Pistol.
Do you want more realism in terms of magazine loading and your slide locking back on the last shot - then you may be in the market for a BB CO2 Pistol.
Do you want more power down range - heavy pellets are going to hit harder and truer than lighter Steel BB’s.
Do you want trouble free shooting - hard steel BB’s rarely miss-feed or misfire compared to softer Lead Pellets especially in action shooters.
The best is what’s best for you and not always what's best for me…
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Gletcher NGT Silver CO2 BB Revolver is nice and crisp in both single and double action, there is virtually no trigger wiggle and the trigger pull is decent in double action while much longer and of course nice and light in single action as expected. You will want to pre-cock the hammer for accurate single action shooting but have the option of shooting double action for any action shooting you may want to do. Keep in mind you will have to individually reload each round.
Accuracy: I have not done any shooting so far with this Gletcher revolver due to some pretty awful weather conditions. I expect it will shoot nice since it has a fairly long sight radius and the open iron sights are conducive to precise shooting.
Build Quality: The Gletcher NGT Silver CO2 BB Revolver is really well made, you can tell by it's solid weight for a fairly small pistol, all of the mechanical parts feel smooth and responsive. Everything that would be metal on the real M1895 Revolver is metal including the solid one piece cylinder. Yes the grips are imitation wood but this is to be expected. The sliver finish looks great and I like the black contrasting parts that really highlight this gun.
Realism: I've have not had the opportunity to actually put my hands on a real steel Nagant M1895 Revolver but from the photos I have viewed online, the Gletcher NGT Silver is very accurate in terms of being a BB replica. Of course the shells fit steel BB's internally and the barrel has been downscale to shoot 4.5mm Steel BB's but other than that it is very difficult to tell it from a real Nagant M1895 Revolver. Even the barrel opening is recessed and looks true to scale for the original rounds used in this revolver and you can remove the one piece cylinder similar to the real version.
Pros:
Beautiful Silver finish.
Very solid and weighty gun.
Hammer and trigger actions are very crisp, virtually no wiggle.
CO2 is well hidden.
Recessed barrel looks great.
7 round cylinder instead of 6 like the other shell loading.
Cylinder can be removed.
Shoots in both signal and double action.
Grip is nice and small so great for shooters with small.
Shooting performance pros yet to be determined…
Cons:
Non adjustable sights. (Perhaps like original)
No speed loading on this one, one shell at a time, so make your shots count.
Shooting performance cons yet to be determined…
Comments:
The Gletcher NGT Silver CO2 BB Revolver is yet another addition of shell loading revolvers like the Dan Wesson and KWC 357 based revolvers, with the exception that the Gletcher NGT is more of a blast from the past and even though it comes in at a much more compact size, it holds an additional round! Another note worthy point is the fact that Gletcher has somehow figured out a way to reduce the CO2 release valve giving the Gletcher NGT a more true to scale frame size, I am talking about the distance between the hammer and the cylinder. This allows for a more realistic and true to dimension replica which in this classic revolver is super important.
My Vimeo Table Top Video of the Gletcher NGT Silver CO2 BB Revolver:
While the weather is still nice, I decided to setup some clay pigeon targets at varying further out ranges than the typically 30 feet I shoot on my deck. So I figured 40-60-80-100 foot ranges would be a good test to see if a 4.5mm Steel BB rifle could effectively hit targets at any of these ranges.
I did do a similar test earlier on using my Umarex Steel Force but I think the Steel Force may have been a bit underpowered for the 80-100 foot shots.
So today I brought out my Drozd Blackbird since it has a bit of power and what it may lack in accuracy it for sure makes up in volume! As with many of my shooting videos I captured all the fun using a bunch of different cameras and camera angles and today I even wore a dedicated lapel mic which I have a min-review for coming up shortly!
So make sure to watch my YouTube video and see how the Baikal Drozd Blackbird does shooting clay pigeons up to 100 feet away...
Full Auto Fun video number three this week and this one is perhaps the craziest one! When you take a Drozd Blackbird that already has a 800-1000 round BB magazine, convert it to 1200 rounds of full auto, add a custom JimC Barrel to it, some bulk CO2 and a bunch of other cosmetic accessories... Well you get the most ridiculous full auto BB gun you can ask for.
Since I had an extra 800-900 BB's more than I am used to when making these full auto videos, I decided to add a few additional targets over and above the clay pigeons I have been using so far. I picked up a nice fairly heavy gauge Santa tin and a rather solid hard wax candle from the dollar store that proved to add some drama to this Full Auto Fun video!
Make sure to also watch my first two Full Auto Fun videos:
If you like what you see in this video and want an absolutely crazy BB gun, then checkout our Replica Airguns Store where we Sell the Drozd BB gun and some add ons for it!
In this "Full Auto Fun" video I bring out my RAP4 - RAP5 MP5 Full auto BB Rifle. The RAP5 MP5 started out life as a .43 caliber paintball gun but I bought it converted in the factory to 4.5mm Steel BB. RAP4 converts it by adding a barrel sleeve adaptor and includes some plastic casings that allow you to place 4.5mm Steel BB's into a kind of donut shaped shell that is then placed into the 21 round magazines. The plastic Donut BB shells eject from the gun like a real shell casing which is super cool!
Like my KWC Mini UZI Full Auto Fun video, I shoot up a bunch of clay pigeons but this time using my RAP4 - RAP5 MP5 4.5mm Steel BB Full Auto Rifle which I found to be very accurate but perhaps a bit thirsty when it comes to CO2 usage. Some bulk air would be a nice combination with this BB shooter, maybe in another video...
