I wanted to not only do my Field Test Shooting review for the Umarex 9XP Blowback CO2 BB Pistol but also compare it to the discontinued Umarex SA177 since both guns share most of their internal parts. I had a good idea that both airguns would perform very similarly with perhaps the newer 9XP having the edge due to it being almost 5 years newer.
A with all my current BB Pistol Field Test Shooting Reviews, I test out the real world Feet Per Second performance by shooting 5 rounds through my Chronograph to see what they average out at, of course I use a brand new CO2 for this and my choice of BB was RWS Zinc coated 5.1 grain Steel BB's.
I started out testing the Umarex SA177 to use as my baseline and after about 5 warmup shots, the SA177 came back to life after sitting on the shelf for many years un-shot. My 5 shot string averaged a respectable 397 fps which is pretty good for a blowback pistol!
I then moved on to the newer Umarex 9XP CO2 Blowback Pistol and right away it popped out all 5 shots at over 400 fps with an average of 412 for my 5 shot string. Not only was the Umarex 9XP more powerful but it also had a snappier blowback action and was louder than the SA177 leading me to believe the CO2 valve may be setup to let out a bit more CO2 with each shot.
Stepping back 30 feet from my paper target I proceeded to again first test out the Umarex SA177 for the accuracy portion of this field test. I used my standard semi rested shooting stance, (sand bag up front, standing in the back) since it offers me a pretty stable shooting platform. I generally like to shoot 10 rounds into the paper target but the SA177 for some reason was having some slide lock back issues and I lost a BB in the process. Later on when I reloaded my SA177 I did not have this same problem so I am not sure what was going on. Even though the slide was locking back on some shots it did not really seem to effect the accuracy all that much. I got a main grouping that was about 1.5 inches in diameter and then a couple shots went out of that group extending the diameter to about 2.5 to 3 inches. Still pretty good for a blowback pistol. The shots where fairly well centered on the target.
When I performed the same test using my Umarex 9XP, I did not have any slide lock back issues and was able to get all 10 shot on target although one mystery shot did not seem to make a hole at all even though I clearly heard it fire and hit the target, perhaps it went exactly through an already existing hole? Either way I had a nice 5-6 shot group dead center on the target well under a 1 inch diameter and then 4 shots came outside extending the grouping to about 2 inches, again another well centered grouping!
In conclusion the Umarex 9XP Blowback CO2 BB Pistol is a nice replacement for the SA177, it performs very similarly to the SA177, even perhaps a bit better! To me it felt like the trigger on the Umarex 9XP was a bit heavier than the SA177 but not by much? Maybe the 9XP hammer spring is heavier which would explain the increase in fps. SO if you have been wanting an SA177 but can not find one used, grab yourself one of the Umarex 9XP's, you will not be disappointed :)
A few years back the Umarex SA177 disappeared off the face of the earth, well not really, it simply juts stopped being made and fairly quickly retailers ran out of stock... As with anything that people want but can not get any more, the demand went up and all of a sudden everyone seemed to want to get their hand on an Umarex SA177 Blowback BB Pistol.
You might ask why Umarex stopped making what at the time was a fairly popular CO2 BB Pistol? Well if you know anything about Glock, they do not like it all that much when a company makes a product that they feel infringes upon their intellectual properties and copy writes. Did the SA177 look like a Glock, well sure it had some similarities and perhaps Glock felt it was a bit too similar and so may have kindly asked Umarex to stop making it? At least that's what I think happened :)
So that brings us to now. And a new gun on the market called the Umarex 9XP that in many ways is a lot like the SA177 but with a slightly new skin on it, one that differentiates itself a bit more from the traditional Glock look. Sure the Umarex 9XP Blowback BB Pistol has a some Glock looking properties but it am guessing it has enough subtle changes to make the lawyers over at Glock HQ happy enough to allow Umarex to again sell an airgun very similar to the SA177.
Internally and mechanically as far as I can tell the Umarex SA177 and Umarex 9XP are the same and so they should both perform very similarly too each other and with pretty much all the same specifications. Even the magazines seem to be interchangeable! The trigger and trigger pull look to be identical and even the slide catch release are modeled after each other. Again, the only difference are some minor cosmetic changes to the metal slide and polymer frame.
So if you have been looking to get your hands on an SA177, well the next best or perhaps even better airgun is now available in the new Umarex 9XP! And the price is all right too!
Some more new guns I will be checking out, well one is just a different finish of the Umarex Colt SAA Revolver but for sure worth taking a look at in this Preview Video.
All the guns in the Vimeo Preview Video and CO2 4.5mm BB Pistols, three are styled after revolvers and one is based on a semi auto modern pistol.
Starting with the revolvers I show off the absolutely gorgeous blued finish on the Umarex Colt Single Action Army BB Revolver and it all I can say is it really needs to be seen in person to fully appreciate how great it looks. I was not expecting the blued version to look nicer than the Nickel version but in my opinion it is my favorite of the two. And that's not to say the Nickel version is not a great looking pistol in it's own right.
I've been waiting a while to see firsthand the Webley & Scott MK6 CO2 BB Revolver and it finally came this week. Another really well built and designed classic Revolver to add to the list of shell loading CO2 BB Revolvers. I was really impressed with the trigger and hammer action, both single and double action feel super smooth and the position of the hammer makes for really easy draw for single action shooting. The 2.4 pound all metal weight give the Webley & Scott MKVI great balance and realism, while the top-break design makes for super easy loading.
Not to be mistaken with the Full Metal Shell Loading Umarex Colt Python 357, I take a look at the more affordable Umarex Polymer Colt Python 357 that fits the bill nicely when looking for a BB Revolver with a nice hammer and trigger, fully adjustable sights, and higher than average capacity magazines than your standard revolver.
Last but not least I look at another fairly affordable CO2 BB Pistol, the Umarex HK45. It's a pretty basic CO2 BB pistol but looks really good and has decent weight with its metal slide. The HK45 features white dot sights, a Picatinny rail, an all metal drop out stick magazine and full Heckler and Koch licensing.
I decided to split this Field Test Shooting Review of the Umarex Colt Single Action Army into two parts since i wanted to do multiple tests with multiple types of ammo and dummy shells. at the end of the video I also throw in my Cybergun / KWC 1911 Blowback BB Pistol just for fun since both of these pistols where used in the US Military.
I start off by testing out the Umarex Colt Single Action Shell Loading BB Revolver shooting 6 rounds through my Chronograph using the included Umarex Dummy Shells with steel 5.1 grain 4.5mm BB's since this is what most people will experience. In my second test I switch up the ammo slightly and try out some much heavier Lead BB's that are a bit larger than 4.5mm (about 4.7mm) and weigh in at somewhere between 7-8 grains.
On my third test I go back to the standard 4.5mm Steel BB's but switch out the included Umarex dummy shells and replace them with some Dan Wesson Dummy Shells. Both shells are about the same length and width but with the included Umarex shells, you load the BB's into the back of the shell. With the Dan Wesson shells you load the BB into the front of the shell.
I finally got my hands on one of the Umarex Colt Single Action Historic Revolvers! Rather than making you wait for my full Table Top and Field Test Reviews I thought I would post a quick unboxing preview video. Of course my full Table Top and Field Test videos will follow...
In this unboxing preview video of the Umarex Colt Peacemaker Single Action Army Revolver I show you around the CO2 4.5mm BB Revolver Replica and even compare it to a few similar revolvers I have lying around.
The Umarex Shell Loading Colt Peacemaker is an amazing replica and simulates the old west cowboy Single Action Only Revolvers in almost every detail. I love the hammer action and the ratchet sound it makes as you draw it back. The Single Action Only Trigger is very light at under 2 pounds just as it should be.
As with my standard Field Test Shooting Reviews, I shoot 5 rounds through my Chronograph to get a real world Velocity reading in feet per second. I also shoot 10 rounds into a paper target using a semi-rested position from 30 feet away. Since I had two versions of the EKOL ES 66, the long and short barreled versions I decided I would test pistols both on the Chrony and just the long barrel version for the accuracy testing.
So how did the EKOL ES 66 and ES 66C CO2 BB Pistols both do? In terms of fps, they both got into the 400+ range with the shorter barreled ES 66C version averaging 402 fps from 5 shots and the the longer barreled ES 66 getting a 444 fps 5 shot average. I was expecting the longer barrel ES 66 to outperform the shorter barrel ES 66 so this was no surprise. The temperature was not all that warm on this day but I did keep both guns fairly warm inside right up till I went outside and shot them. On a warmer day I would expect even better results.
Now for the accuracy results and don't hold your breath on this one... I have to say that the EKOL ES 66 was one of the worst BB guns I have shot to date in terms of accuracy at 30 feet. I could actually see the BB's curving after about 20 feet out, almost like they had some random spin on them? Perhaps the rifled barrel was catching a bit of grip on the smooth steel BB's and making them spin? Because this was so random it was hard to predict where the BB's where going. I also found that the EKOL ES 66 was sighted in way to high so at 30 feet I needed to aim very close to the bottom of the target and even still, about half of the BB's went well over and did not find the paper target. Perhaps actual lead BB's may be better in this pistol?
One thought I had was to somehow smooth out the rifling on the barrel as perhaps it needs to be worked in before more consistent shots can be obtained?
It was really too bad that I did not get the accuracy results I was looking for with the EKOL ES 66 Series of CO2 BB Pistols, I really like the overall quality and design of these Turkish made CO2 BB Pistols. Again perhaps some barrel work could improve the accuracy and make this a more well rounded BB gun.
The best way to describe a Blank Gun is to imagine it as a real gun in just about every way except one… There are no dangerous bullets flying out the front of it. That’s right, a Blank Gun just like a real gun uses a brass or metal shells, loaded with a primer and gun powder, but for what ever reason reason, some rocket scientists forgot to put a bullet at the end of the Blank shell.
Why Would You Want a Blank Gun?
Isn’t the entire purpose of a gun to shoot something? So why on earth would you buy a gun that doesn't shoot anything at all, what purpose would it serve? Even Nerf guns, water guns, potato guns all shoot something…
One way to look at a Blank Gun is to imagine it as a cap gun, but for grown ups. Similar to how kids like to shoot their cap guns because they go bang and sparks and smoke fly out of them, Blank Guns do the same thing but on a much grander scale and in most cases they look and sound a lot more like a real gun than a cap gun does.
So Blank Guns don’t actually do the main function of a real gun (that is to shoot a bullet), but they do look and sound the part of a gun. So how could this be of practical use to anyone?
Signalling Devices:
First off, have you ever heard of a Starter Pistol or a Flare Gun? Blank Guns have been historically used to signal the start of races. Many Blank Guns also have the ability to shoot flares by adding a flare adaptor to them so a person can shoot a flare into the air to signal distress if they are lost or hurt.
Gun Handling and Training:
Since many Blank Guns look, operate and feel almost exactly like real guns, Blank Guns are a great place to start out when training a person on proper gun handling and operation. If they make a mistake while using a Blank Gun, the consequences are far less severe than with a real gun. There is also much less kick from a Blank Gun so shooting a Blank Gun is less scary or intimidating for new shooters.
Dog Training:
Dogs used for police, military and hunting are required to stay calm around loud noises like gun shots, trained dogs also need to get used to the presence of guns and even how to attack the gun hand of a person who could be a potential threat. Again using Blank Guns in this training situation is a much better option than using a real gun for obvious reasons.
Movies, Video TV and Stage:
Introducing live ammunition on a movie set would be ridiculous, there is absolutely no need to shoot a bullet in this type of situation. Blank Guns make perfect stage props since they again look the part and sound the part without the dangerous bullets flying all over the place…
Collectors:
Many collectors want to own guns but for reasons like gun restrictions in their area, they may not be able to own a real gun or certain types of real guns. Blank Guns can offer a person with heavy gun restrictions in their area the ability to own similar Blank Gun versions. Perhaps they can own real guns but just simply don’t want to go through the licensing and registration hassle of owning a real gun. Blank Guns can generally be purchased for far less money than a real gun which is appealing to collectors who in many cases may not even shoot them.
Celebration:
In places like Turkey, people celebrate holidays and events by shooting Blank Guns into the air, at one time they actually shoot real guns, but people where getting injured or even killed by the falling bullets. Because of this, Blank Gun production became an industry in places like Turkey as Blank Gun manufacturers like EKOL, Retay and Zoraki (also know as ATAK Arms) are Turkish companies.
So now you know some of the reasons why a person would want to own a Blank Gun. I have Blank Guns and I also own real guns too. One reason is because there are many Blank Guns I own that I can not own in their real steel versions because of Canadian gun restrictions so obtaining a similar version in a Blank Gun allows me to own these models.
If a Blank Gun is not for you, then by all means get a real gun, but please understand that there is a place for Blank Guns, and in those environments, a Blank Gun is actually a better choice than a real 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 for the Little Joe blank revolver is single action only, you must pre-cock the hammer first to rotate advance the cylinder and ready the hammer to fire. I very short medium weight trigger pull with virtually no take-up is required to fire this tiny revolver at that point.
Accuracy: NA.
Build Quality: Even though in general blank/signal guns do utilize scaled down metals like zinc alloy (not high pressure gun steel), the ROHM line of blank pistols are made very well and many of the internal mechanical parts, pins and screws are solid steel. The fit and finish is excellent and when I tested my none belt buckle Little Joe it shot flawlessly for me. Don't expect much recoil from the small acorn .22 rounds.
Realism: The ROHM Little Joe Belt Buckle 6mm Flobert Blank Gun is not a true replica of any real steel revolver in production but it does look a bit like the North America Arms NAA22s Mini-Revolver chambered in .22 short. North America Arms even has a belt buckle version of their own!
Hard to get the Belt Buckle version here in Canada.
Not sure about legalities actually wearing the belt buckle in Canada?
Comments:
I already thought the standard ROHM Little Joe Blank firing mini revolver was a really cool gun, to actually find one that fits into a belt buckle is even cooler! I wish we had these for sale in our Canada Replica Airguns Store but it's probably best we don't since I know some people will decide to wear theirs which is bad news since it's only a matter of time before a call is made and a lot of explaining is in order... The good news is we do sell the none belt buckle version of the Little Joe .22 Caliber (6mm Flobert) Mini Revolver in our Canada Replica Airgun Store along with many other ROHM German quality blank pistols so check them out for sure!
My Vimeo Table Top Review for the ROHM Little Joe Belt Buckle 6mm Flobert Blank Revolver:
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull with both the EKOL ES 66 CO2 BB Pistols is fairly heavy in double action mode as the hammer spring is fairly firm. In single action mode the trigger pull lightened up a lot and allows for more precise shooting when required. The double action pull is fairly long and the release point is fairly far back.
Accuracy: I have not shot either of these EKOL ES 66 styled airguns but I have conducted a similar test using a similar EKOL BB Pistol, the EKOL ES 55 which is basically the same base gun with a different slide. I would expect all of the EKOL airguns to shoot about the same. Based on my past experience the ES 66 C and ES 66 should shoot right around 420 fps or more and get 1-2 inch groupings from 30 feet out. We will find out for sure when I conduct my official Field Test Shooting Review for them.
Build Quality: The EKOL ES 55 comes from a company that primarily makes blank pistols. EKOL makes this gun directly from a similar model (The EKOL Sava) that shoots blanks so in many ways the ES 55 and ES 66 are designed more like a real gun than an airgun. The EKOL ES 66 Series is all metal with rubber grips and feels fantastic in the hand. There are really no plastic parts to speak of and I could not find any quality concerns on these airguns at all! The Chrome finish is something you don't often see in airguns but does look nice, just watch out for those finger prints ;)
Realism: The EKOL ES 66 CO2 BB Pistol is not an exact replica but does look a lot like a browning Hi-Power other than some small cosmetic differences. The basic size and shape is very close. With the shorter EKOL 66 C, this similarity is harder to see.
All metal construction - very heavy and solid feeling gun.
Expect to have decent accuracy and good power.
Safety is actually a de-cocker but a nice touch.
Nice full size drop out Magazine that holds the CO2 and 4.5mm Steel BB’s.
Double and single action trigger / hammer.
One of the few BB pistols with a rifled barrel.
Nice wrap around ergonomic grips.
Very unique airgun, not a lot of them around.
Cons:
Some parts don't function - slide release - slide when CO2 is in the gun.
No cutout ejection port.
Sights are none adjustable.
Double action is a bit heavy and trigger take-up is long.
Comments:
EKOL makes several blank guns and I have reviewed many of them back when we used to be able to import more varieties of blank guns here in Canada. What makes the EKOL airgun version kind of different than most airguns out there, is that it is made very similarly to the way EKOL makes their blank guns. Many parts are interchanged so in some ways the airgun is a lot like the blank gun version which one could say is a lot like how a real gun is made. What I am getting at here is that the EKOL ES 66 and ES 55 look and feel more like real guns than an airgun. Make sure to pick one of these EKOL airguns up before we run out, our supply for them is limited and when they are gone we may not be able to get any more?
My EKOL ES 66 CO2 BB Pistol Table Top Vimeo Video Review:
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Gletcher APS Stetchkin is nice in both double and single action modes. Double action is fairly light as the hammer spring tension is moderate. The blowback operation will of course pre-cock the hammer allowing for single action shooting on almost all of your shots but the trigger pull length remains the same in both single and double action. The only difference is that in single action mode, the first part of the trigger pull, or should I say the take-up portion is much lighter until it gets to the hammer release point where you will notice more pressure and a short crisp release point.
Accuracy: I have done no preliminary shooting with this pistol so other than how the trigger feels I can not comment on the performance. The Gletcher APS Stechkin CO2 Blowback BB Pistol has a fairly long barrel length so it should get close to the claimed almost 400 fps and since the rear sight is adjustable for elevation I will be abel to make aim point adjustments up and down if need be. The slide does snap back with decent firmness so I am also expecting there to be a decent amount of blowback feel.
Build Quality: The Gletcher APS Stechkin CO2 Blowback BB Pistol is well made, the metallic dark grey finish looks really nice and the fit is good, not a lot of slide wiggle and pretty much the entire pistol is metal including the frame, slide, trigger, slide catch-release, safety, hammer, magazine and inner and outer barrel. The only plastic parts would be the grips and some internal seals and o-rings.
Realism:The CO2 BB Gletcher APS is a 1 to 1 replica of the Stechkin Soviet Military sidearm, all the mechanical parts function just like you would find on the real steel version other than the full auto mode located on the safety, which has been disabled, perhaps for the European markets where full auto airguns are not allowed. The barrel opening and the stick magazine are the real only tell-tale signs that this is the airgun version rather than a real Stechkin.
Pros:
One of the only 4.5mm BB shooting Stechkin replicas I have come across.
Very solid and weighty gun. Mostly all metal.
High capacity 22 round all metal stick magazine
Blowback operation seems heavy, slide locks back on last round.
Operational parts all work like they should (slide catch, safety, hammer, elevation adjustment, mag release)
Field Strippable.
Should be able to put a stock on it?
Shooting performance pros yet to be determined…
Cons:
No reassessed barrel opening.
Would have liked to have seen full size drop out metal magazine on this gun.
Full auto feature disabled on safety
Shooting performance cons yet to be determined…
Comments:
When I saw this pistol in the Gletcher catalog, I did not realize how large it actually was, I was expecting the Gletcher APS Stechkin to be a bit larger than the Makarov but it really does dwarf the Makarov. Being that it is a large pistol it does have some weight to it but it does not feel heavy for its size. The grips are long front to back but not overly thick side to side so even medium sized hands should be OK shooting this BB air pistol. I am really happy to see another historic airgun added to the available Replica Airguns at our disposal and it's a bonus that we also get this one with blowback operation.Let's hope the Gletcher APS Stechkin shoots as well as it looks!
My Vimeo Table Top Video of the Gletcher APS Stechkin CO2 Blowback BB Pistol:
First off I have reviewed all of these ASG guns in the BB version which I will link to below so you can read the full reviews. The main difference with this review is that I am reviewing the 6mm Airsoft versions and in the case of the ASG Bersa BP9CC and ASG CZ 75D Compact, the only difference is the ammo they shoot, with the ASG CZ 75 P-07 Duty, my Airsoft version is not blowback whereas the 4.5mm Steel BB version I reviewed earlier did have blowback operation.
My YouTube video for these ASG Airsoft versions does go into a lot of detail on each gun but in this written review I will keep to the basics since you can get most of the detailed information already in my 4.5mm Steel BB reviews for each gun.
More guns to show off! Good for you and me! In this update video I show you some very interesting guns indeed! As many of you are aware, the Baikal Makarov MP-654K CO2 4.5mm Steel BB pistol has been really hard to find new here in Canada, making the price of used ones escalate up into the $700+ price range for one in as new condition. Well for those looking to buy a Baikal Makarov MP-654K we have located some and have them for sale now in our Canada Replica Airguns store (Very limited supply). These are the 2013 PM new design models with the narrow grips and mags, they also have the recessed barrels and cut out extractor. We sell them in the blued version only.
Another CO2 BB pistol that has been out of stock for some time is the EKOL ES series. I reviewed the ES 55 CO2 BB Pistol a while back but until now have not been able to show off the ES 66 Series which is more browning high power looking in design. The good news is we have both the ES 55 and ES 66 CO2 4.5mm Steel BB Pistol in stock in our Canada Store. These guns are mostly metal with full size drop out metal magazines that hold the CO2 and BB's, they also shoot in both single and double action and have pretty decent power! We are now selling both the ES 55 and ES 66 series of guns in our Online Canada Store.
I've looked at several Gletcher Airguns over the last little while and finally got my hands on the Gletcher APS Blowback CO2 BB Pistol which is a replica of the Russian Stechkin Soviet Military sidearm introduced back in the 50's. It's kind of a bigger brother version of the Makarov, i was surprised at how large it actually was when i got my hands on it! The real steel version had the ability to shoot in both semi and full-auto but my Gletcher APS 4.5mm BB replica only shoots in semi auto. Again, checkout the full line of Gletcher Products in our Canada Replica Airguns Store.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Gletcher P08 Luger is medium pull for a SAO style trigger, it has a fairly shot take-up with a nice release point. The trigger definitely looks the parts with it's crescent shape and exposed spring. I would expect this pistol to behave well in the target accuracy department, at least the trigger will not be the problem.
Accuracy: I have not done any preliminary shooting so far with this Gletcher P08 due to some pretty awful weather conditions in my area. We will have to see how well the Gletcher P08 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol performs in terms of accuracy and velocity once I get out and do a real shooting test with it
Build Quality: The Gletcher P08 CO2 BB Pistol is really well made overall, pretty much the entire pistol is metal except for the grips of course and has a really nice weight to it. The finish looks really nice and the fit is good, the toggle feels nice and tight and all the mechanical parts function smoothly.
Realism: With the exception of the metal stick magazine, the Gletcher seems to have all it's other parts in order, even a working Toggle with Blowback, although the toggle does not lock back on the last shot! The Gletcher P08 certainly looks the part of a Luger P08, Gletcher has hidden 4.5mm the inner barrel by recessing it little bit and the CO2 screw is well hidden under the magazine. It would have been nice to have been able to field strip the Gletcher P08 but perhaps people will get into less trouble losing parts without this ability.
Pros:
Mostly all metal, nice and heavy at 2 pounds.
CO2 is well hidden.
Recessed barrel adds to realism.
21 round all metal stick magazine.
Realistic blowback toggle operation.
Lots of working parts.
True a very realistic SAO trigger design that seems to have a nice light trigger pull.
Shooting performance pros yet to be determined…
Cons:
Does not seem to be easily field strippable
Painty at the rear of the toggle seems to have chipped off a a bit.
Would have liked to have seen a full size drop out metal magazine on this gun.
Shooting performance cons yet to be determined…
Comments:
This is the third Gletcher pistol I have reviewed and I am really liking the products from Gletcher! I like that they offer some very unique Airguns that many other companies are not addressing. My Gletcher P08 does have some competition from Umarex and KWC but it has its own selling points for sure, I figure it fits in nicely right between the Umarex and KWC P08's in terms of offering realism and practicality. So now we have a few choices when it comes to purchasing a 4.5mm CO2 BB firing P08 Luger, choice is a good thing!
My Vimeo Table Top Video of the Gletcher P08 Luger CO2 BB Pistol:
Barrel: Metal rifled (6 Inch Sliver - 8 Inch Black).
Propulsion: CO2 x 1.
Action: Revolver, single and double action.
Ammunition Type: .177 caliber pellets.
Ammunition Capacity: 6 rounds.
FPS: 426+.
Trigger Pull: The ASG Dan Wesson Pellet Revolvers have predictable triggers with the single action being a bit more consistent since the take up is short, and the release is fairly light. Double action mode is very usable without a lot of extra pressure required. I found I just wanted to shoot this gun in single action mode because it felt more natural being that it is a six shooter.You also want to take your time shooting since loading the pellets into each shell and then the shells into the cylinder takes a bit of time.
Accuracy: This is yet to be determined since I have not to date had the opportunity to get outside and shoot these Pellet firing Dan Wesson's. Based on the exceptional results I got shooting my Dan Wesson Steel BB versions from 30 feet away, I should be abel to crack an inch or two 6 round grouping if my shooting is on. In terms of fps performance, ASG claims the pellet versions to shoot around the same velocity as the steel BB versions. With that in mind, this should give the Pellet shooting Dan Wesson's the advantage for raw power, since the lead pellets are heavier than steel 4.5mm BB's.
Build Quality: Like the entire Dan Wesson Revolver line from ASG, the pellet series is no exception and the fit and finish is very good. Most of the revolver is metal with the exception of the grips which are a plastic with a bit of a rubberized texture to them. The modified rifled barrels are made out of hardened steel and similarly so are portions of the newly designed pellet loading shells. Overall these are improvements to the quality of the Pellet shooting Dan Wesson Revolvers over the BB and Airsoft Dan Wessons.
Realism: The ASG Dan Wesson revolvers are as close as you can get to a real six shooter. Loading and ejecting actual shells into the cylinder makes you feel like this gun is much more then an unassuming airgun! If you want that real revolver experience than a shell loading Dan Wesson is the way to go, and the addition of a rifled barrel and lead pellets to the Pellet firing version should make the shooting experience even better.
It's a revolver with actual shells! Gives you the feeling of a real 6 shooter.
Almost all metal design.
Lots of detail in this gun, very well made, fit and finish is very good.
Should have good power and good accuracy. Even better than the BB versions!
Adjustable rear sight for windage and elevation.
Barrel and shell redesign are a big improvement over the BB shooting versions.
Cons:
Has a plastic CO2 screw tab.
Loading pellets does take longer than the BB versions.
May use more CO2 per shot than the BB versions because of heavier ammo.
Comments:
Since I can't comment too much on the shooting experience these Pellet Dan Wessons will offer, I can say I am impressed with how ASG did the redesign of the inner barrel and pellet loading shells. It is obvious that ASG didn't just grab some parts of the shelf and quickly modify a BB version to shoot Pellets. ASG did it right and you can see the new adapted parts are of high quality and are even an improvement over the BB versions in many ways. On paper the Pellet shooting Dan Wesson's should be more accurate especially out at further ranges than the BB shooting Dan Wesson's and the Pellet versions should also hit the target with more force since they shoot a heavier projectile at around the same fps as the 4.5mm Steel BB version.
My YouTube Video Review for these Dan Wesson Pellet shooting Revolvers:
Yes! Some new guns for you, and that's always a good thing for everyone, especially me since I get to play with them! I have been waiting a while to get my hands on some of the .177 caliber pellet shooting versions of the Dan Wesson Revolvers. I was actually introduced to them nearly a year ago at the last SHOT Show back in January of 2014! That's a long wait for sure...
The Pellet version Dan Wesson's look really good, the quality of the pellet shells is top notch and even the redesigned inner rifled barrels look to be very high quality. ASG did not just do a quick part swap, they really though out how they wanted everything to fit together. I am looking forward to seeing how well they shoot and will be Field Testing them both together so we can see how the barrel lengths play an effect on power and accuracy.
Next up we have two Gletcher pistols, both are classic semi auto shooters from the past, the Gletcher TT which is a Replica of the Russian Tokarev, and the Gletcher P08 which is a Luger copy. Both pistols are blowback and shoot 4.5mm Steel BB's.
Both pistols incorporate single action only triggers, metal stick magazines and working safeties, a real steel Tokarev normally would not have a safety other than the half cock hammer, Gletcher added in a discreet switch style safety on the right side of their TT. Again, I look forward to shooting both of these blowback pistols as soon as the weather picks up!
It's that time once again for an end of the year Gun Collection video. And no I will not be showing off all of my guns, to show and explain them all (Approximately 200 or so?) would simply take a really long time to make and a really long time for you to watch ;)
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Bruni Mod. 92 Top Venting 8mm PAK Blank Pistol is fairly decent on both single and double action with a fairly long take-up in double action and of course a much shorter lighter take-up in single action mode.
Accuracy: NA.
Build Quality: The overall build quality of the Bruni Mod. 92 Blank Pistol is good, mine does show some wear since it is an older previously owned blank gun but for the most part the wear and tear is cosmetic only, the mechanical parts all seem to be in excellent working order. Most of this blank shooter is made out of a zinc based metal with a few steel parts, mainly the screws, pins and springs. But it has an impressive weight to it! The grips seem to have been replaced with wrap around rubber grips that may actually be for a real steel Beretta M92.
Realism: The Bruni Mod. 92 8mm P.A.K. Blank Pistol is a very realistic looking Beretta 92 in terms of overall looks and true to scale size and weight. Most of the parts work as you would expect them to on the real steal version including the double and single action trigger, safety, locking slide catch release and magazine release button. The only exception really is the fact that this version is top venting so there is a small hole just in front of the breach that allows the full discharge of the blank round to escape out the top of the blank gun. The barrel is actually fully plugged but seems to have been partially drilled out to give the impression of being a front firing gun.
Purchase from: A private collector.
Pros:
Well made, materials fit and finish is all very good even though very little use of hardened steel.
15 round double stack magazine is nice hi-capacity.
For a used gun it is in very good working condition, some minor wear mainly on finish.
Barrel has been partially bored out to look like a front firing gun.
Grips have been replaced with what looks to be real Beretta grips.
It's a very close Beretta Model 92 replica!
Made in Italy.
Cons:
Top venting instead of front firing
No actual take down lever for easy field striping
Finish is a bit worn.
Comments:
In terms of being a very accurate Beretta Model 92 replica, the Bruni Mod. 92 8mm P.A.K. Blank Pistol is very close in almost all areas. Sure I would have liked it to of been front firing but the reality is, I rarely get around to shooting my blank guns. My blank pistols are mostly for show and since actual replica only guns are prohibited, being a blank gun skirts around our Canada laws allowing for ownership. Don't forget we sell the ROHM Blank guns here in our Canada Online Store and they are very good quality guns so check them out if you are in the market for a blank shooter.
My Vimeo Full Video Table Top Review for the Bruni Mod. 92 8mm P.A.K. Blank Pistol:
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the ME 8 General 8mm P.A.K. Blank Pistol is exactly what you would expect from a single action only 1911 styled semi auto pistol, short and light. But not super light, it's far from a hair trigger, perhaps more of a medium pull weight for a 1911 SAO.
Accuracy: NA.
Build Quality: The overall build quality of the ME 8 General 8mm P.A.K. Blank Pistol is really very good, nothing fancy at all going on with this pistol and a lot less actual moving parts than you would find on a real steel 1911 so much less to go wrong but the metal quality and fit and finish are very good overall. You will not find a lot of actual steel in this gun other than the magazine, screws, pins and springs but again the metal is good quality and the ME 8 General 8mm P.A.K. Blank Pistol even sports real wood grips.
Realism: The ME 8 General 8mm P.A.K. Blank Pistol is a very realistic looking 1911in terms of overall looks and true to scale size and weight. As mentioned already, many of the parts are not operational but actually moulded into the gun. Like the Safety, side trigger mounted magazine release and back strap safety. You will find the actual magazine release on the bottom of the pistol grip and even thought the slide catch release is operational, there is no spring assist to lock it in the up and open position when the magazine is empty so if you want to lock the slide back you will need to manually do this.
Purchase from: Private collector.
Pros:
Well made, materials fit and finish is all very good even though very little use of hardened steel.
10+ round single stack magazine is very hi-capacity.
For a used gun it is in very good condition, not many rounds through it and well kept.
Front firing and came with flare adaptor.
Real wood grips.
Made in Italy.
It's a 1911!
Cons:
Slide catch release, must be engaged manually.
Many working parts are simply moulded into the gun.
Not easily field strip-able.
Comments:
So the ME 8 General 8mm P.A.K. Blank Pistol is not the most accurate replica of a 1911 in terms of all parts being operational but it hits the major ones for me like: It's front firing, the slide will lock back, it has a true 1911 SAO trigger and for the most parts it looks and works like a 1911. Finding 1911 blank guns here in Canada is super hard and I am a big fan of 1911's so when the opportunity to pickup this gun came around I was interested even if it was not cheap. Blank guns are getting harder and harder to find here in Canada and I guess that's what is making them so appealing. Don't forget we sell the ROHM Blank guns here in our Canada Online Store and they are very good quality guns so check them out if you are in the market for a blank shooter.
My Vimeo Full Video Table Top Review for the ME 8 General 8mm P.A.K. Blank Pistol:
