Type: BB PistolPellet Pistol. Manufacturer: Distributed by Crosman. Model: SNR357. Materials: Mostly metal, some plastic parts. Weight: 1.92 pound (871 grams). Total Length: 8.13 inches (20.65cm). Barrel: 3 inches (7.6cm) metal non-rifled. Propulsion: CO2. Action: Revolver single and double action. AmmunitionType: 4.5mm BB’s / .177 cal. pellets. AmmunitionCapacity: 6 round cylinder. FPS: Claimed 400.
Trigger Pull: The Crosman SNR357 CO2 Dual Ammo Revolver has both a single and double action trigger, meaning you can pre-cock the hammer and shoot in single action which has a light short trigger pull. Or you can simply shoot in double action by pulling the trigger when the hammer is down and the trigger will cock the hammer and also release it to fire the Revolver. In double action the trigger is noticeably longer and heavier than in single action as your trigger finger now has to do all the work for the action. Having both single and double action is nice as you can shoot in action rapid fire using the double action or slow down and shoot with more accuracy in single action.
Accuracy: I have not tested out this exact Crosman SNR357 CO2 Dual Ammo Revolver but I have reviewed several similar products from Dan Wesson which essentially are the exact same mechanical gun manufactured by Wingun for both ASG and Crosman. I will be making a new Field Test Video for the Crosman SNR357 in a week or two but you can take a look at my recent Field Test Video for the Dan Wesson 2.5 inch Gold version which is mechanically the same gun as the Crosman SNR357 CO2 Dual Ammo Revolver.
Build Quality: When it comes to the build of the Crosman SNR357 CO2 Dual Ammo Revolver, it is alsmot all metal other than mainly the grips and the CO2 tab as far as I can tell. It weighs in at nearly 2 pounds even for a more compact revolver so it feels very hefty in the hand. In similar Dan Wesson models there has been some concerns with the hammer feeling a bit sloppy but this has never caused any concern in terms of functionality. I also am not a fan of the way the grips slide back for access to the CO2 as they can come off and misalign when trying to put them back in place. Other than that this pistol is a solid well made revolver.
Realism: The Crosman SNR357 CO2 Dual Ammo Revolver is styled after a 357 type snub nosed revolver and looks for the most part true to scale and form. As this product design was one of the first shell loading revolvers back in the day, manufacturers had to use parts that where already available as in the CO2 valves which where at the time a bit longer than they can make now. Because of this, the area between the cylinder and the back the revolver is a bit long to accommodate the longer valves made at that time. This does distorts the gun a little bit but to be honest most people will not notice.
Pros:
Design has been around for a while now and so it is well tested.
A decent looking replica of a 357 type revolver.
Single and double action trigger allows for both action and more laid back and precise shooting ability.
400 claimed fps is more than adequate for plinking and action shooting.
Always fun loading up the 6 removable shells and placing them in the cylinder.
Fully adjustable sights for dead center shooting.
CO2 is fully well hidden inside the grips.
Can choose between shooting pellets or BB’s.
Cons:
Barrel is not recessed.
Area between cylinder and hammer is a bit long as it has to accommodate the CO2 valve.
Grip removal can be a bit finicky.
Comments: The Crosman SNR357 CO2 Dual Ammo Revolver is far from a new styled gun on the market, it’s been around for about a decade originally introduced main stream by ASG as their Dan Wesson 357. Being an older styled airgun means any issues it may have had are now for sure worked out so you know you are getting a solid and reliable Air Pistol here. If you are looking for an updated 357 then take a look at the Dan Wesson 715 series as some of the issues I have mentioned with the SNR357 are worked out on the newer style 357 Revolvers.
Starting the year off with a Preview Unboxing Update Video of three CO2 Air Pistols. One from Gamo is a NBB CO2 Dual Ammo (Pellet/BB) Semi Auto style pistol called the Gamo P-27. The other two are for Crosman and are both Revolvers but from very different aras. The First Revolver I look at is the Crosman SNR357 which is essentially an early revision rebranded Dan Wesson in a 2.5 inch barrel. You can use either .177 caliber pellets or 4.5mm BB’s with it loading them into the 6 shells that come with it. A new comer I have never seen is the Crosman Fortify styled after the classic Single Action Army Colt 45 old West Revolver. Unlike many of today shell loading CO2 Revolvers, the Crosman Fortify has an internal tube fed magazine with a spring follower that holds 18 4.5mm Steel BB’s.
Watch my Preview Unboxing Update Video where I take a quick look and go over some basic specifications along with my initial thoughts…
In this Field Test Shooting Video I shoot my Crosman 2240 CO2 .22 Caliber Pellet Pistol here in the Replica Airguns Indoor Sea Can Shooting Range and find out just what we can expect in terms of power and accuracy. I do this by first placing 4-5 rounds through mu Chronograph and average them out to see what the fps velocity is. I then shoot 10 rounds at a paper target setup 30 feet away to see just how tight of a grouping I can get! If you are more interested in specifications and details along with some closer up video of the Crosman 2240 CO2 .22 Caliber Pellet Pistol then checkout my Table Top Video located here.
So on with the Filed Test Shooting Video I first placed 4 shots through my Chronograph using a fresh CO2 along with Crosman flathead wadcutter lead pellets that weigh around 15 grain each. The temperature here in the Replica Airguns Sea Can was around 20C or 70F so close to what is considered average room temperatures. My slowest shot through the Chronograph was 412 and my fastest shot was 419 averaging 415 fps. Crosman claims the 2240 CO2 .22 Caliber Pellet Pistol is capable of 460 fps, so we were close and this was with mid weight lead pellets so lighter pellets would for sure hit that claimed velocity.
Next up was the accuracy test where I proceeded to shoot 10 rounds into a fresh pepper target setup 30 feet down range. As always I was using a semi rested shooting position with my hands rested on a paper target up front and seated on a stool in the back which does help me with shot placement but there will still be some human factor to consider as in the one shot that I pulled pretty hard to the right of the main grouping. With that one stray removed from the grouping I was able to get around a 1.25 inch 10 shot grouping with several of the shots hitting right on top of each other. Not bad with open sights and my aging eye sight. I know most people could do better especially with an upgraded sighting system as the Crosman’s stock open sights are pretty basic. Right out of the box without any sight adjustments my grouping hit just a tad high and slightly to the left but the sights on the Crosman 2240 CO2 .22 Caliber Pellet Pistol are fully adjustable but kind finicky so it will take a bit to get this Pellet Pistol dialed in.
for well under a hundred dollars Canadian the Crosman 2240 CO2 .22 Caliber Pellet Pistol is great value and fully capable as a target or even small pest control Air Pistol. You will need to take some time dialing in the sights and getting used to it to get sub 1 inch 30-40 foot shots but it is totally possible. Crosman has been making versions if this Air Pistol for decades so you know it is going to be reliable and consistent and you can mod this gun in so many ways to get even better ease of use and improved performance out of it so if you don’t have a fairly compact target pellet pistol in your collection, than perhaps it is time to pick one up!
I have already reviewed several Crosman 357 Pellet/BB Revolvers in the past like the Crosman Vigilante which also has the ability to shoot both .177 caliber pellets and 4.5mm Steel BB’s, (Really they all are with the right magazine). With the Vigilante my pellet chronograph tests got similar results but with Steel BB’s the Crosman Vigilante did a lot better than my Crosman Triple Threat CO2 Dual Ammo Revolver using a similar 6 inch barrel. As expected both the Crosman Vigilante and the Crosman Triple Threat did about the same in terms of accuracy getting better results with pellets over Steel BB’s.
Starting with the velocity portion of my Indoor Field Test Shooting video, I placed a brand new 12 gram CO2 into the Crosman Triple Threat CO2 Dual Ammo Revolver and tested out some 7 grain .177 caliber Lead Pellets. I averaged 382 fps in what I would consider normal indoor temperature ranges so you can expect a bit higher velocities in warmer conditions. Moving on to 4.5mm 5.1 grain Steel BB’s, I averaged quite a bit lower velocity at 288 fps. I was surprise since it was almost 100 fps lower than the heavier 7 grain lead pellets. The logical reason for this is that lead Pellets fit the barrel much more snug, stoping any CO2 from getting around them which helps increase the velocity over Steel BB’s which are a hard metal and need to be slightly smaller in diameter and therefore do let some CO2 get by reducing the pressure behind them.
For the accuracy porting of the the Indoor Field Test I shot 10 rounds for my pellet magazine first and then 6 rounds for the BB magazine, simply because this is how many rounds each magazine holds… Makes sense right? Even with the pellet magazine holding 10 rounds over the BB magazine’s 6 rounds, the Pellet magazine was still able to get a much tighter grouping at around 1 inch over the BB target which was closer to 3 inches. BB’s seemed to really like to hook a bit with the Crosman Triple Threat CO2 Dual Ammo Revolver, so I would for sure go with pellets if accuracy is importatn to you. Both pellets and BB’s shot a little bit high and to the left from the bulls-eye but that can easily be adjusted with the fully adjustable rear sight.
The Crosman Triple Threat performed rather as expected and was not a big surprise other than the BB’s really having a much lower velocity this time around. It is clear to me that I would not waste my time shooting Steel BB’s unless this is all I had on hand as they where not only much slower but also a lot less accurate. Over time the steel BB’s could damage the rifled steel barrel effecting future pellet accuracy. The Crosman Triple Threat CO2 Dual Ammo Revolver offers a lot of options with ammo choice and barrel choice that alter it’s looks and even performance to some degree but if you want a Crosman 357 type CO2 Revolver than it for sure gives you the most flexibility.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Crosman Triple Threat CO2 Dual Ammo Revolver like pretty much all of the 357 type Crosman Revolvers is rather nice in single action with virtually zero take-up and it has a not too light weight with a predictable feel to it. In double action it does get much longer and heavier but still very usable. If you have larger thicker finger then you may want to start off in single action as the finger opening is a bit tight.
Accuracy: I have not specifically tested out the Crosman Triple Threat so far but I would be very surprised if it was any different than the standard Crosman 357 and the Crosman Vigilante I have already done Field Test Reviews for. Other than the shape of the outer barrel, both of these guns are virtually the same including the frame and the 6 inch barrels. Back in 2012 when I tested out the Crosman 357 I averaged around 400 fps using mid grain lead pellets and was able to get a 1 to 1.5 inch multi-shot grouping at 30 feet away from my paper target. I will be making an update Field Test Shooting Video so we will see if I can replicate these results with the standard Crosman 357 and Vigilante CO2 Pellet and BB Revolver.
Build Quality: The CCrosman Triple Threat CO2 Dual Ammo Revolver is a fairly basic pistol that incorporates a variety of length plastic outer barrels and inner steel barrels (3/6/8 inches), the grips are also plastic as expected and so are the magazines and sights. Most everything else is metal including the receiver, trigger and hammer. This line of Crosman 357 pistols has been around for decades so you can expect hours of fun and reliable shooting with their multi-barrel dual ammo version.
Realism: There are for sure a lot more realistic looking Replica Revolvers out there with swing out cylinders that eject the shells just like their real steel counterparts, but where the Crosman Triple Threat shines is in performance, reliability and consistency. You will get more shots per CO2, higher fps and better accuracy with the Crosman Triple Threat CO2 Pellet and BB Revolver over other more realistic Revolvers on the market.
Pros:
Inexpensive Pellet revolver with a proven track record that goes back decades.
Good usage of metal parts where you need them most. (Metal trigger, hammer, frame, barrel, CO2 Tab screw
Single and double action trigger for action and more focused shooting.
Excellent accuracy and good power with a reasonable amount of shots per CO2 (based on similar versions).
Fully adjustable rear sight.
Riffled steel barrels (All three of them).
3 different barrel choices (3/6/8 inches) depending on the look and how compact you want it to be.
CO2 and tab are nicely hidden and use all metal.
Come with both a Pellet and BB magazines..
Cons:
Outer barrels are plastic but very solid. Metal would have added a bit more weigth perhaps better balance?
Grips and trigger pull length may be a bit long for smaller handed people when shooting in double action.
Not your most real revolver out there in terms of replicas out there but probably more usable then most.
No white dots on the sights.
Comments: The Crosman Triple Threat CO2 Dual Ammo Revolver is basically another reskinned Crosman 357 at the end of the day with a ton of options including 3 different barrel lengths that will change the look, size and power depending on your needs. You also have the choice of what ammo you want to use, cheaper 4.5mm Steel BB’s or more accurate and even higher velocity lead pellets for greater downrange energy and precision. If you are not sure which Crosman 357 type revolver to get? The standard 357… the Vigilante or the Triple Threat, maybe go with the Triple Threat at the end of today as it offers the most options and variety of configurations.
Type: Pellet Pistol. Manufacturer: Crosman Model: 2240. Materials: Mostly metal with some plastic. Weight: 1.81 pounds (821 grams). Barrel: 7.5 inches (190.5mm) - metal, rifled. Propulsion: Single 12 gram CO2. Action: Single Shot SAO. AmmunitionType: .22 Caliber Pellets. AmmunitionCapacity: 1. MaxFPS: 460.
TriggerPull: The Single action only trigger pull on the Crosman 2240 CO2 .22 Caliber Pellet Pistol is very good, super light with just a little bit of take-up, the release is very predictable, the actual weight of the trigger pull is only 3.88 pounds which allows for less shooter input equalling more accuracy. The trigger is a bit on the tin side but since it is so light weight it does not affect the shooter much. You can also get aftermarket parts galore for the Crosman 2240 CO2 .22 Caliber Pellet Pistol which include options fro alternative triggers.
Accuracy: I have shot a bunch of the Crosman Series bolt action pistols in this category, most being the pump version but really the only difference is going to be that it takes a bit longer to pump up the gun as compared to simply loading a pellet and the fact that CO2 will be effected by temperature and how much CO2 is let in the cartridge. Accuracy for either version is going to be very good and so I expect when I do my actual Field test Shooting Video for the Crosman 2240 CO2 .22 Caliber Pellet Pistol it will perform as just like the others - good!
BuildQuality: The build quality of the Crosman 2240 CO2 .22 Caliber Pellet Pistol is nothing extraordinary but it has passed the test of time as this design has been sued for several decades in Crosman Air Pistols and riles. The Crosman 2240 is mostly all metal with only the grips and the sights being made out of plastic but again these parts can be upgraded to wood and metal parts if you wish to. A sight upgrade would be recommended as they are a bit hard to adjust but once they are adjusted they will work just fine.
Realism: The Crosman 2240 CO2 .22 Caliber Pellet Pistol is not a replica of any real steel gun in production. It is not mean to be and is made for the sole purpose of target and possible small pest control along with some back yard shooting.
Pros:
Very inexpensive target pistol at well under $100 at this time.
Know to have very good accuracy!
CO2 allows for fairly quick follow-up shots as no pumping is required.
Mostly metal construction.
Fairly long rifled barrel.
Fully adjustable sights.
Really short and light single action trigger
Would be good for small pest control because of .22 caliber pellet and just under 500 fps along with excellent accuracy for shot placement ability at closer ranges.
Lots of mods and upgrades available for this gun from Crosman and other companies.
Grips feel good for both left and right handers.
Cons:
Trigger is a bit thin but Can be upgraded.
Sights are fully adjustable but a bit hard to adjust. Sights are also mainly plastic.
Does require CO2 to us since no pumping. Cold weather will effect velocity.
Comments: The Crosman 2240 CO2 .22 Caliber Pellet Pistol may not be the most impressive looking airgun on the market but it does have an amazing track record for being reliable and an accurate shooter. If you aren’t taken back by its appearance then go ahead and dress it up almost anyway you want to over time. Change the barrel, or trigger or breach or sights or grasp or all of the above. The Crosman 2240 CO2 .22 Caliber Pellet Pistol is by far one of the most upgradeable Air Pistols on the market and honestly as it comes out of the box it really does not need anything to have fun and nail everything you aim at.
I love making these Mystery Box Unboxing Videos as many of the items inside are actually real mysteries to me, some I may have an idea of but even these items are new to me so it’s fun to open them up and check them all out. In this October 2023 Mystery Box Video I checkout 9 items ranging from AEG Airsoft Rifles to Airsoft , BB and Pellet Pistols. There is even a new Steel BB product from Sig Sauer that is a compact rifle with a 3 round burst option when shooting.
30 feet is not really a long enough distance to test out a Spring Piston Break Barrel Air Rifle but it’s been pretty rainy outside as the weather here in British Columbia has progresses into full on rainy fall weather. So we will have to make do with the 30 foot limitation I have here in the Replica Airguns Sea Can Indoor Shooting Range. At least it is warm and the lighting is perfect :) In this Filed Test Shooting Video for the Beeman Black Panther Dual Caliber Break Barrel Pellet Rifle I test out the velocity in fps along with the accuracy at 30 feet away. For both of these tests I use 15.43 grain .22 caliber Gamo lead pellets. If you are more invested in details and specifications along with some closer up video then watch my Table Top Video for the Beeman Black Panther.
Beeman claims just under 500 fps for the Beeman Black Panther Dual Caliber Break Barrel Pellet Rifle but it is unclear if this is with .177 caliber or .22 caliber pellets and what kind of pellet are being used? Light weigth Alloy or standard Lead pellets. I decided to go with the .22 caliber barrel for all my testing but may try out the .177 caliber barrel in a future update Field Test Video. I placed 5 shots through my Chronograph using the 15.43 grain .22 caliber lead pellets and was able to get an average velocity of 422 fps. The slowest shot was 418 fps with the fastest shot hitting a max of 429 fps so all fairly close together. In terms of energy output, a pellet that weighs 15.43 grain travelling at 422 fps has a foot pound energy of 6.1.
I am not the best shot when it comes to sprig Piston Air Rifles, but I did my best here. I shot a total of 8 shots on the paper target and the main group was about 1 inch in diameter, this consisted of 6 pellets in that main group with 2 pellets that came out one shot a bit high and one shot a bit to the right. I was using the built in post and notch fiber optic sights rather than installing the 4x32 scope. After all the target was only 30 feet away. I am pretty sure one could easily get a .5 inch grouping at this range with perhaps a 1 inch grouping at distances closer to the 50-60 foot mark, which should make this a decent pest control option when using the .22 caliber ammo as I feel it would get the job done with a bit more authority.
The Beeman Black Panther Dual Caliber Break Barrel Pellet Rifle comes with two barres offering the ability to shoot using .177 caliber pellets or .22 caliber pellets with a quick barrel change. .177 caliber pellets could be used for smaller pest control but I would mainly use the .177 barrel for basic target practice as .177 caliber pellets are definitely cheaper than .22 caliber pellets. When you do require that slight additional stopping power, then go with the .22 caliber barrel for sure!
Type: Pellet Rifle. Manufacturer: Beeman Model: Black Panther Dual Caliber. Materials: Metal and Synthetic Plastic. Weight: 7.2pounds (2.3kg). Total Length: 44 inches (111.8cm). Barrel: 16.75 inches (42.5cm). Propulsion: Spring Piston. Action: Single Action Single Shot. AmmunitionType: .177 & .22 Caliber Pellets. AmmunitionCapacity: 1. MaxFPS: 495 Claimed.
Trigger Pull: The trigger on the Beeman Black Panther Dual Caliber Break Barrel Pellet Rifle is single action only requiring you to break the barrel and compress the internal spring piston before you can shoot it. This will also engage the safety which you have to disengage for each shot manually as an added security measure. The actual trigger pull is I would say a medium pull with an easy first stage then a more firm second stage. I am pretty sure the Black Panther uses the Sportsman tigger setup which does have some adjustment for trigger pull as far as I am aware of. Once I get a chance to shoot the Beeman Black Panther Dual Caliber Break Barrel Pellet Rifle I will be able to tell you more about how the trigger feels.
Accuracy: I have not performed any shooting tests with the Beeman Black Panther Dual Caliber Break Barrel Pellet Rifle so far, I will be making a Video Review next in the next few weeks “weather permitting” as I want to get outdoors for this test to be able to shoot the Black Panther at longer ranges. I expect the Beeman Black Panther Dual Caliber Break Barrel Pellet Rifle to perform well in the accuracy department using the 4x32 optical scope. In terms of power the spring does seem to take a bit of effort so I am hoping for a decent fps in both .177 caliber and .22 caliber!
Build Quality: The Beeman Black Panther Dual Caliber Break Barrel Pellet Rifle is made in China but looks to be fairly well made. It is mostly metal including the front and rear sights with a synthetic plastic stock and feels good to hold resting the cushioned rubber butt-pad to your shoulder. The stock and trigger guard are a one piece design, that said the trigger guard is fairly thick so it should stand up to some abuse.
Realism: The Beeman Black Panther Dual Caliber Break Barrel Pellet Rifle is not a copy of any real steel gun in production but does have that overall rifle shape to it so it looks like a gun but most people will be able to immediately see that it is a Pellet Rifle and that is exactly what it is since it is not trying to be a Replica Airgun or copy of any real steel rifle in production.
Pros:
All Weather durable ambidextrous synthetic stock.
All metal front and rear fiver optic sights.
Can shoot both .177 and .22 caliber pellets for multi purpose shooting.
Sportsman trigger (adjustable) with automatic safety system.
Comes with included 4x32 scope and mounts.
Very solid build at 9.92 pounds.
Nice cushioned rubber butt-plate looks good and adds to shooting comfort.
Has a scope-stop so your scope will stay nicely in place.
Cons:
Hard to tell if the claimed 495 fps is for .177 or .22 caliber lead or alloy pellets?
Hard to find this exact gun for info, not even on Beeman’s own website.
Made in China.
Comments: The Beeman Black Panther Dual Caliber Break Barrel Pellet Rifle is designed to be a more affordable Break Barrel Spring Piston Pellet Rifle with metal where it counts and a synthetic stock for durability and resiliency to weather conditions. You do have the option of shooting either .177 caliber pellets for a faster flatter trajectory or if you use the .22 caliber barrel, you benefit from perhaps a bit more downrange energy and less effect from windy conditions. You can also choose between shooting with the open fully adjustable metal sights or install the 4x32 scope for longer range shooting. You for sure get a versatile Spring Piston Air Rifle with the Beeman Black Panther Dual Caliber Break Barrel Pellet Rifle at the end of the day.
In this Replica Airguns Unboxing Video I take a look at 6 Airguns consisting of 2 Paintball Pistols, 3 Airsoft Rifles and one Pellet Rifle. This is not a full review in any way but is rather a preview of what i will be doing full Reviews for over the next several weeks.
This is not exclusive to Airguns since trends of Airguns are highly influenced by what type of Real Steel Pistols are popular to people. This is often based on what people see portrayed in movies and TV Series, and also promoted online. There is for sure an overlap in what is popular and it is hard to say what is influencing what? Is it the popularity of Pistols out in the real world that influences what we see being used in the movies and on TV? Or is it what we see in Movies and TV that influences our choices of pistols out in the real world? Perhaps it is a combination of both?
My list is based on my own personal experience and does not represent the entirety of types of Pistol designs available.
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.
This review shows that low cost Airguns can perform just like higher priced Airguns. They may not be as realistic and all made out of metals for that added weight and feel but in terms of power and accuracy they can still get the job done as is with the Umarex NXG CO2 BB Pump Shotgun! In this Field Test Shooting Review I do just that, I test the power and accuracy first by shooting 5 rounds through my Chronograph to find out what the real world fps is, I then I shot 10 rounds down range at a fresh paper target to see what kind of grouping I can get and if the Umarex NXG CO2 BB Pump Shotgun is sighted in on the target out of the box.
Starting with the velocity test I first placed a brand new 12 gram CO2 into the Umarex NXG CO2 BB Pump Shotgun and loaded up the 10 rounds rotary magazine with Daisy Zinc Coated 4.5 mm Steel BB’s. The temperature was around 22 degrees Celsius which is 72 degrees Fahrenheit in the sea can indoor shooting range so not too warm or cold. The claimed fps from Umarex is 450, I was able to get an average of 403fps with the fastest shot hitting 425fps and the slowest shooting down to 388fps. So a bit under the Umarex claimed velocity but in the ball park.
Next I performed the accuracy test for the Umarex NXG CO2 BB Pump Shotgun and since the sights are non adjustable you kind of hope that where you aim is where the shots go but if they don’t then you will need to adjust your aim point just a bit. Out of the box the Umarex NXG CO2 BB Pump Shotgun did shoot a bit low but was fairly bang on side to side so when shooting at around 30 feet out you will need to aim just a tad over the intended target. Out of 10 shots, 8 rounds where all within a nice 1.5 inch grouping with a couple of flyers that I kind of want to keep out of this test because it was probably more me than the gun causing them to go off a bit. 1.5 inches is very good for a 4.5mm Steel BB Airgun!
All in all the Umarex NXG CO2 BB Pump Shotgun shot right around 400fps which is for sure a step up for something like a Red Ryder BB Rifle that at best can shoot 300fps. You also don’t have to work the pump as hard as you would the lever on a Red Ryder since the Umarex NXG CO2 BB Pump Shotgun is CO2 powered rather than spring powered. I also feel like the Umarex NXG Pump Shot was more accurate than the Red Ryder at least for me but that said some people can hit a nickel all day long with their Red Ryders! There are not a lot of Pump Action Looking Airguns out there in 4.5mm Steel BB versions and in more compact easier for younger or smaller shooters so if you fall into that category and want something in a shotgun format then the Umarex NXG CO2 BB Pump Shotgun may be perfect for you.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Umarex NXG CO2 BB Pump Shotgun is pretty decent, there is a short task up and fairly easy release as the pump action not only turns the rotary magazine but also cocks the internal hammer/striker system. So you will need to pump it before your first shot and after each shot.
Accuracy: I have not Field Test Reviewed the Umarex NXG CO2 BB Pump Shotgun yet but will be making a full Fields Test Review this week to find out what to expect in terms of accuracy and velocity. So we will find out if the fps is closer to the on the box specs of 450 fps or the mostly online specs of 490 fps. Perhaps somewhere in-between?
Build Quality: The Umarex NXG CO2 BB Pump Shotgun is almost all plastic which is not a bad thing in terms of quality and durability. The fact that it only weighs in at 2 pounds may make it feel kind of light and cheap but in a drop or fall situation it means it will most lily not sustain any damage because of the light weight. Most of todays airguns when made out of metals generally are made out of pot metal or zinc alloy which is a nice heavy metal that looks and feels great but is not super strong so when you drop a heavier gun made out of this material it can easily get damaged.
Realism: The Umarex NXG CO2 BB Pump Shotgun looks like a traditional pump action shotgun and even has a little bit of a recessed barrel to make it more believable but it is smaller in size since it is designed more for younger and smaller shooters. The light weight is not only a giveaway but makes ti feel more like a toy than a real gun. If you can ignore that then hopefully you can enjoy the Umarex NXG CO2 BB Pump Shotgun for what it is which is a low cost compact BB rifle made for customs interested in Airguns liek the Red Ryder but that perhaps want a bit more power.
Pros:
Low cost CO2 rifle great for all ages and sizes.
Has a fiber optic front sight.
Comes in a nice looking two tone Black/FDE color scheme.
Fairly easy to pump since the pumping action is not required to activate a spring or compress air.
Built in manual thumb safety.
Stock and high check rest position feel good and a good size length for smaller younger shooters.
Rotary drop out magazine holds 10 4.5mm steel BB’s for quick follow up shots.
Trigger feels pretty good, short and fairly light.
Full ambidextrous design.
Perhaps a step up for entry level shooter over a Red Ryder type BB rifle in terms of power.
Overall a decent looking air rifle.
Cons:
Mostly plastic, so a bit on the light weight side.
Sights are not adjustable in any way.
May be a bit cramped for larger shooters.
Comments: The Umarex NXG CO2 BB Pump Shotgun is not going to win any prizes for quality and realism but keep in mind it is really designed more for entry level younger shooters getting into the Airgun hobby. For them this will be not so intimidating as a larger, heavier more realistic version of a replica Shotgun. I think it will be realistic enough for most new Airgun Shooters and in terms of performance and features it is for sure a step up form something like a Red Ryder BB Rifle. I am looking forward to my upcoming Field Test Shooting Review out what the actual velocity is and what kind of groupings I can get shooting 30 feet down range on a paper target.
My Table Top Video of the Umarex NXG CO2 BB Pump Shotgun:
