Another CO2 BB Pistol Review for everyone… In this Filed test Video Review I test out the Bear River BR45 NBB CO2 BB Pistol and see if it stacks up similarly to the other mostly plastic low cost NBB CO2 BB Pistols it shares a lot of commonalities with which are several for sure. First I shoot 5 rounds through my Chronograph to see what the real world fps is as compared to the claimed 410 by Bear River. I also shoot 10 rounds into a paper target setup 30 feet away to see just how tight of a grouping I can get and to also see if out of the box it shoots close to the bullseye? If you are more interested in specifications and details along with more close up video of the Bear River BR45 NBB CO2 BB Pistol, then watch my Table Top Video Review here.
After installing a brand new 12 gram CO2 cartridge, I proceeded to shot 5 rounds through my Chronograph and I was able to get an average of 417 fps which was actually a bit higher than the claimed 410. The temperature inside the Replica Airguns Sea Can Shooting Range was around 20C or 69F so close to what is considered to be room temperature. For reference my slowest recorded shot was 406 fps with the fastest hitting 432 fps.
Next is always the more enjoyable part of the review where I get to shoot at a paper target and see just how well the Bear River BR45 NBB CO2 BB Pistol can perform. Of course there is always human factor to consider, so take the results with a bit of a grain of salt. As always I shoot using a semi rested position with my hands on a sand bag up front and sitting in the rear on a stool. The target is setup 30 feet away and I generally aim for the center of the target. In this case I noticed the Bear River BR45 NBB CO2 BB Pistol shot a bit high so I aimed at the bottom of the target rings rather than the center bullseye. The bulk of the shot were in or close to the bullseye producing a 3 inch grouping. Seven of the shots were very tight and all within about a 1 inch grouping with 3 shots spread out around the outside of that group, so maybe it was just me or maybe it was the gun? You decide for yourself but I would say the Bear River BR45 NBB CO2 BB Pistol was trying really hard to shoot within 1 inch at 30 feet away.
The results from my Field Test for the Bear River BR45 NBB CO2 BB Pistol where what I expected as I have tested many similar version of this same type of NBB CO2 BB Pistol. It seems like I have had a bunch lately! I do like the slightly larger size of the BR45 along with the fingered grips and white dot sights front and back which make it a bit easier to hold and aim. It performed well exceeding the claimed fps and once considering it shot a bit high out of the box, I was able to get most of the shots in or really close to the bullseye. If you want a fun action plinker that is low cost to buy and shoot, then I recommend considering the Bear River BR45 NBB CO2 BB Pistol as an option for your next Replica Airgun purchase.
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!
In this Field Test Shooting Video I put the Crosman MK45 CO2 NBB BB Pistol through my typical shooting test to see how it performs in a real world shooting condition. I first test out the velocity by placing 5 shots though my Chronograph and averaging them out and then I move on to my accuracy test where I place 10 shots on a pepper target setup 30 feet away. If you are more interested in details and specifications then make sure to watch my Table Top Video Review for the Crosman MK45 CO2 NBB BB Pistol.
As promised I first test the velocity in fps by using a brand new 12 gram CO2 in the Crosman MK45 CO2 NBB BB Pistol using 5.1 grain 4.5mm steel BB’s. The temperature was around 20C/69F so about average room temperature. My fastest shot out of the Crosman MK45 was 424 with the slowest shot hitting 406 so pretty consistent. This gave me a 418 average fps which is a bit under the claimed 480 fps Crosman states. Still more than acceptable for plinking at cans and other unsuspecting objects 30 feet or more away.
Next I made sure I had 10 rounds loaded in the Crosman MK45 CO2 NBB BB Pistol’s 20 rounds stick magazine and set myself up 30 feet away from a fresh pepper target. I generally use a seated shooting position with my hands rested on a sandbag up front and seated on a stool like chair in the back. I did get a couple flyers but I would say the Crosman MK45 is more than capable of getting all 10 shots within a 1.5 to 2 inch grouping. The stragglers this time around stretched it out to more like 3 inches so still not bad. The sights on most of these lower cost CO2 BB pistols are generally fixed and the Crosman MK45 CO2 NBB BB Pistol is no exception so it is a good thing it shot really close to the bullseye out of the box.
All in all the Crosman MK45 CO2 NBB BB Pistol performed as expected and was able to get a velocity in the lower 400 fps ranges along with around a 2 inch 10 shot grouping at 30 feet. As I mentioned in my Table Top Video Review for the Crosman MK45 I do like the two tone color scheme and the fiber otic front and rear sights make aiming at targets on various backgrounds supper easy. There are a ton of options when it comes to these lower cosy mostly plastic NBB CO2 BB Pistols so take some time and go over are large selection over at the Replace Airguns Online Canada and US Store. I you want to grab yourself a Crosman MK45 CO2 NBB BB Pistol today I have put links to buy in both Canada and the US below.
If you are looking for a proper shooting video view for the Barra 380 NBB CO2 BB Pistol that get’s right to the meat and potatoes without any time waisting fluff, then you came to the right place. In this video I test out the actual real world velocity and accuracy of the Barra 380 in the Replace Airguns in door Sea Can Airgun Shooting Range. If you are more interested in details and specifications or perhaps some close up video of the Barra 380 NBB CO2 BB Pistol then checkout my Table Top Video Review here.
So let’s get right to it! For my Chronograph Test I put a brand new 12 gram CO2 into the Berra 380, I made sure everything was about room temperature 20C - 69F (Gun, CO2 and shooting area), and then proceed to shoot 5 rounds through my Chronograph. I was able to average 407 fps which is damn close to Berra’s claim of 410 fps so this first test was a pass!
For my Accuracy Test I used my standard 30 foot paper target setup where I sit on a stool in the back with my hands rested on a sand bag up front. This allows for pretty stable shooting with less human factor than an unrested shooting position. It is not perfect but gives us an idea of the potential of the Barra 380 NBB CO2 BB Pistol. I proceeded to shoot 10 rounds into a fresh pepper target and got what I would say was a 2 inch grouping again from 30 feet away. There are no sight adjustment on the Barra 380 so I was hoping my grouping would be close to the bullseye and it was. Just a bit high but fairly well centered left and right. If you are aiming at a pop can 30 feet away you would most lily hit it every time near the top of the can if you placed your aim point at the bottom of the can (Just a Tip).
So how did the Barra 380 NBB CO2 BB Pistol do? Pretty good and kind of as expeceted. I have shot a bunch of these CO2, NBB, DAO Trigger, Stick Magazine, BB Pistols that have the exact same mechanic internal attributes but with a different skin on the outside. And they generally do a good job of compromising between price, function, power, CO2 efficiency, accuracy, realism and fun factor. If you like more of a Beretta look then perhaps the Barra 380 NBB CO2 BB Pistol is the right choice in one of these fairly basic NBB CO2 BB Pistols but take a look around the Replica Airguns store and see what else may catch your eye.
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.
Type: Non-blowback CO2 BB Pistol. Manufacturer: Distributed by Bear River. Model: Bear River BR45. Materials: Mostly plastic. Weight: 1 pounds (454 grams). TotalLength: 8 inches (203mm). Barrel: 4.72 inches (120mm) metal non-rifled. Propulsion: CO2 x 1. Action: Semi auto non-blowback, DOA trigger. AmmunitionType: .4.5mm steel BB’s. AmmunitionCapacity: 20 round drop out metal stick magazine. FPS: Claimed 410.
Trigger Pull: The Bear River BR45 NBB CO2 BB Pistol has a double action trigger commonly found on lower cost NBB CO2 BB Pistols with a long trigger pull that requires more length and effort to pull, but I would say is still usable for action shooting. Your finger will get worked a bit after several magazines of action shooting. The Bear River BR45 trigger pull makes the internal metal barrel move forward and out of the front of the barrel opening but as it has a recessed barrel you don’t really see it protruding out of the front. When you reach the release point the barrel snaps back into the BB Pistol acting like the hammer and releasing CO2 and shooting a BB.
Accuracy: I have not shoot the Bear River BR45 NBB CO2 BB Pistol yet or performed my standard Field Test Shooting Video, so I can not comment at this time on the actual performance other than what is claimed in terms of fps (410fps). I have shot several similar CO2 BB Pistols which share almost the exact same internal components but have a different external skin on them. One bonus is that all this style of metal stick magazines are the same so they will be interchangeable. My previous experiences with similar BB Pistols is that they will get mid 400fps velocities and in general will shot around a 2 inch grouping or so. It is hard to say how close the Bear River BR45 is going to shoot to the bullseye, as out of the box it may shoot a bit high or low or left or right. We will find out during my shooting test.
Build Quality: The Bear River BR45 NBB CO2 BB Pistol is an almost all plastic moulded Airgun with only a few metal parts I can pick out. The trigger and magazine are metal along with the inner barrel and the area where the CO2 goes in. Because of the plastic build, it is rather light weight at around 1 pound which can actually be good if you were to drop it on a hard surface as the mass is low resulting in less damage. Scratches will also be less noticeable on an all plastic exterior Airgun over a metal Airgun as the material on a plastic Airgun is going to have the color throughout the material rather than a painted surface that will show blemishes a lot more. The simplicity of the design means you should get a lot of use from the Bear River BR45 before encountering any issues.
Realism: The Bear River BR45 NBB CO2 BB Pistol is not a replica of an exact real steel gun in production but it does take after a Sig Sauer or H&K looking at the basic shape and features. There are few external mechanical working parts on the Bear River BR45 other than the trigger, safety, magazine and inner barrel. The barrel is well recessed and the CO2 tab is sunken in the grip which helps in terms of it looking more realistic.
Pros:
Nice size BB pistol, feels good in the hand.
Decent FPS rating of 410.
Picatinny rail on frame for adding on accessories.
Non-blowback should get lots of shots per CO2.
Easy to see white dot sights front and back.
CO2 tab is recessed and somewhat hidden under the grip.
Double action trigger pull is long but not too firm.
Uses a generic all metal stick magazines commonly found in lower cost BB pistols.
Recessed barrel looks that part.
Simple design with not a lot of moving parts will make it reliable for a long time.
Cons:
All plastic gun for the most part.
Not many working parts, pretty much all moulded gun.
CO2 tab a bit hard to use for people with bigger fingers.
Comments:
The Bear River BR45 NBB CO2 BB Pistol is a basic mostly all plastic NBB CO2 BB Pistol very simple in design which makes it dependable and reliable as there is a lot less to go wrong as compared to a blowback metal BB Pistol with lots of moving parts. Also keep in mind the metal in Airguns is not as hard or strong as you find in a Real Steel Pistol so all of these moving metal parts will wear over time and some may eventually fail. Other advantages of a NBB CO2 BB Pistol are that it will have a decent velocity rating and it will also get more shots per CO2 as compared to blowback Air Pistols, so not only is the initial cost of a simple NBB Air Pistol going to be less but also you will not need as much CO2 to operate it. I do like the size of the Bear River BR45 NBB CO2 BB Pistol as it is a bit larger than similar NBB Replica Air Pistols which for me and my larger hands is a good thing.
Type: Non-blowback CO2 BB Pistol. Manufacturer: Distributed by Barra. Model: Barra 380. Materials: Mostly plastic. Weight: .93 pounds (422 grams). TotalLength: 6.89inches (175mm). Barrel: 4.25 inches (108mm) metal non-rifled. Propulsion: CO2 x 1. Action: Semi auto non-blowback, DOA trigger. AmmunitionType: .4.5mm steel BB’s. AmmunitionCapacity: 20 round drop out metal stick magazine. FPS: Claimed 410.
TriggerPull: The Barra 380 NBB CO2 BB Pistol has a typical double action trigger with a longer trigger pull that requires more length and effort to pull, but I would say is still usable as an action shooter. Your finger will get a bit tired after several magazines of action shooting. The Barra 380 trigger pull makes the internal metal barrel move forward and out of the front of the barrel opening enough to see it clearly, then when you reach the release point it snaps back into the BB Pistol acting like the hammer and releasing CO2 and shooting a BB.
Accuracy: I have yet to shoot the Barra 380 NBB CO2 BB Pistol or even performed my standard Field Test Shooting Video as of yet, so I can not comment at this time on the actual performance other than what is claimed in terms of fps - 410fps by the way. I have shot several similar CO2 BB Pistols which share almost the exact same internal components but have a different external skin on them. One benefit is that all this style of metal stick magazines are the same so they will be interchangeable. My previous experiences with similar BB Pistols is that they will get mid 400fps velocities and in general will shot around a 2 inch grouping or so. It is hard to say how close theBarra 380 NBB CO2 BB Pistol is going to shoot to the bullseye, as out of the box it may shoot a bit high or low or left or right. We will find out during my shooting test.
BuildQuality: The Barra 380 NBB CO2 BB Pistol is a pretty much almost all plastic Airgun with only a few metal parts I can see on it. The trigger is metal along with the inner barrel and the area where the CO2 goes in. Because of the plastic build, it is rather light weight which can actually be good if you where to drop it on a hard surface as the mass is low resulting in less damage. Scratches will also be less noticeable on a plastic Airgun over a metal Airgun as the material on a plastic Airgun is all tan/black throughout the material rather than a painted surface that will show blemishes a lot more. The simplicity of the design means you should get a lot of use from the Barra 380 before encountering any issues.
Realism: The Barra 380 NBB CO2 BB Pistol is not a replica of an exact real steel gun in production but it does take after a compact Beretta when you look at the open barrel and similar trigger guard. There are few external mechanical working parts on the Barra 380 CO2 NBB BB Pistol other than the trigger, safety, magazine and inner barrel. The barrel is slightly recessed and the CO2 tab is hidden in the grip which helps in terms of it looking the part.
Pros:
Nice compact size BB pistol easy to transport.
Decent FPS rating of 410.
Should get lots of shots per CO2 as it is non-blowback
Picatinny rail on frame for adding accessories.
Does have a white dot sight up front.
Finger groves on pistol grips for a secure grip.
CO2 tab is well hidden within the grip.
Double action trigger pull is long but not too firm.
Uses a generic all metal stick magazines commonly found on lower cost BB pistols.
Simple design with not a lot of moving parts will make it reliable for a long time.
Cons:
All plastic gun for the most part.
Not many working parts, pretty much all moulded gun.
Grip can pop of kind of easy if you pull a bit hard.
Sights are non adjustable and no white dots on the rear sight.
Comments:
I often mention how I prefer blowback Airguns that have a more solid weight and feel to them with more working parts, but again there is a lot more that can go wrong and complex parts wear out over usage a lot quicker than a more simple design as in the the case of the Barra 380 NBB CO2 BB Pistol. Price is also going to be a lot less when looking a more simplified Air Pistol like the Barra 380, as the plastic build is a lot cheaper to produce over more expensive metals. Another bonus with non-blowback CO2 airguns is that they do tend to have a higher velocity with more shots per CO2 than a similar CO2 Blowback Pistol, so less expensive to shoot over time. It really depends what you are really looking for? A couple other strong points to mention about the Barra 380 NBB CO2 BB Pistol would be the compatibility with other similar styled CO2 BB pistol metal stick magazines and if you like the look of a Beretta then you may also like the look of the Barra 380.
Type: Non-blowback CO2 BB Pistol. Manufacturer: Distributed by Crosman. Model: MK45. Materials: Mostly plastic. Weight: .63 pounds (281 grams). Total Length: 7.25 inches (184mm). Barrel: 4.5 inches (114mm) metal non-rifled. Propulsion: CO2 x 1. Action: Semi auto non-blowback, DOA trigger. AmmunitionType: .4.5mm steel BB’s. AmmunitionCapacity: 20 round drop out metal stick magazine. FPS: Claimed 480.
Trigger Pull: The Crosman MK45 CO2 NBB BB Pistol has a typical double action tiger with a longer trigger pull that requires more length and effort to pull, but I would say is still usable as an action shooter. The Crosman MK45 trigger pull makes the internal metal barrel move forward and out of the front of the barrel opening a bit, then when you reach the release point it snaps back into the BB Pistol acting like the hammer and releasing CO2.
Accuracy: I have yet to shoot the Crosman MK45 CO2 NBB BB Pistol or performed my standard Field Test Shooting Video, so I can not comment at this time on the actual performance other than what is claimed in terms of fps. I have shot several similar CO2 BB Pistols which share almost the exact same internal components but have a different external skin on them. The good news is the metal stick magazines for all of these type NBB CO2 BB Pistols are the same so they will be interchangeable. My previous experiences with similar BB Pistols is that they will get mid 400fps velocities and in general will shot around a 2 inch grouping or so. It is hard to say how close the Crosman MK45 CO2 NBB BB Pistol is going to shoot to the bullseye, as out of the box it may shoot a bit high or low or left or right. We will find out during my shooting test.
Build Quality: The Crosman MK45 CO2 NBB BB Pistol is a pretty much an all plastic Airgun with only a few metal parts I can find on it. The trigger is metal along with the inner barrel and the area where the CO2 goes in. Because of the plastic build, it is rather 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 tan/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 use from the Crosman MK45 CO2 NBB BB Pistol before encountering any issues.
Realism: The Crosman MK45 CO2 NBB BB Pistol is not a replica of an exact real steel gun in production but it does share a lot of cosmetic characteristics as what you would see on a Sig Sauer or even H&K Pistol. The magazine release on the Crosman MK45 looks and works a lot like what you will find on an H&K Pistol. There are few external mechanical working parts on the Crosman MK45 CO2 NBB BB Pistol other than the trigger, safety and inner barrel. The barrel is slightly recessed and the CO2 tab is hidden in the grip which helps in terms of believability.
Pros:
Desert tan with black grips looks really good in my opinion.
High FPS rating of 480.
Picatinny rail on frame for adding on accessories.
Non-blowback should get lots of shots per CO2.
Easy to see fiber optic sights front and back.
CO2 tab is nicely hidden inside the grip.
Double action trigger pull is long but not too firm.
Uses a generic all metal stick magazines commonly found on lower cost BB pistols.
Ambidextrous magazine release.
Simple design with not a lot of moving parts will make it reliable for a long time.
Cons:
All moulded plastic BB gun for the most part.
Not many working parts, it’s pretty much an all plastic BB gun.
Grips are fairly loose, they don't really snap into place.
Sights are not adjustable.
Comments:
I personally prefer blowback Airguns that have a more solid weight and feel to them with more working parts, but again there is a lot more that can go wrong and parts tend to complex parts wear out over usage a lot quicker than a more simple design like in the case of the Crosman MK45 CO2 NBB BB Pistol. Price is also going to be a lot less when looking a more simplified Air Pistol like the Crosman MK45, as the plastic build is a lot cheaper to produce. Another bonus with non-blowback CO2 airguns is that they 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. 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. A couple other strong points to mention about the Crosman MK45 CO2 NBB BB Pistol would be the fiber optic sights front and back and its sharp l looking two tone layout.
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.
Type: GBB Airsoft Pistol. Manufacturer: Made by EMG. Model: TTI JW4 2011 Pit Viper. Materials: Aluminum & polymer components. Weight: 2.26 pounds (1025 grams). Length: 8.5 inches (2167mm). Propulsion: CO2/Green gas. Action: Semi auto blowback, single action only trigger. AmmunitionType: 6mm plastic Airsoft BB's. AmmunitionCapacity: 28-30 round drop out full size metal magazine. FPS: Claimed 370-390.
Trigger Pull: The single action only trigger pull on the EMG TTI Pit Viper JW4 2011 GBB CO2 Airsoft Pistol is really great, there is virtually zero take-up with a light, crisp and easy release. You can double tap with ease making the EMG TTI STI 2011 Combat Master a great action pistol. One of the shortest and smoothest 1911 triggers I have tested, similar to the EMG TTI JW3 Combat Master.
Accuracy: At this point I have not shot the EMG TTI Pit Viper JW4 2011 GBB CO2 Airsoft Pistol so I have no idea what the actual real world fps is going to be and how accurate it proves itself so my comments for this part of the review will have to wait till I perform my Field Test Shooting Video coming up shortly. I do however expect it to perform very close to the EMG TTI STI 2011 Combat Master I already made a Field test Video Review for so you can check that on out in the mean time…
BuildQuality: The EMG TTI Pit Viper JW4 2011 GBB CO2 Airsoft Pistol is for the most part an all metal gun with a CNC Machined Aluminum Slide and aluminum barrel along with mostly metal parts throughout including much of the frame. Parts of the frame are polymer including the grip area and trigger guard. The fit and finish is awesome on the EMG TTI Pit Viper JW4 2011 GBB CO2 Airsoft Pistol with attention to detail everywhere.
Realism: The EMG TTI Pit Viper JW4 2011 GBB CO2 Airsoft Pistol is based off of the Pit Viper TTI, a replica of the John Wick pistol used in the John Wick 4 movie and is virtually the spitting image to it. You will find licensing and trademarks where you would find them on the real steel version. Of course all the mechanical parts work like the real version and the EMG TTI STI 2011 Combat Master can be fully field stripped allowing for quick and easy hop-up adjustments.
Pros:
Super crisp, light and short SAO trigger.
Fit and finish is excellent, very little slide wiggle.
extremely close replica of the Pit Viper 2011 pistol used in the John Wick 4 movie.
Rear sight is fully adjustable and sits very flush with the slide.
Fiber optic front sight helps with quick targets acquisition.
CNC machined Aluminum slide and barrel with polymer frame.
Flared magwell for easy quick magazine reloading.
Full size high capacity 30 round double stack metal magazine.
Ambidextrous thumb safeties.
Working grip safety as you would expect on a 1911 based gun.
Most Mechanical parts work just like a steel version and can be easily field stripped to access hop-up.
Nice snappy and fast blowback action, great for action shooting.
Licensing all over this gun true to the real steel version.
Cons:
Comes with the red tip but can be remove pretty easily.
Getting magazine but plate off is a bit tuff.
No white dot’s or fiber optics in the rear sight.
Comments:
The EMG TTI Pit Viper JW4 2011 GBB CO2 Airsoft Pistol is another great Replica of a John Wick pistol and has a less squared and smaller stature than the EMG Combat Master and a smoother overall look to it. What’s nice is that the magazines are interchangeable between the EMG TTI JW3 and JW4 versions so if you already have one then you will get additional magazine options, perhaps one in Green Gas and one in CO2. I like the slightly bulkier feel to the Combat Master but the Pit Viper is also a decent size, but again slightly more compact and less edges to get caught on your surroundings. Either way, both are awesome options if you are John Wick fan.
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.
In this Indoor Field Test Shooting Video I test out the Umarex T4E TR68 .68 Caliber Paintball Revolver to see what the real world velocity is and what kind accuracy I can get shooting at a paper target 30 feet away. For this Video Review I use a brand new CO2 along with .68 caliber Rubber Balls. I have already made a Table Top Video for the Umarex T4E TR68 so check that out if you’re interested in specifications and details along with more closeup video of this Paintball Revolver. And for fun I also made an interesting outside shooting video using actual Paintballs that highlights this Revolver along with the Umarex T4E HK VP9 .43 Cal. Paintball Pistol.
So let’s get straight to the shooting results! For my Chronograph test, being indoors the temperature was about room temperature, maybe a bit lower at around 19-20 Degrees Celsius or 66-68 Degrees Fahrenheit. Temperature can affect velocity as CO2 performs better in warmer conditions. My fastest Chronograph result was 205 fps while my slowest shot hitting 190 fps resulting in a average of 198 fps . Keep in mind the .68 caliber Rubber Balls have a lot more weight to them than the smaller .50 or .43 Caliber Balls used in other Umarex T4E Paintball Airguns.
Next I performed the accuracy portion which for me is the fun part, I often shoot 10 rounds in to my paper targets setup 30 feet down range, since the Umarex T4E TR68 .68 Caliber Paintball Revolver magazines only holds 5 rounds, I did have to make a quick magazine change half way through my Accuracy Test. I was also using a semi-rested shooting position with my hands resting on a sandbag up front and sitting on a stool in the back. There was also one other disruption in my shooting worth mentioning as I had to go up and put the paper target back on as it was dislodged by the energy of these larger Rubber Balls. That all said, I was able to get about a 5 inch grouping from my 10 rounds which is pretty good for a Paintball Airgun. I am confident you will be able to get all your shots on a body sized target at 30 feet out with a little bit of practice. Most of the shots were pretty well centered, perhaps just a little bit under the bullseye.
Even though the Umarex T4E TR68 .68 Caliber Paintball Revolver is a lot larger than the somewhat similar Umarex T4E TR50 .50 Caliber Paintball Revolver, I prefer it as I found it to shoot a bit more reliably and with good accuracy. It is maybe a bit large for some people as compared to the TR50 but I feel the extra size is worth it for the increased energy at point of impact and again the superior accuracy and reliability.
In this Field Test Indoor Shooting Video I take the Umarex T4E HK VP9 .43 Cal. Paintball Pistol through its paces to see what the actual velocity is and what kind accuracy I can get shooting at a paper target 30 feet away. For this Video Review I use a brand new CO2 along with .43 caliber rubber balls. I have already made a Table Top Video for the Umarex T4E HK VP9 so check that out if you’re interested in specifications and details along with more closeup video of this Paintball Pistol. And for fun I also made an interesting outside shooting video using actual Paintballs that highlights the Umarex T4E HK VP9 .43 Cal. Paintball Pistol.
So let’s get right to the results! For my Chronograph test, being indoors the temperature was about room temperature, maybe a bit lower at around 19-20 Degrees Celsius or 66-68 Degrees Fahrenheit. This can affect velocity as CO2 performs bettering in warmer conditions. My fastest Chronograph result was 283 fps while my slowest result was 268 fps averaging 277 fps so not bad as I was expecting just under 300 fps based on past experiences using similar Umarex T4E Blowback CO2 Paintball Pistols.
Next up in the Field Test was the accuracy portion, I often shoot 10 rounds in to my paper targets setup 30 feet down range, but since the Umarex T4E HK VP9 .43 Cal. Paintball Pistol magazine only holds 8 rounds I went with 8 rounds this time. I was also using a semi-rested shooting position with my hands resting on a sandbag up front and sitting on a stool in the back. I did get one Paintball that was a bit low but the other 7 all fell into a rather nice 4 inch grouping fairly well centered on the target just a bit to the right. 3 Paintballs even hit the bullseye which is pretty good for a Blowback Paintball Pistol in my books.
All in all the Umarex T4E HK VP9 .43 Cal. Paintball Pistol performed a lot like the other Umarex T4E CO2 Blowback .43 Caliber Paintball Pistols in their lineup, maybe perhaps this time around for me at least with a little bit more accuracy than past Field Tests. I had no problems with the Umarex T4E HK VP9 .43 Cal. Paintball Pistol shooting in my outside fun video and in this Indoor Field Test Video, the Umarex T4E HK VP9 has a decent DOA trigger that is fairly responsive and the blowback action has more recoil and snap than I was expecting. I would put the Umarex T4E HK VP9 .43 Cal. Paintball Pistol right in line with the other Umarex T4E CO2 Blowback .43 Caliber Paintball Pistols for sure, maybe even just a bit better in terms of my results on this day.
Summer will be over before we know it, so why not get out and shoot some Paintball Pistols on a bunch of random targets in the yard before fall kicks in! I rarely get to use actual Paintballs in my Paintball Guns as I mainly test indoors and so I pretty much have to use Rubber Balls or have to deal with a bunch of clean up afterwards.
So today I grabbed my two newest Umarex T4E Paintball Pistols, the Umarex T4E TR68 and Umarex T4E HK VP9. I of course I loaded them up with their appropriate ammo .68 and .43 caliber Paintballs, and headed outside.
Figuring out how to make the video interesting and get lots of different camera angles can be fun, so I decided to grab my Hover Camera X1 which I think from now on is going to be my new “Camera Man” when I need a camera recoding me as I move around. I also placed my Insta 360 One R and my iVUE Vista Camera glasses in the mix. All being audio recorded with my Comica Vimo C Wireless Lapel Mic so you can actually hear everything clearly.
Seems like a lot of production using all of these recording devices and then having to line up, cut and mix everything together in post. Well you guys are worth it and I’m a bit of a tech junky so it was all kind of fun for me too.
Type: Paintball Gun. Manufacturer:Umarex - T4E. Model:T4E HK VP9 Materials: Metal & Polymer. Weight: 790 grams (1.7 pounds). Barrel: Smooth bore. Power Source: 1x12 gram CO2. Action: DAO Semi-Automatic with blowback action. Ammo Type: .43 Caliber Paintball / Rubber Ball / Pepper Ball. Ammo Capacity: 8 Rounds. FPS: 300.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on Umarex T4E HK VP9 .43 Cal. Paintball Pistol feels a lot like a double action trigger mainly because when you pull the trigger, the inner barrel travels backwards into the magazine placing a paintball round in the barrel which seals the barrel with the magazine so less CO2 is wasted. This does make the trigger a little bit longer and heavier than a single action trigger because of the added friction. The internal hammer/striker is engaged from the blowback action which does help lesson the overall triggers pull weight.
Accuracy: So far I have not had the opportunity to test the Umarex T4E HK VP9 .43 Cal. Paintball Pistol, so stay posted for my upcoming Field Test Shooting Video where I will see what kind of velocity and accuracy we can expect from the Umarex T4E HK VP9 .43 Cal. Paintball Pistol. For now you can watch my Field Test Shooting Video for the Umarex T4E S&W M&P9 M2.0 .43 Cal. Paintball Pistol as it is very similar in design and should for the most part perform in a similar manner.
Build Quality: The build quality of the Umarex T4E HK VP9 .43 Cal. Paintball Pistol is good overal, you will find metal parts are where you would expect them to be, in the slide, slide catch, barrel, magazine and most internal parts giving the Umarex T4E HK VP9 .43 Cal. Paintball Pistol a decent overall weight of almost 2 pounds with the magazine in which makes the Paintball version feel comparable to a real steel HK VP9 (710 grams - 25 ounces). The T4E HK VP9 does have a polymer frame but again this is normal with todays modern guns and helps keep the weight down. Fit and finish is also very good!
Realism: The Umarex T4E HK VP9 .43 Cal. Paintball Pistol is a fully licensed replica of the real steel HK VP9 via its Umarex Licensing. The Umarex T4E HK VP9 .43 Cal. Paintball Pistol is made specifically as a training tool for owners of similar real steel HK Handguns so for that reason it is made to replicate its powder burning counterpart very closely. You will find that the slide cycle distance is a bit shorter than it would be meaning that when the side catch is engaged the slide does not go as far back in the 9mm version. Field stripping the Umarex T4E HK VP9 .43 Cal. Paintball Pistol will requires some tools and pin removal.
Pros:
Accurate weight and solid feeling gun.
Full Metal slide that locks back on the last shot.
All metal heavy full size drop out magazine adds some additional weight to the gun.
Good for real steel H&K VP9 owners looking for a similar training weapon.
Everything works pretty much like the real gun so again great as a training tool.
Easy to see white dot sights front and back.
Working trigger safety
Fit and finish is very good.
Magazine spring release pops the magazine out just enough to grab it but not drop it on the floor.
.43 caliber barrel opening, adds to realism.
Warning instructions are a lot more discrete under the trigger guard and not super white in color.
Comes with additional grip parts to customize to various hand sizes.
Cons:
Magazine only holds 8 rounds, so you are going to need extra magazines for sure.
Blowback action is not full blowback, more like a typical half blowback BB gun.
Sights are non adjustable.
Comments:
The Umarex T4E HK VP9 .43 Cal. Paintball Pistol is mechanically very close to the Umarex Walther PPQ M2 .43 Cal. Paintball Pistol and the Umarex T4E S&W M&P9 M2.0 .43 Cal. Paintball Pistol in how it functions as a Paintball Pistol so I expect all of them to shoot very similarly and that’s not a bad thing since previous versions I have tested so far have performed rather well for me in the Replica Airguns Sea Can Indoor Shooting Range. If you are an HK fan then the Umarex T4E HK VP9 .43 Cal. Paintball Pistol is about as close as you are going to get in a Replica Paintball Pistol. Owning the paintball version will allow for a lot more opportunities to get some trigger time in and hone your shooting skill with a very similar gun to the one you my own, and at a fraction off the cot to 9mm ammo.
Type: Paintball Gun. Manufacturer:Umarex - T4E. Model:T4E TR68 Materials: Metal & Polymer. Weight: 773 grams (1.7 pounds). Barrel: 6.5 inches (165mm) ,Smooth bore. Total Length: 13 inches (331mm). Power Source: 1x12 gram CO2. Action: Revolver - Double action only trigger. Ammo Type: .68 Caliber Paintball or Rubber Ball. Ammo Capacity: 5 Rounds x 3 magazines. FPS: 230-300.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on Umarex T4E TR68 .68 Caliber Paintball Revolver is double action only but not very long with a much smoother feel than the TR50, so maybe Umarex did some improving here. without any ammo in it the T4E TR68 trigger feels responsive for a double action trigger. We will have to see when I do my Field Test Shooting Video how it performs and if fully loaded up and primed, if it feels the same?
Accuracy: So far I have not had the opportunity to test the Umarex T4E TR68 .68 Caliber Paintball Revolver out, the only other similar product that may compare would be the Umarex T4E TR50 but I have a feeling both these guns will perform rather different since the ammo is a lot larger on the TR68. Also with the way the different triggers feel, I expect this to help with performance on the Umarex T4E TR68.
Build Quality: The build quality of the Umarex T4E TR68 .68 Caliber Paintball Revolver is good overall. It is a mostly plastic build with some metal parts where they need to be internally. It is essentially two plastic halves held together by small screws with few actual mechanical working external parts. You have the trigger with its working trigger safety, the removable magazine and magazine release and of course the quick puncture CO2 screw knob. The hammer is internal. The Umarex T4E TR68 .68 Caliber Paintball Revolver is not very heavy but it does feel really solid in the hand because of its very large size.
Realism: The Umarex T4E TR68 .68 Caliber Paintball Revolver is not really a replica per say of any real steel gun that I know of. It does share a lot of similarities with the Crosman Vigilante which is a CO2 BB/Pellet Revolver with its main design going back several decades. The Umarex T4E TR68 .68 Caliber Paintball Revolver looks similar to what a modern looking large caliber revolver such as a 357 or 44 magnum looks like. It is not going to fool anyone up close that you actually have a real steel revolver but then again I don’t think if you are shooting it at anyone they are going to want to get all that close to you :)
Pros:
Hoping to get a bit more raw energy out of the T4E TR.68 than the TR50 as it uses larger heavier ammo. (TR50 averaged 328 using rubber balls for reference).
Lots of mounting options for accessories like a tac light, laser or other sighting option with it’s upper and lower picatinny rail setup.
Quick CO2 pierce system so you can leave a CO2 in it ready to go any time with no worries about CO2 leaking out while in storage.
Working Trigger Safety.
White dot sights super easy to see on targets of varying colors and shades.
DOA Trigger feels pretty decent, not too long or heavy.
Comes with 3 total magazines you can preload ready for use.
Super non-complicated design. Once loaded with CO2 and Paintballs or Rubber Balls, all you need to do is hit the CO2 knob and then pull the trigger.
Build quality feels good, the gun is fairly beefy but not overly heavy.
Grip is normal size even thought the gun itself is fairly large.
Cons:
Mostly all plastic build.
Sights are not adjustable so hopefully it is well centered out of the box.
Do not expect a lot of shots per CO2. Will find out when I do my Field Test Shooting Review.
Comments:
The Umarex T4E TR68 .68 Caliber Paintball Revolver is an interesting Paintball gun, overseas versions are marketed as the HDR86 which stands for “Home Defense Revolver”, while the North American or Canada version is marketed as the TR68 for “Training Revolver”. This is mainly because in Europe most countries are not allowed to own real handguns but can own “Self Defense handguns”. In the US real handguns are very easy to obtain and can be used for self defense. Just across the border here in Canada we can not really purposely have on hand anything that we plan to use as a weapon for self defense so the Umarex T4E TR68 .68 Caliber Paintball Revolver, like the TR50 is marketed as a Training Revolver. What’s the difference? Not much, our North American 230+ fps version is a lot like the lower powered German versions in terms of power but you can also get more powerful versions in the UK. All that said, the Umarex T4E TR68 .68 Caliber Paintball Revolver at least here in Canada is made and marketed as a Training Paintball gun maybe not all that suitable on the field? What you decide to do with it is up to you.
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.
