It has been a while since I picked out some of my favorite guns, after all my favorite gun picks change on a daily basis since there are so many awesome guns out there to pick from.
This Vimeo video is a little different since I pick out my favorites from a bunch of mostly replica gun categories including Steel BB, Pellet, Airsoft, Revolvers and Blank Pistols.
You may notice most of my picks happen to be blowback guns but to me airguns are all about being as realistic as possible and having blowback operation to me help to simulate the realism that much more. The exception in this video is in the pellet gun category since I decided on a pellet gun that was more about function and purpose over being any type of real replica.
Hopefully you take the time to watch my entire Vimeo video since I also bring out some close runner ups but here is a list of my top picks on this day, tomorrow it could be a completely different list of guns ;)
This comparison Review Video serves a few purposes, first to compare the ASG Dan Wesson 715 Revolver 4.5mm steel BB version to the 6mm plastic Airsoft version in both velocity and accuracy. Secondly to give my new Chrony Chronograph with lighting kit a test to see if I can get more reliable readings in lower light and thirdly to try and redeem the Steel BB version of the Dan Wesson 715 as last time I tested it, it did not get all that high of fps readings, well below the claimed 430 on the box.
In this review video I test both Dan Wesson 715 Revolvers out, first with my Chrony Chronograph and then all in one take I setup and shoot 6 rounds each on separate paper targets from 30 feet back to see how accurate the smaller heavier Steel BB rounds are compared to the larger lighter Plastic BB's. I used 5.1 grain RWS 4.5mm Steel BB's and .20 gram 6mm plastic BB's and installed brand new 12 gram CO2 cartridges in both guns.
In terms of my Chrony consistency, the smaller steel BB's still struggled to get consistent readings with only 2 out of 6 shots while the larger Airsoft BB's managed to get a good reading 4 out of 6 shots. Steel BB velocity was right around 350 fps while the Airsoft BB's where travelling much faster at closer to 450 fps.
Both the Steel BB and Airsoft CO2 Dan Wesson 715 Revolvers shot 6 round grouping of about 2 inches with 4 out of the 6 shots making a much tighter 1 inch group again with both ammo types. The Airsoft Dan Wesson 715 seemed to be centered on target well while the Steel BB Dan Wesson 715 shot a bit low.
In short the MatisX is a Firearms Training System uses motion sensing technology to monitor how you hold your pistol before, during and after you shoot it, the Mantis MantisX Firearms Training System can determine areas that you may need to work on, like your Grip, Trigger Pull, Hesitation, Anticipation and many other common shooting mistakes.
In this Field Test Review for the Mantis MantisX Firearms Training System I setup my MantisX and take it through my first trial shots with it, you will see I am learning how to use it as I go but by the time I finished shooting the video I had a pretty good idea on how it all worked.
Two main areas the Mantis MantisX Firearms Training System directed me to correct where my pistol grip as I was potentially tightening up as I pulled the trigger and also my trigger pull was a bit uneaven, On my second round of shooting I made some corrections in this area and it did give me a much tighter shot grouping so the Mantis MantisX Firearms Training System at least for me did improve my shooting to some degree.
I plan to use the MantisX some mroe and find out other posible areas I can improve upon but overal I feel the Mantis MantisX Firearms Training System will help improve most people shooting skills or at least hlep them to figure out where they are going wrong.
**Make sure to use Coupon Code "ReplicaAirguns" to get free shipping! http://mantisx.com**
First off I want to thank Mantis for sending me this MantisX for review!
By the way, use Coupon Code "ReplicaAirguns" to get free shipping!
This time is not currently in the Replica Airguns Store for sale but it looked really cool so I could not pass up this opportunity to try it out and perhaps we even cary it down the road.
What is the Mantis MantisX Firearms Training System?
MantisX is a revolutionary patent-pending handgun attachment that helps firearms enthusiasts and professionals train more efficiently. While attached to a handgun, it analyzes every shot and generates actionable data you can use to improve your shooting mechanics.
You get a very high quality Pelican Water proof case to store your Mantis MantisX.
You get the instructions.
How does the Mantis MantisX Training System Work?
First you Connect MantisX to any Picatinny-enabled handgun, just like you would any other firearm attachment.
Then install the MantisX smartphone application, turn on MantisX, and pair the device with a phone via Bluetooth. Available for both Android and iOS.
All that’s left is to collect the data and evaluate shooting performance, identify areas of improvement, and track progress over time.
What Exactly does the Mantis MantisX Training System Do?
Analyzation:MantisX detects each shot you make, analyzes the movement of the firearm during the trigger pull, and assigns a score to each shot that signifies deviation from the aiming position.
Coaching: Based on the movement patterns of the firearm, MantisX identifies areas of improvement and provides coaching that will improve your mechanics, your score, and your precision.
Tracking: MantisX keeps track of all your shooting sessions and generates useful reports that will help you identify your shooting trends, gauge your progress, and set adequate improvement goals.
Who is the Mantis MantisX Training System Made For?
Individuals: With MantisX, practice anytime and anywhere. Analyze each shot you make, keep tabs on your performance overtime, and hone your shooting mechanics by following our data-driven suggestions. Can be used with virtually any gun that has a rail system, even airguns like Airsoft and BB pistols
Instructors: As an instructor, manage your students more efficiently with MantisX, spending more time on actually coaching rather than watching people shoot. MantisX also provides hard data for students to see.
Agencies: Agencies help their cadets and employees gain and maintain excellent marksmanship skills necessary for military and law enforcement service. MantisX also assists in training for qualification exams.
Next I am going to play around with the Mantis MantisX Training System and see who it works, I am not sure if I will have the chance to use it with my “real guns” but I kind of wanted to focus more on who it works with Airguns related products anyways.
Use Coupon Code "ReplicaAirguns" to get free shipping!
As most my Vimeo Subscribers and Viewers will already know, I have been struggling with my Chrony Shooting Chronograph for a while now. I know some of it is to do with the bad lighting under my deck but over time my Chrony F-1 Shooting Chronograph has become less and less reliable to the point now that I simply don't get any usable feedback from it. If I'm lucky on a good day I might get one FPS reading out of ten shots which is nothing I can use.
So recently I went out and purchased a new Chrony Shooting Chronograph, I actually upgraded a little bit and got the higher end Chrony Beta Shooting Chronograph version which has more options than my older F-1 Chrony like:
Selector switch to change from FPS (feet per second) to MPS (meter per second).
Delivers Measurements and Statistics such as - High, Low and Average Velocities, Extreme Spread and Standard Deviation.
Retrieve individual Shot Velocities and Statistics.
Has temporary working memory.
Has 60 shot permanent memory (divided into 6 numbered strings of up to 10 shots each, with one set of Statistics for each string).
Delete individual shots (with automatic adjustment of Statistics).
Delete the content of a whole string or all data from memory.
Can be switched off, taken home & switched on again for reviewing and information retrieval.
Memory will stay even without battery.
Moves instantly from string to string, interrupts shooting on any string without memory loss, returns to any string to continue where you left off.
Change string size.
Stereo Jack for optional Printer or Remote Control.
Forget Button - To clear individual strings instantly.
In this review video I mainly show you around my new Chrony Beta Shooting Chronograph and don't really talk too much about features since it is all new to me and I have not played around with my new Beta Chrony much so far.
This Vimeo Video Preview covers three really nice CO2 Pistols recently added to our Replica Airguns Canada Store. One is a pellet pistol from Gletcher called the Gletcher NGT R which is for the most part the same as the standard 4.5mm Steel shooting NGT but the R model is made to shoot .177 caliber pellets so it also has a rifled barrel. I am expecting pretty decent accuracy with this pistol!
Last but perhaps the best or at least most anticipated gun I am showing off today is the Umarex S&W M&P40 Full Blowback CO2 BB Pistol. This is a really nice acurate replica of the real steal S&W M&P40 with full licensing and pretty much every part operational like it would be on the .40 caliber version.
Here are some basic Specifications for all of these fine Co2 Airguns...
A little while back, a company by the name of Plan Beta reached out to me about their new Tacticam I.C.U 2.0 HD 720p Tactical Camera. I have been suing my Pivot Head Camera Glasses for a while not and they are really good quality but the idea of being able to use a discreat and compact gun mountable camera for my review videos seemed appealing to me. Having another camera angle while shooting field test videos never hurts after all!
The Tacticam I.C.U 2.0 HD 720p Tactical Camera looks for the most part like a picatinny mountable laser and but instead of housing a laser inside of it, it has a 720p camera internally. Because of this you could be playing an Airsoft game and nobody would even know you are recording anything.
Here are some of the basic features and specifications for the Plan Beta Tacticam I.C.U. 2.0 HD 720p Camcorder:
Record 720p at 30 frames per second.
Also takes 5 Mpixel still photos with Photo Burst mode.
Has auto image rotation for top or bottom picatinny mounting.
Has a built in power on, start and stop cable wiht switch for easy handle mounting.
Uses red and green indicator LED's for camera status.
Uses 8GB to 32GB Micro SD Cards.
Lens cover comes off to allow for lens filters to be inserted.
There is a Plan Beta Tacticam I.C.U. 1.0 Camcorder which is not HD and to be honest the quality for the I.C.U. version 1 is very poor especially the frame rate. I did get a chance to test the Plan Beta Tacticam I.C.U. 1.0 Camcorder out also but I would not recommend it especially since the Plan Beta Tacticam I.C.U. 2.0 720p Camcorder is so much better and not a lot more expensive at the end of the day.
In terms of usability, the Plan Beta Tacticam I.C.U. 2.0 720p Camcorder does a pretty good job, you will get best results in decent lighting but this is true with most action cameras. The 720p 30/fps quality is obviously not as good as my high end 1080p 60/fps professional cameras but for the price, size and ability to be able to easily and discreetly mount a camera on any gun that has a Picatinny rail, why not.
This Field Test Shooting Video Review focuses on the performance results of the ASG Dan Wesson 715 CO2 BB Revolver. I put it through my standard Field Test to see what kind of feet per second performance it can achieve using 5.1 grain Steel 4.5mm BB's. I also perform my standard 6 shot Revolver accuracy test from 30 feet back with a semi rested shooting position to see how this very modern 6 shooter groups on a paper target.
In the first portion of the fps velocity test, I used my temperamental Chronograph shooting 6 rounds in total with a brand new CO2. Out of the 6 shots I did mange to get 3 good readings so I guess it could have been worse. The fps reading for the three shots where 338, 331 and 326 with a three shot average of 332 fps. Not what I expected from the ASG Dan Wesson 715 CO2 BB Revolver since the claimed fps is closer to 430 and it was not an overly cold day so I should have been in the ball park. Perhaps my Chrony is not reading like it should be and maybe it's time for a new one :(
Next on my Field Test Shooting list was the accuracy portion of this review. I performed my standard 30 foot back paper target shooting test using my standard semi-rested position, standing in the back with a sandbag up front to rest my hands on for stability. This position is fairly steady but not perfect so there is always some human factor to consider. I had to perform this part of the test twice as one of my cameras was not rolling in the first go around. Unfortunately the first test was the best but I can say the ASG Dan Wesson 715 CO2 BB Revolver is very capable of getting all 6 shots under 1 inch with a little practice and a steady hand
I really love the new ASG Dan Wesson 715 CO2 BB Revolver, it's for sure a much better made version than the older Dan Wesson and it seems ot be just as accurate. I am almost positive this pistol shoots harder than what my Chronograph was giving it credit for, you can just tell by how quick the BB's are getting to the target. so perhaps another FPS test is in order to find out for sure. Other than that the ASG Dan Wesson 715 CO2 BB Revolver is an awesome modern shell loading CO2 six shooter and a lot of fun to shoot.
This Field Test Shooting Video Review focuses on the performance results of the Umarex Colt Single Action Army CO2 Pellet Revolver. I put it through its paces to see what kind of feet per second performance it can achieve using .7 grain RWS lead pellets. I also perform my standard 6 shot Revolver accuracy test from a 30 foot back semi rested shooting position to see how this classic cowboy 6 shooter groups on a paper target.
In my first portion of the fps velocity test, I used my somewhat temperamental Chronograph shooting several RWS 7 grain lead pellets using a brand new CO2. I really did not have much luck with my Chronograph today, it did not seem to like the lead pellets I was using? I went through 12 shots and only got 3 decent readings which where rather spread apart. 318, 484 and 333 fps for an average of 378 fps. I can say that when shooting the Umarex Colt Single Action Army CO2 Pellet Revolver the pellets do seem to get to the target pretty quickly and my gut estimate is that they are moving somewhere in the high 300 to low 400 fps range.
Next on my Field Test Shooting list was the accuracy portion of this review where I did not have to worry about my tech gear working properly! I performed my standard 30 foot back paper target shooting test using a semi-rested position, standing in the back with a sandbag up front to rest my hands on for stability. This position is nice and steady but not perfect so there is always some human factor to consider and I know at least one of the 6 shots went a bit high on the account of me pulling that one shot just a little bit. Removing that one shot I kind of blew, I was able to get a very tight .75 inch grouping with the Umarex Colt Single Action Army CO2 Pellet Revolver. And looking back at the video my hold was a little on the jittery side, perhaps one too many espresso this morning...
I am a huge fan of these Umarex distributed Colt Single Action Army CO2 Pellet Revolvers, they now come in 4.5mm Steel BB, .177 caliber lead pellet and even Airsoft versions so you can take your pick depending on your intended use. If you want the best accuracy then definitely go for the pellet shooting version with its rifled barrel as you should be able to hit a quarter at 30 feet with it all day long.
This Field Test Shooting Video Review focuses on the performance aspects of the Umarex Brodax CO2 BB Revolver. I test it out to see what kind of velocity it can achieve as compared to the 375 fps Umarex states and I also conduct an accuracy test from 30 feet away to see how straight and true it shoots.
My first test, the velocity or fps test I performed using my Chronograph shooting five 5.1 grain standard zinc coated steel BB's. The fps ranged very little from 370 to 382 fps with an average 5 shot reading of 374 feet per second. Keep in mind the temperature was not exactly warm on this day, somewhere around 10 Degrees Celsius so I was not expecting top fps readings so getting pretty much exactly what Umarex claimed the Umarex Brodax CO2 BB Revolver would get makes me think there may even be more potential on a nice hot summer day.
Moving on to the accuracy or shooting portion of this field test review, I performed my usual 30 foot paper target test using a semi rested stance standing in the back with a sandbag up front to rest my hands on for stability. This position is fairly stable but not perfect so there is always some human factor to consider. For the most part the majority of my shots stayed within about a 1.5-2 inch grouping and stayed well centered on the target which is great considering the Umarex Brodax CO2 BB Revolver does not have adjustable sights.
A couple of side notes about the Umarex Brodax CO2 BB Revolver. I found the trigger to be really nice especially in single action with just about the perfect amount of take-up and trigger weight and a very predictable breaking point. In double action the trigger is also decent for a revolver, fairly short with a medium amount of pull, perfect for action shooting. I was only using the open non-adjustable sights but still got good results so I can only imagine how much better I could perform with the Umarex Brodax CO2 BB Revolver
Materials: Mostly plastic with some metal construction.
Weight: 1.3 pounds (586 grams).
Barrel: 5.5 inches, non-rifled.
Propulsion: 12 gram CO2.
Action: Revolver, single & double actions.
Ammunition Type: 4.5mm steel BB's.
Ammunition Capacity: 10 rounds.
FPS: 375.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Umarex Brodax CO2 BB Revolver is actually rather nice. If you decide to cock the hammer back and shoot it single action style then you get a little bit of that SAA Revolver like ratcheting sound. The trigger pull in single action mode is short with virtually no take-up and on the light side. Double action shooting with the Umarex Brodax CO2 BB Revolver is not overly long or heavy either so action shooting is totally possible with this BB shooting CO2 revolver.
Accuracy: I can not comment so far on the shooting performance for the Umarex Brodax CO2 BB Revolversince I have not shot it yet. The weather is getting nicer outside so that should happen pretty soon. The claimed FPS for the Umarex Brodax CO2 BB Revolver is stated at only 375 which I find seems a bit low for a none blowback fairly straight forward BB pistol with an almost 6 inch barrel so hopefully my testing shows performance up into the 400's which I am hoping for. The open sights are non adjustable but there are tons more options by taking advantage of the two rails top and bottom for adding either a red dot or laser to increased target shooting ability.
Build Quality: The Umarex Brodax CO2 BB Revolver is pretty much an all metal pistol with the outer shell being made up of plastic, there is a fair bit of internal metal going on along with the trigger, hammer and of course the inner barrel made out of metal parts. Mechanically the Umarex Brodax CO2 BB Revolver feels solid and even though it only weight in at 1.3 pounds it feels much heavier in the hand.
Realism: The Umarex Brodax CO2 BB Revolver as far as I know is not an exact replica of any real steal gun currently in production. It's basically a spin off of an ultra tactical .44 magnum revolver with a super beefed up front barrel assembly sporting all kinds of accessory option to be placed on the top and bottom rails. I like that Umarex made sure to recess the barrel opening so it has a more realistic barrel size. Like many new CO2 airguns coming out these days the CO2 is not only well hidden inside the grips but a handy Allen key is built into the handle.
Not the heaviest revolver on the market but it feels really nice in the hand and has good balance, the weight is not bad at all and feels heavier than 1.3 pounds.
Trigger action is really good in both single and double action, short light single action trigger and totally usable double action trigger.
CO2 is well hidden with built in Alan key in the handle.
Rails top and bottom for all kinds of accessory add on options.
Barrel is recessed for that larger caliber look.
Nice and discreet safety.
Comes with three 10 shot easy to load rotary magazines.
Low cost with high fun factor.
Cons:
Grips are a bit hard to remove to get at the CO2, may work-in over time?
All black sights are not great on dark backgrounds and are non adjustable.
Would have liked to see fps into the 400 range.
Comments:
The Umarex Brodax CO2 BB Revolver when I first picked it up did not appeal to me all that much, maybe knowing it was for the most part yet another mostly plastic BB revolver with those thin pop in disc magazines didn't help me take notice much. But as I have been playing around with the Umarex Brodax CO2 BB Revolver it has grown on me a lot. I think it has a really cool look that is also very usable in terms of putting juts about any accessory you want on this CO2 revolver. The hammer and trigger action are also both excellent for not juts an inexpensive Airgun but even a higher end airgun. And right out of the box, or should I say clam-shell plastic wrap, you get three rotary disc magazines which is a nice bonus.
My Vimeo Table Top Review for the Umarex Brodax CO2 BB Revolver:
I try and make it to my local gun show which is held in Chilliwack BC about this time each year. It is put on by the Historical Arms Collectors Society of BC and there are generally a lot of used long guns (rifles) some pistols, lots of accessories, knives, hunting gear, knick·knacks and even some antique items. I tend to be looking for airguns or blank guns that are rare or a good deal.
This year I came across a few items that caught my eye. The first item was a Daisy replica 4.5mm BB pistol, I am not a big fan of Daisy replica gun in general as they are usually a far cry from the originals but this Daisy Powerline Model 400 was actually a really good copy of a Desert Eagle in size and looks. Sure it had a lot of plastic in it but it was made in Japan and even being around 20 years olds was holding up really well. This Daisy Powerline 400 even had Blowback which back then was not all that common.
The Daisy Powerline 400 BB Desert Eagle has a 20 round removable magazine that fits along the top of the barrel and it has a claimed fps. It is almost all high grade plastic with the exception of the single action only trigger, safety, hammer, barrel and several internal parts.
The next interesting item I found was a little compact 8mm blank shooter originally made in West Germany. So this blank gun is close to 30 years old. The SM Model 110 8mm Blank Pistol kind of reminds me of my EKOL Tuna in terms of size and functionality since both have the same half slide and magazine release system.
The SM Mod 110 8mm Blank Pistol is front venting and pretty much all metal with reinforced steel areas, it has a 5 round single stack magazine and shoots in single action only.
My last purchase for this show was a new item, here in Canada we generally are not allowed much in the way of items specifically labeled for self defense. There are some work arounds for instance we can carry a knife as long as it is not concealed entirely and we only intend to use it as a tool. We can also carry pepper spray again only for use on animals. Generally speaking we have not been allowed stun guns or tasers here in Canada and even importing them can land you in a lot of trouble! Again it seems a work around has been made, as long as the Stun Gun or Taser is at least 480mm in length then it is not considered a concealable weapon and as long as you have it out on display and only intend to use it on animals that may be a threat to you then all is good :)
The Stun Gun I purchased is basically a baton with a flashlight on the front and a 1 million volt taser on the front of it. You have several options with this device if harm is eminent. You can try blinding the threat with the built in flashlight which is not all that powerful but good for finding your way in dark areas, you can give the attacker a whack with the baton baseball bat style and if none of that is working well let em have the 1 million volt sandwich! We should be getting some of these Stun Baton Flashlights in our Canada Replica Airguns Store at some point so stay posted for that item.
Some more of my Personal airgun pistols for sale! I am showcasing here on the Replica Airguns website and over on the Replica Airguns YouTube channel a series of videos I am making for the purpose of selling some guns out of my personal collection. I simply have to make room for the new guns I will be testing and reviewing for everyone, my collection has gotten a little bit out of hand and needs to be thinned down a bit :)
In this 6th Mike's Personal Guns For Sale video, I am offering three of my Airsoft pistols, the super popular Dan Wesson 6 Inch Silver in pretty much brand new condition complete with the box, manual, speed loader and shells. I also have tow rather hard to get Airsoft guns that are in somewhat limited working condition and need a little TLC. But the simple fact that they are not easily obtained here in Canada does bring up their value a little bit.
Make sure to watch my above YouTube video to see these Airsoft Pistols I am selling and instructions on how you can take part in the sale and purchase of them. By the way I am only selling to Canadian residents since shipping cross borders is a little sketchy.
Here is a list of the Airsoft Pistols I am selling from my personal gun collection:
Yes, I have more of my personal guns for sale, now we are getting into the pistols! I am showcasing here on the Replica Airguns website and over on the Replica Airguns YouTube channel a series of videos I am making for the purpose of selling some guns out of my personal collection. I simply have to make room for the new guns I will be testing and reviewing for everyone, my collection has gotten a little bit out of hand and needs to be thinned down a bit :)
In this 5th Mike's Personal Guns For Sale video, I am offering some of my pellet pistols in a variety of models ranging from some classic Crosman SAA .22 caliber revolvers to more modern CO2 blowback pistols like the Umarex Beretta PX4 Storm
Make sure to watch my above YouTube video to see these Pellet Pistols I am selling and instructions on how you can take part in the sale and purchase of them. By the way I am only selling to Canadian residents since shipping cross borders is a little sketchy.
Here is a list of the Pellet Pistols I am selling from my personal gun collection:
Trigger Pull: The ASG Dan Wesson 357 Revolver has a smoother trigger than the previous non 715 Dan Wesson Revolvers. There seems to be less of that friction while the cylinder rotates past the spring engaged inner barrel. Even the Hammer has a nicer fell to it with less side to side wiggle. Single action is really nice with a very short take up and light release point.
Accuracy: I have not had a chance to test out the ASG Dan Wesson 715 6 Inch Silver CO2 BB Revolver so far since the outside whether has been rather cold and wet. In terms of accuracy I would expect at least a 1-2 inch grouping from 30 feet out and the clamed fps of 430 seems to be in line with what we should see from the 4.5mm BB shooting Dan Wesson 715. I guess we will have to find out later on when I do my Field Test Shooting video to be sure...
Build Quality: I thought the previous generation Dan Wesson Revolvers where built really nice but the new Dan Wesson 715 takes this up several notches higher. All you need to do is pick this gun up and immediately you are in a state of wow! You almost need to ask yourself if it is in fact the Real Steal Dan Wesson 715 357 Magnum Revolver it feels that good. ASG has beefed up the barrel assembly to a solid component that adds a lot of forward weight which would be just like what you would expect from the 357 Magnum shooting version. To balance it all off the forward weight, the grips section is also reinforced with metal underneath the Hogue Styled rubber finger grips which again are another huge improvement over the plastic pistol grips found on previous models of the ASG Dan Wesson's. The stainless finish is of course awesome and this guns simply looks and feels great!
Realism: Again referencing the new ASG Dan Wesson 715 6 Inch Silver CO2 BB Revolver to it's predecessors, the Dan Wesson 715 is a true replica of the Dan Wesson 715 357 Magnum Revolver in almost every aspect and not just the Dan Wesson name. I could tell you everything that was the same but it's simply much easier to point out the only real difference I was able to point out and that would be the two pins that connect the barrel assembly to the frame of the BB version of the Dan Wesson 715. Not a deal breaker by any means and the pins really don't take away from this gun in my opinion.
Another great shell loading revolver, perhaps one of the nicest modern BB revolvers to date!
Almost all metal design, super heavy, feels like a real gun in the hand.
Lots of detail in this gun, very well made, fit and finish is excellent.
Dan Wesson Licensed and an excellent replica overall.
Adjustable rear sight for windage and elevation.
Rubber Hogue style finger grips, huge improvement over previous Dan Wesson grips.
Well hidden CO2 screw and Allen key built into the removable grip.
Much improved hammer and trigger action, smoother trigger and less wiggle in hammer.
Barrel opening is very realistic, even has simulated rifling.
Safety design is well hidden and easy to use.
Cons:
Two pins to attach the barrel assembly to the frame are not in line with the real steel version.
Trigger still has a bit of that initial friction in double action mode because of the spring loaded internal barrel.
Comments:
I was already a big fan of the Dan Wesson line of Revolvers, this new 715 version of the Dan Wesson takes it to a whole new level! In terms of the modern shell loading CO2 Revolvers out there the ASG Dan Wesson 715 6 Inch Silver CO2 BB Revolver is by far my new favorite. ASG completely redesign their new ASG Dan Wesson 715 6 Inch Silver CO2 BB Revolver basing it entirely on the real steel version and capturing the quality, look and feel nearly exactly. if you already have a Dan Wesson Revolver and think that perhaps you can pass the new version by, well I would think again or you may be missing out on one of the best BB Revolvers out there at this time.
My Vimeo Video Table Top Review for the Dan Wesson 715 CO2 BB Revolver:
I will be showcasing here on the Replica Airguns website and over on the Replica Airguns YouTube channel a series of videos I will be making for the purpose of selling some guns out of my personal collection. I simply have no more room for the new guns and in some cases I either have duplicate guns or very similar versions so there is no need to have both. Some guns I am less attached to and as I already stated I need to make room for some of the new stuff I will be reviewing.
To start this series off my first video is to highlight the blank guns I am selling, there are only 4 of them, all of which are really hard to get here in Canada so I am not going to let them go cheap. By the way I am only selling to Canadian residents since shipping cross borders is a little sketchy.
Make sure to watch my above YouTube video to see the blank guns I am selling and instructions on how you can take part in the sale and purchase of them.
Here is a list of the blank guns I am selling from my personal gun collection:
Another preview video with some pistols from Umarex, ASG and Gletcher. Two of these Airguns I got to see whiel I wa sin SHOT Show this year so it was nice to be able to spend a bit more time with each one now that I have them in person for review :)
Lets start off with the ASG Dan Wesson 715, mine happens to be the Stainless version in 4.5mm Steel BB. What an upgrade over the original Dan Wesson Revolver and I thought those where already really good! The all new ASG Dan Wesson 715 is super solid coming in close to three pounds with its mostly solid metal construction.
Next up is the Umarex Combat Vet 1911 which is essentially a KWC 1911 distributed and Colt licensed via Umarex. The Umarex Combat Vet 1911 is a limited edition product made to look weathered and used and it does look amazing!
Lastly the Gletcher Stechkin in a Gold finish shipped in a real wood box with velvet lining. This is the same Airgun as the Gletcher APS but blinged out a bit, the Gold finish is lined with black etching to really make this gun look unique.
Ammunition Type: 4.5mm steel BB's. or .177 cal. pellets.
Ammunition Capacity: 6 rounds.
FPS: (BB 410) (Pellet 380).
Trigger Pull: Trigger pull on the John Wayne Duke Colt SAA BB and Pellet Revolver is the best I have ever come across in an airgun. Being that these Single Action Army Revolvers are single action only, most of the work is done while you pre-cock the hammer. The trigger pull is under 2 pounds and has virtually no take up with a crisp release. I love the ratcheting sound as you pull back the hammer just like using a real SAA Revolver!
Accuracy: I have not yet tested these John Wayne Duke Colt SAA BB and Pellet Revolvers so far but expect the BB version to perform for the most part just like the Umarex only versions I tested previously. Here are my notes from my previous testing:
"I tested both 4.5mm steel BB's and 4.7mm Lead ball BB's in the Umarex Colt Single Action Army Shell Loading BB Revolver. With the Steel 4.5mm BB's I shot just under a 2 inch 6 shot grouping when shooting from a 30 foot distance using a semi rested position (Sand bag up front, standing in the back). The shots where pretty well center hitting the paper target just a little bit high, they did seem to stray a little more left and right rather then up and down. When I switch ammo to the 4.7mm Lead BB's I got a similar 2 inch grouping but they hit the target a bit lower and tended to shoot tighter from side to side with more variation up and down, perhaps because the lead BB's did not seem to shoot at a vary consistent velocity. My Chronograph testing for the Steel BB's was right around 400 fps while the Lead BB's being heavier shot a bit slower at just under 300 fps."
Build Quality: The John Wayne Duke Colt SAA BB and Pellet Revolvers have a mostly all metal construction other than the plastic grips and any seals. The fit and finish is excellent with a great overall weight in the hand. Whether you get the Nickel or Weathered version. The mechanical action of the hammer and trigger feels just like it would on a real single action army revolver.
Realism: In terms of replicating a real steel Colt Single Action Army Revolver, these guns are absolutely amazing replicas. It's really hard to tell the airgun version from the real steel version, except for the smaller in diameter shells and the discreet safety switch located under the frame. Even the barrel is nicely recessed and has some fake rifling twists in it to give the appearance of a large caliber round. The CO2 is well hidden with the Allen key built into the handle so no ugly CO2 screw tab hanging down.
Still the best airgun reproduction of the Single Action Army Revolver, a very accurate replica of the real steel old west version.
Recessed barrel has the look of a large caliber bullet.
Great weight and feel in the hand.
Shell loading design that loads from the back so no need to remove shells if you wish not to.
Hammer and trigger action is about perfect, no take-up, very crisp and super light (under 2 pounds).
Finish on both the Nickel and Blued is very nice.
Colt and John Wayne Duke licensing.
Very well concealed CO2 with built in Allen key.
Discreet safety location.
If you prefer pellets over steel BB, now you have the option.
Cons:
Still has the warming instruction on the right side of the barrel but not super obvious especially on the Nickel version.
Real version would shoot 45 caliber, dummy shells are actual closer to 357 so a bit smallish.
Wood grips to me look a little fake up close but the John Wayne emblem kind of makes up for it.
Comments:
Shell loading BB and Pellet revolvers have been out for a while now and have changed the way many of us feel about airgun revolvers. Airgun revolvers used to be kind of overlooked because they where not the most exciting replica airguns out there but now we have not only the new Dan Wesson 715 shell loading revolvers but also these Colt Single Action Revolvers with Colt and John Wayne Duke licensing on them available in both BB and pellet shooting versions! There is something special about these old cowboy day classic revolver that makes them so elegant and just a real work of art you can not only own and look at but also take out and shoot whenever the spirit moves you to do so!
My Vimeo Table Top Review for the John Wayne Duke Colt SAA BB and Pellet Revolver:
In this 2016 SHOT Show Interview I talk with Bob Li from Action Sport Games. Bob shows me some of the new products this year from ASG. Some of ASG's newer pistols are the Dan Wesson 715, the CZ 75 SP-01 Shadow, the CZ P-09. New to the rifle line is the CZ Bren 80, also a couple of sniper rifles, the M40A5 and M40A3. ASG is also coming out with a an Inferno HPA version of their CZ Scorpion EVO 3A1.
The ASG Dan Wesson 715 has ot me my favorite product from ASG, you need to hold it in your hand to really understand how solid this pistol really is at close to 3 pounds. Everything about it is an improvement over previous Dan Wesson models including the trigger and hammer action, crane setup and the more actuate frame length with the new more compact internal CO2 valve. The ASG Dan Wesson 715 will be shipping in 4.5mm Steel BB, 6mm Plastic Airsoft and .177 caliber pellet versions.
ASG's two new Full blowback CZ 75 SP-01 Shadow, the CZ P-09 pistols should be coming out shortly, both will be available in 4.5mm Steel BB and 6mm Plastic Airsoft. Both pistols feature a metal slide and frame with full size drop out metal magazines and will have CO2 and Green Gas magazine configurations. The CZ P-09 will have a threaded barrel and barrel protector.
In this 2016 SHOT Show Interview I talk with Nichol Goines from Umarex USA. Nichol and I discuss some new and somewhat revised products from Umarex like the Full Blowback Smith & Wesson M&P40, the soon to finally be released Beretta Model 92 A1, a new Pellet version of last years Colt Single Action Army Revolver and a reappearance and revision of the Walther PPK CO2 Blowback BB pistol.
Last year Umarex introduced their Colt Single Action Army CO2 BB Revolvers and I would say last year they where on of my highlight airguns for the show. They have been selling like gang-busters! One question people have been asking is if there will be a pellet shooting version? Well now there is and like the Steel BB version the pellets load from the back of the shell making it super easy to reload the removable brass shells. The new Pellet SAA Revolver also has a rifled barrel to help with accuracy.
M&
I would have to say this years gun highlight well at least from Umarex is their new Smith & Wesson M&P40 full blowback CO2 BB Pistol. It is a perfect copy of the real steal version complete with a full size drop out magazine and full Beretta licensing. I really hope this one ships soon and does not get delayed like the Beretta Model 92 A1 introduced last year and still yet to be shipped :(
Speaking of the Beretta Model 92 A1 CO2 Blowback BB pistol. It is finally getting released this February and like the S&W M&P40, is a virtual identical replica of the original Beretta Mod. 92 A1 complete with full blowback, a full size drop out magazine and of course all the trades and licensing in all the right locations.
Last and not least but still worth noting is the CO2 Blowback BB shooting Walther PPK. It kind of dropped out of productions which is a real shame since it was the replica BB pistol that got all of this started for me several years back and to this day is still a lot of fun ot shoot! Even James Bond went back to the PPK for the latest 007 movie! Well it's back and this time Umarex got rid of the ugly CO2 tab and replaced it with a discreet Allen key screw. Saves us all from doing the CO2 screw mod :)
