One question I get asked often is "Which are my favorite airguns?" or "What are my top 5 gun choices?" I have done my best to avoid answering this question because it's a very hard question to answer and to be truthful on any given day I may come up with a different selection of guns as there are just so many great airguns out there!
So today I took a bunch out and shuffled through them all to see if I could come up with five of my top picks, well at least for today that is, and I'm pretty happy with my selection (Umarex Desert Eagle - ASG CZ 75 P-07 Duty - Baikal MP-654K Makarov - Cybergun Tanfoglio Witness 1911 - ASG Dan Wesson 6 Inch Sliver). I know for a fact they are some excellent choices and if you happen to own or plan on buying one then I'm sure you will agree wiht me.
So checkout this Vimeo Video Review where I go through them and explain what I like about each gun, and why they made my Top 5 Airgun Pick.
Type: BB air pistol. Manufacturer:UmarexUSA. Model:Smith & Wesson M&P R8. Buy in CAN - Buy in US Materials: Plastic (polymer) and some metal construction. Weight: 1.37 pounds. Barrel: 5.1 (6.5) inches, metal smooth bore. Propulsion: 12 gram CO2 x 1. Action: Repeater, single and double action. Ammunition Type: 4.5mm steel BB's. Ammunition Capacity: 8 shot rotary magazine. FPS: 420. Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Umarex Smith & Wesson M&P R8 is not too bad but has a stickiness to it right at the beginning as the cylinder rotates and pushes the metal spring "feed ramp"in and out. Shooting this revolver pre-cocked in single action mode is a bit smoother but also has some resistance right at the beginning. Overall I would say it has a medium pull to it. UPDATE: When actually shooting this gun, the trigger felt very respectable and I was able to get excellent accuracy result shooting in both single and double action.
Accuracy: Very good! I got 6 out of 8 shots inside my 1.5 inch bullseye and only two shots went outside a bit. these results where done shooting from 20 feet out in a semi-rested position. I also shot freehand in double action shooting quickly and also got a fairly well placed grouping. When it came to FPS performance the Umarex S&W M&P R8 was a bit disappointing (336 fps average 8 shots) but on the plus side it got well over 150 shots per CO2 and was extremely quite to shoot.
Build Quality: This is an almost all external polymer air pistol with some metal components on the inside like the inner barrel, hammer and some other internal framing components. The fit and finish is very good on the S&W M&P R8 and the plastic seems rigid and does not have much flex to it. Overall the R8 has decent weight but I felt another half pound would have helped this gun out.
Realism: The Umarex S&W M&P R8 is a licensed replica of the actual Smith & Wesson M&P R8 revolver. It is a very close looking copy in almost every way. There is a lot of attention to detail that helps make this gun very believable like the Smith and Wesson markings throughout the airgun and full size swing out cylinder! Provided by:ReplicaAirguns.com
Pros:
I don't know the shooting side of things just yet but here's what I can tell you so far.
Should have decent FPS and good CO2 usage.
Inexpensive but decent build quality.
I like that the cylinder is full size and looks real.
Adjustable rear sight.
Well hidden CO2 tab.
Full S&W licensing, very good replica.
Single and double action trigger.
Magazine is removable for easy loading and you can get extras.
Easy to add accessories to it and make it customized to your liking.
Cons:
The plastic exterior may put off some customers looking for a more metal gun.
Lighter weight makes it feel a bit cheap.
Trigger action is a bit sticky at the beginning.
I would have liked to see this one in a pellet shooter.
Comments: The Umarex Smith & Wesson M&P R8 BB CO2 Revolver based on my first impressions in this table top review portion is a rather nice low cost CO2 revolver. Other than it's low cost, it has a lot going for it like the extensive Smith & Wesson trademarks and the full size swing out 8 round cylinder, just like its hard hitting 357 big brother. The S&W M&P R8 also has an adjustable rear sight and full single and double action trigger for fast paced shooting or slowed down precision. I also really like the well hidden CO2 tab and larger diameter barrel opening that add to the realism of this Air pistol. Yes it shoots BB's only, and yes it is mostly plastic but I think once you start shooting this gun you will quickly forget these two minor shortcomings and remember how little all this enjoyment cost you!
My YouTube Table Top Review for the Smith & Wesson M&P R8 BB CO2 Revolver:
UPDATE: The 4 inch Black and 6 inch Silver Dan Wesson Revolvers are now back in Stock!
First, the bad news... We are sold out in our Canada Store of some of our most popular Airguns; this includes most of the ASG Dan Wesson revolvers along with the STI Duty One, and the very popular Cybergun Witness 1911.
Now for the good news! You can pre-order these while we get some more back in stock and save $20 while also reserving yours ahead of the non-pre-orders.
We are looking at about a 2-3 week wait while we get more in and as soon as they are back in stock we are putting the price back up so if one of these has been on your wish-list then make sure to grab one on sale now!
Finally got my hands on a Umarex Smith & Wesson M&P R8 Revolver to review for you. I have been waiting for what seems like forever and although it is a bit on the light side it looks durable enough. I will hopefully be staring my review process at the tail end of this week.
There is a lot of use of plastic in the S&W M&P R8 but I can say it does make for a good all weather robust kind of shooter. It does feel good and solid in the hand and I like the fact that the swing out cylinder is all one piece with no tell tail sign of a pellet or BB magazine like some of the other revolvers on the market. I'm not sure if it's going to stack up to the Dan Wesson line but then again it is only a fraction of the cost of a Dan Wesson revolver.
I've added some Crosman products to the store! Not the super new stuff Crosman showed us at the 2012 SHOT Show but still some popular items I have been asked to sell by many of you. First on the list is the Crosman Pumpmaster 760 Variable Pump Air Rifle Kit. This is the Canadianized detuned down to 495 fps version so yes you can buy this one without a firearms licence in Canada.
A proven and dependable Crosman favorite for over four decades, the Crosman Pumpmaster 760 Variable Pump Air Rifle offers an experience all its own. Over 12 million have been sold! It is unique in that it doubles as a BB repeater or a single shot pellet gun. This air rifle has been detuned to 495 fps for the Canadian market.
I wanted to get this video out to you a bit sooner but I have been really sick the past three days and so I have not had a lot of time to put this YouTube Video together. It's a pretty simple compilation of some photos and videos I took during my time walking around the 2012 SHOT Show in Las Vegas, not all of it is to do with airguns but most of it is. I even took a few touristy shots since it wasn't all work ;)
OK, so I took a day off to appease the wife and did some "shopping" but then today it was back to business and I made the wife come along for the ride, she was a good sport about it so it all worked out!
I went back to Umarex and Crosman, just to verify a few things, first of all, the Umarex P38 is in fact a blowback pistol and it has a nice 400 claimed fps. I am looking forward to testing this one!.
I also went back to Crosman to checkout the C51 and the C*TT to see if the C51 Glock-ish looking replica had a polymer frame which it does and also to see if the C*TT is blowback which it is not :( But it is mostly metal and has a working slide so there is hope for the C*TT.
I dropped by the ASG booth but there was nothing really new there. I already have pretty much all their 4.5mm BB guns but they do have a nice selection of Airsoft guns, and speaking of Airsoft guns I am spending a significant amount of my time these days looking into the Airsoft market and what I can bring into Canada for sale. I have been talking with several suppliers and we should have some nice offering for us Canadians shortly so stay posted on this one...
Lastly, I have a few 22LR guns coming my way that I will be reviewing. yes I know they are not airguns but whenever I review a 22LR gun, I get a lot of questions and if you are like me, and you have your PAL, the 22LR guns make a nice addition to your low cost guns that you can buy and shoot for a fraction of the cost of the larger caliber guns out there.
Today I stopped by Chiappa and checked them out. I have a 1911 Tactical 22LR on the way that I will be reviewing and I may get some more 22LR from Chiappa down the road if the 1911 reviews well. By the way I also have a 22lR M22 ISSC "Glock" styled pistol also on it's way for review!
Well that's it from the Vegas SHOT SHow 2012 for now, see you on the flip-side!
Here it is by popular demend, a video of all my Air and Blank Guns, many of which where added in 2011. Thank you to everyone for your suport, without you all, this would not have been posible!
Here is a list of all my Air and Blank Guns so far...
Pistols BB:
Umarex PPK/S Nickel platted 4.5mm Blowback CO2 BB Pistol (Full Auto Mod).
Umarex PPK/S 4.5mm Blowback CO2 BB Pistol.
Umarex CP99 Compact 4.5mm Blowback CO2 BB Pistol.
Umarex CP99 Compact Recon 4.5mm Blowback CO2 BB Pistol.
Umarex H.P.P 4.5mm Blowback CO2 BB Pistol.
Umarex SA177 4.5mm Blowback CO2 BB Pistol.
Umarex Steel Storm 4.5mm Blowback CO2 BB Machine Pistol.
Umarex Makarov 4.5mm CO2 BB Pistol.
Umarex H&K USP 4.5mm CO2 BB Pistol.
Umarex Colt Defender CO2 4.5mm BB Pistol.
Umarex Colt Special Combat CO2 4.5mm BB Pistol.
Umarex Smith & Wesson M&P 4.5mm CO2 BB Pistol.
Umarex Beretta Elite II 4.5mm CO2 BB Pistol.
Baikal IZH MP-654K (Makarov) 4.5mm CO2 BB Pistol (Nickel).
Cybergun P226 X-Five 4.5mm Blowback CO2 BB Pistol.
Trigger Pull: The ASG Dan Wesson Revolvers have very predictable triggers with the single action having a lighter pull as you would expect. Double action mode is very usable without a lot of extra pressure required. Shooting this gun in single action is a lot of fun, kind of like the old west days!
Accuracy: I shot the pair of Dan Wesson Revolvers at a target from 20 feet out in a free standing position, and they performed well getting close to 2 inch groupings pretty well centered on target. The sights are adjustable for elevation and windage so if you find yours shoots off just a bit, you can easily adjust them. My Chrony testing with a six shot averaged result where 327 fps for the 2.5 inch and 345 fps for the 4 inch Dan Wesson's.
Build Quality: These fine revolvers are well built, just like their Dan Wesson 6 inch Silver & 8 inch Black counterparts. The fit and finish looks very nice on both of them and they performed very well without any problems loading or shooting them.
Realism: The ASG Dan Wesson BB revolvers are as close as you can get to a real six shooter, ASG didn't leave any detail out and thought of a few I may have never even dreamt up! Loading and ejecting actual brass shells into the cylinder makes you feel like this gun is much more then an unassuming airgun! One of my favorite airgun revolvers for sure!
Only shoots BB's, would have been cool to shoot pellets too.
2.5 inch version does not have the recessed barrel.
Comments:
I'm not really a revolver person, but the Dan Wesson's really look good and are very fun to shoot making these guns a really nice change from the usual semi auto pistols I usually like to purchase and shoot! And with 4 barrel length and various designs to choose from, it shouldn't be too hard to find one that you like. Heck I like them all!
My Vimeo Video Review for these amazingly real Revolvers:
I am happy to announce that the Dan Wesson 2.5 Inch Sliver and Dan Wesson 4 Inch Black are now in Stock and shipping so all the pre-orders will be going out ASAP. If you didn't pick one up yet then grab one today!
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Kimar Model K 760 is a bit stiff but on a beginner gun I would recommend the trigger to be on the heavy side for safety reasons and also to teach correct trigger control. It did not seem to effect my shooting at all which was nice.
Accuracy: Very good, I was surprised at the tight group I got from a semi rested position and with open sights, I nearly got a 3/4 inch group from 30 feet out which is about the best I can expect from just about any gun I have shot in the same manner. The Kimar Model K 760 spring piston break barrel rifle also shot true to it's claimed feet per second rating and got right around the 450 fps velocity mark.
Build Quality: The Kimar K 760 .177 air rifle is not going to win any prizes for style or craftsmanship but it gets the job done and in about as simple a manner as is required. With that said, what can really go wrong with it?Crank the barrel and pull the trigger. The lack of a safety does not really bother me as I never ever trust a safety and it's always good to learn how to keep a gun safe at all times even when you "believe" it is not loaded or ready to shoot. There is some plastic found on the Kimar K 760 like in the sights and the stock but the mechanical parts are all metal including the trigger.
Coming in at around $50, you can not ask the world from the Kimar Mod. K 760 .177 Caliber Spring Piston Rifle! What you can ask for is for decent accuracy and usable fps, and that's exactly what you are going to get from the Kimar K 760. This break barrel air rifle is really perfect for a beginner shooter on a budget or even for someone who may want to pack it around in some ugly situations where you wouldn't want to subject your high priced top quality air rifle. For the money you really can't lose with this one!
Ammunition Type: .22 caliber pellets. (Also available in .177 caliber)
Ammunition Capacity: 1 round.
FPS: 400+.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Xisico XSP180 is amazing right out of the box. You actually have to be very carful because it doesn't take much to release it. I like mine setup this way but you can adjust it to your shooting style.
Accuracy: Very good, I was expecting to do much worse as I am far from a spring piston expert shooter. Even though I'm not as comfortable on the springers, I found the XSP180 easy to shoot even with the heavier spring piston kick. From 30 feet out I was able to get a tight 1 inch group shooting from a semi rested position. The Xisico XSP180 surprised me yet again with 470 fps average velocities even in the large .22 caliber version I was using.
Build Quality: The Xisico is priced on the lower end for a target pistol and because of this uses perhaps a bit more plastic then similar styled pistols. That said I found the plastic to be good quality and the gun had good overall weight to it. There are times when plastic is better suited then metal and I felt it was used well in this gun. Of course there is metal internally and externally but the main shell is primarily made out of plastic. All the moving parts worked well and felt nice and tight. I did not feel any concern that this gun would let me down.
Realism: The Xisico XSP180 is not a replica of any gun that I know of but it does have a modern look to it with its elongated design and ergonomic features.
I wasn't expecting the world from this spring piston break barrel pistol because it is a more price conscience gun and yes it may not be as refined as the Webley Alecto I also reviewed but I have to say it performed well and exceeded my expectations in most every way. First off, when the manufacturer claims 400 fps from the .22 caliber version this usually means the absolute best case scenario! I used medium grain pellets and still got some amazing chronograph results from this spring piston shooter right up into the 470 fps range. Secondly, being a springer with a heavy recoil, I figured it would effect my shot placement but again I was surprised and shot as tight a group as I can expect from any pistol with open sights from 30 feet out. lastly, again if you can get your head around the plastic, this gun feels well made and I would expect a lot of good times shooting with it for many years. If you're on a bit of a budget but want a compact shooter you can target shoot with or even take down small to medium sized pests, then grab yourself a Xisico XSP180.
We are looking at the arrival of two new barrel lengths for the very popular ASG Dan Wesson 4.5mm BB Revolvers. The two new barrel lengths are the 2.5 inch Silver version and the 4 inch Black version.
Based on the requests I have been getting for more shorter barreled revolvers and the popularity of the 6 inch and 8 inch Dan Wesson's we have already been selling, I know these are going to sell well. And as per usual, I will pick some up for my personal collection and do a full review to share with everyone.
I am hesitant to offer a "Pre-sale" on these two new ASG revolvers with the current Customs delays going on but our last ASG shipment made it through pretty quickly. The expected availability for the ASG Dan Wesson 2.5 and 4 inch Revolvers is at the end of November!
This is a "Pre-sale" item Save $20 (we expect to arrive near the end of November - please make sure to read over our Terms & Conditions concerning "Pre-sale" orders)
Looking for an ultra compact, super inexpensive, Italian made air rilfe for target or small pest control? Look no further!
This brand new air Italian made rifle from Kimar in .177 caliber is an ideal first air rifle for plinking targets in the back yard and because of it's very compact size it is excellent for small or first time shooters. Don't assume it doesn't have any power? You get up to 450fps velocities which makes the Kimar K 760 useful for shooting small rodents.
The Kimar 760 is very inexpensive yet has a high quality finish on the synthetic stock and metal work and fires accurate groups from 15 meters out with its open sights which are adjustable for windage and elevation.
The Umarex S&W M&P R8 Air Pistol is a CO2 powered 4.5mm BB Revolver. You can also add a tactical flashlight or laser to the integrated accessory rail . The Smith & Wesson M&P R8 has a manual safety and black synthetic grips, as well as fixed front and a windage adjustable rear sights. This BB replica revolver is not only great for plinking, but also makes a good target shooter.
I am pleased to announce that we have added another target shooter to the Replica Airguns Store and this one also does not require any CO2!
The Xisico XSP180 is a very close copy of the Diana P5 Magnum and is a spring action pistol that packs the power of an air rifle within its compact, lightweight body. At under 17" in length and weighing only 2.5 lbs, the XS180P reaches muzzle velocities of up to 500fps using .177 caliber pellets and up to 400fps using .22 caliber pellets.The XSP180 is packed with performance features.
The picatinny rail underneath the barrel provides many tactical options for the shooter. The competition style hand grips gives a comfortable, natural fit enabling better accuracy. Premier fiber optic adjustable sights as well as an auto/manual safety and adjustable trigger round out the long list of features.
I get a fair bit of interest and questions from people in the TV, Movie, Stage, Internet and Photo business looking for guns they can use in their productions, so I thought I would put together an informative video to show them some options available to them at least here in Canada.
The problem is a lot of times a "Gun Handler" is required, as in many cases real firearms are used and very strict guidelines need to be in place for obvious safety reasons. This is most likely the best option in the case of a Matrix styled movie and an extensive amount of guns are required in the production. What if you only need a few guns and you want to keep your budget and complications to a minimum? Well there are other options and that's where I come in.
Watch this short Promotional Video for more information if you are looking for a simplified and easy solution for your realistic gun use in Movie, Stage, Internet and Photo productions.
Here is another great Replica Airguns Limited Time Sale for you! If you want a really really small blank gun that will fit just about anywhere, take a look at the EKOL Arda 8mm blank shooting mini revolver. It has a very unique design, kind of a mix between a Derringer and a Revolver.
Action: Bolt-action single shot, single action only.
Ammunition Type: .177 caliber pellet.
Ammunition Capacity: 1 round.
FPS: 495.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Crosman 1377 American Classic is non-adjustable but is short and light with virtually no creep at all, it's just right there! It makes for very accurate shot placement.
Accuracy: I found the Crosman 1377 to be an amazing target pistol, getting about a 1/2 inch grouping from 30 feet out in a semi-rested position. And I performed my accuracy test twice with the same result each time. I also put the America Classic through the Chrony Chronograph test using increasingly more pumps each time and got it up into the 460+ fps range with 15 pumps using 6.9 grain RWS lead pellets. Keep in mind this is the Canadianized version that has been release valve limited to under 500 fps, so over-pumping should not hurt this gun too much, but either way do so at your own risk as Crosman says it's a 10 pump gun...
Build Quality:The Crosman 1377 American Classic is not a fancy looking gun but it gets the job done with a mostly metal design and build. Remember this gun has been around for 40 years and has pretty much stayed the same so Crosman must be doing something right with it.
Realism:The Crosman 1377 pellet pistol is not a replica, it is a target airgun, so it looks like a target air pistol and for that we'll give it high marks ;)
Ability to regulate power with the amount of pumps.
Mostly metal construction.
Rifled barrel.
Adjustable sights for windage and elevation.
Light and short single action trigger.
Would be good for small pest control because of its decent FPS and excellent accuracy for precise shot placement ability.
Lots of mods and upgrades available for this gun!
It has been around for 40 years!
Cons:
Trigger is a bit thin (but can be upgraded)
Sights are fully adjustable but a bit hard to adjust.
Comments:
The Crosman 1377 America Classic .177 caliber pellet pistol is a must have target air pistol, even though I own the much more full featured (and pricey!) Webley Alecto .22 caliber multi-pump pneumatic target air pistol, the Crosman 1377 is still great to own and shoot. I think one day I will pass my 1377 down to my son when he is ready to learn the art of accurate pistol target shooting. The fact that you can head out for the day with the 1377 America Classic in one hand and a tin of .177 caliber pellets in the other and shoot till you can't shoot any more, with no CO2 required makes it very inviting - and pretty much everything you point it at will get nocked down or nailed dead on.
I received my Crosman American Classic .177 Multi-pump Bolt Action Pellet Pistol a few days ago and had a bit of time to shoot yesterday. I was extremely impressed with this very inexpensive classic single shot bolt action target pistol. Even using the stock open sights, I shot a group about 1 inch in diameter from a 30 foot out free standing unrested position!
I still prefere my Webley Alecto but then again it is about 5 times more expensive and so it should be a better gun :)
I will be following this up with a full review some time down the road...
Here are some specifications for the Crosman 13177 American Classic:
