Umarex presented at SHOT Show this year a license I think we all thought was never going to happen! That would be Glock, for years Glock has been steadfast about not allowing their handguns to be licensed by anyone other than them. Glock has been very protective about their brand and intellectual properties as they are entitled to. I'm not sure what Umarex said to Glock but somehow they where able to get Glock to agree to letting Umarex license Glock pistols to be made into BB and Airsoft versions. The first BB and Airsoft models I was able to checkout at this years SHOT Show are pretty basic in design and are styled after the Glock 19.
The new Umarex Glock 19 licensed BB and Airsoft pistols are CO2 powered as expected but don't have blowback operation and have a fixed metal slide and a drop out stick magazine. The new Glock Licensed Umarex pistols do however look and feel really good, picking them up you would think you are holding a real steel Glock until you try and rack the slide or drop the magazine. Umarex did indicate there will be more licensed models coming out down the road with full blowback operation and full size drop out metal magazines, we just need to be patient as Glock is very particular about the quality control.
Another show stopper for me at the Umarex Booth was the Legends Cowboy Lever Action Shell loading BB Rifle. I love shooting my Red Ryder BB Rifle but I have to admit the Red Ryder kind of looks a bit like a kids beginner airgun. The new Umarex Legends Cowboy Lever Action Shell loading BB Rifle look, feels and operates like the real deal so it's not only going to be super fun to shoot but an awesome replica to own especially if your into the old west guns.
The Umarex Legends Cowboy Lever Action Shell loading BB Rifle uses two 12 gram CO2 cartridges and can hold 10 BB loaded shells in its tube styled magazine, working the lever action elects the empty shells. Umarex claims around 410 fps so the Umarex Legends Cowboy Lever Action Shell loading BB Rifle will be Canada legal without the need for a PAL. I thought the stock was real wood but was correct, it's actually made out of plastic, but I think just about anyone looking close up would have a hard time believing Umarex didn't use real wood.
Thanks to Mark Davis from Umarex for making himself available to interview!
I wanted to start my SHOT Show 2018 Interviews with Crosman because in my books they had one of the most exciting new products this year at SHOT Show, the Crosman Remington DPMS SBR which is a duel 12 gram CO2 powered 4.5mm steel BB firing AR styled semi and full auto Machine gun.
What I like about the Crosman Remington DPMS SBR is that it works a lot like an Airsoft Gas Blowback rifle with an internal bolt and buffer tube spring, working charging handle and dust cover, it even has a bolt release button. The Crosman Remington DPMS SBR can even be taken apart similarly to a real AR rifle.
The next new interesting product from Crosman, and as I found out the design is not entirely exclusive to Crosman, was the CO2 Non-Blowback Pellet firing 1911. The Crosman Pellet 1911 has an interesting magazine design, it looks like a traditional full size drop out magazine, which as you would expect holds the CO2 but rather than an inline BB magazine the new Crosman Pellet firing 1911 has two built in 6 shot rotary magazines that can be flipped so you essentially end up with a 12 shot magazine.
You will have to drop the full size magazine after the first 6 shots to flip the rotary magazines. The Crosman Pellet 1911 does not have blowback action but the double action only trigger is smooth and not too heavy. The slide is metal with a metal magazine and a polymer frame. The Crosman Pellet shooting 1911 comes in silver and black.
The next new product from Crosman was the Mako. The Crosman Mako is a Beretta styled CO2 Blowback BB pistol. The Crosman Mako features Blowback action, fiber optic sights, tactical grips, a double action trigger and a stick magazine that holds the 4.5mm steel BB's.
Thanks to Phillip Guadalupe from Crosman for allowing me the Interview!
So it begins, I have been to this years SHOT Show in Las Vegas and checked out the new products from Umarex, Crosman, Sig Sauer and ASG. I have taken video and Interviewed the main Airgun companies. Now it's time to report back to everyone what I saw and learned. To start with here is a Teaser Video with some scenes from Vegas, inside SHOT Show and of course some of the highlight products from each airgun company.
First I wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, hopefully you get all the toys you have been wanting! Maybe we can help you out a little with that over on our Online Canada and US Replica Airgun Stores.
I also have a new Red Ryder Type BB Rifle to show off, this one is John Wayne licensed and called the John Wayne Lil Duke. At first glace it looks a lot like a Red Ryder but it has the large loop styled lever which is designed for easier use when wearing gloves, perfect for our Canadian weather ;) The John Wayne Lil Duke Lever Action BB Rifle has a really nice fit and finish, perhaps even a bit better than the classic Red Ryder BB Gun. I really like the real wood stock finish.
Another nice touch is that the John Wayne Lil Duke Lever Action BB Rifle comes with a lasso scope rail that you can attach just behind the rear iron sight to accommodate dove tail scope mounts. Just make sure to really tighten down the rear screw as it comes loose super easy due to the spring vibration. I would even recommend adding a bit of lock tight to the screw to be sure.
Here are some of the main specifications for the John Wayne Lil Duke Lever Action BB Rifle: 4.5mm Steel BB's, leaver action spring piston, 350 fps, 550 round magazine, 2.5 pounds, smooth bore 9.5 inch barrel, adjustable rear sight for elevation, included scope mount for 11mm dovetail rings, metal and wood build.
I don't get many Gas Blowback Airsoft Rifles to review all that often so when I get my hands on them I sure have a great time testing them out and feeling the blowback action tapping me in the shoulder as I shoot in semi or full auto modes. Sure Gas Blowback Airsoft Guns don't perform like their AEG counterparts, especially when you're shooting in full auto. You can expect way less rounds in each magazine and even with less rounds the last 5 or 10 shots when shooting rapid fire are going to be compromised but I really don't care because a well made Gas Blowback Airsoft rifle like the KJWorks M4 CQB Carbine GBB is just so much more fun to shoot than an AEG and way more realistic.
So let's get on with my test results for the KJWorks M4 CQB Carbine GBB Airsoft Rifle... The fps consistency was really decent, super consistent when I spaced out my 5 test shots they averaged 377 fps, not really having any low or high fps shots out of the bunch. I did have a full gassed up mag and was using .20 gram plastic 6mm Airsoft BB's for this part of the field test.
Again shooting in semi auto mode, I placed 10 rounds into my paper target setup downrange 30 feet and as per usual I was using a rested shooting setup sitting on a stool and resting the KJWorks M4 CQB Carbine GBB Airsoft Rifle on a sandbag up front. 9 out of the 10 rounds all grouped in about a 3/4 inch group with only 1 round coming outside a bit stretching the 10 shot grouping out to about 1.5 inches. Still really great for a Gas Blowback or any Airsoft rifle for that matter!
Next I shot the rest of the mag in full auto burst mode which was about 20 rounds left in the KJWorks M4 CQB Carbine GBB Airsoft Rifle at this point. As expected the KJWorks M4 CQB Carbine GBB Airsoft Rifle cooled down pretty quick and the last 5 rounds did fire just fine but there was a noticeable drop in power making the rounds shoot low on the target. Keep in mind I was shooting in a not too warm environment, about 15 degrees which is not bad but also not that warm.
I would have liked to have seen the KJWorks M4 CQB Carbine GBB Airsoft Rifle perform as consistently in full auto mode as it did in semi auto but that would have been asking a bit too much from a Gas Blowback Airsoft rifle. The KJWorks M4 CQB Carbine GBB Airsoft Rifle is a really well put together Airsoft Rifle that didn't let me down in the end.
Getting back to the Umarex IWI Tavor 21 Elite AEG Airsoft Rifle, how did it perform? I placed 5 rounds through my Chrony Chronograph using .20 gram plastic Airsoft BB's and it shot a pretty quick 425 fps! Not sure if I would want to use the Umarex IWI Tavor 21 Elite AEG Airsoft Rifle in any close quarters games with that velocity but it would perform well on a field and even get a round out to a nice distance.
Next I tested out the accuracy of the Umarex IWI Tavor 21 Elite AEG Airsoft Rifle as best I could in my kind of "cramped for rifles" indoor Sea Can Airguns Range. I place my paper target 30 feet down range and put 10 rounds in semi auto into the target shooting from a rested seated position with a sandbag up front for stability. The Umarex IWI Tavor 21 Elite AEG Airsoft Rifle shot a nice tight 1.5 inch grouping just a tad low and to the left but pretty close to the bulls-eye for being straight out of the box with no adjustments on my part.
In full auto mode the Umarex IWI Tavor 21 Elite AEG Airsoft Rifle performedas expected emptying the magazine making a clean 3 inch hole in my paper target with only a few of the 6mm Airsoft BB's venturing outside of it.
All in all the Umarex IWI Tavor 21 Elite AEG Airsoft Rifle is a nice performer with a good solid build quality and modern Bull-pup design. I really liked the pop-up sights and the fact that can use any standard AEG AR/M4 High capacity magazine with it.
In this yet another AEG Airsoft Field Test Shooting Video Review I mainly focus on the Cybergun Famas AEG Bullpup Airsoft Rifle and put it through my typical velocity and accuracy tests I conduct in the Replica Airguns Indoor Sea Can Shooting Range. I also show some other similar Bullpup styled AEG Airsoft Rifles in comparison that I plan on also reviewing very soon, the IWI Tavor 21 Elite Force and two AEG Bullpups from ASG, the Steyr Aug A2 and Steyr Aug A3 Proline Series..
So how did the Cybergun Famas AEG Bullpup Airsoft Rifle perform? I placed 5 rounds through my Chrony Chronograph using .20 gram plastic Airsoft BB's and I got right around a 360 fps average which is should be just about right for most indoor or outdoor shooting environments. Velocity consistency was also good.
Moving on to the accuracy portion of my indoor sea can field test, I place my paper target 30 feet down range and put 10 rounds into the target shooting from a rested seated position with a sandbag up front for stability. The Cybergun Famas AEG Bullpup Airsoft Rifle shot a nice 1.5 to 2 inch grouping just a little high but well centered. The front and back sigh are both adjustable making windage and elevation corrections very easy to do. You could also play around with the hop-up to adjust elevation at various ranges.
In full auto mode the Cybergun Famas AEG Bullpup Airsoft Rifle performed really well, I pretty much empty the magazine and the grouping only spread out to about 3 inches making a clean 3 inch hole in my paper target. There is something very gratifying about unloading an entree magazine in full auto and checking out the damage it caused :)
All in all the Cybergun Famas AEG Bullpup Airsoft Rifle is a great performer at a pretty low price tag of around $200 Canadian at the time of this review. If you want a slightly higher quality version than also checkout the Cybergun Famas F1 EVO Version which is only about $90 more and but offers better build material and and internals improvements.
In this Field Test Shooting Video Review I mainly focus on the ASG CAA M4 Sportline AEG Airsoft Rifle and put it through my typical velocity and accuracy tests I conduct in the Replica Airguns Sea Can Shooting Range. I do compare the ASG CAA M4 Proline AEG Airsoft Rifle to the ASG CAA M4 Sportline version since they look virtually identical but do have some notable differences, like the build materials and much lower cost for the ASG CAA M4 Sportline AEG Airsoft Rifle. That said both ASG CAA M4 AEG Airsoft Rifles did perform very similarly other than a bit of a velocity bump with the ASG CAA M4 Proline model over the Sportline I test in this video.
So how did the ASG CAA M4 Sportline AEG Airsoft Rifle perform? I placed 5 rounds through my Chrony Chronograph using .20 gram plastic Airsoft BB's and I got a 335 average fps which is a bit lower than the ASG CAA M4 Proline AEG Airsoft Rifle but still great for a variety of Airsoft shooting situations. I did notice that the FPS seemed to be creeping up slowly as I tested it, maybe some break in was taking place?
Moving on to the accuracy portion of my indoor field test, I place my paper target 30 feet down range and put 10 rounds into the target shooting from a rested seated position with a sandbag up front. The ASG CAA M4 Sportline AEG Airsoft Rifle shot a nice 1.5 to 2 inch grouping a little to the right of the bulls-eye and slightly low, which I can easily correct using the adjustable sights and hop-up adjustments. I like to conduct my field tests with all the guns right out of the box and with no adjustments prior to my testing since that's the way you're going to get them and you may have to also make some small correction to the sights and or hop-up adjustments.
In full auto mode the ASG CAA M4 Sportline AEG Airsoft Rifle didn't miss a beat. I emptied what was left of the mag (About 130 rounds or so) in no time with a few quick bursts making a nice mess of the paper target which is the result I'm looking for in full auto mode :)
In this Field Test Shooting Video Review I mainly focus on the ASG CAA M4 Proline AEG Airsoft Rifle and put it through my typical velocity and accuracy tests I conduct in the Replica Airguns Sea Can Shooting Range. I do compare the ASG CAA M4 Proline AEG Airsoft Rifle to the ASG CAA M4 Sportline version since they look virtually identical but do have some notable differences, like the build materials and perhaps a few internal upgrades found in the Proline version. That said both ASG CAA M4 AEG Airsoft Rifles did perform rather similarly other than a bit of a velocity bump with the ASG CAA M4 Proline model.
So how did the ASG CAA M4 Proline AEG Airsoft Rifle perform? I placed 5 rounds through my Chrony Chronograph using .20 gram plastic Airsoft BB's and I got a very respectable 392 average fps with most of the five shots actually getting 392 fps so very consistent velocity for sure.
Moving on to the accuracy portion of my indoor field test, I place my paper target 30 feet down range and put 10 rounds into the target shooting from a rested seated position with a sandbag up front. The ASG CAA M4 Proline AEG Airsoft Rifle shot a tight 1.5 inch grouping just to the right of the bullseye which I can easily correct using the adjustable sights. I like to conduct my field tests with all the guns right out of the box and with no adjustments prior to my testing since that's the way you're going to get them and you may have to also make some small correction to the sights and or hop-up adjustments.
In full auto mode the ASG CAA M4 Proline AEG Airsoft Rifle didn't miss a beat. I emptied what was left of the mag (About 200 rounds or so) in no time at all and made a nice mess of the paper target which is what I am usually going for :)
All in all the ASG CAA M4 Proline AEG Airsoft Rifle is a very high quality Airsoft gun but does come at a premium pricetag. If you're budget is a bit lower than checkout my upcoming Field Test Shooting Video of the more economical ASG CAA M4 Sportily AEG Airsoft Rifle which will be out this week.
Type: Airsoft AR, M4, M16 Styled Rifle. Manufacturer:G&G. Model:ARP-556 and ARP-9. Materials: Metal and plastic/polymer construction. Weight: (ARP-9 4.4 pounds) (ARP-556 5.3 pounds). Barrel: 6 inches, metal non-rifled. Propulsion: AEG non-blowback. Action: Semi & full auto SAO. Ammunition Type: 6mm plastic Airsoft BB's. Ammunition Capacity: (ARP-9 300) (ARP-556 450). FPS: 400+.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the G&G ARP rifles is an electric mechanical trigger that simulates a single action only trigger. There is essentially a light spring internally which supplies the trigger pressure. Pressure is even and smooth.
Build Quality: As with all of the G&G product line the G&G ARP-556 and ARP-9 AEG Airsoft CQB Rifles are really well made. Fit and finish is flawless and I had no issues shooting these guns at all. Every engagement of the trigger resulted in an Airsoft BB downrange and in full auto mode BB's where literally streaming from the barrel :) You will find a little more metal specifically in the receiver for the G&G ARP-556 over the G&G ARP-9 AEG Airsoft CQB Rifle which does make the ARP-556 a little bit heavier but not by much.
Realism: Both the G&G ARP-556 and ARP-9 AEG Airsoft CQB Rifles are super realistic, they are based on the AR, M4, M16 Rifle design but are scaled down for tactical close quarters use with their compact barrels and adjustable stocks. Most parts work as you would find on a real steel M4 like the charging handle, dust cover, simulated forward assist and of course the magazine releases. There is however no blowback operation but I can attest that if you have an 11.2 volt battery and are shooting in full auto you will feel this gun a rock'n.
2 lower and higher priced models with similar looks and performance to choose from.
Super compact CQB rifles.
Fully adjustable pop-up iron sights front and back.
Crown flash hider acts as a sound amplifier if you’re into that sort of thing?
Great internals, Internally upgraded with an ETU and MOSFET system.
Skeltonized PDW stock perfect for close quarters combat.
Nice 400 feet per second velocity, good for close and even further out ranges.
Very accurate, one of the best Airsoft rifles tested to date.
ARP-526 has an ambidextrous selector / safety switch.
ARP-556 has full metal receiver.
ARP-9 is a bit lighter and less tiring to carry, great if you plan to add on a bunch of accessories.
Cons:
No blowback operation.
ARP-9 has a plastic receiver.
You need some pretty compact batteries to fit into the short bumper tube.
Comments:
I am going to go on the record and say that the G&G ARP-556 and ARP-9 AEG Airsoft CQB Rifles would be my go to Airsoft battle rifle of choice. They have enough power for out door shooting and not too much for indoor shooting. Their compact and lightweight design will make them super easy to carry around all day and quick to place on any target in a hurry. Accuracy is not a concern since these AEG Airsoft Rifles can cut a bullseye out of a paper target no problem. Price for what you get, quality, looks. performance are all top notch with either choice of G&G ARP-556 or ARP-9 AEG Airsoft CQB Rifle you decide to go with.
My Vimeo Video Review for the G&G ARP-556 and ARP-9 AEG Airsoft CQB Rifles:
It's been a rather long time since I made an Airsoft Rifle Field Shooting Test video. I like to shoot a bit further out than 30 feet when using a rifle. Unfortunately the weather outside is getting really cold where I live so my testing will have to all be done inside the Replica Airguns Sea Can Airgun Range which only allows for about 30 feet worth of distance to my paper target. I figure if I can get a tight group at 30 feet than it shouldn't spread out too much at longer ranges!
Since the G&G ARP-9 and G&G ARP-556 have identical internals and similar barrel lengths I figured I only really needed to test one of them out so I picked the G&G ARP-556 AEG Airsoft CQB and put 5 shots through my Chrony Chronograph to get my Field Test Started. The G&G ARP-556 AEG Airsoft CQB shot a nice consistent 400 fps which is as high as I would want to go for indoor CQB type shooting. The BB's sure did get to my paper target quickly!
I followed my velocity testing with an accuracy test at 30 feet back using a rested shooting position, sand bag up front and sitting in the back. I first placed 10 rounds on my paper target in semi-auto and hit the 1.5 inch bullseye with every shot! I think this may have been a first for me using an Airsoft rifle? Of course I had to switch the G&G ARP-556 AEG Airsoft CQB over to full auto and see how she would perform. Since I was using an 11.2 volt bolt battery the rate of fire was crazy fast but even so in full-auto the bulk of the shots still hit the center bullseye cutting out a 2 inch hole in my paper target. The G&G ARP-556 AEG Airsoft CQB is a beast that I would not want to be on the receiving end of!
I'm pretty sure I found my go to AEG M4 styled CQB rifle, I'm not sure how you could beat the results I got shooting the G&G ARP-556 AEG Airsoft CQB. And if you're looking for a slightly lighter and less expensive version with the same performance then take a look at the G&G ARP-9 AEG Airsoft CQB.
I just received some really nice G& G Airsoft guns to share with everyone, I have two CQB Styled AEG rifles and a fantastic Gas Blowback Beretta Mod. 92FS.
The AEG CQB AR or M4 styled rifles are similar in a lot of ways and are super compact and really well built. The G&G ARP-9 has a polymer receiver and hand guard while the G&G ARP-556 has a full metal receiver and hand guard. Both have good weight to them. You will also find Skeletonized PDW stocks and large crown flash hiders on both models along with M-LOK hand guards. Inside you will find upgraded ETU and MOSFET electronics.
Obvious difference are the 9mm style magazine found on the G&G ARP-9 versus the M4 styled high capacity magazine on the G&G ARP-556. You also get an ambidextrous safety sector switch on the G&G ARP-556.
Next I show off the G&G GPM92 Beretta Mod. 92FS Gas Blowback Airsoft Pistol. It comes in a high quality hard plastic case with a well made speed loader. If you place the magazine in the gun you will have room for two magazine in the hard shell case. The G&G GPM92 hold 27 roads in it's double stack magazine that has some interesting new features that help it perform much beet in cold environments and really boost green gas usage. G& G calls them the Whirl Cylinder Valve system and Micro gas filter. Both help eliminate free up in the gun when shooting fast.
The G&G GPM92 Beretta Mod. 92FS is really well made and shoot in double and single action and the safety even works as a decocker. For those looking to add a mock suppressor you will happy to know the G&G GPM92 has a threaded barrel tip.
In this Classic Legends Airguns comparison video I look at a number of different Classic or Legendary BB Airguns and compare them to each other to determine which one I personally feel is the best . My final choices are of course based on my own personal opinion and in this video I end up picking two as they where kind of each in their own class.
Type: Multi-pump Pellet-BB rifle. Manufacturer: Umarex USA. Model:NXG APX. Materials: Metal and polymer parts. Weight: 3.4 pounds (1.54 kg). Barrel: 20 inches, rifled. Propulsion: Multi-pump. Action: Single shot pellets/repeater BB's. Ammunition Type: .177 caliber pellets & 4.5mm steel BB's. Ammunition Capacity: 75 BB's in hopper. FPS: up to 490.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Umarex NXG APX Multi-pump Pellet-BB Rifle is not too bad, I would not say it's overly light but not on the heavy side either. Essentially it has a single action trigger since you need to pre-charge the bolt to engage the trigger. There is a little bit of take-up and then a fairly noticeable break point where you will feel the most trigger weight right before it releases.
Accuracy: So far I have not performed my Field Test Shooting review for the Umarex NXG APX Multi-pump Pellet-BB Rifle so I do not have any velocity or accuracy information to share at this point. I do plan on making that Shooting video Review this week so stay posted for that one.
Build Quality: The Umarex NXG APX Multi-pump Pellet-BB Rifle is not going to be one of your highest quality airguns but it does get the job done and feels solid enough with all the working parts feeling tight and secure. Most of the Umarex NXG APX Multi-pump Pellet-BB Rifle is plastic, even the bolt and trigger but you will find more metal inside where it counts like the inner steel barrel and the outer steel barrel shroud. The stock is plastic and that's OK, I do like the addition of the rubber butt pad and cheek rest as they work well and help to make the Umarex Umarex NXG APX Multi-pump Pellet-BB Rifle feel comfortable to hold in position and shoot.
Realism: Since the Umarex NXG APX Multi-pump Pellet-BB Rifle is not a replica, realism is not really a factor here but it does look like a gun so treat it as if it was a real gun since most people will not know the difference. Always transport and store any airgun safely and discreetly.
Pros:
Low cost air rifle with a lot of features.
Iron sights actually look really usable with the fiber optic red dot up front.
Comes with an 4x15 optical sight which should help with accuracy at longer ranges.
Super easy to pump even when getting close to the 10 pump max.
Built in auto safety.
Stock and cheek rest position feel really good.
Choice of shooting pellets or BB’s.
Trigger feels pretty good, not too heavy.
Mostly an ambidextrous design so good for lefties too.
Has a rifled barrel.
Overall a good looking air rifle.
Cons:
Mostly plastic, not the highest quality build.
Included 4x15 scope is super low budget but will work till you can upgrade it down the road.
Comments: I really hope the Umarex NXG APX Multi-pump Pellet-BB Rifle shoots well as it is kind of a cool air rifle with a lot of features at a low price tag and would make a great little target and maybe even small pest air rifle if it turns out to be accurate and hit that near 500 fps mark with pellets. The Umarex NXG APX Multi-pump Pellet-BB Rifle is not going to win any quality or design awards but from a usability stand point it works well and feels good to hold and shoot, the rear stock and cheek rest are in a perfect piston for me and this is a pretty small airgun overal. Personally I would invest in an upgraded scope, something like the Walther 4x32 would be perfect and not too expensive.
Type: Break barrel pellet rifle. Manufacturer: Umarex USA. Model:Ruger Explorer. Materials: Metal and polymer parts. Weight: 4.45 pounds (2.5 kg). Barrel: 12 inches, metal rifled. Propulsion: Spring piston. Action: Single shot. Ammunition Type: .177 caliber pellets. Ammunition Capacity: 1. FPS: 495.
Trigger Pull: I found the Ruger Explorer Youth Break Barrel Pellet Rifle to have a fairly light trigger, there is some initial take up with a smooth almost undetectable break or release point, I found that as I shot the Ruger Explorer Youth Break Barrel Pellet Rifle the trigger seemed to be breaking in a bit which made it a bit hard to figure exactly when the trigger was going to release but I feel over time and once the Ruger Explorer Youth Break Barrel Pellet Rifle is broken in the trigger will become more predictable.
Accuracy: Since I have already made a shooting or field test video for the Ruger Explorer Youth Break Barrel Pellet Rifle, I can comment on its performance n this review! With 6 grain lead pellets (on the lighter side), I was able to get a 5 shot Chronograph average velocity of 485 fps. Using heavier 7-8 grain pellets the velocity slowed down a bit to around 400 fps. In terms of accuracy the Ruger Explorer Youth Break Barrel Pellet Rifle performed well getting about a 1 inch 10 shot grouping on my paper target setup 30 feet down range. I know the Ruger Explorer Youth Break Barrel Pellet Rifle can do better than this once the trigger settles down a bit since some shots went off unexpectedly.
Build Quality: The Ruger Explorer Youth Break Barrel Pellet Rifle is not an expensive air rifle and is more or less an entry level spring piston pellet shooter. That said it is built fairly well with a metal receiver, barrel and trigger setup. The modern looking stock is polymer and the steel barrel is coated in a synthetic soft plastic to help with long term durability. The real fiber optic sight is plastic so you will have to be careful with it as it does protrude a bit from the air rifle.
Realism: Since the Ruger Explorer Youth Break Barrel Pellet Rifle is not a replica realism is not really a factor here but it does look like a gun so treat it as if it was a real gun since most people will not know the difference. Always transport and store any airgun safely and discreetly.
Pros:
Really great looking air rifle with a modern look to it.
Finish is very durable with its polymer stock and plastic/rubber coated barrel.
Fully adjustable fiber optic sights are easy to sight in and use.
Receiver is notched for ring mounts so you can add an optical sight or red dot to it.
Trigger is fairly light, just need some break in time with it.
Cocking effort is fairly easy at 16.5 pounds.
Great size gun for all ages.
Power and accuracy were good for an entry level air rifle.
Cons:
I did find the trigger break/release point to be a bit unpredictable but I feel this is a break-in issue and will become more consistent over time.
You have to remember to push that safety in with ever shot.
Comments: The Ruger Explorer Youth Break Barrel Pellet Rifle is marketed as a Youth air rifle but in reality it would be great fun for all ages. I am a fairly large person at 6 feet tall and I had no problem dealing with the slightly shorter configuration. The trigger guard is nice and open and allows for large fingers which is not always the case with airguns designed for smaller individuals. The overall quality you get with the Ruger Explorer Youth Break Barrel Pellet Rifle for the lower entry level price tag is very good and in terms of performance I feel you for sure get your monies worth with the Ruger Explorer Youth Break Barrel Pellet Rifle.
I don't do a lot of Springer (Spring Piston) Air Rifle shooting tests or even reviews for that matter. Mainly for a couple of reasons: Number 1, my content is mostly focused around Replica style Airguns and Number 2, it's kind of hard to test out the longer range airguns in my 30 foot airgun range. That said I felt the Ruger Explorer Youth Break Barrel Pellet Rifle would be a really great airgun to review since it is both affordable and even though it is targeted for the youth market, it really does make a great shooter for all ages.
I have not done a Table Top Review for the Ruger Explorer Youth Break Barrel Pellet Rifle but plan to shortly so stay posted for more detailed info on the Ruger Explorer Youth Break Barrel Pellet Rifle down the road in that review.
So how'd we do during my Field Test Shooting Video for the Ruger Explorer Youth Break Barrel Pellet Rifle? Not bad I would say! Using about 6 grain rather light weight .177 caliber lead pellets I was able to get really close to the 500 fps claimed fps mark coming in just under at a 5 shot testing average of 485 fps. I did put a couple heavier grain pellets through my Chrony Chronograph and got closer to the 400 fps mark, still not bad for this lighter sprung spring piston air rifle.
In terms of accuracy, shooting at my paper target setup 30 feet down range in my Sea Can Airgun Range, I shot about a 1 inch 10 shot grouping. I was finding the trigger break-in to be a bit unpredictable during this testing which led to some premature shots going off so I do feel once the Ruger Explorer Youth Break Barrel Pellet Rifle is broken in and me getting use to the trigger break, I should be able to improve on this result.
Overall the Ruger Explorer Youth Break Barrel Pellet Rifle is a really nice entry level airgun perfect for all ages and not just the youth market. It looks really cool, is easy to cock and has a very resilient finish. Oh ya it shoots pretty good to!
Type: BB Gun/Rifle. Manufacturer: Umarex USA. Model:Morph 3X. Materials: Plastic with some internal metal parts. Weight: 2.5 pounds (1134 grams). Barrel: 4.5 inches, metal non-rifled. Propulsion: 12 gram CO2 x 1. Action: Semi auto, double action only. Ammunition Type: 4.5mm BB's. Ammunition Capacity: 30 round internal magazine. FPS: 480+.
Trigger Pull: The double action type trigger pull on the Umarex Morph 3X CO2 BB Gun is reasonable, it is a bit on the longer side but is smooth with low friction and has a predictable break point. I found it very easy to shoot this gun with good accuracy shooting out in front as a pistol or rested on the shoulder using the shoulder stock more like a rifle.
Accuracy: The good news is that I have already done my Field Test Shooting video for the Umarex Morph 3X CO2 BB Gun so make sure to check that video review out when you have a moment. I was very impressed with the overall shooting performance of the Umarex Morph 3X CO2 BB Gun, it scored well in both power and accuracy! I was able to get a nice tight 3/4 inch 10 round grouping on my paper target setup 30 feet away and even with this Canadian versions 4.5 max length barrel I was still able to get really close to 500 fps out of the Umarex Morph 3X CO2 BB Gun! I wonder what velocity I would have managed if the extension barrel actually included the inner barrel portion for the full 12 inches of barrel length?
Build Quality: The Umarex Morph 3X CO2 BB Gun coming in at around $100 is a low cost BB gun considering it is so versatile. At this price point you are going to find an almost all plastic build with the exception of some internal metal parts. That said the Umarex Morph 3X CO2 BB Gun feels solid and well made, all the fitted parts feel tight when put together.
Realism: The Umarex Morph 3X CO2 BB Gun is not a replica of any gun that I can point out? It can also morph into so many different variation, Umarex says it has 3x configuration but I counted 8 possible configuration when mixing and matching components. Available From: The Replica Airguns Store.
Pros:
Under $100 in Canada at the moment of this review.
Super versatile airgun with lots of configurations.
Very powerful CO2 BB gun even in short barrel pistol only mode.
Shooting test showed it had good accuracy, as good as any BB gun I have tested.
Rails top and bottom for accessories.
Fiber optic sights front and back.
Has a Velocity Screw for adjusting fps power.
In Pistol form with the rear stock, it would make a great back pack airgun.
30 round internal magazine for lots of shooting fun without having to reload so often.
Uses 12 gram CO2, cheap and easy to buy.
Cons:
Mostly plastic build.
No inner barrel inside rifle extension so just for show, does not increase velocity.
Rear sight is not adjustable but you have the option to add on a red dot or optical sight to the rail.
Comments: I was pleasantly surprised with the Umarex Morph 3X CO2 BB Gun, I expected it to be much different from a lot of the other airguns I have reviewed since it is so versatile with all of its configurations. I was not expecting it to be so powerful with only the short 4.5 inch inner barrel. I was again surprised but the accuracy, not many BB guns get a 3/4 inch grouping at 30 feet out! Another kind of cool feature I didn't even know about at first is the ability to adjust the velocity using a screw for higher or lower fps. Lower fps will maximize the amount of shots you get from a 12 gram CO2 while higher fps is just kind of more fun to shoot in. I also don't often recommend BB guns for pest control but in this case with how light weight and easy the Umarex Morph 3X CO2 BB Gun is to break down and put in a backpack, and the fact that it is fairly powerful and accurate out to 300 feet. I feel in a pinch you could take down some small vermin if you found yourself hungry and lost in the woods.
My Table Top and Field Test Videos for the Umarex Morph 3X CO2 BB Gun:
So I decided to revisit the Gletcher M1891 Sawn Off Mosin Nagant Rifle CO2 BB Gun and retest the accuracy in my new Sea Can using paper targets setup 30 feet away using a rested and lated shooting position. I also redid my Chronograph velocity test siren my new Chromo setup is working so well.
I did get very similar results with my velocity Chromo Test, my first test I averaged about 430 fps and this time I got 428 fps shooting a 5 shot string. Moving onto the accuracy potion of my Field Test Shooting Review for the Gletcher M1891 Sawn Off Mosin Nagant Rifle CO2 BB Gun, I did notice that it was shooting a little bit to the left, elevation was bang on but unfortunately with the Gletcher M1891 Sawn Off Mosin Nagant Rifle CO2 BB Gun you can only adjust elevation and not windage?
Even so I was able to get about a 1.5 inch grouping with 10 shots on target with the Gletcher M1891 Sawn Off Mosin Nagant Rifle CO2 BB Gun. But there was one mystery shot that seemed to for sure hit the target but left no indication of where it hit, perhaps I hit the same hole as my first shot?
The Gletcher M1891 Sawn Off Mosin Nagant Rifle CO2 BB Gun is a really cool rifle, I would love to test out the Gletcher M1944 longer version but so far I have not been able to get my hands on one and have only seen it so far at SHOT Show. Keep checking our Replica Airguns online stereo for stock as our Gletcher inventory does go in and out of stock at times.
I usually do my Table Top Video Review first but in this case I decided to pump out my Field Test Shooting video ahead of it. So if you're looking for more detailed specifications then just wait a bit till I get my Table Top Review out. What you really need to know about the Umarex Morph 3X CO2 BB Gun is that it's a CO2 4.5mm BB Gun with a 30 round internal magazine sporting multiple configurations as the stock, barrel and forward stock are all removable so it can be a pistol or a rifle and many variations in-between, even more than 3X of them.
The US version of the Morph 3X CO2 BB Gun when installing the rifled barrel (Which is not rifled buy the way), will shoot faster than when the Morph 3X CO2 BB Gun is in pistol version since the add on barrel adds a lot of additional barrel length to the airgun. The Canadian version which I am testing does come with the extension rifle barrel but it is only for show as the inside is missing the 4.5mm inner barrel. This is because our Canadian import laws for uncontrolled firearms would not allow the rifle version of the Morph 3X CO2 BB Gun here in Canada as it would potentially shoot with too much fps (around 600 fps) and foot pounds of energy for our Canadian non regulated gun laws. As it stand the Canadian version of the Morph 3X CO2 BB Gun has an fps rating of 480 fps in both pistol and rifle configurations.
All that aside how did the Morph 3X CO2 BB Gun do during my testing? Awesome to be precise! It actually averaged a 5 shot Chronograph Velocity Test of 498 fps even in pistol configuration which is very impressive for a CO 2 BB gun. I also was able to get the majority of my 10 shots on a paper target positioned 30 feet away from me using a rested seated position within about 3/4 of an inch. I even played around a bit with holding the Morph 3X CO2 BB Gun out in front like a pistol and tight to my shoulder using the rear stock.
It's kind of too bad we don't have the inner rifled version here in Canada as even at 600 fps we are just under 4.2 foot pound Canadian limit but trying to explain that this is still OK to our CBSA border guards is just a little too much for them to process :) Even without the inner barrel the Morph 3X CO2 BB Gun is a really great and super versitile airgun with lots of power and just as good accuracy!
Another revisit for an inexpensive and fun BB shooter, the Crosman Marlin Cowboy BB Rifle! I have done some previous video reviews and comparisons for the Crosman Marlin Cowboy BB Rifle so make sure to check them out. I also recently did an update Field Test Shooting Video for the Daisy Red Ryder BB gun which is a very comparable airgun to the Crosman Marlin Cowboy BB Rifle.
Here is a quick overview of the Crosman Marlin Cowboy BB Rifle, it's designed for younger smaller shooter with it's short stock but it's still fun of all ages! You can store 700 4.5mm Steel BB's in its internal magazine and Crosman claims a max velocity of 350 fps. Like the Daisy Red Ryder the power source is a spring piston that is activated by the lever action.
Now let's talk about how the Crosman Marlin Cowboy BB Rifle performed in my Sea Can Field Test Shooting test... Crosman claims a max fps of 350, my Chronograph results came in at a 5 shot average of 316 fps which is not bad compared to the Daisy Red Ryder that also has a claimed fps of 350 but only shot around 240 fps.
So the Crosman Marlin Cowboy BB Rifle is the clear winner in terms of velocity over the Daisy Red Ryder but what about accuracy? That's a different story, the Crosman did not perform all that great for me shooting at a paper target 30 feet away using a rested shooting position. I shot 10 rounds at my paper target and got about a 5-6 inch grouping, there was an underlying smaller tight group that was closer to about 3 inches but a god 3-4 of the BB's came out of it spreading out the group significantly. Compare that to the Daisy Red Ryder with a nice tight 2 inch group.
So what do you want? Power or accuracy? I figure since the Crosman Marlin Cowboy BB Rifle is really targeted of the younger more entry level shooter that it should have good accuracy so they know when they are doing it right and less concerned on if the gun is performing as it should. Sure power is fun and smashing your targets does give a certain satisfaction but you have to hit the target first :)
