Manufacturer: KWC. Licensed and Distributed by Umarex
Model: Colt Commander 1911.
Materials: Almost all metal.
Weight: 2 pounds.
Barrel: Metal non-rifled.
Propulsion: CO2 x 1.
Action: Semi auto blowback, single action only.
Ammunition Type: 4.5mm BB's.
Ammunition Capacity: 18-19 round full size drop out metal magazine.
FPS: 325.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Umarex Colt Commander CO2 Blowback 4.5mm BB Pistol is exactly what you would expect from a true single action 1911 styled pistol. It has a short take up and then a nice light and crisp pull and release. Because of the similar mechanics not only to the trigger but other aspects of this gun, it would make a truly awesome low cost trainer to be used when your real 1911 is not practical and also to save on the high cost of real 45 semi auto shells.
Accuracy: I shot the Umarex Colt Commander BB gun at a target from 30 feet away in a semi rested position, and it performed well getting an 8 shot 1.5 inch grouping very close to the bulls-eye that extended a little larger with three additional rounds that came outside the smaller 8 shot grouping. The sights are non-adjustable even thought they kind of look like they are so it was nice to see that this BB pistol was already dialed in pretty good! My initial Chrony testing puts this gun right in the 300-325 fps range getting a 5 shot average of 306 fps which is just fine for this style of heavy full realistic blowback action BB shooter. The outside temperature was 22 Celsius (72 Fahrenheit) so the Colt Commander should shoot a bit quicker on a warmer day. You can expect to get three good magazines worth of shots with some extra CO2 left over for a potential 4th magazine. If you slow your shooting down and let the gun and CO2 warm up between magazines you can get 4 magazines with this BB gun for sure.
Build Quality: Like the other KWC 1911's, the Umarex Colt Commander version is overall a well built and mechanically sound BB pistol. Tolerances are good and the finish may even be a bit better than what KWC makes for its own non-licensed versions of this very popular 1911 series.
Realism: The Umarex Colt Commander CO2 Blowback 4.5mm BB Pistol is as close as you can get to a real steel 1911 styled 45 semi auto but with a slight modern Tactical look to it, the Colt Commander version has the addition of a: Tac style trigger and hammer, and upgraded white dot sights. This gun is nearly all metal with a very heavy blowback action that simulates the more sluggish and delayed blowback of a real steel 1911. And the true 1911 single action trigger will not disappoint you either.
All metal construction - Good weight and solid feeling gun.
Nice heavy blowback action that replicates a 1911 very well.
Very Accurate 1911 replica in terms of looks and mechanical aspects.
True 1911 single action trigger, excellent pull, very smooth and light.
Working safety and grip safety.
Decent accuracy, not too bad amount off shots for this style of gun about 3+ good magazines.
All metal full size dropout magazine that holds the BB's and CO2.
Nice addition of some Tactical features (Tac style trigger and hammer, white dot sights)
Chrome coated barrel and breach not only look really nice but wear better.
Cons:
Sacrifice fps and shots per CO2 because of the heavy blowback but worth it.
Not a big fan of the white "S & F" on the safety or the white warning instructions on the slide.
Comments:
Sure the Umarex Colt Commander CO2 Blowback 4.5mm BB Pistol is yet another KWC made 1911 but Umarex has really captured the classic 1911 style without taking it too far into the Tactical realm. The addition of the modernized white dot sights, along with the machined trigger and hammer and the chrome barrel and breach give this BB shooting blowback 1911 a well balanced look. If you're looking for a traditional 1911 A1 but with just a few modernized tweaks, then check out the Umarex Colt Commander.
My Vimeo Video Review for this quality Umarex Realistic Full Blowback BB Pistol:
This Field Test Shooting video is not going to have any big surprises but even so I really like shooting these KWC made CO2 Blowback BB 1911 Replicas and the Umarex Colt Commander is no exception.
So let's get right to the test results! I started off by shooting 5 rounds through my Chronograph using a brand new CO2 with Umarex 5.1 grain zinc coated 4.5 mm Steel BB's. My 5 shot average velocity was 306 fps and the temperature on this day was fairly average at 22 Celsius (72 Fahrenheit). So on a warmer day you can expect to get a bit higher fps out of the Umarex Colt Commander CO2 Blowback 4.5mm BB Pistol.
Moving on to the Target accuracy performance, I shot 10 rounds from the Umarex Colt Commander from 30 feet back using a semi rested position (Sand bag in the front, standing in the back). I was able to place the bulk of the shots within a 1.5 inch group but three came out extending the group somewhat, overall the placement was fairly well centered on target and the white dot sights make sighting the Umarex Colt Commander CO2 Blowback 4.5mm BB Pistol really easy on just about any color background.
The single action 1911 type trigger is exactly what you would expect from a 1911, short, light and crisp. The blowback action is solid and like a real 1911 almost has that delayed sluggish feel to it.
Two new CO2 Blowback Airguns to preview for you today that I will of course be doing full Table Top and Field Test Shooting reviews down the road for each of them.
Umarex had a lot of new products this year so I thought I would start off showing you some of them. I will be following this post up with a full 2014 Vegas SHOT Show video once I finish posting some of my photos and comments on the show events.
Here is a photo of the main Umarex Booth.
I have always liked the 4.5mm BB version of the Umarex Makarov, Umarex now has the Makarov Ultra version that features blowback, a working slide catch and full size drop out magazine, looking forward to testing this one out!
Another kind of new addition to the 4.5mm Steel BB lineup is the Umarex Beretta Model 84FS. It has been available overseas but is now coming to North America. The Umarex Beretta Model 84FS also features blowback and a full size drop out magazine.
I'm not sure if we needed another rebranded version of the KWC 1911 Blowback BB pistol, but we got one anyways! Umarex now has their own version of what looks to similar to the KWC Tac A1 but with Colt licensing.
Umarex also made up a very limited edition and very weathered looking blowback BB shooting 1911 based on the KWC design called the Colt 1911 WWII Commemorative. I am not sure how many where made but I know there are not a lot of them... Hope I can get my hands on one...
Umarex came out with Smith & Wesson 327 TRR8 last year and this year they have added a similar styled 4.5mm Steel BB shooting revolver with removable shells but in a licensed Colt Python 357 version.
Last but not least and going back many years, Umarex is bringing out another Legends Series 4.5mm BB pistol. The German Mauser C96, I'm not 100% sure if it's blowback or not but it does seem to have a working action, the main pistol is made out of Polymer but it does have a full size drop out magazine and seems to have good weight overall. Most of the parts work like the original Mauser C96 including the adjustable rear sight and safeties.
