Many Canadians ask about options for what they perhaps could use for home defense since we are not allowed to really use any kind of a weapon to defend ourselves. A product classified as “Less Lethal” may be of interest to people living in Canada. I interviewed Byrna, just such a company that offers alternatives to standard “Lethal Interventions” for self protection and Josh from Byrna was kind enough to go over their pistol and rifle offerings specifically built to shoot paintball type ammunition for the purpose of stopping bad guys.
I am hoping this is a product we will be able to add to our online Replica Airgun Stores, as they do tick the boxes for import into Canada such as shooting well under 500 fps, yet having the ability to cause serious injury so as to allow them to be considered a non regulated firearm.
This is not exclusive to Airguns since trends of Airguns are highly influenced by what type of Real Steel Pistols are popular to people. This is often based on what people see portrayed in movies and TV Series, and also promoted online. There is for sure an overlap in what is popular and it is hard to say what is influencing what? Is it the popularity of Pistols out in the real world that influences what we see being used in the movies and on TV? Or is it what we see in Movies and TV that influences our choices of pistols out in the real world? Perhaps it is a combination of both?
My list is based on my own personal experience and does not represent the entirety of types of Pistol designs available.
Airguns are generally cheaper to buy and for sure cheaper to shoot. Airguns can cost as little as $50-100 to buy while real guns in similar models will cost many time more. Cost of ammo is so much less expensive than Real Gun ammo by a mile!
Difficulty to Obtain:
Airguns in most countries do not require any licensing or registration. Generally there are more available options in Airgun choices than Real Gun choices as restrictions often prohibit many Real Guns to be obtained.
Places to Shoot:
Unless you live in a super remote locations and your laws allow you to shoot Real Guns in those locations, then in most cases you can shoot an Airgun almost anywhere within reason. You can even shoot certain Airgun models in your basement. Airsoft is a great option for indoor shooting as the plastic ammo does not carry very much energy so with minimal effort you can make a backstop that will trap the ammo very well.
Trigger Time:
Because ammo is much less expensive and places you can shoot are easier to find, you can get a lot more Trigger Time under your belt which will also improve your shotgun with Real Guns and after all it’s just fun to shoot guns even if they are Airguns.
Safety:
I am not talking about safety in terms of protection. I am talking about safety as in if you do something stupid and your Gun goes off accidentally. If you accidentally fire your Airgun indoors, the bullet will not travel through floors or walls and potentially harm or kill someone on the other side. If you do manage to shoot yourself with an Airgun, the consequence are much less severe than shooting yourself with a Real Gun. That said, always treat an Airgun as if it was a Real Loaded Gun, as server injury and even death can occur even with an Airgun.
Ware Games and Training Situations:
There is no way you can use a standard Real Gun to shoot at people, unless extensively altered with special parts that make the Real Gun unusable to shoot live ammo. With Airguns you have the choice of using an Airsoft or Paintball gun that are both designed specifically for this purpose.
Pest Control:
If you have the need for pest control in an urban area where you do not want a stray bullet to travel too far or penetrate buildings if a shot where to go awry, then an Airgun designed for accuracy and power may be perfect for the job. Accuracy with target and hunting Airguns is on par if not better than many Real Guns and are have powerful enough to kill a pest humanely without having too much power for the job and having to worry as much about your background.
Prop Guns:
As mentioned already, Airguns can look a lot like Real Guns, so they are perfect to be used as a stand-in or Prop Gun when you need to simulate the look and function of a Real Gun. Again they are easier and cheaper to obtain and if something does go wrong, the consequences are much less severe.
Social Stigma:
Unfortunately Real Guns and perhaps any gun these days are looked upon with a social stigma as being the cause of the Crime rather than a tool used in a Crime. And so people blame Guns for these crimes rather than the people committing these crimes. If a person is motivated enough to do something bad, they are going to do it either way and will use whatever means is available to them to commit these Crimes. Including other means like: Knives, Blunt Objects, Poisons, Vehicles, Explosives… Sad but true! Airguns are not used in homicides or mass shootings as they are completely underpowered for a crime like this. They can however be used in crimes as a show of threat, as they do look a lot like real guns, generally people that use Airguns for real crimes, if challenged will give up immediately as they are completely outgunned. Don’t bring an Airgun to a Real Gun fight, you have better chance with a knife!
There are many types of magazines used in Airguns and some of this is dependent on the ammunition used.
For instance a stacked type of magazine often used for Steel BB and Airsoft can not be used for Pellets as pellets tend to deform when stacked in such a way since there is no metal casting protecting them from mashing into each other.
So what type of magazines do we generally see in Airguns? The most common Airgun magazines are as follows:
Simple Stick Magazine
Mostly used with Steel BB but also found in some Airsoft Airguns.
Some Pellet Airguns use a type of stick magazine with a rotary magazine on each end.
Used in non-blowback and blowback Airguns.
Can be made from plastic or steel or a combination of both materials.
Full Size Drop Out Magazine
Used with Steel BB and Airsoft guns.
Generally you will find these types magazines hold both the BB’s and CO2.
Used in non-blowback and blowback Airguns.
Commonly used with Airsoft Rifles in mid to high capacity.
Can be made from plastic or steel or a combination of both materials.
Rotary magazine
Used with Steel BB, Airsoft and Pellet Airguns.
Used in non-blowback and blowback Airguns.
Can be made from plastic or steel.
Can often use mixed ammo types as in both 4.5mm Steel BB and .177 caliber pellet.
Belt Fed Magazine
Like rotary magazine belt fed magazine can accommodate Steel BB, Pellet and Airsoft but are most often used with Pellet Airguns.
Usually found in a full size magazine that also holds the CO2.
Used in non-blowback and blowback Airguns.
Can be made from plastic or steel or a combination of both materials.
Internal Magazine
Used with Steel BB, Airsoft.
Can have a hopper built in hat feeds a spring fed magazine.
Usually found in lesser expensive Airguns but not a rule.
In this Video I go through each type of Airgun Magazine and talk about their differences and uses.
In this Preview Unboxing Video I take a look at three rifles, two are Airsoft Rifles and one is an Archery Rifle. Then First Airsoft Rifle form Tokyo Marui i s full Gas Blowback all metal build AR 15 of the highest quality and realism while the second Airsoft Rifle from Sig Sauer is an AEG but again a high quality product for sure. Lastly I take a look at Umarex’s lates Airsaber which now sports dual Arrow configuration for quick follow up shots. I do plan to make future more intensive table top and shooting videos for some if not all of thees Rifles but this video will at least wet your appetite a bit.
In this Preview Unboxing Vimeo Video I take a look at five very different products! A Spring Piston .177 Caliber Pellet Pistol, an Airsoft GBB Pistol, a Compact Crossbow, a full auto CO2 Blowback BB Pistol and a PPC .22 Caliber Pellet Rifle.
First up is the Umarex Ruger Mark IV Spring Piston Pellet Pistol which is a single shot replica pellet pistol that shoots .177 caliber pellets at up to 320 fps using a spring piston break barrel system. The Umarex Ruger Mark IV Spring Piston Pellet Pistol is a target plinker with fully adjustable fiber optic sights and should be a lot of fun to shoot!
Next I take a look at a Gas Blowback Airsoft Pistol from Action Army that closely resembles the Ruger Mark IV pistol with perhaps a more compact look. The Action Army AAP-01 GBB Airsoft Pistol is full blowback a full size drop out magazine and fiber optic sights. It also come with a threaded barrel and barrel extension for adding a longer barrel and much suppressor.
Next on my list of new items is the Bear X Desire XL Crossbow which is a 2.2 pound compact bolt shooting crossbow that sports a rail system with included adjustable iron sights that also allow for a red dot if you want to really customize it. The Bear X Desire XL Crossbow has a 60 pound draw and shoots arrows/bolts at up to 175 fps.
Another AR BB Rifle/Pistol from Crosman is the Crosman A4-P Full Auto CO2 BB Pistol which is essentially a pistol version of the AR Platform. If you like the Crosman DPMS SBR, R1, PDW then you will probably also like the Crosman AP-4. Like the others it uses dual CO2’s and shoots 4.5mm Steel BB;s in semi or full auto at 1400 rounds per minute until the 25 round magazine is empty.
Last included in this preview video is the Air Venturi Avenger Regulated PCP Pellet Rifle. I’m a bit uncertain about this one as I am pretty sure it is the non detuned PAL version that requires a firearms license here in Canada as it shoots at full velocity (.22 caliber pellet at 950 fps). If that’s the case then it will not be available in our Canada Replica Airguns Store but may be available in the US Replica Airguns Store. If it is the detuned version or a detuned version becomes available in Canada then I imagine we will at some point have it in the Canada replica Airguns Store. That said the Air Venturi Avenger Regulated PCP Pellet Rifle uses compressed air and shoots either .177. .22 or .25 caliber pellets using a latch system and rotary magazine.
I will say right off the bat this Field Test Shooting Video for the Air Venturi 3000 PSI Aluminum HPA Tank with Stock and Adapter did not go as well as I would have wanted it to! The HPA tank itself worked really well but I believe the adapter was faulty as it was destroying the seals on my tank and not regulating very well.
I still wanted to publish this video regardless as not all reviews go as planned, some fail horribly but I would rather be honest and transparent about it rather than have you believe every product is a perfect.
There will always be problems even with really great products there can be defects. I plan to get a new adaptor and try this Field Test Review Video again but for now you can have some fun watching me at least have some success using the Air Venturi 3000 PSI Aluminum HPA Tank with Stock on my Rap4 Rap5 MP5.
You can also watch my Table Top Review Video for more details and info on this product!
I will also be following up my Table Top video with a Field Test Shooting Video to see what possible advantages and disadvantages the Air Venturi 3000 PSI with Stock & Adapter Aluminum Tank has in a real world test of its performance, hopefully all advantages!
Pros:
Compact and is the perfect size to use as a rear buttstock for various 88 Gram and or HPA rifles.
Smaller tank means if you are using a foot pump it won’t take all day to fill up :)
Comes with adapter so can be used with regular HPA and 88 Gram CO2 systems.
Regulated to 1100 psi so should perform better in terms of max velocity and consistency compared to CO2 which is around max 800-900 psi with velocity being effected by cool down.
Not effected by colder temperatures compared to CO2.
Once you have this tank the cost is virtually nothing to shoot compared to expensive 88 Gram CO2 cartages. You just need to buy your pellets or BB’s.
Cons:
Still takes a while to pump up using a foot pump system.
Higher initial cost ($195) than simply buying 88 gram CO2 cartages when you need them.
Will need access to a pump or compressor to use it.
Doesn’t look as good as the supplied buttstock at least with the Sig Sauer MCX and MPX.
Comments:
I guess the question is who is this for? If you are a casual shooter that perhaps owns the Sig MPX or MCX or even another 88 Gram CO2 Air Rifle that the Air Venturi 3000 PSI with Stock & Adapter Aluminum Tank would work with then this may be a bit expensive especially if you don’t have a way to pressurizer the tank at home. On the other hand if you already have a foot pump or air compressor or easy access to one and maybe you have other HPA or CO2 based airguns this tank will work with then it’s kind a no brainer to get it. Maybe you juts want a system that gives you maximum and consistent velocity no matter how cold it is outside. All good reasons to get one in my books.
In this Update Preview Unboxing Video I take a look at 5 products that came across my table and that I have not reviewed so far on the Replica Airguns YouTube channel.
First I show off an HPA tank from Air Venturi that works perfectly for the Sig Sauer MPX and MCX Pellet Rifles allowing for more consistent fps and I would image a higher overall fps? We will find out when I test it out in the replica Airguns Indoor Sea Can Airgun Range.
13 Oz Aluminum
10 Inches Long
2 Inches Diameter
Integrated Pressure Gauge
Includes Buttstock
CO2 Adaptor Included
3000 PSI Fill
1100 PSI Regulated
Next I take a look at the KJWorks M9A1 GBB Airsoft Pistol, I hover revived the CO2 version before but this version comes with the Gas magazine rather than the CO2 mag for those that prefer gas operated Blowback Airsoft Pistols. Because of the slightly lower FPS the Gas version comes with a barrel extension to make it Canada import friendly.
6mm Airsoft BB’s
Green Gas / Propane
370 fps
25 Round Magazine
2 Pounds
Probably one of the most interesting product I look at in this video at least for me is the EMG JW3 Combat Master GBB Airsoft Pistol. This Airsoft pistol is mainly aluminum with some polymer based off of the 2011 STI and was featured in the 2019 John Wick 3 Film. I’m really looking forward to testing this one out in the Sea Can Replica Airguns Airgun Range!
6mm Airsoft BB’s
Green Gas / Propane
9.4 Inches
366 fps
28 Round Magazine
2.4 Pounds
Moving along to another Air Pistol I finally get my hands on the Crosman P1 which is really just a KWC PT92 4.5mm Blowback CO2 BB Pistol but with Crosman Branding and an included laser. Since I have never shot a PT92 BB Pistol with a laser I will probably make a Field Test Shooting Video to see how well it performs.
4.5 mm Steel BB’s
CO2 x 1
4.2 Inch Barrel
330 fps
19 Round Magazine
2.4 Pounds
Comes with Laser Sight
Last up I take a look at the ASG TAC-6 which is pretty much the exact same ASG TAC-4.5 CO2 Air Rifle I tested a while back but in this case the 6 refers to it being a 6mm Airsoft Rifle rather than a 4.5mm Steel BB Riffle. I am not sure I will do a full Table Top Video since these guns are virtually identical but just in different Ammo types but I hope to get outside and see how well it performs shooting at a bit more distance than the 30 foot indoor range I usually test my Airgun in.
There is not much to really say here, it’s all about watching this one as I basically shoot stuff with the Air-Ordnance SMG 22 Full Auto Pellet Rifle and figure out how many 100 round belts I can get out of a fully charged 3000 PS 48 CU PCP Tank. So make sure to watch this one for sure!
There have been lots of requests for me to get to the Field Test Shooting Video for the Air-Ordnance SMG 22 Full Auto Pellet Rifle and I know I have been a it late getting this one out there. To be honest I was not looking forward to pumping up the rather large PCP tank and loading up all the 100 round magazines but it had to be done and so here we are…
In this Part 1 of my Air-Ordnance SMG 22 Full Auto Pellet Rifle Field Test Review I perform my usual Sea Can Indoor Shooting Test and place some rounds through my Chronograph to see what the actual FPS is. I also shoot a 10 round group at a paper target 30 feet down range to see what kind of accuracy we can expect from the Air-Ordnance SMG 22 Full Auto Pellet Rifle. By the way in Part 2 I take my Air-Ordnance SMG 22 Full Auto Pellet Rifle outside to have some fun with it and blast away in full auto so make sure to watch that video coming out very soon…
The Air-Ordnance SMG 22 Full Auto Pellet Rifle with a full PCP tank pressurized right up to the max 3000 psi and using 15.43 grain lead pellets was able to get an average fps of 422 which worked out to 6.1 foot pounds of energy or about 8.3 Joules. By the way I was able to get through 3 full 100 round magazines with a fully charged 48 CU Tank which is impressive. Shots did slow down a bit at the end but the gun was able to cycle fully.
In terms of accuracy my Air-Ordnance SMG 22 Full Auto Pellet Rifle was not the most accurate performer I have tested but considering it is a full auto Airgun and not so much made for total accuracy, the 3 inch 10 shot grouping I did get was good enough for me! Of course I was shooting in semi auto mode during this test which is pretty easy to do, no selector switch to worry about, just don’t hold the trigger down and you get semi auto shooting from the Air-Ordnance SMG 22 Full Auto Pellet Rifle, hold it down and you get full auto, and the tighter you hold the trigger down the faster the air machine-gun rate of fire operates.
So far so good, no miss-feeds or any problems with my Air-Ordnance SMG 22 Full Auto Pellet Rifle. now to take it outside and let loose on some clay pigeons, pop cans and a metal target.
Type: Pellet Pistol Manufacturer:Diana. Model:Bandit Materials: Wood and Metal, some plastic. Weight: 2.2 pounds (1000 grams). Total Length: 20.1 inches (51 cm) Barrel: 9.5 inches (24 cm), metal rifled. Propulsion: PCP. Action: Bolt. Ammunition Type: .177 & .22 Caliber pellets. Ammunition Capacity: Single shot to 9 & 7 round magazines.. FPS: 725 (.177) - 630 (.22). Need to test for Canada import version
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on Diana Bandit PCP .177 Caliber Bolt Action Pellet Pistol is single action only meaning in order to cock the internal hammer/striker, you need to cycle the bolt back and forth allowing for a short and light trigger action. It does come with a rotary multi-round magazine that allows for the cycling of the bolt to automatically advance a pellet allowing for much quicker followup shots.
Accuracy: At this point I have not personally tested the Diana Bandit PCP .177 Caliber Bolt Action Pellet Pistol in terms of actual power and accuracy but I expect the Diana Bandit PCP .177 Caliber Bolt Action Pellet Pistol to perform well since in fact this is a target pistol with fairly high claimed fps. In the next few weeks I plan on making my Field Test Shooting Video so stay posted for the results from that video for confirmation of the performance.
Build Quality: The Diana Bandit PCP .177 Caliber Bolt Action Pellet Pistol is made in China which might make you wonder about the overall quality of this target pistol but after taking a good look around and working all the mechanical parts I ma very impressed with the overall quality and chosen material that went into the production of the Diana Bandit PCP .177 Caliber Bolt Action Pellet Pistol. You will finds metal where you need it as in the barrel, bolt and trigger. The pistol grip are made of wood but you will find some portions of the sights are plastic but it would have been nice if they where all metal.
Realism: Realism isn’t really a concern with the Diana Bandit PCP .177 Caliber Bolt Action Pellet Pistol since it is not a Replica Airguns but in terms of looking like a gun it serves that purpose, no mistaken that so no waving it around in public or things may not turn out so good for you…
Pros:
Inexpensive fairly high quality full featured target pistol for the price.
Expect good accuracy!
Metal construction where it needs to be (Bolt, barrel, trigger).
Rifled barrel.
Fully adjustable sights.
Adjustable and light single action trigger.
Dove tail on bolt for adding optical sight.
Nice wood pistol grip.
Good for small pest control because of fairly high fps and expected good accuracy for shot placement ability.
Overall the gun feels really high quality for the price.
Even comes with a nice soft shell case.
Available in both .22 and .177 caliber pellet versions.
Cons:
Grips may be a bit too wide for smaller handed shooters.
Allen key does not fight the trigger adjustment.
Made in China.
Will need a pump or way to pressurize.
Comments:
For the price I don’t think you will find anything out there in terms of a PCP target pellet pistols with as many features as the Diana Bandit PCP .177 Caliber Bolt Action Pellet Pistol. At least in the lower cost price point Diana is offering it at. For that reason it is not going to be the absolute best all around PCP pellet firing target pistol you can get but I am sure bang for your buck you will be happy with this one. Everything about the Diana Bandit PCP .177 Caliber Bolt Action Pellet Pistol feels good quality, I would expect to pay at least double the price for something similar for sure. I have a feeling keeping the Diana Bandit PCP .177 Caliber Bolt Action Pellet Pistol in stock is going to be a challenge for us so if you see it in stock don’t take too long making up your mind or you may be in for a bit of a wait.
My Vimeo Table Top Review for the Diana Bandit PCP .177 Caliber Bolt Action Pellet Pistol:
Type: Archery. Manufacturer: Umarex. Model:AirJavelin & AirSaber. Materials: Metal & polymer construction. Weight: 3.9 pounds / 6.3 pounds no scope. Foot Pounds Energy: 34 ft/lbs / 124 ft/lbs. Total Length: 34 inches / 41 inches. Propulsion: 88 gram CO2 x1 / PCP 3625 PSI, 250 cc. Action: Bolt single action. Ammunition Type: Carbon fiber 190 grain / 350 grain arrows (Field tip can be swapped over to broad-head) Ammunition Capacity: 1 Arrow. Max FPS: 300 / 450.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on both the Umarex AirJavelin and the Umarex AirSaber are both single action that require the bolts to be pulled back in order to shoot them. The Umarex AirJavelin trigger is not as short, light or crisp as the Umarex AirSaber, the Umarex AirSaber for sure feels higher quality as expected.
Accuracy: This is going to be very interesting as I have never shot anything like this before but from what I was told at SHOT Show this year I can expect very accuracy results from both the Umarex AirJavelin and the Umarex AirSaber Archery CO2 and PCP Arrow Rifles. I’m not sure if I will test the Umarex AirSaber unless I can make a safe shooting range for it, luckily I live out on average so as long as I can setup a good backstop I should be able to test them both.
Build Quality: The build quality of the Umarex AirJavelin and the Umarex AirSaber Archery CO2 and PCP Arrow Rifles is very good overall, the Umarex AirJavelin is mostly plastic and is not very heavy but the fit and finish is good all round. The Umarex AirSaber on the other hand has a lot of metal used in the construction, the only real plastic found on the Umarex AirSaber would be in the stock. The Umarex AirSaber is for sure a step up in quality over the Umarex AirJavelin but will cost you almost double in the end.
Realism: This is going to be pretty short section since both the Umarex AirJavelin and the Umarex AirSaber Archery CO2 and PCP Arrow Rifles are not replicas of any actual gun in production. Their primary use is going to be for hunting and or pest control I would say.
Pros:
Only Canada non PAL Airguns with enough power to hunt medium and larger game.
Overall price point is good, nothing like this to compare to.
Arrows are propelled from the front, no archers paradox when aiming.
Arrows come with field tip arrows but can be unscrewed and replaced with broad tip arrows for hunting.
Easy to use cross bolt safeties.
Pistol grips allow for easy hold and control.
Fit and finish is very good and excellent on the AirSaber.
AirJavelin: 88 Gram CO2 for quick easy use.
AirSaber: PCP for more power and larger game options.
AirJavelin: White dot up front with fully adjustable peep sight on back.
AirJavelin: M-Lock on sides for adding accessories.
AirSaber: Picatinny rails on top for scope, sides and bottom for accessories.
AirJavelin: Adjustable AR-style rear stock.
AirJavelin: Rubber buttplate for added comfort.
Cons:
No scope or sights with base model AirSaber so you will need to get one for it.
Not a lot of shots per 88 gram CO2, will need a pump for the PCP AirSaber.
Arrows are not cheap so make sure of your shots.
Comments: The Umarex AirJavelin and Umarex AirSaber Archery CO2 and PCP Arrow Rifles are very interesting in that they are really the only Canada legal “firearms” that can actually put down small, medium and even large game without requiring a firearms license (PAL). This is because they do not exceed 500 fps, they do exceed the foot pound energy limit of 4.2 foot pounds but since both of these rifles do not exceed the 500 fps limit they do not exceed both requirements to place them in the regulated firearms category that requires a firearms license. This is great news for anyone in Canada without a PAL license that wants to be able to hunt various game or take care of pests humanly. Umarex has also been kind enough to bring us two variations on this design. The Umarex AirJavelin more economical and easier to use CO2 powered version designed for small to medium sized game and the Umarex AirSaber higher quality PCP powered big brother version designed to be used even for larger game. Both are great, all you need to do is pick which one is right for you!
My Table Top Review for the Umarex AirJavelin and AirSaber Archery CO2 and PCP Arrow Rifles:
I want to thank Drew from Tippmann Armory/Air Ordnance for sending me this unit for review. I have been wanting to get my hands one of these Air-Ordnance SMG 22 .22 Caliber Full Auto Pellet Machine Guns for several years now and super glad I happened finally :) I really don’t think there is any airgun out there like it. I am really hoping that we will be able to have this one in both our Canada and US Online Replica Airguns Stores.
So what exactly is the Air-Ordnance SMG 22 .22 Caliber Full Auto Pellet Machine Gun? It’s a PCP powered semi/full auto .22 caliber pellet firing Airgun and it is available in a Canada legal version that shoots just under 500 fps allowing it to be classified here in Canada as an unregulated Firearm. Unregulated Firearms do not require a license or registration and do not have to abide by the same rules that regulated firearms have to such as full auto limitations, magazine capacities and size limitations. So in other words if you want a full auto .22 caliber Machine gun here in Canada this is going to be your only option at least for now.
Some other cool features about the Air-Ordnance SMG 22 .22 Caliber Full Auto Pellet Machine Gun is the trigger setup, pull it light and quick and you get a single shot, pull and hold using medium force and you get full auto but not at a super high rate of fire. Press and hold the trigger down hard and you get full auto with a much faster rate of fire so you control the rate of fire by how hard you press the trigger down. Air-Ordnance SMG 22 .22 Caliber Full Auto Pellet Machine Gun also has an adjustment to set the maximum rate of full auto fire.
The Sig Sauer MCX Virtus PCP .22 Caliber Pellet Rifle is one that you are really going to want to take outside and set targets up around 50-60 feet await make it a little more challenging adn I do plan on getting outside with the Sig Sauer MCX Virtus PCP .22 Caliber Pellet Rifle in a bit once the weather gets a bit nicer and have some fun shooting at longer ranges. For now I wanted to at least get out my Indoor Field Test Shooting Video where I can Chronograph the Sig Sauer MCX Virtus PCP .22 Caliber Pellet Rifle and also see what it can do shooting at 30 feet out.
Sig claims the Sig Sauer MCX Virtus PCP .22 Caliber Pellet Rifle to shoot .22 caliber lead pellets at up to 700 fps with a power output of 12 foot pounds. Using 14.5 grain lead pellets I placed 6 rounds though my Chronograph and averaged 585 fps with the fastest shoot hitting 611 fps. Keep in mind there are much lighter lead pellets out there and when it comes to alloy pellets they drop in weight even more so hitting 700 fps with a light grain lead or alloy pellet is very realistic. What about Sigs claimed 12 foot pounds of energy? I did the math and using a 14.5 grain pellet with a maximum velocity of 611 fps, these numbers produce just a hair over 12 foot pounds! Mission accomplished :)
What about accuracy, I have seen a few claims online that the Sig Sauer MCX Virtus PCP .22 Caliber Pellet Rifle is not the most accurate Pellet rifle out there and you know what I don’t think that was the absolute intension when Sig thought this one up. After all it is a semi auto high capacity Airgun replica, not a target rifle. I still like to find things out for myself so of course I performed my accuracy test for the Sig Sauer MCX Virtus PCP .22 Caliber Pellet Rifle shooting 10 rounds into a fresh paper target from 30 feet back using a seated and rested shooting position. For this test I was using a red dot scope with a 3x magnifier on it. My first 10 rounds did OK producing just over a 1 inch grouping, not super great but most of the rods (8 of them) all struck the target within about 3/4 of an inch.
At this point decided to empty the rest of the magazine so about 15 rounds on the same target to see if the grouping stayed the same or maybe even speed out a bit. I was a bit surprised to find that my second 15 shot grouping all stayed within the higher 10 shot group again producing about a 3/4 inch grouping with just those two first test outliers? Maybe it was me, maybe it was the pellets, maybe it was the Sig Sauer MCX Virtus PCP .22 Caliber Pellet Rifle? The good news is you have 30 rounds to hit your target so even if a couple of them stray a bit you still got 28 left to get the job done.
The Sig Sauer MCX Virtus PCP .22 Caliber Pellet Rifle is one of the coolest Air Rifles I have tested and now own, not only is it a great Replica Airgun but it also performs well and can be used for plinking or small pest control. All at even a fraction of the cost of shooting 22LR rounds and that’s not even that expensive compared to 9mm and larger ammo. Let’s hope Sig Sauer makes a detuned Canada version so we can offer it up in our Canada Replica Airguns Store and if you live in the US then checkout the US Store for Sig Sauer buying options.
Type: Pellet Rifle. Manufacturer: Sig Sauer ASP Model: Sig Sauer MCX Virtus PCP Materials: Metal and Nylon Fiber build. Weight: 7.5 Pounds (3.4 kg). Barrel: 17.5 inch steel rifled. Propulsion: PCP comes with an 3000 PSI 1100 PSI regulated (206 BAR) tank 213 cc. Action: Semi auto with internal blowback. Single stage trigger single action trigger. Ammunition Type: .22 caliber pellets. Ammunition Capacity: 30 rounds belt fed. FPS: Claimed up to 700 fps with 12 foot pounds of energy.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Sig Sauer MCX Virtus PCP .22 Caliber Pellet Rifle is actually pretty light and smooth when you consider the first part of the trigger pull is used to advance the belt fed 30 round magazine. I was expecting more added friction from the belt but this does not seem to be the case. There is some internal blowback action going on but it is only used to cock the internal bolt/striker which does lesson the overall amount of trigger pull required. The trigger pull is fairly short considering all that is going on and it's not overly heavy so quick and predictable action shooting is more than possible with the Sig Sauer MCX Virtus PCP .22 Caliber Pellet Rifle.
Accuracy: So far I have not done my official Field Test Shooting Video for the Sig Sauer MCX Virtus PCP .22 Caliber Pellet Rifle but I did have the chance to put some rounds down range inside my 40 foot Sea Can and I have to say it shoots really hard, even rocking my metal 22LR Metal Target Trap that I was knocking the cardboard and targets right off of . Sig Sauer claims up to 700 feet per second I have no reason not to believe this. In terms of accuracy, I’m not sure just yet what to think since all I did was shoot standing up unrested just to get some basic sighting adjustments in with my optic sights. We will see how the Sig Sauer MCX Virtus PCP .22 Caliber Pellet Rifle performs when I make my actual Filed Test Shooting Video for it!
Build Quality: The build quality for Sig Sauer MCX Virtus PCP .22 Caliber Pellet Rifle is very good, you can tell Sig Sauer had a lot of hands on in the design and production of this Pellet Shooting Air Rifle! The materials used and fit and finish are top notch and the mechanical function again is really good. I am kind of amazed at how well Sigs belt fed magazine design works in terms of feeding and operation. So far I have not experienced any pellet feeding problems or malfunction of any kind.
Realism: The Sig Sauer MCX Virtus PCP .22 Caliber Pellet Rifle is a 1 to 1 replica of the real steel Sig Sauer Virtus Patrol model and looks absolutely the part other than the noticeable PCP tank where a standard stock would normally be. What are you going to do since you really can’t hide even a small PCP tank inside a But Stock? This is just something you will have to overlook in order to get the consistency and power from PCP over CO2 based Airguns. Everything else about the Sig Sauer MCX Virtus PCP .22 Caliber Pellet Rifle is pretty much bang on in terms of realism including a fully working ambidextrous selector, magazine release and drop out magazine, charging handle and pop up sights.
Pros:
My new best semi auto pellet rifle replica I have seen and shot to date.
Excellent replica of the real steel Sig Sauer MCX Virtus (Patrol) with the exception of the PCP tank.
Awesome build quality, lots of metal parts and the nylon parts are true to form and very solid.
700 fps and 12 foot pound of energy makes it powerful enough for small pest control.
30 round full size belt fed magazine has super high capacity and works flawlessly.
Full PCP Tank will deliver up to 150 shots.
Trigger feels good, not too long or to heavy and very consistent feel on every shot.
Pop up front and rear sights adjustable for windage and elevation.
Lots of possible rail options with add on M-Lok hardware
Cons:
Will require a PAL Firearms License in Canada but is considered a Iong gun so not restricted or requiring registration.
Internal blowback action does not advance the belt fed magazine but does cock the internal bolt/striker making trigger pull lighter.
Pumping up the 213 cc 3000 PSI tank is a workout for sure but does get you 150 consistent shots..
The PCP tank is a giveaway when it comes to realism but with the tradeoff of more shot power and consistency.
Comments:
Prior to the release of the Sig Sauer MCX Virtus PCP .22 Caliber Pellet Rifle the Sig Sauer MPX .177 Caliber CO2 Powered Pellet Rifle was my favorite pellet based replica rifle since there really was nothing like it out there with a drop out belt fed high capacity magazine. Now with the release of the Sig Sauer MCX Virtus PCP .22 Caliber Pellet Rifle I have a new favorite Action Shooting Replica Pellet Rifle and with its additional velocity and power it can even double as a small pest control Airgun. For this reason I’ve set my Sig Sauer MCX Virtus PCP .22 Caliber Pellet Rifle up with a traditional red dot for close range vermin termination but I’ve also added a 3x magnifier for when those pesky critters think they can outsmart me by keeping their distance. Not so! It’s too bad our Canada gun laws make it so difficult to have an Airgun like the Sig Sauer MCX Virtus PCP .22 Caliber Pellet Rifle if you are not a PAL owner, let’s hope Sig Sauer makes a slightly detuned version for the rest of the Canadian Market at some point.
My Table Top Review of the Sig Sauer MCX Virtus PCP .22 Caliber Pellet Rifle:
I have two new products from Sig Sauer Airgun devision to share with everyone here on the channel. They are both really different but I really like them both. Before I get into it I want to thank Sig Sauer for sending me both of these Airguns.
First up is the Sig Sauer MCX Virtus .22 Caliber PCP Air Rifle I showed y at SHOT Show this year. Well now it’s shipping and I have one :) At this time the only version of the Sig Sauer MCX Virtus .22 Caliber PCP Air Rifle is the 700 fps 12 not popguns version. This version is legal in Canada but you will need an unrestricted Firearms License since it falls under the definition of a non-centered fired long gun in the Canadian Firearms Act. Perhaps Sig Sauer will come out with a detuned version under 500 fps?
The Sig Sauer MCX Virtus .22 Caliber PCP Air Rifle uses a 13CI-3000PSI tank situated at the rear of the gun as part of the butt stock. You will need some sort of a pump or scuba pressurization system to refill the PCP tank which will get you up to 150 to 200 shots per fill up. The belt fed magazine holds 30 rounds which you can fire as fast as you can pull the semi auto trigger. By the way the trigger pull indexes the belt magazine while the PCP air pressure works the bolt allowing for a fairly smooth trigger pull. You will need to charge the Sig Sauer MCX Virtus .22 Caliber PCP Air Rifle before you start shooting.
The Sig Sauer MCX Virtus .22 Caliber PCP Air Rifle weighs in at 7.5 pounds, has a 17.5 inch barrel and a total length of 37.5 inches.
This year at SHOT Show 2020 Mark from Umarex had a nice variety of new product to go over with us. Mark first went over the new CO2 Blowback Pellet firing Glock 17 which has a similar magazine and loading system as the Umarex SA10 Pellet Pistol.
We then took a look at another Glock replica, the Glock 18C Full Auto GBB Airsoft pistol with extended magazine, this one is sure to be a lot of fun with its selectable full auto feature and high capacity magazine. Perfect for hammering targets downrange or used as a very capable backup Airsoft pistol in the field.
Probably one of my favorites at the Umarex Booth this year was the Umarex Thompson M1A1 Legends Series CO2 Blowback Machine Gun. And yes it’s full auto capable along with blowback operation and a full size drop metal magazine that holds the CO2 and Steel BB’s. A nice addition to the Legends series of Pistols and Rifles.
Something really different this year for Umarex are the AirJavelin and AirSaber, two arrow firing rifles, the AirJavelin is CO2 powered and more tactical looking but still has more than enough power to shoot medium sized game, great for pest control while the bigger and (480 fps 178 foot pound) more powerful AirSaber is PCP powered and can be used for larger game like deer and wild bore. And it even looks like we will be selling these Arrow firing rifles in our Canada Replica Airguns Store with no PAL firearms license required!
This year Sig Sauer was showcasing their Airsoft Pistols with a new line called the Proforce series geared towards high end training. Sig has also included new Reflex Red Dot Sights that can be ordered already on the gun or as an add on accessory. The Proforce Pistol line includes both the M17 and M18 series Sig Sauer pistols.
Last year at SHOT Show 2019 Sig had introduced their Virtus .22 Caliber PCP Semi Auto Rifle but it was not ready at that time. Well now the Sig Sauer Virtus is ready to ship and yours truly will be getting one of these bad boys for review! Since the .22 caliber PCP Sig Sauer Virtus shoots around 700 fps with a 12 foot pound energy level you will need a PAL firearms license if you live in Canada but the Sig Sauer Virtus is a considered a “long gun” so no registration will be required in Canada.
Watch my Sig Sauer SHOT Show 2020 Las Vegas Interview for more info and cool stuff presented by Stephanie from Sig Sauer.
