It was nice to run into ASG (Action Sports Games) right away and talk with Bob for ASG. Bob always has a great understanding of the ASG product line and each year I Interview him and find out all the news and updated product in the ASG lineup. This year Bob’s goes over the new ASG CZ P-10 C CO2 Blowback BB Pistol, the Action Army C1 Pro Bolt Action CO2 Airsoft Rifle, ASG’s new Frag Impact Sound Grenades, along with some new additions to the Shadow 2 Series of Airsoft Pistols. Was a great start to this years SHOT Show 2025!
I’m back from SHOT Show 2025 Las Vegas and finished transferring and uploading all the video from all the cameras we shot it all on. We had a great time, we met a lot of great folks at the booths and it’s now time to put it all together and make some videos for everyone so I can share the experience!
I always like to put out a “Teaser Video” with some quick clips of the entire experience including some of the travels, a bit of the resort we stayed at, shots of Vegas and of course lots of the SHOT Show 2025 experience along with the booths we visited. Enjoy this quick preview and stay posted for my upcoming Interview Videos shortly…
you need to cock the bow in order for the trigger to be engaged. The trigger mechanism basically just pushes the bow string up and over the lip of the rail releasing the bow, so there is a bit of friction and I would guess it is about 8-10 pounds maybe a bit less. There is no actual safety on the Steambow AR-6 Stinger II Tactical so you will have to practice appropriate finger control so as to not accidentally fire a bolt unintentionally.
Accuracy: I have not recorded my Field Test Shooting Video for the Steambow AR-6 Stinger II Tactical and so I am not sure what to expect. I have shot a similar bow, the Bear X Desire XL Crossbow so it should perform a lot like that one but without the auto loading bolt system. If you want, you can check that Field Test Shooting Video out here, I expect the Steambow AR-6 Stinger II Tactical to have perhaps slightly less power over the Bear X Desire XL as it is rated to have a 55 pound draw as compared to the 60 pounds of the Bear X Desire XL. In terms of accuracy I do not expect anything similar to a pellet or even BB rifles or pistol but I hope to get somewhere near a 6-8 inch grouping with the 6 bolts loaded in the internal magazine.
Build Quality: The Steambow AR-6 Stinger II Tactical is overall well made but does consist of a lot of plastic or polymer, that said it feels sturdy enough when holding it in the hand. The bow itself is fiberglass and the only real metal I can confirm is the cocking rail, mostly everything else other than the nuts, bolts, safety are some sort of plastic. Fit and finish is good. I am hoping the auto bolt loading system will perform well and be consistent but we will find out when I make my Field Test Shooting Video for it soon.
Realism: The Steambow AR-6 Stinger II Tactical is not a Replica pistol or rifle, it is a target bow that one could perhaps use of small game if you become proficient with shooting it. I do think this is a crossover product in terms of interest with people that are also interested in Airguns or target shooting. The other benefit is that it has a lot more power than a non regulated Airgun as the it uses nice heavy 142 grain bolts traveling at near 200 fps which gives an energy rating of around 12 foot pounds, the speed may be less than an Airgun but the energy is a lot higher. If raw power is what you are interested in, then this is your best option for something still compact and quiet if you do not have a firearms license or want to avoid that hassle and the legalities around regulated firearms.
Pros:
Light weight and compact.
More power than an airgun yet still quiet to shoot so can use discreetly just about anywhere with a good back stop setup.
Auto loading system for quick follow up shots.
Easy to draw the bow using the stock for leverage.
Top and bottom Picatinny rail mounting options for sights and accessories.
Fiber optic mid sight setup.
Ambidextrous bolt safety easy to engage and disengage.
6 bolts included to fully load the internal magazines.
180 fps (10ft/lbs).
Comes with standard fore grip.
5 portion AR compatible adjustable rear but stock.
Cons:
Fairly expensive.
Sights are not adjustable, mid sight is not as easy to sight in.
Will need a good backstop or will lose lots of bolts.
Takes a little bit of time to set it up but not too hard, just follow the steps in the manual.
Comments:
The Steambow AR-6 Stinger II Tactical is an interesting product, the autoloading system with built in 6 round magazines turns this from a simple target bow into a bit of an action shooter once you get the reloading down. As a potential pest control solution it for sure has the power as long as you can harness it by practicing to the point where you can get those 142 grain bolts on target and make a humane shot at the ranges you plan on using it for. Having quick follow up shots I feel is necessary just in case the first shot does not quite get the job done. If you don’t need external 10 round magazines or the upgraded accessories found on the Steambow M10 Tactical and want something a little more affordable than check the AR-6 Stinger out as it is very versatile as a compact Recurve Crossbow.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Steambow M10 Tactical Recurve Crossbow is a single action only trigger as you need to cock the bow in order for the trigger to be engaged. The trigger mechanism basically just pushes the bow string up and over the lip of the rail releasing the bow, so there is a bit of friction and I would guess it is about 8-10 pounds maybe a bit less. There is a metal bolt style safety just above where the trigger releases that is ambidextrous, push it forward for safe and back for fire.
Accuracy: I have not recorded my Field Test Shooting Video for the Steambow M10 Tactical Recurve Crossbow and so I am not sure what to expect so far. I have shot a similar bow, the Bear X Desire XL Crossbow so it should perform a lot like that one but without the auto loading bolt system. If you want, you can check that Field Test Shooting Video out, I expect the Steambow M10 Tactical Recurve Crossbow to have a bit more power over the Bear X Desire XL as it is rated to have a 75 pound draw as compared to the 60 pounds of the Bear X Desire XL. In terms of accuracy I do not expect anything similar to a pellet or even BB rifles or pistol but I hope to get somewhere near a 6-8 inch grouping with the 10 bolts.
Build Quality: The Steambow M10 Tactical Recurve Crossbow is well made but does consist of mostly plastic or polymer, that said it feels sturdy enough when holding it and is one of the heavier compact recurve Crossbow systems at 4 pounds. The bow itself is fiberglass and the only real metal I can confirm is the cocking rail, mostly everything else other than the nuts, bolts, safety and sling ring are some sort of plastic. Fit and finish is good. I am hoping the auto bolt loading system will perform well and be consistent but we will find out when I make my Field Test Shooting Video for it
Realism: The Steambow M10 Tactical Recurve Crossbow is not a Replica pistol or rifle, it is a target bow that one could perhaps use of small game if you become proficient with it. I do think there is a crossover product in terms of interest with people that are also interested in Airguns. The other benefit is that it has a lot more power than a non regulated Airgun as the it uses nice heavy 142 grain bolts traveling at near 200 fps which gives an energy rating of around 12 foot pounds. If raw power is what you are interested in, then this is your best option for something still compact and quiet if you do not have a firearms license or want to avoid that hassle and the legalities around it.
Pros:
Light weight and compact.
More power than an airgun yet still quiet to shoot so can use discreetly just about anywhere with a good back stop setup.
Auto loading system for quick follow up shots.
Easy to draw the bow using the stock for leverage.
Comes with bow pre-strung and ready to mount.
Lots of Picatinny rail mounting options for sights and accessories.
Fiber optic front sight with two rear sight options (grove and peep).
Ambidextrous bolt safety easy to engage and disengage.
20 bolts included to fully load both 10 round magazines.
190-200 fps (11-12ft/lbs).
Comes with upgraded fore grip.
6 portion AR compatible adjustable rear but stock with cheek adjustment.
Cons:
Fairly expensive.
Sights are not adjustable.
Will need a good backstop or will lose lots of bolts.
Takes a little bit of time to set it up but not too hard, just follow the steps in the manual.
Comments:
The Steambow M10 Tactical Recurve Crossbow is an interesting product, the autoloading system with 10 round magazines turns this from a simple target bow into a bit of an action shooter once you get the reloading down. As a potential pest control solution it for sure has the power as long as you can harness it by practicing to the point where you can get those 142 grain bolts on target and make a humane shot. Having quick follow up shots is necessary just in case the first shot does not quite get the job done. The upgraded add on accessories you get with the Steambow M10 Tactical Recurve Crossbow really give it a quilty feel and it is nice you not only have a fully adjustable AR compactly rear stock with a cheek rest but you have the option of a peep or grove rear sight to line up the fiber optic front sight. The price is on the high side but if you want the most ultimate Compact Recurve Crossbow auto loading system with maximum ammo then this is for sure the product for you.
I did my unboxing vide for both the Steambow AR-6 Stinger II Tactical and M10 Tactical already which is generally a preview of the products I am unboxing but with these types of compact crossbows, they generally need a bit of setup before they are complete and ready to view and use.
For that reason I wanted to make a quick combined Preview Video for Steambow AR-6 Stinger II Tactical and M10 Tactical Crossbows so you can see what they look like all put together, and what the main differences are between the two of them. This way you can figure out which one might be the best choice if you are in the market for a product like this.
Let’s go over the main specifications and differences to determine what you get with each one:
Distributed by: Steambow GmbH Austria.
Materials: Mostly plastic with some metal parts.
Weight: M10 4 pounds / AR-6 2.6 pounds.
Lengt: M10 24.2 inches / AR-6 22 inches.
Width: M10 17.5 inches / 17.5 inches.
Magazine Capacity: M10 10 bolts per external magazine / AR-6 6 bolts per internal magazine.
Another Mystery Box to share with everyone but this time I peaked a bit so it’s not as much of a mystery for me, but it will be for you. I was glad I peaked as the items inside where not the usual assortment and it was good I was able to get a bit of pre-intel on them before I jumped into this unboxing, as there was a lot to discover about each of the three items in the Mystery Box. I hope they appeal to some of you, I think they are very interesting and after checking them out, some of you may decide to add one or two of them to your collection.
The first two items I looked at are from an Austrian based company called Steambow. They are both compact crossbows that offer a unique reloading system with built in Magazines that hold either 6 or 10 rounds depending on the version you buy. The Steambow AR-6 Stinger II Tactical is the less expensive yet still “kind of expensive” version with a built in 6 round magazine While the AR Series Steambow M10 Tactical has an upper that accepts 10 round magazines you can preload. The Steambow AR-6 Stinger II Tactical comes with a 55 pound pre-strung bow that produces around 10 foot pounds of energy, while the Steambow M10 Tactical come with a 75 pound pre-strung bow which should produce close to 12 or more foot pounds of energy. Both incorporate fiber optic slights, lots of rail mounting options, AR style rear stocks which shoulder mount easy and quick cocking to make the most of the automatic bolt loading systems.
Another Archery based item also in this months Mystery Box was the Umarex AirJavelin FishR PCP based arrow launcher designed for anglers. It is intended to work with a fishing real of your choice and comes with a single retrievable barbed arrow, so a lot like bow fishing but with a PCP propulsion system. The Umarex AirJavelin FishR has a built in 4500 psi tank that is regulated to 800 psi and the arrow is a whopping 1250 grain to cut through the water with ease. The entire system is salt water resistant so you can use it in both fresh and salt water conditions. There are both picatinny and M-LOK mounting options for sights and accessories.
Stay posted for my Table Top and Field Testing Video Reviews coming shortly…
This was a really fun Unboxing Video for me as I received something I feel a lot of Canadians might be really interested in protecting yourself in Canada is not a right especially if you use lethal force. So having a less lethal option is a really good idea.
Let’s get into what I found in this most recent Mystery Box in order of appearance…
The first item I unboxed was the KWC SP2022 CO2 NBB 4.5mm Steel BB Pistol. A pretty basic 4.5mm CO2 BB Pistol mostly made out of plastic but with a full size 21 round drop out metal magazine that does help a lot to add some much needed weight to this Airgun. It uses standard 12 gram CO2 with a claimed velocity of 450 fps.
Probably the most exciting item I pulled out of this months Mystery Box was the Gen2 Umarex P2P HDP 50 Rubber Ball purpose built Less-lethal solution for personal and family protection. Most of the similar Rubber ball Less-lethal Airguns I have tested generally do not pack enough punch to really be much of a deterrent in my opinion but the Gen2 Umarex P2P HDP 50 has a claimed 495 fps and when I tested it out after making this video it defiantly has some power. I would not want to be at the receiving end of this product especially in close proximity. The Gen2 Umarex P2P HDP 50 uses a traditional 12 gram CO2 and holds 6 rounds of rubber ball or powder ball, it does come with 10 of each to get you started.
Next I took a look at three KJWORKS Airsoft Pistols all of which came with CO2 Magazines, extension barrels and thread on tips. The KJWORKS KP-19, the KJWORKS M9A1 TBC, and the KJWORKS KP-13 TBC. As expected with KJWORKS Airsoft Guns, they looked really good and will be a joy to review and test out.
Last out of the Mystery Box was a new product from Umarex, a full sized Marlin Cowboy Lever Action BB Rifle in the style of the classic Red Ryder BB Gun but as mentioned in a larger size more suitable for an adult. Hey why do the kids get to have all the fun? The Umarex Marlin BB Rifle holds 650 rounds in its BB hopper and has a claimed fps pf 300. It also has an adjustable for elevation peep sight in the back with a metal lever and a Classic Faux Wood Finish.
I have reviewed a few other Umarex T4E .43 Caliber Paintball Airguns in the past so if you have watched any of those than you already have a pretty good idea what to expect from the Umarex T4E PDP Compact Walther .43 Cal CO2 Blowback Paintball Gun. As with all my Field Test Shooting Videos I first test out the velocity in fps shooting 5 rounds through my Chronograph and averaging them out. I then place a full magazine generally into a paper target setup 30 feet down ranged see what the accuracy looks like. Make sure to also watch my Table Top Video for the Umarex T4E PDP Compact Walther .43 Cal CO2 Blowback Paintball Gun for more information about specifications, details and some close up video.
For my velocity test I placed a brand new 12 gram CO2 in the Umarex T4E PDP Compact Walther .43 Cal CO2 Blowback Paintball Gun and shot 5 rounds through my Chronograph, getting an average fps of 322. The fastest shot hit a velocity of 331 fps with the slowest shot hitting 311 fps so all pretty close together. I was using standard .43 caliber rubber balls as they are a lot less messy here inside the indoor sea can Airgun shooting range. I didn't check the temperate but generally I keep iti comfortable, so around 20 degrees Celsius or 68 degrees Fahrenheit.
Next up I shot a full magazine which is 8 rounds for the Umarex T4E PDP Compact Walther .43 Cal CO2 Blowback Paintball Gun. Paintball guns are not known for their accuracy but I was impressed with the base grouping I got from the Umarex T4E PDP, It shot really well centered with 6 rounds all within about 3 inches of each other. 2 rounds did “wing out” a bit increasing the grouping to closer to about 6 inches but still a good grouping from a paintball gun design not so much to be super accurate but to be able to hit human sized targets ate realistic ranges which it does do very well.
I am not sure if this is the best test result for an Umarex T4E Paintball Airgun I have ever done but for sure it is one of the best for what I remember. Velocity was right on the mark and accuracy was again very good. I would be very confident in the performance of the Umarex T4E PDP Compact Walther .43 Cal CO2 Blowback Paintball Gun out in the field. I also think it is one of the nicer looking Umarex T4E .43 Caliber Paintball Pistols but if you are more of a Glock or S&W person there are options form Umarex for you too so make sure to check out our selection of Paintball Airguns over on our our Canada and US Replica Airgun Stores.
Type:Paintball Gun. Manufacturer:Umarex - T4E. Model:Walther PDP. Materials: Metal & Polymer. Weight: 690 grams (1.52 pounds). Barrel: Smooth bore. Power Source: 1x12 gram CO2. Action: Semi-Automatic with blowback action. Ammo Type: .43 Caliber Paintball or Rubber Ball. Ammo Capacity: 8-9 Rounds. FPS: 300.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Umarex T4E PDP Compact Walther .43 Cal CO2 Blowback Paintball Gun feels a lot like a double action trigger in length of pull and weight. When you pull the trigger back, there is an inner barrel that retracts back into the magazine sealing off a Paintball for more efficient CO2 usage, but this does cause some trigger drag and friction. There is also a working trigger safety which is a nice safety feature.
Accuracy: So far I have not had the opportunity to test the Umarex T4E PDP Compact Walther .43 Cal CO2 Blowback Paintball Gun out, so stay posted for a future Field Test Shooting video where I will see what kind of fps and accuracy we can expect from it. I have made a Field Test Shooting Videos for the Umarex T4E Walther PPQ M2 CO2 Blowback .42 Caliber Paintball Pistol so have a watch of that video as the performance of the Umarex T4E PDP Compact Walther .43 Cal CO2 Blowback Paintball Gun should be about the same.
Build Quality: The build quality of the Umarex T4E PDP Compact Walther .43 Cal CO2 Blowback Paintball Gun is really very good, metal parts are where you would expect them to be, as in the slide, slide catch, barrel, magazine and most internal parts. This gives the Umarex T4E PDP Compact Walther .43 Cal CO2 Blowback Paintball Gun a nice 1.5 pound weight to it with the magazine in which makes the Paintball version pretty close to the real still version. The Umarex T4E PDP does have a polymer frame but again this is normal with todays modern guns and helps keep the weight down. Fit and finish is also excellent.
Realism: The Umarex T4E PDP Compact Walther .43 Cal CO2 Blowback Paintball Gun is a very close replica of the real steel Walther PDP, from the fully licensed trademarks to the large .43 caliber diameter barrel. If you placed the Paintball version side by side with the real steel version, I doubt you would be able to easily tell them apart without actually handling them? You will find that the slide cycle distance is a much shorter than it would be with the real steel version, meaning that when the side cycles rearward or the slide catch is engaged, the slide does not go as far back as it should. Filed stripping the Umarex T4E PDP Compact Walther .43 Cal CO2 Blowback Paintball Gun will require tools however.
Pros:
Really great weight and solid feeling gun.
Full Metal slide that locks back on the last shot.
All metal heavy full size drop out magazine adds some additional weight to the pistol.
Very Accurate Walther PDP replica, almost indistinguishable from the real steel version until you really examine it up close.
Everything works pretty much like the real gun so a great training tool.
White dot sights front and back, rear sight is adjustable for windage.
Working trigger safety.
Fit and finish is excellent.
Magazine spring release really shoots the magazine out making it easy to grab.
Can mount a red dot on the rear of the slide and comes with lots of mounting plate options.
Comes with a nice hard shell case for storing it in and locking it up.
Love the .43 caliber barrel opening, adds to realism.
Cons:
The trigger is a bit long as it shoots more like a double action trigger.
Magazine only holds 8-9 rounds, so you are going to need extra magazines or get quick at reloading.
Blowback action is not full blowback, more like a typical partial blowback CO2 BB airgun.
Comments:
Umarex and T4E working together have put out a nice line of .43 caliber CO2 Blowback Replica Paintball Training guns focusing on the Walther, Glock and HK Brands as Umarex holds a license with all of these gun manufactures. The realism is excellent not only in looks but also in function making their use as training weapons that much more valuable. If you are looking for the most realistic Replica Paintball Pi thenstol, Umarex T4E products are your best option and it is nice that we now have several models to choose from that may coincide with your standard side arm of choice.
Type: GBB Airsoft Rifle Manufacturer:Umarex / KWA Model:HK 416 A4 Materials: Mostly all metal. Weight: 7.75 pounds (3.5 kg). Total Length: 31.1-34.4 inches (79-88cm). Barrel: 15.4 inches (39cm) non rifled. Propulsion: Gas Blowback. Action: Single action semi & full auto. Ammunition Type: .6mm plastic Airsoft BB’s. Ammunition Capacity:30 round magazines. FPS: 400 fps.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Umarex HK 416 A4 GBB Airsoft Rifle is typical of a single action only trigger found on the AR platform. It has a very slight take up with just a little bit of resistance part way, and then a predictable light break. The reset has a noticeable click to it and it is also very short allowing for very fast semi auto shooting. Of course you can always put it in full auto and let her rip, but you will have to restrain yourself since there are only 30 rounds in the magazine like you would find in a standard AR.
Accuracy: Like most of my Table Top Videos, they are made prior to shooting the gun I am reviewing, so we are all going to have to wait until I make my official Field Test Shooting Video for the Umarex HK 416 A4 GBB Airsoft Rifle. Where I will be testing out the velocity in fps using my Chronograph, and I will also shoot the Umarex HK 416 A4 in both semi auto and full auto to see how tight of groupings I can get at least at 30 feet away. I fully expect the Umarex HK 416 A4 GBB Airsoft Rifle to perform well as this is a very high quality product made by KWA.
Build Quality: The Build quality on the Umarex HK 416 A4 GBB Airsoft Rifle is outstanding with metal everywhere you would find it on a real steel AR. Of course the rear adjustable stock is plastic. Because of all the metal front to back, the Umarex HK 416 A4 is on the heavy side at 7.75 pounds, so packing it around all day may be a bit tiring but well worth the joy and pride when holding it. Fit and finish is also excellent, you will pay more for this GBB Airsoft Rifle but the material are nothing but quality.
Realism: The main thing you get from a GBB Airsoft Rifle over an AEG Airsoft Rifle, is not just quality components and build materials, but the user experience which is so much more realistic than shooting an AEG. The Umarex HK 416 A4 GBB Airsoft Rifle just feels so real in weight, how the controls all work, the full cycling of the bolt with a nice heavy and snappy blowback recoil on your shoulder. Even the way the buffer tube spring rings after each shot just makes this GBB Airsoft Rifle a joy to shot and experience. Sure it only holds 30 rounds per mag and shot consistency will vary depending on your shooting environment as all gas guns can be temperamental in colder weather. That said, a real AR does not hold 500 rounds in a mag and they can also be a bit finicky on the battle field.
Pros:
It’s GBB, love the realism of GBB Airsoft Rifles, it doesn’t get any more fun.
Tons of metal all over this rifle weighing in at almost 8 pounds.
Lots of accessory mounting options with the Precision CNC machined Quad Picatinny top side and bottom rails.
Full adjustable metal pop up sights.
H&K Lisence via Umarex.
6 position adjustable AR compatible rear stock.
Trigger feel is awesome, feels like a real steel AR trigger, you can’t even get close with an AEG.
Ambidextrous selector switches for left and right handers.
The threaded barrel can attach a silencer or other flash hidders.
All parts work just like the real steel version.
Can filed strip just like a real steel AR.
Cons:
Low magazine capacity as compared to an AEG.
Will be subject to cold weather conditions and cool down.
Very expensive to have and own such realism.
Comments:
The Umarex Umarex HK 416 A4 GBB Airsoft Rifle is for sure not going to be for everyone as it is with out a doubt a very expensive Gas Blowback Airsoft Rifle. It may not even be your best option out on the Airsoft Field, as more than likely you are going to get out gunned by everyone else using an AEG with their 500 round magazines and endless torrent of BB’s coming at you. If you just want the most realistic Airsoft Experience, than look no further than the Umarex HK 416 A4 GBB Airsoft Rifle, as it does not get more realistic than this and if you want to replicate your real steel AR perhaps for training and practice sessions, than there is no way you can beet the Umarex HK 416 A4. For those with deep wallets that want the ultimate and most realistic AR you can get, you can’t go wrong with the Umarex HK 416 A4 GBB Airsoft Rifle.
My Vimeo Table Top Review for the Umarex HK 416 A4 GBB Airsoft Rifle:
Here we go with another unboxing video this month, and this is a big box, so no doubt the mystery items are going to be big too! As always with new products, I will be following up with dedicated Table Top and Field Test Videos for each of them so make sure to check down the road for those videos for a lot more information and actual performance results…
Don’t look below if you want to just watch the video and be surprises by what’s inside the mystery box but if you want a quick peak before hand then checkout the basic specs below for all three new items I will be reviewing soon.
Type: GBB Airsoft Pistol. Manufacturer: Distributed by EMG. Model:SAI 2011 DS 4.3. Materials: Mostly metal (Aluminum) and plastic. Weight: 1.94 pounds (878 grams). Total Length: 8.25 inches (210mm). Barrel: 4 inches (102mm) metal rifled. Propulsion: CO2 x1. Action: Semi auto Blowback, SAO trigger. Ammunition Type: 6mm Airsoft BB’s. Ammunition Capacity: 30+1. FPS: Claimed 380-430.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the EMG SAI 2011 DS 4.3 CO2 Blowback Airsoft Pistol like what you would find on a traditional 1911 style pistol so it is Single Action Only and is nice and short and light in weight. Being a single action pistol for your first shot you will need to pull back the slide to chamber a round into the barrel which will also cock the hammer for you. the blowback action will cycle the slide for you from that point on automating the action.
Accuracy: I have not made my Field test Shooting Video or even tested out the EMG SAI 2011 DS 4.3 CO2 Blowback Airsoft Pistol yet or even shot it at all so I can not comment on the performance other than the claimed velocity of (380-430 fps) which does seem a bit high to me? My plan is to have this info available next week when I make my Field test Shooting Video so stay posted of that video coming out shortly…
Build Quality: The EMG SAI 2011 DS 4.3 CO2 Blowback Airsoft Pistol is a well made Airsoft Pistol with quality materials throughout. You will find a machined aluminum slide an aluminum frame and a full metal drop out magazine. The barrel is Titanium Nitride Coated and the only real plastic parts I could find would be the grips, the gas tube and the hop-up wheel. The stainless coating on this Airsoft pistol looks fairly thick and so should stand up over time with less wear showing.
Realism: The EMG SAI 2011 DS 4.3 CO2 Blowback Airsoft Pistol to me is not a true 2011 design as it does not have the once piece grip/trigger guard design found in 2011 pistols. It is double stack so that fits with the naming convention but I would say it is more like a combination of the Salient Arms SAI Red and SAI Red H. It does check all the boxes for realism in terms of function, looks and feel with all the working parts you expect on a Replica Airsoft Pistol including being able to fully field strip it.
Pros:
Superior Performance and 1:1 Scale Functionality.
Machined Aluminum Alloy Frame and Slide.
Rugged Reliability without sacrificing Weight.
Officially licensed by Salient Arms International.
Front and Rear Combat Style Sights with integrated Forward Fiber Optic.
Machined Anti-Glare Slide Top.
Ambidextrous Safety and Squared Trigger.
Titanium Nitride Style SAI Barrel for added durability.
On-Frame Integrated Accessory Rail.
Skeletonized trigger and hammer.
Options of both Green Gas and CO2 Magazines.
Deep Engraving with Real Steel Training Weapon Grade External Finish, Look, and Feel.
Cons:
Has orange barrel tip. But can be removed with some work.
No white dot or fiber optics on rear sight.
Not really a True 2011 in design as the name suggests.
Comments:
I am a huge 1911/2011 fan and so the EMG SAI 2011 DS 4.3 CO2 Blowback Airsoft Pistol really appeals to me. I like the compact design of the EMG SAI 2011 DS 4.3 yet it has a nice high capacity double stack magazine that gives this Airsoft Pistol a bit more girth in the hands which for me is OK as I have pretty large hands. I like that you have the option of shooting CO2 or Green Gas depending on what magazine you are using. This version comes with a CO2 Magazine, but you can purchase a green gas magazine if you prefer using gas over CO2. I like the modern look with the gold barrel and skeletonized trigger and hammer. The price is on the higher side but sometimes you have to pay a little bit more to get the additional quality and to have a gun that really stands out.
In this Mystery Boxing Video I get to take a look at 4 new Airgun Products and give you my first impressions along with a few specifications about each of them but not in a lot of details as I have not had an opportunity to research any of them as this my first time seeing them.
First out of the Mystery box is a new Umarex T4E .43 Caliber CO2 Blowback Paintball Pistol with Walther licensing called the Umarex T4E PDP. I have reviewed similar styled T4E .43 caliber CO2 Blowback Pistols in the past and this one should perform and function similarly.
The next Airgun I pulled out out of the box was the EMG SAI 2011 DS 4.3 CO2 Blowback Airsoft Pistol, a really nice 1911 styled Airsoft Pistol with a stainless finish and gold barrel with a CO2 Magazine. This one looks and feels really nice.
Staying with the pistols that came in this Mystery Box, I got my first look at the Umarex Markpoint .177 Caliber Break Barrel Pellet Pistol that has a bit of a utilitarian look and feel to it. This one is the longer barrel version and has a claimed fps of 395 using alloy pellets so we will see what it can get with more traditional lead pellets when I make my Field Test Video for it down the road a bit.
The last item out of the Mystery Box was another Umarex product, a fun CO2 BB Rifle with H&K licensing called the HK416. This semi auto and 6 round Burst internal Blowback CO2 BB Rifle is a lot like the Steel Storm and Steel Strike from Umarex but a little bit larger I would say and with H&K Licensing so more of a true Replica Airgun.
I will be making full Table Top and Field Test Videos for all of these items shortly so keep an eye out for those videos but for now you can at least get an idea what these Airgun Products will offer.
Here is Bonus Video Five in my series of Full Auto Fun videos I make each summer where I pick a few Full Auto Airguns and record some fun outside shooting with them. In this years Full Auto Fun Video series I do a bit of a walk around on my property and shoot a bunch of water filled pop cans. Maybe this doesn’t sound super exciting but I do use some really creative camera angles to capture it all which makes it lot more interesting to watch for sure!
In this Fifth Bonus Full Auto Fun Video I bring out a past Full Auto Fun Airgun that I just couldn’t resist takin out for some full auto fun once again. The WE AK74UN Gas Blowback Full Auto Airsoft Rifle has got to be one of the hardest blowback Airguns I have shot, I would say even a bit more blowback feel than the KWA Mini UZI! The WE AK74UN Gas Blowback Full Auto Airsoft Rifle also does a great job of keeping Airsoft BB’s on target even in full auto with all that recoil as you will see in this video as I dial it in part way through my walk about. Unfortunately we do not sell anything like this anymore at least in Airsoft, the closest thing to it is the Crosman AK1 Blowback CO2 Full Auto BB Rifle which is still a lot of fun with a bit less recoil but a higher rate of fire.
Here is video three in my series of Full Auto Fun videos I make each summer where I pick a few Full Auto Airguns and record some fun outside shooting with them. In this years Full Auto Fun Video series I do a bit of a walk around on my property and shoot a bunch of water filled pop cans. Maybe this doesn’t sound super exciting but I do use some really creative camera angles to capture it all which makes it lot more interesting to watch for sure!
In this third Full Auto Fun video I test out the Crosman A4-P AR Pistol and like my other videos it was not “picture perfect” or should I say “Video Perfect”… My cameras actually cooperated pretty good this time around, but one of my magazines had an issue (May have been me), so I had to switch over to my trusty KWA 1911 CO2 Blowback BB pistol to finish the job, good ting I had it on me, got to expect the unexpected!
Here is video two in my series of Full Auto Fun videos I make each summer where I pick a few Full Auto Airguns and record some fun outside shooting with them. In this years Full Auto Fun Video series I do a bit of a walk around on my property and shoot a bunch of water filled pop cans. Maybe this doesn’t sound super exciting but I do use some really creative camera angles to capture it all which makes it lot more interesting to watch for sure!
In this second Full Auto Fun video I test out the classic KWA Mini UZI Blowback CO2 4.5mm BB Machine Gun, at least with this video I did actually shoot in full auto but the video did not go without a few hiccups as my HoverAir Drone decided I was stopping for too long to take my shots and turned itself off a couple of times. And my Meta Glasses decided to get chunky on me and lower their frame rate down to a rather hard to watch frame per second. I did eventually make it though this video but it cold have gone better. No I am not redoing this one as it was shot in Full Auto this time which is what I promised. I can not promise all my tech gear will cooperate exactly s expected but I was able to get some decent footage overall if you can ignore the choppy video for the Meta Glasses for part of the video.
I try to make at least one series of Full Auto Fun video each summer where I pick a few Full Auto Airguns and record some fun outside shooting with them. In this years Full Auto Fun Video series I do a bit of a walk around on my property and shoot a bunch of water filled pop cans. Maybe this doesn’t sound super exciting but I do use some really creative camera angles to capture it all which makes it lot more interesting to watch for sure!
In this first Full Auto Fun video I start with the Barra 400e 4.5mm BB AEG Full Auto BB Rifle, but in the all the camera and audio setup confusion, I forgot to put it in Full Auto (getting old), so this is really not a Full Auto Fun Video, it was still fun and I hope you enjoy it anyway. The other videos in this Full Auto Fun Series are for sure in Full Auto and I will be taking out the Barra 400e and give it another go in Full Auto this time so stay posted for the true Full Auto Fun Video for the Barra 400e shortly!
I have only tested out another similar Crossbow setup one other time so this is not my normal Field Test Review. Like last time when I made my Bear X Desire XL Crossbow Field Test Video, in this Field Test Video I record my Chronograph velocity for the CenterPoint Hornet Recurve Compact Crossbow at the same time as I shoot at the target so I did not have to make two separate video segments and basically did it all in one go. I did have a bit of a brain fart and forgot I needed to setup two separate cameras, one on the Chronograph and one on the Target, as I generally only need one camera at a time for my usually two segment Field Test Videos. So getting to the point, I did not have dedicated camera on the target while shooting and in hind sight it would have been better to have the camera on the Target rather than the Chronograph as my camera glasses generally record the Chronograph readings for me too. I do walk up to the Target at the end of the video so we do get to see exactly where all the bolts landed, so I can show you the final result at the end of the day.
In terns of velocity, CenterPoint claims a velocity of 191 fps. I was able to get consistently just over 180 fps so pretty close. My Chrono readings using the included 147 grain 6.5 inch aluminum bolts ranged from 180 to 182 fps so very consistent. This gave an overall Foot Pound energy of 10.61 foot pounds so velocity and foot pound energy were just a little bit under the claimed rating! This is enough for small pests for sure, it really comes down to accuracy at this point as you will want to get either a head or shoulder area shot for a humane kill, and I am not sure if this bow is up of the job? You will have to see how accurate it will be for you and make that decision for yourself..
In terms of accuracy I found the CenterPoint Hornet Recurve Compact Crossbow to be fairly accuracy on the windage side (left and right), basically with all the bolts only being about 2 inches apart side to side. Where it did not perform as well was in elevation with the bolts ranging about 8 inches top to bottom. I am not sure why this was the case as the velocity is very consistent and generally less consistent velocities account for elevation changes. All the bolts hit the target using the included red dot with no pre adjustments but it did shoot just a bit to the right and maybe overall a bit low. This can easily be corrected using the red dot windage and elevation adjustments.
Interestingly the CenterPoint Hornet Recurve Compact Crossbow has a higher claimed velocity over the Bear X Desire XL Crossbow I tested a while back, yet the Bear X Desire XL Crossbow actually shot a bit faster hitting 190+ fps, not a huge difference but an interesting observation. The CenterPoint Hornet Recurve Compact Crossbow does come with a red dot but both have Picatinny Rails so Red Dots will fit on both Crossbows no problem. I am going to address the elephant in the room, if you compare both of these Crossbows they are virtually the same with the exception of the branding and distribution of them. So I would say get either one, the Bear X Desire XL Crossbow is actually less money as it does not come with an included Red Dot but at least right now it is out of stock so your only option may the the CenterPoint Hornet Recurve Compact Crossbow, both are a lot of fun and pack a lot more punch than your standard non regulated Air Rifle.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the CenterPoint Hornet Recurve Compact Crossbow is a single action only trigger as you need ot cock the bow in order for the trigger to be engaged. The trigger mechanism basically just pushes the bow string up and over the lip of the rail releasing it so there is a bit of friction and I would say it is about 10 pounds maybe a bit less. The safety is also engaged when you cock the bow requiring you to take the CenterPoint Hornet Recurve Compact Crossbow off safe before shooting as an added layer of safety.
Accuracy: I have not made my Field Test Shooting Video for the CenterPoint Hornet Recurve Compact Crossbow and so I am not sure what to expect from it. I have shot a similar bow, the Bear X Desire XL Crossbow so it should perform similar to that one if you want to check that Field Test Shooting Video out, but I expect the CenterPoint Hornet Recurve Compact Crossbow to have a little bit more power as it has a rated fps and draw weight a little bit higher than the Bear X Desire XL Crossbow, we will see?
Build Quality: The CenterPoint Hornet Recurve Compact Crossbow is actually made pretty decently, yes it is mostly plastic and light weight but feels sturdy enough to hold, the bow itself is fiberglass and the only real metal I can confirm is the cocking rail, mostly everything else other than the nuts and bolts that hold it together are some sort of plastic, The only part that does not feel up to par with the quality is the included red dot, it is fairly entry level but I am sure it will get the job done, and if it stops getting the job done at some point you can upgrade it then, or simply use the included rear iron sight which is fully adjustable.
Realism: The CenterPoint Hornet Recurve Compact Crossbow is not a Replica as is what I usually review here on the channel. But I think there is a crossover in terms of interest for a product like this with people that are also interested in Airguns. The other benefit is that it has a lot more power than a non regulated Airgun as the CenterPoint Hornet Recurve Compact Crossbow uses nice heavy 146 grain bolts traveling at almost 200 fps which gives an energy rating of around 12 foot pounds. So if raw power is what you are after, then this is your best option for something still compact if you do not have a firearms license.
Pros:
Fairly inexpensive.
Super light weight and compact.
More power than an Airgun yet still quiet to shoot so you can use discreetly just about anywhere with a good back stop setup.
Easy to draw the bow using the stock for leverage.
Safety is automatically engaged.
Picatinny rail already has iron fully adjustable rear sight and comes with a very basic red dot sight to get you started.
Fiber optic front sight.
3 bolts included.
191 fps (12ft/lbs).
Comes with fore grip.
5 portion adjustable rear but stock.
Cons:
Will need a good backstop or will lose lots of bolts.
Takes a little bit of time to set it up but not too hard, just follow the steps in the manual.
Careful not to wash you hadn't or thumb with the string (Ouchy).
Comments:
The CenterPoint Hornet Recurve Compact Crossbow is a nice crossover product that appeals to Airgun enthusiasts as it does not require a firearms license and can be used in a lot more locations than a standard gun. It also has decent power as compared to a non regulated Airgun hitting 12 foot pounds which is at least 4x more than most non regulated Airguns can achieve. In terms of pest control, it does have the power required for small pests but accuracy is not going to be as good as an Airgun so hitting the rather small sweet spot on a small pest is not going to be easy and you want to be humane about it, so make sure if you do plan on using this for some sort of pest control, that you practice your accuracy and are confident in your shot placement. Personally I would just enjoy shooting it as a target bow that literally cost you nothing after purchase as long as you don’t lose the bolts.
Another box showed up at my door and this time I had no idea what was inside it, I asked the boys in the warehouse to surprise me and send some new product as I was low on review items, and in a couple of days later this tall somewhat large box showed up. In this Replica Airguns June Mystery Box Unboxing Video I open the box and take a look at what’s inside. I recommend you just watch the video and enjoy the suspense with me, but if you want to cheat and find out now, then look below at quick breakdown of each item…
