Entries in How To,Crossbow

Steambow AR-6 Stinger II Tactical Crossbow Table Top Review

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Type: Compact Recurve Crossbow.
Manufacturer: Steambow GmbH Austria.
Model: AR-6 Stinger II Tactical.
Materials: Fiberglass, metal & plastic.
Weight: 2.6 pounds (1.2 kilograms).
Length: 22-24.75 inches.
Propulsion: Recurve Bow.
Action: Auto loading - Single action trigger.
Ammunition Type: Aluminum bolts (Comes with 6x 142 grain).
Ammunition Capacity: 6 (Internal magazines).
FPS: 180fps.
Draw weight: 55 pounds.

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.

Categories: Arrow, Crossbow, Repeater, Review, Rifle, Vimeo Video Tags: Streambow, AR-6 Stinger II, AR Series

Steambow AR Series M10 Tactical Crossbow Table Top Review

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Type: Compact Recurve Crossbow.
Manufacturer: Steambow GmbH Austria.
Model: Steambow M10 Tactical.
Materials: Fiberglass, metal & plastic.
Weight: 4 pounds (1.8 kilograms).
Length: 22.75-25.5 inches.
Propulsion: Recurve Bow.
Action: Auto loading - Single action trigger.
Ammunition Type: Aluminum bolts (Comes with 20x 142 grain).
Ammunition Capacity: 10 (Removable magazines x2).
FPS: 190-200fps.
Draw weight: 75 pounds.

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.

Categories: Crossbow, Repeater, Review, Rifle, Vimeo Video Tags: M10 Tactical, Steambow, Recurve Compact Crossbow

Steambow AR-6 Stinger II Tactical and M10 Tactical Preview Video

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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.

  • Bow Tension: M10 75 pounds (12 foot pounds) / AR-6 55 pounds (10 foot pounds).

  • Picatinny Rails: M10 top, sides, bottom / AR-6 top, bottom.

  • Sights: M10 fiber optic front, peep or grove rear / AR-6 fiber optic mid.

  • Rear stock: M10 AR type upgraded 6 position / AR-6 AR type 5 position.

  • For-grip: M10 yes upgraded / AR-6 yes standard.

  • Safety: M10 yes bolt / AR-6 no.

  • Sling mount: M10 yes on receiver / AR-6 yes on stock.

  • M10 extras: 20 bolts, 2 magazines, 2 rear sight options, pre-strung, more power.

  • Price at time of this video: M10 $569 CAN / AR-6 $389 CAN.

Categories: Crossbow, Pistol, Review, Rifle, Single Shot, Vimeo Video, Repeater Tags: Steambow, AR-6 Stinger II Tactical, M10 Tactical, Recurve Compact Crossbow

Mystery Box Unboxing Video December 2024

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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…

Categories: Bulk Air, PCP, Review, Rifle, Single Shot, Vimeo Video, Crossbow, Pistol, Repeater Tags: Umarex, Airjavelin Fisher, Airbow, Steambow, AR-6 Stinger II Tactical, M10 Tactical

Airgun Safety 101

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Airguns are not toys and as so require proper storage, transportation and handling so as not to cause an accident that could be minor or even deadly.

No matter if you are handling an Airgun or a “Real Gun”, they should both be handled in the same manner even if the consequences from an accident with an Airgun may be less serious. Life long injuries like the loss of an eye are nothing to be taken lightly.

For the most part, what I talk about in this Airgun Safety 101 video can also be applied to a “Real Gun” although most countries will have stricter laws and guidelines in the storage, transportation and handling of “Real Guns” over an Airgun.




Storing Your Airgun:

In Canada an unregulated Airgun does not have any real specific safe storage guidelines but common sense should be used and I recommend that you at the bare minimum keep your Airgun in some sort of locked space whether it be a safe, cabinet or room that is locked all of the time.

You can also put a trigger lock on your Airgun if you do not have a lockable storage location for it.

You should also make sure to store your Airgun unloaded, at least when it comes to BB’s and or Pellets. If there is some unused CO2 in it, or it is charged with Compressed Air, but unloaded in terms of ammunition, that is OK, but again keep it in a safe location away from anyone that may be able to get their hands on it and hurt themselves or others.




Transporting Your Airgun:

Again, in Canada an unregulated Airgun does not have any real transportation guidelines but if you keep your Airgun out in the open and someone sees it, they will most certainly call the police and more than likely you may find yourself staring down the wrong end of a police firearm, at least until they sort it all out. This is very serious as unfortunately people have died as a result of handling their Airguns out in the open and underestimating what kind of police response that may entail.

For that reason alone, always keep your Airgun out of sight in a case or backpack or the trunk of your car. Never transport your Airgun loaded and it is best if you can lock it in a case or put a trigger lock on it for added safety when transporting it.



Shooting Your Airgun:

Shooting your Airgun is always the most enjoyable part of owning an Airgun, so don’t do something stupid and turn that experience into a nightmare. Treat your Airgun as if it is deadly at all times, never point it at anything you do not intend on shooting.

Keep your safety on until you are ready to shoot. Never put your finger on the trigger until you are ready to shoot it and only shoot it in a safe location with an appropriate background and backstop.

Think of the barrel of your Airgun as a light saber that if it crosses even your arm, it could cut it off. Even a BB to the arm is a serious matter. I had a friend that shot himself in the arm with a BB Gun and the BB lodged in the tendons of his wrist requiring an operation to remove it. He was a violin player so this could have ended his violin playing, but luckily he was OK.

When Your finger is not on the trigger it should be held across the trigger guard in a straight position to ensure no accidental misfires.

Wear eye protection, Steel BB’s will bounce back when they hit a hard surface and can come back with enough force to injure an eye easily. Generally Airguns do not require ear protection but some can be loud enough that you may want to wear some sort of ear protection as a precaution.

Only shoot with others that are responsible and take Gun Safety very seriously. Young people will need constant supervision and it is best to go through all of this first before even considering handing them an Airgun for the first time. Perhaps start them off with something like an Airsoft gun which will have less consequences if an accident were to take place.

Airguns are awesome in so many ways and allow for a similar shooting experience to a “Real Gun”. They can be used in more situations, with less overall cost and are a great way to learn proper gun handling and how to improve your shooting ability even if you are a “Real Gun” owner. Always be responsible with your Airgun not only for yourself but for others as it only takes a few idiots to ruin things for the rest of us. Don’t be that Idiot please!

Categories: Airsoft, BB, Blank Gun, Gun Law, Gun Safety, How To, Pistol, Pellet, Paintball, Real Gun, Vimeo Video Tags:

CenterPoint Hornet Recurve Compact Crossbow Kit Field Test Review

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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.

Categories: Crossbow, Field Test, Review, Scope, Single Shot, Vimeo Video Tags: Center Point, Recurve Compact Crossbow, Hornet

CenterPoint Hornet Recurve Compact Crossbow Kit Table Top Review

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Type: Compact Recurve Crossbow.
Manufacturer: CenterPoint.
Model: CenterPoint Hornet.
Materials: Fiberglass, metal & plastic.
Weight: 2.25 pounds (1 kilograms).
Length: 22-24 inches.
Propulsion: Recurve Bow.
Action: Single action trigger.
Ammunition Type: Aluminum bolts (Comes with 3x 146 grain).
Ammunition Capacity: 1.
FPS: 191fps.
Draw weight: 80 pounds.

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.

Categories: Crossbow, Review, Single Shot, Vimeo Video, Non Airguns Tags: Center Point, Hornet, Recurve Compact Crossbow

Replica Airguns June Mystery Box Unboxing

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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…

Centerpoint Hornet - Recurve Compact Crossbow

  • Arrow Velocity: Up to 191 FPS

  • Foot Pounds of Energy (FPE): 12 ft-lbs

  • Limbs: 1 Piece Compression Fiberglass

  • System: Recurve

  • Draw Weight: 80 lbs

  • Length: 22.05 in

  • Product Weight: 2.32 lbs

  • Stock Material: Composite

John Wayne Marshal CO2 BB Revolver

  • Type: BB Revolver

  • Power Source: 12g CO2 x 1

  • Action: Single-action

  • Ammo Type: 4.5mm (.177) steel BBs

  • Ammo Capacity: 18 rounds

  • FPS: 330

  • Safety: Manual

Gamo GP-20 Combat CO2 BB Pistol

  • Ammunition: .177 Bb's.

  • Velocity: 400 Feet Per Second (Fps)

  • Action: Single / Double

  • Magazine: 20 Metal BB's Magazine.

  • Powerplant: CO2 12gr.

  • Barrel: Smooth Bore Barrel.

  • Slide: Non-blowback.

  • Sights: Fixed Sights With Fiber Optic Rear Sight.

  • Weight: 0.97 Lbs.

Specna Arms SA-X01 AEG Airsoft Rifle

  • AEG Airsoft

  • Overall length: 69 cm.

  • Weight: 2505g.

  • FPS: 380.

  • Hop-up: Yes.

  • Inner barrel length: 229 mm.

  • Magazine capacity: 120 rds.

  • Quick spring change system: Yes.

Specna Arms SA-J73 AK AEG Airsoft Rifle

  • Weight: 5.7 lbs

  • Overall Length: Adjustable from 23.4" to 32.6"

  • AEG Airsoft

  • FPS: 380.

  • Hop-up: Yes.

  • Inner barrel length: 400 mm.

  • Magazine capacity: 430 rds.

  • FPS (Feet Per Second): 370-380 FPS

  • Included Magazine Capacity: 500rd Hi-Cap Magazine

  • Quick spring change system: Yes.

  • Gearbox Version: V3 Gearbox

Categories: 4.5mm / .177 cal, 6mm, Airsoft, AEG, BB, CO2, Crossbow, Full Auto, Pistol, Review, Revolver, Rifle, Semi Auto, Vimeo Video Tags: Bara, Gamo, Specna Arms, Center Point, Hornet, GP-20, SA-J73, SA-X01, John Wayne Marshal, AirVenturi

ASG CZ 75 SP-01 Shadow Blowback CO2 BB Pistol Table Top Review

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Type: Blowback BB Pistol.
Manufacturer: Made and Distributed by ASG.
Model: CZ 75 SP-01 Shadow.
Materials: Mostly all Metal.
Weight: 2.37 pounds (1076 grams).
Barrel: 4.5 inches (114mm) metal non-rifled.
Total Length: 8.26 inch (210mm).
Propulsion: 1 x Co2.
Action: Semi auto blowback, single & double action trigger.
Ammunition Type: 4.5mm steel BB's.
Ammunition Capacity: 17 round drop out full size metal magazine.
FPS: Claimed 312.

Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the ASG CZ 75 SP-01 Shadow Blowback CO2 BB Pistol is both single and double action, by either pulling the slide or hammer back you engage the single action trigger which is nice and short and light with a medium take-up. You will need to pull the slide back to load a BB into the breach area for your first shot or you will simply be shooting CO2 on that first shot. If you drop the hammer down once a BB is in the breach, you can shoot in double action which is much heavier but it is fairly smooth without any noticeable sticking points.

Accuracy: I have not shot the ASG CZ 75 SP-01 Shadow Blowback CO2 BB Pistol or made my Field Test Shooting Video for it, that will happen next week. So for now I can not comment on the true velocity or accuracy of this product. It is very well made so I expect it to perform like most Full Blowback CO2 BB pistols which means it should shoot around a 1-2 inch 10 shot grouping at 30 feet away, and I expect it to achieve a velocity close to the manufacturers claimed fps, so around 300 fps or just above. We will find out for sure next week!

Build Quality: The ASG CZ 75 SP-01 Shadow Blowback CO2 BB Pistol is distributed by ASG but I am not 100% sure who makes it for them. I feel it could be either KJWorks or KWA. In either case both companies make very high quality Airguns and that is present with the ASG CZ 75 SP-01 Shadow Blowback CO2 BB Pistol. Fit and finish are excellent and the entire gun is virtually all metal. It weighs in at almost 2.5 ponds and has a very solid feel to it.

Realism: The ASG CZ 75 SP-01 Shadow Blowback CO2 BB Pistol is a 1 to 1 copy of the real steel CZ 75 SP-01 Shadow and side by side it would be very hard to tell them apart. It features full blowback operation and can by fully field stripped. All the mechanical parts work like the real steel version adding to the realism of shooting this CO2 Blowback BB Pistol. Again it is almost all metal which not only helps it look the part, but also feel the part. It is a very realistic replica and to make it even more believable, ASG has provide the CZ licensing to add all the correct markings to this product.

Pros:

  • Single and double action trigger with a nice light short single action trigger.

  • Fit and finish is excellent, very little slide wiggle, all metal build.

  • This pistol is pretty heavy at just under 2.5 pounds!

  • Extremely close replica of the real steel CZ SP-01 Shadow in both looks and function.

  • Well priced for a quality Airgun.

  • Fiber optic front sight helps with quick target acquisition.

  • I like the stainless barrel, it won’t be as prone to scratches and wear marks.

  • Deep recessed barrel for added realism.

  • Full size 17 round metal magazine holds the CO2 and BB’s and adds additional weight.

  • Rail for adding accessories like a laser or tac light.

  • Most mechanical parts work just like the steel version and can be easily field stripped to access the hop-up.

  • Heavy slide spring with fast blowback action, great for action shooting.

  • Licensing all over this gun, true to the real steel version.

Cons:

  • Rear sight is not adjustable.

  • FPS is perhaps a bit low at 312?

  • May be a bit heavy for some people.

Comments:

I am pretty sure that the ASG CZ 75 SP-01 Shadow Blowback CO2 BB Pistol started out life as a 6mm Airsoft Pistol, and then this version was simply converted over to shoot 4.5mm Steel BB’s by more than likely swapping out the barrel, perhaps changing the nozzle and modifying the magazine to allow for 4.5mm BB’s over the 6mm Airsoft BB’s. And that is OK with me as I really like how Full Blowback Airsoft Pistols recreate that realistic shooting experience. The downside to all of this is a bit of a perforce hit since Full Blowback Airsoft Pistols use up a lot of CO2 to create that full heavy blowback experience. You also lose some power along the way. I am fine with that but some people may not be. Overall I really like the ASG CZ 75 SP-01 Shadow Blowback CO2 BB Pistol. It is high quality and looks awesome. Now I just need to find out how it shoots :)

Categories: 4.5mm / .177 cal, BB, Blowback, CO2, Crossbow, Pistol, Review, Semi Auto, Vimeo Video Tags: ASG, CZ 75, CZ SP-01 Shadow, CZ 75 SP-01 Shadow

Airgun Magazine Types Explained - BB - Pellet - Airsoft

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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.

Categories: 4.5mm / .177 cal, .22 cal, 6mm, AEG, Airsoft, BB, Blowback, CO2, Comparison, Bulk Air, Gas, GBB, How To, Pellet, Pistol, Review, Revolver, Rifle, Vimeo Video Tags:

Bear X Desire XL Crossbow Field Test Review

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This was an unusual Field Test Review for me to do as I really don’t test out Bows or Crossbows all that much and I don’t have the best backstop setup for doing such reviews. So I spent some time making a backstop that was capable of stopping these just over 6 inch almost 10 gram or 150 grain bolts. It required some layers of foam and cardboard along with a blanket behind just in case, and even with this setup the bolts managed to lodge themselves right up to the Fletching (feather part of the arrow). Also make sure to watch my Table Top Video Review for the Bear X Desire XL Crossbow to see it up nice and close and get all the specifications and features.

I kind of wanted to change up this review just a bit and so I recorded my Chronograph Velocity at the same time as I did my Target or Accuracy Test to simplify things. I used 5 bolts in all and got what I felt was a good result using the Bear X Desire XL Crossbow.

In terns of velocity Bear X claims that the Bear X Desire XL Crossbow will shoot around 175 fps. I was able to get consistent 190+ fps readings using the 147 grain 6.5 inch aluminum bolts with my lowest fps being 192 and the highest being 194 so super consistent. This gave an overall Foot Pound energy of 12.4 foot pounds! 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.

I did do a pre test to make sure I was on target and duding this test I was able to get about a 5 inch 5 shot grouping. During my recored Accuracy Test this did open up a bit as one arrow went high and to the right so if I leave that arrow out of the test I did manage to get another 5 inch grouping with three of the arrows all within 1.5 inches of each otter. I figure with high quality arrows and some practice time using the Bear X Desire XL Crossbow, you should be able to use it for small pest control at least at closer in ranges.

All in all the Bear X Desire XL Crossbow surprised me with how powerful it really was and with the accuracy using standard default bolts. This is for sure not a toy and you would never want to accidentally shoot this at someone as it could cause a very serious injury or even death and I mean that since these arrow would for sure pierce several inches into the body. So if you’re looking for something with a bit more raw power than your standard non-regulated Airgun, then check out the Bear X Desire XL Crossbow over in both our Canada and US Online Replica Airguns Stores.

Categories: Arrow, Crossbow, Field Test, Non Airguns, Review, Slingshot, Vimeo Video Tags: Bear X, Desire XL

Bear X Desire XL Crossbow Table Top Review

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Type: Compact Crossbow.
Manufacturer: Bear X.
Model: Desire XL.
Materials: Metal & plastic.
Weight: 2.3 pounds (1 kilograms).
Length: 20-22 inches.
Propulsion: Bow.
Action: Single action trigger.
Ammunition Type: Aluminum bolts (Comes with 3).
Ammunition Capacity: 1.
FPS: 175fps.
Draw: 60 pounds

Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Bear X Desire XL Crossbow is medium to heavy, it is a single action only trigger as you need ot cock the bow in order for the trigger to be engaged. The safety is also engaged when you cock the bow requiring you to take the Bear X Desire XL Crossbow off safe before shooting as an added layer of safety.

Accuracy: I have not made my Field Test Shooting Video for the Bear X Desire XL Crossbow and so I have not sea what to expect for it. I have watched a few videos of other people reviewing it and it looks to perform fairly well but until I get a few bolts in a target downrange I can not say for certain the accuracy of the Bear X Desire XL Crossbow. I will have to figure out some sort of a usable back stop in order to make this Field Test Shooting Video but have some ideas already on material to use as my back stop. FPS is claimed ot be around 175 and I will be doing my best to Chronograph the Bear X Desire XL Crossbow so we can confirm that rating for ourselves…

Build Quality: The Bear X Desire XL Crossbow is actually made pretty decently, yes it is mostly plastic and light weight but feels sturdy enough to hold, 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 bow itself may be a composite material but I am not sure what exactly it is?

Realism: The Bear X Desire XL Crossbow is not a Replica as is what I usually review here on the channel. But I think their is a crossover in terms of interest for a product like this with people that are also interested in airguns. I know I like the Bear X Desire XL Crossbow and can see a place for it in my collection even if it’s not a replica product.

Pros:

  • Fairly inexpensive.

  • Super light weight.

  • Can shoot in a variety of situations.

  • Easy to draw the bow.

  • Safety is automatically engaged.

  • Picatinny rail already has iron fully adjustable rear sight but can mount a red dot if you like.

  • Fiber optic front sight.

  • 3 bolts included.

  • 175 fps (not sure of the ft/lbs)?

  • Comes with fore grip.

  • 3 portion adjustable rear but stock.

Cons:

  • Will need a good backstop or will lose or damage a lots of bolts.

  • Takes a little bit of time to set it up but not too hard if you follow the instructions.

Comments:

The Bear X Desire XL Crossbow is an interesting product that once purchased and if you manage to not lose the bolts will cost virtually nothing to shoot since you can reuse the bolts all day long given you shoot them on target and that target does not damage the bolts. It may not offer the rapid fire action shooting of a replica semi auto CO2 Pistol but still challenges the shooter in terms of getting the best possible accuracy out of it and at the end of the day trigger time is trigger time! If you are looking for something a bit different than your CO2 Air Gun then maybe the Bear X Desire XL Crossbow will fill that requirement.

Categories: Arrow, Crossbow, Non Airguns, Review, Single Shot, Vimeo Video Tags: Bear X, Bear River, Desire XL

Umarex Ruger Mark IV - Action Army AAP-01 - Bear Desire XL - Crosman A4-P - Air Venturi Avenger Preview

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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.

Categories: .22 cal, 6mm, 4.5mm / .177 cal, Airsoft, Arrow, BB, Blowback, Break Barrel, CO2, Bulk Air, Crossbow, Full Auto, GBB, Gas, Non Airguns, PCP, Pellet, Pistol, Review, Rifle, Semi Auto, Slingshot, Spring Piston, Vimeo Video Tags: Umarex, Crosman, Air Venturi, Action Army, Bear River, M4-P, A4-P, Desire XL, APP-01, Ruger Mark IV, Avenger

Umarex SHOT Show 2020 Las Vegas Interview

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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!

Categories: 4.5mm / .177 cal, 6mm, Airgun News, Airsoft, Airsoft News, BB, Blowback, Bulk Air, CO2, Crossbow, Full Auto, GBB, Gas, PCP, Pellet, Pistol, Replica Airguns News, Rifle, Semi Auto, Single Shot, YouTube Video Tags: Umarex, SHOT Show 2020, SHOT Show

The Best Way to Hold Your Airgun

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I made a similar video about how to hold your airgun a while back but sometimes they get a bit buried in all the video I make. I feel it's really important how you grip your gun even if it's only an airgun with very little kick or recoil. Proper pistol grip is something you should use no matter what so that you can carry it forward to what ever gun you are shooting.

More kick or recoil means a firmer grip is required to hold the gun so when shooting a powder burner with lots of kick grip becomes even more important.

In this video I go over the proper two handed grip to use when holding a pistol, which hand to hold lose and which had to grip tight, how to overlap your fingers and thumbs.

Categories: Airsoft, BB, Break Barrel, CO2, Blowback, How To, Non Airguns, Paintball, Pellet, Pistol, Real Gun, YouTube Video Tags:

Why is My CO2 Airgun Not Working?

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One of the most common types of question I get on my Replica Airguns YouTube channel has to be something like… Why is my Airgun not working? Most of the time the amount of info about the problem is limited to something like… “It was working yesterday but now it’s not working anymore” or something like “when I pull the trigger nothing happens”. My personal favorite is… “I took my gun apart and now it doesn’t work!”

I just made a similar video for Blank Guns and as I said in that video, trying to trouble shoot a mechanical or technical problem over the internet is very difficult, this goes for cars, guns, computers or what have you…

In this Why is My CO2 Airgun Not Working video I will however cover some of the more common and obvious problems I have seen relating to why a CO2 Airgun may not be working properly. I really don’t get a lot of questions about Spring Piston or Pump Airguns so I will be focusing on CO2 Airguns in this video. There will be a lot of crossover with CO2 Airsoft guns so this video may be helpful for some of you Airsofters out there

First let’s get the super obvious stuff out of the way! 

  • Did you put a new CO2 cartridge in it and is it pierced all the way?

  • Did you load BB’s or Pellets into the Airguns magazine and is the magazine in the gun correctly?

  • Is the safety off?

  • If the gun is a blowback semi auto single action Airgun then did you pull the slide back prior to the first shot?

CO2 Related Problems:

Not all CO2 cartridges are created equal, they often have slightly different shaped nubs on them and some brands will work better than others in different Airguns. If the shape of the CO2 nub does not fit properly into the valve area then it may not pierce or it could pierce but then not allow you to tighten it all the way losing all the CO2 in the process. If the CO2 is coming form the airguns handle to CO2 Valve area then this is an indication that your problem is related to the area where the CO2 enters the airgun.

There is a seal where the CO2 cartridge buts up to the valve, this seal can be damaged or even deformed from usage or even leaving your CO2 in the gun for too long. The outside CO2 Valve seal can also take the shape of a specific CO2 nub so when you use a different brand CO2 the seal may not properly make concat with the new CO2 type you are using, again causing leaking or even the total loss of all your CO2. Watch my YouTube video on “How to Fix Leaking CO2 in an Airgun”.

CO2 Valve Related Problems:

Again, make sure that Outside CO2 Valve Seal is in good condition and any leaking is not being caused by this problem, if you have checked the Out Side Seal and everything is OK with it then perhaps there is a problem with the CO2 valve?

One indication that your CO2 Valve might be the culprit is the total loss of all your CO2 when you try to insert and tighten a new CO2 Cartridge. Usually all the CO2 will exit the barrel, not the handle or valve area. What may be happening is the valve is stuck open or the internal seal is broken or deformed. If this is the case you will have to remove the valve and have a look inside, this is a lot easier on CO2 airguns that have the CO2 valve in the magazine, if the CO2 valve is in the actual Airguns then a lot more disassembly may be required and I would recommend an Airgun technician take care of this for you.

If the gavel is in the magazine then you will have to unscrew it, you may require a special tool for this? Once the valve is out of the magazine  take a look inside and examine the internal seal, also look for any bits of metal shavings as they can disrupt the action of the valve causing leaking. Give the inside of the valve a good clean and then lubricate it with some silence spray. hopefully that fixes your problem!

BB’s getting Stuck in the Blowback Gas Tube:

I have actually made a dedicated video for this problem so I will put a link to it in the description of this video. The main reason people may have this problem is because we all like to rack that slide on our full blowback Airguns, but if you have a fully loaded magazine then each time you reach that slide without shooting the gun, you are inadvertently trying to load another BB into the breach area, the breach is only designed to hold one BB at a time so after a few racks of the slide the newly loaded have no place to go but into the Gas Tube where they can get stuck and cause having to the operation of your Full Blowback CO2 Airgun.

BB’s Rolling Out of the Barrel of Your CO2 Airgun:

This is not actually a fault of the gun but happens because of the way the gun is designed. This situation can happen with certain CO2 Airguns when the gun user pulls the trigger really slowly while the gun is point slightly in a downward position. What is actually happening is the first part of the trigger is made to draw a BB from the magazine into the breach of the gun. If the barrel of the gun does not have a rubber hop-up stopper in it then the BB is free to roll down the barrel and out of the gun. How do you fix this problem? Be more committed to your trigger pull and or shoot at a target that is not so low. Perhaps place your targets slightly higher than the gun so the barrel is not pointing down, especially if you like to take your time with the trigger :)

A Little Maintenance Can Go a Long Way!

Sometimes a good cleans is all you need to do to get things working as they should, again I have already made video Tutorial Showing “How to Clean Airguns and Blank Guns”.

What about stuff like My Airgun is jammed or my trigger is stuck or some random part fell out of my gun?

There is only so much I can cover in this video, most other problems are going to get a bit more complicated to fix and I suggest if your Airgun is not working and the suggestions I have made in this video do not solve your problem, then consider taking your gun into a gun tech.

Categories: 4.5mm / .177 cal, 6mm, Airsoft, BB, Blowback, CO2, GBB, How To, Pellet, Pistol, Review, Semi Auto, YouTube Video Tags:

Why is My Blank Gun Not Working?

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First off I want to say it’s hard to trouble shoot technical or mechanical problems over the internet regardless of if ithas to do with guns, cars, computers or pretty much anything where unless you are there in person it’s really hard to figure out the problem.

But I will attempt to address some of the more common issues why a blank gun may not be functioning properly.

Why is my Semi Auto Blank Gun Not Cycling or Ejecting Shells?

One very common reason a blank gun may not be cycling the shells properly is because the owner has removed the barrel restrictor plug. People usually do this to make the barrel opening look more realistic but the barrel restrictor is a necessary component to increase the back pressure allowing the slide to cycle fully to the rear position so it can eject and pickup a new shell.

The blanks you are using may not have enough gun powder in them. Some blank guns require banks with more gun powder than others, again this additional internal pressure forces the slide all the way back, if the blank does not have enough gun powder in it then only a partial slide motion happens and so the discharged shell may not eject properly, in this case the user would have to clear the blank gun manually so another shell can then be picked up and loaded into the breach.

If your blank guns is dirty or not lubricated then it may act sluggish again restricting the full movement of the slide which will effect correct operation. Make sure to thoroughly clean and lubricate your blank gun, that may be a quick fix for you!

You may have a faulty extractor? The extractor is like a hook that grabs the discharged shell while the slide is in the reward position pulling or extracting the shell out of the breach. If the extractor is worn or broken then the empty shell will not be ejected from the breach so when a new shell is picked up from the magazine it has nowhere to go and usually you will get a jam-up in the ejection port area.

One final situation that can cause your blank gun to not cycle properly is to strong of a slide spring, some blank guns out of the box just come with a really heavy slide spring, so much so that even blanks with lots of gunpowder in them are still not strong enough to make the slide operate full motion. Your only option here would be to replace the heavy slide spring with a lighter one.

Why Are My Blanks Not Firing?

This is a situation where you pull the trigger and nothing happens. Lets get the obvious causes right out of the way here… Did you put blanks in your gun and are they new blanks? Did you chamber the first round in your semi auto pistol?

So now that that’s out of the way let’s look at some other reasons why your blank gun may not be firing a blank. Perhaps the firing pin is broken? Most blank guns are not made out of carbon steel and even the firing pins can be lesser quality than what you would find in a real gun so blank guns are more prone to breaking than real guns. I have seen broken firing pins in blank guns first hand so make sure to check the firing pin and that it is fully operational.

Try changing up your blanks to another brand? Again blank gun ammunition is not made to the same higher standards that real firearm ammo is made and some primers may require a little more pressure than your gun is providing. Even with real guns an ammo change may help the gun operate better.

Why is the Trigger or Hammer Not Operating Properly?

I have come across blank guns where there are mechanical problems in the trigger and hammer areas, you may be able to address this yourself but I would recommend taking your blank gun to a gunsmith since you will have to take the gun pretty much full apart to fix a problem in the trigger and hammer areas.

Of course make sure your gun is clean and lubricated, this can help a lot with the mechanical areas of your blank gun.

One problem I saw with a few EKOL Special 99’s was specifically with the single action potion of the trigger, when I would pull the hammer back it would not lock back and the hammer would often slip and fire randomly, this is rather dangerous. When I took the gun apart I found that the table top or step that the trigger was supposed to catch on was worn down on the edge so it would simply slip off. I was able to fix this by filing a new edge on the step area. Again this can happen because blank guns are not made out of as high quality metal materials as real guns.

Why does the Flame Come out the Top of My Blank Gun and Not the Front?

If you find that the flame or discharge comes out of the top of your blank gun and not the barrel, this usually does not mean anything is wrong with your blank gun. All it means is you own a top venting blank gun and not a front firing blank gun. In some countries front firing blank guns are not allowed but front venting blank guns are. The same may also be reversed in some countries, for instance here in Canada we can only import front firing blank guns with flare adaptors since our blank guns are imported under the assumption that they are to be used as signaling or flare devices.

Can I Convert my Top Venting Blank Gun into a Front Venting Blank Gun?

I really don't recommend altering a blank gun in any way as it may be a violation of your local laws and it could cause the blank gun to malfunction in a very bad way causing serious injury or even death!

In theory I suppose it may be possible to convert your Top Venting Blank Gun into a Front Venting Blank Gun but again you would need to allow for just the right amount of back pressure so a wide open barrel would not work unless it was a revolver. You can not simply remove the red plug and bingo you have a front firing blank gun because in most cases the barrel will be completely plugged in the frontal region. Not only would you need to drill out the plugged portion of the barrel but you would also have to somehow fill in the top venting area and again makes sure to allow for just enough back pressure to cycle the slide back and forth.

Hopefully this has helped some of you with blank gun issues. If you’re looking for a blank gun make sure to come down to www.ReplicaAirguns.ca and www.ReplicaAirguns.us and have a look in our blank gun area of our online stores.

Categories: .22 cal, 380, 6mm, 8mm, 9mm, Blank Gun, How To, Pistol, Review, Revolver, Semi Auto, YouTube Video Tags:

Gletcher NGT NGT-R CO2 BB and Pellet Revolver Follow-up

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I already made several review videos for both Gletcher NGT (4.5mm Steel BB) and the Gletcher NGT R (.177 Cal Pellet) Revolvers, including table top and shooting videos. So make sure to check those videos out for more information on both versions of Gletcher NGT and NGT R Revolvers.

I did however miss some noteworthy details that I wanted to cover in this video. Firstly, the real steal Nagant M1895 Revolver this Gletcher NGT is styled after has a very unique gas-sealing system that the Airgun version does not replicate or really require but it is worth mentioning.

Here is some more info on how the original Nagant M1895 Revolver Gas Seal System works:

(From Wikipedia) The M1895 by contrast, has a mechanism which, as the hammer is cocked, first turns the cylinder and then moves it forward, closing the gap between the cylinder and the barrel. The cartridge, also unique, plays an important part in sealing the gun to the escape of propellant gases. The bullet is deeply seated, entirely within the cartridge case, and the case is slightly reduced in diameter at its mouth. The barrel features a short conical section at its rear; this accepts the mouth of the cartridge, completing the gas seal. By sealing the gap, the velocity of the bullet is increased by 15 to 45 m/s (50 to 150 ft/s.) This feature also eliminates the possibility of injury through the dangerous expansion of gases from the cylinder behind the barrel, which are easily capable of severing a finger if the user holds the gun incorrectly (with a finger positioned in front of the cylinder during fire) - a noted safety-issue in conventional revolvers.

Moving on to some of the features incorporated into the Gletcher NGT NGT-R CO2 BB and Pellet Revolver that I did not point in any of my previous videos. There is an extractor rod that can be used to extract a shell, this is not really necessary on the airgun version since the shells do not expand and tighten on the cylinder as they would n the real steal Nagant M1895 Revolver built is nice that we can replicate this feature with the Airgun version. You can also remove the cylinder completely from both the BB and Pellet shooting Gletcher NGT NGT-R CO2 Revolvers. The cylinder is actually very heavy and adds a lot of weight to this compact 7 shot Revolver.

It is always nice when an Airgun is built in such a way that it replicates the real steal version as closely as possible and the Gletcher NGT NGT-R CO2 BB and Pellet Revolvers do this nearly perfectly.

Categories: 4.5mm / .177 cal, BB, CO2, How To, Pellet, Pistol, Review, Revolver, YouTube Video Tags: Gletcher, NGT, NGT R

How to Get Rid of That Ugly White Writing on Your Airgun

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I get asked on a daily bases form many of my Vimeo Viewers about how and if there is a way to get rid of the White lettering on Airguns, Typically people are wanting to remove the intrusive Warning instructions from Airguns like the Cybergun Tanfoglio Witness 1911, the Cybergun/Swiss Arms GSG 92/P92 and many other CO2 Replica Airguns that have lettering or branding that you may want to get rid of.

In this Instructional Tutorial Video I show you how can at least tone down the white lettering and even completely remove it on some Airguns without damaging the Airguns finish underneath the white lettering. You will have to use some patience and perhaps repeat this method a few times but the end result is worth the effort.

The magical product I use to remove the white lettering on many popular Airguns is a product from Birchwood Casey called the Presto Gun Blue Pen. This product is actually designed to touch up real steel gun in areas where the blueing has worn off, lucky for us the Birchwood Casey Presto Gun Blue Pen also works well to remove the ugly white lettering from Airguns.

Categories: 4.5mm / .177 cal, 6mm, Airsoft, BB, Blowback, CO2, How To, Pellet, Pistol, Review, Revolver, Semi Auto, YouTube Video Tags: Cybergun, KWC, Umarex

Which Shells Work in Which Shell Loading Revolvers?

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I have often been asked which of the Shells for the Shell Loading Revolvers work in which Shell Loading Revolvers? After all many of them look a lot alike so can you mix and match Shells for the various types of Shell Loading Revolvers?

In this Vimeo Instructional Video I test out a bunch of Shells to see which ones actually will work or not work in several of the most popular Shell Loading Revolvers.

Some of the Shell Loading Revovers Tested in this Instructional Video are:

Categories: 4.5mm / .177 cal, 6mm, Airsoft, BB, CO2, Comparison, How To, Pellet, Pistol, Review, Revolver, YouTube Video Tags: 357, ASG, Colt Single Action Army, Dan Wesson, Dan Wesson 715, G731, Gletcher, KWC, NGT, NGT R, Umarex, Webley