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 anteing similar to a pellet or even BB rifles or pistol but I hop 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 nessiscarry 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…
To start things off with my Field Test Shooting Video of the Umarex Marlin Lever Action Spring BB Rifle, I shoot 5 rounds through my Chronograph to see what the real world velocity is in fps. Umarex claims around 300 fps. I was able to average right around 274 fps so not far off of the claim. My lowest performing shot was 270 fps with the fastest shot hitting 278 fps, so all very close in velocity which is typical of a spring piston Airgun, this will help with consistent accuracy especially in terms of elevation.
When it comes to the accuracy, the Umarex Marlin Lever Action Spring BB Rifle did as well or perhaps even better than my other testing using previous Red Ryder type Air Rifles. If I through out one flyer I got, my 10 shot grouping was able to get around a 2 inch grouping that was overall well centered on the target, maybe juts a hair to the right. Even with the flyer the grouping spread out to a 3 inch grouping. I am pretty sure I could do better as this was the first time shooting this rifle. Keep in mind as I have to work the lever action for each shot that requires me to hold the rifle straight up and down in order for proper BB loading, this means I need to fully reset my hands on the sand bag and re-aim for each shot which will effect accuracy consistency a bit. Still a good result.
All in all I do really like the Umarex Marlin Lever Action Spring BB Rifle, mainly as it has a longer shoulder pull more suitable for adults. I feel adults get left out a bit in terms of target marketing with the standard Red Ryder which is a very compact BB Rifle with a short shoulder pull more suited for kids and youth shooters. This makes the Umarex Marlin Lever Action Spring BB Rifle more comfortable to shoot as an adult but will still work for youth and kids as is is not too large in size or heavy or even very hard to work the lever action. Now the whole family can really take part in the fun experience of shooting a Red Ryder type BB Rifle!
Type: Lever Action Rifle Manufacturer: Distributed by Umarex. Model:Marlin Cowboy Lever Action BB Rifle. Materials: Metal and plastic. Weight: 2.59 pounds (1.2kg). Total Length: 36.69 inches (93.2cm). Barrel: 16 inches (40.6cm) metal rifled. Propulsion: Spring. Action: Lever. Ammunition Type: 4.5mm steel BB’s. Ammunition Capacity: 650 in hopper. FPS: Claimed 300.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on Umarex Marlin Cowboy Lever Action BB Rifle is just about right for a rifle like this at 5 pounds with a medium to short pull length. I would say it is perfect for just about all shooter including novice shooters as it is not overly light, so as not to go off by accident and not too heavy so as to affect your accuracy. The Umarex Marlin Cowboy Lever Action BB Rifle trigger is considered a single action only trigger as it is only active after each cycle of the lever action which also is required to chamber a BB round.
Accuracy: My dedicated field test shooting video will be coming up over the next couple of weeks. So for now I have no idea what to expect in terms of velocity and accuracy from the Umarex Marlin Cowboy Lever Action BB Rifle, other than the claimed 300 fps which is what you can expect from the similar Red Ryder BB Rifle. Accuracy in general for a BB Rifle like this can be hit or miss. From past shooting experiences testing out the Red Ryder and first version of the Crosman Marlin Cowboy BB Rifle, they both shot decent from about 30 feet away, but I would have to say the Red Ryder did perform more consistently getting a tighter grouping than the Crosman Marlin Cowboy. Hopefully this Umarex newer version performs up to par.
Build Quality: The Umarex Marlin Cowboy Lever Action BB Rifle has overall good build quality with a metal barrel, receiver, rear sight and lever. The stock is plastic along with the front sight and the trigger but it does look and feel well made with all the mechanical parts feeling solid and tight. It does feel much heavier in the hand than the claimed 2.59 pounds. I would have preferred a metal trigger, not sure why Umarex went with a plastic trigger?
Realism: The Umarex Marlin Cowboy Lever Action BB Rifle is essentially styled after the Old West Lever Action Cowboy Rifle, and it has everything one would expect other than loading shells which is available in other CO2 poweredLever Action Air Rifles if you don’t mind paying a premium for one of them. The lever does not work the cycling of the bolt but rather it pre-cooks the internal spring that provides the air pressure and power. The lever does load a single 4.5mm Steel BB with each crank of the action. I do like that the Umarex Marlin Cowboy Lever Action BB Rifle has a full shoulder pull stock more suitable for larger shooters which does all add to the realism rather than having a super short rear stock.
Pros:
Easy to pump.
Fit and finish looks good for an inexpensive Airguns, seems very well made.
In terms of realism it does look like a classic old west lever action rifle for the most part.
Holds 650 BB’s in the hopper for quicker follow up shooting and virtually unlimited ammo.
Official Marlin licensing and branding via Umarex.
Rear peep sight is metal and is also adjustable for elevation.
Trigger pull is pretty decent, not too light but is medium-short and about 5 pounds.
Metal lever feels a lot better than as plastic one and will be more durable.
Shoulder pull length is much longer than a standard kids type Red Ryder BB Rifle.
Plastic stock has nice texturing that helps with grip and looks.
Cons:
No sight adjustments for windage.
Overall Power is lower than other CO2 BB and Pellet Rifles but still is adequate for it’s intended purpose.
Would have liked a metal front sight and trigger.
Comments:
The Umarex Marlin Cowboy Lever Action BB Rifle in my opinion is really built for adult shooters that want to join in on the fun with perhaps their kids or other youth shooters shooting something like a Red Ryder. The longer shoulder pull feels a lot more natural for larger shooters and I do feel like the Umarex Marlin Cowboy Lever Action BB Rifle just feels a bit more like a full size Lever Action Rifle. Performance wise, I dolt think we are going to see anything much different than what we are already getting from a standard Red Ryder or first generation Marlin Cowboy BB Rifle. That’s really OK since this type of rifle is made for good old fun, blasting pop cans and plastic army men with a friend. And with some time shooting one you can get pretty accurate with one of these BB rifles too.
Here is video four 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 fourth Full Auto Fun video, I retest the Barra 400e 4.5mm BB AEG Full Auto BB Rifle in full auto this time, and try a bit of a different camera angle approach with my HoverAir Drone Camera switching it to follow mode as it doesn’t stop recording so easily in this mode. And as expected, it worked a lot better for me with this setup and continued recording the entire video. I also recoded using my Meta Glasses to get the first person view and like the other videos I placed my Insta360 X4 camera on the barrel again to get some cool up front gun angle shots. I think this setup works well and will probably use it for future Full Auto Fun Videos where I am running around the yard shooting stuff. Maybe there will be a couple more bonus guns in this years Full Auto Fun Series? No promises!
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 don’t get to test out Bolt Action Airsoft Sniper type Rifles all that often but I do enjoy them for sure. I would like to test out the S&T Matrix KAR98K Bolt Action Airsoft Rifle using longer ranges than I can here in the Replica Airguns Indoor Sea Can Shooting Range but hopefully this Filed Test Review gives you an idea of what this Spring powered Bolt Action Airsoft Rifle can do. Make sure to watch my Table Top Review for the S&T Matrix KAR98K Bolt Action Airsoft Rifle for details, specifications and closer up video. In this video I mainly test out the velocity and accuracy at 30 feet away to see what the actual fps is and how tight of a 10 shot grouping I can get on a paper target.
Starting with the velocity test, I generally put 5 rounds through my Chronograph and then average them out for a real world rating. In this test I used standard .20 gram Airsoft BB’s for both the velocity and accuracy components of the video. I was very impressed with the consistency of the velocity with the slowest shot hitting 362 fps and the fastest shot hitting 363 fps averaging 362.5 fps and only having a 1 fps maximum difference between all shots. Pretty good right? Consistent velocity is very important for any sniper type rifle as if there is a large spread in velocity this can reduce elevation accuracy down range.
In terms of accuracy I was again very impressed with my results. For my target test I setup a fresh paper target 30 feet away and proceeded to shoot 10 rounds into it. I did have to reset for each shot as I had to manually work the bolt after each shot, this can affect accuracy but it did not seem to all that much. I was using a seated position in the back with my hands rested on a sand bag up front which does hep settle things down. Even with having to reset between each shot, I still managed to get close to a 1 inch 10 shot grouping, one shot did shoot just a bit high but that was probably me pulling it a bit. Out of the box with no sight adjustments the S&T Matrix KAR98K Bolt Action Airsoft Rifle shot almost dead center in the bullseye, it is fairly easy to adjust the elevation using the rear sight but there is no easy way to adjust for windage using the built in iron sights.
I know this is a Field Test Shooting Video and so it’s not really all about build or quality. That said I do love the quality and attention to detail the S&T Matrix KAR98K Bolt Action Airsoft Rifle has and the fact that it performs really well too is a big bonus. One last point I did not even mention in the Field Test Video is that Was able to load a lot more than 11 rounds into the magazine. I stoped at 19 as the spring was getting on the tight side, but may have been able to load more? If you’re looking for a sniper rifle with a history and that will stand out in a game then take a look at the S&T Matrix KAR98K Bolt Action Airsoft Rifle as an option.
Type: Airsoft Rifle. Manufacturer: S&T Model: KAR98K Materials: Metal & Wood. Weight: 3300 grams (7.28 pounds). Total Length: 1120mm (44.1 inches). Barrel: 483mm (19 inches) Smooth bore. Power Source: Spring Piston. Action: Bolt Action - Single Action Only. Ammo Type: 6mm Airsoft BB. AmmoCapacity: 11 Round Magazine. FPS: 380-420.
Trivia: The Karabiner 98 kurz (German: "carbine 98 short", often abbreviated Kar98k or K98k and often incorrectly referred to as a K98 (which was a Polish Carbine) is a bolt-action rifle chambered for the 7.9257mm Mauser cartridge that was adopted on 21 June 1935 as the standard service rifle by the German Wehrmacht. It was one of the final developments in the long line of Mauser military rifles. Although supplemented by semi- and fully automatic rifles during World War II, it remained the primary German service rifle until the end of the war in 1945. Millions were captured by the Soviets at the conclusion of World War II and were widely distributed as military aid. The Karabiner 98k, therefore, continues to appear in conflicts across the world as they are taken out of storage during times of strife.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on S&T Matrix KAR98K Bolt Action Airsoft Rifle is a single action only trigger as the bolt action not only compresses the spring but also readies the trigger for release making the trigger pull short and light. There is a short amount of takeup with a crisp and light release.
Accuracy: I have not shot the S&T Matrix KAR98K Bolt Action Airsoft Rifle so far but plan to make a full dedicated Field Test Shooting Video shortly to find out what the actual real world velocity and accuracy will be. So stay posted for my upcoming shooting test in a few weeks time…
Build Quality: The build quality for the S&T Matrix KAR98K Bolt Action Airsoft Rifle is really good as it is made almost exclusively of either metal or wood. The stock is finished in a dark walnut stain and the metal has a rustic finish about it which is what you would find in a real steel aged version. You will also find a CNC Aluminum body along with a Reinforced metal barrel, bolt assembly and internals. The S&T KAR98K has a quality feel about it inside and out.
Realism: As mentioned earlier the finishes has a less refined look adding to the realism, that combined with the real wood stock really makes this Bolt Action Airsoft Rifle supper believable as a Replica Airgun. The only real giveaway is when you pull the bolt back and it is a solid unit with no visibility in to the magazine area. Other than that the S&T Matrix KAR98K Bolt Action Airsoft Rifle is a solid copy of the real steel version.
Pros:
Super believable replica of the real Kar98k.
Very solid build quality weighing over 7 pounds.
Realistic materials including the real wood stock.
CNC Aluminum body.
Reinforced metal barrel, bolt assembly and internals.
No need for a battery or to use CO2 or gas.
Adjustable rear sight on the fly for elevation.
Bolt action feels smooth.
Easy to adjust Hop-up.
Cons:
Does come with a red tip (should be able to remove).
Rear sight not adjustable for windage.
No sling included, would have been nice.
Bolt does not allow to see into magazine area.
Comments:
The S&T Matrix KAR98K Bolt Action Airsoft Rifle looks and feels the part for sure and has a lot of quality going on with it’s real wood stock and quality metal throughout. I love the finish of not only the wood stock but also the metal parts as they have a less refined and aged quality about them that would be similar as to how a real World War 2 rifle would look today. If you want an ultra realist bolt action World War 2 Carbine that you can shoot almost anywhere, then look no further. OK the sticker price on this one is a bit higher than some, but again so is the quality so if that's important to you be prepared to pay a bit more.
Airguns are generally cheaper to buy and for sure cheaper to shoot. Airguns can cost as little as $50-100 to buy while real guns in similar models will cost many time more. Cost of ammo is so much less expensive than Real Gun ammo by a mile!
Difficulty to Obtain:
Airguns in most countries do not require any licensing or registration. Generally there are more available options in Airgun choices than Real Gun choices as restrictions often prohibit many Real Guns to be obtained.
Places to Shoot:
Unless you live in a super remote locations and your laws allow you to shoot Real Guns in those locations, then in most cases you can shoot an Airgun almost anywhere within reason. You can even shoot certain Airgun models in your basement. Airsoft is a great option for indoor shooting as the plastic ammo does not carry very much energy so with minimal effort you can make a backstop that will trap the ammo very well.
Trigger Time:
Because ammo is much less expensive and places you can shoot are easier to find, you can get a lot more Trigger Time under your belt which will also improve your shotgun with Real Guns and after all it’s just fun to shoot guns even if they are Airguns.
Safety:
I am not talking about safety in terms of protection. I am talking about safety as in if you do something stupid and your Gun goes off accidentally. If you accidentally fire your Airgun indoors, the bullet will not travel through floors or walls and potentially harm or kill someone on the other side. If you do manage to shoot yourself with an Airgun, the consequence are much less severe than shooting yourself with a Real Gun. That said, always treat an Airgun as if it was a Real Loaded Gun, as server injury and even death can occur even with an Airgun.
Ware Games and Training Situations:
There is no way you can use a standard Real Gun to shoot at people, unless extensively altered with special parts that make the Real Gun unusable to shoot live ammo. With Airguns you have the choice of using an Airsoft or Paintball gun that are both designed specifically for this purpose.
Pest Control:
If you have the need for pest control in an urban area where you do not want a stray bullet to travel too far or penetrate buildings if a shot where to go awry, then an Airgun designed for accuracy and power may be perfect for the job. Accuracy with target and hunting Airguns is on par if not better than many Real Guns and are have powerful enough to kill a pest humanely without having too much power for the job and having to worry as much about your background.
Prop Guns:
As mentioned already, Airguns can look a lot like Real Guns, so they are perfect to be used as a stand-in or Prop Gun when you need to simulate the look and function of a Real Gun. Again they are easier and cheaper to obtain and if something does go wrong, the consequences are much less severe.
Social Stigma:
Unfortunately Real Guns and perhaps any gun these days are looked upon with a social stigma as being the cause of the Crime rather than a tool used in a Crime. And so people blame Guns for these crimes rather than the people committing these crimes. If a person is motivated enough to do something bad, they are going to do it either way and will use whatever means is available to them to commit these Crimes. Including other means like: Knives, Blunt Objects, Poisons, Vehicles, Explosives… Sad but true! Airguns are not used in homicides or mass shootings as they are completely underpowered for a crime like this. They can however be used in crimes as a show of threat, as they do look a lot like real guns, generally people that use Airguns for real crimes, if challenged will give up immediately as they are completely outgunned. Don’t bring an Airgun to a Real Gun fight, you have better chance with a knife!
This review shows that low cost Airguns can perform just like higher priced Airguns. They may not be as realistic and all made out of metals for that added weight and feel but in terms of power and accuracy they can still get the job done as is with the Umarex NXG CO2 BB Pump Shotgun! In this Field Test Shooting Review I do just that, I test the power and accuracy first by shooting 5 rounds through my Chronograph to find out what the real world fps is, I then I shot 10 rounds down range at a fresh paper target to see what kind of grouping I can get and if the Umarex NXG CO2 BB Pump Shotgun is sighted in on the target out of the box.
Starting with the velocity test I first placed a brand new 12 gram CO2 into the Umarex NXG CO2 BB Pump Shotgun and loaded up the 10 rounds rotary magazine with Daisy Zinc Coated 4.5 mm Steel BB’s. The temperature was around 22 degrees Celsius which is 72 degrees Fahrenheit in the sea can indoor shooting range so not too warm or cold. The claimed fps from Umarex is 450, I was able to get an average of 403fps with the fastest shot hitting 425fps and the slowest shooting down to 388fps. So a bit under the Umarex claimed velocity but in the ball park.
Next I performed the accuracy test for the Umarex NXG CO2 BB Pump Shotgun and since the sights are non adjustable you kind of hope that where you aim is where the shots go but if they don’t then you will need to adjust your aim point just a bit. Out of the box the Umarex NXG CO2 BB Pump Shotgun did shoot a bit low but was fairly bang on side to side so when shooting at around 30 feet out you will need to aim just a tad over the intended target. Out of 10 shots, 8 rounds where all within a nice 1.5 inch grouping with a couple of flyers that I kind of want to keep out of this test because it was probably more me than the gun causing them to go off a bit. 1.5 inches is very good for a 4.5mm Steel BB Airgun!
All in all the Umarex NXG CO2 BB Pump Shotgun shot right around 400fps which is for sure a step up for something like a Red Ryder BB Rifle that at best can shoot 300fps. You also don’t have to work the pump as hard as you would the lever on a Red Ryder since the Umarex NXG CO2 BB Pump Shotgun is CO2 powered rather than spring powered. I also feel like the Umarex NXG Pump Shot was more accurate than the Red Ryder at least for me but that said some people can hit a nickel all day long with their Red Ryders! There are not a lot of Pump Action Looking Airguns out there in 4.5mm Steel BB versions and in more compact easier for younger or smaller shooters so if you fall into that category and want something in a shotgun format then the Umarex NXG CO2 BB Pump Shotgun may be perfect for you.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Umarex NXG CO2 BB Pump Shotgun is pretty decent, there is a short task up and fairly easy release as the pump action not only turns the rotary magazine but also cocks the internal hammer/striker system. So you will need to pump it before your first shot and after each shot.
Accuracy: I have not Field Test Reviewed the Umarex NXG CO2 BB Pump Shotgun yet but will be making a full Fields Test Review this week to find out what to expect in terms of accuracy and velocity. So we will find out if the fps is closer to the on the box specs of 450 fps or the mostly online specs of 490 fps. Perhaps somewhere in-between?
Build Quality: The Umarex NXG CO2 BB Pump Shotgun is almost all plastic which is not a bad thing in terms of quality and durability. The fact that it only weighs in at 2 pounds may make it feel kind of light and cheap but in a drop or fall situation it means it will most lily not sustain any damage because of the light weight. Most of todays airguns when made out of metals generally are made out of pot metal or zinc alloy which is a nice heavy metal that looks and feels great but is not super strong so when you drop a heavier gun made out of this material it can easily get damaged.
Realism: The Umarex NXG CO2 BB Pump Shotgun looks like a traditional pump action shotgun and even has a little bit of a recessed barrel to make it more believable but it is smaller in size since it is designed more for younger and smaller shooters. The light weight is not only a giveaway but makes ti feel more like a toy than a real gun. If you can ignore that then hopefully you can enjoy the Umarex NXG CO2 BB Pump Shotgun for what it is which is a low cost compact BB rifle made for customs interested in Airguns liek the Red Ryder but that perhaps want a bit more power.
Pros:
Low cost CO2 rifle great for all ages and sizes.
Has a fiber optic front sight.
Comes in a nice looking two tone Black/FDE color scheme.
Fairly easy to pump since the pumping action is not required to activate a spring or compress air.
Built in manual thumb safety.
Stock and high check rest position feel good and a good size length for smaller younger shooters.
Rotary drop out magazine holds 10 4.5mm steel BB’s for quick follow up shots.
Trigger feels pretty good, short and fairly light.
Full ambidextrous design.
Perhaps a step up for entry level shooter over a Red Ryder type BB rifle in terms of power.
Overall a decent looking air rifle.
Cons:
Mostly plastic, so a bit on the light weight side.
Sights are not adjustable in any way.
May be a bit cramped for larger shooters.
Comments: The Umarex NXG CO2 BB Pump Shotgun is not going to win any prizes for quality and realism but keep in mind it is really designed more for entry level younger shooters getting into the Airgun hobby. For them this will be not so intimidating as a larger, heavier more realistic version of a replica Shotgun. I think it will be realistic enough for most new Airgun Shooters and in terms of performance and features it is for sure a step up form something like a Red Ryder BB Rifle. I am looking forward to my upcoming Field Test Shooting Review out what the actual velocity is and what kind of groupings I can get shooting 30 feet down range on a paper target.
My Table Top Video of the Umarex NXG CO2 BB Pump Shotgun:
In this Field Test Shooting Video I test out the BARRA 400e Full Auto AEG 4.5mm BB Rifle to test out the velocity along with the accuracy and also get an idea on what the rate of fire is in Full Auto mode as on the box it claims 550 rounds per minute using what I would assume is a 7.4 volt battery. I wanted to test the BARRA 400e using an 11.1 volt battery but mine died on me. I will more than likely make a short video where I test out the 11.1 volt battery to see how this effects the rate of fire. If you want more information on specifications and details for the BARRA 400e then check my Table Table Video for it here.
Starting with testing out the Velocity for the BARRA 400e Full Auto AEG 4.5mm BB Rifle I shoot 6 rounds through my Chronograph to average out the fps and I was able to average 385 fps which is fairly close to the claimed 410 fps. Temperature does not effect an AEG as no CO2 is being used. Battery voltage also does not effect velocity as long as there is enough voltage to make the AEG motor pull the spring all the way back. Only trigger delay and rounds per minute are effected by battery voltage.
Moving on to my accuracy findings, I loaded up a full 50 round magazine and first unloaded 10 rounds fairly quickly into my paper target setup 30 feet down range shooting from a seated shooting position with the BARRA 400e resting on a sand bag up front. I was impressed to get close to a 1 inch 10 round grouping that placed just a little to the left and down from the bullseye right out of the box. I could easily center the sights as they are fully adjustable. I then switched the BARRA 400e Full Auto AEG 4.5mm BB Rifle to full auto and shot the remaining 40 or so rounds into the same paper target and even though the grouping opened up a little bit, it was not by much so accuracy in semi and full auto is very good with the BARRA 400e.
I have to say the rate of fire on the BARRA 400e Full Auto AEG 4.5mm BB Rifle using a 7.4 volt battery is rather slow even compared to other Airsoft AEG Full Auto Airguns but I still yet have to test it out using a brand new 11.1 volt Lithium battery so I do expect the rate of fire to improve a noticeable amount. Stay posted for that update video. Even with the slower rate of fire from the BARRA 400e this gun is awesome, it is really accurate and the velocity stays super consistent since CO2 cool down is not a factor. The mostly all metal construction and overall quality is very good and the fact that this is really the first commercial AEG 4.5mm Steel BB Rifle makes that alone a great reason to pick one up.
I have another Full Auto Fun Video this one focusing on 4.5mm Steel BB Versus 6mm Plastic and which one is better in terms of accuracy and shredding power. I perform this super scientific test by shooting obviously in full auto two comparable Steel BB and Plastic Airsoft Rifles at a paper target setup 20 feet away with a magazine as a backer so I can see what the accuracy is like and how much of the paper magazine gets shredded by each ammo being tested.
I have split this video into three separate videos, in video one I compare two similar AR styled rifles, a CO2 powered Blowback 4.5mm BB Rifle to a Gas Blowback 6mm Airsoft Rifle. In video two I compare two AK type Blowback Rifles to each otters, again a CO2 4.5mm Steel BB along with a Gas 6mm Airsoft.
And lastly in Video three I compare my top picks for each category which include a non-Blowback CO2 4.5mm BB Machine gun to an AEG 6mm Airsoft Rifle.
I have another Full Auto Fun Video this one focusing on 4.5mm Steel BB Versus 6mm Plastic and which one is better in terms of accuracy and shredding power. I perform this super scientific test by shooting obviously in full auto two comparable Steel BB and Plastic Airsoft Rifles at a paper target setup 20 feet away with a magazine as a backer so I can see what the accuracy is like and how much of the paper magazine gets shredded by each ammo being tested.
I have split this video into three separate videos, in video one I compare two similar AR styled rifles, a CO2 powered Blowback 4.5mm BB Rifle to a Gas Blowback 6mm Airsoft Rifle. In video two I compare two AK type Blowback Rifles to each otters, again a CO2 4.5mm Steel BB along with a Gas 6mm Airsoft.
And lastly in Video three I compare my top picks for each category which include a non-Blowback CO2 4.5mm BB Machine gun to an AEG 6mm Airsoft Rifle.
I have another Full Auto Fun Video this one focusing on 4.5mm Steel BB Versus 6mm Plastic and which one is better in terms of accuracy and shredding power. I perform this super scientific test by shooting obviously in full auto two comparable Steel BB and Plastic Airsoft Rifles at a paper target setup 20 feet away with a magazine as a backer so I can see what the accuracy is like and how much of the paper magazine gets shredded by each ammo being tested.
I have split this video into three separate videos, in video one I compare two similar AR styled rifles, a CO2 powered Blowback 4.5mm BB Rifle to a Gas Blowback 6mm Airsoft Rifle. In video two I compare two AK type Blowback Rifles to each otters, again a CO2 4.5mm Steel BB along with a Gas 6mm Airsoft.
And lastly in Video three I compare my top picks for each category which include a non-Blowback CO2 4.5mm BB Machine gun to an AEG 6mm Airsoft Rifle.
This is Video 2 of the Full Auto Fun 2022 video series where I shoot my Crosman AK1 Duel CO2 Full Auto BB Machine Gun at some water filled cans and a paper gel target just for some good old fun times! In Video 1 which is already posted, I tested out the Crosman A4-P Duel CO2 Full Auto BB Gun. And in Video 3 which I have not posted yet I will be shooting the Air Ordnance SMG .22 which is a PCP powered Full Auto .22 Caliber Pellet Machine Gun to finish this 2022 Full Auto Fun Series off.
