I had the pleasure of interviewing Mark from Umarex again at SHOT Show 2025 and Mark went over some of the new products from Umarex coming out this year. Make started of by showing me two new MOS (Modular Optic System) Gen 5 Glocks in a Glock 17 and Glock 19 versions. Both come with Umarex based red dot sights but you can change them up for something different if you choose to down the road. We then took a look at the new Umarex AER16 AR AEG Rifle in 4.5mm Steel BB rather than 6mm Airsoft similar to the Barra e400 that came out last year. In a nutshell it is a battery/spring operated 4.5mm Steel BB Full Auto AR Replica. Mark then showed us some A&L AK based AEG Airsoft Rifles they are now distributing that feature Full steel body construction with high-quality real laminated wood handguard and skeletal folding stocks. These are one to one in terms of size and weight adn very detailed. We then finished up the interview taking a look at the Legends Saddle Lever Action Shell Loading Rifle and the Umarex Smith & Wesson Competitor Shell Loading revolver.
Luckily I was able to find some time with James again this year and James gave us all the new details on some of the KWA updated and new products. Starting with the KWA ATP-Z Blowback Airsoft Training Pistol added recently to the KWA lineup, James also showed us a few versatile Carbine Pistol Kits made specifically for the ATP-Z and ATP-GT Pistols. Not yet fully released, James went over their updated TAC-9 hopefully coming out this year. We then got a nice tour of the updated Radian Model 1 AEG Airsoft Rifle with built in recoil system also built into KWA’s Q10 AEG Airsoft Rifle.
I spoke with Jacob from Barra and he went over a lot of new products adn updated products Barra is introducing this year. We discussed some new PCP Air Rifles with Canada import options, Jacob went over some new updates to their 1866 Muti-pump BB and Pellet Lever Action Rifle, and he went over Barra’s Gen 2 400e AEG BB rifle which include a higher capacity magazine, an increased velocity and unproved internal tolerances for smoother BB flow. Lastly Barra is introducing high grade 4.5mm BB’s that a re procession ground to be more uniform for improved accuracy and better BB feeding. Great for full auto guns.
It was nice to run into ASG (Action Sports Games) right away and talk with Bob for ASG. Bob always has a great understanding of the ASG product line and each year I Interview him and find out all the news and updated product in the ASG lineup. This year Bob’s goes over the new ASG CZ P-10 C CO2 Blowback BB Pistol, the Action Army C1 Pro Bolt Action CO2 Airsoft Rifle, ASG’s new Frag Impact Sound Grenades, along with some new additions to the Shadow 2 Series of Airsoft Pistols. Was a great start to this years SHOT Show 2025!
I’m back from SHOT Show 2025 Las Vegas and finished transferring and uploading all the video from all the cameras we shot it all on. We had a great time, we met a lot of great folks at the booths and it’s now time to put it all together and make some videos for everyone so I can share the experience!
I always like to put out a “Teaser Video” with some quick clips of the entire experience including some of the travels, a bit of the resort we stayed at, shots of Vegas and of course lots of the SHOT Show 2025 experience along with the booths we visited. Enjoy this quick preview and stay posted for my upcoming Interview Videos shortly…
Type: Multi-Ammo Pistol. Distributer:Alies Airguns. Model:GEM. Materials: Mostly metal with some plastic build. Weight: Barrel dependent. Total Length: Barrel dependent 3.5 inches (89mm) with BB and Airsoft Barrels. Barrel: Barrel dependent 2 inches (51mm) with BB and Airsoft Barrels Propulsion: 8 or 12 gram CO2 (12 Gram CO2 required adaptor sold separately). Action: Break Barrel / Single shot. Ammunition Type: 4.5mm Steel BB's / 6mm Airsoft BB’s (Can also purchase .117 Pellet, .50 & .43 cal Paintball, 9mm Arrow Barrels) Ammunition Capacity: 1 round. FPS: up to 400 using 4.5mm Steel BB’s.
Trigger Pull: The Alias GEM Multi Ammo Mini CO2 Airgun is a true single action only pistol that requires the pulling back of the hammer for each shot. This does give it a very nice trigger action that is short to medium in length with an easy release. The makeup is about medium for a single action trigger with a bit of an unpredictable release as there is no point in time that you feel it breaking on you. This can be good or bad depending on how you like your triggers as it is hard to tel when ti will actually release but the smoothness makes it a good trigger overall in my opinion
Accuracy: I have not shot the Alias GEM Multi Ammo Mini CO2 Airgun at all so far as it requires 8 gram CO2 and so I am waiting on the 12 gram adaptor for it before I can even give it a quick try. I will be making a full Field test Review for it swapping between a bunch of barrel options to see how each barrel adn ammo type performs in terms of power adn accuracy so stay posted for that video down the road a bit.
Build Quality: Build quality for the Alias GEM Multi Ammo Mini CO2 Airgun is very good with an almost all metal build other than the front and back sights, the trigger, the safety adn the barrel release. I kind of wish these parts were also metal as the rest of the Airgun is so pristine! The weight of this pistol feels very dense as it is so small yet has a good weight. The fir and finishes is all very good with the chrome finish on most parts and even the inclusion of what I believe are real gem stones on each side of the grips. The mechanical parts are also smooth and precise.
Realism: As far as I know the Alias GEM Multi Ammo Mini CO2 Airgun is not a replica of any production real steel gun that I am aware of. It looks to me like some sort of futuristic compact laser pistol? In terms of gun shape and what we are use to in terms of what a gun is it checks most of the boxes but it is it’s own design for sure.
Pros:
Super compact design, probably the smallest Airgun available.
Multiple quick change barrel and ammo options.
Mostly all metal build, very high quality materials.
Nice smooth and light SAO trigger.
Able to also use 12 gram CO2 with optional adapter.
Comes in different colors (red or black).
Decent velocity up to 400 fps depending on ammo type.
Eye-catching chrome and gemstone detailing make it a collector's piece.
Cons:
Uses 8 grams CO2 standard, harder to get and more expensive.
Only a single shot, not an action shooter.
On the pricy side at over $300 Canadian.
Comments:
I have to say that the Alias GEM Multi Ammo Mini CO2 Airgun is not going to be for everyone as the price point is up there a bit for such a simple single action gun. That said it is super unique and the quality adn design is top notch. It may in fact be the smallest CO2 Airgun on the market adn you can literally put it in your front pocket easily. That combined with all the barrel and ammo options makes it super flexible if you plan on shooting a variety of different ammo types. Like I said in the video you may even be able to get away with buying it as a gift for your wife or girlfriend since it technically can be defined as being jewelry with the imbedded Gem stones in the grips. That may be a bit of a stretch unless she is also an Airgun fan.
Trigger Pull: The single action only trigger pull on the Umarex DSX 45 Spring BB Pistol is actually pretty decent. I would say it has a short to medium length with only a little bit of light take up and then an easy release that has no additional friction. You will have to cock the slide back for each shot which also cocks the hammer back allowing for a true single action trigger. The trigger its self is not like a traditional 1911 trigger in terms of looks but it does work well.
Accuracy: I have briefly shot the Umarex DSX 45 Spring BB Pistol so I could make some initial comments about its performance as it is a very new product to me. I will be making a full Field Test Shooting Video down the road but for now I can say it performed a lot better than I was expecting. The claimed 240 fps seems believable to me as shots at 20 feet hit the target with very little delay and even at 30 feet the delay was acceptable. In terms of accuracy, out of the box, for the most part hit the target at both 20 adn 30 feet very close to where I was aiming which is what you are hopping for.
Build Quality: Build quality for the Umarex DSX 45 Spring BB Pistol is also better than I would expect from a $29 Canadian almost all plastic BB Pistol. Everything felt nice and tight and fit and finish was good in general. There is even some metal where they could have gone with cheaper plastic, for example it has a metal trigger and slide catch release that is actually the safety. Of course the barrel and some other internal parts are going to be metal along with screws and such.
Realism: The Umarex DSX 45 Spring BB Pistol is a fairly believable replica of a more modern 1911 45 caliber semi auto pistol. Other than it being mostly plastic and much lower in weight, at around 1.25 pounds, the Umarex DSX 45 Spring BB Pistol does look the part with a working slide (for cocking the spring), a full size drop out magazines, a recessed barrel and a lot of detail in the finishing of it. I find it to be a little bit wider than a real 1911 would be in the grips and even the main frame and slide by just a bit.
Pros:
Super low coast to buy and shoot, no CO2 required, just need 4.5mm Steel BB’s and away you go.
Shoots pretty good, BB’s got to the target a lot faster than I was expecting them to and they shot where I was aiming in general.
Decent looking Replica of a modern 1911 Semi Auto Pistol.
Has a picatinny rail for adding accessories if you want to.
Single Action Trigger is pretty decent, a bit of take up but medium light weight to it.
Has a close to full size magazine that looks the part.
Magazine has a 200 round hopper capacity with 13 rounds being loaded into the feeder at a time.
Safety is worked into the slide catch release which adds to the realism in terms of looks.
Recessed barrel for added realism.
Actual working hammer you can de-cock if you want to for a bit of added safety.
Cons:
Almost all plastic other than some internal metal parts like the barrel and spring and some other stuff I am sure.
Takes a bit of effort to cock it which is required for each shot.
Sights are not adjustable and are all black with no white dots.
A bit beefy for smaller handed shooters.
Comments:
The Umarex DSX 45 Spring BB Pistol is a super inexpensive BB Pistol but don’t let that stop you from considering it to add to your collection. It has a lot going for it in my opinion. First off the price is super low to buy and to shoot, you only need a bunch of BB’s and you can shoot all day for a couple of bucks. It looks pretty believable as a 1911 Replica. The build quality and detail is a lot better than you should get for only $30 dollars here in Canada and when I quickly tried it out, it actually shot pretty hard for a spring BB Pistol and it seemed to hit the target right where I aimed even at 30 feet away. It even has a full size magazine that holds 200 rounds with a quick load 13 round spring feeding system to keep the fun going. Kind of a no brainer if you’re looking for a cheap and fun time.
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…
Type:AEG Airsoft Rifles Manufacturer: G&G. Model:RK Beta AK Materials: Mostly metal/some plastic. Weight: 7.1 pounds (3.2 kg). Total Length: 28.5 inches (72.4 cm). Barrel: 9 inches (22.9 cm) barrel non-rifled. Propulsion: AEG. Action: Single action semi & full auto. Ammunition Type: 6mm plastic Airsoft BB’s. Ammunition Capacity: High cap 600 round magazine. FPS: 390 fps.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the G&G RK Beta AK AEG Airsoft Rifle is short and light as it is basically a simple electric on/off switch that completes a circuit and tells the motor to turn, which activates the cycling of the spring piston. For this reason there is no real creep or feel of a release. When you get to a preset point in the trigger, the motor circuit is closed allowing for either semi or full auto, depending on your selector switch position at the time.
Accuracy: I will be making a dedicated Field Test Shooting Video for the G&G RK Beta AK AEG Airsoft Rifle to find out what the actual velocity is in fps. I will also test what kind of accuracy I can get shooting a paper target in both semi and full auto from 30 feet away. For now I have no idea what to expect but as this is most certainly not a cheap Airsoft AEG Rifle, I am hoping for good results to justify the higher price point.
Build Quality: The build quality of the G&G RK Beta AK AEG Airsoft Rifle is very good, G&G Airsoft Rifles in general are well built. You are going to find metal in most of this AEG Airsoft Rifle including the receiver, dust cover, trigger guard, trigger, selector switch, barrel, front and rear sights and the magazine. The only plastic to be found will be in the pistol grip, rear stock and 3 of the picatinny rails. Fit and finish is very good but the stock and pistol grip material does seem to show scratches really easily.
Realism: The G&G RK Beta AK AEG Airsoft Rifle is a 1 to 1 scale Airsoft reproduction of the AK 47/74 in a compact modernized version. I don’t believe it is based on exactly one specific brand or type of AK 47 or AK 74, but is more or less a stylized version designed and built by G&G. The G&G RK Beta AK AEG Airsoft Rifle does have a lot of metal and weight to it adding to the realism and most of the mechanical parts work similar to a real steel version of an AK 47/74. G&G has added a bit of a bolt cycle motion with a motor that actuates it to some degree but this is not like the look and feel of a real internal bolt from an actual AK 47/74. Still a nice touch.
Pros:
Lots of metal in construction where you need it with good overall weight and feel.
6 rail attachment options up front for lots of mounting positions.
Left side option to attach an additional AK style sight mount.
Adjustable front sight for elevation.
Nice and compact for easy maneuverability.
Rear stock has lots of room for battery sizes and options.
Dust cover comes off for easy access to internals.
G&G high quality build.
Comes with sling mounting options.
Super easy hopup adjustment slider.
Nice high capacity 600 round metal magazine.
No orange tip.
Cons:
Rear sight is all but useless.
Stock and grip scratch really easily.
Priced on the higher side.
Comments:
The G&G RK Beta AK AEG Airsoft Rifle may be priced a bit on the high side for some people but it is a solid AEG Airsoft Rifle and it seems there are not as many AK options out there so it is nice to have an offering from G&G. I like the almost full metal construction and I find the modernized styling and compact size to be appealing and would make it a great option for CQB Airsoft games. I am not sure what is going on with the rear site, as it looks like it is a sight, but does not have the sight grove in it? Maybe I am missing something here but other than opting to put a red dot way up front, your only other option is to put an AK side rail and mount a sight on the rear just above the metal dust cover. I am hoping when I make my Field Test Shooting Video for the G&G RK Beta AK AEG Airsoft Rifle, it performs well for me to justify the higher price point.
My Vimeo Table Top Review for the G&G RK Beta AK AEG Airsoft Rifle:
In this Field Test Shooting Video conducted in the Replica Airguns Sea Can indoor Shooting Range, I test the Umarex Markpoint Break Barrel .177 Cal Pellet Pistol’s power in velocity using my Chronograph along with the accuracy shooting at a Paper Target setup 30 feet away. If you are also interested in details, specifications and more close up video of the Umarex Markpoint Break Barrel .177 Cal Pellet Pistol, then make sure to watch my Table Top Video I already made for it here…
When I placed 6 pellets from the Umarex Markpoint Break Barrel .177 Cal Pellet Pistol through my Chronograph, I removed the fastest and slowest recorded shots, and got an average of 290 fps, there was a fairly big range in fps as some dieseling may have been occurring, since this Pellet Pistol had not been shot before and there may have been some oils in the barrel. Here are my recored velocities for all 6 shots: 213, 286, 308, 270, 304, 298. I was using lead flathead pellets that weighed 8.2 grain each. So you will for sure get much higher velocities using 5 grain alloy pellets, probably very close to the 400 claimed fps.
Moving on to my accuracy test, the Umarex Markpoint Break Barrel .177 Cal Pellet Pistol did pretty good. I was not sure how it would shoot for me as the trigger is pretty firm, which can cause the shooter to pull a shot or two. I was able to keep my shots pretty consistent with perhaps one shot getting a bit away from me. That said, out of the 10 shots I placed on the paper target setup 30 feet down range, I managed to get 9 of them all within about 2 inches of each other with the larger spread being elevation, windage was within about 3/4 of an inch, so consistent velocity may have played a roll here. I did use a semi rested shooting position with my hands resting on a sand bag up front, and sitting on a stool in the back to help stabile me as much as possible. I was happy that out of the box the aim point was pretty well centered just a bit to the right if anything.
All in all the Umarex Markpoint Break Barrel .177 Cal Pellet Pistol performed as much as I could have expected for a $50 Canadian low cost pellet shooter. I really wish an add on sight of some sort was possible, as there does not seem to be anyway of adjusting the sights on the Umarex Markpoint Break Barrel .177 Cal Pellet Pistol, so hopefully yours shoots well centered for you also. I do not recommend this Air Pistol for people with smaller hands as it is a bulky Airgun with very wide and large grips. The trigger also does take a bit of finger strength so not a gun for younger shooters perhaps. For the price it is a very unique Pellet Pistol with a very modern and futuristic look to it which may or may not appeal to everyone.
Type: Pellet Pistol. Manufacturer:Umarex Model:Markpoint. Materials: Mostly plastic with some metal. Weight: 1.79 pounds (812 grams). Barrel: 9.75 inch (24.8 cm) Rifled steel barrel. Total Length: 17 inches (43.2 cm). Power Source: Spring piston. Action: Break Barrel - Single Action Only. Ammo Type: .177 caliber pellets. Ammo Capacity: Single shot. FPS: 395 with alloy pellets, 300 with lead pellets.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on Umarex Markpoint Break Barrel .177 Cal Pellet Pistol is single action only and you will have to break the barrel and fully cock it to activate the trigger in order to shoot it. You will have to also insert a pellet for each shot when the barrel is in the open position. The trigger itself is a bit on the heavy side with a short takeup. It is not super heavy but I would not consider it light or even medium weight. There is a grip safety that needs to be pressed in at the back of the grip, or the trigger will not function. This is a nice additional safety feature.
Accuracy: So far I have not had the opportunity to test the Umarex Markpoint Break Barrel .177 Cal Pellet Pistol, but the plan is to get to my Field Test Shooting Video shortly and see how it performs in terms of power and accuracy. The Umarex Markpoint Break Barrel .177 Cal Pellet Pistol does have a nice long rifled steel barrel so it has the potential to be very accurate. My main concern is with the sights as they are none adjustable and if it is not well centered out of the box then the only way to adjust it will be by adjusting your aim point to correct any off center shots. There is also no way that I can see to mount a red to or scope of some sort. It looks like there is a rail system on the barrel but it is just cosmetic and there is no way to mount a picatinny accessory to it. I am not sure why Umarex simply did not make the rail a true picatinny rail?
Build Quality: For around a $50 Canadian pellet pistol that has the potential to be a pretty decent entry level target pistol, the Umarex Markpoint Break Barrel .177 Cal Pellet Pistol is pretty well made and feels very solid and mechanically tight. It is mostly plastic but does not feel cheap at all. It is a rather large pistol, especially the grips being fairly wide, so for people with small hands, it may be a bit hard to hold.
Realism: The Umarex Markpoint Break Barrel .177 Cal Pellet Pistol is not a copy or replica of any real steel pistol in production that I know of. To be honest Umarex was not trying that hard to make it look like a real steel pistol as it has it’s very own look to it that I would say is modern and kind of futuristic looking. It for sure has its own style to it, and you are either going to like it to not? I do like that Umarex added the ejection port and vented barrel which does add to the cool factor and makes it feel more like a real gun.
Pros:
Feels well built and solid.
Overall look is good, kind of futuristic if you like that sort of thing.
I like the red highlights, not typical on a real steel gun but looks good on this design.
Expect it to have good accuracy, hope the sights are on point?
Easy to cock spring piston system.
Sights are easy to line up .
Grip safety is a nice safety feature.
Fake ejection port is a nice touch, not something you would normally see on a target pistol like this.
Nice low price tag for some fun target shooting.
Cons:
Trigger is a bit heavy but in terms of length and break is OK.
Sights are not adjustable and no way to add a red dot or other sighting system.
Grip may be a bit wide for smaller handed shooters.
Comments:
For me I think the deciding factor on how I feel about the Umarex Markpoint Break Barrel .177 Cal Pellet Pistol is going to come down to how it performs as I have my reservations on how accurate it is going to be and if it shoots true out of the box. I really hope the sights are dialed in out of the box since there is no way to adjust them or add a red dot or other sighting system. The heavy trigger will take a bit of getting use to also but once adjusted to it I should be able to get some decent groupings. For the price, if it turns out to be a decent shooter and you like the look of it, then by all means it would make a great target plinker that you should be able to get proficient at shooting with. I will leave my final thoughts for the Field Test Shooting video on this one…
Here we go with another unboxing video this month, and this is a big box, so no doubt the mystery items are going to be big too! As always with new products, I will be following up with dedicated Table Top and Field Test Videos for each of them so make sure to check down the road for those videos for a lot more information and actual performance results…
Don’t look below if you want to just watch the video and be surprises by what’s inside the mystery box but if you want a quick peak before hand then checkout the basic specs below for all three new items I will be reviewing soon.
In this Mystery Boxing Video I get to take a look at 4 new Airgun Products and give you my first impressions along with a few specifications about each of them but not in a lot of details as I have not had an opportunity to research any of them as this my first time seeing them.
First out of the Mystery box is a new Umarex T4E .43 Caliber CO2 Blowback Paintball Pistol with Walther licensing called the Umarex T4E PDP. I have reviewed similar styled T4E .43 caliber CO2 Blowback Pistols in the past and this one should perform and function similarly.
The next Airgun I pulled out out of the box was the EMG SAI 2011 DS 4.3 CO2 Blowback Airsoft Pistol, a really nice 1911 styled Airsoft Pistol with a stainless finish and gold barrel with a CO2 Magazine. This one looks and feels really nice.
Staying with the pistols that came in this Mystery Box, I got my first look at the Umarex Markpoint .177 Caliber Break Barrel Pellet Pistol that has a bit of a utilitarian look and feel to it. This one is the longer barrel version and has a claimed fps of 395 using alloy pellets so we will see what it can get with more traditional lead pellets when I make my Field Test Video for it down the road a bit.
The last item out of the Mystery Box was another Umarex product, a fun CO2 BB Rifle with H&K licensing called the HK416. This semi auto and 6 round Burst internal Blowback CO2 BB Rifle is a lot like the Steel Storm and Steel Strike from Umarex but a little bit larger I would say and with H&K Licensing so more of a true Replica Airgun.
I will be making full Table Top and Field Test Videos for all of these items shortly so keep an eye out for those videos but for now you can at least get an idea what these Airgun Products will offer.
Type:AEG Airsoft Rifles Manufacturer:Umarex. Model:Elite Force M4 CFRX Materials: Mostly plastic/some metal. Weight: 5.2 pounds (2360 grams). Total Length: 32.4-35.4 inches (820-900mm). Barrel: 16.1 inch (410mm) barrel non-rifled. Propulsion: AEG. Action: Single action semi & full auto. Ammunition Type: 6mm plastic Airsoft BB’s (Eye Trace compatible). Ammunition Capacity: Mid/High cap 340 round magazine. FPS: 370-400 fps.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Umarex Elite Force M4 CFRX Eye Trace AEG Airsoft Rifle is fairly short and light as it is basically a simple on and off switch as it is not mechanical but rather electrical. For this reason there is no real creep or feel of a release. When you get to a point in the trigger you close a circuit that activates the electric motor cycling the spring shooting in either semi or full auto depending on your selector switch position at the time.
Accuracy: At this time I have not made my Field Test Shooting Video or even shot the Umarex Elite Force M4 CFRX Eye Trace AEG Airsoft Rifle, I am planning to make a video for this rifle at the end of this week if all goes as planned. I do not have any of the “Eye Trace” Airsoft Ammo to show how this works and looks but I will be able to do my traditional accuracy and velocity testing here in the Replica Airguns Indoor Sea Can Airgun Range. When I do get access to some of the Eye Trace Airsoft Ammo I will make a short video most likely in a lower light situation to show how it looks.
Build Quality: The Umarex Elite Force M4 CFRX Eye Trace AEG Airsoft Rifle does have a lot of plastic in the build including the upper and lower receiver, hand guard, rear stock, front and rear sights, grips and flash hider but as expected there are metal part where they are required as in the inner and outer barrel, magazine, buffer tube, trigger, selector switch, magazine release, charging handle, dust cover and of course many internal parts. It does have a decent weight to it being a fairly long AR and so it feels solid enough. I would have liked to have seen metal sights and perhaps a metal receiver since it is not a cheap or inexpensive AEG Airsoft Rifle.
Realism: The Umarex Elite Force M4 CFRX Eye Trace AEG Airsoft Rifle is based on the M4/M16 platform of course in a modern version with all the tactical additions. It looks and feels the part for sure with lots of working parts including the safety, selector switch, charging handle, dust cover, adjustable rear stock, pop-up front and rear sights as you would expect. Most of the hardware should be interchangeable with a real steel AR if you want to personalize the look of it. The addition of the Tracer element will add to the realism when shooting it in low light situations, but so far I have not tested it as I do not have any Eye Trace Ammo on hand.
Pros:
Eye Trace System unique and great in low light situations.
Lots of accessory mounting options with Picatinny top rail and side adb bottom M-LOK.
Full adjustable Pop-up sights.
Pre-installed MOSFET for improved electronic performance.
Ver 2 Full Metal, fully upgradeable gearbox.
6 position adjustable AR compatible type rear stock.
I like the two tone black and tan finish.
Has the Elite Force Branding from Umarex.
Easy to get at adjustable Hop-up.
Cons:
Plastic receiver and orange tip.
Battery options limited due nunchuck compatible space.
Pop-up removable sights are plastic.
Comments:
Umarex introduced the “Eye Trace” line of Airsoft Rifles at SHOT Show this year and I have been somewhat eagerly awaiting getting my hands on one to try this new system out, but unfortunately we do not have any of the Eye Trace Airsoft Ammo to do that with. I am not sure if Umarex is low on supply or perhaps it was missed in the order? Either way I will be testing out the new Eye Trace Airsoft Ammo when I get my hands on some. in the future. Just to be clear on how this works, the Eye Trace Ammo is florescent and these New Eye Trace Airsoft Rifles have a blue light you can turn on or off that activated the florescent Airsoft Rounds illuminating them to look like tracer rounds coming out of your barrel. The new Eye Trace Airsoft Rifles work just like a standard AEG Airsoft Rifle when using normal Airsoft BB’s, so I can test the Umarex Elite Force M4 CFRX Eye Trace AEG Airsoft Rifle as I always do so stay posted for my Official Field Test Shooting Video for it coming out very soon.
My Vimeo Table Top Review for the Umarex Elite Force M4 CFRX Eye Trace AEG Airsoft Rifle:
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!
I try to make at least one series of Full Auto Fun video each summer where I pick a few Full Auto Airguns and record some fun outside shooting with them. In this years Full Auto Fun Video series I do a bit of a walk around on my property and shoot a bunch of water filled pop cans. Maybe this doesn’t sound super exciting but I do use some really creative camera angles to capture it all which makes it lot more interesting to watch for sure!
In this first Full Auto Fun video I start with the Barra 400e 4.5mm BB AEG Full Auto BB Rifle, but in the all the camera and audio setup confusion, I forgot to put it in Full Auto (getting old), so this is really not a Full Auto Fun Video, it was still fun and I hope you enjoy it anyway. The other videos in this Full Auto Fun Series are for sure in Full Auto and I will be taking out the Barra 400e and give it another go in Full Auto this time so stay posted for the true Full Auto Fun Video for the Barra 400e shortly!
I have only tested out another similar Crossbow setup one other time so this is not my normal Field Test Review. Like last time when I made my Bear X Desire XL Crossbow Field Test Video, in this Field Test Video I record my Chronograph velocity for the CenterPoint Hornet Recurve Compact Crossbow at the same time as I shoot at the target so I did not have to make two separate video segments and basically did it all in one go. I did have a bit of a brain fart and forgot I needed to setup two separate cameras, one on the Chronograph and one on the Target, as I generally only need one camera at a time for my usually two segment Field Test Videos. So getting to the point, I did not have dedicated camera on the target while shooting and in hind sight it would have been better to have the camera on the Target rather than the Chronograph as my camera glasses generally record the Chronograph readings for me too. I do walk up to the Target at the end of the video so we do get to see exactly where all the bolts landed, so I can show you the final result at the end of the day.
In terns of velocity, CenterPoint claims a velocity of 191 fps. I was able to get consistently just over 180 fps so pretty close. My Chrono readings using the included 147 grain 6.5 inch aluminum bolts ranged from 180 to 182 fps so very consistent. This gave an overall Foot Pound energy of 10.61 foot pounds so velocity and foot pound energy were just a little bit under the claimed rating! This is enough for small pests for sure, it really comes down to accuracy at this point as you will want to get either a head or shoulder area shot for a humane kill, and I am not sure if this bow is up of the job? You will have to see how accurate it will be for you and make that decision for yourself..
In terms of accuracy I found the CenterPoint Hornet Recurve Compact Crossbow to be fairly accuracy on the windage side (left and right), basically with all the bolts only being about 2 inches apart side to side. Where it did not perform as well was in elevation with the bolts ranging about 8 inches top to bottom. I am not sure why this was the case as the velocity is very consistent and generally less consistent velocities account for elevation changes. All the bolts hit the target using the included red dot with no pre adjustments but it did shoot just a bit to the right and maybe overall a bit low. This can easily be corrected using the red dot windage and elevation adjustments.
Interestingly the CenterPoint Hornet Recurve Compact Crossbow has a higher claimed velocity over the Bear X Desire XL Crossbow I tested a while back, yet the Bear X Desire XL Crossbow actually shot a bit faster hitting 190+ fps, not a huge difference but an interesting observation. The CenterPoint Hornet Recurve Compact Crossbow does come with a red dot but both have Picatinny Rails so Red Dots will fit on both Crossbows no problem. I am going to address the elephant in the room, if you compare both of these Crossbows they are virtually the same with the exception of the branding and distribution of them. So I would say get either one, the Bear X Desire XL Crossbow is actually less money as it does not come with an included Red Dot but at least right now it is out of stock so your only option may the the CenterPoint Hornet Recurve Compact Crossbow, both are a lot of fun and pack a lot more punch than your standard non regulated Air Rifle.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the CenterPoint Hornet Recurve Compact Crossbow is a single action only trigger as you need ot cock the bow in order for the trigger to be engaged. The trigger mechanism basically just pushes the bow string up and over the lip of the rail releasing it so there is a bit of friction and I would say it is about 10 pounds maybe a bit less. The safety is also engaged when you cock the bow requiring you to take the CenterPoint Hornet Recurve Compact Crossbow off safe before shooting as an added layer of safety.
Accuracy: I have not made my Field Test Shooting Video for the CenterPoint Hornet Recurve Compact Crossbow and so I am not sure what to expect from it. I have shot a similar bow, the Bear X Desire XL Crossbow so it should perform similar to that one if you want to check that Field Test Shooting Video out, but I expect the CenterPoint Hornet Recurve Compact Crossbow to have a little bit more power as it has a rated fps and draw weight a little bit higher than the Bear X Desire XL Crossbow, we will see?
Build Quality: The CenterPoint Hornet Recurve Compact Crossbow is actually made pretty decently, yes it is mostly plastic and light weight but feels sturdy enough to hold, the bow itself is fiberglass and the only real metal I can confirm is the cocking rail, mostly everything else other than the nuts and bolts that hold it together are some sort of plastic, The only part that does not feel up to par with the quality is the included red dot, it is fairly entry level but I am sure it will get the job done, and if it stops getting the job done at some point you can upgrade it then, or simply use the included rear iron sight which is fully adjustable.
Realism: The CenterPoint Hornet Recurve Compact Crossbow is not a Replica as is what I usually review here on the channel. But I think there is a crossover in terms of interest for a product like this with people that are also interested in Airguns. The other benefit is that it has a lot more power than a non regulated Airgun as the CenterPoint Hornet Recurve Compact Crossbow uses nice heavy 146 grain bolts traveling at almost 200 fps which gives an energy rating of around 12 foot pounds. So if raw power is what you are after, then this is your best option for something still compact if you do not have a firearms license.
Pros:
Fairly inexpensive.
Super light weight and compact.
More power than an Airgun yet still quiet to shoot so you can use discreetly just about anywhere with a good back stop setup.
Easy to draw the bow using the stock for leverage.
Safety is automatically engaged.
Picatinny rail already has iron fully adjustable rear sight and comes with a very basic red dot sight to get you started.
Fiber optic front sight.
3 bolts included.
191 fps (12ft/lbs).
Comes with fore grip.
5 portion adjustable rear but stock.
Cons:
Will need a good backstop or will lose lots of bolts.
Takes a little bit of time to set it up but not too hard, just follow the steps in the manual.
Careful not to wash you hadn't or thumb with the string (Ouchy).
Comments:
The CenterPoint Hornet Recurve Compact Crossbow is a nice crossover product that appeals to Airgun enthusiasts as it does not require a firearms license and can be used in a lot more locations than a standard gun. It also has decent power as compared to a non regulated Airgun hitting 12 foot pounds which is at least 4x more than most non regulated Airguns can achieve. In terms of pest control, it does have the power required for small pests but accuracy is not going to be as good as an Airgun so hitting the rather small sweet spot on a small pest is not going to be easy and you want to be humane about it, so make sure if you do plan on using this for some sort of pest control, that you practice your accuracy and are confident in your shot placement. Personally I would just enjoy shooting it as a target bow that literally cost you nothing after purchase as long as you don’t lose the bolts.
In this Field Test Shooting Video, I test out the Specna Arms Core SA-J73 AEG Airsoft Rifle in my Indoor Replica Airguns Sea Can Shotgun Range to see what the velocity/fps is and what the accuracy is like shooting .20 gram Airsoft BB’s through my Chronograph. I shoot in both semi and full auto at a paper target setup 30 feet down range. If you are more interested in information like details and specifications for the Specna Arms Core SA-J73 AEG Airsoft Rifle, then make sure to watch my Table Top Video I already made that also includes some nice close up video for you to check out…
First up I loaded up a mag of .20 gram Airsoft BB’s and proceeded to shoot 5 rounds through my Chronograph to get a baseline average. Specna Arms claims around 370-380 fps using the preinstalled internal spring setup. I averaged 382 fps with my slowest shot recording 379 fps and my fastest shot hitting 383 fps. All of them really close in terms of velocity and right on the mark of the claimed 370-380 fps using .20 gram Airsoft BB’s.
With the Velocity Test in the bag, I moved on to my Accuracy Test for the Specna Arms Core SA-J73 AEG Airsoft Rifle where I first shot 10 rounds in semi auto to see how tight of a grouping I could get, and then I also finished up the rest of the partially full magazine in full auto to see if that grouping opened up a bit with a lot more rounds and a bit of full auto rocking around. For my 10 shot semi auto grouping I did get around a 1 to 1.5 inch spread, and notably all 10 shots hit the bullseye with no sight adjustments out of the box. Unleashing the Specna Arms Core SA-J73 in full auto, the group did spread out just a little bit to around 3 inches or so, but again right on top of the bullseye for the most part. Very impressive results for sure!
Overall I am super impressed with the Specna Arms Core SA-J73 AEG Airsoft Rifle! At around $200 Canadian you get a well made decent quality AEG Airsoft Rifle that not only looks and feels really good, but performs as good if not better than some much more expensive AEG Airsoft Rifles out there. All you really need to get on top of this purchase would be a decent charger and battery setup along with some quality Airsoft BB’s and then you are ready to go. No need for any more upgrades at least not right away. So if you are looking for an affordable AK type AEG Airsoft Rifle with no real compromises to speak of, look no further than the Specna Arms Core SA-J73 AEG Airsoft Rifle. Not much else will be a better option in this price range.
