In this Field Test Shooting Video I put the ASG Steyr Arms Scout Bolt Action Spring Airsoft Rifle through the regular Replica Airguns Indoor Field Test by first testing out the velocity and placing several rounds through my Chronograph to see what the actual fps is using both .20 gram and .40 gram Airsoft BB’s. Then I setup a fresh paper target 30 feet downrange and place 10 rounds into it to see how tight of a grouping I can get. If you have not already watched my Table Top Video for this Sniper Airsoft Riffle, then make sure to do so for more details, specifications and close up video.
Starting off with my real world velocity test for the ASG Steyr Arms Scout Bolt Action Spring Airsoft Rifle I decided to use both .20 and .40 gram Airsoft BB’s to see what a difference of double the weigth form the claimed for would actually be since for the most art this Airsoft Sniper Rifle is really meant to be using heavier Airsoft BB’ closer to the .40 gram weight. I was kind of expecting the heavier .40 gram BB’s to shoot almost half as fast since they where double the weight bu this was not the case! I shot 5 rounds with each weight Airsoft BB and with the .20 gram I averaged 479 which was actually faster than claimed, When I switched up to the .40 gram Airsoft BB’s I was surprised to get an average of 373 so only around 100 fps slower!
Moving on to the accuracy portion of my Indoor Field Test here in the Replica Airguns Sea Can, as always I placed a fresh paper target 30 feet downrange and proceeded to shoot 10 .40 gram Airsoft rounds into it from a rested and seated shooting position to allow for best possible results with as little human error added in. I was using a 4x optical scope since the ASG Steyr Arms Scout Bolt Action Spring Airsoft Rifle has a the added rail on top just fo this purpose and I would imaging most people are going to want to add a magnified scope to this Airsoft Sniper Rifle rather than use the built in pop iron sights that by the way are not adjustable. I know 30 feet is not the range one would be shooting this rifle at but it’s all I have for an indoor shooting range and it will give us an idea of what we can expect shooting further out… as in a nice tight group at 30 feet is going to mean better accuracy than a spread out grouping art 30 feet. I will say the ASG Steyr Arms Scout Bolt Action Spring Airsoft Rifle probably got one of the best groupings for an Airsoft Rifle that I have tested at 30 feet placing all 10 rounds within about an inch to an inch an a half.
I would like to take this Airsoft Sniper Rifle outside and see what it can do at much further out ranges again using nice and heavy Airsoft BB’s when it gets a bit warmer and stops raining so much :) But for now my Indoor Field Test performed about as good of a result as I can expect. The ASG Steyr Arms Scout Bolt Action Spring Airsoft Rifle is a really well made which paid off in two it performed for me. I don’t really see any need to upgrade this Airsoft Sniper Rifle other than adding an optical scope and perhaps investing in some high quality Airsoft Ammo.
In this Preview Unboxing Video I do an Unboxing and take a quick look at three Bolt Action Rifles, two spring powered Airsoft Rifles from ASG and a dual CO2 powered Pellet Rifle from Umarex.
This is my SHOT Show 2016 Teaser Video! You will get to see some new gun highlights from companies like Umarex, ASG, Crosman, Sig Sauer, KWA and ISC. I will be following up this video with some interview videos very soon so do make sure to check back for those uploads. All I can say about the show is it’s huge! So much to see, so much walking and too much to take in…
ASG:
As always, ASG had some new products this year. The all new Dan Wesson 715 357 Magnum shell loading Revolver! This gun feels absolutely amazing in the hand and will be available in Steel BB, Airsfot and even Pellet shooting versions. Also new are the CZ P-09 and CZ 75 SP-01 Shadow Full Blowback BB and Airsoft Pistols.
Crosman:
Big at Crosman this year was their PCP Airbow, Crosman put a lot of focus on this product and even had a lot of crossbows on display to go with their new PCP Airbow. Crosman also introduced their low cost entry level Benjamin Maximus PCP rifle in .177 and .22 calibers offerings. Not really much in the way of replica pistols from Crosman this year, but then again last year was kind of the same?
Sig Sauer:
I finally made it to the Sig Sauer Booth this year to checkout their new CO2 Pellet gun line. All new Sig Airguns are made true to size and weight with similar trigger actions as their real steel versions. The Sig MPX is their more compact (shorter barreled) pellet shooting CO2 rifle with internal blowback and belt fed 30 round magazine. The Sig MCX is the longer barreled rifle version but built much the same as the MPX. Sig also introduced two new pellet shooting CO2 Blowback Pistols, the P226 and the P250. Both use similar double ended rotary magazines as the Umarex PX4.
Umarex:
Umarex always seems to have some new exciting Airguns products to offer at SHOT Show. The PPK is back with a few updates including no more ugly CO2 tab sticking out of the bottom! And yes the Beretta Model 92A1 will finally be shipping soon, I believe in February! My favorite product this year from Umarex would have to be the Full Blowback, Full size drop out magazine S&W M&P 40 CO2 BB Pistol. Umarex released yet another 1911 on the market, this version does come with a stick mag and sports pretty high fps and more shots per CO2 then the KWC based 1911’s. The super popular Colt SAA Revolver is now available in a pellet shooting version with a rifled barrel :) Umarex had on display another low cost revolver, the ultra futuristic looking Brodax CO2 BB Revolver.
KWA:
KWA always has really nice high quality products to showoff at there booth each year, we may even start carrying some of KWA's products this year, fingers crossed on that one… New to the KWA line are some AEG rifles with simulated blowback action, I really liked the Blowback AEG AK they had on display. KWA also released a new Airsoft shell loading revolvers that had some of the nicest looking brass and aluminum shells. On display under a glass cover was a very solid Gas Blowback Thompson Machine-gun with real wood stock, it was absolutely gorgeous!
ISC:
ISC known for their top quality AEG internals, had their full line of high quality Airsoft rifles on display. And new this year to ICS was their first ever Airsoft pistol, the blowback BLE Alpha. The BLE should be out mid year and looked and felt really nice. The trigger on it was super short and light.
I have some really awesome Interview videos I’m working on, I will be uploading them shortly so stay tuned for those…
While the weather is still holding on, I setup some clay pigeon targets at varying further out distances than the typically 30 feet I shoot on my deck. I paced out approximately 40-60-80-100+ foot ranges conservatively thinking this would be a good test to see if a 6mm Airsoft rifle could effectively hit targets at any of these ranges using heavy .36 gram Airsoft BB's.
So today I brought out an Airsoft Sniper rifle since this is what it's made to do, the model being the ASG AW .308 Airsoft Sniper. As with many of my shooting videos I captured all the fun using a bunch of different cameras and camera angles along with a dedicated lapel microphone so the audio also comes in nice and clear.
So make sure to watch my YouTube video and see how the ASG AW .308 Airsoft Sniper Rifle does shooting clay pigeons up to 100 Plus feet away...
I am happy to report back to you on all the new cool stuff I got to see at this years 2013 SHOT Show in Las Vegas. Make sure to also watch my Vimeo video at the bottom of this post for some first person styled play by play of my experience at the Vegas SHOT Show 2013. (like you're there with me ;)
First up I want to cover a new gun from ASG, I have been wanting to get my hands on the 4.5mm Bersa BP9CC and I finally got to, not only did I get my hands on it but ASG was kind enough to supply me with one to take home for review. You can get the Bersa BP9CC in both Blowback and non-blowback versions and also in either BB or Airsoft. I opted for the 4.5mm BB Blowback version. I will be reviewing this BB gun very soon!
ASG also had a very cool prototype of an Airsoft CZ Scorpion EVO 3A1 hopefully coming out soon.
While roaming around SHOT Show 2013, I came across an interesting booth from FlashFog Security. I often get people asking me about using an airgun as a home defense weapon and I strongly advise against this. If the intruder is not scared off by the gun there is little an airgun can do to actually stop them. The FlashFog system works by rapidly filling a room with dense fog combined with a strobe light effect which blinds and disorients intruders completely. There is little an intruder can do other then try and get the heck out of there!
UPDATE: FlashFog just added a new section to their website specifically for School Security to help keep our schools safer from potential safety threats! So check it out: School Security Smoke Screen
I was a bit surprised by Gamo this year, they tend to stay away from actual Replica's and generally make BB/Pellet guns that look like popular guns but not any gun in particular. Gamo has a new BB/Pellet MP9 based machine pistol that uses a similar mechanism to their P-25 and PT-85 so it can shoot both 4.5mm BB's and .177 caliber Pellets using a double ended 16 shot rotary magazine. It also has an internal blowback system so it should have some recoil feel to it! I am pretty sure it is semi auto only but still a nice addition to their lineup!
Gamo also brought out a new 4.5mm BB Blowback pistol called the C-15 which has a metal slide and plastic frame, it kind of reminds me of the Umarex HPP in how it looks and feels.
Umarex had several new products that I am sure everyone is going to like! One that I think will do really well is the Steel Force, the Steel Force is designed around the 4.5mm BB shooting Steel Storm platform so it has a 6 round burst blowback operation and holds the 2x12 gram CO2 in the magazine while the BB's go in a 300 round hopper that feeds into a 30 round spring fed internal magazine. Like the Steel Storm it will shoot around 430 fps. The Steel Force has the advantage of being styled after the AR platform so it has a collapsible stock which will make shooting very easy.
Another often asked for airgun replica is the historic German Luger. This year Umarex stepped up to the plate and introduced the Umarex P.08 4.5mm BB pistol. Sorry, no blowback or even a working slide on this one but it is all metal and has a very good weight and feel to it.
If you're a fan of the entry level Umarex XBG then you may be interested in the new Umarex T.D.P. 45 which is very similar to the XBG in looks and features but with a slightly different look to it.
If you've ever wanted to turn your pistol into more of a PDW styled gun, you may be able to depending on which Umarex gun you have? Umarex added a very cool accessory called the T.A.C Converter that converts your Umarex HK USP (BB-Airsoft), SW MP40 (BB), XBG (BB), CZ Enforcer (Airsoft) and Walther P99 DOA (Airsoft) into more of a tactical (PDW) or Personal Defense Weapon complete with for-grip, adjustable rear sight, lots of rail options and a foldable stock.
I am assuming the Crosman M4-177 Pellet/BB Rifle has been doing well for Crosman as they have expanded with some more similar assault styled air rifles. The Crosman MSR77NP pretty much looks like a classic M16 but is in fact a Nitro Piston break barrel pellet rifle able to shoot .177 caliber pellets at 1200 fps (I hope there is a 499 fps Canada version planned too?).
A new takeoff of the M4-177 is the MK-177 which also shoots .177 caliber pellets and 4.5mm BB's using a multi-Pump System but it uses an upgraded more efficient pump system that squeaks out more fps with less pumps. The Crosman MK-177 is designed after the FN SCAR and is available in an adjustable iron sight version or a Red Dot equipped kit version.
One thing you can never get enough of in my opinion is another 1911 pistol! Crosman is introducing their GI Model 1911BB Blowback 4.5mm CO2 pistol, the one they had on hand was more of a prototype so the slide was not operational but it will feature an all metal design, blowback operation, 450 fps and a 20 round drop out magazine. I am sorry to say but it looks like the Crosman C51 has been dropped from Crosman's lineup but if you want a similar styled gun you can checkout the KWC SW40F which is a very close airsoft version.
We recently started carrying G&G Armament Airsoft guns, you can checkout my review of the Xtreme 45. I did stop by their booth and they had some new products on display, the M1 Grand (all wood stock) Airsoft had it's magwell all wrapped up as G&G had a propriety magazine system they did not want their competition to see. G&G also had some very interesting targets that light up, when shot they would react by individually turning off so you could see if you hit it or not.
There was a rather large crowd at the KWA booth but it was a shared booth so it's hard to say what everyone was looking at, the KWA area was pretty full, I did talk to the KWA rep and asked him point blank if KWC and KWA where the same or sister companies and the answer was not at all. There are often a lot of guns that look like they could be from the same company, I guess there is a lot of copying going on ;) One gun from KWA I would love to get my hands on is the Kriss SMG!
Now keep in mind many of these guns I have highlighted today are not available yet and a lot of them should be coming out in the spring time frame so please try to refrain from repeatedly asking when I will review them and have them in the store, it takes time and as much as we all want them now, they get here when they get here!
Watch my Vimeo video of the Replica Aiguns at SHOT Show Vegas 2013
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the ASG AW .308 Sniper Rifle is very nice, there is very little play, once the trigger safety is flush the release is almost instant and the pull is very light but not so light that you would accidentally shoot it.
Accuracy: Being an Airsoft Rifle and a Sniper rifle in one made me wonder if you could actually get a tight grouping at longer distances? I'm sure hitting a human target at 60 feet shouldn't be too hard but what about a pop can consistently? With a bit of fine tuning I was able to get a 2 inch grouping at 60 feet out using a rested position. And with the Hop-up dialed in, my aim point was the same at 30 feet as it was at 60 feet as a result of the backspin keeping the trajectory even all the way out.
Build Quality:The ASG AW .308 is not over the top price wise so I was not expecting it to be built like a Sherman tank. It is however solid enough but also light enough to use in the field without having to lug around too much extra weight. Most of the parts that you want to be metal are metal including the barrel, bolt & receiver, trigger, magazine, strap rings and rial system. The stock is of course plastic with some added rubber and seems to be hollow in parts which I am assuming is what keeps this rifle on the lean side.
Realism: Without actually having handled a real AW .308 Accuracy International England Sniper Rifle, it's hard to say how spot on it is but it does look very similar to the photos I found online with the exception of the magazine being further forward on the stock. It is a nice touch that the actual Accuracy International England licensing is also on the ASG AW .308.
Extremely fun to shoot (Even though it's not a semi or full auto gun).
No CO2 or batteries required, ready when you are.
Excellent accuracy at most ranges.
Very nice trigger.
Good power.
Good use of metal parts.
Will not break the bank.
Cons:
Does not come with a sighting system so you need to buy something to shoot it.
Light Airsoft BB's will not give you good results, use high end heavy Airsoft BB's for best results.
Stock looks adjustable but is not, was not a problem, everything felt good!
Some things are not explained in the manual?
Comments:
I thoroughly enjoyed reviewing this Airsoft rifle, you would think that a full auto gun would be so much more fun to shoot and don't get me wrong they are fun to shoot, but there is something to be said about setting up a target well down range, getting into position to take the shot and slowly squeezing off one well placed round! And of course hitting the target. I really like the fact that all you need is a bunch of Airsoft BB's and you're ready to go, no CO2, no dead batteries to deal with. Every time a do another Airsoft review I am impressed with how well these guns shoot and how accurate they are! The ASG AW .308 took this to an even higher level and also showed me that an Airsoft BB can pack some real punch to it. All in all it was a good day and I have a feeling when I get the urge to fire off some well placed rounds just for fun, this rifle is going to get picked more often than not.
I just received some of my ASG Airsoft guns in my BC location and wanted to make an update video for you so you can see them up close and perhaps see how they stack up against their Airgun counterparts. Keep in mind many of my ASG guns are only available in the Canada Replica Airguns Store, we do have some ASG Airsoft guns for my US based customers but this time here in Canada I have more to offer my Canadian folks!
I am also super impressed with the high quality of the LMT Defender M4 Carbines, they are a serious bit of gear and have some very good heft to them, even more so than my full metal King Arms M4A1 I already sell and have done a full review of, not to take anything away from the Kings Arms product as it is very good at its price point.
I also received my first sniper rifle and have played around with it a bit to see what it is capable of. I added a bipod to the front and a 3x9 power scope as the ASG AW .308 comes pretty bare bones but ready for all you can throw at it. I can say it likes heavier Airsoft BB's, as the .20 gram ones I started with seemed to fly off in all directions due to the high velocity, even stepping up to a .25 gram BB tightened my group up significantly at 30 feet. I have heard this rifle really prefers heavy Airsoft BB's so I plan do do my review based on that information.
Enjoy my Vimeo Video Update focusing on the new ASG Airsoft lineup.
I wanted to get this video out to you a bit sooner but I have been really sick the past three days and so I have not had a lot of time to put this YouTube Video together. It's a pretty simple compilation of some photos and videos I took during my time walking around the 2012 SHOT Show in Las Vegas, not all of it is to do with airguns but most of it is. I even took a few touristy shots since it wasn't all work ;)