Another box showed up at my door and this time I had no idea what was inside it, I asked the boys in the warehouse to surprise me and send some new product as I was low on review items, and in a couple of days later this tall somewhat large box showed up. In this Replica Airguns June Mystery Box Unboxing Video I open the box and take a look at what’s inside. I recommend you just watch the video and enjoy the suspense with me, but if you want to cheat and find out now, then look below at quick breakdown of each item…
I will say right off the bat this Field Test Shooting Video for the Air Venturi 3000 PSI Aluminum HPA Tank with Stock and Adapter did not go as well as I would have wanted it to! The HPA tank itself worked really well but I believe the adapter was faulty as it was destroying the seals on my tank and not regulating very well.
I still wanted to publish this video regardless as not all reviews go as planned, some fail horribly but I would rather be honest and transparent about it rather than have you believe every product is a perfect.
There will always be problems even with really great products there can be defects. I plan to get a new adaptor and try this Field Test Review Video again but for now you can have some fun watching me at least have some success using the Air Venturi 3000 PSI Aluminum HPA Tank with Stock on my Rap4 Rap5 MP5.
You can also watch my Table Top Review Video for more details and info on this product!
I will also be following up my Table Top video with a Field Test Shooting Video to see what possible advantages and disadvantages the Air Venturi 3000 PSI with Stock & Adapter Aluminum Tank has in a real world test of its performance, hopefully all advantages!
Pros:
Compact and is the perfect size to use as a rear buttstock for various 88 Gram and or HPA rifles.
Smaller tank means if you are using a foot pump it won’t take all day to fill up :)
Comes with adapter so can be used with regular HPA and 88 Gram CO2 systems.
Regulated to 1100 psi so should perform better in terms of max velocity and consistency compared to CO2 which is around max 800-900 psi with velocity being effected by cool down.
Not effected by colder temperatures compared to CO2.
Once you have this tank the cost is virtually nothing to shoot compared to expensive 88 Gram CO2 cartages. You just need to buy your pellets or BB’s.
Cons:
Still takes a while to pump up using a foot pump system.
Higher initial cost ($195) than simply buying 88 gram CO2 cartages when you need them.
Will need access to a pump or compressor to use it.
Doesn’t look as good as the supplied buttstock at least with the Sig Sauer MCX and MPX.
Comments:
I guess the question is who is this for? If you are a casual shooter that perhaps owns the Sig MPX or MCX or even another 88 Gram CO2 Air Rifle that the Air Venturi 3000 PSI with Stock & Adapter Aluminum Tank would work with then this may be a bit expensive especially if you don’t have a way to pressurizer the tank at home. On the other hand if you already have a foot pump or air compressor or easy access to one and maybe you have other HPA or CO2 based airguns this tank will work with then it’s kind a no brainer to get it. Maybe you juts want a system that gives you maximum and consistent velocity no matter how cold it is outside. All good reasons to get one in my books.
In this Update Preview Unboxing Video I take a look at 5 products that came across my table and that I have not reviewed so far on the Replica Airguns YouTube channel.
First I show off an HPA tank from Air Venturi that works perfectly for the Sig Sauer MPX and MCX Pellet Rifles allowing for more consistent fps and I would image a higher overall fps? We will find out when I test it out in the replica Airguns Indoor Sea Can Airgun Range.
13 Oz Aluminum
10 Inches Long
2 Inches Diameter
Integrated Pressure Gauge
Includes Buttstock
CO2 Adaptor Included
3000 PSI Fill
1100 PSI Regulated
Next I take a look at the KJWorks M9A1 GBB Airsoft Pistol, I hover revived the CO2 version before but this version comes with the Gas magazine rather than the CO2 mag for those that prefer gas operated Blowback Airsoft Pistols. Because of the slightly lower FPS the Gas version comes with a barrel extension to make it Canada import friendly.
6mm Airsoft BB’s
Green Gas / Propane
370 fps
25 Round Magazine
2 Pounds
Probably one of the most interesting product I look at in this video at least for me is the EMG JW3 Combat Master GBB Airsoft Pistol. This Airsoft pistol is mainly aluminum with some polymer based off of the 2011 STI and was featured in the 2019 John Wick 3 Film. I’m really looking forward to testing this one out in the Sea Can Replica Airguns Airgun Range!
6mm Airsoft BB’s
Green Gas / Propane
9.4 Inches
366 fps
28 Round Magazine
2.4 Pounds
Moving along to another Air Pistol I finally get my hands on the Crosman P1 which is really just a KWC PT92 4.5mm Blowback CO2 BB Pistol but with Crosman Branding and an included laser. Since I have never shot a PT92 BB Pistol with a laser I will probably make a Field Test Shooting Video to see how well it performs.
4.5 mm Steel BB’s
CO2 x 1
4.2 Inch Barrel
330 fps
19 Round Magazine
2.4 Pounds
Comes with Laser Sight
Last up I take a look at the ASG TAC-6 which is pretty much the exact same ASG TAC-4.5 CO2 Air Rifle I tested a while back but in this case the 6 refers to it being a 6mm Airsoft Rifle rather than a 4.5mm Steel BB Riffle. I am not sure I will do a full Table Top Video since these guns are virtually identical but just in different Ammo types but I hope to get outside and see how well it performs shooting at a bit more distance than the 30 foot indoor range I usually test my Airgun in.
Here we go again, another round of SHOT Show videos brought to you direct from Replica Airguns!
As always I like to start off with a Teaser Video with a few quick clips of some of the new products I had the opportunity to take a look at at this years SHOT Show 2020 Las Vegas.
I will be rolling out Interview Videos as quickly as I can edit them and put them together for the following Airgun Related companies:
Sig Sauer
Umarex
Crosman - Velocity Outdoors
ASG
Air Venturi
Chiappa
So sit back and enjoy this years Replica Airguns SHOT Show 2020 Las Vegas Teaser Video!
We had a lot of great new Airguns that I reviewed this year at Replica Airguns. Some of them really stood out to me and so I made a video showing my Favorite Replica Airgun Picks of 2019. Of course there where many other Airguns that could has just as easily made this video but I had to draw the line somewhere and pick the ones that in my opinion where the best of 2019. Make sure to watch my Vimeo video where I go into some more details on why I liked each Airgun.
Below is a list of the top Replica Airgun Picks of 2019:
Here we have three very different products I Unbox and Preview for everyone. A Spring Piston multi-shot .177 Caliber Pellet Rifle, a single action BB/Pellet revolver that’s not a Colt! And a really nice looking Semi Auto Blank Pistol in a Chrome finish.
Let’s start with the Air Venturi TR5 Spring Piston 5-shot .177 Caliber Pellet Rifle. I think this is a really well thought out Air Rifle. It’s “almost a Bullpup” in design but it does actually load in front of the trigger just a bit, that said most of the spring piston is behind the trigger setup making it really compact yet with a longer than normal barrel compared to regular Break Barrel Spring Piston Air Rifles. The Air Venturi TR5 Spring Piston 5-shot .177 Caliber Pellet Rifle also has a side lever cocking mechanism along with a 5 round auto indexing magazine which makes it much quicker to cock and reload for fast follow-up shots, again compared to a standard Break Barrel Air Rifle, not to mention no barrel droop! The Air Venturi TR5 Spring Piston 5-shot .177 Caliber Pellet Rifle has a claimed fps of up to 500 so we are getting the max amount of velocity possible for our Canadian laws without making it a regulated firearm and requiring a PAL license. And by the way the Air Venturi TR5 Spring Piston 5-shot .177 Caliber Pellet Rifle does come in both a Lime Green and all Black version just in case you are not a fan of the Lime Green finish I show in this video.
Moving onto the Schofield No. 3 BB/Pellet 6 Shot Revolver Replica, if you like single action revolvers then take a look at the Schofield No. 3 BB/Pellet 6 Shot Revolver Replica. It’s a lot more bulky than a Colt Single Action Revolver and also has that top Break design that makes reloading quick and easy. The version we are selling inner Replica Airgun Online Store is the kit version that comes with 6 BB shells and 6 pellet shells so you can take your pick on ammo types. The barrel is not rifled so Steel BB’s will not hurt the Airgun and since pellets are skirted they do not need a rifled barrel to fly straight and true. You can expect around 445 fps for the Schofield No. 3 BB/Pellet 6 Shot Revolver Replica.
Type: BB air pistol. Manufacturer: Air Venturi - KWC. Model: Springfield Armory 1911 Mil-Spec. Materials: Pretty much all metal build. Weight: 2 pounds (907 Grams). Barrel: 4.38 inchesBrass, non-rifled. Propulsion: CO2 x1. Action: Semi auto blowback, single action only. Ammunition Type: 4.5mm Steel BB's. Ammunition Capacity: 18 rounds. FPS: 320.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Air Venturi Springfield Armory 1911 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol is like all the other KWC made CO2 full blowback 1911's, it's exactly what you would expect from a real steel 1911 single action only pistol which helps to make this replica 1911 a great trainer or show piece. So in other words the trigger pull is super short, super light with very little take-up and a nice crisp break.
Accuracy: I have not shot this "exact version" of the KWC Air Venturi 1911 but it will undoubtedly perform very much like all the other incarnations. I can expect decent under 2 inch groupings from 30 feet out and will get a little over 300 fps on a full CO2 cartridges as long as it’s decently warm out. Depending on how fast I shoot off my magazines, I should expect to get around 3 good mags and if I slow things down a bit I should get a forth magazine so anywhere from 50-70 good or so shots per CO2 out of the Air Venturi Springfield Armory 1911 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol. I may or may not make a Field Test Shooting Video for the Air Venturi Springfield Armory 1911 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol…
Build Quality: Very good, with almost all metal construction, good weight and craftsmanship, the KWC 1911 line of pistols have proven themselves over time, that said they will not last forever since these are not expensive guns made out of high quality metals. You will find most of these KWC pistols in general have a rather thin coating for a finish and so they tend to wear a bit on the high spots but over time this has been improving with KWC made Airguns.
Realism: This is as close as you can come to the look, weight, feel, and action of the real 1911 in virtually almost every way including the ability to field strip this pistol exactly the same! All the mechanical parts work just like they do on a real steel 1911 including the grip safety. On top of all of this Air Venturi has licensed the Air Venturi Springfield Armory 1911 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol with very realistic Springfield branding thought the Airgun.
All metal construction - Good weight and solid feeling gun.
Heavy blowback action with that 1911 sluggish feel.
Very Accurate 1911 A1 styled replica in pretty much every way.
True 1911 Single action trigger, excellent pull, very smooth and light.
Working backstop safety
3 dot white sights help with target acquisition on darker backgrounds.
Could mix and match other KWC 1911 parts.
Springfield Armory licensed by Air Venturi.
Good accuracy, not too bad amount of shots for this style of gun about 3 good magazines.
Cons:
Non adjustable sights.
Sacrifice fps and shots per CO2 because of the heavy blowback action but worth it.
Not Available at time of video.
Comments:
I really never get tired of making reviews for the KWC 1911 line of CO2 Blowback Airguns, sure they are all made from the same base KWC 1911 Aigun but each one has its own unique look and customization to it. I really like the Faux plastic wood grips with the deep Springfield Armory licensing on this version. And the matt black slide and frame with the chrome barrel and silver barrel bushing really look sharp on this 1911 BB Gun. Even though the Air Venturi Springfield Armory 1911 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol is basically a standard 1911 A1, the added touch of the White Dot sights will for sure help when shooting this Blowback BB Gun at what ever target you point it at.
My Videos for the Air Venturi Springfield Armory 1911 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol:
Lots of CO2 BB Rifles getting reviewed these days and that’s kind of awesome, I remember a few years back and we barely had any realistic Replica BB rifles available to us. Now we have an ever increasing list of choices from Historical to Modern.
Todays Field Test Shooting Video focusses on the Air Venturi Springfield Armory M1 Carbine CO2 BB Rifle, I have not done my Table Top Video yet for it but I did make a preview video where I show it around a bit and talk about some basic specs. In short the Air Venturi Springfield Armory M1 Carbine CO2 BB Rifle is a CO2 powered semi auto 4.5mm Steel BB firing replica of the Springfield Armory M1 Carbine. It holds the CO2 and 15 rounds of Steel BB’s in its full size drop out metal magazine. Available with a plastic or upgraded wood stock.
For the Field Test Shooting part of this review I tested out the power and accuracy of the Air Venturi Springfield Armory M1 Carbine CO2 BB Rifle by first shooting 5 rounds through my Chronograph to establish the Feet Per Second velocity. I then placed a fresh paper target 30 feet downrange, while using a rested and seated shooting position I fired off 10 rounds into the target to see how tight of a group I can get with the Air Venturi Springfield Armory M1 Carbine CO2 BB Rifle. I used a brand new CO2 along with 5.1 grain 4.5mm Zinc coated Steel BB’s. The temperature was a conservative 22 degrees Celsius or 71 degrees Fahrenheit.
During my Chronograph velocity test I was a bit surprised to only obtain an average of 335 fps from the Air Venturi Springfield Armory M1 Carbine CO2 BB Rifle. Air Venturi claims closer to 425 so I am not sure why it was nearly 100 fps lower than claimed but perhaps the CO2 did not pierce as well as it could have, that said 335 fps does get the job done when shooting targets 20-30 feet away.
In terms of accuracy I was very pleased with the Air Venturi Springfield Armory M1 Carbine CO2 BB Rifle, it kind of made up for the slower than expected feet per second by getting a sub 1 inch 10 round group and I am not a big fan of peep sights so I was really not expecting these results. Right out of the box the Air Venturi Springfield Armory M1 Carbine CO2 BB Rifle shot pretty close to the bullseye, just s slight bit to the left and about 1-2 inches high. The rear sight is adjustable for elevation so that can be taken care of pretty easy.
In this Field Test Shooting Review Video I test out both the 3.8 Compact and 4.5 Full Size Air Venturi Springfield Armory XDM Blowback CO2 BB Pistols to see how they perform in both velocity and accuracy. I thought it would be interesting to see how the shorter and longer barreled versions compare side by side and if we sill see a difference in power and down range accuracy…
As always I use a brand new 12 gram CO2 along with 5.1 gran zinc coated steel BB’s for my testing and on this day the temperature in the Sea Can Indoor Airgun range was around 24 degrees Celsius or 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
Watch my Video for all the main differences but in short here they are for those reading this post:
Steel BB version uses CO2 while the Airsoft version uses Green Gas or Propane.
There is no orange tip on the Steel BB version while Airsoft versions come with orange tips installed.
Steel BB versions have 20 round full length magazines for both the 3.8 and 4.5 inch versions, while the Airsoft 3.8 compact comes with the shorter 14 round magazine and the Airsoft 4.5 comes with a longer 25 round magazine.
FPS for the Steel BB versions are 270fps for the 3.8 and 325fps for the 4.5, comparably the Airsoft 3.8 is claimed to have 280fps with the 4.5 version a bit higher at 330fps. (Keep in mind that steel BB’s weigh more at around .33 grams compared to the .20 gram plastic Airsoft BB’s used for testing).
I did notice that on the sliver slide version, my earlier Airsoft 4.5 had more of a parkerized metallic finish while my same Steel BB version I received at a later time had more of brushed stainless look to it. Air Venturi has since informed me that all silver slide version will now have the brushed stainless finish.
It felt like Christmas the other day when a bunch of Springfield Armory new products showed up at my door! So first off thanks to Air Venturi for sending me these new products for review. I already got my hands on the Springfield Armory XDM 3.8 and 4.5 GBB Airsoft version but have been wanting to also review the CO2 Blowback Steel BB versions.
In this video I show all these new Springfield Armory CO2 Blowback BB guns quickly but will of course be making dedicated Table Top and Fired Test Shooting Video for them upcoming.
Type: Gas Blowback Airsoft Pistol. Manufacturer: Air Venturi Model: Springfield Armory XDM 3.8 & 4.5 Inch Materials: Metal slide & Mag with Polymer frame. Weight: 1.75 & 1.9 pounds (794 & 861 grams). Length: 7.25 & 8.25 inches total length Barrel: 3.8 & 4.5 inch Metal non-rifled smooth bore. Propulsion: Green gas or propane. Action: Blowback, single action only. Ammunition Type: 6mm plastic Airsoft BB's. Ammunition Capacity: 14 & 25 rounds. FPS: 280-330 fps.
Trigger Pull: The single action only trigger pull on the Air Venturi Springfield Armory XDM GBB Airsoft Pistol is pretty much what you would expect on a striker fired SAO pistol. There is very little take up with a light release which should make for great action shooting and help with accuracy when slowing things down a bit.
Accuracy: This time I actually have done my Field Test Shooting video for the Air Venturi Springfield Armory XDM GBB Airsoft Pistol and it did pretty good, getting a 2 inch 10 round grouping from 30 feet away shooting just a bit low on the target, nothing a bit of hop-up adjustment shouldn’t be able to account for. The claimed fps is 330 for the 4.5 inch version and I was able to average right around 300.
Build Quality: At SHOT Show this year I commented on the Air Venturi Springfield Armory XDM Pistols and how great they looked and felt. Nothing really different now that I have them in my hands for review. I did notice that my AIrsoft version with the Silver Slide had a kind of metallic parkerized finish while my BB Silver Slide version has a more stainless steel look. I prefer the Stainless Steel look a lot more and feel it makes the Air Venturi Springfield Armory XDM Pistols look higher quality. Hopefully Air Venturi sticks with the Stainless Steel finish? Build quality and finish are good thought the gun.
Realism: The Air Venturi Springfield Armory XDM GBB Airsoft Pistol is really one of the best 1 to 1 copies I have seen out there. It looks pretty much identical including all the licensing and markings in all the right places. It also is full blowback with a full size drop out metal magazine and all the mechanical working parts work the same as the real steel version including the trigger safety, grip safety, slide catch release, take down leaver and magazine release. Field striping is done just like the 9mm big brother allowing for easy hop-up adjustments.
Lots of metal parts where the real steel version would also have them.
Fully Field Strippable.
Adjustable Hop-up.
Easy to use sights, fiber optic up front and white dot on the back.
Springfield Armory fully Licensed.
Working serial number, trigger and backstop safeties.
Comes with different sized back straps for small to large hands.
Rail for adding accessories.
Warning instructions are nice and discreet!
Your choice of compact or full size versions also in all black or silver slide.
Performed well in my Field Test Shooting Review getting a 2 inch 10 shot grouping and close to the claimed fps.
Cons:
Comes with the orange tip we all love but should be pretty easy to remove.
Sights are non-adjustable. Can use Hop-up to bring shots up or down.
Silver Slide Airsoft version finish is not my favorite.
Comments:
Like I said at SHOT Show this year I was super impressed with the entire Springfield Armory lineup and now that I have them in my hands I am still just as impressed with the Air Venturi Springfield Armory XDM GBB Airsoft Pistols. You are getting pretty much what everyone looks for in a Replica Airgun: 1 to 1 size and similar weight, full blowback action, full size drop out metal magazine, fully licensed, adjustable hop-up, filed strippable and similar build materials you would find as compared to the real steel 9mm version. I also like that you have a ton of choice offered by Air Venturi: Airsoft or BB, 3.8 inch compact or 4.5 inch full size, silver or black slide and even short lower capacity or longer high capacity magazines for the 3.8 inch version.
My Table Top Review of the Air Venturi Springfield Armory XDM GBB Airsoft Pistol
Using .20 gram BB’s I loaded up the Air Venturi Springfield Armory XDM GBB Airsoft Pistol with propane gas and placed several rounds through my Chronograph to see what the feet per second average would be. The last 5 shots I took where actual the fastest averaging 290 fps, a little bit slower than I was expecting but just about right for close quarters Airsoft games.
I then switched over to .32 gram Airsoft BB’s since they tend to be a bit more accurate out at longer ranges. Using a fresh paper target and shooting from a rested and seated position 30 feet away, I took 10 shots with the Air Venturi Springfield Armory XDM GBB Airsoft Pistol. The result was a 10 round grouping of about 2 inches with one straggler just outside the main group. The Air Venturi Springfield Armory XDM GBB Airsoft Pistol did shoot a little bit low at 30 feet but I am sure the hop-up can be adjusted for this. It was well centered left to right which is a good thing since the sights are non-adjustable.
I really like the Air Venturi Springfield Armory XDM GBB Airsoft Pistol, it looks and feels very solid with a nice balance in the hand. The Single Action Only Trigger is short and light making follow up shots quick and responsive. The blowback action is crisp with good simulated recoil. I look forward to trying out the Steel BB version of the Air Venturi Springfield Armory XDM GBB Pistol as soon as I get my hands on one which should be pretty soon. Take your pick, Airsoft or Steel BB, either is a great choice!
Again I have some new products to show everyone. Some we got a bit of a preview of when I was at SHOT Show 2019 earlier this year but now I have them in my hands to show off and of course will be doing full Table Top and Filed Test for anything new as soon as I can get to them.
Starting with Sig Sauer, they sent me their brand new Sig Sauer P365 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol. This was probably one of my favorite new Air Pistols at SHOT Show simply because it is so small and somehow Sig was able to find a way to put a full size drop out metal magazine that holds both the CO2 and BB’s in it. This is one I am really looking forward to testing out in the Indoor Sea Can Airgun Shooting Range.
Another fantastic product is Crosman’s DPMS Full Auto CO2 BB Rifle which was pretty much perfect the first time around. Well at SHOT Show this year Crosman updated it a bit mainly with some cosmetic changes and now is offering the Crosman MPW, a slightly shorter version of the DPMS and now with an AR Compatible Stock for customizing your Crosman’s MPW Full Auto CO2 BB Rifle.
So maybe not as exciting… I also take a look at a NBB CO2 BB Makarov from KWC that is pretty basic but is much less expensive and will offer higher FPS and more shots per CO2 being that it is Non-blowback Airgun. It will be interesting to see how it compares performance wise to the KWC Full Blowback CO2 BB version.
Last but also super cool and I know it’s not really as Airgun related but still something I think everyone will be interested in is the Pocket Shot Pro Arrow Pouch with D-Loop. I reviewed the Pocket Shot “Slingshot” a while back, this new product allows you to use standard Arrows with their new Arrow Pouch getting around 40 pounds of pull and it comes with a trigger release. By the way the Pocket Shot Pro Arrow system is legals to hunt deer with in most US States, I’m not sure about Canada but perhaps here too?
Air Venturi announced their new Springfield Armory lien of BB and Airsoft guns at SHOT Show 2019 and of course I stopped by to talk with Scott and see what these new products where all about!
First off we have the Springfield Armory M1 Carbine Rifle. You will be able to get it in either 4.5mm Steel BB or 6mm Airsoft versions. Both will have full drop out metal magazines that hold the 12 gram CO2 and either 15 BB or Airsoft rounds. You can expect around 40-60 shots per CO2 since the Springfield Armory M1 Carbine is a full blowback Airgun. The standard version will come with a synthetic wood stock that is very believable but for around $100 more you will have the option of a real wood stock which does add a bit to more weight to the rifle.
Continuing on with some more Springfield Armory Airguns. Air Venturi will be distributing the XDM pistol in a compact and full size configuration, again both 4.5mm Steel BB and Airsoft versions. There will be a solid black version and a two tone silver slide version so lots of options to pick from. The 4.5mm Steel BB version will use a 12 gram CO2 while the Airsoft version will allow for Green Gas or CO2 mags.
I wanted to mention one more product Scott showed me that is still in production, a reactive target system called the Bata-Bang that connects to your phone via Bluetooth allowing you to time your shooting and play shooting games with it and others even online. Hopefully we see this product soon from Air Venturi!
Here we go again with another Favorite Airgun Video of 2018, this time I show you my Air Rifle Favorites! There are usually a lot less Air Rifles that come out than Air Pistols but this year was’t too bad for new and interesting Ari Rifles. As per usually there where more 4.5mm Steel BB Rifles and I am sorry to say nothing really came out at least in the Replica Air Rifle department but of course there where 6mm Airsoft rifles too.
I do mainly focus on the 4.5mm BB rifles but throw in the group a very well made and ultra realistic Airsoft Rifle that was for sure in this years Top Five!
Next in this video I take a look at what I can say was my number one pick this year, the Crosman DPMS SBR Steel BB Rifle! When Crosman announced the Crosman DPMS SBR Steel BB Rifle at SHOT Show I was a bit surprised since Crosman is not known best for their Replica Airguns. Not only did Crosman decide to come out with an M4 Replica Air Rifle but they in fact made what I believe is the best one out there at least in 4.5mm Steel BB. It covers all the check boxes I am looking for. It’s very well made, shoots in semi and full auto with a working internal blowback bolt. All the mechanical parts work in the same way as a real M4 including being able to take apart the upper and lower receivers. I really hope Crosman took note of how popular this style of Airgun is and keeps making more product like the Crosman DPMS SBR Steel BB Rifle.
Another 4.5mm Steel BB M4 Replica that came out in 2018 is the Air Venturi HellBoy CO2 BB M4 Air Rifle. The HellBoy may not be as full featured as the Crosman DPMS SBR but it is worthy of this years Top Five. The Air Venturi HellBoy CO2 BB M4 Air Rifle is similar to how the Cybergun AK 47 BB rifles are built, using a magazine design that is basically the bulk of the working mechanism, it hold the CO2, CO2 Valve, BB’s, and even part of the trigger mechanism. The Air Venturi HellBoy CO2 BB M4 Air Rifle may not be as ultra realistic as the Crosman DPMS SBR but it’s an excellent full metal M4 Replica with decent shooting performance.
My only Airsoft contribution to this years list is the KWA LM4 RIS PTR Full Metal GBB Airsoft Rifle. I just love this Airsoft Rifle, It may not be the cheapest M4 GBB Airsoft Rifle out there but it sure is worth it. When you pick it up it just feels like quality and when you shoot it you know it’s quality, the shooting performance is awesome for a GBB Rifle. I barely noticed any cool down even when shooting off the entire magazine in full auto. If you want the most realistic M4 Air Rfile out there than the KWA LM4 RIS PTR Full Metal GBB Airsoft Rifle is going to be the one.
Last up to showcase in this years Favorite Air Rifles is the Umarex Legends MP40 CO2 BB Weathered Submachine Gun. I know the Umarex Legends MP40 CO2 BB Submachine Gun kinda came out last year but I did not get my hands on the Weathered version till only recently so I decided to put it in this years Top Five pick. The Umarex Legends MP40 CO2 BB Submachine Gun is another fine 4.5mm Steel BB Rifle in this case it’s more of a Submachine Gun. The Umarex Legends MP40 CO2 BB Submachine Gun also offers semi and full auto select fire and is a very close replace to the real steel MP40 in almost every way. The Weathered Finish and included Leather Sling really finish it off to make it super believable.
I am happy to say that the first Field Test using my new Caldwell Ballistic Precision Chronograph went really well for me today. Perhaps I have found a new brand of Chronograph that will last longer than a year or so and give me reliable results that I can count on...
So other than that one chronograph reading error for the day which may have been an alignment issue on my part, the Caldwell Ballistic Precision Chronograph performed excellent for me. I would also like to note that I was using the same Caldwell LED Lighting System I have been using in my Sea Can Indoor Airgun range which as expected fit perfectly onto their own Chronograph system and worked well.
So how did the Air Venturi HellBoy M4 CO2 BB Rifle do? Unfortunately my Chrony Chronograph bit the dust, even though it I just bought it well I guess we are going back 2 years ago but still my luck with the Chrony Chronographs has not been good :( I thought it was perhaps the battery but when I switched it out for a new one I still got the same gibberish on screen!
So I resorted to using my Airsoft Chronograph which is not ideal for testing our steel BB's and or Lead Pellets. I did get some results which gave me a three shot average of 437 feet per second, this was after shooting off a full magazine and I was having some slight CO2 leakage with my Air Venturi HellBoy M4 CO2 BB Rifle? Perhaps a bad valve or seal?
When I was playing around with m y Air Venturi HellBoy M4 CO2 BB Rifle outside shooting clay pigeons at a variety of distances I found it to be pretty accurate finding my targets most of the time even out to 50 feet or more. So was not too surprised when I shot a nice 1 inch 10 round grouping using a mounted red dot scope to help a little bit.
All in all the Air Venturi HellBoy M4 CO2 BB Rifle is a pretty slick Replica Rifle to own, I will be comparing it to the Crosman DPMS SBR now that one has arrived, they both have pros and cons so it will be interesting to see which one is going to be my favorite at the end of the day but I can say if you can own both then go for it! And don't forget to watch my Table Top Review for the Air Venturi HellBoy M4 CO2 BB Rifle where I go into some more detail and show you around up close.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Air Venturi HellBoy M4 CO2 BB Rifle is a double action only trigger since there is no blowback action to set the trigger in single action mode. So it will be a bit heavier than a true single action trigger. That said the trigger is not bad at all and can be activated very quickly for tons of fast action shooting or at least until your 18 rounds are all gone :) I would say the trigger pull is between light and medium with a medium pull length and not that much take-up at the beginning.
Accuracy: So far I have only played around with the Air Venturi HellBoy M4 CO2 BB Rifle shooting at clay pigeons from various distances and it was surprisingly accurate for me off hand shooting like this. I could easily hit a clay pigeon from about 50 feet away with most shots. Watch my "Having Fun with the Air Venturi HellBoy M4 CO2 BB Rifle" video if you want to see how it did. In terms of velocity, I have seen other reviews that show it getting pretty close the 495 fps claimed so until I do my actual Field Test Shooting Video we will have to go on this info.
Build Quality: The Air Venturi HellBoy M4 CO2 BB Rifle is made in China, some people will not like that but I found it to be very well built in general, fit and finish are as good if not better than any Taiwanese airgun I have reviewed so quality control in the factory must be good. You are going to find metal parts where you would expect them to be on a real M4 (AR) like the receiver, barrel, buffer tube, magazine, carry handle, forward assist, charging handle, sling mounts, safety and magazine release. Plastic parts are going to be the rear stock, hand guard, and pistol grip.
Realism: The Air Venturi HellBoy M4 CO2 BB Rifle is a 1 to 1 replica of the M4 or AR platform and even has some interchangeable parts with real AR or M4 like the hand guard and rear stock. You can even take this gun down into the two halves, upper and lower which makes for barrel cleaning or BB jam removal pretty easy. Even though there is no blowback action or internal bolt, you can pull the charging handle back which opens the dust cover just like the real deal. Other working moving parts are the magazine release, selector switch, forward assist and adjustable rear stock.
Pros:
Great to have another full size Rifle available to purchase in a BB gun version.
Metal where it is expected and good overall weight. (Metal receiver, barrel, magazine)
Can be field stripped, carry handle is removable.
Can swap out hand guard and rear stock with real steel AR parts.
Full size drop out metal magazine that holds the BBs and CO2.
Great looking replica of the real steel M4 AR, operation and weight.
Variety of sling mount hook in points for varies styles of slings.
Price point is reasonable for this type of full size mostly metal BB rifle.
Cons:
Semi auto and double action only trigger only.
Magazine only holds 18 rounds and a single CO2.
No blowback operation.
Comments:
I think the Air Venturi HellBoy M4 CO2 BB Rifle is a super addition to the replica rifle lineup. I know we all wish it had blowback operation and shot in full auto mode too but there are trade-offs here and you can still have boat loads of fun shooting the Air Venturi HellBoy M4 CO2 BB Rifle even in semi auto only mode. The fact that it does not have blowback allows for some generous fps velocity and more shots per CO2. It looks really great, feels really great and shoots really great all in a mostly metal build which is what everyone has been asking for and at a reasonable price. I think the Air Venturi HellBoy M4 CO2 BB Rifle is a total winner and recommend it 100%. You will not be disappointed!
