This is not exclusive to Airguns since trends of Airguns are highly influenced by what type of Real Steel Pistols are popular to people. This is often based on what people see portrayed in movies and TV Series, and also promoted online. There is for sure an overlap in what is popular and it is hard to say what is influencing what? Is it the popularity of Pistols out in the real world that influences what we see being used in the movies and on TV? Or is it what we see in Movies and TV that influences our choices of pistols out in the real world? Perhaps it is a combination of both?
My list is based on my own personal experience and does not represent the entirety of types of Pistol designs available.
In this Field Test Shooting Review of the KWC PM Makarov Non-Blowback CO2 Pellet Pistol I find out what the actual Velocity is and how accurately I can shoot it at a paper target setup 30 feet down range. If you have not already watched my Table Top Review for the KWC PM Makarov Non-Blowback CO2 Pellet Pistol then make sure to do so to see some nice closeup video of it and all the details and specifications laid out for everyone.
Starting with what the actual velocity of the KWC PM Makarov Non-Blowback CO2 Pellet Pistol. I made sure to keep it nice and warm before making this test and I also placed a brand new 12 gram CO2 cartridge in it and went with lead pellets I am guesstimating where around 7 grain so not super heavy or super light, definitely not a high velocity pellets. I was a bit shocked that my average fps was no where near the claimed 340 fps. My 5 shot average came to 263 fps with the highest being 272 fps and the lowest being 256 fps. Is that good enough for shorter range plinking? For sure but far off the called 340 fps. Maybe the manufacturers claim was using high velocity super light weigth pellets?
Next I performed my accuracy portion of the test and reloaded the 12 round magazine which is actually a dual 6 round rotary magazine you manually switch sides to unload all rounds. My first 6 shots I pointed the KWC PM Makarov Non-Blowback CO2 Pellet Pistol right at the bulls eye and found out it shoot a bit on the low side so only two rounds actually made it on the paper. I then switched to the other 6 round rotary magazine and aimed a bit higher, this time I was able to get fairly well centered on the target and produce about a 3 inch grouping. So in other words no awards are going to be handed out for this pistol in terms of accuracy or power. By the way I was using my standard shooting stance which is with my hands stabilized on a sand bag up front and sitting on a stool in the back.
The KWC PM Makarov Non-Blowback CO2 Pellet Pistol is not listed as any sort of target pistol so I was not expecting world class performance but I was expecting it to shoot a little bit better than your average blowback CO2 BB shooter and it really didn’t at the end of the day. If you’re specifically looking for a pellet shooting Makarov then this will be your Airgun since I am pretty sure it is the only one out there at this time but personally I would go with one of the CO2 Blowback BB versions since they shoot a bit harder and are maybe even more accurate not to mention you also get that blowback recoil with a nice light single action trigger.
Type: Pellet Air Pistol. Distributer:KWC. Model: PM Makarov Pellet. Materials: Metal and polymer build. Weight: 1.7 pounds (754 grams). Barrel: Rifled steel. Propulsion: CO2 x1. Action: Semi auto non-blowback, double action only. Ammunition Type: .177 caliber pellets. Ammunition Capacity: 12 rounds (2x6). FPS: 344-370.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the KWC PM Makarov Non-Blowback CO2 Pellet Pistol is not going to make for the best action shooter out there as it is a double action only shooter when compared to a single action only trigger or a single and double action trigger. That said it works fairly well as long as you make sure to fully release it after each shot, short releases may result in the hammer not going back all the way and a misfire. As with most double action triggers it is a bit long and slightly heavy but not unusable, just be prepared to get a little bit of a finger workout.
Accuracy: I have not shot the KWC PM Makarov Non-Blowback CO2 Pellet Pistol just yet but will be doing so shortly so stay posted for my Full Field Test Shooting Video for the KWC PM Makarov Non-Blowback CO2 Pellet Pistol. I expect it to do fairly well in terms of accuracy and power since there is no blowback, it is a pellet shooter after all and the barrel is rifled. We will see shortly…
Build Quality: The KWC PM Makarov Non-Blowback CO2 Pellet Pistol is built just like all the other KWC Airguns, it’s not going to be the best quality but it is decent and KWC has been making Airguns for a while not just for themselves but for other companies like Umarex, Gletcher, ASG, Crosman and even Sig Sauer. You will find metal on this gun where it matter. The slide, the full size drop out metal magazine and of course lots of internal parts. The frame, trigger, fake hammer and safety are all plastic. Fit and finish is good overall and the fact that this is a fairly simple Airgun design with no blowback, so less moving parts means there is less chance for something to go wrong so it should last a while even with lots of use.
Realism: The KWC PM Makarov Non-Blowback CO2 Pellet Pistol really does look and feel like a real steel Makarov PM semi auto pistol with the exception of the ejection port which is not cut out. everything is really believable even though not all the parts work like the slide, slide catch release and fake hammer. On a real Makarov PM the frame would also be metal adding to the overall weight but the KWC PM Makarov Non-Blowback CO2 Pellet Pistol comes in at 1.7 pounds which is actually very close to the weight of a non-loaded real steel Makarov PM which weighs around 1.6 pounds but will be a lot heavier fully loaded.
Good weight and solid feeling gun. Lots of metal where you need it in the slide, magazine and other internals.
All metal full size drop out magazine holds CO2 and 12 pellets.
Decent looking replica of a Makarov PM.
Not a lot of writing on the gun, very clean looking (Non Ranger version).
Recessed barrel helps with look of realism.
Rifled barrel will help with accuracy.
Non-blowback operation with increased fps and CO2 efficiency.
Working safety in same position as real steel version.
Double action trigger is a bit long but not overly heavy so should be decent for action shooting.
Cons:
No blowback, slide is fixed and does not move either.
Hammer moves but does not cock back for single action shooting and is made out of plastic.
Sights are not adjustable and are all black so shooting at darker objects will be a bit more challenging.
Hard to tell when out of ammo, have to listen to the sound or count shots.
Comments:
It is nice to see more full size drop out metal magazine Replica Pellet Pistols coming out in the Airgun market. Generally speaking most are going to be non-blowback but there are a few blowback options. That said a Non-blowback CO2 Pellet Pistol like the KWC PM Makarov Non-Blowback CO2 Pellet Pistol will typically give you a high velocity and more shots per CO2 and can even be a little bit better in the accuracy department since there is virtually no recoil from them. The KWC PM Makarov Non-Blowback CO2 Pellet Pistol is a nice little Replica Airgun that looks the part, feels the part and hopefully turns out to be a fun and accurate Pellet Plinker at the end of the day.
My Vimeo Videos for the KWC PM Makarov Non-Blowback CO2 Pellet Pistol:
I have another Huge Mystery Box to open and share with everyone, this one was even larger and heavier than the last one! You are going to have to watch the video to get all the details on what is actually inside but I can say there are 4 AEG Airsoft Rifles from a new to us company called Arcturus in both AR and AK versions and 2 CO2 Non Blowback Replica Pellet Pistols from KWC.
I do have a some more videos to make from the last Mystery Box Preview being a Specna Arms AEG PDW AR Airsoft Rifle and a Paintball Pump Shotgun that I still need to make both Table Top and Field Test Shooting Video for.
If you have watched my Umarex Desert Eagle Review Video, you probably heard me whining about not having an under barrel Tactical Rial for my Umarex Desert Eagle. Well the whining paid off because with some help from Justin from California USA, I was able to get a replacement Tactical Rail! I guess Justin didn't need his and he offered to sell me his at a very reasonable price and I am now so happy my Umarex Desert Eagle has been reunited with its accessory Tactical rail.
I also received another treat today in the mail - a beautiful tanned leather holster for my Nickel Baikal Makarov graciously given to me by Mark from Ontario Canada. Mark has a wonderfull collection of Air guns past and present and had an extra Makarov holster he though I would appreciate - and I certainly do!
