It would not be the end of another year without another Airgun, Airsoft Gun and Blank Gun Collection video for you. This year I'm not showing all my guns, I started to take them out and quickly realized there where just way too many and this years video would have been several hours long and would have taken most of the week for me to shoot and edit...
So this year I have hand picked some of my top favorites and most notable replica Airgun, Airsoft Gun and Blank Guns. They may not all be the best made or hardest shooters or even all that accurate but each one has some significants to me.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Umarex Smith & Wesson 357 686 Revolver is very light and smooth in both single and double action. Single action is much shorter and a bit lighter with just a very short take up to it. In double action it does get a hair heavier and much longer as is expected but still very usable and easy to shoot quickly and with accuracy.
Accuracy: I found the Umarex S&W 686 pellet revolver to have some of the best accuracy I have tested out of a pistol, getting about a half inch grouping from 30 feet out in a semi rested position (sand bag up front, standing in the back). I also put 5 rounds through my Chrony Chronograph and the Umarex 357 686 averaged right around 450 fps using RWS 7 grain lead pellets which is even better than the claimed 425 fps from Umarex.
Build Quality:The Umarex Smith & Wesson 357 686 CO2 Pellet Revolver is almost entirely metal with the acceptation of the rubber grips and front removable sight, it has a very substantial overall weight and feel to it coming in at just under three pounds. Keep in mind this is one of the higher end German made Umarex guns and you can tell in the workmanship and fit and finish. All the mechanical parts work flawlessly and have very tight tolerances, the finish is also superb. Yes the price is up there but this is a an airgun you will most likely be passing down to future generations one day as a collectors item, and I would imagine also in working condition.
Realism:The Umarex S&W 686 is a replica of the real stell Smith & Wesson 357 Magnum and overall looks pretty similar in shape and style. It would have been nice to have seen a full swing our cylinder but this would have meant a more complicated design with potentially less performance? In a perfect world, loadable shell casings like the Dan Wesson would have been very cool but keep in mind this is an airgun that really performs in terms of power and accuracy. Mine was the silver version, I would have liked to have seen a color matched magazine but since it is metal it could be color matched after the fact. The Smith & Wesson licensing and markings along with the heavy weight, hidden CO2 Tab and recessed barrel help to give the Umarex S&W 686 a very believable look and feel.
Pretty much all metal, has a nice solid feel and good weight.
Higher than claimed fps (right around 450 fps)
Amazing accuracy, one of my best pistols tested to date.
Very high quality German made workmanship.
Very comfortable rubber grips.
Fully adjustable rear sight (windage and elevation).
Well hidden CO2 tab.
Full S&W licensing, good overall replica.
Single and double action with a nice trigger in both SA and DA.
Magazines are removable for easy loading and have a high 10 shot load capacity.
Cons:
A bit on the expensive side of things.
Rotary magazine is not color matched on the Silver version.
On the low side of shots per CO2 (About 60-70).
No rail mount for a accessories of any type.
Comments:
The Umarex Smith & Wesson 686 CO2 Pellet Revolver is not for everyone and I say that because the $250 plus price point is going to be just too much for many buyers. If you can find a way to get past the price then you will have a very high quality German made air gun on your hands, not only are the Smith & Wesson 568/686 CO2 Pellet revolvers very well made but they also perform as good if not better in terms of accuracy and velocity then even some dedicated target air pistols I have tested. Looks will not let you down either and I would not be surprised that this gun if well taken care of can be passed down to future generations as a working collectors item. If you are looking for a high quality, excellent performing replica pellet revolver then make sure to consider the Umarex Smith & Wesson 586 and 686 line of CO2 replica pellet revolvers.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Umarex HK G36 KVis fairly short and light as it is essentially just an electrical on off switch for the internal electronic components. You can shoot the G36 very quickly in semi auto mode, and in full auto it cycles very quickly giving a high rate of fire.
Accuracy: In my brief pre-testing without any sighting in, the Umarex Heckler & Koch G36 KV shot just a bit off center to the right from a 30 foot semi rested position and produced a nice 2 inch grouping. In full auto the grouping opened up a bit but still punched a nice 1.5 inch hole in the target with most of the BB hitting there.
Build Quality: The Umarex HK G36 KV is very well made, yes it has lots of polymer but so does the real version and the plastic seems very durable, the fit and finish looked great and there is a lot of metal in and around the G36 where it would be on the real steel gun and where it is really required to be. Like the trigger, top rail, pins, selector switch, barrel, gearbox and gears.
Realism: Similar to my WE G39C reviewed earlier, I bet if you had a real Heckler & Koch G36 sitting beside the Umarex HK G36 KV, you would be hard pressed to tell them apart? The Umarex is also fully HK licensed and trademark throughout even including the 5.56mm NATO markings.
Excellent attention to detail with lots of working parts.
All metal internals and metal external mechanical parts.
Semi auto & full auto selectable.
Full HK licensing and markings.
Accurate 2 inch 10 shot group from 30 feet out.
Nice high 450+ FPS.
Full ambidextrous, even the charging handle can be switched side to side.
High capacity magazine (400 rounds)
Built in 3x optical sight with ability to add a Red Dot for close quarter shooting.
4 position adjustable folding stock.
Easy access to hop up system.
Cons:
Does not come with a battery or charger.
Came with the orange tip, you may want to replace it or paint it black?
May be too powerful for close quarter skirmishes without some detuning.
Comments:
This is my first Umarex Airsoft rifle product review and I have to say it really seems good so far, I have not had a lot of hands on time shooting the Umarex HK G36 KV but right out of the box I was getting very good results, nice high 450+ fps and good groupings even out at further range. The fit and finish are all very good and the realism is as good, if not better than other Airsoft AEG I have reviewed. I like the built in 3x Optical Scope and the addition of an upper rail to accommodate a Red Dot, this gives you the ability to acquire quick close up shot placements using a Red Dot while also being able to focus in on further out targets using the magnified optical scope. I look forward to my official Field Test shooting review.
The Fenix models I show off in the YouTube video are the TK45 -TK15 - LD22 - PD22, a rather nice selection that should cover most lighting requirements.
Some Features and Benefits of Fenix Flashlights:
Use Top quality Cree XLamp XM-L LEDs for highest efficiency and LED lifespan.
Heat-sinks to make sure the LEDs do not overheat.
Use the Optic Ultra Clear Glass Lenses that also produce a perfect mix of Throw and Spill.
A constant current regulation circuit, which keeps the flashlights in constant brightness regulation. Unlike traditional flashlights output will not dim over the life of the battery.
Waterproof to IPX-8 (2 Meters) standard with Anti-shock.
Type III Hard Anodized Scratch Resistant Finish.
Fenix TK45:
760 Lumens
200 Meter Throw Beam
232 Hours Max Runtime
IPX-8 Waterproof (2 Meters)
Type III Hard-anodized Anti-abrasive finish
Impact Resistant
Fenix TK15:
337 Lumens
215 Meter Throw Beam
142 Hours Max Runtime
IPX-8 Waterproof (2 Meters)
Type III Hard-anodized Anti-abrasive finish
Impact Resistant
Fenix LD22:
190 Lumens
100 Meter Throw Beam
110 Hours Max Runtime
IPX-8 Waterproof (2 Meters)
Type III Hard-anodized Anti-abrasive finish
Impact Resistant
Fenix PD22:
190 Lumens
101 Meter Throw Beam
97 Hours Max Runtime
IPX-8 Waterproof (2 Meters)
Type III Hard-anodized Anti-abrasive finish
Impact Resistant
Make sure to watch my YouTube Video Preview on the Fenix line of Flashlights:
Sometimes we all get caught up in which gun is brand new and has the most realistic features. I wanted to put the focus back on a few high quality German made Umarex Airguns that where designed from the ground up to be very good replicas but also take into consideration that yes, they are airguns and so they should be designed to operate like an airgun and have excellent build quality, and performance. Quality and performance sometimes gets sacrificed on newer guns that just go after realism and can sacrifice form over function.
Sure these German made Umarex air pistols are not cheap, but hold one in your hand and shoot it and you will quickly see that they are built to last a lifetime, these guns are an investment!
I have already reviewed the Colt Government 1911 A1 (Satin version), I wanted to also show you how it looks in the all black model. Two other Umarex German made guns I have been asked often to review are the Walther CP99 and Smith & Wesson 586/686 Revolvers. I am happy to inform you that I have these guns on hand and will be reviewing them shortly for you.
You can watch my Update video to see a bit of a preview of these very fine German made Umarex pellet shooters:
Materials: Mostly metal construction with a few plastic parts.
Weight: 2.1 pounds.
Barrel: 4.88 inches, metal non-rifled.
Propulsion: CO2 x 1.
Action: Semi auto blowback, single action only.
Ammunition Type: 6mm plastic Airsoft BB's.
Ammunition Capacity: 16 round magazine.
FPS: 400+.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the G&G Xtreme 45 is very smooth in single action only mode with there being just a bit of take-up and then a fairly light release, the light blowback and single action trigger allow fast sequential shooting with good groupings.
Accuracy: This is somewhat yet to be determined in my upcoming Field Test Shooting portion of this review but I did get the chance to take it outside and put some rounds down range, performance overall seemed decent.
Build Quality: This is an almost all metal air gun with good fit and finish and a nice hefty 2.1 pound weight to it. very similar in build to the Umarex Colt Special Combat 4.5mm BB Pistol reviewed earlier! The only plastic parts to speak of are the grips. In a perfect world, real wood grips would be nice but I have feeling that real 1911 grips may just fit this gun?
Realism: The G&G Xtreme 45 is a very good replica of the classic 45 auto 1911 styled pistol, with the exception of the trigger mechanism. I was happy to see if had a single action only trigger like you would find in a 1911 so this was a bonus. Overall weigh and feel make this Airsoft pistol a very believable gun and the blowback although light gives some nice feedback when shooting and the allowable single action trigger on followup shot.
Blowback operation (enough to give it some shot feedback and also cocks the hammer for easy single action trigger pull).
High fps for a blowback Airsoft pistol.
Expect to get decent amount of shots per CO2.
Fully adjustable rear sight.
Attractive two tone finish.
Magazine is all metal full size and hold both the CO2 and BB's and has a flush hidden CO2 screw.
Rain for accessories.
Very affordable gun considering all of the features it comes with.
Cons:
Blowback operation is light and not a full cycle.
Slide catch does not engage on the last round.
Does not have a true 1911 styled trigger but at least is single action.
Comments:
The G&G Xtreme 45 CO2 Blowback Airsoft Pistol is a great combination of realism and practicality toped with lots of great features you don't often find in a gun in this price range: Almost all metal, blowback operation, good fps and CO2 usage, fully adjustable rear sight, full size drop out metal magazine with hidden tab, awesome looks, and low price point. If your in the market for a good all around 1911 styled Airsoft blowback pistol, definitely put this one on the check list!
My Vimeo Video Review for the G&G Xtreme 45 CO2 Blowback Airsoft Pistol:
These are the 7 shot .22 caliber blank front firing versions, very high German quality, come in a nice presentation box and include the flare adaptor! Grab yours before they are gone again...
This Update video addresses the similarities between the KWC and Cybergun product lines, specifically the KWC Model 1911 vs. the Cybergun Tanfoglio Witness 1911 and the KWC Taurus PT99 vs. the Cybergun GSG 92. In a nutshell, they are all made by KWC and are exactly the same with the exception of some of the licensing and branding that goes on the slides. Cybergun simply contracts KWC to make the guns for them and add some slight different printing. All parts are interchangeable.
I also show you the Silver Finish Blowback Airsoft KWC Desert Eagle and mention again that the licensing on this one is kind of hit and miss depending on what KWC sends us. So when you order one there is an additional surprise waiting for you when you open the box :)
Lastly, I show for the first time a G&G Airsoft product, the G&G Xtreme 45 Blowback that looks an awful lot like the Umarex Colt Special Combat chambered in 4.5mm Steel BB. The main differences are that the Colt Special Combat is a BB gun and the Xtreme 45 is an Airsoft gun. The G&G has blowback where as the Colt Special Combat does not have blowback.
Make sure to checkout my Vimeo video of this product update for even more info!
A bit of a heads up, one of our most poplar BB and Airsoft Pistols, the Dan Wesson line is for the most part fairly well stocked right now in the Canada Replica Airguns Store and ready for the Christmas rush! With that said don't hold off too long because we always run out of at least a few of the most popular versions...
Some of you may have noticed I have not been making any videos or posting any new articles for the last few weeks, that's cause I took some time off to take a break from work and spend some time with my family while on Vacation in beautiful Maui!
The party is over so to speak and I am back at it and to be honest I kind of missed my "real life" a bit!
The really good news is that I have made a few changes here at Replica Airguns that not only allowed me the time off to take a break and go on a bit of an extended vacation but will now allow me to get back to what started this all off, making videos and interacting with my social network fans :)
So stay posted for even more videos, articles and posts then before!
And don't forget to stick around and watch my YouTube Video I put together for all of you to see some of the fun stuff I did with my Family while on vacation in Maui...