It has been a while since I picked out some of my favorite guns, after all my favorite gun picks change on a daily basis since there are so many awesome guns out there to pick from.
This Vimeo video is a little different since I pick out my favorites from a bunch of mostly replica gun categories including Steel BB, Pellet, Airsoft, Revolvers and Blank Pistols.
You may notice most of my picks happen to be blowback guns but to me airguns are all about being as realistic as possible and having blowback operation to me help to simulate the realism that much more. The exception in this video is in the pellet gun category since I decided on a pellet gun that was more about function and purpose over being any type of real replica.
Hopefully you take the time to watch my entire Vimeo video since I also bring out some close runner ups but here is a list of my top picks on this day, tomorrow it could be a completely different list of guns ;)
In this Field Test Shooting video I test out both the Daisy Powerline 5501 and Daisy Powerline 5502 CO2 Blowback BB pistols to determine what the real work velocity is and also how well they performs in terms of accuracy. To test velocities for both Airguns I use a my Chrony Chronograph and do my best to get 5 good readings which I then average out. I always use a brand new 12 gram CO2 cartridge and generally use 5.1 grain Zink Coated Steel BB's for my entire Field Testing. For my accuracy test, I set myself up 30 feet back using a semi rested position, to do this I place a sand bag up front to rest my hands and gun on and then stand securely in the back while I place 10 rounds on a paper target. There will obviously be some humane factor involved since I am not perfect but I can usually get a good idea on how accurate a given gun is using this method.
During my Velocity or FPS Chronograph testing, I managed to get 4 good readings out of 15 shots with the Daisy Powerline 5501 scoring an average of 367fps. Amazingly my first 5 shots with the Daisy Powerline 5502 all ready perfectly on my Chronograph even though they where moving a good 50fps faster, go figure? My average velocity for this 5 shot sting of shots was 417fps.
For my accuracy testing I was expecting both guns to perform about the same since mechanically they arevirtually the same other than a longer barrel on the 5502. The Daisy Powerline 5501 however seemed to struggle with consistency, it did group well left to right and up and down on the target but the spread was about 5 inches and it should of gotten closer to 2-3 inches in my books for a blowback pistol like this. The Daisy Powerline 5502 did perform better in terms of accuracy getting closer to a 2-3 inch grouping so overall I have to give the Powerline 5502 the advantage in both velocity and accuracy.
Another noteworthy point to mention is how much quieter the Daisy Powerline 5502 is in person! I am assuming the longer barrel along with the compensator perhaps muffling the sound a bit plays a roll in this. Both Daisy Powerline CO2 Blowback BB Pistols have a nice solid blowback action simulating some recoil and the triggers on both are fairly decent being that they simulate more of a double action feel with their long medium weight pull.
I do like the look of the more simplified Daisy Powerline 5501 with it's chrome frame but the performance and accessory option of the Powerline 5502 are a definite benefit for this model.
Action: Semi auto, single & double action with full blowback.
Ammunition Type: 6mm plastic Airsoft BB's.
Ammunition Capacity: 25 round full size drop out metal magazine.
FPS: 366+ with extended barrel.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the VFC FN Herstal FNX45 Tactical GBB Airsoft Pistol is surprisingly light in single action mode, there is also minimal takeup. When shooting in double action the trigger pull length is much longer and heavier and has a bit of a stickiness too it but since this is a blowback pistol most of your shooting will be in single action mode where the trigger feels great!
Accuracy: I haven't done a dedicated Field Test Shooting Video yet for the VFC FN Herstal FNX45 Tactical GBB Airsoft Pistol but I did get the chance to play around with it when I did my I.C.U. 2.0 HD Action Camera review. In terms of power and accuracy it feels pretty good and you can expect to get decent power and accuracy out of it, we will have to wait and see how it performs on paper targets and when tested on the Chrony.
Build Quality: The VFC FN Herstal FNX45 Tactical GBB Airsoft Pistol is well made overall, I have found pretty much all the VFC airguns I have gotten my hands on seem to be well made and very realistic. you will find metal parts where they would be on the real Steel version of this pistol and same goes for plastic parts like the frame in this case. The finish seems to be holding up nicely too for me.
Realism: VFC really seams to pay a lot of attention to every detail of their Airsoft guns and the VFC FN Herstal FNX45 Tactical GBB Airsoft Pistol is no exception. All the mechanical working parts on this Airsoft version work as they would on the real .45 ACP FN Herstal FNX45, even the extractor is a separate part not moulded into the slide like you would find on most Airsoft pistols. You also get Interchangeable Back Straps to accommodate different hand sizes and of course it's fully FN licensed!
Excellent reproduction of the real steel FN Herstal FNX45 in looks and operation.
Very Crisp Firm full blowback operation.
Excellent fit and finish.
Everything is Ambidextrous so great for lefties too.
High Rise sighs suitable for the addition of a moc suppressor.
Comes with two interchangeable internal barrel lengths.
Fully field strip-able.
Fully FN Herstal Licensed.
Cons:
Comes with a red tip.
Magazine is kind of shiny
My serial number plate fell off while shooting it so make sure yours is on tight.
Comments:
Like I have mentioned throughout this review, VFC not only makes super realistic Airsoft guns, they also make a really high quality product. The VFC FN Herstal FNX45 Tactical GBB Airsoft Pistol is another example of this and offers everything you would hope to expect in an Airsoft Replica! The only down side is the orange tip but that can be sorted out easy enough after you get it. It's definitely not a small gun so keep that in mind when deciding on buying it, overall the VFC FN Herstal FNX45 Tactical GBB Airsoft Pistol is a really nice Airsoft gun at a reasonable price point.
My Vimeo Video Review for the VFC FN Herstal FNX45 Tactical GBB Airsoft Pistol:
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the KJWorks KP-11 1911 is very good since it is modeled after a real steel 1911 which makes it short and crisp with a nice light trigger pull. There is a very slight take-up at the very beginning of the pull but once your get past this the release is crisp and predictable. Since it is not a double action trigger you will need to either rack the slide for your first shot or pull the hammer back if you have already chambered a round.
Accuracy: I have not done my actual Field Test Shooting video review for the KJWorks KP-11 M1911 Airsoft Pistol so I do not have any definitive feedback for you but based on my experiences shooting other KJWorks 1911 styled Airsoft CO2 Pistols I expect it to have great blowback action recoil, a nice trigger and good overall FPS and accuracy. In terms of reliability, KJWorks pistols are solid in this department.
Build Quality: As expected, the KJWorks KP-11 Hi-Capa 1911 CO2 Blowback Airsoft Pistol build quality is exactly like all the other KJWorks Airsoft guns I've tested so far, Build quality for the price point is top notch with tolerances between the moving parts like the slide and frame are extremely tight showing excellent workmanship and machining from KJWorks. The finish is always a step above other similar styled Airsoft and BB guns, youn really don't have to worry about the finish coming of as easy.
Realism: The KJWorks CO2 KP-11 Hi-Capa 1911 Blowback Airsoft Pistol copies the real steel very popular even today Colt 1911 45 caliber pistol, it can be field stripped very similarly to a real 1911 Semi Auto pistol and all parts function virtually the same including a working safety, grip safety, slide catch-release, magazine release and hammer. This Hi-Capa version has a more tactical look with a wider frame for what would be a double stack hi capacity styled magazine.
Has really good weight but not too heavy since it has a polymer frame..
Expect to have typical KJWorks crisp and firm full blowback operation.
Excellent fit and finish. I like the mat textured finish which looks to bed super durable.
Nice bright white dot sights, really easy to see.
I like the look of the tactical hammer and trigger.
Nice high capacity magazine with a little extra zing for the CO2 Mag.
Fully field strip-able.
Cons:
Is not really setup up for left handers with no real ambidextrous components.
CO2 magazine is long to accommodate the 12 gram CO2.
Grips may be a bit thick for smaller hands.
Comments:
I love 1911 pistols and enjoy shooting them, there is something about how they feel in the hand that is different form most other pistols. They always feel so solid. The KJWorks Airsoft versions capture that feeling exactly and again the little bit more you may pay for a KJWorks 1911 over some other lesser quality Full blowback 1911's is worth the cost in my books. This Hi-Capa 1911 version with it's tactical look and finish would make a great game player for sure!
My Vimeo Table Top Review of the KJWorks KP-11 Hi-Capa 1911 CO2 Blowback Airsoft Pistol:
This comparison Review Video serves a few purposes, first to compare the ASG Dan Wesson 715 Revolver 4.5mm steel BB version to the 6mm plastic Airsoft version in both velocity and accuracy. Secondly to give my new Chrony Chronograph with lighting kit a test to see if I can get more reliable readings in lower light and thirdly to try and redeem the Steel BB version of the Dan Wesson 715 as last time I tested it, it did not get all that high of fps readings, well below the claimed 430 on the box.
In this review video I test both Dan Wesson 715 Revolvers out, first with my Chrony Chronograph and then all in one take I setup and shoot 6 rounds each on separate paper targets from 30 feet back to see how accurate the smaller heavier Steel BB rounds are compared to the larger lighter Plastic BB's. I used 5.1 grain RWS 4.5mm Steel BB's and .20 gram 6mm plastic BB's and installed brand new 12 gram CO2 cartridges in both guns.
In terms of my Chrony consistency, the smaller steel BB's still struggled to get consistent readings with only 2 out of 6 shots while the larger Airsoft BB's managed to get a good reading 4 out of 6 shots. Steel BB velocity was right around 350 fps while the Airsoft BB's where travelling much faster at closer to 450 fps.
Both the Steel BB and Airsoft CO2 Dan Wesson 715 Revolvers shot 6 round grouping of about 2 inches with 4 out of the 6 shots making a much tighter 1 inch group again with both ammo types. The Airsoft Dan Wesson 715 seemed to be centered on target well while the Steel BB Dan Wesson 715 shot a bit low.
As most my Vimeo Subscribers and Viewers will already know, I have been struggling with my Chrony Shooting Chronograph for a while now. I know some of it is to do with the bad lighting under my deck but over time my Chrony F-1 Shooting Chronograph has become less and less reliable to the point now that I simply don't get any usable feedback from it. If I'm lucky on a good day I might get one FPS reading out of ten shots which is nothing I can use.
So recently I went out and purchased a new Chrony Shooting Chronograph, I actually upgraded a little bit and got the higher end Chrony Beta Shooting Chronograph version which has more options than my older F-1 Chrony like:
Selector switch to change from FPS (feet per second) to MPS (meter per second).
Delivers Measurements and Statistics such as - High, Low and Average Velocities, Extreme Spread and Standard Deviation.
Retrieve individual Shot Velocities and Statistics.
Has temporary working memory.
Has 60 shot permanent memory (divided into 6 numbered strings of up to 10 shots each, with one set of Statistics for each string).
Delete individual shots (with automatic adjustment of Statistics).
Delete the content of a whole string or all data from memory.
Can be switched off, taken home & switched on again for reviewing and information retrieval.
Memory will stay even without battery.
Moves instantly from string to string, interrupts shooting on any string without memory loss, returns to any string to continue where you left off.
Change string size.
Stereo Jack for optional Printer or Remote Control.
Forget Button - To clear individual strings instantly.
In this review video I mainly show you around my new Chrony Beta Shooting Chronograph and don't really talk too much about features since it is all new to me and I have not played around with my new Beta Chrony much so far.
Make sure to watch my Vimeo video for this Comparison Review as I go into a lot of detail about the similarities and difference with each of these CO2 Blowback Pellet Guns.
All of these CO2 blowback pellet guns are made for each company in Japan (I am assuming from the same factory?)
All of the listed Pellet Airguns shoot .177 caliber pellets (Can be Alloy or Lead)
They all have double sided rotary stick magazines that hold 8 rounds on each end for a total of 16 shots per magazine.
All of the Airguns use 12 gram CO2.
All compared pellet guns have Blowback operation.
All of these pellet pistols have single and double action triggers except for the Gamo MP9 which is single action only and needs to be charged on the first shot.
They all have rifled barrels.
Here is where we find some key differences between these CO2 Blowback Pellet Pistols:
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Sig Sauer ASP P250 CO2 Blowback .177 Caliber Pellet Pistol is a lot better than I thought it was going to be. The blowback operation does place the hammer in the cocked position for single action type shooting but the the trigger is still required to index or advance the next pellet to line up with the barrel. Because of this, trigger pull is full length even in single action mode but you can barely feel any added friction from the indexing of the rotary magazine. All of this makes for a slightly longer trigger pull but one that is light weight with a fairly nice and easy release. For some reason the Sig Sauer P226 trigger does feel a little smoother with a slightly easier release.
Accuracy: I have not done my official Field Test Shooting Video with the Sig Sauer ASP P250 CO2 Blowback .177 Caliber Pellet Pistol and I am not sure when I am going to get the chance to do so since I am waiting on a replacement Chronograph for my velocity portion of my testing. That said I can say that Sig has already done some of the work for me and conducted their own "real world" velocity testing for their ASP line of CO2 Pellet Guns. Sig tested both a standard 8.18 grain lead pellet and a high velocity 5.25 grain alloy pellet shooting an 8 shot string with each to find out average fps performance for both pellet types. The 8.18 grain lead pellet average 353 fps while the 5.25 grain alloy pellet average 399 fps. In terms of accuracy, I was able to get just under a 2 inch 16 shot well centered grouping on two separate 30 foot back tests which is pretty decent. I did notice that when shooting a 16 shot string, the first and last shot velocity will vary a fair amount as the CO2 cools the gun and lowers the fps. I would recommend taking your time in-between reloads to let the Sig Sauer ASP P250 CO2 Blowback .177 Caliber Pellet Pistol warm back up.
Build Quality: The Sig Sauer ASP P250 CO2 Blowback .177 Caliber Pellet Pistol is a bit on the lighter side coming in around 1.5 pounds since it does incorporate both metal and plastic construction. You will find the Sig Sauer P250 has a metal slide and plastic frames similar to the real steel version. Weighing it at 1.45 pounds, the P250 is lighter then a standard Sig Sauer P250. Sig claims that their entire APS line of pellet guns is life tested for 15,000 shots so you know this gun is going to last and provide years of shooting fun. The fit and finish seem really good, so far no real paint or finish problems and all mechanically everything is operating as it should.
Realism: The Sig Sauer ASP P250 CO2 Blowback .177 Caliber Pellet Pistol is a very close replica of the real steel Sig Sauer P250. I really like the fact that the safety also works as a working decoker just as it would on the real Sig P250. Other similar working parts are the magazine release and the hammer that stays back for true single action shooting. The slide catch release and take down leaver are purely for show but they are not moulded in parts so they look good and realistic. One slight disappointment for me is when a gun does not have a cut out ejection port, that is the case with both the Sig Sauer ASP P226 and P250 but it does not take away from the shooting fun in any way.
Good overall replica of the real steel Sig Sauer P250.
Designed by Sig and made in Japan, fully Sig Sauer licensed.
Nice heavy blowback operation.
It might feel a bit light weight at first but out of the two Sig Sauer ASP pellet pistols this one seems to shoot a bit better.
Got respectable accuracy and seemed to shoot pretty hard.
Safety works as the de-cocker same as the real Sig Sauer P250.
White dot sights and accessory rail.
Great feel to the trigger not heavy or sticky in any way.
Cons:
Shots tended to slow down a bit near the end of a 16 shot strong as the gun cooled down.
Sight are non adjustable.
Ejection port is not cut out.
Comments:
What I really like about the Sig Sauer ASP P250 CO2 Blowback .177 Caliber Pellet Pistol is that like all the other APS Airgun from Sig, it is a product that Sig has decided to invest a lot of their time and effort to develop rather then simply grab an existing Airgun product from a manufacturer and slap their license on it. Sigs product ingenuity is what will help to improve the airgun industry overall. Getting back to the Sig Sauer ASP P250 CO2 Blowback .177 Caliber Pellet Pistol, it may feel a bit light weight at first but the heavy blowback will rock you unexpectedly! I found in terms of comparison to the Sig Sauer ASP P226, the P250 was more accurate and well centered on target for me as well. If you're a Sig Sauer P250 owner you are for sure going to want to pick yourself up one of these ASP CO2 Blowback Airgun versions so you can get some extra practice time in for pennies per shot and the ability to shoot in a lot more locations..
My Vimeo Table Top Review of the Sig Sauer ASP P250 CO2 Blowback .177 Caliber Pellet Pistol:
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Sig Sauer ASP P226 CO2 Blowback .177 Caliber Pellet Pistol is a lot better than I thought it was going to be. The blowback operation does place the hammer in the cocked position for single action type shooting but the the trigger is still required to index or advance the next pellet to line up with the barrel. Because of this, trigger pull is full length even in single action mode but you can barely feel any added friction from the indexing of the rotary magazine. All of this makes for a slightly longer trigger pull but one that is light weight with a fairly nice and easy release.
Accuracy: I have not done my official Field Test Shooting Video with the Sig Sauer ASP P226 CO2 Blowback .177 Caliber Pellet Pistol and I am not sure when I am going to get the chance to do so since I am waiting on a replacement Chronograph for my velocity portion of my testing. That said I can say that Sig has already done some of the work for me and conducted their own "real world" velocity testing for their ASP line of CO2 Pellet Guns. Sig tested both a standard 8.18 grain lead pellet and a high velocity 5.25 grain alloy pellet shooting an 8 shot string with each to find out average fps performance for both pellet types. The 8.18 grain lead pellet average 359 fps while the 5.25 grain alloy pellet average 403 fps. In terms of accuracy, I was able to get about a 2 inch 16 shot grouping on two separate 30 foot back tests which is pretty decent. I did notice that when shooting a 16 shot string, the first and last shot velocity will vary a fair amount as the CO2 cools the gun and lowers the fps. I would recommend taking your time in-between reloads to let the Sig Sauer ASP P226 CO2 Blowback .177 Caliber Pellet Pistol warm back up.
Build Quality: The Sig Sauer ASP P226 CO2 Blowback .177 Caliber Pellet Pistol is a very solid feeling pistol with its all metal construction. Weighing it at 2.35 pounds, it is actually a tad bit heavier then the real steel version but not by much. Sig claims that their entire APS line of pellet guns is life tested for 15,000 shots so you know this gun is going to last and provide years of shooting fun. The fit and finish seem really good, so far no real paint or finish problems and all mechanically everything is operating as it should.
Realism: The Sig Sauer ASP P226 CO2 Blowback .177 Caliber Pellet Pistol is a very close replica of the real steel Sig Sauer P226, I would say it most closely takes after the MK-25 Threaded Barrel version. I really like the fact that the safety also works as a working decoker just as it would on the real P226. Other similar working parts are the magazine release and the hammer that stays back for true single action shooting. The slide catch release and take down leaver are purely for show but they are not moulded in parts so they look the part. One slight disappointment for me is when a gun does not have a cut out ejection port, that is the case with both the Sig Sauer ASP P226 and P250 but it does not take away from the shooting fun in any way.
Good overall replica of the real steel Sig Sauer P250.
Really solid feeling gun, has awesome weight to it with it’s all mental construction, pretty close in weight the real steel version.
Designed by Sig and made in Japan, fully Sig Sauer licensed.
Nice heavy blowback operation.
Got respectable accuracy and seemed to shoot pretty hard.
Safety works as the de-cocker same as the real Sig Sauer P226.
White dot sights and accessory rail.
Super easy CO2 loading system, no having to tighten a CO2 tab.
Great feel to the trigger not heavy or sticky in any way.
Cons:
Shots tended to slow down a bit near the end of a 16 shot strong as the gun cooled down.
Sight are non adjustable.
Ejection port is not cut out.
Comments:
What I really like about the Sig Sauer ASP P226 CO2 Blowback .177 Caliber Pellet Pistol is that like all the other APS airguns from Sig, it is a product that Sig has decided to invest a lot of their time and effort to develop rather then simply grab an existing arigun product from a manufacturer and slap their license on it. Sigs product ingenuity is what will help to improve the airgun industry overall. Getting back to the Sig Sauer ASP P226 CO2 Blowback .177 Caliber Pellet Pistol, it's a really solid CO2 Pellet pistol that is a lot of fun to shoot and for Sig Sauer P226 owners, the pellet shooting airgun version offers a super economical and safe way to get some practice in using a product that looks, feels and shoots similarly to their real steel counterpart.
My Vimeo Table Top Review of the Sig Sauer ASP P226 CO2 Blowback .177 Caliber Pellet Pistol:
Materials: Plastic main body with some metal parts.
Weight: 1.6 pounds (708 grams).
Barrel: 5.5 inches - Metal none rifled.
Propulsion: 12 gram CO2.
Action: Blowback single action only.
Ammunition Type: 4.5mm Steel BB's.
Ammunition Capacity: 20 round top loading stick magazine.
FPS: 350+.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Daisy Powerline Model 400 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol is single action only and has about a medium pull to it, not the lightest single action trigger I have shot by far but not too heavy by any means. There is some initial take-up with a noticeable release point.
Accuracy: Make sure to watch my full Field Test Shooting video for th PHOTO4 Daisy Powerline Model 400 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol. When performing my usual 30 foot out paper target shooting performance test I was able to get about a 2 inch 10 shot grouping using a semi rested stance. This pistol did shoot rather on the high side so you will have to aim low as the sights are non-adjustable. In terms of velocity I was able to get fairly consistent 350fps performance using a brand new CO2, this is pretty good considering this is a 20 year old pistol and may have been one of the first blowback airguns to hit the market. The Daisy Powerline Model 400 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol was a bit of a CO2 hog only getting around 50 shots out of one 12 gram CO2.
Build Quality: The Daisy Powerline Model 400 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol is a mainly all metal airgun but it is solid and well built, The plastics used long ago in my opinion are superior in terms of longevity to today plastics. Being a Japan built gun is also a plus and you will find metal parts where they need to be as in the hammer, trigger, barrel, safety and many other internal parts. Keep my used pistol is over 20 years old and still looks and works like new.
Realism: The Daisy Powerline Model 400 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol is an obvious replica of a Desert Eagle Semi Auto Pistol, there are no licensed markings but there is no doubt what this gun is intended to look like. In terms of size and overall appearance it is a good copy of a real steel Desert Eagle but it does weigh in a lot lighter being made mostly from plastics. Some mechanical parts are moulded into the gun like the safety and slide catch but the blowback operation helps add back to the realism. Of course the top loading 20 round BB magazine is not at all what you would expect to find on the real Desert Eagle, that said it is practical for loading a BB gun.
Trigger Pull: The trigger on the SM Mod 110 8mm Blank Pistol is single action only so you will need to rack the slide to not only chamber a round but also cock the internal hammer / striker, follow up shots will case the slide to cycle on it own allowing for single action shooting. The trigger is rather nice with just a slight bit of take-up followed by a light release.
Accuracy: NA.
Build Quality: The SM Mod 110 8mm Blank Pistol was made in West Germany sometime back in the Mid 70's so this pistol is 30-40 years old and still looks great. Mine does have some slight pitting on the right side I am assuming from sitting in the box up against the manual which more than likely may have an acidic property to it. Even so this pitting is minor and the gun is in good condition overall. Like most blank pistols much of the gun is made out of pot metal (a zinc alloy) but it does have hardened steel parts where they need to be (Barrel, ejector, hammer, pins, screws and magazine).
Realism: The SM Mod 110 8mm Blank Pistol is not a true replica as far as I can tell is not an actual replica of any real steel semi-auto pistol in production but it does look a bit like the American Derringer LM5. In terms of looking like a gun it looks like what you would expect a small caliber sub compact pistol should look like and all operation is exactly like a semi auto pistol with the exception that the SM Mod 110 only shoots blanks since the barrel is obstructed with a metal rod.
I really like unique blank guns since they are so hard to locate here in Canada. When I saw this sitting on the table at my local gun show I kind of wondered if someone had accidentally left out a prohibited firearm but once I inspected it I quickly realized it was a blank shooter and decided right there and then I had to have it. I did pay close to $200 for it but to me it is worth it simply because this little blank shooter is a rare find and it was also in really good condition and even came with the original 8mm self defence pepper blanks. The SM Mod 110 8mm Blank Pistol is for sure a blank shooter I will be holding onto for some time...
My Vimeo Table Top Review for the SM Mod 110 8mm Blank Pistol:
I was personally confused about some of the similarities and differences between several models of KJWorks Beretta M9 CO2 Blowback Airsoft Pistols, so I decided to make a video where I go over 4 models of KJWorks M9 Pistols and point out the commonalities and differences between them.
Here are the 4 versions of KJWorks Beretta M9 CO2 Blowback Airsoft Pistols:
All of them come with interchangeable 25 round CO2 Magazines.
All of them shoot around 360+ fps.
All have a metal slide and frame.
All weigh close to the same weight (2.1 - 2.4 pounds).
All shoot in single and double action.
All have ambidextrous safeties.
All have white dot sights.
Prices range from $184 -$200.
Here is a list of the differences between them:
The VE, Vertex and M9A1 come in a semi gloss finish while the Tactical is more of a matt black.
The VE and M9A1 have rails for accessory attachments while the Vertex and Tactical do not.
The Vertec, Tactical and M9A1 have laniard loops while the VE does not.
Some slight trigger guard differences between the models but very subtle.
The Vertex and M9A1 share the same style classic Beretta pistol grip, The Tactical has a tactical finger pistol grip and the VE has it’s own unique pistol grip.
Make sure to watch my Vimeo video where I cover this information in detail:
Trigger Pull: The single action only trigger pull on the Umarex Smith & Wesson M&P40 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol is very nice, there is some take up required be for the release but the release or break point is very smooth, perhaps a little too smooth since there is no real noticeable resistance so you will have to get use to the range in the trigger pull in which the release takes place. Since there is no external hammer you will need to draw the slide back in order to cock the internal striker.
Accuracy: Make sure to checkout my full Field Test Shooting Video for the Umarex Smith & Wesson M&P40 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol where I test out this fun S&W M&P40 BB shooting replica by shooting some BB's through my chronograph and also at a paper target to find out how it performs. In summary I was able to get an average of around 300 fps and accuracy in the 2 inch size groupings from 30 feet away. Not bad for a full blowback short barrel CO2 BB pistol. It did shoot a little low so some manual target sighting adjustments may be required.
Build Quality: Very good, with metal and plastic construction where you would find it on the real steel S&W M&P40. I am fairly certain the the Umarex Smith & Wesson M&P40 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol is made by KWC which has produce some other nice quality examples of other full blowback replica BB and Airsoft pistols. As with most KWC powder coated airguns, you will get some wear in the high spots of the finish over time but this is true even with real steel blued guns.
Realism: This is by far the best example of a 4.5mm BB shooting Smith & Wesson M&P out there, I have had several real steel M&P40 owners comment on how accurate this BB copy really is including how the barrel drops from its locked position and angles down and up during blowback operation. You even get interchangeable grip backstraps to accommodate different sized hands. And of course all the mechanical parts function as you would expect them to including being able to fully field strip the Umarex Smith & Wesson M&P40 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol.
Most accurate looking steel BB shooting replica of the S&W M&P40 to date.
Good weight and feel to it.
Metal and plastic parts where you would find them on the real steel version.
Realistic working safety and working slide catch and release.
Full size dropout metal magazine that holds BB's and CO2.
Can be field stripped like original Smith & Wesson M&P40.
Fully Smith & Wesson licensed via Umarex.
Rail for add on accessories.
White dot sight with adjustable front sight for windage.
Comes with three sizes of interchangeable grip backstraps.
Cons:
FPS may be low for some people that like the more powerful CO2 pistols.
Shoots a bit low out of the box.
Ugly white warning instruction on the slide.
Comments:
Many of us have been waiting for a blowback Smith & Wesson M&P and now we have one. Thanks to Umarex, we also get it in a fully licensed version to make it even more realistic! Everything about the Umarex Smith & Wesson M&P40 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol is so very accurate to the real steel version other than of course the fact that it shoots 4.5mm Steel BB's using CO2 but isn't that why we are interested in it in the first place? If you are a Real Steel S&W M&P owner than you are going to have to get yourself one of these as a low cost and easily accessible training alternative. A great choice fro anyone else looking for an ultra realistic 4.5mm CO2 blowback pistol what ever your purpose is.
My Vimeo Videos for the Umarex Smith & Wesson M&P40 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol:
This Vimeo Video Preview covers three really nice CO2 Pistols recently added to our Replica Airguns Canada Store. One is a pellet pistol from Gletcher called the Gletcher NGT R which is for the most part the same as the standard 4.5mm Steel shooting NGT but the R model is made to shoot .177 caliber pellets so it also has a rifled barrel. I am expecting pretty decent accuracy with this pistol!
Last but perhaps the best or at least most anticipated gun I am showing off today is the Umarex S&W M&P40 Full Blowback CO2 BB Pistol. This is a really nice acurate replica of the real steal S&W M&P40 with full licensing and pretty much every part operational like it would be on the .40 caliber version.
Here are some basic Specifications for all of these fine Co2 Airguns...
Action: Semi and full auto blowback, single and double action.
Ammunition Type: 4.5mm Steel BB's.
Ammunition Capacity: 18 rounds.
FPS: 310.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Umarex Beretta Mod. 92 A1 BB Pistol is like what you would expect from a real Beretta 92 A1, it offers both single and double action but most of the time you will be shooting in single action since the blowback cocks the hammer after each shot. Single action has a little bit of take-up but has a predictable release that is not overly light or heavy. Double action shots are longer and heavier which is as expected.
Accuracy: I have not shot this "version" of the Umarex Beretta Mod. 92 A1 but it will undoubtedly perform very similar to the many other full blowback CO2 pistols I have tested like the KWC and Cybgergun M92's, 1911's and Sigs. I did notice the slide spring on the Umarex Beretta Mod. 92 A1 CO2 Blowback 4.5mm BB Pistol to be very firm so I am expecting it to have pretty good blowback action. One other consideration is this CO2 airguns offers both semi and full auto shooting options but with the heavy blowback, don't expect much accuracy when shooting in full auto mode :)
Build Quality: Very good, with almost all metal construction, good weight and craftsmanship. Don't quote me on this but I have a feeling the Umarex Beretta Mod. 92 A1 CO2 Blowback 4.5mm BB Pistol may be made by KWC, if this is the case then we know to expect the same quality as we have found with other KWC full blowback airguns which is pretty good overall. There may be some wear in the high spots of the finish over time but I kind of like this since it gives the gun a more realistic look.
Realism: This is by far the closest Beretta Model 92 out there, even the magazine butt plate looks the part, the safety is true to form and it is full licensed and trademarked throughout the gun via Umarex. I'm not sure if the real steal Umarex ever offered full auto or not but we can look past this for the sake of how much fun it is going to be shooting in full auto! The only negative aspect in terms of realism is the white warning writing on the left side of the slide.
Your choice of shooting in either semi auto or full auto mode.
Really nice replica of the original Beretta 92 A1.
Great weight and feel to it.
All metal design, fit and finish is very good.
Strong slide spring so it should have heavy blowback action.
Realistic working safety and working slide catch and release.
Full size dropout metal magazine that holds BB's and CO2.
Can be field stripped like original Beretta 92 A1.
Fully Beretta licensed.
Cons:
Will probably eat CO2 especially in full auto mode.
Non-adjustable sights.
Ugly white warning instruction on the slide.
Comments:
I know the KWC M92 and Cybergun GSG 92 have been out for a while and the Umarex Beretta Mod. 92 A1 CO2 Blowback 4.5mm BB Pistol is along the same lines, but I do like that it is a true Beretta Replica rather than the Taurus copy. I like that Umarex went the extra mile and made the magazine look the part with a much shorter butt plate and adding semi and full auto right out of the box with a dedicated selector switch is pretty cool too. I am really looking forward to testing this gun out and seeing how the blowback action combined with the full auto ability is going to recoil, I have a feeling it's going to kick like a mule!
My Vimeo Videos for the Umarex Beretta Mod. 92 A1 CO2 Blowback 4.5mm BB Pistol:
Type: Pellet Rifle. Manufacturer: Sig Sauer ASP Model: Sig Sauer MPX ASP Materials: Metal and Nylon Fiber build. Weight: 7 Pounds (3300 Grams). Barrel: 8 inch steelrifled. Propulsion: 88 or 90 Gram CO2. Action: Semi Auto,double action only. Ammunition Type: .177 caliber pellets. Ammunition Capacity: 30 rounds belt fed. FPS: Up to 600 fps (When shot by a Unicorn)
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Sig Sauer MPX ASP .177 Caliber Pellet Rifle is actually pretty decent when you consider the first part of the trigger pull is used to advance the belt fed 30 round magazine. One would think that there would be a lot of added friction from the belt but this does not seem to be the case. There is some internal blowback action going on but it is only used to cock the internal hammer/striker which does lesson the overall amount of trigger pull required. The trigger pull is shorter than expected with all that is going on and it's not overly heavy so quick and predictable action shooting is very possible with the Sig Sauer MPX ASP .177 Caliber Pellet Rifle.
Accuracy: So far I have not done my official Field Test Shooting Video for the MPX ASP .177 Caliber Pellet Rifle but I did have the chance to get out and shoot some rounds down range at my Sig provided Quad Shooting Gallery that I had setup about 35-40 feet away. Even though I did not have my red dot all perfectly sighted in I was still able to hit the smallish metal targets fairly well using the Sig Sauer MPX ASP. In terms of velocity you can expect from the Sig Sauer MPX ASP .177 Caliber Pellet Rifle, 600 fps is a bit optimistic. Sig did send me a real world fps performance spread sheet they had conducted using both 5.25 grain alloy pellets and 8.18 grain lead pellets shooting 8 rounds and averaging out the fps. The 5.25 grain pellets averaged in at just over 500 fps while the heavier 8.18 grain pellets came in with an average of just under 450 fps. Pretty much what I would expect from a shorter barreled CO2 rifle.
Build Quality: The build quality for Sig Sauer MPX ASP .177 Caliber Pellet Rifle is excellent, you can tell Sig Sauer had a lot of hands on in the design and production of this Pellet Shooting Air Rifle! The materials used and fit and finish are top notch and the mechanical function again is really good, I am kind of amazed at how well their belt fed rotary magazine design works in terms of feeding and operation. So far I have not experienced any pellet feeding problems at all using both lead and alloy flathead pellets.
Realism: The Sig Sauer MPX ASP .177 Caliber Pellet Rifle is for the most part designed to be used as a side by side optional training aid for the real steel Sig Sauer MPX Rifle. Sig wanted the pellet version to look and feel as close as posable and Sig has done a good job with this. Other than the lessor recoil and noise factor, the Sig Sauer MPX ASP .177 Caliber Pellet Rifle works and shoots much the same as a real steel Sig Sauer MPX Rifle.
Pros:
Has to be the best semi auto pellet rifle replica I have seen and shot to date.
Near perfect replica of the real steel Sig Sauer MPX including licensing and trademarks.
Awesome build quality, lots of metal parts and the nylon parts are true to form and very solid.
Rifle has been tested to shoot over 15,000 rounds reliably.
30 round full size belt fed magazine has super high capacity and works flawlessly.
Decent fps performance, about what I would expect from a multi-shot CO2pellet shooter and totally usable.
Trigger feels really good, not too long or to heavy and very consistent feel on every shot.
Fully adjustable pop up front and rear sights.
Lots of rails for your pick of sight options and other add on accessories.
Very accurate with it’s 8 inch rifled barrel.
Cons:
Rear stock is none adjustable so the gun may feel kind of cramped for larger shooters.
Internal blowback action does not advance the belt fed magazine but does cock the internal hammer.
FPS claim of 600 fps seems a bit optimistic compared to real world testing.
Comments:
I have been waiting to get my hands on the Sig Sauer MPX ASP .177 Caliber Pellet Rifle for some time now and the wait has been worth it for sure. There are really no other guns out there right now other than perhaps the Umarex CX4 Storm that compare to the Sig Sauer MPX ASP .177 Caliber Pellet Rifle and even so I feel the Sig Sauer MPX is by far the better of the two CO2 Air Rifles. OK so the MPX does not really come close to hitting 600 fps but did you really believe that in the first place? Still consistent 450 fps from a decent grain lead pellet is about what you would expect from a short barreled CO2 rifle. If you do want more fps then look at the MCX with over double the barrel length of the MPX, this will easily get you an additional 100+fps for those of you who thrive on velocity performance. I am fine with 450-500 fps since this is all that is needed to accuracy shoot and nock over most targets at a variety of ranges.
My Vimeo Table Top Review of the Sig Sauer MPX ASP .177 Caliber Pellet Rifle:
Materials: Mostly plastic with some metal construction.
Weight: 1.3 pounds (586 grams).
Barrel: 5.5 inches, non-rifled.
Propulsion: 12 gram CO2.
Action: Revolver, single & double actions.
Ammunition Type: 4.5mm steel BB's.
Ammunition Capacity: 10 rounds.
FPS: 375.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Umarex Brodax CO2 BB Revolver is actually rather nice. If you decide to cock the hammer back and shoot it single action style then you get a little bit of that SAA Revolver like ratcheting sound. The trigger pull in single action mode is short with virtually no take-up and on the light side. Double action shooting with the Umarex Brodax CO2 BB Revolver is not overly long or heavy either so action shooting is totally possible with this BB shooting CO2 revolver.
Accuracy: I can not comment so far on the shooting performance for the Umarex Brodax CO2 BB Revolversince I have not shot it yet. The weather is getting nicer outside so that should happen pretty soon. The claimed FPS for the Umarex Brodax CO2 BB Revolver is stated at only 375 which I find seems a bit low for a none blowback fairly straight forward BB pistol with an almost 6 inch barrel so hopefully my testing shows performance up into the 400's which I am hoping for. The open sights are non adjustable but there are tons more options by taking advantage of the two rails top and bottom for adding either a red dot or laser to increased target shooting ability.
Build Quality: The Umarex Brodax CO2 BB Revolver is pretty much an all metal pistol with the outer shell being made up of plastic, there is a fair bit of internal metal going on along with the trigger, hammer and of course the inner barrel made out of metal parts. Mechanically the Umarex Brodax CO2 BB Revolver feels solid and even though it only weight in at 1.3 pounds it feels much heavier in the hand.
Realism: The Umarex Brodax CO2 BB Revolver as far as I know is not an exact replica of any real steal gun currently in production. It's basically a spin off of an ultra tactical .44 magnum revolver with a super beefed up front barrel assembly sporting all kinds of accessory option to be placed on the top and bottom rails. I like that Umarex made sure to recess the barrel opening so it has a more realistic barrel size. Like many new CO2 airguns coming out these days the CO2 is not only well hidden inside the grips but a handy Allen key is built into the handle.
Not the heaviest revolver on the market but it feels really nice in the hand and has good balance, the weight is not bad at all and feels heavier than 1.3 pounds.
Trigger action is really good in both single and double action, short light single action trigger and totally usable double action trigger.
CO2 is well hidden with built in Alan key in the handle.
Rails top and bottom for all kinds of accessory add on options.
Barrel is recessed for that larger caliber look.
Nice and discreet safety.
Comes with three 10 shot easy to load rotary magazines.
Low cost with high fun factor.
Cons:
Grips are a bit hard to remove to get at the CO2, may work-in over time?
All black sights are not great on dark backgrounds and are non adjustable.
Would have liked to see fps into the 400 range.
Comments:
The Umarex Brodax CO2 BB Revolver when I first picked it up did not appeal to me all that much, maybe knowing it was for the most part yet another mostly plastic BB revolver with those thin pop in disc magazines didn't help me take notice much. But as I have been playing around with the Umarex Brodax CO2 BB Revolver it has grown on me a lot. I think it has a really cool look that is also very usable in terms of putting juts about any accessory you want on this CO2 revolver. The hammer and trigger action are also both excellent for not juts an inexpensive Airgun but even a higher end airgun. And right out of the box, or should I say clam-shell plastic wrap, you get three rotary disc magazines which is a nice bonus.
My Vimeo Table Top Review for the Umarex Brodax CO2 BB Revolver:
Action: Semi auto, single action only with blowback.
Ammunition Type: 6mm plastic BB's.
Ammunition Capacity: 16 round full size drop out magazine.
FPS: 370.
Trigger Pull: The Single Action Only trigger pull on the Umarex Elite Force Blowback CO2 Airsoft Race Gun is what you want when looking for a gun made specifically for IPSC styled shooting. The trigger is nice and light with a very short take up and crisp release. Exactly what you would be looking for when wanting to shoot accurately and quickly as in with IPSC competition shooting!
Accuracy: I have not done a field test or shooting video for the Umarex Elite Force Blowback CO2 Airsoft Race Gun so far, I am just waiting for the weather to get a little bit better but that should be soon! I woudl expect this pistol to get close to 400 fps on a warm day and pretty decent shots pre CO2 with its shorter blowback action and magazine design that seals the Airsoft BB in the breach. We will have to wait and see ot be sure...
Build Quality: The Umarex Elite Force Blowback CO2 Airsoft Race Gun is well built, it's pretty much entirely metal except for the grips and part of the full size magazine. It weighs in at a hefty 2.5 pounds so be prepared for a relatively heavy pistol but with good balance that will offset the weight of it. The tolerances are very good with very little slide wiggle the slide spring is nice and firm and the slide catch release seems to function really well, I like that the slide racking handle can be switched to either side of the gun depending on your shooting preference.
Realism: The Umarex Elite Force Blowback CO2 Airsoft Race Gun is not based on any one gun that I am aware of but overall looks the part of a real gun with all the working parts and features of a semi auto pistol of this type. You will find a full size drop out magazine is sprung to eject with force when you press the magazine release which is great for IPSC shooting. The slide catch/release will also lock the slide back on the last shot and with rails top and bottom you have several options for adding accessories.
All metal construction - good weight and very solid feeling gun.
Heavy snappy blowback action, good recoil spring tension.
Fit and finish is really nice.
Well balanced, so even with heavy blowback the gun should stay on target.
Really light, short and smooth single action trigger, for quick follow up shots.
Can take the sight rail off and install one of the two included adjustable open sight options.
Expect it to get a decent amount of shots per CO2 because of the limited blowback action and magazine design.
Would make a nice IPSC trainer.
Cons:
Comes with a red tip but may be able to take it off.
Not sure about the hop-up setup, believe it has hop-up but no way to adjust it that I could find.
Has that white waring instruction labeling on the slide, at least it is in very small print.
Comments:
Overall the Umarex Elite Force Blowback CO2 Airsoft Race Gun is a really nice competition shooting pistol and I am looking forward to getting some shooting time in with it to see if it performs as good as I believe it will. I am also hoping with it's slightly shorter blowback action and magazine design that not only will it get good fps but also a reasonable amount of shots per CO2. At this point I am not sure if am going to put a Red Dot on the sight rail or take the sight rail off and go with open metal sights, either way I pretty sure to expect fast and accurate shooting with this IPSC inspired Race Gun.
My Vimeo Video Review for the Umarex Elite Force Blowback CO2 Airsoft Race Gun:
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Umarex Colt M45 CQBP Blowback CO2 BB Pistol is like the original 1911 semi auto pistol a single action only trigger. That said the Colt M45 CQBP SAO trigger is notably longer than a true 1911 trigger would be but still pretty decent overall. There is a fair bit of take up but once you get to the release point the trigger weight is about a medium pull and should allow for pretty fast action shooting with not too much finger fatigue.
Accuracy: I have not shot this "version" of the Umarex Colt M45 CQBP Blowback CO2 BB Pistol but I have high expectations that it will get much better fps and CO2 efficiency than the similar looking KWC versions out there. 400 fps for a blowback is pretty good and if it can get about 5-6 magazines worth of shots that would be close to double of what a KWC 1911 blowback gets! In terms of accuracy only time will tell when the weather perk sup here a bit and I can get outside and make some shooting videos...
Build Quality: I am very impressed with the build quality for the Umarex Colt M45 CQBP Blowback CO2 BB Pistol. In many ways it may even be better than the KWC 1911's as it seems to have a much more durable finish and the mechanical parts fit together very snug with virtually no slide wiggle at all. This little rather inexpensive 1911 blowback BB pistol should last you a long time and perform well doing it.
Realism: Up to now I have been almost preferring the Umarex Colt M45 CQBP Blowback CO2 BB Pistol over the KWC Blowback 1911 series but when it comes to realism the tables turn a little bit in favor of the KWC 1911 version. On first look it is hard to tell them both apart so yes they both look and feel very much like real steel 1911 pistols. Once you get into some more of the mechanical aspects the Umarex Colt M45 CQBP Blowback CO2 BB Pistol does make some compromises choosing to take away a little bit of the realism in favor of increasing performance. These area are the range of motion of the blowback action. On the Umarex Colt M45 CQBP Blowback CO2 BB Pistol the slide range is a bit shorter which will save on CO2 usage and the magazine is a stick mag setup which again allows for a more enclosed system again taking advantage of all the CO2 being used. Most of the mechanical parts work as you would expect them to on a real 1911 with the exception of the grip safety. The barrel is even nicely recessed ti make the barrel opening look like a real 45 auto. Lastly the trigger even though it is a true SAO trigger does extend out from the gun a lot more than a true 1911 trigger would.
Build quality and finish seem really good, excellent tolerances.
Nice snappy blowback action with a pretty heavy recoil spring.
Overall Accurate 1911 tactical styled replica in most ways.
Does have a single action only trigger, but is longer than most.
Fully Colt Licensed.
Like the white dot sights, machined hammer, ambidextrous safety and accessory rail.
Cool that the Alan key is built into the handle.
Has a believable recessed barrel.
Finished coating seems to be more durable than the actual KWC versions.
Warning instructions are color matched and not so intrusive.
Cons:
Trigger action is notably longer than a real 1911 trigger but is single action only.
No working grip safety.
Not easily field strippable.
Does not have a full size drop out metal magazine but rather a metal stick mag.
Comments:
I can never seem to get enough of the Blowback 1911 BB pistols when I have the opportunity to review them. Most of them have been just different reskinned, rebranded and redistributed version of the original KWC 1911 so it was kind of nice to get the Umarex Colt M45 CQBP Blowback CO2 BB Pistol since it offers that 1911 look with blowback action and from the looks of things it should have improved performance in the shooting department. If you have been after a Blowback 1911 BB pistol but wanted one with some more power and that you can get a decent amount of shots out of a single CO2 then the Umarex Colt M45 CQBP Blowback CO2 BB Pistol may be just what you are looking for.
My Vimeo Videos for the Umarex Colt M45 CQBP Blowback CO2 BB Pistol:
