Airguns are generally cheaper to buy and for sure cheaper to shoot. Airguns can cost as little as $50-100 to buy while real guns in similar models will cost many time more. Cost of ammo is so much less expensive than Real Gun ammo by a mile!
Difficulty to Obtain:
Airguns in most countries do not require any licensing or registration. Generally there are more available options in Airgun choices than Real Gun choices as restrictions often prohibit many Real Guns to be obtained.
Places to Shoot:
Unless you live in a super remote locations and your laws allow you to shoot Real Guns in those locations, then in most cases you can shoot an Airgun almost anywhere within reason. You can even shoot certain Airgun models in your basement. Airsoft is a great option for indoor shooting as the plastic ammo does not carry very much energy so with minimal effort you can make a backstop that will trap the ammo very well.
Trigger Time:
Because ammo is much less expensive and places you can shoot are easier to find, you can get a lot more Trigger Time under your belt which will also improve your shotgun with Real Guns and after all it’s just fun to shoot guns even if they are Airguns.
Safety:
I am not talking about safety in terms of protection. I am talking about safety as in if you do something stupid and your Gun goes off accidentally. If you accidentally fire your Airgun indoors, the bullet will not travel through floors or walls and potentially harm or kill someone on the other side. If you do manage to shoot yourself with an Airgun, the consequence are much less severe than shooting yourself with a Real Gun. That said, always treat an Airgun as if it was a Real Loaded Gun, as server injury and even death can occur even with an Airgun.
Ware Games and Training Situations:
There is no way you can use a standard Real Gun to shoot at people, unless extensively altered with special parts that make the Real Gun unusable to shoot live ammo. With Airguns you have the choice of using an Airsoft or Paintball gun that are both designed specifically for this purpose.
Pest Control:
If you have the need for pest control in an urban area where you do not want a stray bullet to travel too far or penetrate buildings if a shot where to go awry, then an Airgun designed for accuracy and power may be perfect for the job. Accuracy with target and hunting Airguns is on par if not better than many Real Guns and are have powerful enough to kill a pest humanely without having too much power for the job and having to worry as much about your background.
Prop Guns:
As mentioned already, Airguns can look a lot like Real Guns, so they are perfect to be used as a stand-in or Prop Gun when you need to simulate the look and function of a Real Gun. Again they are easier and cheaper to obtain and if something does go wrong, the consequences are much less severe.
Social Stigma:
Unfortunately Real Guns and perhaps any gun these days are looked upon with a social stigma as being the cause of the Crime rather than a tool used in a Crime. And so people blame Guns for these crimes rather than the people committing these crimes. If a person is motivated enough to do something bad, they are going to do it either way and will use whatever means is available to them to commit these Crimes. Including other means like: Knives, Blunt Objects, Poisons, Vehicles, Explosives… Sad but true! Airguns are not used in homicides or mass shootings as they are completely underpowered for a crime like this. They can however be used in crimes as a show of threat, as they do look a lot like real guns, generally people that use Airguns for real crimes, if challenged will give up immediately as they are completely outgunned. Don’t bring an Airgun to a Real Gun fight, you have better chance with a knife!
Type: Pellet Pistol. Distributer:Umarex. Model:Stainless Ruger Mark IV. Materials: Metal and polymer build. Weight: 1.56 pounds (708 grams). Barrel: 5.3 inches (135mm). Total Length: 11 inches (279mm). Propulsion: Spring Piston. Action: SAO Break Barrel. Ammunition Type: .177 caliber pellets. Ammunition Capacity: 1 round. FPS: 320.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Stainless Ruger Mark IV Break Barrel .177 Cal Pellet Pistolis not too bad, I feel it is a around 6-7 pounds or so without measuring. In comparison to a real steel 22LR semi auto SAO trigger pistol, the trigger is much heavier but most of these 22LR pistols of this nature have what I would consider to be near perfect triggers. Over time once you get use to the pressure and release point accuracy with this pistol it is for sure possible.
Accuracy: I have tested out the all black version of this pistol which will perform exactly the same or should I say is expected to perform the same since they are virtually the exact same Pellet Pistol but in different finishes. You can watch my Field Test Shooting Video for the all black version but in case you don’t make it there I will fill you in on the basic results… In terms of velocity I averaged 312 fps using 7 grain lead pellets and got around a 2 inch 7 rounds grouping but expect with a bit more trigger time to get closer to 1 inch.
Build Quality: The Stainless Ruger Mark IV Break Barrel .177 Cal Pellet Pistolis a low cost target plinker that also doubles as a licensed Replica for that coolness factor so you won’t get an all metal super top quality build here. That said metal and plastics are well used and for sure details in the fit and finish have been improved over the Buck Mark URX version where I found the barrel felt a bit sloppy and the trigger was plastic. The Umarex Ruger Mark IV Break Barrel .177 Cal Pellet Pistol has a much tighter barrel fit when closed and the trigger is now metal! Maybe Umarex watched my video back in the day and took some notes?
Realism: The Umarex Ruger Mark IV Break Barrel .177 Cal Pellet Pistol most resembles the Mark IV Hunter edition and is pretty much bang on in terms of being a replica other than the tell tail hinge just under the barrel required for a spring piston design, there really is no way to get around this so I’m not going to criticize this minor difference. The real steel version is almost 3 pounds and so the pellet shooting version is a bit under weight so it would have been to have had more metal perhaps in the barrel and lower frame. Again since the pellet shooting version is a springer you will not have any working bolts or slide catches or a built in magazine.
Pros:
It's a decent Ruger Mark IV Replica!
Feels well built overall.
Expect it to have really good accuracy like the Umarex Browning Buck Mark URX since they share similar mechanical design.
Barrel locks into place much better than the Umarex Browning Buck Mark URX did.
Fully adjustable rear sight with fiber optic front sight.
Auto locking safety, just don’t forget to unlock before each shot
Actual metal trigger in this version.
Nice and compact, not too heavy.
Full Ruger licensed via Umarex.
Fairly low price tag.
Cons:
No built in rail for a sight system like the Umarex Browning Buck Mark URX.
Would have liked a metal trigger and maybe a slightly lighter trigger pull to match the real Buck Mark's very light trigger pull.
A bit more metal would have been nice.
Significantly more expensive than the black version which is the same exact gun in a different color.
Comments: The Stainless Ruger Mark IV Break Barrel .177 Cal Pellet Pistol is a decent looking replica and a decent pellet shooting target pistol and if you own the real steel version in 22LR you may just want to get your hands on one of these Break Barrel Replica Pellet shooters. The only real question is do you get the Stainless version with simulated wood grips or the all black version? If you like the look of the stainless version and don’t care about money whatsoever, then pickup that one up since it is a Limited Edition version that will only go up in value over time. If you are on a budget and don’t mind the look of the all black versions or maybe even prefer it then by all means grab one since at the end of the day they will both perform exactly the same.
My Vimeo Table Top Review Videos for the Umarex Stainless Ruger Mark IV Break Barrel .177 Cal Pellet Pistol:
This time I have a tiny Mystery Box to unpack and show you guys, this time there are only two pistols, one is a Spring Piston Single Shot .177 Caliber Pellet Pistol and the other is a 6mm Airsoft Blowback BB Pistol, both are Licensed Replicas for Umarex. If you want to find out more about each Air Pistol then make sure to watch this Mystery Box Unboxing Preview Video!
This will be my only video this week as I am in what is called Peak Week in preparation for the Vancouver Fall Calssic Fitness show I am competing in this upcoming weekend. Peak Week really takes a lot out of me and is rather time consuming with the physical activity I am doing and daily blog styled videos I am posting for my other channel www.GetFitOver40.com.
If you are interested in what I do fitness wise then checkout that channel and follow me along this week as I hope to kick some but competing against dudes half my age.
Starting with my velocity test, I shot 3 rounds through my Chronograph using .177 caliber 7 grain lead pellets achieving 482, 489 and 466 fps with an average of 479 for the three shots. Not bad for a fairly compact Break Barrel Airgun. This is perhaps fast enough for small game like mice and small rats but you would need to get proficient on your shot accuracy to make sure you got a good head or lung shot to make it a more humane pest control.
For the accuracy portion of this Field test Shooting Review I proceeded to fire 6 rounds into a paper target setup 30 feet away. I use a semi rested shooting position with the Umarex HK MP7 .177 Cal Break Barrel Pellet Gun resting on a sand bag up front and me sitting on a stool for stability. My 6 shot grouping was all within around 1.5 inches but I feel like this Pellet gun can do better with me getting a bit more use ot it, still not bad out of the box and with my first round shooting it.
I really like the Umarex HK MP7 .177 Cal Break Barrel Pellet Gun as not only a Replica but it also shoed itself ot be a decent target Airgun at the end of the day. I do have to say the trigger is a bit long but not heavy at all, it has a smooth pull with a soft release. Most pimple should be able towel with this just fine. SO if you are looking for a Replica but also want an Airgun that can shoot hard and with decent accuracy then look no further than the Umarex HK MP7 .177 Cal Break Barrel Pellet Gun.
Type:Pellet Rifle. Manufacturer: Umarex Model:HK MP7 .177. Materials: Metal and Polymer. Weight: 4.4 pounds (2kg). Barrel: 11.7 inches (29.7cm). Total Length: 31 inches (78.7cm). Propulsion: Break Barrel Spring Piston. Action: Single Action Single Shot. Ammunition Type: .177 Caliber Pellets. Ammunition Capacity: 1. Max FPS: 490 Claimed.
Trigger Pull: The trigger on the Umarex HK MP7 .177 Cal Break Barrel Pellet Gun is single action only requiring you to break the barrel and compress the internal spring piston before you can shoot it. The actual trigger pull is pretty decent overall. There is very little take-up but the creep is on the longer side but fairly smooth requiring medium pressure. The release is a bit hard at first to predict but nothing some trigger time can’t get you use to.
Accuracy: I have not performed any shooting tests with the Umarex HK MP7 .177 Cal Break Barrel Pellet Gun so far. I hope to make that Video Review next week. I expect the Umarex HK MP7 .177 Cal Break Barrel Pellet Gun to perform well in the accuracy department especially with the included Red Dot Optical Scope installed. I hope the velocity rating from Umarex is based on lead pellets and not hyper velocity light weight pellets but we will find out the story when I perform my Field Test Shooting Video shortly!
Build Quality: The Umarex HK MP7 .177 Cal Break Barrel Pellet Gun is a China made Airgun but looks to be well made. It has lots of metal parts as you would expect from a Spring Piston Rifle which adds a nice weight and feel to it. I did however have an issue with the front plastic mock Suppressor/Compensator as it does not seem to be attached to the metal barrel very well other than being pressure fit which is not going to cut it with all the vibration a spring piston system makes. My first shot loosened the mock Suppressor/Compensator so I will either have to hold it when shooting or find another way to make sure it stays in place.
Realism: The Umarex HK MP7 .177 Cal Break Barrel Pellet Gun is kind of unique in this department as most break barrel rifles are not Replicas, especially the more compact sub machine gun styled ones. Umarex did good job making the Umarex HK MP7 .177 Cal Break Barrel Pellet Gun look like a real HK MP7 for the most part. Of course it is a Spring Piston Rifle at its core so exceptions had to be made to make this work including molded non working parts like the magazine release, sector switch and, bolt/ejection port. That said all in all it is a decent looking replica considering it is a Break Barrel Airgun under the skin.
Pros:
Not many Replica Pellet Rifles on the market, especially in a more compact gun.
Comes with Red Dot sight.
Lots of rails for adding accessories to it.
Full HK Licensed by Umarex.
Collapsible Wire Stock.
Nice high claimed 490 fps.
No need for CO2 so low cost to cooperate.
Not effected by temperature like a CO2 Airgun.
Should have better accuracy than most BB Replica Airguns.
Very solid feel to it, good overall weight and feel.
Cons:
Not going to be an action shooter, have to reload after each shot.
A good overall Replica but not as Realistic or full operation as a BB version would be.
Mock Suppressor/Compensator poorly attached to barrel.
Comments: The Umarex HK MP7 .177 Cal Break Barrel Pellet Gun is an interesting product, on one hadn't it is a Replica Airgun and most people expect a Replica Airgun to have all of the appropriate working parts similar to what would be found on the real steel version. But since this is a Break Barrel Airgun at the core the Umarex HK MP7 .177 Cal Break Barrel Pellet Gun will not function the same as the Real Steel version so as long as you don’t expect it to and appreciate the fact that it should be a nice accurate low cost to operate target rifle then I think you will understand this product and enjoy it for what it is… A Single Shot Pellet Rifle that looks a lot like a HK MP7.
As the title suggest this a video about a Huge Mystery Box so I am not going to say what’s in it, I can say that their are 4 main products mostly rifles per-say. One is a Futuristic Full Auto BB Rifle, one is a Paintball Shotgun, One is an AEG Airsoft Rifle and one is a Replica Break Barrel Pellet Rifle.
So I have a lot of variety here to show everyone! I did absolutely zero research on any of the products I show in this video since like you I had no real idea what was inside other than how many and that most where rifle based.
Enjoy finding out what new products I will be reviewing over the next month with dedicated Table Top and Field Test Shooting videos.
For this Video 2 Accuracy Test I shoot all of the above listed Airguns at a paper target setup 30 feet down range using a semi rested shooting position with my hands resting on a sand bag up front and seated on a stool in the back. It’s not perfect but works well enough. I didn’t take a ton of time with each gun since there where 4 to shoot in this Field Test Shooting Video so accuracy may have been a bit better if I took a little more time with each gun.
In Video 2 I test the power and penetration of each Airgun option shooting at a pop can, a soup can and a toilet paper roll so make sure to watch that video if you have not already watched it.
For this Video 1 Power Test I shoot all of the above listed Airguns first at a pop can, then a soup can and then a toilet paper roll. The ides is to test penetration abilities with the pop and soup can and then raw force shooting the toilet paper as it will absorb all the energy from each airgun round and by gauging how much the toilet paper reacts or moves it should tell us which airgun has the most raw power or energy.
In Video 2 I will be testing accuracy using my standard 30 round paper target setup in the Replica Airguns Sea Can so stay posted for that upcoming video shortly…
In this Field Test Shooting Video I go outside for a bit of a change and test out the Beeman Longhorn II 10611 .177 .22 Break Barrel Pellet Rifle Combo to see what the real world velocity is and what kind of accuracy I can expect shooting at much further out ranges than my Sea Can Airgun Range offers me. If you want to know more about specifications and details for this Break Barrel Spring Piston Air Riffle make sure to watch my Table Top Video for information along with more closeup video.
Starting with the velocity for the Beeman Longhorn II 10611 .177 .22 Break Barrel Pellet Rifle Combo, Beeman claims up to 495 fps but does not say weather thesis for the .22 or .177 caliber barrel? I placed 5 rounds through my Chronograph using the .22 Caliber barrel option and was able to average 432 fps using 14.3 grain lead pellets which gave me an energy of 5.93 foot pounds. I would say it is safe to say that you can hit close to the claimed velocity of 495 fps with .22 Caliber lead pellets but would need to be using a bit light grain pellets closer to around 10 or 11 grain. I did not test .177 caliber pellets but they are even lighter and will have an even higher velocity most likely be over 500 fps.
While I was testing velocity to make things more efficient I also placed my shots on a paper target setup around what I estimate to be around 80 feet down range. Now I admit I am not the best long range shooter especially with Spring Piston Air Rifles but I was able to get around a 4 inch grouping at this distance with two shots on top of each other and the other three where more sporadic but I’m pretty sure the spreed was mostly because of my shooting skills with a rifle like this. I was using the provided Beeman 4x30 optical scope for this test rather than the open sights. My pellet choice was .22 Caliber Crosman Premier Hollow Point 14.3 grain lead Pellets.
What I like about the Beeman Longhorn II 10611 .177 .22 Break Barrel Pellet Rifle Combo is for sure the smooth trigger, the ability to change barrel to either .177 Caliber or .22 Caliber and I like the feel of the stock with its modern look and pistol grip for a comfortable hold. I was not a fan of the 4x30 scope as it seemed a bit fuzzy to me, maybe the optics where off on mine as the other Beeman 4x30 scope that came with the 1042 I tested was super crisp? Lastly I have to say the break barrel on this spring piston does take some arm strength so if you are smaller or not as strong then you may have difficulty cocking the Beeman Longhorn II 10611 .177 .22 Break Barrel Pellet Rifle Combo. All in all it’s a good overall springer with lots of features for a relatively low cost.
In this Field Test Shooting Video I get outside for a change and test out the Beeman 1042 .22 Caliber Break Barrel Pellet Rifle to see what the actual velocity is and what kind of accuracy I can expect shooting at much further ranges than my Sea Can Airgun Range can offer. If you want to know more about specifications and details for this Break Barrel Air Riffle make sure to watch my Table Top Video for information along with more closeup video.
Starting with the velocity for the Beeman 1042 .22 Caliber Break Barrel Pellet Rifle, Beeman claims up to 475 fps but based on how light the spring feels when cocking this Airgun I was not expecting to get that high of fps. I placed 5 rounds through my Chronograph and was able to average 361 fps using 14.3 grain lead pellets which gave me an energy of 4.14 foot pounds. This isn’t bad in terms of energy but I would not suggest this Air Rifle for pest control because of the lower fps unless you are shooting really small pests at closer ranges.
While I was testing velocity to speed things up I also placed the same rounds on my paper target setup around I would say 80 feet down range (Best guess). Keep in mind I am not the best long range shooter especially with Spring Piston Air Rifles but I was able to get around a 3 inch 5 shot grouping at this distance with three of the shoots all within about 1 inch of each other so not bad for me. I was using the provided Beeman 4x30 optical scope which was nice and crips. My pellet choice was .22 Caliber Crosman Premier Hollow Point 14.3 grain lead Pellets.
What I like about the Beeman 1042 .22 Caliber Break Barrel Pellet Rifle is the easy to cock break barrel, the optical scope, the nice wood finish and its overall performance. I did feel the trigger was a bit heavy and it would be nice to have just a bit more power but that would come at a harder to cock break barrel. If you want an easy shooting and overall good looking lower cost Spring Piston Pellet Rifle in .22 caliber then I would recommend the Beeman 1042 .22 Caliber Break Barrel Pellet Rifle for sure!
Type:Pellet Rifle. Manufacturer: Beeman Model:Longhorn II 10611. Materials: Metal and Polymer. Weight: 8.5 pounds (3.77kg). Barrel: 18 inches (45.7mm). Propulsion: Spring Piston. Action: Single Action Single Shot. Ammunition Type: .177 and .22 Caliber Pellets. Ammunition Capacity: 1. Max FPS: 495 Claimed.
Trigger Pull: The trigger on the Beeman Longhorn II 10611 .177 .22 Break Barrel Pellet Rifle is single action only requiring you to break the barrel and compress the internal spring piston before you can shoot it. This will also engage the safety which you have to disengage for each shot manually as an added safety measure. The actual trigger pull is pretty good overall. There is very little take-up but the creep is on the longer side but very smooth not requiring too much pressure. The release is also smooth but will take a bit of time to learn just exactly when it is going to release. There is an adjustment screw for the trigger but it is not advertised or explained in the manual exactly how this effects the trigger pull so a bit of trial and error may improve the trigger feel.
Accuracy: I have not performed any shooting tests with the Beeman Longhorn II 10611 .177 .22 Break Barrel Pellet Rifle so far, I hope to make that Video Review next week “weather permitting” as I want to get outdoors for this test to be able to shoot it at longer ranges. I expect the Beeman Longhorn II 10611 .177 .22 Break Barrel Pellet Rifle to perform well in the accuracy department especially with the 4x32 optical scope installed. In terms of power I did notice that the spring does seem ot be fairly strong so I am hoping to get close to the claimed 495 fps even using .22 caliber heavier grain pellets.
Build Quality: The Beeman Longhorn II 10611 .177 .22 Break Barrel Pellet Rifle is a China made Air Rifle but looks to be well made. It is mostly metal other than the synthetic modern stock, even the iron fiber optic sights are full metal front and back. I am not a big fan of the stock texture patter but it does work to add extra grip.
Realism: The Beeman Longhorn II 10611 .177 .22 Break Barrel Pellet Rifle is not a copy of any real steel gun in production but does have that overall rifle shape to it so yet it looks like a gun but most people will be able to immediately see that it is a Pellet Rifle and that is exactly what it is since it is not trying to be anything other than that.
Pros:
Comes with two barrels for .177 and .22 caliber pellets.
Comes with included 4x32 scope and ring mounts.
Durable synthetic stock with modern look and pistol grip.
Can also shoot using included iron metal fiber optic adjustable sights.
Automatic trigger safety system.
Rated at 495 fps using .22 caliber pellets so top out at max Canada legal power without a firearms license.
Nice rubber butt-pad looks good and adds to shooting comfort.
Has a scope stop so your scope will stay nicely in place.
Really well priced for what you get which is two rifles one.
Cons:
Changing out barrels does require tools.
Not a big fan of the stock texturing pattern.
Made in China.
Comments: The Beeman Longhorn II 10611 .177 .22 Break Barrel Pellet Rifle is a very affordable Break Barrel Spring Piston Pellet Rifle that offers two Airguns in one with it’s interchangeable barrel system allowing you to shoot either .177 or .22 Caliber pellets. You also have the option of using the already installed Fiber Optic fully adjustable sights or you can install the included 4x32 Optical Scope for potential longer range shooting. The modern looking synthetic stock with it’s pistol grip and rubber butt-pad will make shouldering this Air Rifle super comfortable and I would imagine help with accuracy at the end of the day.
In this Field Test Shooting Video for the Beeman P17 2004 Single Stroke .177 Caliber Pellet Pistol I perform two main tests to find out what the velocity and accuracy capabilities are for it first using my Chronograph and shooting several rounds through it averaging out the fps. For the second test I shoot 7 rounds into a fresh paper target 30 feet down range to see how tight of a grouping I can get.
For my Velocity test Beeman claims the P17 2004 Single Stroke .177 Caliber Pellet Pistol is capable of around 410 fps using standard lead pellets which I found to be a very close estimate as my results using 6.9 grain lead pellets achieved a 4 shot average of 404 fps so only 6 fps off the claim. There are lighter lead pellets out there and even lighter alloy pellets so higher velocities are possible using less grain pellets but a decent grain pellet hitting 400+ fps is not bad considering only one pump is required to get max velocity from the Beeman P17 2004 Single Stroke .177 Caliber Pellet Pistol.
Moving on to the accuracy portion of the test I setup a fresh paper target 30 feet away and proceeded to put 7 rounds into it shooting from a seated and rested shooting position (sand bag up front, seated in the back). I was a bit surprised to only get a 1.5 inch grouping but it seemed like there where three separate sub groups that each overlapped within themselves? I think perhaps when I pumped the gun I may have been disrupting the rear sight a bit as it does have some play in it for adjustments so you want to be careful not to place your hands on the rear sight when cooking the Beeman P17 2004 Single Stroke .177 Caliber Pellet Pistol. Out of the box the shot placement was fairly well centered with two of the rounds right dead center of the bulls-eye.
I kind of want to do a retest at some point maybe with a different pellet and also making sure not place my hands over the rear sight when cocking the Beeman P17 2004 Single Stroke .177 Caliber Pellet Pistol as I feel this Target Pellet Pistol is capable of .5 inch groupings. The trigger is really nice and the rifled barrel is a decent length with easy to use sights so this Air Pistol should do a bit better than I was able to get shooting it on this day. Either way it is a really fun gun to shoot and with a bit of time figuring it out I am confident you can get better results than I did.
Trigger Pull: The Single action only trigger pull on the Beeman P17 2004 Single Stroke .177 Caliber Pellet Pistol is excellent, super light with just a little bit of take-up, the release is very predictable, one of the best target pistol triggers I have reviewed for sure. There is no adjustment but I do not feel it is nessisary at all.
Accuracy: Spoiler alert! Before posting the written version of this review I did make the Field Test Shooting Video so I can give you a little bit of a heads up on how well the Beeman P17 2004 Single Stroke .177 Caliber Pellet Pistol in its Field Test Shooting Video. In terms of velocity it was really close to the 410 fps using lead pellets and for accuracy I was pleased with there results but feel the gun can do better than the result I got on this day, perhaps a different pellet choice, some more break in time or maybe just me shooting on a different day. That said I confident this gun is very capable of getting groupings under an inch in the right conditions, maybe even 1/2 an inch.
Build Quality: The build quality of the Beeman P17 2004 Single Stroke .177 Caliber Pellet Pistol is good considering it is a sub $100 target pistol with a great trigger, fully adjustable fiber optic sights and only one pump to get maximum velocity. The outer shell is polymer while the pump and valve body are aluminum with the barrel and main valve made out of steel. the trigger and latch are also metal.
Realism: The Beeman P17 2004 Single Stroke .177 Caliber Pellet Pistol is not really a replica of a real steel gun in production per-say but the pistol grips are very Walther P series looking so if you are Walther owner or like the grips on the Walther P series guns then you will enjoy the hold of the Beeman P17 2004 Single Stroke .177 Caliber Pellet Pistol.
Pros:
Reasonable price for an accurate full featured target pistol.
Safety automatically resets to the safe position when you pump/charge the pistol.
No need for CO2 so very inexpensive to shoot.
Virtually no recoil or vibration like you find in spring piston airguns.
Fiber optic front and back sight, also fully adjustable for windage and elevation.
Quality materials where you need them for expected long life and use.
Only requires one pump for full 410 fps power.
Works great for left and right handed shooters.
Good if you like Walther type pistol grips, same shape and feel as many P series pistols.
Excellent trigger feel and pull.
Cons:
Loading pellets is a bit awkward.
Have to pump it for each shot, no action shooting here.
Not rally a replica if that’s what you are after but generally most Spring Piston or Pneumatic Airguns are not replicas with a couple exceptions.
Comments: So the Beeman P17 2004 Single Stroke .177 Caliber Pellet Pistol is not really a Replica or even an action shooter but it does have its place in an airgun collection. I love blasting pop cans just as much as the next person but sometimes I like to slow things down and see how accurate I can get with an Airgun and not be too concerned that the gun is interfering with the accuracy. This is one way to really improve your shooting skills and having to work for each shot makes it that much more rewarding. The Beeman P17 2004 Single Stroke .177 Caliber Pellet Pistol allows you to have a great time honing in your shooting skills for not a lot of cash up front and cost per shot is only whatever the pellets cost you.
In this Preview Unboxing Video I showcase three Pellet Guns from Beeman, one Single Stroke .177 Caliber Pellet Pistol and two Break Barrel .177 and .22 Caliber Pellet Rifles. I don’t go into a lot of details on each Airgun as I am leaving that information for my future Table Top and Field Test Videos. This video is mainly a heads up on these products with links to where you can buy them in our Online Replica Airgun Store.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Bear X Desire XL Crossbow is medium to heavy, it is a single action only trigger as you need ot cock the bow in order for the trigger to be engaged. The safety is also engaged when you cock the bow requiring you to take the Bear X Desire XL Crossbow off safe before shooting as an added layer of safety.
Accuracy: I have not made my Field Test Shooting Video for the Bear X Desire XL Crossbow and so I have not sea what to expect for it. I have watched a few videos of other people reviewing it and it looks to perform fairly well but until I get a few bolts in a target downrange I can not say for certain the accuracy of the Bear X Desire XL Crossbow. I will have to figure out some sort of a usable back stop in order to make this Field Test Shooting Video but have some ideas already on material to use as my back stop. FPS is claimed ot be around 175 and I will be doing my best to Chronograph the Bear X Desire XL Crossbow so we can confirm that rating for ourselves…
Build Quality: The Bear X Desire XL Crossbow is actually made pretty decently, yes it is mostly plastic and light weight but feels sturdy enough to hold, the only real metal I can confirm is the cocking rail, mostly everything else other than the nuts and bolts that hold it together are some sort of plastic, the bow itself may be a composite material but I am not sure what exactly it is?
Realism: The Bear X Desire XL Crossbow is not a Replica as is what I usually review here on the channel. But I think their is a crossover in terms of interest for a product like this with people that are also interested in airguns. I know I like the Bear X Desire XL Crossbow and can see a place for it in my collection even if it’s not a replica product.
Pros:
Fairly inexpensive.
Super light weight.
Can shoot in a variety of situations.
Easy to draw the bow.
Safety is automatically engaged.
Picatinny rail already has iron fully adjustable rear sight but can mount a red dot if you like.
Fiber optic front sight.
3 bolts included.
175 fps (not sure of the ft/lbs)?
Comes with fore grip.
3 portion adjustable rear but stock.
Cons:
Will need a good backstop or will lose or damage a lots of bolts.
Takes a little bit of time to set it up but not too hard if you follow the instructions.
Comments:
The Bear X Desire XL Crossbow is an interesting product that once purchased and if you manage to not lose the bolts will cost virtually nothing to shoot since you can reuse the bolts all day long given you shoot them on target and that target does not damage the bolts. It may not offer the rapid fire action shooting of a replica semi auto CO2 Pistol but still challenges the shooter in terms of getting the best possible accuracy out of it and at the end of the day trigger time is trigger time! If you are looking for something a bit different than your CO2 Air Gun then maybe the Bear X Desire XL Crossbow will fill that requirement.
In this Field Test Shooting Video I put some lead pellets through the Umarex Ruger Mark IV Break Barrel .177 Cal Pellet Pistol to see what the real world velocity is compared to the claimed fps. I also put 7 rounds into a paper target setup 30 feet downrange to find out just how accurate and what kind of grouping I can get from this compact spring piston replica air pistol! If you have not already watched my Table Top Review for the Umarex Ruger Mark IV Break Barrel .177 Cal Pellet Pistol then make sure to watch if for more specifications and details along with some nice close up video.
For my Chronograph test I placed 5 rounds through my Chrony using 8.18 grain Sig Sauer Match Precision Wadcutter Lead Pellets and was able to average 312 fps so just shy of the claimed 320 fps but there are lighter lead pellets out there and even lighter alloy pellets so higher fps can be achieved with this Air Pistol if you plan on using lighter pellets.
For the accuracy portion of my Field test Shooting Video for the Umarex Ruger Mark IV Break Barrel .177 Cal Pellet Pistol, I ended up placing 7 rounds into a fresh paper target setup 30 feet down range. I was using my standard seated and rested shooting position which does offer a fairly stable shooting platform but not without some degree of human interaction. I was a little bit disappointed in the 2 inch grouping I got, I was expecting closer to a 1 inch group but I would have had to have been on my game and maybe today I was not. Pellet choice can also effect accuracy for sure and so maybe a different pellet would have performed better in this test. Most of the variable was up and down not left to right with only about an inch side to side.
All in all the Umarex Ruger Mark IV Break Barrel .177 Cal Pellet Pistol did a good job hitting velocities as claimed and producing a decent grouping that I feel I could have improved upon once I got use to the lighter firmer trigger than I would like to see on a Ruger Mark IV Replica to match the real steal one more closely. Shot placement out of the box was close to the bullseye, it just needed to move up a bit and a tad to the right but once the sights are adjustable for windage and elevation this is easily fixed with a few turns of the sighting screws. If you are a Ruger 22LR owner than I would suggest you buy one of these Umarex Ruger Mark IV Break Barrel .177 Cal Pellet Pistols and shoot for even less cost per shot and in more locations since this Air Pistol is super quiet and most makeshift backstops will work with it just fine.
Type: Pellet Pistol. Distributer:Umarex. Model:Ruger Mark IV. Materials: Metal and polymer build. Weight: 1.56 pounds (708 grams). Barrel: 5.3 inches (135mm). Total Length: 11 inches (279mm). Propulsion: Spring Piston. Action: SAO Break Barrel. Ammunition Type: .177 caliber pellets. Ammunition Capacity: 1 round. FPS: 320+.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Ruger Mark IV Break Barrel .177 Cal Pellet Pistol is not too bad, I feel it is a around 6-7 pounds or so without measuring. In comparison to a real steel 22LR semi auto SAO trigger pistol, the trigger is much heavier but most of these 22LR pistols of this nature have what I would consider to be near perfect triggers. Over time once you get use to the pressure and release point accuracy with this pistol it is for sure possible.
Accuracy: I have not had the chance to really test fire this pellet pistol but will be doing so next week when I make my Field Test Shooting Video for the Umarex Ruger Mark IV Break Barrel .177 Cal Pellet Pistol. If it is anything like the Umarex Buck Mark URX which I imagine it will be, then I am expecting to get some good accuracy as the URX was able to get a nice under 1 inch shot grouping when I tested it a few years back. Velocity I am expecting to be up and over 300 fps even using lead pellets, I am hoping it will be in the mid 300’s
Build Quality: The Umarex Ruger Mark IV Break Barrel .177 Cal Pellet Pistolis a low cost target plinker that also doubles as a licensed Replica for that coolness factor so you won’t get an all metal super top quality build here. That said metal and plastics are well used and for sure details in the fit and finish have been improved over the Buck Mark URX version where I found the barrel felt a bit sloppy and the trigger was plastic. The Umarex Ruger Mark IV Break Barrel .177 Cal Pellet Pistol has a much tighter barrel fit when closed and the trigger is now metal! Maybe Umarex watched my video back in the day and took some notes?
Realism: The Umarex Ruger Mark IV Break Barrel .177 Cal Pellet Pistol most resembles the Mark IV Hunter edition and is pretty much bang on in terms of being a replica other than the tell tail hinge just under the barrel required for a spring piston design, there really is no way to get around this so I’m not going to criticize this minor difference. The real steel version is almost 3 pounds and so the pellet shooting version is a bit under weight so it would have been to have had more metal perhaps in the barrel and lower frame. Again since the pellet shooting version is a springer you will not have any working bolts or slide catches or a built in magazine.
Pros:
It's a decent Ruger Mark IV Replica!
Feels well built overall.
Expect it to have really good accuracy like the Umarex Browning Buck Mark URX since they share similar mechanical design.
Barrel locks into place much better than the Umarex Browning Buck Mark URX did.
Fully adjustable rear sight with fiber optic front sight.
Auto locking safety, just don’t forget to unlock before each shot
Actual metal trigger in this version.
Nice and compact, not too heavy.
Full Ruger licensed via Umarex.
Fairly low price tag.
Cons:
No built in rail for a sight system like the Umarex Browning Buck Mark URX but this is tru for the Hunter version.
Trigger pull could be lighter to match the real steel version.
A bit more metal would have been nice to get the weigth up closer to the real steel version.
Comments: I remember the Umarex Buck Mark URX being a super fun pellet pistol to shoot even though it is only a single shot airgun. Sometimes just getting back to the basics and taking your time to really place your shots and see how accurate you can be is more fun than spraying BB’s and pellets rapid fire and hoping you hit something. The Umarex Ruger Mark IV Break Barrel .177 Cal Pellet Pistol is inexpensive to buy and inexpensive to shoot, no CO2, just a tin of your favorite pellets and you will get hours of fun for it while honing your shooting skills. And at the end of the day the Umarex Ruger Mark IV Break Barrel .177 Cal Pellet Pistol is not a bad Replica Airgun if you are a collector of shot guns.
My Vimeo Table Top Review Videos for the Umarex Ruger Mark IV Break Barrel .177 Cal Pellet Pistol:
In this Field Test Shooting Video I put the Webley Valuemax 22 Caliber Spring Piston Break Barrel Rifle through my standard Replica Airguns Indoor Field Test protocol by first testing out the velocity and placing 5 rounds through my Chronograph to see what the actual real world fps is using 14.3 grain lead pellets. I then setup a fresh paper target 30 feet downrange and place 10 pellets into it to see what type of grouping I can get. If you have not already watched my Table Top Video for this Break Barrel Spring Piston Pellet Rifle then make sure to do so for more details, specifications and close up video.
Starting off with my real world velocity test for the Webley Valuemax 22 Caliber Spring Piston Break Barrel Rifle, I went with 14.3 grain lead pellets which are I would say on the heavier side. Even so I managed to hit 478 fps which produced a nice 7.26 foot pounds of energy which by the way is almost 10 Joules! If you are wondering about Canadian legalities, as long as I do not go over 500 fps AND go over 4.2 foot pounds (both thresholds must be exceeded), then this Airgun is considered a non-regulated firearm and does not require a firearms license.
Moving on to the accuracy portion of my Indoor Field Test in the Replica Airguns Sea Can. As always I placed a brand new paper target 30 feet downrange and proceeded to shoot ten 14.3 grain lead pellets from a rested and seated shooting position to allow for best possible results with as little human error but I am imperfect so some human error is always present. I was using the open fiver optic sights on the Webley Valuemax 22 Caliber Spring Piston Break Barrel Rifle rather than a scope even thought there is a dovetail rail with included scope stop. To be honest I was expecting a better grouping, something close to half an inch but on this day with this ammo choice I was closer to 1.5 to even 2 inches. I did see several pellets land in a tighter sub group but some came out of this group enlarging the grouping. I would like to try a different pellet choice to see if I can do better as I believe this rifle has way more potential.
In terms of power the Webley Valuemax 22 Caliber Spring Piston Break Barrel Pellet Rifle is about has high as you can go before it becomes a regulated firearm here in Canada so no complaints in that department. Again I was disappointed in the accuracy but I honestly believe a different pellet choice could fix that problem as I have seen often with other Pellet Rifles. Once the right pellet choice is made and granted a more consistent and tighter grouping is achieved, this Spring Piston Pellet Rifle could make a decent small pest control airgun!
Type: Pellet Rifle. Distributer:Webley & Scott. Model:Valuemax. Materials: Metal and polymer build. Weight: 6.4 pounds (2900 grams). Barrel: 17.7 inches (450mm), rifled. Total Length: 43 inches (1092mm) Propulsion: Spring Piston Action: Break Barrel. Ammunition Type: .22 Caliber Pellets. Ammunition Capacity: Single Shot. FPS: 499.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Webley Valuemax .22 Caliber Spring Piston Break Barrel Rifle is fairly nice There is a little bit of very light take up followed by a vert light release , the take up or travel length can be adjusted on this Air Rifle but that is the only trigger adjustment you can make and perhaps all that is needed.
Accuracy: I have not performed my Field Test Shooting Video for the Webley Valuemax .22 Caliber Spring Piston Break Barrel Rifle but I did get to take around 20 or so shots with it when I was trying to get it to diesel for me. It looks ot me like it is going to be nice and accurate as I was not even really going for accuracy and it seemed to already be grouping fairly tight. I was recoding fps using my Chronograph as I was trying to find out if by adding some oil to the spring piston chamber could get it to diesel which it never did for me, I was however to establish that the Webley Valuemax .22 Caliber Spring Piston Break Barrel Rifle shot right around 470-480 fps using 14.3 grain lead pellets which worked out to right around 7.32 foot pounds of energy. I will know a lot more when I do my official Field Test Shooting Video next week.
Build Quality: Webley Valuemax .22 Caliber Spring Piston Break Barrel Rifle is built to be a value priced Airgun hence the name (Valuemax), that said it is maid well enough with lots of metal and of course some plastic or in this case mostly nylon as the stock is a solid nylon piece. Other than the stock the plastic parts are found to be in the sights and trigger guard, everything else seems to be metal.
Realism: The Webley Valuemax .22 Caliber Spring Piston Break Barrel Rifle is not a replica or copy of any real steel gun in production but it does look like a traditional hunting rifle in basic shape so make sure to transport thank airgun as if it was a real gun. Either in a gun case or perhaps a blanket in your trunk and always obey any laws for gun position and transportation in your area.
Pros:
Inexpensive price tag for well made decent performer.
Initial test showed to have good accuracy and power! (more to come).
Fully adjustable sights with optical TRUGLO Fiber Optics.
Can add a magnified optical scope using the top built in dovetail rail.
Nylon fiber stock is durable and functional with the addition of a vented rubber buttplate.
Trigger feels decent and is also adjustable for travel length.
Rear thumb safety resets after each break of the barrel.
Nice light and short single action trigger.
Would be good for small pest control because of decent FPS and good accuracy.
Cons:
Included sights are mostly plastic.
The Valuemax version has a more basic less adjustable trigger.
Detuned down to under 500 fps for Canada import as non-regulated Firearm.
Comments: I am looking forward to performing my Indoor Field Test Shooting Video for the Webley Valuemax .22 Caliber Spring Piston Break Barrel Rifle to see what it can really do in terms of accuracy so stay posted for that video next week. Overall if you are lucky enough to already have one or can get your hands on one since this rifle is discontinued in some area, I think this is a great Break Piston Air Rifle especially if you live in Canada and want the most bang for your buck. I am not only talking about cost verses features, I also mean power and energy since the Webley Valuemax .22 Caliber Spring Piston Break Barrel Rifle is a .22 caliber Air Rifle that can shoot really close to 500 fps with a nice heavy grain lead pellet achieving decent energy levels reasonable enough for small pest control. The Webley Valuemax .22 Caliber Spring Piston Break Barrel Rifle is not feature less, it does include a reseting safety, anti bear trap system, dove tail mounts with an included scope stop, fiver optic adjustable sights and a vert ergonomic textured nylon stock. All in all great value for what you pay!
My Vimeo Videos for the Webley Valuemax .22 Caliber Spring Piston Break Barrel Rifle:
I often have people ask me what is more powerful in terms of one gun over another and which Airguns have more raw power, BB versus, Pellet, versus Airsoft, versus Paintball?
Well in this indoor field test shooting video I compare all of the above head to head to see which Airgun not only has the most raw power but also how well they perform on a target setup 30 feet down range since after all what does it matter how powerful a gun is if it can not hit the target!
The Airguns I used in this head to head shooting performance test where as follows:
Keep in mind the ammunition for each Airgun is very different not just in terms of materials but also their weight which will have a big effect on the energy they produce. For example for this test I used 4.6 grain 4.5mm Steel BBs, 4.6 grain 6mm Aluminum Airsoft BB’s. 6.9 grain .177 cal. Lead Pellets and 17.7 grain .50 cal. Rubber Paintballs.
Watch my YouTube Video to see how well each Airgun did in this comparison shooting test!
