Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the KWC Sigma SW40F CO2 Blowback BB Pistol is single action only which generally produces a very light trigger, on the SW40F it is a bit firmer than most single actions but still decent with a short take-up and firm release. You will need to pull the slide back (which also chambers your first round) to cock the internal hammer, after which subsequent shots you will not have to pull the slide back as the blowback action does this for you.
Accuracy: When I shot the KWC Sigma SW40F from 20 feet out in semi rested position I was able to get nice clean results. I placed 10 rounds within about 2 inches with the shot placement being very well centered. The KWC S&W Sigma SW40F seemed to keep the rounds tighter from top to bottom over side to side for me. I also noticed when I field stripped this gun that there is a built in hop-up (rubber bar) that sits inside the barrel, this will produce some back spin which will keep the BB's trajectory a bit flatter when shooting further out and is also probably there to stop BB's from rolling out of the barrel once chambered.
Build Quality: The build quality is about the same as all other KWC guns, tolerances seem tight and everything is working as it should, you will get some wear marks (paint wear) on the high spots over time which is normal on just about any (type of gun, real or air) but what I like about the SW40F is that the barrel is polished and since this is the first area to lose paint, it really does not matter since no paint is on the barrel.
Realism: The KWC Sigma SW40F CO2 Blowback BB Pistol is a replica of the real steel S&W Sigma with the exception of the licensing and it really is a bang on Replica, you can field strip this gun exactly like a real Smith & Wesson Sigma. All the mechanical parts work just the same and I like the fact that without the licensing, this gun is very clean looking with no obtrusive warning instructions on it.
Lots of metal in this gun with very good weight to it.
Very accurate S&W Sigma replica.
Heavy crisp blowback feel.
Predictable single action trigger.
Shots where well centered, got good accuracy.
White dot sights for quick target acquisition.
No ugly warning markings.
Full size drop out magazine holds BB's and CO2.
Like the polished barrel and ejection port.
Fully field strip-able.
Cons:
I only got two magazines in my pre-test for some reason?
FPS is not super high?
A bit finicky when loading BB's
Comments:
Just like my Airsoft review of the KWC Sigma SW40F, this blowback Air Pistol was a lot of fun to shoot, with it's super snappy heavy slide and ultra realistic shooting characteristics. It did seem to go through a lot of CO2 very quickly which is not uncommon for this style of full blowback heavy slided airgun, and to be honest I don't really mind since it shot well, felt good in the hand and backs it up with great looks. And heck it's still so much cheaper to shoot than a real 9mm hand gun ;) For those of you looking for something that is similar to a Glock in terms of looks and operation, the KWC Sigma BB or Airsoft pistol may be your only real option here in North America now that the Umarex SA177 is history.
My Vimeo Table Top Review of the KWC Sigma SW40F Blowback CO2 BB Pistol:
Here is my official Field Test Shooting Video Review for my Umarex Walther P38 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol. As with my original Table Top Review, I shot pretty close to the manufacturers claimed 400 fps getting a 5 shot average of 392 fps.
And the same can be said with my accuracy pre test, both tests came in just about the same with an approximate 2 inch very well centered grouping shooting at the target from 20 feet out in a semi rested position. I even got 8 of the 10 rounds right in the 1.5 inch bullseye with only two rounds coming just outside. Good thing it was already pre sighted as the sight on the Umarex Walther P38 can not be adjusted. You can also expect to get a good 100 shots from a single CO2. I would also like to point out that even thought he slide is fairly light and the blowback is not full, The P38 still has a nice blowback snap to it.
The only real negative point I can make about the Umarex Walther P38 Replica Air Pistol is the somewhat medium to heavy trigger pull which I found a bit surprising since it has a single action only trigger? This was offset by the fact that The Umarex P38 had such good combined accuracy, power and CO2 efficiency wrapped up in a very believable Walther P38 Replica.
Here is my official Field Test Shooting Video Review for my KWC M1911 Model A1 TAC CO2 Blowback BB Pistol. Interestingly enough, this time around I got a bit lower average feet per second rating from this air gun at right around 290 fps as compared to the pre-test I did during my Table Top Review (shot closer to 310 average fps)? Both days the temperature was about the same and the CO2 used on both occasions was the same brand and where unused. Just goes to show you that these guns sometimes have a mind of their own...
At least the accuracy portion came in just about the same with an approximate 2 inch grouping shooting at the target from 20 feet out in a semi rested position. I did shoot a bit to the left and a bit low which I could adjust from left to right but since there is only a windage adjustment I would have to sight a bit up to hit the bullseye with the KWC M1911 Model A1 TAC. This time around I also got 4 magazine worth of shots as I slowed things down a bit and took my time and juts like last time I had no problems or malfunctions with my KWC M1911 Model A1 TAC.
The best part about shooting the KWC M1911 Model A1 TAC CO2 Air Pistol is it's beautiful single action 1911 styled trigger and nice heavy full blowback action, making this gun a great economical trainer if you own the real steel version or perhaps just want to feel like you do!
Here's a heads up on some new items we will be adding to the Canada Replica Airguns Store very soon so keep checking back if you're interested in them!
Your best bet is to Watch My Vimeo Video as I go over them all and show you around the new products, but for now here is some basic info on each item:
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Umarex Walther P38 CO2 Blowback BB Replica is a bit heavier than I expected it would be as it is a single action only trigger. There is a lot of take up initially but once you hit the release area, the release point is what I would describe as a medium to heavy pull for a single action shooter. With that said it did not seem to effect the accuracy at all and I was able to rifle off quick shots fairly easily.
Accuracy: I shot the Umarex Walther P38 BB Pistol at a target from 20 feet away in a semi rested position, and it performed very good getting just under a 2 inch grouping and very well centered on the target. The sights are not adjustable so adjusting the Umarex Walther P38 would not be possible except by using a modified aim point! My initial Chrony testing puts this BB shooter just under the 400 claimed fps range right in the 380 area which is not bad considering the rather cold day I was shooting on. I also managed to get five magazines worth of shots which is a vert respectable 100 shots per CO2.
Build Quality: The Umarex Walther P38 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol is almost all metal with the exception of the grips which is great to see! I found the fit and finish to also be very good with a nice Semi Gloss paint job that should wear well over time. Interestingly enough the Umarex Walther P38 has a removable barrel so I am assuming that perhaps Umarex will introduce some more barrel length options at some point?
Realism: The Umarex Walther P38 CO2 Blowback BB Airgun is very close to the real steel Walther P38 and even has the Walther P38 licensing on it. What I was really impressed with was the fact that all the mechanical parts do exactly what they would do on the real gun. On some other guns these parts are merely for show and moulded into the gun. The Blowback action, hidden CO2 screw and recessed barrel all help to make this Walther P38 Replica very believable!
Replicates the real steel version fairly well with all the working parts pretty much doing what they did on the original.
Nice that it has blowback while still gets decent fps and shots per CO2.
The Blowback had more feedback then I thought it would.
Mine seemed to be very well centered on target and got a good tight grouping.
CO2 is very well hidden in the handle.
Good weight fit and finish to it.
Glad to see a World War BB replica pistol!
Almost all metal.
Cons:
Had a rather heavy trigger for a single action only gun.
CO2 screw may be a bit hard to tighten for people with sausage fingers.
Some people may not like the high gloss finish.
Comments:
There are few older Classic Airguns out there, especially ones from the World War era! On that topic I would also like to see some old Single Action Army Cowboy Revolvers start to show up in the Replica Airgun market! As I was saying it is nice to see this Classic Walther P38 show up in what seems to be a sea of modern styled airgun replicas. Umarex not only came out with a BB shooting Walther P38, they made it very believable in terms of operation, while maintaining good overall airgun performance. I hope this is a trend that continues in the direction of companies offering more quality airgun replicas of guns from the past.
Ammunition Capacity: 18 round full size metal magazine.
FPS: 320.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the KWC M1911 A1 Tac blowback BB Pistol is exactly what you would expect from a true single action 1911 styled pistol. It has a short take up and then a nice light and crisp pull to it. Because of the similar mechanics not only to the trigger but other aspects of this gun, it would make an awesome low cost trainer to be used when your real 1911 can not be.
Accuracy: I shot the KWC M1911 A1 Tac BB gun at a target from 20 feet away in a semi rested position, and it performed well getting a 2 inch grouping just a bit off center of the target. The sights are adjustable for windage so zeroing the KWC M1911 A1 Tac in would not be much of a problem! My initial Chrony testing puts this gun right in the 300-320 fps range which is just fine for this style of heavy full realistic blowback action BB shooter. I also managed to get three very good magazine worth of shots with some extra CO2 left for a potential 4th magazine. If you slow your shooting down and let the gun and CO2 warm up between magazines you can get 4 magazines with this gun for sure.
Build Quality: KWC did a great job with the KWC M1911 A1 Tac. The quality and build characteristics may even be just a bit better than my other KWC/Cybergun blowback air pistols. Everything that should be metal is the same on this as the original, the slide and barrel wiggle are minimal and the finish seems to be wearing fairly well on this KWC airgun. I do expect over time fore some of the finish to wear off on the high points but this can also give the gun some character ;)
Realism: The KWC M1911 A1 Tac BB airgun is as close as you can get to the real steel 1911 A1 45 auto but with an obvious more modern Tactical look to it, the Tactical version has the addition of a: Tac style trigger and hammer, textured grips, ambidextrous safety, adjustable white dot sights, rail for accessories. This gun is nearly all metal with very heavy blowback making it feel real to hold in the hand and shoot.
All metal construction - Good weight and solid feeling gun.
Nice heavy blowback action.
Very Accurate 1911 A1 styled replica in many way.
True 1911 Single action trigger, excellent pull, very smooth and light.
Accurate trigger design and working grip safety.
Decent accuracy, not too bad amount off shots for this style of gun about 3+ good magazines.
All metal full size dropout magazine.
Love the upgraded Tactical features (Tac style trigger and hammer, textured grips, ambidextrous safety, adjustable white dot sights, rail for accessories)
Cons:
Sacrifice fps and shots per CO2 because of the heavy blowback but worth it.
Finish on the Cybergun and KWC guns can ware off on the high points a bit but some people like this look.
Comments:
I love my Cybergun Tanfoglio Witness 1911 as do many of you based on the amount of sales we have had on that unit! After all who does not appreciate such an accurate replica of the Classic Colt 1911 A1 45 auto? The only problem with the classic 1911 is that it is missing a few of todays more modern features and that's what is so nice abut the new KWC M1911 A1 Tac BB Pistol, it takes an all ready great design and makes it even better by adding the Tac style trigger and hammer, textured grips, ambidextrous safety, adjustable white dot sights and rail for add on accessories. So if you're a 1911 fan looking for as close as you can get to the real steel in a more modern version than look no further, this is it!
This is the official Field Shooting Test Video Review for the ASG Bersa BP9CC CO2 Blowback BB Pistol. If you haven't checked out my Table top Video Review for the ASG Bersa BP9CC, make sure to do so as I have some more photos there along with the specifications and details including the Pros & Cons for the this very realistic Bersa airgun replica!
In this part of the review I test the ASG Bersa BP9CC 4.5mm BB Pistol using my Chronograph to see what the 5 shot feet per second average is using a fully charged CO2 cartridge. Even on this rather cold day, the ASG Bersa BP9CC BB Airgun performed even above the factory claimed 350 fps and was very consistent, within a few fps for each shot averaging 366 fps.
I also take the ASG Bersa BP9CC CO2 Blowback BB Pistol back 20 feet and shoot it at a target using a semi rested position (sand bag up front, kneeling in the back) and shoot 10 rounds into the target getting a not too bad 2 inch grouping with this small short barreled blowback airgun. Near the end of the video I use my high speed slow motion camera setting to capture the blowback in both 400 and 1200 frames per second so you can see for yourself how the blowback action works.
All in all the ASG Bersa BP9CC CO2 Blowback BB Pistol performed very well and had no malfunctions, the accuracy was respectable for an action blowback pistol like this one and the same goes for the fps being that the ASG Bersa has both blowback and a short barrel. I was also very happy with the CO2 efficiency getting close to 120 shots (6 magazines) out of a single 12 gram CO2 cartridge.
If you're looking for a compact action BB pistol with great looks, realism and performance, make sure to checkout the ASG Bersa BP9CC CO2 Blowback 4.5mm BB Pistol!
By the way in this video I also test out my new Liquid Image Impact Series Camera Goggles to see how they work to protect my eyes while recording video in first person view.
Watch my Field Test Shooting Vimeo Video Review for the ASG Bersa BP9CC CO2 Air Pistol:
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the ASG Bersa BP9CC is light due to its true blowback operation that cocks the internal striker back with each shot taken. For some reason there is a slight creepiness in the trigger when the metal magazine is loaded, but it does not effect the lighter weight of the trigger pull. There is also a fair amount of take-up but the reset is short.
Accuracy: I shot the ASG Bersa BP9CC Blowback Airgun at a target from 20 feet away in a semi rested position, and it performed well getting a 2 inch grouping fairly centered on the target. The sights are non-adjustable, but for me there was no real need to adjust them. My initial Chrony testing puts this gun right in the 350 fps range.
Build Quality: ASG did another great job with the Bersa BP9CC, quality and build characteristics are very similar to my CZ 75 P-07 DUTY reviewed earlier. Everything that should be metal and polymer is the same on this as the original, and the fit and finish is very good in general!
Realism: The ASG Bersa BP9CC BB gun is as close as you can get to the real steel version while still retaining a good overall working airgun, the only real giveaway is the slightly longer but-plate on the magazine (most likely to allow for the CO2 screw tab). It looks very much like the real deal right down to the licensed Bersa trademarks and the 9x19 caliber markings on the slide and ejection port.
Good power and decent accuracy for a blowback gun with good usage of CO2.
Very well made, fit and finish is very good.
Very usable white dot sights.
All metal dropout magazine.
Gun feels great in the hand, love the thin profile.
Cons:
Magazine but plate is a bit on the long side, only telltale sign. also has strange moulding marks on it.
Trigger is a bit creepy when you have a loaded magazine and if you very slowly pull the trigger a BB can drop out of the barrel if holding downward.
Blowback is mild because of the lighter slide and reduced blowback movement.
Comments:
There are few smaller blowback air pistols that not only look great but perform well, this is one of them! I love the thin profile and overall operation of this pistol, for that very same reason the real steel version is doing exceptionally well here in North America which would make this airgun version a must have for any owners of the 9mm Bersa BP9CC. I highly recommend the ASG Bersa BP9CC 4.5mm BB Blowback Pistol to anyone looking for a very good quality and realistic BB pistol that does not compromise performance and build quality.
I am happy to report back to you on all the new cool stuff I got to see at this years 2013 SHOT Show in Las Vegas. Make sure to also watch my Vimeo video at the bottom of this post for some first person styled play by play of my experience at the Vegas SHOT Show 2013. (like you're there with me ;)
First up I want to cover a new gun from ASG, I have been wanting to get my hands on the 4.5mm Bersa BP9CC and I finally got to, not only did I get my hands on it but ASG was kind enough to supply me with one to take home for review. You can get the Bersa BP9CC in both Blowback and non-blowback versions and also in either BB or Airsoft. I opted for the 4.5mm BB Blowback version. I will be reviewing this BB gun very soon!
ASG also had a very cool prototype of an Airsoft CZ Scorpion EVO 3A1 hopefully coming out soon.
While roaming around SHOT Show 2013, I came across an interesting booth from FlashFog Security. I often get people asking me about using an airgun as a home defense weapon and I strongly advise against this. If the intruder is not scared off by the gun there is little an airgun can do to actually stop them. The FlashFog system works by rapidly filling a room with dense fog combined with a strobe light effect which blinds and disorients intruders completely. There is little an intruder can do other then try and get the heck out of there!
UPDATE: FlashFog just added a new section to their website specifically for School Security to help keep our schools safer from potential safety threats! So check it out: School Security Smoke Screen
I was a bit surprised by Gamo this year, they tend to stay away from actual Replica's and generally make BB/Pellet guns that look like popular guns but not any gun in particular. Gamo has a new BB/Pellet MP9 based machine pistol that uses a similar mechanism to their P-25 and PT-85 so it can shoot both 4.5mm BB's and .177 caliber Pellets using a double ended 16 shot rotary magazine. It also has an internal blowback system so it should have some recoil feel to it! I am pretty sure it is semi auto only but still a nice addition to their lineup!
Gamo also brought out a new 4.5mm BB Blowback pistol called the C-15 which has a metal slide and plastic frame, it kind of reminds me of the Umarex HPP in how it looks and feels.
Umarex had several new products that I am sure everyone is going to like! One that I think will do really well is the Steel Force, the Steel Force is designed around the 4.5mm BB shooting Steel Storm platform so it has a 6 round burst blowback operation and holds the 2x12 gram CO2 in the magazine while the BB's go in a 300 round hopper that feeds into a 30 round spring fed internal magazine. Like the Steel Storm it will shoot around 430 fps. The Steel Force has the advantage of being styled after the AR platform so it has a collapsible stock which will make shooting very easy.
Another often asked for airgun replica is the historic German Luger. This year Umarex stepped up to the plate and introduced the Umarex P.08 4.5mm BB pistol. Sorry, no blowback or even a working slide on this one but it is all metal and has a very good weight and feel to it.
If you're a fan of the entry level Umarex XBG then you may be interested in the new Umarex T.D.P. 45 which is very similar to the XBG in looks and features but with a slightly different look to it.
If you've ever wanted to turn your pistol into more of a PDW styled gun, you may be able to depending on which Umarex gun you have? Umarex added a very cool accessory called the T.A.C Converter that converts your Umarex HK USP (BB-Airsoft), SW MP40 (BB), XBG (BB), CZ Enforcer (Airsoft) and Walther P99 DOA (Airsoft) into more of a tactical (PDW) or Personal Defense Weapon complete with for-grip, adjustable rear sight, lots of rail options and a foldable stock.
I am assuming the Crosman M4-177 Pellet/BB Rifle has been doing well for Crosman as they have expanded with some more similar assault styled air rifles. The Crosman MSR77NP pretty much looks like a classic M16 but is in fact a Nitro Piston break barrel pellet rifle able to shoot .177 caliber pellets at 1200 fps (I hope there is a 499 fps Canada version planned too?).
A new takeoff of the M4-177 is the MK-177 which also shoots .177 caliber pellets and 4.5mm BB's using a multi-Pump System but it uses an upgraded more efficient pump system that squeaks out more fps with less pumps. The Crosman MK-177 is designed after the FN SCAR and is available in an adjustable iron sight version or a Red Dot equipped kit version.
One thing you can never get enough of in my opinion is another 1911 pistol! Crosman is introducing their GI Model 1911BB Blowback 4.5mm CO2 pistol, the one they had on hand was more of a prototype so the slide was not operational but it will feature an all metal design, blowback operation, 450 fps and a 20 round drop out magazine. I am sorry to say but it looks like the Crosman C51 has been dropped from Crosman's lineup but if you want a similar styled gun you can checkout the KWC SW40F which is a very close airsoft version.
We recently started carrying G&G Armament Airsoft guns, you can checkout my review of the Xtreme 45. I did stop by their booth and they had some new products on display, the M1 Grand (all wood stock) Airsoft had it's magwell all wrapped up as G&G had a propriety magazine system they did not want their competition to see. G&G also had some very interesting targets that light up, when shot they would react by individually turning off so you could see if you hit it or not.
There was a rather large crowd at the KWA booth but it was a shared booth so it's hard to say what everyone was looking at, the KWA area was pretty full, I did talk to the KWA rep and asked him point blank if KWC and KWA where the same or sister companies and the answer was not at all. There are often a lot of guns that look like they could be from the same company, I guess there is a lot of copying going on ;) One gun from KWA I would love to get my hands on is the Kriss SMG!
Now keep in mind many of these guns I have highlighted today are not available yet and a lot of them should be coming out in the spring time frame so please try to refrain from repeatedly asking when I will review them and have them in the store, it takes time and as much as we all want them now, they get here when they get here!
Watch my Vimeo video of the Replica Aiguns at SHOT Show Vegas 2013
I know I have been talking about this gun for some time now (Since last years SHOT Show) but the truth of the matter is Umarex did not release it all that quickly and when it did finally come out several months ago there was a recall and so the stock that came in quickly left again. So here we are now and I finally get to show everyone this very nice Umarex made Walther P38 BB shooting replica pistol.
At first glance it looks a lot like the Crosman C41, when I was at the 2012 SHOT Show visiting the Umarex booth, I thought they had just rebranded the Crosman's C41. When I took a closer look I could clearly see the difference and realism found in the Umarex Walther P38 version; like full Walther P38 licensing, blowback operation, working safety and slide catch. Pretty much everything that was missing from the Crosman C41. The Umarex P38 is a very accurate copy of a real steal P38 in almost every way.
All in all it looks to be another welcome and very realistic looking blowback BB Replica pistol and in this case one with a history that goes back to the way to World War II.
I have talked about how KWC and Cybergun are really the same product and that Cybergun and KWC products in many cases are really the same gun but with some versions having slightly different markings on the guns themselves.
Today I show you a new 4.5mm Steel BB gun we just brought into the store very closely related to the Cybergun Tanfoglio Witness 1911, or otherwise known as the KWC Model 1911. This new airguns is a Tactical version of the Model M1911 and it goes by the name Model M1911 A1 Tac. It shares the same internal parts as the Tanfoglio Witness 1911 including the 4.5mm Steel BB magazine but the Tactical version is all black and has several updated modern parts that you would not find in a traditional 1911 A1 45 auto replica: Like the tactical trigger, hammer, adjustable white dot sights and accessory rial. This gun would make an awesome IPSC trainer for sure.
At this point there is no 6mm Airsoft version but you can get the KWC Model 1911 and M92 in 6mm Airsoft all metal versions.
I also compare my GSG 92 4.5mm Steel BB pistol I reviewed in the past and show you that it is identical to the KWC same M92 version with the exception of some marking on the slide. Many people even prefer the KWC branded models as they do not have the rather offensive white warning instructions all over them.
So if you're in the market for one of these super popular KWC/Cybergun blowback ultra realistic BB and Airsoft pistols you do have some options to consider...
Watch my Vimeo Video Preview for these very popular KWC/Cybergun Blowback Pistols:
In this part of the review I test the Smith & Wesson 357 CO2 Pellet Revolver using my Chronograph to see what the 5 shot feet per second average is using a brand new CO2. I got pretty close to the factory (even a bit over) claimed 425 fps using RWS 7 grain lead pellets on this rather cold day so you can expect better fps on a nice warm summer day.
I also take the Smith & Wesson 357 686 CO2 Pellet Revolver back 30 feet and shoot it at a target using a semi rested position (sand bag up front, standing in the back) and again although I did not get teh same half inch grouping I got in my preliminary testing, I did manage to get a nice tight grouping , keep in mind the Umarex Smith & Wesson 357 is an action shooter but is capable of target pistol like accuracy.
All in all the Umarex Smith & Wesson 357 686 CO2 Pellet Revolver performed very well. That said I was able to get tighter groups and higher fps so expect this Umarex high grade CO2 pistol to perform very well for you.
Watch my Field Test Shooting Vimeo Video Review for the Umarex Smith & Wesson 357 686:
It would not be the end of another year without another Airgun, Airsoft Gun and Blank Gun Collection video for you. This year I'm not showing all my guns, I started to take them out and quickly realized there where just way too many and this years video would have been several hours long and would have taken most of the week for me to shoot and edit...
So this year I have hand picked some of my top favorites and most notable replica Airgun, Airsoft Gun and Blank Guns. They may not all be the best made or hardest shooters or even all that accurate but each one has some significants to me.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Umarex Smith & Wesson 357 686 Revolver is very light and smooth in both single and double action. Single action is much shorter and a bit lighter with just a very short take up to it. In double action it does get a hair heavier and much longer as is expected but still very usable and easy to shoot quickly and with accuracy.
Accuracy: I found the Umarex S&W 686 pellet revolver to have some of the best accuracy I have tested out of a pistol, getting about a half inch grouping from 30 feet out in a semi rested position (sand bag up front, standing in the back). I also put 5 rounds through my Chrony Chronograph and the Umarex 357 686 averaged right around 450 fps using RWS 7 grain lead pellets which is even better than the claimed 425 fps from Umarex.
Build Quality:The Umarex Smith & Wesson 357 686 CO2 Pellet Revolver is almost entirely metal with the acceptation of the rubber grips and front removable sight, it has a very substantial overall weight and feel to it coming in at just under three pounds. Keep in mind this is one of the higher end German made Umarex guns and you can tell in the workmanship and fit and finish. All the mechanical parts work flawlessly and have very tight tolerances, the finish is also superb. Yes the price is up there but this is a an airgun you will most likely be passing down to future generations one day as a collectors item, and I would imagine also in working condition.
Realism:The Umarex S&W 686 is a replica of the real stell Smith & Wesson 357 Magnum and overall looks pretty similar in shape and style. It would have been nice to have seen a full swing our cylinder but this would have meant a more complicated design with potentially less performance? In a perfect world, loadable shell casings like the Dan Wesson would have been very cool but keep in mind this is an airgun that really performs in terms of power and accuracy. Mine was the silver version, I would have liked to have seen a color matched magazine but since it is metal it could be color matched after the fact. The Smith & Wesson licensing and markings along with the heavy weight, hidden CO2 Tab and recessed barrel help to give the Umarex S&W 686 a very believable look and feel.
Pretty much all metal, has a nice solid feel and good weight.
Higher than claimed fps (right around 450 fps)
Amazing accuracy, one of my best pistols tested to date.
Very high quality German made workmanship.
Very comfortable rubber grips.
Fully adjustable rear sight (windage and elevation).
Well hidden CO2 tab.
Full S&W licensing, good overall replica.
Single and double action with a nice trigger in both SA and DA.
Magazines are removable for easy loading and have a high 10 shot load capacity.
Cons:
A bit on the expensive side of things.
Rotary magazine is not color matched on the Silver version.
On the low side of shots per CO2 (About 60-70).
No rail mount for a accessories of any type.
Comments:
The Umarex Smith & Wesson 686 CO2 Pellet Revolver is not for everyone and I say that because the $250 plus price point is going to be just too much for many buyers. If you can find a way to get past the price then you will have a very high quality German made air gun on your hands, not only are the Smith & Wesson 568/686 CO2 Pellet revolvers very well made but they also perform as good if not better in terms of accuracy and velocity then even some dedicated target air pistols I have tested. Looks will not let you down either and I would not be surprised that this gun if well taken care of can be passed down to future generations as a working collectors item. If you are looking for a high quality, excellent performing replica pellet revolver then make sure to consider the Umarex Smith & Wesson 586 and 686 line of CO2 replica pellet revolvers.
Sometimes we all get caught up in which gun is brand new and has the most realistic features. I wanted to put the focus back on a few high quality German made Umarex Airguns that where designed from the ground up to be very good replicas but also take into consideration that yes, they are airguns and so they should be designed to operate like an airgun and have excellent build quality, and performance. Quality and performance sometimes gets sacrificed on newer guns that just go after realism and can sacrifice form over function.
Sure these German made Umarex air pistols are not cheap, but hold one in your hand and shoot it and you will quickly see that they are built to last a lifetime, these guns are an investment!
I have already reviewed the Colt Government 1911 A1 (Satin version), I wanted to also show you how it looks in the all black model. Two other Umarex German made guns I have been asked often to review are the Walther CP99 and Smith & Wesson 586/686 Revolvers. I am happy to inform you that I have these guns on hand and will be reviewing them shortly for you.
You can watch my Update video to see a bit of a preview of these very fine German made Umarex pellet shooters:
This Update video addresses the similarities between the KWC and Cybergun product lines, specifically the KWC Model 1911 vs. the Cybergun Tanfoglio Witness 1911 and the KWC Taurus PT99 vs. the Cybergun GSG 92. In a nutshell, they are all made by KWC and are exactly the same with the exception of some of the licensing and branding that goes on the slides. Cybergun simply contracts KWC to make the guns for them and add some slight different printing. All parts are interchangeable.
I also show you the Silver Finish Blowback Airsoft KWC Desert Eagle and mention again that the licensing on this one is kind of hit and miss depending on what KWC sends us. So when you order one there is an additional surprise waiting for you when you open the box :)
Lastly, I show for the first time a G&G Airsoft product, the G&G Xtreme 45 Blowback that looks an awful lot like the Umarex Colt Special Combat chambered in 4.5mm Steel BB. The main differences are that the Colt Special Combat is a BB gun and the Xtreme 45 is an Airsoft gun. The G&G has blowback where as the Colt Special Combat does not have blowback.
Make sure to checkout my Vimeo video of this product update for even more info!
A bit of a heads up, one of our most poplar BB and Airsoft Pistols, the Dan Wesson line is for the most part fairly well stocked right now in the Canada Replica Airguns Store and ready for the Christmas rush! With that said don't hold off too long because we always run out of at least a few of the most popular versions...
As with most new items I pickup, I like to share them with everyone. I am checking into some more ROHM blank guns, an RG-59 and RG-88, the RG-59 is a lot like the ROHM RG-56 .22 caliber blank revolver I sell in the Canada Replica Airguns Store but in .380 caliber and the one I show off here is a 5 shot two-tone model. Other than that they use the same frame and mechanical parts throughout.
I also received a black/blued ROHM RG-88 which is kind of like a Walther PPK in design, it field strips the same, has a similar safety setup and even has a similar size and look to it although it is definitely not a replica of a Walther PPK. I am impressed with the overall quality of the ROHM blank guns, material used, fit and finish is very good.
Lastly, I acquired a pre-owned Umarex CP99 CO2 Pellet Pistol from a customer of mine. It is in pretty much in new condition and is one of the Umarex guns I was missing in my collection and have been looking to add. The Umarex CP99 is a pretty good replica of the Walther P99 and uses the standard Umarex metal 8 shot rotary magazines and shares the same CO2 grip fed magazine as the CPSport. The CP99 is German made so it's not one of the lower cost Umarex pistols out there but you do get what you pay for ;)
I've had lots of requests to review the Daisy Winchester Model 11 and to give my opinion how it stacks up with the Cybergun Tanfoglio Witness 1911. I will be doing a full review of the Daisy Winchester Model 11 Colt 45 1911 replica shortly but wanted to kick things off with my comparison portion.
Your best off to simply watch my Vimeo Video Comparison of the Tanfoglio Witness 1911 and Winchester Model 11 but here are my thoughts on some of similarities, strengths and weaknesses for both 1911 syled airguns.
Similarities:
Both are good replicas of the classic Colt 45 1911 semi auto pistol.
Both shoot 4.5mm Steel BB's and use standard 12 gram CO2.
Both are mostly metal and weigh close to 2 pounds with the Cybergun Tanfoglio Witness weighing about 40 grams more.
Both come in a nice cardboard box.
Both have blowback operation with slides that lock back after the last shot.
Both have true 1911 styled single action only triggers.
Strengths:
The Winchester Model 11 has the higher feet per second rating and gets more shots per CO2 (410fps vs 320fps).
The Tanfoglio Witness 1911 has a full size drop out metal magazine that holds the BB's and CO2.
The Winchester Model 11 is more economical to buy and shoot.
The Tanfoglio Witness 1911 has a more realistic "full" blowback operation.
The Winchester Model 11 has less intrusive warning markings on the slide.
The Tanfoglio Witness 1911 has a working Grip Safety.
The Winchester Model 11 is made in Japan.
The Tanfoglio Witness 1911 can be field stripped similar to a real 1911.
Both have fairly high capacity magazines (16 BB's for the Winchester and 18 BB's for the Tanfoglio).
Weaknesses:
The Winchester Model 11 has a funky extra button on the thumb safety?
The Tanfoglio Witness 1911 tends to use a lot of CO2 with less average fps.
The Winchester Model 11 has more free-play (wiggle) in the slide.
The Tanfoglio Witness 1911 magazine are more expensive and can be hard to find at times.
All in all I really like both guns, and what really counts is how they feel and shoot and after a quick outside testing with the Daisy Winchester Model 11, it seemed to shoot and work pretty good for me. Realists may prefer the Cybergun Tanfoglio Witness 1911 because it is more realistic in terms of how it's built and how it functions but as a daily shooting gun, the Daisy Winchester Model 11 hits harder and gets more shots per CO2, all while still giving the shooter a very realistic 1911 styled shooting experience.
Watch my Vimeo video Comparison of the Daisy Winchester Model 11 vs the Cybergun Tanfoglio Witness 1911:
