Lots of CO2 BB Rifles getting reviewed these days and that’s kind of awesome, I remember a few years back and we barely had any realistic Replica BB rifles available to us. Now we have an ever increasing list of choices from Historical to Modern.
Todays Field Test Shooting Video focusses on the Air Venturi Springfield Armory M1 Carbine CO2 BB Rifle, I have not done my Table Top Video yet for it but I did make a preview video where I show it around a bit and talk about some basic specs. In short the Air Venturi Springfield Armory M1 Carbine CO2 BB Rifle is a CO2 powered semi auto 4.5mm Steel BB firing replica of the Springfield Armory M1 Carbine. It holds the CO2 and 15 rounds of Steel BB’s in its full size drop out metal magazine. Available with a plastic or upgraded wood stock.
For the Field Test Shooting part of this review I tested out the power and accuracy of the Air Venturi Springfield Armory M1 Carbine CO2 BB Rifle by first shooting 5 rounds through my Chronograph to establish the Feet Per Second velocity. I then placed a fresh paper target 30 feet downrange, while using a rested and seated shooting position I fired off 10 rounds into the target to see how tight of a group I can get with the Air Venturi Springfield Armory M1 Carbine CO2 BB Rifle. I used a brand new CO2 along with 5.1 grain 4.5mm Zinc coated Steel BB’s. The temperature was a conservative 22 degrees Celsius or 71 degrees Fahrenheit.
During my Chronograph velocity test I was a bit surprised to only obtain an average of 335 fps from the Air Venturi Springfield Armory M1 Carbine CO2 BB Rifle. Air Venturi claims closer to 425 so I am not sure why it was nearly 100 fps lower than claimed but perhaps the CO2 did not pierce as well as it could have, that said 335 fps does get the job done when shooting targets 20-30 feet away.
In terms of accuracy I was very pleased with the Air Venturi Springfield Armory M1 Carbine CO2 BB Rifle, it kind of made up for the slower than expected feet per second by getting a sub 1 inch 10 round group and I am not a big fan of peep sights so I was really not expecting these results. Right out of the box the Air Venturi Springfield Armory M1 Carbine CO2 BB Rifle shot pretty close to the bullseye, just s slight bit to the left and about 1-2 inches high. The rear sight is adjustable for elevation so that can be taken care of pretty easy.
The purpose of my Field Test Shooting Video is to find out how the airgun being reviewed performs in terms of velocity and accuracy, and if the ratings on paper end-up being the same or close to the tested results. Crosman claims the Crosman Bushmaster MPW CO2 Blowback BB Machine Gun is capable of shooting 5.1 grain 4.5mm Steel BB’s at up to 430 fps. When I tested the Crosman Bushmaster MPW CO2 Blowback BB Machine Gun using my Chronograph averaging out 5 shots using a brand new set of CO2 cartridges I averaged 385 fps. Note the temperature in my Indoor Airgun Sea Can Shooting Range was not super warm at about 20-22 degrees Celsius or right around 70 degrees Fahrenheit. I was able to get 405 fps from the Crosman DPMS SBR CO2 Blowback BB M4 but I have a feeling the temperate may have been a little bit warmer for the DPMS SBR Testing which does help to increase the fps.
Moving on to the accuracy portion of this Field Test Shooting Review for the Crosman Bushmaster MPW CO2 Blowback BB Machine Gun, I loaded up the 25 round magazine with the maximum amount t it would hold and then placed 10 semi auto shots on my paper target setup 30 feet downrange. I was using a rested and seated shooting position to help minimize human factor. I was a bit surprised that the Crosman Bushmaster MPW CO2 Blowback BB Machine Gun shot a 2.5 inch semi auto 10 shot group since the Crosman DPMS SBR CO2 Blowback BB M4 was able to get just under 1 inch when I performed the same test.
I then flipped the semi auto selector switch to full auto and dumped the remaining 15 rounds into my paper target in full auto mode and to my surprise the Crosman Bushmaster MPW CO2 Blowback BB Machine Gun actually tightened up it’s grouping a little bit closer to 1.5 inches which is amazing in full auto mode with the airgun rocking around a lot due to the blowback action.
I think it really comes down to which of the Crosman AR type full auto BB rifles you like the look of since both are very capable shooters. Or just get both if you can’t decide :)
In this Field Test Shooting Review Video I test out both the 3.8 Compact and 4.5 Full Size Air Venturi Springfield Armory XDM Blowback CO2 BB Pistols to see how they perform in both velocity and accuracy. I thought it would be interesting to see how the shorter and longer barreled versions compare side by side and if we sill see a difference in power and down range accuracy…
As always I use a brand new 12 gram CO2 along with 5.1 gran zinc coated steel BB’s for my testing and on this day the temperature in the Sea Can Indoor Airgun range was around 24 degrees Celsius or 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
This Review for the Umarex Legends Cowboy Shell Ejecting CO2 BB Rifle is a bit different than most I do since usually I perform a dedicated Table Top and Field Test Reviews for each gun I review here on the Replica Airguns Website. I feel that since the Umarex Legends Cowboy Shell Ejecting CO2 BB Rifle is such a “long gun” that showing it on the table would not work so well , plus it was a super nice day and I wanted to get outside and maybe even shoot a little bit.
I will be performing my usual Field Test Shooting video where I test the Feet Per Second and accuracy at 30 feet so stay posted for that. For now I will leave you with this outdoor “Show and Tell” review.
Specifications:
Type: CO2 BB Rifle. Manufacturer: Umarex Model: Umarex Legends Cowboy Materials: Mainly metal with plastic stock. Weight: 5.95 pounds (2699 grams). Length: 38 inches total length Barrel: 19.25 inch Metal non-rifled smooth bore. Propulsion: Dual 12 gram CO2. Action: Lever Action. Ammunition Type: 4.5mm Steel BB's. Ammunition Capacity: 10. FPS: 410 fps.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Umarex Legends Cowboy Shell Ejecting CO2 BB Rifle is pretty much a single action only trigger since you will need to work the lever action to not only elect and chamber a shell but to also pre cock the hammer. Once the hammer is cocked and ready the trigger pull is short, light and crips, perfect for accurate shooting.
Accuracy: I have only shot 16 rounds through the Umarex Legends Cowboy Shell Ejecting CO2 BB Rifle during the making of this review video and found the Umarex Legends Cowboy Shell Ejecting CO2 BB Rifle to shoot right on target at 30 feet out. I did notice it shot just slightly high at this range but not a lot and it was dead center windage wise. For longer ranges you can adjust the rear sight to raise the barrel even more. In terms of power it’s hard to say what I was getting, Umarex says it should hit around 410 fps, I felt like it was pretty close to this , maybe a tad bit faster but I will find out for sure when I perform my Field Test Shooting Video Review shortly.
Build Quality: The Umarex Legends Cowboy Shell Ejecting CO2 BB Rifle looks and feels great coming in at nearly 6 pounds and built out of mostly metal with a plastic stock. Don’t be too put out by the plastic stock, it does mimmic the part of wood very well. All the metal parts have a semi-gloss or I would even say matt back finish and so far the paint is wearing pretty good, no noticeable paint coming off that I can see. The action works great with no failure to chamber, eject or shoot rounds.
Realism: The Umarex Legends Cowboy Shell Ejecting CO2 BB Rifle is an awesome example of the classic lever action cowboy rifle. Having the ejecting shells makes it feel like you are shooting the real deal right from the time you start loading up the 10 shells into the pipe magazine, until you work that lever action and pull the trigger. Watching the ejected shells fly through the air is the icing on the cake :) There is not much more you can ask for from a BB firing replica Lever Action Cowboy Rifle!
Pros:
Super realistic replica lever action BB firing Cowboy Rifle.
Fully working lever action, chambers and ejects shells perfectly.
Good weight and feel to it with lots of metal throughout.
Everything works exactly like the real steel version.
Duel CO2 to help get not only more shots before reloading CO2 but also a more consistent FPS from all shots.
Adjustable rear sight for elevation.
Comes with 10 rounds and can also use your Umarex Colt Single Action Army BB shells in it.
Plastic imitation wood stock looks very much like real wood.
Cons:
Stock is not real wood, hopefully Umarex offers a wood upgrade for it at some time.
A bit low in FPS, why not take it right up to 499 fps since the US version has a 600 fps rating.
Took too long for us to get it here in Canada!.
Comments:
The Umarex Legends Cowboy Shell Ejecting CO2 BB Rifle is a perfect example of an Airgun company listening to their customers and bringing to market exactly what we are looking for, kind of like the Single Action Army Revolvers that came out a while back. These old cowboy guns are a blast to shoot from the time you pick up the rifle, insert 10 shells into the magazine, work the lever action, pull that trigger and then repeat 10 times. This is a must have for anyone looking for a super realistic BB rifle, even if you’re not an old west cowboy fan I think you will love shooting the Umarex Legends Cowboy Shell Ejecting CO2 BB Rifle!
My Table Top Video of the Umarex Legends Cowboy Shell Ejecting CO2 BB Rifle:
Watch my Video for all the main differences but in short here they are for those reading this post:
Steel BB version uses CO2 while the Airsoft version uses Green Gas or Propane.
There is no orange tip on the Steel BB version while Airsoft versions come with orange tips installed.
Steel BB versions have 20 round full length magazines for both the 3.8 and 4.5 inch versions, while the Airsoft 3.8 compact comes with the shorter 14 round magazine and the Airsoft 4.5 comes with a longer 25 round magazine.
FPS for the Steel BB versions are 270fps for the 3.8 and 325fps for the 4.5, comparably the Airsoft 3.8 is claimed to have 280fps with the 4.5 version a bit higher at 330fps. (Keep in mind that steel BB’s weigh more at around .33 grams compared to the .20 gram plastic Airsoft BB’s used for testing).
I did notice that on the sliver slide version, my earlier Airsoft 4.5 had more of a parkerized metallic finish while my same Steel BB version I received at a later time had more of brushed stainless look to it. Air Venturi has since informed me that all silver slide version will now have the brushed stainless finish.
It felt like Christmas the other day when a bunch of Springfield Armory new products showed up at my door! So first off thanks to Air Venturi for sending me these new products for review. I already got my hands on the Springfield Armory XDM 3.8 and 4.5 GBB Airsoft version but have been wanting to also review the CO2 Blowback Steel BB versions.
In this video I show all these new Springfield Armory CO2 Blowback BB guns quickly but will of course be making dedicated Table Top and Fired Test Shooting Video for them upcoming.
Type: Gas Blowback Airsoft Pistol. Manufacturer: Air Venturi Model: Springfield Armory XDM 3.8 & 4.5 Inch Materials: Metal slide & Mag with Polymer frame. Weight: 1.75 & 1.9 pounds (794 & 861 grams). Length: 7.25 & 8.25 inches total length Barrel: 3.8 & 4.5 inch Metal non-rifled smooth bore. Propulsion: Green gas or propane. Action: Blowback, single action only. Ammunition Type: 6mm plastic Airsoft BB's. Ammunition Capacity: 14 & 25 rounds. FPS: 280-330 fps.
Trigger Pull: The single action only trigger pull on the Air Venturi Springfield Armory XDM GBB Airsoft Pistol is pretty much what you would expect on a striker fired SAO pistol. There is very little take up with a light release which should make for great action shooting and help with accuracy when slowing things down a bit.
Accuracy: This time I actually have done my Field Test Shooting video for the Air Venturi Springfield Armory XDM GBB Airsoft Pistol and it did pretty good, getting a 2 inch 10 round grouping from 30 feet away shooting just a bit low on the target, nothing a bit of hop-up adjustment shouldn’t be able to account for. The claimed fps is 330 for the 4.5 inch version and I was able to average right around 300.
Build Quality: At SHOT Show this year I commented on the Air Venturi Springfield Armory XDM Pistols and how great they looked and felt. Nothing really different now that I have them in my hands for review. I did notice that my AIrsoft version with the Silver Slide had a kind of metallic parkerized finish while my BB Silver Slide version has a more stainless steel look. I prefer the Stainless Steel look a lot more and feel it makes the Air Venturi Springfield Armory XDM Pistols look higher quality. Hopefully Air Venturi sticks with the Stainless Steel finish? Build quality and finish are good thought the gun.
Realism: The Air Venturi Springfield Armory XDM GBB Airsoft Pistol is really one of the best 1 to 1 copies I have seen out there. It looks pretty much identical including all the licensing and markings in all the right places. It also is full blowback with a full size drop out metal magazine and all the mechanical working parts work the same as the real steel version including the trigger safety, grip safety, slide catch release, take down leaver and magazine release. Field striping is done just like the 9mm big brother allowing for easy hop-up adjustments.
Lots of metal parts where the real steel version would also have them.
Fully Field Strippable.
Adjustable Hop-up.
Easy to use sights, fiber optic up front and white dot on the back.
Springfield Armory fully Licensed.
Working serial number, trigger and backstop safeties.
Comes with different sized back straps for small to large hands.
Rail for adding accessories.
Warning instructions are nice and discreet!
Your choice of compact or full size versions also in all black or silver slide.
Performed well in my Field Test Shooting Review getting a 2 inch 10 shot grouping and close to the claimed fps.
Cons:
Comes with the orange tip we all love but should be pretty easy to remove.
Sights are non-adjustable. Can use Hop-up to bring shots up or down.
Silver Slide Airsoft version finish is not my favorite.
Comments:
Like I said at SHOT Show this year I was super impressed with the entire Springfield Armory lineup and now that I have them in my hands I am still just as impressed with the Air Venturi Springfield Armory XDM GBB Airsoft Pistols. You are getting pretty much what everyone looks for in a Replica Airgun: 1 to 1 size and similar weight, full blowback action, full size drop out metal magazine, fully licensed, adjustable hop-up, filed strippable and similar build materials you would find as compared to the real steel 9mm version. I also like that you have a ton of choice offered by Air Venturi: Airsoft or BB, 3.8 inch compact or 4.5 inch full size, silver or black slide and even short lower capacity or longer high capacity magazines for the 3.8 inch version.
My Table Top Review of the Air Venturi Springfield Armory XDM GBB Airsoft Pistol
Type: BB Rifle. Manufacturer: Crosman. Model: Bushmaster MPW. Materials: Metal & plastic. Weight: 6.5 pounds (4.98 kilograms). Length: 21 inches (Stock all the way in). Propulsion: 12 gram CO2 dual cartridges. Action: Blowback - single action only. Ammunition Type: 4.5mm steel BB's. Ammunition Capacity: 25 rounds. FPS: 430fps. Rate of Fire: 1400 rounds per minute in full auto
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Crosman Bushmaster MPW CO2 Blowback BB Machine Gun is single action only since the charging handle must be cocked first before you can shoot it. The trigger is short and fairly light as you would expect from an AR type trigger action. The bonus with the Crosman Bushmaster MPW CO2 Blowback BB Machine Gun is when you switch it over to full auto mode and just one pull and hold of the trigger will empty the 25 round magazine in just seconds.
Accuracy: So far I have not actually shot the Crosman Bushmaster MPW CO2 Blowback BB Machine Gun but since the internals are exactly the same as the Crosman DPMS SBR CO2 Blowback BB M4 I have already fully review, then I will expect it to performa about the same until I do my Field Test Shooting Review. You shoudl expect about 400 fps in semi auto mode and in terms of accuracy I hope to get a similar 3/4 inch 10 round semi auto grouping from 30 feet away. Full auto will open up the group a bit but not too much, maybe around 2 inches…
Build Quality: The Crosman Bushmaster MPW CO2 Blowback BB Machine Gun is well made all around. Weighing in at 6.5 pounds without any add on accessories it feel solid and well built. There is a lot of metal going on inside and out of this rifle but keep in mind the top and bottom receiver are plastic with metal parts where they need to be like in the internals, pretty much all the working parts are metal, the magazine is full metal, the buffer tub is metal, charging handle, selector switch, magazine release, bolt release, trigger and of course the barrel is metal.
Realism: The Crosman Bushmaster MPW CO2 Blowback BB Machine Gun is about as real as you are going to get in a CO2 Blowback AR/M4 styled Airgun. You can even take it apart and split the top and bottom receivers like the real steal version. The blowback action gives you some recoil but more importantly offers a true single action trigger and of course the full auto ability we all love. Almost all the working parts work like they would on a real M4 other than the forward assist which is moulded into the receiver.
Pros:
Super realistic working M4/AR 4.5mm BB Rifle just like the DPMS SBR but in a different flavor.
Full blowback operation with both semi and full auto shooting, can feel the blowback operation rocking the gun.
Good weight and feel to it.
Almost everything works exactly like the real steel version. (Charging handle, dust cover, bolt release, magazine release, selector switch…)
Duel CO2 full metal drop out magazine that holds the 25 4.5mm steel BB’s.
Adjustable and customizable AR buttstock.
Included red dot sights and ability to add pop-up iron sights.
Lots of rails for mounting additional cool hardware.
Built in Mock Suppressor.
Cons:
Receiver is plastic but well made and does not compromise feel or weight since there is lots of metal throughout this gun.
No iron sights included.
No fore grip included like the DPMS SBR.
Comments:
The Crosman Bushmaster MPW CO2 Blowback BB Machine Gun is really pretty much the same as the Crosman DPMS SBR CO2 Blowback BB Full Auto Rifle with more or less Cosmetic changes. One big advantage over the DPMS SBR is the AR comparable buffer tube which allows you to swap out any AR styled rear stock you choose! You also get an included Red Dot sight since there are no Iron sights. The Crosman Bushmaster MPW CO2 Blowback BB Machine Gun is super customizable with its quad-rail so go ahead and dress yours up with Iron sights, lasers, tactical lights, foregrips or whatever else you can dream up.
My Table Top Video of the Crosman Bushmaster MPW CO2 Blowback BB Machine Gun:
Using .20 gram BB’s I loaded up the Air Venturi Springfield Armory XDM GBB Airsoft Pistol with propane gas and placed several rounds through my Chronograph to see what the feet per second average would be. The last 5 shots I took where actual the fastest averaging 290 fps, a little bit slower than I was expecting but just about right for close quarters Airsoft games.
I then switched over to .32 gram Airsoft BB’s since they tend to be a bit more accurate out at longer ranges. Using a fresh paper target and shooting from a rested and seated position 30 feet away, I took 10 shots with the Air Venturi Springfield Armory XDM GBB Airsoft Pistol. The result was a 10 round grouping of about 2 inches with one straggler just outside the main group. The Air Venturi Springfield Armory XDM GBB Airsoft Pistol did shoot a little bit low at 30 feet but I am sure the hop-up can be adjusted for this. It was well centered left to right which is a good thing since the sights are non-adjustable.
I really like the Air Venturi Springfield Armory XDM GBB Airsoft Pistol, it looks and feels very solid with a nice balance in the hand. The Single Action Only Trigger is short and light making follow up shots quick and responsive. The blowback action is crisp with good simulated recoil. I look forward to trying out the Steel BB version of the Air Venturi Springfield Armory XDM GBB Pistol as soon as I get my hands on one which should be pretty soon. Take your pick, Airsoft or Steel BB, either is a great choice!
In this Field Test Shooting video I perform two main Airgun tests using the Sig Sauer P365 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol. The Chronograph Test to find out what the actual real world velocity is using a brand new CO2 along with 5.1 grain 4.5mm high quality Steel BB’s. And secondly I perform an Accuracy Test where I shoot 10 rounds at a paper target setup 30 feet away while using a rested seated position to take out as much human factor as possible. By the way the temperature on this day in the Sea Can Indoor Airgun Shooting Range was 24 degrees Celsius or 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
Starting with the Chronograph Test, I shot 5 rounds with the Sig Sauer P365 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol through my Chronograph and averaged 287 fps with the fastest being 297 fps and the lowest being 276 fps. This was pretty close to Sig Sauers 295 maximum fps claim and right in line for a super short barrelled blowback BB pistol.
So how did the Sig Sauer P365 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol do in terms of accuracy? Well not bad. I was able to get around a 2.5 inch 10 shot grouping with all but one shot hitting within 2 inches of each other. I did find the Sig Sauer P365 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol shot a little bit low at 30 feet but not a crazy amount. In terms of windage it was well centered, maybe just a hair to the right.
Overall the Sig Sauer P365 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol is a nice shooter, it has a very fast and snappy blowback action and makes a kind of popping sound that’s is louder than I expected. The SAO trigger when using good quality smooth 4.5mm Steel BB’s was decent allowing me to concentrate on my shooting rather than struggle with the trigger. All in all I really love this little Air Pistol, Sig Sauer did a great job bringing it to market and getting as much into the Sig Sauer P365 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol as they could considering it’s super compact size.
Type: Air Pistol. Manufacturer: Sig Sauer ASP Model:Sig Sauer P365. Materials: Metal and polymer build. Weight: .8 pounds (363 Grams). Barrel: 3.2 inches - smooth bore. Propulsion: 12 gram CO2. Action: Blowback singe action only. Ammunition Type: 4.5mm steel BB’s. Ammunition Capacity: 12 round full size drop out magazine. Max FPS: 295.
Trigger Pull: The trigger on the Sig Sauer P365 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol is a single action only trigger so you will need to rack the slide to cock the trigger and internal striker, after which the blowback operation will do this for you. When the Sig Sauer P365 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol is unloaded the trigger pull length is short and the trigger weight is fairly light. That said when you load the full size drop out magazine with steel 4.5mm BB’s, the trigger pull weight increases significantly. This is because the inner barrel comes back and into the magazine when the trigger is pulled allowing for a better seal between the barrel and magazine which increases power and CO2 efficiency. The drawback to this is more friction on the trigger when you pull it with a loaded magazine.
Accuracy: Since I have not done my Field Test Shooting Review for the Sig Sauer P365 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol, I can not comment fully on how the Sig Sauer P365 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol will perform in terms of accuracy and power. I did have the chance to shoot off a couple magazines worth of ammo in the yard shooting at some pop cans around 30 feet away and the Sig Sauer P365 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol seemed to hit them most often then not. I was a bit surprised by the snappy blowback and loud pop the Sig Sauer P365 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol made and will not be surprised if it is able to hit the claimed 295 fps velocity using a brand new CO2.
Build Quality: The Sig Sauer P365 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol has a metal and plastic (polymer) build, the slide is metal along with part of the full size magazine and I am sure several inner parts will also be metal. The frame along with section of the magazine are plastic. It’s kind of hard to tell if the trigger, safeties, slide catch and take down leavers are metal but I believe they are with the magazine release being plastic. The Sig Sauer P365 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol is not the heaviest Airgun coming in at about .8 pounds but for its size it feels good. Fit and finishes are also good.
Realism: The Sig Sauer P365 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol is a replica of the real steel Sig Sauer P365 which is a 9mm striker fired everyday cary compact pistol. It looks and feels the part with most external mechanical working parts mimicking the real steel version well enough. I was not able to easily field strip the Sig Sauer P365 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol since the takedown leaver seems to be only for show. One main difference between the CO2 Airgun and Real Steel version of the Sig Sauer P365 is the use of polymer in the frame for the Airgun version while the real steel Sig Sauer P365 has a metal frame. I imagine this is because 9mm rounds pack some punch and a small polymer frame may not have been up to the job. not something to be concerned with in a CO2 version of the same pistol.
One of the smallest CO2 BB Airgun on the market and somehow Sig managed to get a full size drop out magazine in it?
Good overall replica of the real steel P365 Sig Sauer pistol in terms of looks and operation.
Full Sig Sauer markings and licensing.
Working ambidextrous safeties and slide catch release (locks back after last shot).
Snappy blowback feel.
White and green dot sights front and back.
Rail for accessories (Maybe).
Recessed barrel opening and open ejection port for added realism.
Warning instructions are super discreet!
Cons:
SAO trigger gets a bit harder to pull when loaded up with BB’s.
Has a polymer frame as compared to the metal frame on the real steel version.
Not easily field strippable..
Comments: The Sig Sauer P365 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol was a real show stopper at this years SHOT Show, I was amazed that Sig Sauer was able to actually figure out a way to fit a full size drop out magazine that holds both the CO2 and 12 steel BB’s in such a compact Airgun. The Sig Sauer P365 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol is even small than the Walther PPK in many ways so great work by Sig in figuring out how to engineer their new Sig Sauer P365 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol. I also think the the Sig Sauer P365 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol is a great replica of the real steel version in looks, feel and function which is what we are all looking for when considering buying a new CO2 replica Air Pistol. My initial test shots went well and make me feel optimistic about how the Field Test Shooting Video will go when I make it shortly.
My Table Top Review of the Sig Sauer P365 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol:
Again I have some new products to show everyone. Some we got a bit of a preview of when I was at SHOT Show 2019 earlier this year but now I have them in my hands to show off and of course will be doing full Table Top and Filed Test for anything new as soon as I can get to them.
Starting with Sig Sauer, they sent me their brand new Sig Sauer P365 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol. This was probably one of my favorite new Air Pistols at SHOT Show simply because it is so small and somehow Sig was able to find a way to put a full size drop out metal magazine that holds both the CO2 and BB’s in it. This is one I am really looking forward to testing out in the Indoor Sea Can Airgun Shooting Range.
Another fantastic product is Crosman’s DPMS Full Auto CO2 BB Rifle which was pretty much perfect the first time around. Well at SHOT Show this year Crosman updated it a bit mainly with some cosmetic changes and now is offering the Crosman MPW, a slightly shorter version of the DPMS and now with an AR Compatible Stock for customizing your Crosman’s MPW Full Auto CO2 BB Rifle.
So maybe not as exciting… I also take a look at a NBB CO2 BB Makarov from KWC that is pretty basic but is much less expensive and will offer higher FPS and more shots per CO2 being that it is Non-blowback Airgun. It will be interesting to see how it compares performance wise to the KWC Full Blowback CO2 BB version.
Last but also super cool and I know it’s not really as Airgun related but still something I think everyone will be interested in is the Pocket Shot Pro Arrow Pouch with D-Loop. I reviewed the Pocket Shot “Slingshot” a while back, this new product allows you to use standard Arrows with their new Arrow Pouch getting around 40 pounds of pull and it comes with a trigger release. By the way the Pocket Shot Pro Arrow system is legals to hunt deer with in most US States, I’m not sure about Canada but perhaps here too?
I do my best to get back to everyone with a question I have the answer to but there are times when I simply do not have the answer to your question. And for some reason these questions seem to come more often than others. I figured I would address these questions that I can not answer so you will know the reasons why and that I’m not just being a jerk by not answering them for you.
Here is a list of my Top 5 most often asked Questions I Can Not help you with:
I will start of this Field Test Shooting video by saying that the KWC Model TT-33 CO2 SAO Non-Blowback BB Pistol is not going to be an action shooter since it is a single action only gun much like the old west 6 shooters but in this case it is not a revolver but rather what looks like a semi auto Tokarev. Once you get over that and accept that there will be no action shooting with the KWC Model TT-33 CO2 SAO Non-Blowback BB Pistol, then we can get back to having some good old shooting fun with it.
For my Chronograph Test to find out if the KWC Model TT-33 CO2 SAO Non-Blowback BB Pistol get’s close to KWC’s 423 claimed fps I loaded up the Full Size Drop Out Metal Magazine with around 10 BB’s in hopes of getting at least 5 recorded shots to determine a real world velocity. Initially the KWC Model TT-33 CO2 SAO Non-Blowback BB Pistol was shooting poorly with the velocity going up and down a lot even as low as 200 fps but as I finished off the 10 round magazine things started to improve a bit. So I loaded up another 10 rounds and gave it another go. This second time around the KWC Model TT-33 CO2 SAO Non-Blowback BB Pistol performed much better getting an Average of 370 fps which is a lot closer to the clamped fps by KWC.
You may wonder why the KWC Model TT-33 CO2 SAO Non-Blowback BB Pistol was not so good out of the box, I think perhaps the CO2 valve just needed a little bit of break in time, perhaps there was some machining residue in the valve area that was hampering things and after a bit of shooting it clear it out? Either way I did not have any more problems with the KWC Model TT-33 CO2 SAO Non-Blowback BB Pistol after the first 10 rounds. The temperature in the Indoor Airgun Sea Can Shooting Range was 24 degrees Celsius or 75 degrees Fahrenheit and I did use a brand new CO2 for this test as always.
For my Accuracy Test the KWC Model TT-33 CO2 SAO Non-Blowback BB Pistol I shot 10 rounds into a paper target from 30 feet away using a seated and rested shooting position. I was able to get 8 of the shots all within about an inch of each other with 2 of the shots coming out just a bit. One of the straggler shots I actually saw hook to the right which makes me think it may have been a BB that was a little deformed, this can happen sometimes. The KWC Model TT-33 CO2 SAO Non-Blowback BB Pistol did shoot about 2.5 inches high and just slightly to the left out of the box and since the sights are non-adjustable you will want to aim a bit low on your target at least at 30 foot ranges.
I found the KWC Model TT-33 CO2 SAO Non-Blowback BB Pistol to be a decent BB shooter capable of 1 inch groupings at 30 feet out and getting close to 400 fps, I imagine since it does not have blowback and your shots are not going to be very rapid that you will get at least 100 shots per CO2. The trigger is Single Action Only so I was expecting it to be lighter than it was so you will have to get a bit use to it as I did have to apply more pressure than I was expecting. Overall the KWC Model TT-33 CO2 SAO Non-Blowback BB Pistol is another nice addition to the Tokarev line of Airguns and should be considered if this is what you are looking for.
The question comes up often about which Airgun to buy. Customers are wondering when they are looking at a specific Airgun and they see several similar products but from different companies, are they the same gun and if so which one should they decide to buy?
One of the biggest Airgun suppliers out there is for sure KWC, their BB and Airsoft guns are redistributed through companies like Umarex, Crosman, Sig Sauer, ASG, Gletcher and more. Often times the companies that redistribute KWC Airguns hold licensing agreements with real gun manufacturers like Smith & Wesson, Glock, Colt, Beretta, Sig Sauer, Taurus to name a few… KWC makes the Airguns in their Taiwanese factory but they are not allowed to put a real gun manufacturer license on the Airguns they distribute directly so KWC distributed Airguns will generally be all black.
I have also seen companies like Umarex distribute a new KWC Airgun that I have not seen yet from KWC, I believe KWC works with these big name Airgun companies directly and will build a new gun or variation of an existing KWC Airgun for them and give that Company an exclusive for a period of time. KWC will eventually regain the rights to sell that Airgun model directly after 6 months to a year.
Now that you know a little bit more on how it all works let’s get back to whether you should buy a KWC branded Airgun or other Brands same Airgun. It really comes down to I would say three factors. Do you want a Licensed version of the Airgun you are buying? Is there a price difference? Which gun is available to buy when I am ready to buy?
When you buy the Licensed version of the KWC Airgun redistributed through a third part Airgun Company you will often get a lot more writing on the Airgun than just the Gun Manufacturers name. Warning information comes to mind and does not look all that attractive on the slide where it is usually found in bright white lettering. If you like a cleaner look and don’t mind the lack of licensing then the KWC distributed version will generally be all back, nice and clean looking.
You would think buying the KWC Version that is sold more directly to the end customer would be the less expensive of the options because less hands are involved in the selling process. This is not always true, it is more about supply and demand, if more people want the cleaner looking KWC version but it’s harder to get ahold of than the price of the KWC version may actually be higher than say the Umarex or Crosman version. So shop around if price is the deciding factor as the guns are going to be mechanically the same with just some slight cosmetic differences between them.
Lastly, availability maybe what eventually leads you to buy a KWC version over an Umarex, or Crosman or Sig version since if the gun is not in stock well you may have limited options and so the one in stock is going to be perhaps your only option! Don’t feel like you got short changed, again these guns are virtually all the same at the end of the day no matter if you buy it from KWC, Umarex, Crosman, Sig Sauer, ASG, Gletcher or whomever.
The subject of Red/Orange tips on Airguns is often a bit controversial, the idea behind putting a Red or Orange tip on an Airgun is to distinguish an Airsoft gun from a “Real Gun”. Is this really a good idea? Do we really want to encourage people from treating an Airgun as if it was not real? Does the Orang/Red tip give people the wrong idea that an Airgun can be used with less responsibility than a real gun and if so what are the consequences.
In my “Is a Red or Orange Tip on an Airgun a Good or Bad Idea” YouTube Video I dress two main issues I have with putting Red or Orange Tips on Airguns and in this case I am talking mainly from the perspective of a person living in North America where we often see Red/Orange tips on Airsoft guns that come from the US. In Canada our legally imported Airsoft guns do not require Red or Orange tips since they are actually considered unregulated firearms as an Airsoft gun has been determined to be able to cause serious injury.
Main Point Number 1: Does adding a Red or Orange tip give the false impression that an Airgun is a toy and can be treated just like a toy? Would you give an Airgun to a child unsupervised? Can an Airgun cause a serious injury or even death, and if so why is an Airgun potentially less dangerous than a “Real Gun”?
Main Point Number 2: Does the additional a Red/Orange Tip on and Airgun make it harder for law enforcement to make a decision when they are forced to act on someone that appears to have a gun and is using it in a dangerous way? What do they do when a person is brandishing what looks to be a firearm but it appears to have a Red or Orange Tip on it? What if someone simply painted the tip Red or Orange to throw people off and make them second guess themselves allowing the perpetrator critical time to get the first and most critical shots off?
I am not trying to stir up any pots here but simply bringing up concerns I have with adding Red or Orange Tips to Airguns. Maybe the powers that be need to reconsider if a Red or Orange Tip on an Airgun is a good or bad idea?
Some new guns came in for me to highlight, some will get full reviews and some are KWC unlicensed versions of some Airguns I have already reviewed so this unboxing update video will suffice for them.
In this Field Test Shooting video for the Umarex Beretta M9A3 Full Auto CO2 Blowback BB Pistol I take it through a series of tests to see what kind of velocity and accuracy we can expect form the Umarex Beretta M9A3 Full Auto CO2 Blowback BB Pistol.
To see what kind of power the Umarex Beretta M9A3 Full Auto CO2 Blowback BB Pistol has I place 5 shots through my Chronograph using a brand new CO2 and 5.1 grain standard steel BB’s. The temperature inside my Sea Can indoor airguns shooting range was about 22 degrees Celsius or 70 degrees Fahrenheit so not too warm or too cold, perfect for CO2 Airgun testing. The Umarex Beretta M9A3 Full Auto CO2 Blowback BB Pistol was able to average 363 fps which was actually a little bit faster than Umarex’s claimed 330fps.
Moving on to my accuracy test for the Umarex Beretta M9A3 Full Auto CO2 Blowback BB Pistol I first placed 10 semi auto rods into my paper target situated 30 feet downrange and form my seated and rested position I was able to get most of the shots in a 1 inch grouping with two outliers. Keep in mind I had to repeat this test since my first 10 shot grouping was very low on the target. I also found the Umarex Beretta M9A3 Full Auto CO2 Blowback BB Pistol shot a little bit to the left but not a lot. Perhaps the internal hop-up adjustment may bring the BB’s up a bit on target?
I then replaced the magazine with a fully loaded one and just for fun shot some full auto bursts into the target, as expected my results where more or less “Spray and Pray” with some steel BB’s bouncing off of harder potions of the target and coming back at me…
Overall the Umarex Beretta M9A3 Full Auto CO2 Blowback BB Pistol is a decent performer and a lot of fun to shoot with very snappy blowback operation. Other than ti shooting low on the target I had nothing to complain about and I really think it’s one of the nicest Steel BB shooting Blowback Beretta pistols on the market.
In the Field Test Shooting Video I perform my standard Chronograph and accuracy tests on the G&G GTP9 GBB Airsoft Pistol. I put 5 rounds ( At least I try to…) through my Chrony Chronograph using slightly heavier than usual .32 gram plastic Airsoft BB's with a full propane filled magazine. My Sea Can Indoor Airgun Range was warmed up sufficiently for a gas gun test (Around 22 degrees Celsius or 70 degrees Fahrenheit) but perhaps because I was using the heavier .32 gram Airsoft BB’s I only managed to get around 230fps for the G&G GTP9 GBB Airsoft Pistol.
Moving onto my accuracy test I placed 10 shots on target 30 feet down range using a rested shooting position, sitting in the back and sand bag up front. I was impressed with how tight of a 10 shot grouping I got! I was able to get the bulk of the shots all within about an inch with only two shots hitting just a little outside of this. The G&G Armament GTP9 GBB Airsoft Pistol did shoot a little bit low and just a tad to the left but you shoudl be able to raise it up as needed using the built in Hop-up adjustment.
You will notice in my Filed Test Shooting Youtube Video that I did has some initial problems with the G&G Armament GTP9 GBB Airsoft Pistol misfiring some rounds. This seemed to only happen when I switched to a brand new propane tank and topped up the magazine all the way. My first 4-5 shots seemed to vent a lot of gas and for some reason the G&G Armament GTP9 GBB Airsoft Pistol would misfire. Once I got through the initial rounds the G&G Armament GTP9 GBB Airsoft Pistol shot just fine. Not the most powerful Airsoft gun I have tested but for indoor close quarter Airgun battles the G&G Armament GTP9 GBB Airsoft Pistol would perform just fine.
Type: BB air pistol. Distributer:Umarex. Model:Beretta M9A3. Materials: Metal and polymer build. Weight: 1.9 pounds (861 grams). Barrel: 4.5 inches metal, non-rifled. Propulsion: CO2 x1. Action: Semi and full auto blowback, single and double action. Ammunition Type: 4.5mm Steel BB's. Ammunition Capacity: 18 rounds. FPS: 330.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Umarex Beretta M9A3 Full Auto CO2 Blowback BB Pistol is like what you would expect from a real Beretta of this style, it offers both single and double action but most of the time you will be shooting in single action since the slide 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 but will only be required for that first shot if you have de-cocked your chambered pistol.
Build Quality: The Umarex Beretta M9A3 Full Auto CO2 Blowback BB Pistol is slightly lighter than the standard Beretta Mod. 92 A1 since it has a polymer frame but it still has a good weight to it at close to 2 pounds. All the materials feel high quality and the fit and finish is top notch. It’s a real looker for sure! The slide spring is one of the heavier ones I have seen in a full blowback CO2 BB pistol giving a real snappy blowback action.
Your choice of shooting in either semi auto or full auto mode.
Really nice replica of the original real steel Beretta M9A1.
Great weight and feel to it. Not too heavy!
High quality metal and polymer design, fit and finish is very good.
Strong slide spring so has nice crisp blowback action.
Realistic working safety and working slide catch release.
Full size dropout metal magazine that holds BB's and CO2.
Can be field stripped like original Beretta M9A3.
Fully Beretta licensed.
Can put a mock suppressor on it.
Really a great looking airgun!
Cons:
Will eat CO2 especially in full auto mode.
None adjustable sights but the front sight is removable.
Typical Umarex ugly white warning instruction on the slide.
Comments:
If you’re a Beretta fan then I think you are really going to want to pick one of these Umarex Beretta M9A3 Full Auto CO2 Blowback BB Pistols, even if you are lady have a different version. The new Umarex Beretta M9A3 Full Auto CO2 Blowback BB Pistol is by far one of the best to date in terms of getting it all right. You get all the typical Full Blowback features like a working slide catch release and magazine release, an ambidextrous safety, full size drop out metal magazine that hods the CO2 and 18 4.5mm Steel BB's. On top of all of this you also have a threaded barrel tip for adding a mock suppressor and the Authentic FDE Color Scheme that really makes the Umarex Beretta M9A3 Full Auto CO2 Blowback BB Pistol a real looker!
My Vimeo Videos for the Umarex Beretta M9A3 Full Auto CO2 Blowback BB Pistol:
