We have added some items to the Canada and US Replica Airguns Stores, most are completely new items and one is a Canada only item we added to the US store!
KWC 1911 Tac A1 Blowback CO2 Steel BB Pistol
I wanted to cover some basic Airgun, Airsoft Gun, Blank Gun and Paintball Gun information on what do they all shoot, what makes them shoot and some other miscellaneous info thrown in along the way...
Your should also watch the video attached at the bottom of this post as it goes into a fair amount of detail.
Let's begin with the types of ammo used:
Airgun Ammo
Airgun ammo for the most part is broken down into BBs and Pellets, the most standard size BB and Pellet is the 4.5mm or .177 caliber Steel BB and Lead Pellet. You can also get Pellets in other calibers and even other materials other than lead such as steel or aluminum, some can have plastic skirting around a metal interior.
Pellets also come in a variety of caliber's like .177, .20. 22. 25 and even larger but then I would start considering them to be bullets as they will take on the shape of a bullet when they get into the larger sizes.
Airgun Ammo is not be fired at people, it is primarily used for target and hunting small game.
Airguns can use Spring Pistons, CO2, Compressed Air and Multi-pump propulsion systems.
Airsoft Gun Ammo
Airsoft Guns for the most part shoot round 6mm (.22 caliber) plastic BBs which come in a variety of weights ranging from .12 grams up to .48 grams. There are larger Airsoft BBs such as 8mm and even larger.
There are biodegradable and even tracer florescent Airsoft BBs available.
Airsoft Ammo is traditionally used for Airsoft battles and can be fired at people using protective gear. Airsoft Ammo can also be used for target shooting.
Airsoft Guns can use Spring Pistons, Spring Piston - AEG (Electric Motor) CO2, Gas (Green, Red, Propane) and Compressed Air propulsion systems.
Paintball Gun Ammo
Paintball Guns or "Markers" have been historically used for the sport of Paintball but their whereabouts came from the need of ranchers and forestry workers to mark trees. Hence the name "Marker"
Paintball ammo comes in a variety of sizes ranging with the most common being .43 and .68 caliber. They are generally made from a gelatin outer coating containing primarily polyethylene glycol, other non-toxic and water-soluble substances, and dye, they are usually biodegradable.
Paintball Guns can also shoot a variety of Paintball Ammo that can be made out of Rubber, Plastic, Glass and they can also contain Powders and even Pepper for use in non lethal defense.
Paintball Guns can generally use either CO2 or Compressed Air as their propellant.
Blank Gun Ammo
Blank Guns are just like Real Guns but without the dangerous bullet at the end of the brass shell. Other than that they work exactly the same as a Real Gun!
Blank Guns are used when a bullet is not required or even wanted. For instance... Gun safety, gun training, training animals to be around guns and/or loud noises, Props for Movies - Stage - Film - TV, Collectors that do not want the red tape associated with owning a Real Gun or when owning a Real Gun is prohibited.
Blank Guns can shoot a variety of sized ammo, most common are .22 caliber crimped, .380 crimped, 8mm P.A.K. and 9mm P.A.K.
Blank Guns use gun powder as their means of operation.
Here are the most common forms of propulsion used in the guns we discussed earlier:
CO2
CO2 is the most common propellant in Airguns (BB and Pellet), it is also used in Airsoft Guns and Paintball Guns.
CO2 is a compressed gas which expands when released, it requires a warm environment to fully expand and tends to cool it's surroundings quickly when shot fast or in full automatic which can slow the velocity of the projectile and even freeze up the gun being used.
The most common reusable CO2 cartridges are 12 and 88 gram but you can get larger CO2 tanks in a variety of sizes that can be refilled with CO2.
Gas
Gas is used primarily in Airsoft Guns, I have not personally seen an Airgun that is made to use Gas other than CO2.
Gas is similar to CO2 in that it is a compressed gas that expands when releases, it also cools down the gun it is being used in and requires a warm environment.
Gas comes in a variety of names, Green Gas, Red Gas and Propane Gas. Green Gas contains Propane as it's base but has additives in it like silicone for lubrication .
Red Gas is know to be a bit more powerful than Green Gas as it has Chlorodifluoromethane or HCFC-22, R22 or Freon 22 used in refrigeration which turns to a liquid under a slightly higher pressure giving you slightly higher fps.
Many people use propane gas with an adapter that allows the mixture of silicone as propane is cheaper to buy.
Compressed Air (HPA)
Compressed Air (HPA - High Pressure Air) is most commonly used in Airguns and Paintball Guns but some people use it for their Gas based Airsoft guns.
The compressed air comes from high PSI tanks that can be purchased in a variety of sizes and contains compressed air at pressures up to 5000psi.
These tanks are reusable and usually need to be refilled at a paintball or scuba shop, some people buy their own compressors or large scuba tanks for refilling purposes.
Some Compressed Air (HPA) guns have their own built in tanks that can be filled with a compressor or even a manual pump.
Compressed air does not cool down the gun it is being used in and is a great option for high output or fully automatic guns.
Multi-Pump Pneumatic
Multi-Pump Pneumatic systems are most commonly used in Pellet and/or BB guns.
Multi-Pump Pneumatic guns use the same principle as HPA - High Pressure Air guns in that they require pressurized air as the propellant. The main difference with Multi-Pump Pneumatic guns, is that you do all the work by pumping the gun between shots. Generally speaking you pump the gun 3-10 times, take a shot and repeat this process.
Multi-Pump Pneumatic guns are not effected by air temperature and are great for target and small pest control.
Spring Piston
Spring pistons are generally found in Pellet Rifles and Pistols but some Airsoft Guns also use a Spring Piston System and generally speaking Spring Piston Guns are single shot only or in other words, the Spring needs to be drawn back before each shot. Spring Piston Guns can have magazines that allow for quicker repeat shots.
Spring Piston Guns come in many cocking configurations, Brake Barrel and Side lever to name a couple.
The Spring can be a Mechanical Spring or a Gas Spring.
Spring Piston Guns are not effected by temperature and are often used for small game hunting and target shooting.
Automatic Electric Guns (AEG)
Automatic Electric Guns are generally found in Airsoft Rifles but there are some Airsoft Pistols (AEP) that use this same system.
Automatic Electric Guns use a similar system to a Spring Piston gun but have an electric motor that does all the work of drawing back the spring. You can even have fully automatic AEG guns.
The power for the electric motor comes from removable batteries, so it is a combination a battery supplying the motor with the power to draw back the spring that creates a pillow of air that shoots the BB.
AEG Airsoft Guns are great for situations when you require high capacity magazines with full auto capability.
Gun Powder
Gun powder is used in Blank Guns, in the same manor that it is used in a Real Gun, the charge from the Gun Powder supplies the force required to operate the blowback in most semi auto Blank Pistols, it also creates the sound of a live round along with the muzzle flash which makes Blank Guns great for training and as Props for Movies and Film.
Because the kinetic energy from a blank gun is the same as a real gun, blank guns can be very dangerous when used in close proximity to an object, see my "Are Blank Guns Dangerous Video"!
Some other Gun Relevant Terminology:
Blowback
Blowback operation is when some of the force of the propellant is used to move the slide backwards, which in most cases cocks the hammer for single action and can also pickup and chamber a round into the barrel.
The slide spring supplies the energy for the return to the forward position of the slide.
Blowback Guns do rob some power from the bullet force and in the case of CO2 or Gas Guns the also reduce the amount of shots per CO2 or Gas fill.
Revolver, Semi Automatic
Revolver: Revolvers feed ammunition via the rotation of a cartridge-filled cylinder, in which each cartridge is contained in its own ignition chamber, and is sequentially brought into alignment with the weapon's barrel by a mechanism linked to the weapon's trigger (double-action) or its hammer (single-action)
Semi Automatic: semi-automatic pistols use the energy of one shot to reload the chamber for the next. Typically recoil energy from a fired round is mechanically harnessed. After a round is fired, the pistol will cycle, ejecting the spent casing and chambering a new round from the magazine, allowing another shot to take place immediately.
Single Shot, Repeater, Semi Automatic & Fully Automatic
Single Shot: A Single Shot Gun needs to be reloaded each time it is shot.
Repeater: Repeating action Guns are single barreled guns containing multiple rounds of ammunition. These rounds are loaded from a magazine by means of a manual or automatic mechanism, and the action that reloads the rifle also typically re-cocks the firing action. The term repeating rifle is most often applied to weapons in which the next cartridge is loaded by a manual action, as opposed to semi-automatic rifles, in which the force of one shot is used to load the next.
Semi Automatic: A semi-automatic, or self-loading, firearm is a weapon that performs all steps necessary to prepare the weapon to fire again after firing.
Fully Automatic: A Gun that uses either its recoil or a portion of the gas propelling the projectile to remove the spent cartridge (in the case of a gun-shell), fire again repeatedly, as long as the trigger is held down or until the magazine is exhausted. Automatic Guns are distinguished from semi-automatic Guns in their ability to fire more than one shot in succession once the trigger is pulled.
Single, Double Action, SA/DA
Single-Action (SA): trigger performs the single action of releasing the hammer or striker to discharge the firearm each time the trigger is pulled.
Double-Action (DA): The trigger both cocks and releases the hammer or striker
SA-DA: A SA/DA firearm combines the features of both mechanisms. You can pull the trigger in Double Action when the hammer is down which cocks and releases the trigger or you can cock the hammer with your thumb and then release the trigger using Single Action to fire the weapon.
Lever Action, Pump Action, Bolt Action
Lever Action: In a classic lever-action firearm, rounds are individually loaded into a tubular magazine parallel to and below the barrel. A short bolt is held in place with an over center toggle action. Once closed, the over center action prevents opening solely by the force on the bolt when the weapon is fired. This toggle action is operated by a hand grip that forms part of the trigger guard. When operated, a spring in the tubular magazine pushes a fresh round into position. Returning the operating lever to the home position chambers the round and closes the breach.
Pump Action: With a pump-action firearm, the action is operated by a movable fore-end that goes backwards and forwards to eject, extract, and chamber a round of ammunition. Pump-actions are usually associated with shotguns.
Bolt Action: The bolt opens and closes the breech end of the barrel and contains the firing pin. The bolt is held in place with a lever that fits into a notch. Moving this lever out of the notch will release the restraint on the bolt, allowing it to be drawn back. An extractor removes the spent cartridge, which is then ejected through the lever slot. A spring at the bottom of the magazine pushes up the reserve rounds, positioning the topmost between the bolt and the chamber at the base of the barrel. Pushing the bolt lever forward chambers this round and pushing the lever into the notch locks the bolt and enables the trigger mechanism.
Magazine vs Clip
Magazine: A magazine is an ammunition storage and feeding device within or attached to a repeating firearm. Magazines can be removable (detachable) or integral to the firearm. The magazine functions by moving the cartridges stored in the magazine into a position where they may be loaded into the chamber by the action of the firearm. The detachable magazine is often referred to as a clip, although this is technically inaccurate.
Clip: A clip is a device that is used to store multiple rounds of ammunition together as a unit, ready for insertion into the magazine or cylinder of a firearm. This speeds up the process of loading and reloading the firearm as several rounds can be loaded at once, rather than one round being loaded at a time. The term "clip" is also frequently used to refer to a detachable magazine, though such usage is incorrect.
I finally got out to shoot my Wyoming Arms Parker 10mm S.S. and it worked pretty well for me, the kick was hard but the design of this 10mm pistol helps reduce recoil so the recoil was not really all that much more than shooting a .45 or .40 caliber. If you have not watched my Wyoming Arms Parker 10mm S.S. Pistol Real Steel Overview then make sure to do so... I did have a few of my reload rounds that seemed to give me a bit of trouble but other than that the Wyoming Arms shot very well for me and was extremely accurate.
I also got the chance to shooting my Norinco Type 54 Model 213 9mm Tokarev copy, another nice gun to shot but even though it was only a 9mm it felt pretty jumpy, perhaps due to it's much smaller size and weight. Again you can also check out my Norinco Tokarev Type 54 Model 213 9mm Pistol Overview for more information on this one.
I also brought along my little ISSC M22 .22LR shooting Glock look-a-like to keep some of my shooting costs down since the 10mm are so expensive I needed to recoup some of my costs shooting the super affordable .22LR ammo. And yes I have a full Table Top Review for the ISSC M22 so check that one out if you're in the market for a fairly low cost .22LR that looks a lot like a Glock.
I had a great time and we got to shot some other guns while we where at the gun range; Walther P38 9mm, Glock 22 .40 Caliber, Sig Sauer Mosquito .22LR and the Smith & Wesson M&P 15-22 .22LR in all.
I do get requests from many of my viewers to do some real steel reviews and so far I have pretty much stuck with 22LR real steel reviews and my Tokarev real steel review. I recently purchased an interesting 10mm semi auto handgun used at a local used gun show and so I though I would share this rather interesting and no longer in production pistol with you. The handgun we are looking at today is the Wyoming Arms Parker 10mm S.S. At first place it looks a lot like a 1911 but it is different in several ways. the obvious traits are the safety on the slide and lack of a grip safety, it also has a very different looking handle and there are some internal differences also.
What drew me to the Wyoming Arms Parker 10mm S.S. was it's 1911 looks, the very nice stainless steel finish and the rather unusual 10mm ammo it was chambered to shoot. If your not familiar with the 10mm round it was developed by the FBI for sue by their field agents but was later determined to be a bit too much to handle for some of their smaller but later agents. The 10mm was then detuned and turned into the S&W 40 caliber which is essentially a shorter less powerful version of the 10mm.
Here are a bunch more photos that really show off the beauty of this pistol!
Definitely make sure to watch this video as I go through the gun and show you around, I also do a field strip and talk a bit more about the Miami Shootout that was the FBI's reason to look into the development of the 10mm Auto round.
Earlier this week my father called me up and asked if I wanted to head out with him to go do some hunting/shooting. He has his bear tag but for the most part, hunting with my Dad consists of driving around in his truck hoping to stumble on something since he can not walk all that far these days.
We had a great time just enjoying each others conversation and of course the beauty of Canada BC's Harrison Lake area. We also got to shoot some guns to "make sure they where sighted in and working correctly". I brought my Norinco 12 Gauge Homeland Security 780 which I needed to test out and I'm glad I did since it needs some TLC to get working smoothly. I also brought along my little Henry Lever Action 22LR which is always a blast to shoot. My Dad brought his Savage Arms 7mm Magnum just in case we did see a bear on this outing.
Long story short we didn't bring any meat back home with us but we did see some out of season doe and of course had some nice father-son time together...
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
This is the official Field Shooting Test Video Review for the Umarex HK G36 KV AEG (EBB) Blowback Airsoft Rifle. If you haven't checked out my Table top Video Review for the Umarex HK G36 KV, make sure to do so as I have some more photos there and also all the specifications and details including the Pros & Cons for the HK G36 KV AEG Blowback Airsoft Rifle.
In this part of the review I test the HK G36 KV AEG Rifle using my Chronograph to see what the 5 shot feet per second average is using fully charged batteries. I got pretty much right bang on to the factory claimed 450 fps using .20 gram 6mm plastic Airsoft BB's and consistency was within a few fps for each shot.
I also take the Umarex HK G36 KV AEG Blowback (EBB) Airsoft Rifle back 30 feet and shoot it at a target using a semi rested position (sand bag up front, standing in the back) and shoot in both semi auto and full auto, there really was no real difference in accuracy using both selections, I think the built in magnified scope helped out here to get a very tight 1.5 inch group shooting in semi and full auto.
So far out of all my AEG rifles I would have to say the Umarex HK G36 KV (EBB) performed the best getting very consistent and high fps and tight groupings in both semi and full auto even using light weight .20 gram BB's.
Watch my Field Test Shooting Vimeo Video Review for the Umarex HK G36 KV AEG Blowback Airsoft Rifle:
Type: Airsoft Assault Rifle.
Model:HK G36 KV.
Materials: Metal & polymer.
Weight: 7 pounds.
Barrel: Smooth bore.
Propulsion: AEG (EBB) Blowback.
Action: Semi & full auto.
Ammunition Type: Airsoft 6mm Plastic BB's.
Ammunition Capacity: 400 rounds.
FPS: 450+.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Umarex HK G36 KVis fairly short and light as it is essentially just an electrical on off switch for the internal electronic components. You can shoot the G36 very quickly in semi auto mode, and in full auto it cycles very quickly giving a high rate of fire.
Accuracy: In my brief pre-testing without any sighting in, the Umarex Heckler & Koch G36 KV shot just a bit off center to the right from a 30 foot semi rested position and produced a nice 2 inch grouping. In full auto the grouping opened up a bit but still punched a nice 1.5 inch hole in the target with most of the BB hitting there.
Build Quality: The Umarex HK G36 KV is very well made, yes it has lots of polymer but so does the real version and the plastic seems very durable, the fit and finish looked great and there is a lot of metal in and around the G36 where it would be on the real steel gun and where it is really required to be. Like the trigger, top rail, pins, selector switch, barrel, gearbox and gears.
Realism: Similar to my WE G39C reviewed earlier, I bet if you had a real Heckler & Koch G36 sitting beside the Umarex HK G36 KV, you would be hard pressed to tell them apart? The Umarex is also fully HK licensed and trademark throughout even including the 5.56mm NATO markings.
Available at the: Canada Replica Airguns Store.
Pros:
Excellent attention to detail with lots of working parts.
All metal internals and metal external mechanical parts.
Semi auto & full auto selectable.
Full HK licensing and markings.
Accurate 2 inch 10 shot group from 30 feet out.
Nice high 450+ FPS.
Full ambidextrous, even the charging handle can be switched side to side.
High capacity magazine (400 rounds)
Built in 3x optical sight with ability to add a Red Dot for close quarter shooting.
4 position adjustable folding stock.
Easy access to hop up system.
Cons:
Does not come with a battery or charger.
Came with the orange tip, you may want to replace it or paint it black?
May be too powerful for close quarter skirmishes without some detuning.
Comments:
This is my first Umarex Airsoft rifle product review and I have to say it really seems good so far, I have not had a lot of hands on time shooting the Umarex HK G36 KV but right out of the box I was getting very good results, nice high 450+ fps and good groupings even out at further range. The fit and finish are all very good and the realism is as good, if not better than other Airsoft AEG I have reviewed. I like the built in 3x Optical Scope and the addition of an upper rail to accommodate a Red Dot, this gives you the ability to acquire quick close up shot placements using a Red Dot while also being able to focus in on further out targets using the magnified optical scope. I look forward to my official Field Test shooting review.
Type: Airsoft AEG.
Manufacturer: Bolt Airsoft.
Model:B4A1 with BRRS (Bolt Recoil Shock System).
Materials: Metal & Nylon.
Weight: 6 pounds.
Barrel: 15 inches, metal.
Propulsion: AEG with BRSS
Action: Semi/full auto, single action.
Ammunition Type: 6mm Plastic Airsoft BB (recommended .20 gram plus).
Ammunition Capacity: 300+ round magazine.
FPS: 366-400.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Bolt Airsoft B4A1 is fairly short and light as it is essentially just an on off switch for the internal electronic components. You can shoot this gun very quickly in semi auto mode, and of course in full auto when full auto position is selected. As is with all AEG rifles there is a bit of a delay while the spring is retracted and released, this is not as noticeable in full auto.
Accuracy: I tested the B4A1 Airsoft rifle by putting around 10 rounds into a target from 30 feet with .36 gram Airsoft 6mm BB's while using a semi rested position (sand bag in the front - standing in the rear). I used a non-magnified red dot scope for this test rather than using the built in iron sights. I got very good result in semi auto and even with the recoil making my sights jump around a bit in full auto still stayed well centered on target and got about a 1.5 inch group in both semi and full auto. My chronograph testing with lighter .20 gram BB's resulted in a 421 fps 5 shot average.
Build Quality: The Bolt Airsoft B4A1 Metal AEG Carbine is very well made with a full Metal upper and lower receiver, along with metal and polymer parts exactly where they would be on the real steel version of an actual Colt M4. The only plastic or nylon components are the stocks and the grips and perhaps some internal parts. I found the adjustable stock and magazine tolerance to be tighter than my King Arms M4A1 I previously reviewed which showed the Bolt B4A1 had a bit higher quality in the workmanship, for the most part the fit and finish was very good!
Realism: As with many Airsoft guns, there is great attention to realism and the Bolt Airsoft BRSS B4A1 Carbine is another great example of an Airsoft Carbine based on the Colt M4 platform. It is an AEG but because of the BRSS (Bolt Recoil Shock System) you get a very nice compromise between a conventional AEG and a GBB (Gas Blow Back Airsoft) gun. In other words, like a standard AEG I get that endless stream of consistent BB's flying down range on target but unlike a true Gas Blow Back Airsoft gun, I don't get that drop off in power and limitation to about 30 usable rounds per magazine . What I do get similar to a GBB is that recoil action that helps make the shooting experience so much more believable! Even the sound from the Bolt B4A1 is much snapper than a standard AEG and more like a GBB. I also like the fact that the charging handle and forward assist work similarly to a real M4 and also the dust cover cleverly exposes the bolt and internal hop-up for easy adjustment along with the bolt cycling just like a GBB rifle would cycle which is similar to a real steel M4.
Purchased From: The Replica Airguns Store.
Pros:
Great attention to detail with lots of working parts.
All Metal upper and lower receiver, lots of metal parts throughout.
Semi auto & full auto selectable.
High capacity 300+ round magazine.
Removable carry handle with Weaver/Picatinny rail underneath.
Nice high 420 real FPS.
Extremely accurate for plastic BB's.
Fully adjustable sights with two position Peep sights.
6 position adjustable stock.
Easy access to internal hop-up system.
Realistic Blowback Recoil system (BRSS) for a very believable shooting experience!
Cons:
May not get off as many shots per battery charge as a traditional AEG because of the Bolt Recoil Shock System.
Does not come with battery or charger but most higher end AEG's also do not.
Not yet readily available in Canada, maybe we can change that :)
Comments:
The Bolt Airsoft B4A1 Blowback Airsoft Carbine is a great compromise for the avid Airsofter looking for a practical skirmish weapon, but also craving the realistic experience of having blowback with recoil which up until now was really only provided by Gas Blow Back systems. I really like this concept and find it great fun to shoot even if its just for plinking in the yard. The overall quality is very good and you just have to love the M4 platform it's based on. If you're into customizing you can mix and match many external and internal parts with other existing Airsoft mechanical parts and I would imagine real steel accessories. I like mine as is with my addition of a riser and Red Dot and if I every get a chance to get out for a skirmish this will be my weapon of choice for sure!
I got a few sample products I wanted to quickly share with everyone :) First off Bolt Airsoft, a Taiwanese based company, sent me one of their B4A1 (M4A1 Copy) AEG Airsoft rifles featuring BRSS - (Bolt Recoil Shock System) which has Blowback with simulated recoil.
The Bolt B4A1 is designed after the M4A1 and looks and works like most AEG Airsoft rifles giving you sustained performance and the use of high capacity magazines but Bolt has added their BRSS - (Bolt Recoil Shock System) which gives you the feedback and recoil you would normally only get with a true GBB (Gas Blow Back) Airsoft gun.
I will be doing a full review very shortly so watch for it!
I also received from ASG (Action Sport Games) a few Mock Airsoft Suppressors, all of them are B&T (Brügger & Thomet) derivatives. It was nice that they sent me the version (MP9 QD) that fits perfectly on my ASG/KWA MP9. The other tow are the ROTEX-IIIA and ROTEX-IIIA Compact that fit perfectly on to a standard flash hider and even include one with them.
Check out my Vimeo Preview Video of these Review items from Bolt Airsoft and ASG:
Now the Thompson 1928 Tommy Gun has some company!
Buy this Airsoft Rifle in Canada - Buy similar Airsoft Rifles in the US
I first want to say this isn't exactly a review, more of an overview. I do show you around this Chinese made Norinco Type 54 Model 213 9mm Tokarev copy but I don't shoot it or even talk too much about shooting it. I have shot my Norinco M213 and it's quit nice, especially when you consider this gun was designed back in 1930. The Original Russian made Tokarev was built to replace the aging Nagant M1895 revolver that the Soviet troops used as their sidearm.
The Tokarev looks a lot like the Browning FN Model 1903 and was more than likely based off of it but it is different internally utilizing a short recoil dropping barrel similar to what is used in a 1911. The original Tokarev was not normally chambered in 9mm but rather the Russian made 7.62mm round. Being that the original 7.62 round is longer than a 9mm Lugar, Norinco had to place a block inside the magwell to accommodate the smaller magazine. I think it's a good tradeoff so I can use my readily available 9mm rounds in it. Each magazine hold 7 rounds as they are single stack design, this does make the profile of the entire gun very slim.
Another feature to note, that is found on the Chinese Norinco Type 54 Tokarev copy is the addition of a safety. The original Tokarev did not have a safety on it. The safety is similar to what you would find on a Makarov.
I have several Norinco guns and from what I have seen, people either love them or hate them and it's usually the people that own them that love them and the people that don't own them that don't like them. This may be based on first impressions as many Norinco guns are not as refined as what you would see in a Smith & Wesson, Sig Sauer and many other higher end firearms. With that said the Norinco firearms kind of remind me of many Russian made guns which are more about how they work and less about how they look. The Norinco metal is tuff as nails and has a very high nickel content in it which is what makes it harder to refine.
Even today the Tokarev is a decent gun and I really love the history behind it, once you get used to it's unusual looks it really does start to grow on you and you can pick one up for pretty cheap these days, I only paid just over $200 for mine and it even came with 4 magazines.
Watch my Vimeo Video Overview of the Norinco Type 54 Model 213 9mm Tokarev:
I was really excited to show you my two latest Airsoft rifle additions, the King Arms Thompson Chicago Style 1928 AEG Submachine Gun and the Cybergun ICS SIG SG-551 SWAT AEG Rifle. So I made a quick preview update video to share them both these guns with you.
The video is just a quick preview but you get to see the guns up nice and close and at the end I also show off my 9mm bullet Casing Ear Bud Headphones and talk a bit about what I like about them.
Without further ado here is My YouTube video featuring the Thompson M1928 Submachine Gun, ICS SIG SG-551 SWAT and 9mm Bullet Digital Stereo Earbuds:
Another Airsoft Rifle Addition in the Canada Replica Airguns Store, this one from King Arms, the King Arms Thompson 1928 Ultra Grade AEG Airsoft Tommy Gun. Also with an introductory sale price!
Buy this Airsoft Rifle in Canada - Buy this Airsoft Rifle in the US
We just got in a new Field ready Airsoft AEG rifle, the Cybergun ISC SG-551 SWAT version. Get in on our introductory sale price!
The Cybergun ICS SIG SG-551 SWAT offers hardcore performance in a lightweight and compact package. Manufactured in Taiwan under licensed from Cybergun this rifle features full SIG trademarks engraved into its receiver.
Buy this Airsoft Rifle in Canada - Buy this Airsoft Rifle in the US
I have been hinting about an even bigger Canada sale on the King Arms Colt M4A1 Metal AEG Airsoft Rifle and here it is - now $100 OFF the regular price (Canada Store Only) so don't wait as I'm not sure how long this sale will last...
Make sure to watch my full Table Top Review and Shooting Review videos on this awesome performer!
I just received some of my ASG Airsoft guns in my BC location and wanted to make an update video for you so you can see them up close and perhaps see how they stack up against their Airgun counterparts. Keep in mind many of my ASG guns are only available in the Canada Replica Airguns Store, we do have some ASG Airsoft guns for my US based customers but this time here in Canada I have more to offer my Canadian folks!
The Dan Wesson's, the Steyr M9-A1, STI Duty One 1911, CZ 75 P-07 Duty are all pretty much identical to my 4.5mm Steel BB shooting versions with the exception of not having blowback but the good news is the slides do in fact move on the semi autos! Of course the Dan Wesson is just made to accept 6mm Airsoft BB's rather than 4.5mm steel BB's.
I am also super impressed with the high quality of the LMT Defender M4 Carbines, they are a serious bit of gear and have some very good heft to them, even more so than my full metal King Arms M4A1 I already sell and have done a full review of, not to take anything away from the Kings Arms product as it is very good at its price point.
I also received my first sniper rifle and have played around with it a bit to see what it is capable of. I added a bipod to the front and a 3x9 power scope as the ASG AW .308 comes pretty bare bones but ready for all you can throw at it. I can say it likes heavier Airsoft BB's, as the .20 gram ones I started with seemed to fly off in all directions due to the high velocity, even stepping up to a .25 gram BB tightened my group up significantly at 30 feet. I have heard this rifle really prefers heavy Airsoft BB's so I plan do do my review based on that information.
Enjoy my Vimeo Video Update focusing on the new ASG Airsoft lineup.
Slowly but surely we are getting some more ASG Airsoft guns and this time I have another pistol and three rifles!
ASG STI Duty One 1911 Non-Blowback Airsoft Pistol
ASG AW .308 Airsoft Sniper Rifle
The ASG AW .308 very powerful spring operated Airsoft Sniper Rifle and has licensed Accuracy International AW .308 markings. Out of the box it shoots close to 2 joule and weights almost 7 pounds with its solid metal construction. The Sportline AW .308 has adjustable Hop-Up for accuracy and top rail for mounting a scope. (BUY NOW)
ASG LMT Defender R.I.S. Airsoft Carbine
The ASG LMT Defender R.I.S. is a classic carbine with a few modifications. The normal front guard has been replaced with a full rail interface system (R.I.S.), that gives you plenty of opportunities to mount accessories. As the normal battery space is used by the R.I.S. the wiring to the battery goes back to the stock. The stock is a special sopmod stock with two compartments to house the battery. The functionality is similar to the other LMT ProLine models – Adjustable hop up, 1.5 joule power and semi & full auto. (BUY NOW)
The Proline (PL) range of products, are high-end products, targeted at regular players, players who want to have better than average Airsoft gun and Milsim/teamplayers. The Proline models can be modified and upgraded.
ASG LMT Defender4 S.I.R. Airsoft Carbine
Two well known firearms and accessory manufactures have joined forces to create this beauty of a Proline Airsoft AEG. The full metal Defender4 Carbine licensed by LMT upgraded with the S.I.R. rail system licensed by A.R.M.S.. A Selective Integrated Rail system (S.I.R.) offers a wide variety of options to mount tactical accessories. Quick and handy flip-up iron sights are mounted on the S.I.R. Strong and well built with what is probably one of the best out-of-the-box gearboxes, heavy reinforced with 8 and 9 mm bearings, steel gears, and ball-bearing spring-guide as well as an upgraded cylinder set. It can handle Li-Po batteries and shoots 1.5 joule (120m/s/394 fps) in semi- and full-auto mode with Easily adjustable Hop-Up. (BUY NOW)
The Proline (PL) range of products, are high-end products, targeted at regular players, players who want to have better than average Airsoft gun and Milsim/teamplayers. The Proline models can be modified and upgraded.
Type: Airsoft.
Manufacturer:King Arms.
Model:Colt M4A1 Metal AEG.
Materials: Metal & Nylon.
Weight: 6 pounds.
Barrel: 15 inches, metal.
Propulsion: AEG
Action: Semi/full auto, single action.
Ammunition Type: 6mm Plastic BB (recommended .20 gram plus).
Ammunition Capacity: 300+ round magazine.
FPS: 450.
If you haven't already checked out my King Arms Colt M4A1 Table Top Review, make sure to do so for all the details and specifications on the King Arms Colt M4A1 Airsoft AEG Carbine.
This Field Test Review focusses primarily on how the AEG M4A1 performs in feet per second velocity using .25 gram plastic Airsoft BB's, its accuracy in both semi and full auto and of course my comments on it's shoot-ability and overall performance.
For this field test review of my King Arms M4A1 Airsoft rifle I switched from the .20 gram Airsoft BB's to heavier .25 gram plastic BB's. I did this to have a comparison between the two weights since I had already Chronographed and accuracy tested the .20 gram BB's. As expected the fps dropped a bit, down to around 380 fps but still stayed very consistent for me as would be expected with an AEG styled rifle.
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Another reason I wanted to test out the heavier .25 gram Airsoft BB's is because generally speaking, heavier BB's will shoot a bit more accurately as they are not as effected by the higher fps this guns is capable of shooing. The .20 gram BB's actually did well so I had high expectation for the .25 gram BB's and I was not disappointed! For this test I shot the King Arms Colt M4A1 from 30 feet out in a semi rested position (rested on a sand bag in the front and standing in the back). I shot 10 rounds in semi auto and got a very respectable 1.5 inch group which rivals any airgun in my collection! I also shot in full auto (I can't really tell you how many rounds ;) and the King Arms Colt M4A1 punched a nice 2 inch hole in the target. I would almost say it even beat out my other full auto 4.5mm steel BB shooting guns in terms of how tight of a group it can shoot while in full auto mode.
I am sure the Airsoft Hop-up system has something to do with the accuracy as the back-rotating BB's should keep a truer trajectory. One thing I notice while shooting this AEG styled Airsoft rifle, is that there is a slight delay from the time you pull the trigger till the shot is released. The trigger is actually activating a motor which in turn pulls the internal spring back, which then releases it once it hits the end of it's cycle. It's not a long delay but it is noticeable. In full auto it really does not matter at all :)
All in all I am again impressed with what an Airsoft gun can do in terms of both looks and performance.
My Vimeo Field Test Review for the King Arms Colt M4A1 6mm AEG Airsoft Carbine:
Type: Airsoft.
Manufacturer:King Arms.
Model: Colt M4A1 Metal AEG.
Materials: Metal & Nylon.
Weight: 6 pounds.
Barrel: 15 inches, metal.
Propulsion: AEG
Action: Semi/full auto, single action.
Ammunition Type: 6mm Plastic BB (recommended .20 gram plus).
Ammunition Capacity: 300+ round magazine.
FPS: 450.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the King Arms Colt M4A1 is fairly short and light as it is essentially just an on off switch for the internal electronic components. You can shoot this gun very quickly in semi auto mode, and of course even quicker when full auto is selected.
Accuracy: Again, I tested this Airsoft rifle just like I do my other BB rifles and put 10 rounds into a target from 30 feet out using a semi rested position (sand bag in the front - standing in the rear). I used a non-magnified red dot scope for this test rather than using the built in iron sights. Like my initial WE SCAR test, when I walked up to the paper I was shocked at this Airsoft rifle shooting .20 gram plastic BB's. I again got a 2 inch 10 round grouping! I am beginning to think that a well tuned Airsoft gun can make for a pretty good target plinker!
Build Quality: The King Arms Colt M4A1 Metal AEG Carbine is very well made with a full Metal upper and lower receiver, along with metal parts exactly where they would be on the real steel version of the Colt M4. The only plastic or nylon components are the stocks and the grips and perhaps some internal parts. There is a bit of wiggle in the rear stock and metal magazine but this may be a Colt M4 attribute, for the most part the fit and finish was excellent!
Realism: As with many Airsoft guns, there is great attention to realism and the King Arms Colt M4A1 is no exception. It is an AEG and not a gas blowback Airsoft gun so it does lack some realism in terms of the hard hitting bolt action but on the other hand you can fire what seems like an endless stream of BB's in full auto with this AEG Colt M4A1 Replica. I do like the fact that the charging handle and forward assist works similarly to a real M4 and also the Dust cover cleverly exposes the internal hop-up for easy adjustment. The Colt licensing and branding throughout this M4A1 look-a-like help to really make this Airsoft rifle look believably like a real Colt M4 carbine.
Purchased From: The Replica Airguns Store.
Pros:
Amazing attention to detail with lots of working parts.
Full colt licensing and markings.
All Metal upper and lower receiver, lots of metal parts throughout.
Semi auto & full auto selectable.
High capacity 300+ round magazine.
Removable carry handle with Weaver/Picatinny rail underneath.
Nice high 400+ FPS.
Extremely accurate for plastic BB's.
Fully adjustable sights with two position Peep sights.
6 position adjustable stock.
Easy access to internal hop-up system.
Cons:
Magazine and stock seems bit lose.
Canada version does not come with battery or charger.
Came with the orange flash hider, you may want to replace or paint it if legal in your area?
May be too powerful for inside skirmishes without some detuning.
Comments:
I was not fully sure if I would warm up to an AEG style of Airsoft rifle as I really enjoy the realism of a gas blowback type of replica gun. But the overall realism of the King Arms Colt M4A1 metal AEG really won me over and the added working components like the charging handle and forward assist along with the fully adjustable sights and 6 position stock just made it for me with this Airsoft Carbine. There is something to be said about an AR15 styled gun, they just look the part and this very realistic and usable M4 Airsoft replica is not just great to hold and look at but also performs very well which would make it deadly on the field! Now if only I could find some time to use it on the field ;)
