Type: BB air revolver.

Manufacturer:UmarexUSA.

Model:Brodax

Materials: Mostly plastic with some metal construction.

Weight: 1.3 pounds (586 grams).

Barrel: 5.5 inches, non-rifled.

Propulsion: 12 gram CO2.

Action: Revolver, single & double actions.

Ammunition Type: 4.5mm steel BB's.

Ammunition Capacity: 10 rounds.

FPS: 375.

Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Umarex Brodax CO2 BB Revolver is actually rather nice. If you decide to cock the hammer back and shoot it single action style then you get a little bit of that SAA Revolver like ratcheting sound. The trigger pull in single action mode is short with virtually no take-up and on the light side. Double action shooting with the Umarex Brodax CO2 BB Revolver is not overly long or heavy either so action shooting is totally possible with this BB shooting CO2 revolver.

Accuracy: I can not comment so far on the shooting performance for the Umarex Brodax CO2 BB Revolversince I have not shot it yet. The weather is getting nicer outside so that should happen pretty soon. The claimed FPS for the Umarex Brodax CO2 BB Revolver is stated at only 375 which I find seems a bit low for a none blowback fairly straight forward BB pistol with an almost 6 inch barrel so hopefully my testing shows performance up into the 400's which I am hoping for. The open sights are non adjustable but there are tons more options by taking advantage of the two rails top  and bottom for adding either a red dot or laser to increased target shooting ability.

Build Quality: The Umarex Brodax CO2 BB Revolver is pretty much an all metal pistol with the outer shell being made up of plastic, there is a fair bit of internal metal going on along with the trigger, hammer and of course the inner barrel made out of metal parts. Mechanically the Umarex Brodax CO2 BB Revolver feels solid and even though it only weight in at 1.3 pounds it feels much heavier in the hand.

Realism: The Umarex Brodax CO2 BB Revolver as far as I know is not an exact replica of any real steal gun currently in production. It's basically a spin off of an ultra tactical .44 magnum revolver with a super beefed up front barrel assembly sporting all kinds of accessory option to be placed on the top and bottom rails. I like that Umarex made sure to recess the barrel opening so it has a more realistic barrel size. Like many new CO2 airguns coming out these days the CO2 is not only well hidden inside the grips but a handy Allen key is built into the handle.

Available in the:Replica Airguns Store

Pros:

• Not the heaviest revolver on the market but it feels really nice in the hand and has good balance, the weight is not bad at all and feels heavier than 1.3 pounds.

• Trigger action is really good in both single and double action, short light single action trigger and totally usable double action trigger.

• CO2 is well hidden with built in Alan key in the handle.

• Rails top and bottom for all kinds of accessory add on options.

• Barrel is recessed for that larger caliber look.

• Nice and discreet safety.

• Comes with three 10 shot easy to load rotary magazines.

• Low cost with high fun factor.

Cons:

• Grips are a bit hard to remove to get at the CO2, may work-in over time?

• All black sights are not great on dark backgrounds and are non adjustable.

• Would have liked to see fps into the 400 range. 

Comments:

The Umarex Brodax CO2 BB Revolver when I first picked it up did not appeal to me all that much, maybe knowing it was for the most part yet another mostly plastic BB revolver with those thin pop in disc magazines didn't help me take notice much. But as I have been playing around with the Umarex Brodax CO2 BB Revolver it has grown on me a lot. I think it has a really cool look that is also very usable in terms of putting juts about any accessory you want on this CO2 revolver. The hammer and trigger action are also both excellent for not juts an inexpensive Airgun but even a higher end airgun. And right out of the box, or should I say clam-shell plastic wrap, you get three rotary disc magazines which is a nice bonus.

My Vimeo Table Top Review for the Umarex Brodax CO2 BB Revolver:

Buy the Umarex Brodax BB Revolver in Canada

I try and make it to my local gun show which is held in Chilliwack BC about this time each year. It is put on by the Historical Arms Collectors Society of BC and there are generally a lot of used long guns (rifles) some pistols, lots of accessories, knives, hunting gear, knick·knacks and even some antique items. I tend to be looking for airguns or blank guns that are rare or a good deal.

This year I came across a few items that caught my eye. The first item was a Daisy replica 4.5mm BB pistol, I am not a big fan of Daisy replica gun in general as they are usually a far cry from the originals but this Daisy Powerline Model 400 was actually a really good copy of a Desert Eagle in size and looks. Sure it had a lot of plastic in it but it was made in Japan and even being around 20 years olds was holding up really well. This Daisy Powerline 400 even had Blowback which back then was not all that common.

The Daisy Powerline 400 BB Desert Eagle has a 20 round removable magazine that fits along the top of the barrel and it has a claimed fps. It is almost all high grade plastic with the exception of the single action only trigger, safety, hammer, barrel and several internal parts.

The next interesting item I found was a little compact 8mm blank shooter originally made in West Germany. So this blank gun is close to 30 years old. The SM Model 110 8mm Blank Pistol kind of reminds me of my EKOL Tuna in terms of size and functionality since both have the same half slide and magazine release system.

The SM Mod 110 8mm Blank Pistol is front venting and pretty much all metal with reinforced steel areas, it has a 5 round single stack magazine and shoots in single action only.

My last purchase for this show was a new item, here in Canada we generally are not allowed much in the way of items specifically labeled for self defense. There are some work arounds for instance we can carry a knife as long as it is not concealed entirely and we only intend to use it as a tool. We can also carry pepper spray again only for use on animals. Generally speaking we have not been allowed stun guns or tasers here in Canada and even importing them can land you in a lot of trouble! Again it seems a work around has been made, as long as the Stun Gun or Taser is at least 480mm in length then it is not considered a concealable weapon and as long as you have it out on display and only intend to use it on animals that may be a threat to you then all is good :)

The Stun Gun I purchased is basically a baton with a flashlight on the front and a 1 million volt taser on the front of it. You have several options with this device if harm is eminent. You can try blinding the threat with the built in flashlight which is not all that powerful but good for finding your way in dark areas, you can give the attacker a whack with the baton baseball bat style and if none of that is working well let em have the 1 million volt sandwich! We should be getting some of these Stun Baton Flashlights in our Canada Replica Airguns Store at some point so stay posted for that item.

This is my SHOT Show 2016 Teaser Video! You will get to see some new gun highlights from companies like Umarex, ASG, Crosman, Sig Sauer, KWA and ISC. I will be following up this video with some interview videos very soon so do make sure to check back for those uploads. All I can say about the show is it’s huge! So much to see, so much walking and too much to take in…

ASG:

As always, ASG had some new products this year. The all new Dan Wesson 715 357 Magnum shell loading Revolver! This gun feels absolutely amazing in the hand and will be available in Steel BB, Airsfot and even Pellet shooting versions. Also new are the CZ P-09 and CZ 75 SP-01 Shadow Full Blowback BB and Airsoft Pistols.

Crosman:

Big at Crosman this year was their PCP Airbow, Crosman put a lot of focus on this product and even had a lot of crossbows on display to go with their new PCP Airbow. Crosman also introduced their low cost entry level Benjamin Maximus PCP rifle in .177 and .22 calibers offerings. Not really much in the way of replica pistols from Crosman this year, but then again last year was kind of the same?

Sig Sauer:

I finally made it to the Sig Sauer Booth this year to checkout their new CO2 Pellet gun line. All new Sig Airguns are made true to size and weight with similar trigger actions as their real steel versions. The Sig MPX is their more compact (shorter barreled) pellet shooting CO2 rifle with internal blowback and belt fed 30 round magazine. The Sig MCX is the longer barreled rifle version but built much the same as the MPX. Sig also introduced two new pellet shooting CO2 Blowback Pistols, the P226 and the P250. Both use similar double ended rotary magazines as the Umarex PX4.

Umarex:

Umarex always seems to have some new exciting Airguns products to offer at SHOT Show. The PPK is back with a few updates including no more ugly CO2 tab sticking out of the bottom! And yes the Beretta Model 92A1 will finally be shipping soon, I believe in February! My favorite product this year from Umarex would have to be the Full Blowback, Full size drop out magazine S&W M&P 40 CO2 BB Pistol. Umarex released yet another 1911 on the market, this version does come with a stick mag and sports pretty high fps and more shots per CO2 then the KWC based 1911’s. The super popular Colt SAA Revolver is now available in a pellet shooting version with a rifled barrel :) Umarex had on display another low cost revolver, the ultra futuristic looking Brodax CO2 BB Revolver.

KWA:

KWA always has really nice high quality products to showoff at there booth each year, we may even start carrying some of KWA's products this year, fingers crossed on that one… New to the KWA line are some AEG rifles with simulated blowback action, I really liked the Blowback AEG AK they had on display. KWA also released a new Airsoft shell loading revolvers that had some of the nicest looking brass and aluminum shells. On display under a glass cover was a very solid Gas Blowback Thompson Machine-gun with real wood stock, it was absolutely gorgeous!

ISC:

ISC known for their top quality AEG internals, had their full line of high quality Airsoft rifles on display. And new this year to ICS was their first ever Airsoft pistol, the blowback BLE Alpha. The BLE should be out mid year and looked and felt really nice. The trigger on it was super short and light.

I have some really awesome Interview videos I’m working on, I will be uploading them shortly so stay tuned for those…

I just got some really interesting new guns and shooting accessories I wanted to share with everyone in this Vimeo Video Preview!

First off, I have some metal targets designed for Airguns, you can shoot them with lead pellets and heavy gram Airsoft BB's but be sure not use standard 4.5mm steel BB's as they can ricochet and come back at you at high velocity. That is unless you are using the new Excite Low Ricochet Smart Shot BB's I also showcase in this video.

A couple other accessories I highlight are a Western Leather Gun Slinger Belt and Holster which pair up perfectly with the first BB gun I have to show you today. Most of you should be familiar with the Umarex Colt Single Action Army Revolvers I have made several reviews and videos for, they are super popular and for good reason. How about a John Wayne Duke Version available in Stainless and Antique versions? I thought you would like that!

Next up and probably the item I am most excited to introduce to everyone is the ISSC M22 4.5mm CO2 BB Pistol. I actually own the  first generation ISSC M22 in 22LR, the same gun this BB pistol is based on. It seems to have everything going for it and I was happy to discover after making this video that it does in fact have blowback operation even though this is not state on the box or in the manual? The ISSC M22 really is a beautiful pistol and I am totally looking forward to reviewing it. If you're a Glock fan this is about as close as we can legally get to owning a replica Glock BB pistol since Glock has OK'd production of the real steel ISSC MK22 in its new form.

I will be working with my suppliers to make these items available in our Replica Airguns Stores as soon as we can...

When I say Airguns, I am referring to pretty much all BB, Airsoft, Pellet, Paintball and even Blank guns for most of the topics listed here.

Do’s:

1. Treat your Airgun just like you would a real gun. If something goes wrong, perhaps the outcome will not be as severe but do you really want to take a trip down to your local emergency ward to get a BB or Pellet removed?

2. Always assume your airgun is loaded, for some reason it always seems those empty guns are the ones that do the most damage.

3. Be discrete, If it looks like a gun other people will think it is a gun so don’t flash your airguns around in public. Keep it in a case when transporting and shoot it in an area that will not alarm other people.

4. Always wear eye protection when shooting your Airgun. Do you really want to shoot your eye out? No Joke!

5. Be aware of your surroundings like windows, hard objects that could make your ammo bounce back at you. Make sure you are shooting your Airgun in a safe direction at all times, know your target and beyond.

6. Use Airguns to teach others and learn how to safely and effectively shoot a gun. Airguns can be less intimidating then a real gun (Not so loud and very little recoil) and make for great start out and transitions guns.

7. Use Airguns to get more inexpensive trigger time and become a more experienced shooter. Airguns cosy only pennies per round to shoot and can be shot in way more areas than a real gun can, practice makes perfect so get shooting!

8. Use Airguns in areas where real guns may not be allowed or safe to use. Again, Airguns can be shot in all kinds of places, in your back yard or even in a properly setup indoor home range.

9. Use Airguns with adequate power for safe and humane pest control where real guns may be prohibited.Airguns are quiet and less likely for the bullet to travel long ranges which makes them ideal for close range pest control in areas where real guns are too loud and to powerful.

Don’ts:

1. Do not assume because it is an airgun it is not dangerous or simply a toy. Many Deaths have been caused by Airguns along with a lot of pain and suffering so treat your Airgun with respect. It is not a toy or you would find them in the toy department at your local store along with yo-yos and stuffed animals.

2. Do not point or shoot at people unless of course you are using an Airsoft gun in an Airsoft field or facility. Yes Airsoft guns are meant to shoot at each other (with appropriate attire like eye protection and full body clothing), but steel BB and Pellet can cause serious injury especially at close range and on direct skin contact.

3. Do not leave your Airgun loaded, you never know who is going to come across it and accidentally discharge it. Remember, a loaded gun is a dangerous gun in the wrong hands. You may know better than to assume the gun is undulated but children and even adults without any gun training will most definitely handle the airgun without consideration of the danger it poses.

4. Do not use an Airgun for self protection. See my related video. Simply put, Airguns are not practical for self defense because they rarely have enough Stopping Power. The ones that do have enough power need to be pre-charged and in most cases are only single shot meaning if you miss or don’t get the job done no the first shot then you are done.

5. Do not use an underpowered Airgun for pest control. See related video. Using a low powered BB pistol for pest control is cruel, you will only injure the animal making it suffer unnecessarily. Use a high powered pellet rifle to get the job done.

6. Do not take your gun apart, in most cases this will void the warranty and the reality is that airguns rarely need to be cleaned since no dirty gun powder is used. lead pellet rifles may require occasional barrel cleaning to keep the rifled barrel free of debris.

7. Do not over oil your Airgun, a little goes a long way and too much oil will just attracted dirt, use the right airgun oil and just enough to keep part functioning smoothly.

8. Do not over pump an Airgun. Over pumping an Airgun can cause damage to valves and seals and in a worse case situation a rupture the air pressure reservoir or even cause the airgun to explode!

I don't often review target and or hunting rifles since for the most part Replica Airguns is all about well... replica airguns :) I have reviewed some of my own personal spring piston and pump rifles since I have them and there is a cross over in folks that like both the replica airguns and airguns meant for target and or hunting purposes.

We do have a small selection of spring piston rifles in our Replica Airguns Canada store suitable for target and small game so I thought I would point some of them out in this preview video.

Daisy 1938 Red Ryder BB Rifle

• Type:BB rifle

• Manufacturer: Daisy

• Model: Red Ryder.

• Materials: Stained solid wood stock and forearm, leather saddle thong.

• Weight: 2.2 pounds.

• Barrel: 10.85 inches, smooth bore.

• Propulsion: Spring.

• Action: Lever Action.

• Ammunition Type: 4.5mm Steel BB's.

• Ammunition Capacity: 650 rounds

• FPS: 350.

Ruger Explorer Youth Air Pellet Rifle

• Type: Pellet rifle.

• Manufacturer: Ruger

• Model: Explorer.

• Materials: All-weather composite black stock, metal.

• Weight: 4.5 pounds.

• Barrel: 15 inches, rifled

• Propulsion: Spring piston.

• Action: Break barrel.

• Ammunition Type: .177 caliber lead pellets.

• Ammunition Capacity: 1 round.

• FPS: 495.

Ruger Air Hawk Combo Pellet Rifle with 4x32 Scope

• Type: Pellet rifle.

• Manufacturer: Ruger

• Model: Air Hawk.

• Materials: Wood, metal.

• Weight: 8.16 pounds.

• Barrel: 18.7 inches, rifled

• Propulsion: Spring piston.

• Action: Break barrel.

• Ammunition Type: .177 caliber lead pellets.

• Ammunition Capacity: 1 round.

• FPS: 495.

Browning Leverage Pellet Rifle with 3-9x40 Scope

• Type: Pellet rifle.

• Manufacturer: Browning

• Model: Leverage.

• Materials: Wood, metal.

• Weight: 8.6 pounds.

• Barrel: 18.9 inches, rifled

• Propulsion: Spring piston.

• Action: Under lever.

• Ammunition Type: .177 caliber lead pellets.

• Ammunition Capacity: 1 round.

• FPS: 490.

Browning Gold Series Synthetic Pellet Rifle with 3x9x40 Scope

• Type: Pellet rifle.

• Manufacturer: Browning / Umarex

• Model: Gold Series.

• Materials: All-weather composite black stock, metal.

• Weight: 8.4 pounds.

• Barrel: 14 inches, rifled

• Propulsion: Spring piston.

• Action: Break Barrel.

• Ammunition Type: .177 caliber lead pellets.

• Ammunition Capacity: 1 round.

• FPS: 495.

Buy Daisy 1938 Red Ryder BB Rifle in Canada

Buy Daisy 1938 Red Ryder BB Rifle in the US

Buy Ruger Explorer Youth Air Pellet Rifle in Canada

Buy Ruger Explorer Youth Air Pellet Rifle in the US

Buy Ruger Air Hawk Combo Pellet in Canada

Buy Ruger Air Hawk Combo Pellet in the US

Buy Browning Leverage Pellet Rifle with 3-9x40 Scope in Canada

Buy Browning Leverage Pellet Rifle with 3-9x40 Scope in the US

Buy Browning Gold Synthetic Rifle in Canada

Buy Browning Gold Synthetic Rifle in the US

We have some new cool accessories in our Canada Replica Airguns Store I wanted to share with everyone by making a Vimeo Video Review for these items.

If you watched my recent Halloween Costume Contest Giveaway Video for this year then you know I am going as Rambo an when dressing up as Rambo one need sot be wearing an Ammo Belt to pull of such a roll! The good news is we now have them in our Canada Replica Airguns Store, well at least for now and these are real decompressioned .223 bullets, so in other words the primmers have already been fired and they do not have any gun powder in them. They do look the part and come in a belt configuration containing 80 plus rounds.

I also show off some really high quality Cytac Polymer Holsters and Magazine Pouches along with a Cytac Drop Leg Platform that can be configured to add both the Cytac Holsters and the Mag Pouches to it.

Here are the following Cytac Products I showcase in this YouTube Video Review:

Cytac T92 Polymer Holster:

• Ergonomically curved hip panel is shaped for comfort.

• Silicone rubber padding secures holster in position.

• Textured locking mechanism secures trigger guard.

• Fully adjustable drawing angle.

• Right-handed draw.

• Construction: Polymer.

• Compatibility: Taurus, PT92, Beretta 92 Variants.

• Draw Side: Right.

• Package includes: Holster, hex key, changeable belt clip.

Cytac 1911 Polymer Holster:

• Ergonomically curved hip panel is shaped for comfort.

• Silicone rubber padding secures holster in position.

• Textured locking mechanism secures trigger guard.

• Fully adjustable drawing angle.

• Right-handed draw.

• Construction: Polymer.

• Compatibility: 1911 Variants.

• Draw Side: Right.

• Package includes: Holster, hex key, changeable belt clip.

Cytac T92 Polymer Magazine Pouch:

• Alternative of PT92, PT809, PT605 Beretta 92, 92fs.

• Make of durable,high-tech black polymer materials.

• Paddle design securely slides onto pants waist or belt.

• Comfortable Contoured Paddle part with soft silicon materials.

• Rotates 360 degrees for every application (small of back, cross draw).

• Retention with zero time to disengage magazine.

• The Pouch Easy to draw your magazine.

• The Mag Pouch Suitable for civilians,bodyguard,off duty policies & military personnel.

• Matchable tactical pistol holster and belt loop accessories are available.

Cytac 24/7 Polymer Magazine Pouch:

• Alternative of any Beretta Px4, H&K P30, H&K USP Compact (9/40), Ruger SR9, Steyr M Series, S&W Sigma, Taurus 24/7 Magazine.

• Make of durable,high-tech black polymer materials.

• Paddle design securely slides onto pants waist or belt.

• Comfortable Contoured Paddle part with soft silicon materials.

• Fully adjustable for cant by included Allen key.

• Rotates 360 degrees for every application (small of back, cross draw).

• Retention with zero time to disengage magazine.

• The Pouch Easy to draw your magazine.

• The Mag Pouch Suitable for civilians,bodyguard,off duty policies & military personnel.

• Matchable tactical pistol holster and belt loop accessories are available.

Cytac Polymer Drop Leg Platform:

• Cytac Drop leg platform offers versatility of a modular platforms.

• Compatible with our Cytac holsters and magazine pouches.

• High-tech, black polymer main attachment panel.

• Fully adjustable straps with side release buckles.

• Easily attach holsters, mag pouches and more.

Buy Cytac T92 Polymer Holster in Canada

Buy Cytac T92 Polymer Holster in the US

Buy Cytac 24/7 Polymer Magazine Pouch in Canada

Buy Cytac 24/7 Polymer Magazine Pouch in the US

Buy Cytac Polymer Drop Leg Platform in Canada

Buy Cytac Polymer Drop Leg Platform in the US

Buy Cytac 1911 Polymer Holster in Canada

Buy Cytac 1911 Polymer Holster in the US

Buy Cytac T92 Polymer Magazine Pouch in Canada

Buy Cytac T92 Polymer Magazine Pouch in the US

First off let’s get one thing straight! What I’m looking for in a BB gun is more than likely going to be way different than what someone else is looking for in what they think is the “Best BB Gun” available.

Many people will determine the Best BB Gun as the BB gun that has the highest price tag, usually you get better quality the higher the price goes up but not always, there are times when perhaps you are paying for a name brand or cosmetic add ons that don’t always make the gun better or the best.

On the other hand, some people will determine the best BB gun as the one that is the least cost since they may not have a lot of money to spend, and an expensive BB gun is a BB gun that that person would not be able to afford or even own, far from an ideal or the Best BB Gun for them.

Many people only look at the specifications to determine if that particular BB gun is the outright best BB Gun. One specification that people seem to fixate on is how powerful is the BB gun in question? If it has the highest FPS then surely it must be the best BB Gun! That Pop can never saw it coming! What about cost of operation, so things like reliability and how many shots per CO2 you can get out of a BB gun. All important features to consider when picking out the Best BB Gun!

Style is another important part of what makes a BB Gun the Best option for you, are you wanting a classic BB Pistol? Perhaps a Modern BB Gun, Maybe even a BB gun that you can not get in your area because of gun laws? Style is a very individual preference and what looks good to me may look terrible to someone else.

One aspect that is very important to me, is realism, does the BB Gun operate the same and does it have similar metal and plastic parts as the real steel version? Does the BB gun I am considering have blowback operation and a true single or double action trigger like it’s big brother? What about a full size drop out magazine and the ability to field strip the BB Gun?

Some people want their BB gun for simple backyard good old fun shooting and so as long as it shoots pretty straight and works as it’s supposed to, then that is all they care about. Many real steel shooters want a BB Gun to operate exactly like their real steel version, so they can practice with it to get in more trigger time when going to a gun range is not an option.

Of course there are aspects like Reliability, Performance, Fit and Finish, Licensing and Build Quality that all determine what makes the Best BB Gun and again it really depends which of these qualities are most important to you that will determine which BB Gun is the best BB Gun.

So how do you determine which is the Best BB Gun? Make a list of what you are looking for in a BB Gun. Attributes like Cost, Performance, Build Quality, Style, Realism, Availability…

Once you have narrowed down your Best BB Gun list, get as much information on each BB Gun you are considering, to narrow the list down even more. There are tons of Youtube videos you can watch for your Best BB Gun final short list to help you determine your ultimate choice.

So please don’t ask me what the Best BB Gun is? I can not even tell you which one I like the best since my wish list changes from day to day…

Not Airsoft:

First off we are not talking about 6mm Plastic Airsoft Guns but rather 4.5mm Steel BB versus .177 caliber Pellet.

Same but Different:

Generally speaking a BB CO2 Pistol and a Pellet CO2 Pistol are very similar, they just shoot a bit different types of ammo, that will determine a couple mechanical differences in both guns. You may come across a CO2 Pistol that can shoot both Pellets and BB's but these are not as common.

Magazine Types:

The fist main difference is usually the magazine design, since lead pellets don’t stack on top of each other very well compared to steel BB’s, action CO2 BB and Pellet pistols will have a very different types of magazine designs. Pellet CO2 Pistols will generally use a rotary type magazine while BB Pistols will use a stick or stacked ammo magazine. In terms of realism, a stick or stacked magazine is better suited than a rotary magazine. Some Action Pellet Pistols will have what looks like a stick magazine, but the stick will actually have two rotary magazine on either side. You will often find higher capacity magazines in BB CO2 Pistols since Rotary magazines usually only offer around 8 rounds (16 on a double sided stick style).

Another downside to a rotary magazine is knowing when you are out of ammo, a rotary magazine does not allow for this, it will just keep turning around and around no matter if there is ammo in it or not, so you need to listen to the the sound of the CO2 gun to determine when a rotary type magazine is empty. BB Action shooters do not have this problem since in most cases the magazine BB spring follower acts exactly the same as real steel gun follower locking back the slide on the last shot, stopping any follow up shots from happening.

Ammo Size:

Steel BB’s traditionally only come in 4.5mm which is the same as .177 caliber. Lead pellets can come in a myriad of sizes, the most comma being .177, .20 and .22 caliber but they can go as large as 50 caliber for PCP air rifles used to hunt even large game.

Barrel Rifling:

Another common difference between BB and Pellet CO2 Pistols is the rifling inside the barrels. Lead pellets need to spin in order for them to shoot straight. Steel BB’s on the other hand fly pretty true thought the air weather they spin or not. Rifling is most often not used in steel BB pistols because the hardened steel can damage the rifling and since there is little to no benefit in adding rifling to a BB guns barrel in terms of accuracy, then why even have it. Pellet pistols with their softer lead ammunition need to have the rifling in order to create the spin that keeps the pellet true and straight while in flight.

Accuracy:

Even though many BB CO2 Pistols can shoot accurately at close to medium ranges, they are not as accurate as a Pellet CO2 Pistol, especially as the distance become greater to your target. Not only does the spinning of the pellet help accuracy, but also the added mass of the lead pellet keeps them from being as effected by cross winds and airborne debris.

Hunting and/or Pest Control:

In most cases I do not recommend using a pistol for pest control because, plain and simple they are harder to shoot accurately. This is because there is no stock on a pistol to help steady the gun, and the front and rear sight are much closer together on a pistol than compared to rifle sights which means there is more margin for error when signing in a target. Pistols are generally lower powered than rifles which also plays a roll when considering a pistol for pest control since it may not have enough power to get the job done humanly. That said, there are pellet pistols deigned with power in mind, usually these are spring piston, or pressurized air powered air guns which can have a lot more power than a standard CO2 BB or Pellet Pistol.

Pistols versus Rifles:

This is not the forum for a full pistol versus rifle comparison. I can tell you that you will find a lot more pellet rifles than your will find BB rifles, they both exist but for the most part rifles are geared more towards target shooting and hunting. Most of the BB rifles available would be styled after replicas so the focus is not necessarily on power and or accuracy in these models.

Abundance:

In terms of Replica Action Shooters, BB Pistols outweigh the Pellet pistols by a land-slide. BB’s just work better in action pistols because the round hard steel ammo operates much easier and more reliably than the softer lead pellets, at least for action shooters. And the point of Replica Action Shooters is not so much power and accuracy but more so towards rapid fire good old back yard fun shooting.

Which is Best?

Well… Neither one is best, it just depends what you are looking for. 

• Do you want accuracy at longer ranges - if so maybe get a Pellet CO2 Pistol.

• Do you want more realism in terms of magazine loading and your slide locking back on the last shot - then you may be in the market for a BB CO2 Pistol.

• Do you want more power down range - heavy pellets are going to hit harder and truer than lighter Steel BB’s.

• Do you want trouble free shooting - hard steel BB’s rarely miss-feed or misfire compared to softer Lead Pellets especially in action shooters.

The best is what’s best for you and not always what's best for me…

This video is to give you a heads up on a few guns I will be reviewing shortly. Most of them are different version of guns I have already reviewed except for the Baby Desert Eagle which so far has eluded me :)

ASG STI Duty One CO2 4.5mm Steel BB Pistol (Non Blow Back)

• 4.5mm Steel BB

• 12 gram CO2

• 20 Round Drop Out Metal Magazine

• 407 FPS

• 1.8 Pounds

Buy ASG STI Duty One in Canada

Buy ASG STI Duty One in the US

Umarex CP88 Competition CO2 .177 Caliber Pellet Pistol

• .177 Caliber Lead Pellets

• 12 gram CO2

• 8 Round Metal Magazine

• 407 FPS

• 2.56 Pounds

Buy Umarex CP88 Competition CO2 in Canada

Buy Umarex CP88 Competition CO2 in the US

Umarex Baby Desert Eagle CO2 4.5mm Steel BB Pistol

• 4.5mm Steel BB

• 12 gram CO2

• 15 Round Drop Internal Magazine

• 410 FPS

• .9 Pounds

Buy Umarex Baby Desert Eagle in Canada

Buy Umarex Baby Desert Eagle in the US
 

Umarex TAC XBG CO2 4.5mm Steel BB Pistol

• 4.5mm Steel BB

• 12 gram CO2

• 19 Round Drop Out Metal Magazine

• 410 FPS

• 1.85 Pounds

Buy Umarex Tactical Adjustable in the Canada

Buy Umarex Tactical Adjustable in the US

In this Comparison Video I go through the benefits and shortcomings of CO2, Spring Piston and Pump Airguns. I focus mainly on Airguns but there is a bit of a crossover with Airsoft guns.

All three systems (CO2, Spring, Pump) create pressure that forces the ammunition with a high force out of the barrel. Similar to how gun powder is the source of energy for a bullet.

Here are some basic statements that best describe CO2, Spring Piston and Pump Airguns.

CO2 Airguns:

• CO2 Airguns use the expansion of CO2 gas to create the pressure required for the ammo.

• CO2 Airguns generally store enough CO2 for multiple shots per cartridge.

• CO2 Airguns have a limit as to how much power they can produce since CO2 has a set vapor pressure of 850 psi, or about 56 bar at room temperature which is around 25 C or 77 F. CO2 Gas also requires a warm environment to expand so warmer temperature and longer barrels help with power.

• Some CO2 guns can also use pressurized air tanks in place of CO2.

Spring Piston Airguns:

• Spring Airguns use the release of a pre-cocked spring and plunger system to compress air to power the ammo.

• Spring Piston Airguns require the cocking of the spring between each shot so they are single shot only.

• Spring Airguns are limited to how much effort is humanly possible to cock the spring into position. If you make the spring to strong then not everyone will be able to use the Airgun effectively. Too week of a spring and the Airgun will lack power.

• Spring Piston Airguns are known for having a fair amount of recoil and vibration when the spring moves both forward and backwards quickly inside the Airgun.

• Spring Airguns can use either a mechanical spring or a gas spring.

Pump Airguns:

• Pump Airguns (either Single or Multi-Pump) store air pressure in a chamber that when released, powers the ammo.

• Most Pump Airguns require at least 1 or more pumps, often up to 10 pumps for each shot and you generally only get one shot per set of pumps. Not to be confused with PCP Airguns (Pre Charged Pneumatic) which have large pressure tanks that are recharged with a high volume of pressurized air that is capable of shooting multiple shots per charge.

• Pump Airguns are also somewhat limited to how much effort is humanly possible since the higher the chamber pressure, the harder it will be to pump the Airgun. 

Misc Airguns:

• Generally speaking both Spring and Multi-Pump Airguns have more potential power than a CO2 guns since CO2 has a set peek pressure limit.

• Pump and CO2 Airguns are know to have very little recoil since the pressure is stored in a chamber and then released by a valve. No slapping back and forth of a large internal spring.

Pros:

CO2 Airguns:

• CO2 Airguns allow for multiple shots per CO2 cartridge for more realistic action shooting.

• CO2 Airguns do not require any human effort to charge the gun other than loading the CO2 and Ammo into the Airgun.

• CO2 Airguns allow for true semi auto shooting ability. 

Spring Piston Airguns:

• Spring Airguns have the potential for high velocity since the larger and stiffer the spring, the greater the output force.

• Spring Airguns do not require anything other than your ammunition, typically either a Pellet or BB.

• Spring Airguns are mechanically very simple which makes them very reliable and less expensive to produce than other types of Airguns. 

Pump Airguns:

• Pump Airguns have the potential for high velocity since more pumps equals greater output force, only limited by the users strength and the pressure rating of the Airgun.

• Pump Airguns do not require anything other than your ammunition, typically either a Pellet or BB.

• Pump Airguns have next to no recoil which makes them very easy to shoot and highly accurate.

Cons:

CO2 Airguns:

• CO2 Airguns require the purchase and use of CO2 or they simple do not work.

• CO2 Airguns are very susceptible to temperature changes, especially cold temperature since CO2 needs a warm environment in order to expand. Cool down effect also plays a role in power output.

• CO2 Airguns have a maximum set amount of power output.

Spring Piston Airguns:

• Spring Airguns require the pre-cocking of the spring for each shot.

• Spring Airguns can take some getting used to since the spring recoil/vibration requires a very lose grip (Military Grip) to shoot accurately with them.

• Spring Airguns should not be stored pre-cocked since this can damage the spring, less so with gas spring versions. 

Pump Airguns:

• Pump Airguns require pre-pumping to pressurize the air chamber for each shot.

• Pump Airguns, especially Multi-Pump Airguns take the most amount of human effort for each shot.

• Pump Airguns need to stored with at least one pump in them or the seals can get damaged over time.

I get asked about what cameras I use fairly often so a while back I made a video showing some of the cameras I used at that time. Since that video was made I have been using a newer pair of "HD Camera Glasses" called Pivothead Recons' which I really like and are very good quality and are perfect for that first person video camera angle.

In this video review, I show you around my pair of Pivothead Recon 1080p HD Camera Glasses and include some footage taken with them. I talk a bit about the specifications but have included the below specs right off of Pivothead's website to make sure it all gets covered:

OPTICS

4 ELEMENT GLASS LENS

Largan Glass Camera Lens

FOCUS

Recon'sContinuosFocus | Auto Focus: 4”- | Fixed focus: 2.8’ – | Macro 4”- 28”

FIELD OF VIEW

75 Degrees

IMAGE SENSOR

8MP Sony CMOS

RAM

2GB SDRAM

VIDEO

RESOLUTION

1080p@30fps | 720p@60fps | 720p@30fps

VIDEO FORMAT

Mp4 H.264

EXPOSURE

Auto | Bright | Dim

VIDEO OPTIONAL SETTING

Black & White | Face Tracking | Time/Date Stamp

AUDIO FORMAT

AAC MONO

44.1 kHz

PHOTO

IMAGE SIZE OPTIONS

8MP | 5MP | 3MP

BURST OPTIONS

16 Shot Stills | 10 Shot Stills | 5 Shot Stills | 3 Shot Stills

TIME LAPSE OPTION

1 Shot/1s | 1 Shot/30s | 4 Shots/8s

4 Shots/30s | 10 Shots/30s | 5 Shots/60s

FOCUS

Auto | Macro

EXPOSURE

Auto | Bright | Dim

ISO

Auto | 200 | 800 | 1600

PHOTO OPTIONAL SETTING

Black & White | Face Tracking | Time/Date Stamp

STORAGE

INTERNAL MEMORY

8GB

INTERFACE

USB CABLE

USB 2.0 Cable for Charging and Data Transfer

POWER

RECHARGEABLE

Rechargeable 3.7VLi-Polymer/440mAh

DC POWER

USB power via Micro USB, 5V DC 500mA

OPERATING SYSTEM

SYSTEM

Mac | PC | Android

PRE SET MODES

Active | Action Sport | Power Save

Spectator | Hands On (Macro) | Social | Black & White

CERTIFICATION

FCC | FDA | CE

Make sure to watch my Vimeo Video Review of the Pivothead Recon HD Video Glasses:

Moving on to the head to head comparison of the Tanfoglio Gold Custom versus the Sig Sauer X-Five Sight Rail (Open version). Again like my previous video of the KWC Model M1911 Tac A1 versus the Cybergun-KWC GSG 92-M92, these two Air Pistols feature full size drop out metal magazines that hold the CO2 and 4.5mm steel BB's, along with full blowback with working slide catches, safeties and magazine releases. Both are field Strippable and both have the addition of sight rails with red dot sights for quick target acquisition.

I did not find either sight rail pistol to be all that much more accurate than similar open sight pistols like the KWC Model M1911 Tac A1 and Cybergun-KWC GSG 92-M92, but I did find that target acquisition was much quicker and even when I accidentally double tapped the trigger, the second round was right on target.

In this field test comparison I shoot both guns through my Chronograph to see what kind of feet per second performance each one shoots, I also take them back 30 feet and shoot 10 rounds on a paper target using a semi rested position for true accuracy results.

Watch my Field Test Head to Head Shootout for the Tanfoglio Gold Custom versus the Sig Sauer X-Five Sight Rail:

Buy BB Pistols in Canada 
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Buy KWC Sig P226 X-Five in Canada
Buy KWC Sig P226 X-Five in the US

In this YouTube Overview video I show several NcSTAR Accessories, we carry a fair amount of NcSTAR products our Canada Replica Airguns Online Store and I thought it was time again to showcase some more NcSTAR items.

Here are the NcSTAR Accessories highlight in this YouTube video:

• Red & Green Laser
• Ultra Compact Green Laser
• Tactical Cantilever Red & Green Dot Sight
• Compact Tactical Green Dot Sight
• Tactical Red Dot Sight
• Folding Vertical Grip

Make sure to watch my YouTube Overview Video for these NcSTAR Products:

Buy NcSTAR Accessories in the Canada Replica Airguns Store

I thought I would try some Sport Smoke Tactical Airsoft - Paintball Smoke Grenades (TSG) and show you how they work out in an open area and also when in an enclosed area (indoors). These Tactical Smoke Grenades put out a lot of smoke but will require either a non windy day or an area where the smoke can accumulate to give you good coverage. Either way they do a greta job of causing a distraction that will allow you to get into a better position.

Here is some info on the Sport Tactical Smoke Grenades for Airsoft and Paintball:

The Sport Smoke Tactical Smoke Grenade (TSG) is designed to meet the extreme needs of today's paintball and Airsoft enthusiasts. These high quality smoke grenades are very affordable, producing a thick white plume of smoke to cover your movement and provide a major strategic advantage.

• Pull ring igniter.
• Thick white smoke.
• Good hang time.
• Easy to handle and carry.
• Biodegradable.
• Cool burning, Non-Pyrotechnic Smoke.
• Made in the USA.
• Smoke Output: 10,000 cubic feet
• Duration: 75 sec
• Dimensions: 2.75"×1.5"
• Weight (lb.): .2

Right now we sell these bad boys in our Canada Replica Airguns Store!
 

Buy the Tactical Smoke Grenade in the Canada Store

So what is the best way to describe the Umarex T.A.C. Converter? Well it converts several Umarex pistols into more of a PDW (Personal Defense Weapon). It's an accessory with a built in folding stock, included for-grip that also allows you to add other accessories to it converting your basic pistol into just about any configuration of tactical gun you can dream up! Add lasers, tac-lights, red dots, optical sights, flip up sights or what ever else you can think of...

The Umarex T.A.C. Converter works with the following Umarex pistols: The H&K USP, the S&W M&P40, the XBG, the CZ Enforcer, the Walther P99 DAO and the SA177. It currently does not work with any other pistols as you need to use the required adaptors that are specific to each gun. I suppose it is possible Umarex could make adaptors for other guns, only time will tell?

In my below Vimeo video, I show you the Umarex T.A.C. Converter with my Umarex SA177 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol installed, I also show you how to take out the pistol and then I walk you through the installation of my Walther P99 DOA CO2 Blowback Airsoft Pistol that is designed to fit into the T.A.C. Converter.

The Umarex T.A.C. Converter is a neat concept from Umarex that allows air-gunners to take an already existing umarex air pistol or one they plan to get and create something entirely different and new.

Buy Umarex TAC Converter in the Canada Store

Buy Umarex TAC Converter in the US Store

I have some more anticipated items from Umarex to show you all, and a special thanks to Bradley from Umarex for sending them my way to review.

If you like the Steel Storm then you should for sure like the Umarex Steel Force, both models share some basic mechanical attributes like semi auto and 6 round burst blowback operation, duel 12 gram CO2 cartridges, 300 round BB hoppers and 30 round spring fed magazines. The Steel Force however is more of a "replica" as it is modeled on the AR platform including an adjustable rear stock which will come in handy taming the high rate of fire 6 round burst mode.

Next up from Umarex is a classic replica of the Luger P08, it's always nice to see some older classics made into BB shooters, it may be the only way some of us will get to experience them and from what I can tell, the Umarex Legends P08 is near spot on! You won't find blowback or even a lot of actual moving parts other than the trigger, the safety and magazine release but this BB gun is all metal and well built, it has a nice weight to it with a firm double action trigger.

My last review item is not a gun but rather a gun accessory, the Umarex T.A.C. Converter which transforms several Umarex pistols into tactical PDW's. The actual models supported are the: HK USP, S&W MP40, X.B.G, CZ Enforcer, Walther P99 DOA and the now retired Umarex SA 177. With the T.A.C. Converter wrapped around your pistol of choice you are all setup with a folding stock and foregrip, not to mention anything else you may want to add onto the rails.

Keep posted for my full reviews of these items from Umarex.

Watch my Vimeo Update Video for these Umarex Products:

Buy the Umarex Steel Force in Canada  -  Buy Umarex Airguns in the US

I kind of "jumped the gun" a bit today (pun intended), I just felt like shooting one of my newer guns I had waiting for me to review. I actually shot and filmed this Cybergun Tanfoglio Gold Custom Blowback BB Pistol and my Cybergun Smith & Wesson M&P 9C GBB Airsoft Pistol both at the same time, what can I say, the weather was nice and I wanted to shoot something :)

As per usual I shot this blowback BB pistol through my Chronograph and actually got a much higher than the 300 claimed 5 shot average fps of 341. I kind of had a feeling right out of the box this gun had more in it! I also shot 10 rounds at the target from 20 feet out using a semi rested position (resting on a sand bag up front and kneeling in the back). Again the Cybergun Tanfoglio Gold Custom Blowback BB Pistol performed very well shooting a tight 1 inch grouping. When I free handed it and rattled off the remaining 7-8 rounds left in the magazine the grouping only widened to about 2 inches, this may be in part to the heavy weight and good balance and stability of the Cybergun Tanfoglio Gold Custom.

Since this 4.5mm Steel BB pistol does not come with any iron sights, you will need to purchase a red dot, I was fortunate enough to find a very nice silver matchup at my local surplus store that worked out well with this airgun. The magazine does claim to hold 18 rounds but 17 is a bit better fit, I was able to get off three magazine s before the CO2 fizzled out. One of the nicest traits this guns has to offer is the very smooth, short and light single action trigger which in part I am sure helped me get that 1 inch 10 round grouping. Another factor that may help the accuracy of the Tanfoglio Gold Custom is the fact that even though the blowback is decent, the 3 pounds of steel holding this airgun in place keep movement to a minimum.

All in all this is a really great IPSC styled BB shooter with a unique and ultra modern look, kind of like a CZ 75 on steroids you could say. It shot very nicely for me and even performed better than claimed and better than expected. Although I did have an idea this CO2 Blowback BB Pistol was going to impress! 

• Checkout my Preview video for the Cybergun Tanfoglio Gold Custom Blowback BB Pistol

Buy the Cybergun Tanfoglio Gold in Canada

Buy the Cybergun Tanfoglio Gold in the US

Type: Pellet/BB Multi-pump Air Rifle.

Manufacturer:Crosman.

Model: MK-177.

Materials: Plastic with some metal.

Weight: 3.5 pounds.

Barrel: 16.75 inches, rifled.

Propulsion: Multi-pump.

Action: Single shot - bolt action with manual advance magazine.

Ammunition Type: .177 caliber pellets & 4.5mm steel BB's.

Ammunition Capacity: 5 shot pellet magazine - 18 shot BB internal BB magazine - 350 round BB hopper.

FPS: 750 with Pellets and 800 with BB's for the US version (Up to 495 with Canada version).

Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Crosman MK-177 is medium length and fairly light. The trigger mainly releases the bolt so no pre-cocking of the trigger is required. The trigger is plastic but seems to work just fine as there is no real load on the trigger when shooting, you do need to get used to where the release point since there is some take up well before the trigger releases.

Accuracy: I found the Crosman MK-177 Air Rifle to be a very good shooter, getting about a 1 inch 10 shot grouping from 30 feet out in a semi rested position (sand bag up front, standing in the back). I also put 3 rounds through my somewhat failing Chrony Chronograph using 3,5 & 10 pumps and the MK-177 with the maximum 10 pump shot as high as 631 fps using 6.9 grain RWS lead pellets. I would expect the Canadian detuned version to shoot well below the 500 fps Canada limit much like my Canadian Crosman M4-177 I reviewed a while back.

Build Quality: The Crosman MK-177 Multi-pump Air Rifle is mostly molded plastic, but for a $100-ish Military Styled Replica Air Rifle it hits the mark in terms of affordability and if it was an all metal airgun you would more than likely expect to double or tripple this price point! Even though plastic is used throughout this Air Rifle, there are some internal metal parts where they need to be, the fit and finish seems to be good and I do not get the feeling the Crosman MK-177 is cheaply made in any way. The fact that most parts are molded means there is very little that can snap or break off and will make this air rifle even more durable longterm.

Realism: The Crosman MK-177 is a lose replica or copy of an FN SCAR Assault Rifle or ACR. It is not exact in terms of true dimensions to accommodate the pumping mechanism, You will not find very many working parts as just about everything is molded into the plastic on this Crosman MK-177 rifle. Unlike the Crosman M4-177 the lower magazine area is not removable and the rear stock is also none adjustable, I am not sure why Crosman didn't add these features to the MK-177 like they did to the M4-177? I am glad to see another Replica Assault rifle on the market as so few of them are available in Pellet or steel BB shooters.

Available in the:Replica Airguns Store.

Pros:

• The only SCAR Pellet/BB rifle I know of?

• Fairly well priced.

• Excellent accuracy!

• Very easy to pump.

• None red dot version comes with detachable and adjustable iron sights.

• Rails on top and sides for accessories.

• Option of shooting pellets or BB's, I would stick to pellets and save the barrel since it is not semi auto.

• Feels super solid since there are very few moving parts that could break.

• Looks like the Crosman M4-177 Pellet magazines are compatible.

Cons:

• Mostly plastic and just about everything is molded into the gun.

• Bolt and magazine are on opposite sides?

• Would of been cool if Crosman made a dedicated BB magazine?

Comments:

The Crosman MK-177 Multi-Pump Pellet/BB Air Rifle is very much like it's brother the Crosman M4-177 with a few plusses and a few minuses when comparing the two of them together. On the plus side the MK-177 has a bit more power and also the pumping is much easier while yielding higher internal pressures. On the downside the Crosman MK-177 is almost entirely molded plastic with no removable lower magazine or adjustable stock, and the bolt has been switched around to what I feel is the wrong side since now you need to index the magazine on one side and work the bolt on the other requiring a less efficient approach. Either way it is nice to have another replica air rifle on the marker and for the relatively low price you get a nice accurate pellet rifle, great for target shooting and even small pest control.

Watch my Vimeo Full Video Review of the Crosman MK-177 Pellet/BB Air Rifle:

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Buy Air Rifles in the US

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

• Check out my post explaining Single and Double action!

• 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.