It felt like Christmas the other day when a bunch of Springfield Armory new products showed up at my door! So first off thanks to Air Venturi for sending me these new products for review. I already got my hands on the Springfield Armory XDM 3.8 and 4.5 GBB Airsoft version but have been wanting to also review the CO2 Blowback Steel BB versions.
In this video I show all these new Springfield Armory CO2 Blowback BB guns quickly but will of course be making dedicated Table Top and Fired Test Shooting Video for them upcoming.
Type: BB Rifle. Manufacturer: Crosman. Model: Bushmaster MPW. Materials: Metal & plastic. Weight: 6.5 pounds (4.98 kilograms). Length: 21 inches (Stock all the way in). Propulsion: 12 gram CO2 dual cartridges. Action: Blowback - single action only. Ammunition Type: 4.5mm steel BB's. Ammunition Capacity: 25 rounds. FPS: 430fps. Rate of Fire: 1400 rounds per minute in full auto
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Crosman Bushmaster MPW CO2 Blowback BB Machine Gun is single action only since the charging handle must be cocked first before you can shoot it. The trigger is short and fairly light as you would expect from an AR type trigger action. The bonus with the Crosman Bushmaster MPW CO2 Blowback BB Machine Gun is when you switch it over to full auto mode and just one pull and hold of the trigger will empty the 25 round magazine in just seconds.
Accuracy: So far I have not actually shot the Crosman Bushmaster MPW CO2 Blowback BB Machine Gun but since the internals are exactly the same as the Crosman DPMS SBR CO2 Blowback BB M4 I have already fully review, then I will expect it to performa about the same until I do my Field Test Shooting Review. You shoudl expect about 400 fps in semi auto mode and in terms of accuracy I hope to get a similar 3/4 inch 10 round semi auto grouping from 30 feet away. Full auto will open up the group a bit but not too much, maybe around 2 inches…
Build Quality: The Crosman Bushmaster MPW CO2 Blowback BB Machine Gun is well made all around. Weighing in at 6.5 pounds without any add on accessories it feel solid and well built. There is a lot of metal going on inside and out of this rifle but keep in mind the top and bottom receiver are plastic with metal parts where they need to be like in the internals, pretty much all the working parts are metal, the magazine is full metal, the buffer tub is metal, charging handle, selector switch, magazine release, bolt release, trigger and of course the barrel is metal.
Realism: The Crosman Bushmaster MPW CO2 Blowback BB Machine Gun is about as real as you are going to get in a CO2 Blowback AR/M4 styled Airgun. You can even take it apart and split the top and bottom receivers like the real steal version. The blowback action gives you some recoil but more importantly offers a true single action trigger and of course the full auto ability we all love. Almost all the working parts work like they would on a real M4 other than the forward assist which is moulded into the receiver.
Pros:
Super realistic working M4/AR 4.5mm BB Rifle just like the DPMS SBR but in a different flavor.
Full blowback operation with both semi and full auto shooting, can feel the blowback operation rocking the gun.
Good weight and feel to it.
Almost everything works exactly like the real steel version. (Charging handle, dust cover, bolt release, magazine release, selector switch…)
Duel CO2 full metal drop out magazine that holds the 25 4.5mm steel BB’s.
Adjustable and customizable AR buttstock.
Included red dot sights and ability to add pop-up iron sights.
Lots of rails for mounting additional cool hardware.
Built in Mock Suppressor.
Cons:
Receiver is plastic but well made and does not compromise feel or weight since there is lots of metal throughout this gun.
No iron sights included.
No fore grip included like the DPMS SBR.
Comments:
The Crosman Bushmaster MPW CO2 Blowback BB Machine Gun is really pretty much the same as the Crosman DPMS SBR CO2 Blowback BB Full Auto Rifle with more or less Cosmetic changes. One big advantage over the DPMS SBR is the AR comparable buffer tube which allows you to swap out any AR styled rear stock you choose! You also get an included Red Dot sight since there are no Iron sights. The Crosman Bushmaster MPW CO2 Blowback BB Machine Gun is super customizable with its quad-rail so go ahead and dress yours up with Iron sights, lasers, tactical lights, foregrips or whatever else you can dream up.
My Table Top Video of the Crosman Bushmaster MPW CO2 Blowback BB Machine Gun:
In this Field Test Shooting video I perform two main Airgun tests using the Sig Sauer P365 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol. The Chronograph Test to find out what the actual real world velocity is using a brand new CO2 along with 5.1 grain 4.5mm high quality Steel BB’s. And secondly I perform an Accuracy Test where I shoot 10 rounds at a paper target setup 30 feet away while using a rested seated position to take out as much human factor as possible. By the way the temperature on this day in the Sea Can Indoor Airgun Shooting Range was 24 degrees Celsius or 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
Starting with the Chronograph Test, I shot 5 rounds with the Sig Sauer P365 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol through my Chronograph and averaged 287 fps with the fastest being 297 fps and the lowest being 276 fps. This was pretty close to Sig Sauers 295 maximum fps claim and right in line for a super short barrelled blowback BB pistol.
So how did the Sig Sauer P365 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol do in terms of accuracy? Well not bad. I was able to get around a 2.5 inch 10 shot grouping with all but one shot hitting within 2 inches of each other. I did find the Sig Sauer P365 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol shot a little bit low at 30 feet but not a crazy amount. In terms of windage it was well centered, maybe just a hair to the right.
Overall the Sig Sauer P365 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol is a nice shooter, it has a very fast and snappy blowback action and makes a kind of popping sound that’s is louder than I expected. The SAO trigger when using good quality smooth 4.5mm Steel BB’s was decent allowing me to concentrate on my shooting rather than struggle with the trigger. All in all I really love this little Air Pistol, Sig Sauer did a great job bringing it to market and getting as much into the Sig Sauer P365 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol as they could considering it’s super compact size.
Type: Air Pistol. Manufacturer: Sig Sauer ASP Model:Sig Sauer P365. Materials: Metal and polymer build. Weight: .8 pounds (363 Grams). Barrel: 3.2 inches - smooth bore. Propulsion: 12 gram CO2. Action: Blowback singe action only. Ammunition Type: 4.5mm steel BB’s. Ammunition Capacity: 12 round full size drop out magazine. Max FPS: 295.
Trigger Pull: The trigger on the Sig Sauer P365 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol is a single action only trigger so you will need to rack the slide to cock the trigger and internal striker, after which the blowback operation will do this for you. When the Sig Sauer P365 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol is unloaded the trigger pull length is short and the trigger weight is fairly light. That said when you load the full size drop out magazine with steel 4.5mm BB’s, the trigger pull weight increases significantly. This is because the inner barrel comes back and into the magazine when the trigger is pulled allowing for a better seal between the barrel and magazine which increases power and CO2 efficiency. The drawback to this is more friction on the trigger when you pull it with a loaded magazine.
Accuracy: Since I have not done my Field Test Shooting Review for the Sig Sauer P365 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol, I can not comment fully on how the Sig Sauer P365 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol will perform in terms of accuracy and power. I did have the chance to shoot off a couple magazines worth of ammo in the yard shooting at some pop cans around 30 feet away and the Sig Sauer P365 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol seemed to hit them most often then not. I was a bit surprised by the snappy blowback and loud pop the Sig Sauer P365 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol made and will not be surprised if it is able to hit the claimed 295 fps velocity using a brand new CO2.
Build Quality: The Sig Sauer P365 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol has a metal and plastic (polymer) build, the slide is metal along with part of the full size magazine and I am sure several inner parts will also be metal. The frame along with section of the magazine are plastic. It’s kind of hard to tell if the trigger, safeties, slide catch and take down leavers are metal but I believe they are with the magazine release being plastic. The Sig Sauer P365 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol is not the heaviest Airgun coming in at about .8 pounds but for its size it feels good. Fit and finishes are also good.
Realism: The Sig Sauer P365 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol is a replica of the real steel Sig Sauer P365 which is a 9mm striker fired everyday cary compact pistol. It looks and feels the part with most external mechanical working parts mimicking the real steel version well enough. I was not able to easily field strip the Sig Sauer P365 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol since the takedown leaver seems to be only for show. One main difference between the CO2 Airgun and Real Steel version of the Sig Sauer P365 is the use of polymer in the frame for the Airgun version while the real steel Sig Sauer P365 has a metal frame. I imagine this is because 9mm rounds pack some punch and a small polymer frame may not have been up to the job. not something to be concerned with in a CO2 version of the same pistol.
One of the smallest CO2 BB Airgun on the market and somehow Sig managed to get a full size drop out magazine in it?
Good overall replica of the real steel P365 Sig Sauer pistol in terms of looks and operation.
Full Sig Sauer markings and licensing.
Working ambidextrous safeties and slide catch release (locks back after last shot).
Snappy blowback feel.
White and green dot sights front and back.
Rail for accessories (Maybe).
Recessed barrel opening and open ejection port for added realism.
Warning instructions are super discreet!
Cons:
SAO trigger gets a bit harder to pull when loaded up with BB’s.
Has a polymer frame as compared to the metal frame on the real steel version.
Not easily field strippable..
Comments: The Sig Sauer P365 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol was a real show stopper at this years SHOT Show, I was amazed that Sig Sauer was able to actually figure out a way to fit a full size drop out magazine that holds both the CO2 and 12 steel BB’s in such a compact Airgun. The Sig Sauer P365 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol is even small than the Walther PPK in many ways so great work by Sig in figuring out how to engineer their new Sig Sauer P365 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol. I also think the the Sig Sauer P365 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol is a great replica of the real steel version in looks, feel and function which is what we are all looking for when considering buying a new CO2 replica Air Pistol. My initial test shots went well and make me feel optimistic about how the Field Test Shooting Video will go when I make it shortly.
My Table Top Review of the Sig Sauer P365 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol:
Again I have some new products to show everyone. Some we got a bit of a preview of when I was at SHOT Show 2019 earlier this year but now I have them in my hands to show off and of course will be doing full Table Top and Filed Test for anything new as soon as I can get to them.
Starting with Sig Sauer, they sent me their brand new Sig Sauer P365 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol. This was probably one of my favorite new Air Pistols at SHOT Show simply because it is so small and somehow Sig was able to find a way to put a full size drop out metal magazine that holds both the CO2 and BB’s in it. This is one I am really looking forward to testing out in the Indoor Sea Can Airgun Shooting Range.
Another fantastic product is Crosman’s DPMS Full Auto CO2 BB Rifle which was pretty much perfect the first time around. Well at SHOT Show this year Crosman updated it a bit mainly with some cosmetic changes and now is offering the Crosman MPW, a slightly shorter version of the DPMS and now with an AR Compatible Stock for customizing your Crosman’s MPW Full Auto CO2 BB Rifle.
So maybe not as exciting… I also take a look at a NBB CO2 BB Makarov from KWC that is pretty basic but is much less expensive and will offer higher FPS and more shots per CO2 being that it is Non-blowback Airgun. It will be interesting to see how it compares performance wise to the KWC Full Blowback CO2 BB version.
Last but also super cool and I know it’s not really as Airgun related but still something I think everyone will be interested in is the Pocket Shot Pro Arrow Pouch with D-Loop. I reviewed the Pocket Shot “Slingshot” a while back, this new product allows you to use standard Arrows with their new Arrow Pouch getting around 40 pounds of pull and it comes with a trigger release. By the way the Pocket Shot Pro Arrow system is legals to hunt deer with in most US States, I’m not sure about Canada but perhaps here too?
I do my best to get back to everyone with a question I have the answer to but there are times when I simply do not have the answer to your question. And for some reason these questions seem to come more often than others. I figured I would address these questions that I can not answer so you will know the reasons why and that I’m not just being a jerk by not answering them for you.
Here is a list of my Top 5 most often asked Questions I Can Not help you with:
I will start of this Field Test Shooting video by saying that the KWC Model TT-33 CO2 SAO Non-Blowback BB Pistol is not going to be an action shooter since it is a single action only gun much like the old west 6 shooters but in this case it is not a revolver but rather what looks like a semi auto Tokarev. Once you get over that and accept that there will be no action shooting with the KWC Model TT-33 CO2 SAO Non-Blowback BB Pistol, then we can get back to having some good old shooting fun with it.
For my Chronograph Test to find out if the KWC Model TT-33 CO2 SAO Non-Blowback BB Pistol get’s close to KWC’s 423 claimed fps I loaded up the Full Size Drop Out Metal Magazine with around 10 BB’s in hopes of getting at least 5 recorded shots to determine a real world velocity. Initially the KWC Model TT-33 CO2 SAO Non-Blowback BB Pistol was shooting poorly with the velocity going up and down a lot even as low as 200 fps but as I finished off the 10 round magazine things started to improve a bit. So I loaded up another 10 rounds and gave it another go. This second time around the KWC Model TT-33 CO2 SAO Non-Blowback BB Pistol performed much better getting an Average of 370 fps which is a lot closer to the clamped fps by KWC.
You may wonder why the KWC Model TT-33 CO2 SAO Non-Blowback BB Pistol was not so good out of the box, I think perhaps the CO2 valve just needed a little bit of break in time, perhaps there was some machining residue in the valve area that was hampering things and after a bit of shooting it clear it out? Either way I did not have any more problems with the KWC Model TT-33 CO2 SAO Non-Blowback BB Pistol after the first 10 rounds. The temperature in the Indoor Airgun Sea Can Shooting Range was 24 degrees Celsius or 75 degrees Fahrenheit and I did use a brand new CO2 for this test as always.
For my Accuracy Test the KWC Model TT-33 CO2 SAO Non-Blowback BB Pistol I shot 10 rounds into a paper target from 30 feet away using a seated and rested shooting position. I was able to get 8 of the shots all within about an inch of each other with 2 of the shots coming out just a bit. One of the straggler shots I actually saw hook to the right which makes me think it may have been a BB that was a little deformed, this can happen sometimes. The KWC Model TT-33 CO2 SAO Non-Blowback BB Pistol did shoot about 2.5 inches high and just slightly to the left out of the box and since the sights are non-adjustable you will want to aim a bit low on your target at least at 30 foot ranges.
I found the KWC Model TT-33 CO2 SAO Non-Blowback BB Pistol to be a decent BB shooter capable of 1 inch groupings at 30 feet out and getting close to 400 fps, I imagine since it does not have blowback and your shots are not going to be very rapid that you will get at least 100 shots per CO2. The trigger is Single Action Only so I was expecting it to be lighter than it was so you will have to get a bit use to it as I did have to apply more pressure than I was expecting. Overall the KWC Model TT-33 CO2 SAO Non-Blowback BB Pistol is another nice addition to the Tokarev line of Airguns and should be considered if this is what you are looking for.
The question comes up often about which Airgun to buy. Customers are wondering when they are looking at a specific Airgun and they see several similar products but from different companies, are they the same gun and if so which one should they decide to buy?
One of the biggest Airgun suppliers out there is for sure KWC, their BB and Airsoft guns are redistributed through companies like Umarex, Crosman, Sig Sauer, ASG, Gletcher and more. Often times the companies that redistribute KWC Airguns hold licensing agreements with real gun manufacturers like Smith & Wesson, Glock, Colt, Beretta, Sig Sauer, Taurus to name a few… KWC makes the Airguns in their Taiwanese factory but they are not allowed to put a real gun manufacturer license on the Airguns they distribute directly so KWC distributed Airguns will generally be all black.
I have also seen companies like Umarex distribute a new KWC Airgun that I have not seen yet from KWC, I believe KWC works with these big name Airgun companies directly and will build a new gun or variation of an existing KWC Airgun for them and give that Company an exclusive for a period of time. KWC will eventually regain the rights to sell that Airgun model directly after 6 months to a year.
Now that you know a little bit more on how it all works let’s get back to whether you should buy a KWC branded Airgun or other Brands same Airgun. It really comes down to I would say three factors. Do you want a Licensed version of the Airgun you are buying? Is there a price difference? Which gun is available to buy when I am ready to buy?
When you buy the Licensed version of the KWC Airgun redistributed through a third part Airgun Company you will often get a lot more writing on the Airgun than just the Gun Manufacturers name. Warning information comes to mind and does not look all that attractive on the slide where it is usually found in bright white lettering. If you like a cleaner look and don’t mind the lack of licensing then the KWC distributed version will generally be all back, nice and clean looking.
You would think buying the KWC Version that is sold more directly to the end customer would be the less expensive of the options because less hands are involved in the selling process. This is not always true, it is more about supply and demand, if more people want the cleaner looking KWC version but it’s harder to get ahold of than the price of the KWC version may actually be higher than say the Umarex or Crosman version. So shop around if price is the deciding factor as the guns are going to be mechanically the same with just some slight cosmetic differences between them.
Lastly, availability maybe what eventually leads you to buy a KWC version over an Umarex, or Crosman or Sig version since if the gun is not in stock well you may have limited options and so the one in stock is going to be perhaps your only option! Don’t feel like you got short changed, again these guns are virtually all the same at the end of the day no matter if you buy it from KWC, Umarex, Crosman, Sig Sauer, ASG, Gletcher or whomever.
The subject of Red/Orange tips on Airguns is often a bit controversial, the idea behind putting a Red or Orange tip on an Airgun is to distinguish an Airsoft gun from a “Real Gun”. Is this really a good idea? Do we really want to encourage people from treating an Airgun as if it was not real? Does the Orang/Red tip give people the wrong idea that an Airgun can be used with less responsibility than a real gun and if so what are the consequences.
In my “Is a Red or Orange Tip on an Airgun a Good or Bad Idea” YouTube Video I dress two main issues I have with putting Red or Orange Tips on Airguns and in this case I am talking mainly from the perspective of a person living in North America where we often see Red/Orange tips on Airsoft guns that come from the US. In Canada our legally imported Airsoft guns do not require Red or Orange tips since they are actually considered unregulated firearms as an Airsoft gun has been determined to be able to cause serious injury.
Main Point Number 1: Does adding a Red or Orange tip give the false impression that an Airgun is a toy and can be treated just like a toy? Would you give an Airgun to a child unsupervised? Can an Airgun cause a serious injury or even death, and if so why is an Airgun potentially less dangerous than a “Real Gun”?
Main Point Number 2: Does the additional a Red/Orange Tip on and Airgun make it harder for law enforcement to make a decision when they are forced to act on someone that appears to have a gun and is using it in a dangerous way? What do they do when a person is brandishing what looks to be a firearm but it appears to have a Red or Orange Tip on it? What if someone simply painted the tip Red or Orange to throw people off and make them second guess themselves allowing the perpetrator critical time to get the first and most critical shots off?
I am not trying to stir up any pots here but simply bringing up concerns I have with adding Red or Orange Tips to Airguns. Maybe the powers that be need to reconsider if a Red or Orange Tip on an Airgun is a good or bad idea?
Some new guns came in for me to highlight, some will get full reviews and some are KWC unlicensed versions of some Airguns I have already reviewed so this unboxing update video will suffice for them.
In this Field Test Shooting video for the Umarex Beretta M9A3 Full Auto CO2 Blowback BB Pistol I take it through a series of tests to see what kind of velocity and accuracy we can expect form the Umarex Beretta M9A3 Full Auto CO2 Blowback BB Pistol.
To see what kind of power the Umarex Beretta M9A3 Full Auto CO2 Blowback BB Pistol has I place 5 shots through my Chronograph using a brand new CO2 and 5.1 grain standard steel BB’s. The temperature inside my Sea Can indoor airguns shooting range was about 22 degrees Celsius or 70 degrees Fahrenheit so not too warm or too cold, perfect for CO2 Airgun testing. The Umarex Beretta M9A3 Full Auto CO2 Blowback BB Pistol was able to average 363 fps which was actually a little bit faster than Umarex’s claimed 330fps.
Moving on to my accuracy test for the Umarex Beretta M9A3 Full Auto CO2 Blowback BB Pistol I first placed 10 semi auto rods into my paper target situated 30 feet downrange and form my seated and rested position I was able to get most of the shots in a 1 inch grouping with two outliers. Keep in mind I had to repeat this test since my first 10 shot grouping was very low on the target. I also found the Umarex Beretta M9A3 Full Auto CO2 Blowback BB Pistol shot a little bit to the left but not a lot. Perhaps the internal hop-up adjustment may bring the BB’s up a bit on target?
I then replaced the magazine with a fully loaded one and just for fun shot some full auto bursts into the target, as expected my results where more or less “Spray and Pray” with some steel BB’s bouncing off of harder potions of the target and coming back at me…
Overall the Umarex Beretta M9A3 Full Auto CO2 Blowback BB Pistol is a decent performer and a lot of fun to shoot with very snappy blowback operation. Other than ti shooting low on the target I had nothing to complain about and I really think it’s one of the nicest Steel BB shooting Blowback Beretta pistols on the market.
Type: BB air pistol. Distributer:Umarex. Model:Beretta M9A3. Materials: Metal and polymer build. Weight: 1.9 pounds (861 grams). Barrel: 4.5 inches metal, non-rifled. Propulsion: CO2 x1. Action: Semi and full auto blowback, single and double action. Ammunition Type: 4.5mm Steel BB's. Ammunition Capacity: 18 rounds. FPS: 330.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Umarex Beretta M9A3 Full Auto CO2 Blowback BB Pistol is like what you would expect from a real Beretta of this style, it offers both single and double action but most of the time you will be shooting in single action since the slide blowback cocks the hammer after each shot. Single action has a little bit of take-up but has a predictable release that is not overly light or heavy. Double action shots are longer and heavier which is as expected but will only be required for that first shot if you have de-cocked your chambered pistol.
Build Quality: The Umarex Beretta M9A3 Full Auto CO2 Blowback BB Pistol is slightly lighter than the standard Beretta Mod. 92 A1 since it has a polymer frame but it still has a good weight to it at close to 2 pounds. All the materials feel high quality and the fit and finish is top notch. It’s a real looker for sure! The slide spring is one of the heavier ones I have seen in a full blowback CO2 BB pistol giving a real snappy blowback action.
Your choice of shooting in either semi auto or full auto mode.
Really nice replica of the original real steel Beretta M9A1.
Great weight and feel to it. Not too heavy!
High quality metal and polymer design, fit and finish is very good.
Strong slide spring so has nice crisp blowback action.
Realistic working safety and working slide catch release.
Full size dropout metal magazine that holds BB's and CO2.
Can be field stripped like original Beretta M9A3.
Fully Beretta licensed.
Can put a mock suppressor on it.
Really a great looking airgun!
Cons:
Will eat CO2 especially in full auto mode.
None adjustable sights but the front sight is removable.
Typical Umarex ugly white warning instruction on the slide.
Comments:
If you’re a Beretta fan then I think you are really going to want to pick one of these Umarex Beretta M9A3 Full Auto CO2 Blowback BB Pistols, even if you are lady have a different version. The new Umarex Beretta M9A3 Full Auto CO2 Blowback BB Pistol is by far one of the best to date in terms of getting it all right. You get all the typical Full Blowback features like a working slide catch release and magazine release, an ambidextrous safety, full size drop out metal magazine that hods the CO2 and 18 4.5mm Steel BB's. On top of all of this you also have a threaded barrel tip for adding a mock suppressor and the Authentic FDE Color Scheme that really makes the Umarex Beretta M9A3 Full Auto CO2 Blowback BB Pistol a real looker!
My Vimeo Videos for the Umarex Beretta M9A3 Full Auto CO2 Blowback BB Pistol:
To celebrate Victoria Day here in Canada we are having a SALE over in the www.ReplicaAirguns.ca Online Store! Everything will be 10% OFF! Sale will go over this weekend and end Monday night.
We are featuring a couple of newer products in the Canada Store, one from G&G and one from Umarex…
In this Update Video we take a look at some BB and Airsoft pistols I have already reviewed but in a slightly different form factor. They are all Umarex Legends pistols but two of them (The P.08 and M712) are WWII Special Editions versions with that aged weathered look to them.
The Umarex Single Action Army Wildcard .45 is in 6mm Airsoft which I have so far not review in a Single Action Army Revolver so not only will I be showing you this one up close, but I will be doing a followup Field Test Shooting video for it shortly.
Here are some basic specifications on these three Airguns:
Umarex WWII Limited Edition M712 Full Auto Blowback BB Pistol
Type:BB Pistol Manufacturer:Umarex Model:WWII Limited Edition M712 Materials: Full Metal Weight: 1424 grams (3.15 pounds) Barrel: Smoothbore Power Source: CO2 Action: Semi and Full Auto Ammo Type: 4.5mm BBs Ammo Capacity: 18 Rounds FPS: 360
Umarex WWII Limited Edition P08 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol
Type:BB Pistol Manufacturer:Umarex Model:WWII P08 Materials: Full Metal Weight: 808 grams (1.7 pounds) Barrel: Smoothbore Power Source: CO2 Action: Semi and Full Auto Ammo Type: 4.5mm BBs Ammo Capacity: 21 Rounds FPS: 300
A while back I made a Vimeo Video named” Is an Airgun Good for Self Defense?” It’s been pretty popular on YouTube getting over 2 million video views and I get a lot fo feedback from my viewers with varying opinions on this issue. I like constrictive feedback and enjoy hearing what my YouTube viewers have to say as long as everyone is being civil about it and not just trying to start an argument.
In my first video on this subject I pretty much go on the record saying I don’t think Airguns are a good choice for self defense and there are for sure way better alternatives but many of you disagreed with me and so I decided to make this update or revisit video and go over some of the top pushback comments I get and see if they have some merit to them.
Here are the top 4 pushback comments I get the most often:
When the bad guy sees the airgun they are going to run away thinking it’s a real gun.
Just shoot the bad guy in the eyes / face.
Use an HPA large caliber rifle.
Use a full auto high capacity Airgun.
Watch my “Is an Airgun Good for Self Defense Revisit” Vimeo video to see how I address these pushback comments.
Third time is a charm or so they say? Now that we are on the third version of the Umarex “Steel” series of BB CO2 Blowback Semi and 6 Round Burst Air Rifles what can we take away from this Field Test Shooting Video? Does the Umarex Steel Strike CO2 Blowback BB Rifle measure up to its predecessors? Without a full on spoiler alert I would have to say the Umarex Steel Strike CO2 Blowback BB Rifle did not let me down…
Starting off with the Chronograph Velocity portion of my Indoor Sea Can Airgun Shooting Test, things did not start off so good, first shot out of the Umarex Steel Strike CO2 Blowback BB Rifle was below 200 fps? I think this is because the duel CO2 system needs a least a couple of shots to get primed up because the Umarex Steel Strike CO2 Blowback BB Rifle only seemed to get better with each shot which is the opposite of what happens with most CO2 Airguns. After several shots the Umarex Steel Strike CO2 Blowback BB Rifle seemed to settle into a nice 390 fps range and the temperature was only 18 degree Celsius or 64 degrees Fahrenheit. In warmer conditions I would expect to get at least the 400 fps claimed by Umarex.
Moving onto the accuracy portion of the Field Test Shooting Review for the Umarex Steel Strike CO2 Blowback BB Rifle, I was very pleased with the results. Placing 10 semi auto shots 30 feet down range into my paper target using a rested seated position I was able to get just under a 1 inch grouping. And this was using the built-in flip up none adjustable peep sights which I do fins a little bit hard to use with my aging eyes… The Umarex Steel Strike CO2 Blowback BB Rifle even shot well centred just a little bit low and slightly to the left but very close to the bullseye. When I flipped the selector switch to 6 round burst things did spread out a bit but this was mainly because of the vibration that caused me to pull the gun to the right with each 6 round burst.
At the end of the day the Umarex Steel Strike CO2 Blowback BB Rifle is a really fun CO2 Blowback “full Auto” BB Rifle that has a crazy 6 round burst rate of fire and shoots pretty hard with good accuracy. You get all of this at a pretty affordable price. Are there other Full auto capable BB rifles that look a little bit better than the Steel Strike? I’m thinking about the Crosman DPMS SBR… Sure but in terms of performance the Umarex Steel Strike CO2 Blowback BB Rifle isn not lacking anything in this department. It may depend on your budget and if you’re simple just looking for a fun full auto CO2 BB rifle at the end of the day.
Type: BB Machine Gun/Rifle. Manufacturer: Umarex USA. Model: Steel Strike (AR Platform). Materials: Plastic shell with internal metal parts. Weight: 3.8 pounds (1720 grams). Barrel: 9 inch Metal non-rifled. Propulsion: CO2 x 2 (housed in b uffer tube) Action: Semi and 6 round burst blowback, single action only. Ammunition Type: 4.5mm BB's. Ammunition Capacity: 900/30 round drop out hopper/magazine. FPS: 400.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Umarex Steel Strike CO2 BB Rifle is single action only, so you will need to charge the rifle by pulling back the charging handle first, once this is done the trigger is reset and the gun is ready to shoot. The blowback operation charges the internal bolt automatically after each shot so keep this in mind as the gun is going to be live and ready to shoot until you either run out of ammo or CO2. Make sure to place it in safe mode when not in use especially when you have CO2 in the gun.
Accuracy: I have not shot the Umarex Steel Strike CO2 BB Rifle yet but will remaking a Field test Shoting video very soon for it. But for a reference I did shoot the Umarex Steel Froce which is a very similar product and this is how it performed for me:
Shooting the Umarex Steel Force at a target from 30 feet away in a semi rested position using both the semi auto and 6 round burst modes, the Steel Force performed very good getting around a 1.5 inch 10 shot grouping in semi auto and then spreading out a bit in 6 round burst mode which was to be expected, still a respectable grouping. Shots where well centered on the target but I did have the advantage of using a red dot scope, I found when using the none adjustable open sights that come with the Umarex Steel Force that I was shooting under the target at closer ranges. My Chrony testing did not go exactly as planned due to my temperamental Chronograph but I was able to get two shots to read and they average out at 466 fps, well over the 430 claimed fps.
Build Quality: The Umarex Steel Strike CO2 BB Rifle is mostly plastic on the outside with most of it's metal parts on the inside, pretty much everything you can see on the outside is going to be plastic except for maybe the magazine release and selector switch. The plastic seems durable enough but it has just a bit too much shine for me which I think makes it look less like metal and more like plastic. Everything seemed to function as expected but again I would have liked to have seen a bit more metal, not necessarily the outer shell, but I feel the flash hider, trigger, flip up sights and charging handle could have been made out of metal and would have given this Umarex Umarex Steel Strike CO2 BB Rifle a bit more weight and balance to it.
Realism: The Umarex Steel Strike CO2 BB Rifle is designed on the AR platform and for the most part is about the right size shape and look of an AR 15 / M16 type rifle. Even the selector switch, magazine release, rear adjustable stock and Charging handle function just like a real AR 15! Some parts are molded in just for looks like the bolt release, dust cover and forward assist but at least they look the part. The plastic for me was the real tell here as it kind of looks like plastic where as some plastic guns are really hard to tell they are not metal, but other than that this is a pretty decent replica of an AR Rifle.
Will get a decent amount of shots with its dual CO2 configuration.
Removable and 2 position adjustable stock.
Flip up sights with optical sight top rail option.
Lots of rials for adding on accessories.
Not a bad replica of an AR platform gun.
Full auto has a very high rate of fire.
Internal blowback does give a bit of recoil feedback feel.
CO2 in the buffer tube makes more sense?
Price point is good for a fun full auto BB rifle.
Cons:
Pop up sights are non adjustable.
Plastic finish could have been a bit higher grade, like what most Airsoft AR's use.
Just a bit more metal would have been nice and added to the overall weight a bit. (Switches, Sights, Charging handle.
No sling mounts.
Comments:
The Umarex Steel Strike CO2 BB Rifle looks to be an improvement over the Steel Storm and Steel Force, I like the new placement of the duel CO2 into the buffer tube and changing the location of the BB’s from the upper receiver and into the drop out magazine which is where we would normally expect them to be. We also get a magazine hopper capacity of up to 900 rounds with the new Umarex Steel Strike CO2 BB Rifle so no having to refile int for several CO2 swap-outs. I think the overall looks ahed improved and the tighter aperture of the pep sight shoudl make getting BB;s on target with more accuracy a bit easier. I look forward to seeing what kind of performance I get out of the Umarex Steel Strike CO2 BB Rifle when I test it out during my upcoming Field Test Shooting Video.
My Vimeo Table Top Videos for the Umarex Steel Striker BB Rifle:
This review was plagued with nothing but recording issues during the target accuracy portion of the review. I had to record it 6 separate times for reasons like: Two battery issues, one wrong setting in my camera, a memory card issue (wasn’t reading) and in one test I had a piece of cardboard covering a camera lens!!! Anyway I did get it done in the end but it was very frustrating!
So how did the KWC K17 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol perform for me during this Field Test Shooting Video? I would have to say a bit hot and cold. In terms of velocity, the KWC K17 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol was bang on averaging right around 325 fps which was right in line with KWC’s 328 fps claim. And the temperature was not super hot inside the Sea Can Indoor Airgun Shooting Range. About 15 degrees Celsius or around 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
Moving on to the target portion of this Field Test Review I did manage to get a 4 inch 10 round grouping during my first test (which had recording issues) but for the shooting test that made it to this video my grouping spread out a fair amount closer to 6-8 inches. I did play around with the internal hop-up because the KWC K17 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol likes to shoot low and to the right, so I thought that if I adjusted the hop-up up, I would be able to get shots a little higher on target but this adjustment only seemed to make the gun shoot a little bit less accurately for me? As always I was shooting using me rested seated position from 30 feet down range.
Type: Blowback BB Pistol. Manufacturer: Made and Distributed by KWC. Model:K17. Materials: Metal & Polymer. Weight: 1.68 pounds (760 grams). Barrel: 4.3 inches metal non-rifled. Propulsion: 1 x Co2. Action: Semi auto blowback, single action only trigger. Ammunition Type: 4.5mm steel BB's. Ammunition Capacity: 17 round drop out full size metal magazine. FPS: Claimed 329.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the KWC K17 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol is short with only a little bit of take up, the release is light and crips. The blowback action resets the internal Hammer / Striker with each shot for that true single action trigger and it’s also nice that the trigger does have a working trigger safety.
Accuracy: At this point I have not shot the KWC K17 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol so I can only quote what KWC is saying in terms of FPS which is around 330. For a full blowback action steel BB pistol like many other KWC Blowback Air Pistols this is about what you are going to expect. It may sound low but to be honest 300+ is fast enough at 30 feet to only notice a slight delay from the time you press the trigger till the steel BB hits the target and you can expect to put holes in pop cans all day long. In terms of accuracy I should be able to get at least a 2 inch 10 shot grouping from 30 feet down range if the KWC K17 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol is on point for me.
Build Quality: TheKWC K17 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol feels really good, I’m going to say it’s probably one of the nicest KWC CO2 blowback pistols I have had in my hands to date. The finish is really nice, the polymer frame is flawless and fit is really good with nice tight tolerances throughout.
Realism: The KWC K17 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol being a full blowback Airguns is supper realistic in terms of looking like and functioning like a real steel gun. All the parts function as you would expect them to including the ability to filed strip the KWC K17 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol which gives you easy access to the hop-up. In terms of the KWC K17 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol being a replica it does look similar to Glock with some differences like the trigger guard, slide cut-outs, extended beaver tail and straighter pistol grip. Available From: The Replica Airguns Store.
Pros:
Good weight with very solid feel to it.
Full blowback action will produce good recoil effect.
Full size drop out metal magazine.
Short and light single action only trigger.
No ugly markings or warnings.
Has some bling with the gold barrel and vented slide.
Field strips like the real steel version.
White dot sights front and back.
Adjustable hop-up to adjust for elevation as needed.
Working trigger safety along with serial number safety.
Cons:
Full blowback action will produce lower fps and use up more CO2.
Not sure I like the Gold barrel?:
Comments:
I really like the KWC K17 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol, it may even be one of my favorite CO2 Blowback BB Pistols from KWC to date. That will be somewhat determined by how it shoots of course. The only thing I’m not a huge fan on is the Gold barrel but that’s a personal preference thing. You amy really like the Gold Bling! I could easily polish the barrel to more of a stainless finish if I wanted to and maybe I will? All in all if you’re looking for that Modern Pistol design than the KWC K17 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol is going to fit the bill. And by the way if you’re more into Airsoft then you can get the Airsoft version of the KWC K17 CO2 Blowback Airsoft Pistol in our Canada Online Store!
Type: Blowback CO2 BB Pistol. Manufacturer: Distributed by Umarex. Model:Glock 17 Gen 3. Materials: Metal & Polymer. Weight: 1.6 pounds (726 grams). Barrel: 4 inches metal non-rifled. Propulsion: CO2 x 1. Action: Semi auto blowback, double action only trigger. Ammunition Type: 4.5mm steel BB's. Ammunition Capacity: 18 round drop out full size metal magazine. FPS: Claimed 365.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Umarex Glock 17 Gen 3 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol is in a way a single action trigger since the blowback action pre-cocks the internal hammer allowing for a much lighter single action type trigger pull. I call it a a double action trigger mainly because there is an indexing of a BB from the magazine into the breach area every time you pull the trigger which means the take up is long and there is a little bit of friction from the mechanical mechanism that indexes a BB.
Accuracy: At this point I have not shot the Umarex Glock 17 Gen 3 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol so I can only quote what Umarex is saying in terms of FP2 which is 365. That's sounds reasonable based on other similar guns like this that have that parcial blowback action and BB indexing system to allow for a more sealed system. We will find out when I perform my Field Test Shooting video for the Umarex Glock 17 Gen 3 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol shortly.
Build Quality: TheUmarex Glock 17 Gen 3 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol seems well made overall, Fit and finish are nice and slide wiggle is minimal. There is a bit of a clanky sound when the slide cycles but since pretty much all of these types of airguns are made out of pot metal with a high con ten of zinc alloy this is kind of expected.
Realism: The Umarex Glock 17 Gen 3 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol absolutely looks the part of a Glock 17 3rd Generation, sitting on the table and even holding it in your hand you are going to think it's the real deal until of course you drop the magazine and see that it is a Co2 mag. Mostly everything operates like a real Glock 17 but the slide is not a full blowback meaning it only goes back about 3/4 as much as a real Glock 17 slide would. One other noticeable difference is the ability to quickly field strip the Umarex Glock 17 Gen 3 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol, you will need to remove a pin since the take down tabs are non functioning and moulded into the frame. Available From: The Replica Airguns Store.
Pros:
Great weight and feel to it, build quality seems good.
Really nice looking replica of the original Glock 17 Gen 3.
Fully Glock licensed.
Easy to see white dot sights front and back.
Recessed barrel for added realism.
Accessory rail for adding a laser or tactical light.
Full size drop out metal magazine that holds the CO2 and 18 4.5mm steel BB’s.
Safety built into the serial number plate area keeps it well hidden.
Warning instruction are nice and discreet under trigger guard
Not bad feeling double action only trigger as the blowback pre-cocks the internal hammer/strike.
365 fps is decent for a blowback BB gun.
Cons:
Does have blowback action but not full blowback.
Slide sound is a bit clanky.
Sight are non-adjustable which is common with low cost airguns like this one.
Would have liked to have seen more pristine packaging from Glock.
Comments:
Since there release of the Umarex Glock 17 Gen 3 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol we have all been waiting for a blowback version and now we have it in the Umarex Glock 17 Gen 3 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol! Defiantly another step in the right direction when it comes to a Licensed Glock. Am I looking forward to the Glock 17 Gen 4 Blowback BB Pistol, sure but if you’re a Glock fan why not have them all and this version will get you a bit higher fps and more shots per CO2 while still offering blowback action with a decent trigger!
