This Article is not intended to explain which type of gun is better or worse, it is only to point out what makes each gun different and how these differences can effect their performance and usage. I personally like all types of guns and respect other peoples choices in which guns they prefer to use. If you have a strong opinion about one type of gun being the "only gun" for everyone, then keep it to yourself please or it will be deleted!
For those "Special People" out there that like to call other people names for their interest in BB and Airsoft guns, here's an idea… go take your 9mm and shoot off a full magazine in your residential backyard and then see what happens? Also take note of how much money that magazine of 9mm ammo cost compared to the $5 that 2400 BB cost.
And please don't tell me to get a real gun because I probably have more real guns than you do! Like I said I appreciate and respect all types of guns.
What is the difference between a BB gun and an Airsoft gun?
In short BB guns (airguns that shoot a steel or lead BB) have been around for a long time so they get to keep the name of being called a "BB gun", even though many people refer to Airsoft guns as "BB guns". And yes Airsoft guns shoot a plastic BB but they do not inherit the name as it is reserved for the long standing… well BB gun!
BB guns generally shoot a 4.5mm or .177 caliber steel BB but some can also shoot lead BB's.
BB guns are most often used for target practice and training, some high power BB guns can also be used for pest control.
Airsoft guns generally shoot 6mm plastic BB's ranging in weights depending on what they are being used for. There are also larger caliber Airsoft guns available but they are not the norm.
Airsoft guns are most commonly used for tactical simulation games but can also be used for target practice and training, there are also Airsoft leagues that conduct IPSC (International Practical Shooting Confederation) competitions.
Both BB and Airsoft guns can use Springs, Air, Gas or CO2 as a means of propulsion.
Both BB and Airsoft guns can be made out of a variety of materials depending on the grade and use of the gun.
Realism
I would have to give the edge to the Airsoft guns in this category, the entire hobby is bases on how real the gun looks and functions. Most Airsoft guns are near impossible to tell apart from the real steel versions, even on close inspection.
That is not to say that there aren't any highly realistic BB guns available, there most certainly are but the focus with BB guns is not always on realism. It is often more on performance and so compromises are made that can effect realism.
Power!
BB guns generally have more power (energy) and carry that energy out further down range, but both BB and Airsoft can shoot up into the 500+ fps ranges.
BB guns have a smaller but denser and harder ammo so they tend to penetrate deeper into objects which can be good or bad depending on what you want to do with the gun. (War Games vs target and Pest control)
Accuracy
Both BB and Airsoft guns can be very accurate and this surprised me when I started reviewing and testing Airsoft guns. I had the impression that Airsoft guns would not be nearly as accurate as a BB gun but I was impressed with the results I got from a well made and tuned Airsoft gun.
With that said I still feel that a BB gun takes this category, not so much for close up shooting, but when shooting out at range a BB is less susceptible to the elements and will be more accurate further down range.
One advantage Airsoft guns generally have over BB guns is the hop up that gives the BB some backspin and allows it to keep a more level trajectory which can help with long rang shots. (Kind of like the backspin a tennis player uses to make the ball float deeper into the court.)
Shooting Environment
Because of the material and energy levels of both projectiles, BB and Airsoft guns are best used for different shooting situations and with different levels of safety implemented. Always use eye protection with either gun but be aware that a steel BB will cause more damage when it hits an object and that object could be you. BB guns require a heavier backstop and will also ricochet off of objects with much more force than an Airsoft plastic BB would so you need to be careful around windows and breakable objects.
Airsoft gun can be a better solution for indoor shooting or even sometimes when doing some backyard shooting where you may live close to buildings.
Airsoft guns are obviously the better choice when being used in war games as the plastic BB's are designed to hit but not harm, keep in mind that proper clothing and protection is required and limits to the FPS are often employed to keep everyone safe.
Do not even think about using a standard Steel BB gun for war games unless you want to make a trip to your local emergency for BB removal.
Hunting
I rarely recommend BB or Airsoft guns for pest control, I prefer larger caliber pellet guns that shoot at as high a velocity as you can obtain in your area. This is the most humane way to take care of small varmint if this is required, or for hunting to put meat on the table.
There are a few exceptions, some furry critters that do not like to stay still like squirrels and chipmunks can be alleviated with a high powered BB machine gun. A customized full auto Drozd can pump out 1200 rounds per minute with velocity up into the 800 fps range.
I would not consider an Airsoft gun for pest control or hunting period! If you want to scare off your neighbors cat, well that's another issue.
Cost
Both BB guns and Airsoft Guns can range dramatically in cost and so comparing quality to quality they are about the same to buy and also the cost of use is about the same as ammo is fairly close in price, perhaps steel BB's are a bit cheaper but not by that much.
Some BB guns can get up there in price, I have spent as much as $1000 on my full customized Drozd Blackbird with all the bells and whistles. A high end competition Airsoft gun can also cost well over $1000 to even $2000 or more when all is said and done.
So I hope this Video helps you understand the differences and practical uses of both BB Guns and Airsoft Guns and wether you deiced to get one or the other or maybe some of each. Just remember to use them with respect and always shoot safely and you will have a great time doing so!
Materials: Mostly metal with some plastic construction.
Weight: 2.3 pounds.
Barrel: 6 inches, non-rifled.
Propulsion: 12 gram CO2.
Action: Revolver, single & double actions.
Ammunition Type: 4.5mm steel BB's.
Ammunition Capacity: 6 rounds.
FPS: 400fps.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Umarex Smith & Wesson 327 TRR8 is good in both single and double action, I wouldn't say it isn't supper light in either action but pretty decent overall. I found shooting in single action to be the most precise as the release point is instant. Shooting in double action was also fairly predictable.
Accuracy: The results I got shooting my 6 round group from a 20 foot out position where none other than impressive and I would have to say the 327 TRR8 shot the best group (just over a 1/2 inch) I have ever recorded using 4.5mm steel BB's. I'm not even sure if I have bettered these results using pellets from a rifled barreled pistol? This goes to show you how well an accurate BB gun can perform when shooting from a reasonable distance.
Build Quality: With the Umarex S&W 327 TRR8 Revolver being mostly metal, you would expect it to have a decent build quality and I am happy to say it does. Everything looked and fit well, the CO2 Revolver had good heft to it and I had absolutely no problems shooting this gun. My only real reservation is the plastic CO2 screw tab but so far with my other guns that have the same type of tabs, they are holding up well.
Realism:The Umarex Smith & Wesson 327 TRR8 is very realistic in terms of looking and operating as a revolver with it's brass shell casings you load juts like a real revolver, so yes it feels realistic and even looks a lot like a S&W 327 TRR8 to some degree. With that said, Umarex has taken some liberty on this one most likely because it is built off an existing airgun frame and to make it into a true 327 TRR8 replica would have required a complete redesign. I would have to say the Umarex S&W M&P R8 is actually a closer 327 TRR8 Replica than the gun reviewed in this video.
It's a revolver with actual shells! Gives you the feeling of loading and shooting a real revolver.
Almost all metal design.
Lots of detail in this gun, very well made, fit and finish is excellent.
Excellent power, accuracy and shots per CO2.
Adjustable fiber optic sights.
Lots of places to mount accessories.
Cons:
Plastic CO2 screw tab could cause problems down the road?
Only shoots BB's - why not make a pellet version with a rifled barrel?
Actually shoots 6 rounds not 8 like the real version of this revolver.
Comments:
What's not to like about this Umarex Smith & Wesson Revolver? It's built very well, it most certainly looks good, it has the best tested accuracy I have seen so far from a BB gun, it shot even higher velocities than claimed, it gets tons of shots from a single CO2, and it loads up just like a real steel revolver but at a fraction of the cost to shoot! If you want to customize yours you have plenty of options with two weaver mounts top and bottom and it comes in at a very reasonable price tag!
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Umarex Browning Buck Mark URX is not too bad but I feel it is a bit heavier than the claimed 5.75 pounds. In comparison to my real steel 22LR Buck Mark, the trigger is much heavier but then again my 22LR trigger is what I would consider to be near perfection. I was able to work with the trigger as is but found I was expecting the trigger to release earlier then it actually did and I needed to apply just a bit more force than I would have liked to. Even so, with a bit of practice I was able to nail my shots.
Accuracy: Wow is all I can say, you will need to work withe the Umarex Browning Buck Mark URX a bit to get used to where the trigger breaks but once you dial it in this airgun is a tac driver. I decided to go with a non-magnified NcSTAR Ultra Compact 1x25 Red/Green Dot Sight and found it worked well with this Buck Mark pellet shooter. From 30 feet out I was able to land 4 shots pretty much right on top of each other and ended up with an under 1 inch 5 shot group, and keep in mind that I was only using a standing but rested stance (non braced).
Build Quality: Considering the very low price tag for this pellet shooting Buck Mark Replica, I was not expecting it to be as well constructed as it was, there is a decent amount of metal in teh URX giving it a nice 1.5 pound heftiness to it and the rubberized grips make this air pistol feel much more expensive than it is. My only concern is the hinge area in the break barrel portion of the gun, once cocked there seems to be some play that could effect accuracy down the road when wear appears. But once locked back into the closed position the play is all but eliminated.
Realism: The Umarex Browning Buck Mark URX is a licensed replica of the actual Browning Buck Mark 22LR semi auto pistol. Umarex did a great job making this break barrel pistol look very close in most ways to the actual Browning Buck Mark URX with the exception of the lever required to cock the spring that is located just under the back of the barrel. The barrel itself is also a tad bit long but I am sure this helps when cocking to get a bit more leverage. When you consider this is a single shot break barrel pellet shooting version, it looks pretty authentic and most importantly it feels very similar to the real 22LR version which makes it a great off range alternative for 22LR Buck Mark owners.
The bad news is we ran out of one of our most popular air pistols, the Cybergun Tanfoglio Witness 1911, but the good news is you can preorder one right now and save $20! We have an expected arrival date of mid July but this is not written in stone as there are things we juts have no control over in this crazy world we live in... What I can tell you is that if you don't order now and wait for them when they come in, we might already be sold out and if you do get one you will pay $20 more than you needed to!
If you live in the US we are also expecting stock to arrive right around mid July so hang on and yes you can now preorder one also...
I've had a lot of requests to review the Umarex Smith & Wesson 327 TRR8 and the Umarex Beretta 90two BB CO2 Pistols, perhaps not as many requests for the Umarex Browning Buck Mark URX but the URX has been one I have wanted to get my hands on as I am an owner of a 22LR Browning Buck Mark pistol.
Umarex came through and sent all three of these pistols to me this week for review so now we all get to benefit, I get three new guns added to my collection and my viewers get some new Umarex Product Reviews from me!
I will of course be doing full review of all three Umarex pistols, in this videos I just quickly show you around them all.
In short, The Umarex Smith & Wesson 327 TRR8 is very similar to my Dan Wesson Revolvers in most every way but with the Smith & Wesson branding and licensing and a slightly different barrel design. The Umarex Beretta 90two is what I would consider an upgraded Beretta Elite II complete with a working metal slide, full size drop out magazine that holds both the CO2 and 4.5mm BB's and a single and double action trigger.
The Umarex Browning Buck Mark URX is the sleeper of them all in my opinion, even though it is a single shot .177 pellet pistol with fps on the lower side, it is really a joy to shoot with its supper easy to cock break barrel and well balanced grip. Right out of the box I was getting excellent shot placement with it!
Make sure to watch this short Preview video and stay posted for the full review to come out shortly:
Right off the bat I have to say I had a great time making this Field Test Video Review of the RAP4 RAM X50 (Sig P226) .43 Caliber Blowback Paintball Pistol. I did something I don't generally do, I went back into my forest area of the property and setup some human sized targets (5 gallon buckets) and did some tactical real world shooting simulation, it was a lot of fun and the RAP4 RAM X50 Paintball Pistol worked perfectly for this as I could very easily see exactly where I was shooting and also did not have to worry too much about rebounding ammo.
This video only covers the shooting performance of the RAP4 RAM X50, so checkout my Table Top Review for things like the Specifications and Features.
In this video I start out by doing a Chronograph Test and shoot not only Paintball rounds but also some Rubber bullet and got very good average FPS results using both ammo types (288 fps using .43 caliber Rubber Balls and 279 fps using .42 caliber Paintballs).
I also tested the accuracy out from 20 feet away in a semi rested position and got about an 8 inch group with a full 9 round magazine, which on a human sized target would do the trick for sure. Keep in mind this is not a target pistol! My Tactical Field or should I say "Forest test", showed that this paintball pistol performs very well when used in a simulated shooting scenario.
I can really see a use for a gun like this, mainly for training oneself on how to acquire targets quickly and how to improve your tactical shooting skills.
I just reached Ten thousand YouTubeSubscribers - can you believe it? And I wanted to give all my Subscribers a big thanks for getting me to this point and for helping with all the success I have had so far with my YouTube Channel and Website.
Sorry, no contest just yet but I am getting close to Ten Million YouTube Channel Video Views and when that happens there will be another giveaway- contest!
I have a rare EKOL LADY blank gun for you today listed as a silent auction item, this blank gun is a front venting model so the barrel is semi-plugged but all the flames and smoke vent out the front of the barrel like a traditional gun.
This EKOL LADY 9mm P.A.K. Blank Pistol in Satin is previously owned, it has been fired but is in very good condition. It comes in a hard shell foam lined plastic case.
Please submit your silent auction offers to me by no later than June 27th midnight! (Silent auctions are for our Canadian customers looking to by blank guns in Canada) participants can send me an email with their top bid on the item listed and the highest bid wins this auction). *Local tax plus shipping & handling will be added.
Good luck to all participants!
If you reside in the US, you can also buy the EKOL Firat new from us in our US Replica Airguns Store.
Action: Semi auto, single & double action with blowback.
Ammunition Type: .43 caliber paintball or rubber bullet.
Ammunition Capacity: 9 round magazine.
FPS: 250-300fps.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Real Action Paintball RAP4 X50 is rather nice, being a true blowback action gun, the cycling of the slide not only chambers a round but also pre-cocks the hammer allowing for a very smooth and light trigger pull in single action mode. There is also a de-cocker that allows you to release the hammer without activating the firing pin and placing the hammer in a half cock position rested about 2mm off the firing pin.
Accuracy: I did not expect amazing result with The RAM X50 Paintball Pistol in my preliminary testing as it does use rather light weight and fairly small caliber Paintballs that will be susceptible to wind gusts and the seems on them will make them a bit more turbulent than a standard Pellet, BB or Airsoft round. Even so I was able to hit pretty much any moderate sized target I shot at and I would assume in a battle situation I could place most shots on a human sized target fairly well as along as I was not too panic stricken ;)
Build Quality: The RAP4 RAM X50 Sig Sauer P226 styled Pistol is built very well, it does have a polymer frame but the gun overall has lots of metal parts and a very good overall 2.2 pounds weight to it dry. The blowback action is very snappy and all the mechanics and fit and finish all look and function very nicely. The only function that was not working on my "used" gun was the slide catching on the last round. I have not looked into it too much to see what may be the problem but I can see some wear on the catch area of the slide that may be causing it. I have no idea how the previous owners may have cared for this Paintball gun but overall it is in good condition.
Realism:The RAP4 RAM X50 was primarily made to simulate real word shooting environments for Police and Military users and even though it is not branded and licensed as such, it is a bang on copy of a Sig Sauer P226 Semi Auto Pistol. Other than the exception of the CO2 Cylinder hanging a bit far out of the bottom of the handle, The RAM X50 would be hard to tell from the Real Steel Sig Sauer P226, especially when looking down the large .43 caliber barrel. The Blowback action and firm recoil help pull off the believability when shooting this Paintball Pistol.
Everything works pretty much like the real gun so a great training tool.
Fairly affordable in the US adn Canada.
Seemed to have Decent accuracy, decent amount of shots, about 3-4 good magazines
Nice light single action trigger.
Cons:
CO2 cylinder sticks out from the handle and looks a bit odd.
My slide does not lock back after the last shot, may be a potential wear problem?
Does not field Strip conventionally.
Comments:
I have had my eye on this paintball pistol for some time now, the first time I saw it, it was behind the counter in a Paintball store and generally in Canada they sell in retail shops for about $450+ so I have kind of been holding off to see if it woudl come my way a bit more affordably. The time came when I was able to leverage another sought after item I had and I was able to add this gun to my collection. I found that it shoots much like many of my other blowback airguns but perhaps with a bit more force than most. Shooting at targets 20-40 feet away was easy and the Paintball's had no problems breaking on contact with most medium to hard objects. I normally would not have a need for Paintball pistol but heck, why not if it looks this good and next time I go out to a paintball battle, I will have a surprise waiting for when I run out of rifle ammo or need to work in some close combat situations...
Let's get right to it! You will need to watch my Vimeo Video to find out who the Canada and US winners are for the Crosman M4-177 Pellet-BB Multi-pump Air Rifle. The main reason for this contest was because Crosman sent me a Crosman M4-177 Pellet-BB Multi-pump AIr Rifle but I had already purchased one so I decided to give my Canadian version away to a Vimeo Subscriber and also pitch in myself and also give another one away to one of my US subscribers on my dime :)
Some more updates for you, I received some more NcSTAR Accessories for my Canada Replica Airguns Store, some Red Dots, Scopes, Lasers, Tactical Lights, Rails, Bipods and some Vests, Slings and Holsters. I will be updating the Canada Store shortly with these very well priced items shortly so check back soon!
I also have a couple more blank guns that I will be conducting a Silent Auction on shortly: An EKOL Lady in Satin and an EKOL Special 99 in "White", which is more like a soft textured Nickel.
Lastly I also just picked up my first paintball pistol a RAM X50 and it is one I have been after for a while since I am a big Sig fan. It' basically an unlicensed Sig Sauer 226 that uses CO2 and chambers .43 caliber paintball and/or rubber balls. It is blowback and has a drop out 9 round metal magazine.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the ASG AW .308 Sniper Rifle is very nice, there is very little play, once the trigger safety is flush the release is almost instant and the pull is very light but not so light that you would accidentally shoot it.
Accuracy: Being an Airsoft Rifle and a Sniper rifle in one made me wonder if you could actually get a tight grouping at longer distances? I'm sure hitting a human target at 60 feet shouldn't be too hard but what about a pop can consistently? With a bit of fine tuning I was able to get a 2 inch grouping at 60 feet out using a rested position. And with the Hop-up dialed in, my aim point was the same at 30 feet as it was at 60 feet as a result of the backspin keeping the trajectory even all the way out.
Build Quality:The ASG AW .308 is not over the top price wise so I was not expecting it to be built like a Sherman tank. It is however solid enough but also light enough to use in the field without having to lug around too much extra weight. Most of the parts that you want to be metal are metal including the barrel, bolt & receiver, trigger, magazine, strap rings and rial system. The stock is of course plastic with some added rubber and seems to be hollow in parts which I am assuming is what keeps this rifle on the lean side.
Realism: Without actually having handled a real AW .308 Accuracy International England Sniper Rifle, it's hard to say how spot on it is but it does look very similar to the photos I found online with the exception of the magazine being further forward on the stock. It is a nice touch that the actual Accuracy International England licensing is also on the ASG AW .308.
Extremely fun to shoot (Even though it's not a semi or full auto gun).
No CO2 or batteries required, ready when you are.
Excellent accuracy at most ranges.
Very nice trigger.
Good power.
Good use of metal parts.
Will not break the bank.
Cons:
Does not come with a sighting system so you need to buy something to shoot it.
Light Airsoft BB's will not give you good results, use high end heavy Airsoft BB's for best results.
Stock looks adjustable but is not, was not a problem, everything felt good!
Some things are not explained in the manual?
Comments:
I thoroughly enjoyed reviewing this Airsoft rifle, you would think that a full auto gun would be so much more fun to shoot and don't get me wrong they are fun to shoot, but there is something to be said about setting up a target well down range, getting into position to take the shot and slowly squeezing off one well placed round! And of course hitting the target. I really like the fact that all you need is a bunch of Airsoft BB's and you're ready to go, no CO2, no dead batteries to deal with. Every time a do another Airsoft review I am impressed with how well these guns shoot and how accurate they are! The ASG AW .308 took this to an even higher level and also showed me that an Airsoft BB can pack some real punch to it. All in all it was a good day and I have a feeling when I get the urge to fire off some well placed rounds just for fun, this rifle is going to get picked more often than not.
I just received some of my ASG Airsoft guns in my BC location and wanted to make an update video for you so you can see them up close and perhaps see how they stack up against their Airgun counterparts. Keep in mind many of my ASG guns are only available in the Canada Replica Airguns Store, we do have some ASG Airsoft guns for my US based customers but this time here in Canada I have more to offer my Canadian folks!
I am also super impressed with the high quality of the LMT Defender M4 Carbines, they are a serious bit of gear and have some very good heft to them, even more so than my full metal King Arms M4A1 I already sell and have done a full review of, not to take anything away from the Kings Arms product as it is very good at its price point.
I also received my first sniper rifle and have played around with it a bit to see what it is capable of. I added a bipod to the front and a 3x9 power scope as the ASG AW .308 comes pretty bare bones but ready for all you can throw at it. I can say it likes heavier Airsoft BB's, as the .20 gram ones I started with seemed to fly off in all directions due to the high velocity, even stepping up to a .25 gram BB tightened my group up significantly at 30 feet. I have heard this rifle really prefers heavy Airsoft BB's so I plan do do my review based on that information.
Enjoy my Vimeo Video Update focusing on the new ASG Airsoft lineup.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Daisy Powerline 5501 is about average, a bit long but fairly smooth and about a medium pull weight. The first part of the action loads a BB into the chamber and the second part releases the hammer which give the pistol a bit of a creepy first stage.
Accuracy: I was not impressed with how my Daisy 5501 performed in the accuracy portion of this review, it got about a 3 inch 8 shot group from 20 feet out in a semi rested position, in comparison many of my BB pistols can easily get a 1 inch grouping shooting this way. I may try a different brand of BB's even though the RWS BB's I used where of high quality, they just may have not suited this pistol? FPS velocities where a bit under the manufacturers claimed ratings but very close at a respectable average of 386 fps with my 8 shot test shooting on a somewhat cold day. Not bad for a blowback pistol!
Build Quality: The Daisy Powerline 5501 is a pretty much all metal pistol with what looks to be very good build quality. The 5501 is made in Japan, I have found most Japanese made guns to be well made in the past. The frame, slide, trigger, safety, slide catch, CO2 screw, and de-cocker are all metal and of course many of the internal parts too. The only plastic parts to speak of are the grips and the magazine. I would have liked to have seen the magazine with more metal in it but for the most part it is protected within the gun so you should be OK.
Realism:The Daisy Powerline 5501 is loosely styled after the Sig Sauer in combination with a Walther semi auto pistol. It is lacking a cut-out ejection port that would have added greatly to its realism. I would have also liked to have seen a metal magazine as it's seems a bit cheap compared to the rest of the pistol. I do like the fact that the barrel tip has a large diameter opening making the gun look more like the larger caliber weapon it is styled after. It's also one of the few BB pistols with a working de-coker on it.
The two-tone look is very nice with a stainless look to the frame.
Accessory rail makes adding a tactical light or laser easy.
Warning instructions on slide are color matched to be more discreet.
Very well designed CO2 tightening system and also well hidden.
Cons:
Did not shoot very accurately for me with the BB's I used.
Ejection port is not cut out, takes away from the realism a bit.
All plastic magazine.
No white dotes on rear sight.
Comments:
All in all I liked this Daisy Powerline 5501, other than the poor results I got in terms of accuracy using my chosen zinc platted RWS BB's, the Powerline 5501 was really very good in all other aspects. I think it is a rather nice looking gun with excellent build quality throughout with lots of metal giving the 5001 a nice 1.5 pounds weight. The Daisy 5501 had very heavy and snappy blowback while retaining decent shots per CO2 and respectable close to 400 fps real world velocities. This Daisy Powerline 5501 blowback BB pistol is priced at well under $100 making it very good value in my mind.
My Vimeo Video Comparison Review for the Daisy Powerline BB Pistol:
I have another EKOL Firat Magnum blank gun for you today listed as a silent auction item, this one is a top venting model so the barrel is plugged and all the flames and smoke vent out the top of the barrel, not the front. The EKOL Firat has always been a popular seller here in the Replica Airguns Store.
This EKOL Firat Magnum 9mm P.A.K. Blank Pistol in Gloss Black is previously owned but has low usage and is in very good condition. It comes in a hard shell plastic case with the manual, and field stripping key.
Please submit your silent auction offers to me by no later than June 5th midnight! (Silent auctions are for our Canadian customers looking to by blank guns in Canada) participants can send me an email with their top bid on the item listed and the highest bid wins this auction). *Local tax plus shipping & handling will be added.
Good luck to all participants!
If you reside in the US, you can also buy the EKOL Firat new from us in our US Replica Airguns Store.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Umarex SW1911 S is actually fairly heavy which I found a bit surprising because it is a single action only gun. I found myself thinking a few times that the gun may have misfired but realised that I just needed to pull the trigger a bit firmer. This can be good in that the gun will not easily or accidentally go off and since accuracy is not a factor it is not a big deal.
Accuracy: NA.
Build Quality: The overall build quality of the SW1911 S is fantastic. It is one of the nicest blank guns in terms of overall build quality and finish quality. The tolerances are very tight and the quality of the workmanship is top notch. When holding the Umarex SW1911 it has a lot of mass to it and feels just like a real 1911 in the hand. This blank pistol is made in Germany!
Realism:The Umarex SW1911 S is a replica of a Smith and Wesson 1911 semi auto pistol but I could not find an exact match to a specific model they currently make. It is licensed and branded by Smith & Wesson and in terms of looking like a real steel gun it is bang on with the exception of the exhaust notch that is cut into the top of the slide. Interestingly enough I think Umarex may have not even needed to cut out this notch as my slow motion video shows that all the burn off happens before the slide even starts to move.
Very well made, materials fit and finish is all very good.
Two-tone finish looks very nice.
Very true to the original 1911 - (A1 styled).
Love the nice rubber wrap around grips.
I was able to fit 10 rounds in the magazine (2 extra)!
German made quality.
Cons:
Top venting.
Notch cut out of slide takes away from the realism a bit.
Magazine can be a bit tuff to get in (pressing the magazine release helps).
Heavy trigger pull on mine.
Comments:
Even though the Umarex SW1911 S had a few shortcoming like being a top venting gun, having the notch cut out of the slide and perhaps a bit heavy of a trigger, I still really like it! The quality is evident throughout this fine German made blank gun and you can just tell it's made right. This is also my first true replica blank gun as it is fully licensed by Smith & Wesson, something that has been lacking in all my other blank guns because of our Canadian importation laws. I really wish I could get my hands on some more "replica blank guns" as I don't mind giving up the front firing for top venting to obtain a blank gun that is a true replica.
We have been waiting a while here in Canada for some of our ASG products to come back in stock. ASG provides us with our Dan Wesson line and the Dan Wesson Revolvers have been a very popular airgun to say the least. We did manage to get a few of them, mainly to fill some of the earlier back orders but this big order had to come by cargo ship and now it has arrived and has been with Canada customs for about a week so we should be close to having them for you!
The hold up on this shipment is because we have some ASG Airsoft guns in with the regular Airguns which is good news as we will soon be stocking some very nice ASG Airsoft Pistols and Rifles but the new Airsoft guns are the main reason that Canada Customs is taking their time giving their OK on this shipment.
My advice to anyone who has been waiting a long time for their Dan Wesson Revolver (Mostly the 2.5 & 4 inch versions) is to hold on a bit longer because the wait is almost over and we will sell out of these guns quickly so having your backorder in guarantees you will get yours.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Crosman M4-177 is medium length and fairly light. The trigger mainly releases the bolt so no pre-cocking is required. It takes a bit to get used to where the release point since there are no real warning indicators. The trigger is plastic but seems to work just fine as there is no real load on the trigger when shooting.
Accuracy: I found the Crosman M4-177 Air Rifle to be a very good shooter, getting about a 3/4 inch 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 Chrony Chronograph and the M4-177 averaged about 410 fps with the 10 pump maximum which is about what I would expect from the Canadian detuned version, keep in mind the US non-detuned version shoots up in the 600 fps range so it would have been nice if the Canadian version got closer to our legal non-registered limit of 500 fps.
Build Quality:The Crosman M4-177 Multi-pump Air Rifle is mostly plastic which some of my viewers will not like, but for a sub $100 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 the price tag - if not more! Even though plastic is used throughout the Air Rifle, there are some internal metal parts where they need to be, the fit and finish is very good and I do not get the feeling that the Crosman M4-177 is cheaply made in any way.
Realism: The Crosman M4-177 is a respectable M4/AR replica. It is not exact in terms of true dimensions as the forward stock is a bit long to accommodate the pumping mechanism, (kind of long like the original AR but without the tapering). Crosman did a good job to add all the parts that you would find on a real M4/AR even if they are simply for show and are molded into the plastic. I particularly like the removable iron sights and full rail for mounting a scope or red dot sight. I am also really glad to see a Replica Assault rifle on the market as so few of them are available in pellet or steel BB shooters.
One of the few replica Air Rifles on the market (MP5K PDW & Mini UZI).
Very well priced.
Excellent accuracy!
Comes with detachable and adjustable iron sights.
Fully adjustable stock.
Picatinny rail on top for just about any type of sight system.
Option of shooting pellets or BB's.
Cons:
Mostly plastic build.
Lower rails you just can not use as the pumping action gets in the way?
FPS is well below the Canada non PAL limit of 500 fps so maybe a bit too detuned?
Comments:
The Crosman M4-177 Multi-Pump Pellet/BB Air Rifle is in my opinion a must have air rifle, simply because... why not? How many replica pellet and steel BB shooting air rifles are there out there and for under $100 to boot? What the M4-177 lacks in metal parts, it makes up in accuracy and fun factor. And the M4-177 really is not a bad replica in terms of realism as Crosman made it a point to copy the real steel M4/AR fairly closely. I know for a fact from the emails I received and YouTube comments that many people have been looking for an M4/AR styled Air Rifle and Crosman has now delivered one to us so what are you waiting for ;)
I have a very popular blank gun for you today and I'm sure it will get a lot of activity as the EKOL Firat has always been a popular seller here in the Replica Airguns Store.
This EKOL Firat Magnum 9mm P.A.K. Blank Pistol in Gloss Black is previously owned but has low usage and is in very good condition. It comes in a hard shell plastic case with the manual, flare adaptor and field stripping key.
Please submit your silent auction offers to me by no later than May 23rd midnight! (Silent auctions are for our Canadian customers looking to by blank guns in Canada) participants can send me an email with their top bid on the item listed and the highest bid wins this auction). *Local tax plus shipping & handling will be added.
Good luck to all participants!
If you reside in the US, you can also buy the EKOL Firat new from us in our US Replica Airguns Store.
It's always good to start the week off with an update video so everyone knows what's happening short-term and long-term...
I recently acquired a couple new items that I will be reviewing in the near future (along with several other reviews that I will be trying to get to ASAP!) First off is the Crosman M4-177 which is basically a multi-pump pellet and BB shooting replica of an AR or M4 styled carbine used by the US military. The Crosman M4-177 is mostly plastic on the outside but on first inspection seems to be built fairly well. It has removable metal sights and the magazine is also detachable but is not used as a magazine but rather a compartment for storage. The unit I have is the Canadian detuned version which shoots .177 caliber lead pellets and 4.5mm steel BB's at under 500 fps.
I also received my first old west blank shooting revolver (M1873), I have wanted one of these for a while and finally got my hands on one :) Unfortunately this one has a plugged barrel so it vents out of the cylinder area which may get a bit messy. I may see about making this one a front venting gun if possible and of course as long as it's within the law as I plan to make sure the cylinder stays semi plugged so no actual rounds could ever be shot out of it. The Old West M1873 Blank Revolver holds six .380 crimped blanks and is an all metal and wood construction. This should be a fun review!
I also touch upon a few other guns on the list of items I need to review and by the way in an attempt to get caught up I will be doing my Table Top and Shooting reviews combined.
Here are some of the guns that I will be reviewing over the next while...
Gamo P-25 & PT-85 .177 Caliber Blowback Pellet pistols (This one will get done this week!)
