I originally reviewed my first generation Umarex PX4 Storm CO2 Blowback Pellet Pistol back in August of 2010. Mine was actually one of the first PX4's to come into Canada. Since it has been almost 4 years since I first got my hands on this pellet pistol, I though it might be worth taking a revisit of it and comparing a first generation version to a current generation version of the Umarex PX4.
Cosmetically they are really close, I found it hard to tell them apart visually, My first generation had perhaps a slightly lighter colored slide? Other than that they look identical. When I loaded them both up with pellets I did notice that my 4 year old PX4 magazine was tighter in terms of loading the pellets, So in other words, the new Umarex PX4 magazine has slightly larger diameter holes. I don't think this really made much of a difference while shooting, it's just a bit easier to load the newer magazines.
In terms of shooting performance, both Umarex PX4 Storms performed very similarly, getting almost the exact feet per second rating on my Chronograph. (First generation had 363 average fps versus current version with 357 average fps). By the way I was using 7 grain flat head RWS pellets for both my Chronograph and target testing.
Both pistols also shot really nice groupings, form side to side there was about a 1.5 inch spread but vertically the groupings seemed to get more into around the 3 inch spread range. This could be perhaps because of shooting heavy grain pellets and the variation in fps which will make a heavy grain pellet drop a bit. My first generation PX4 did seem to shoot a bit higher on target then my current generation PX4 which seemed to like to shoot right in the bulls eye area.
Both pistols have a really nice snappy and hard hitting blowback action especially using a new CO2, they are also a bit on the louder side so be aware of this when shooting in residential areas. You can expect to get around 4 decent magazines or 64 shots per CO2 but there will be some power drop near the end of the CO2.
Overall the Umarex PX4 Storm CO2 Blowback Pellet Pistol is a great looking replica of the real steel PX4 and also performs very well in terms of power, accuracy and shots per CO2 for such a hard hitting blowback pellet pistol. It is is also one of our best priced Pellet Pistols in my books for value versus cost spent.
Watch my Vimeo Video Umarex Beretta PX4 Storm Blowback Pellet Pistol First Generation Versus New Head to Head Showdown:
Make sure to also checkout my full Table Top Review where you will find more details and specifications for the KWC Luger P-08 Airsoft replica pistol which is virtually the same gun as the 4.5mm BB version with the only real difference being the ammo type and the amount of rounds per magazine (21 rounds for the 4.5mm BB version and 15 rounds for the 6mm Airsoft version).
Basically in this YouTube video, I shoot the 4.5mm Steel BB version of the KWC P-08 Luger head to head against the Airsoft Version to see how they compare in terms of Feet Per Second speed and Accuracy from30 feet away from a paper target using a semi rested shooting stance. As expected the heavier 4.5mm Steel BB's shot a bit slower but did seem to have a slight advantage in the accuracy department.
Watch my YouTube Field Test Head to Head Shooting video of the KWC Luger P-08 CO2 Blowback Replica Pistols to see how they both compared:
Some updates to share with you, first off we have the KWC Luger P-08's back in stock. And that would be for the 6mm Airsoft and 4.5mm Steel BB versions. get them while you can, our last batch ran out fast!
I also show off the Umarex TDP 45 Tac which is the tactical version of the TDP 45 and comes with the additions of a threaded barrel that houses a removable mock silencer, a sight rail for adding a red dot scope and a removable laser. All of this for around $60 so great value for sure!
I also wanted to revisit the Umarex PX4 Storm Blowback Pellet Pistol since I reviewed this gun way back and my personal Umarex PX4 Storm was one of the first to enter Canada and as I saw with the Umarex CP99 Compact, Umarex made some slight tweaks to it and improved the overall performance. So perhaps a side by side comparisons in order, first generation versus present generation.
I also mention the ASG Bersa Thunder Pro 9 because I actually forgot I had reviewed it and was going to review it again. Guess I am either getting old and losing losing my mind or I have made way too many videos and can not keep track anymore, perhaps a bit of both, anyways ignore that part of the video, you can already watch my Table Top Review and Filed Test Review for the ASG Bersa Thunder Pro 9.
This topic of Blowback Airguns Versus Non-blowback Airguns comes up often so I thought I would address it a second time around since I get a lot of new visitors and subscribers daily who may not have watched my first video explanation on this topic. You can also checkout my first video on this subject since there may be some stuff I missed out in this video second video ;)
There are really two types of people asking or commenting on Blowback Airguns Versus Non-blowback Airguns. The first type of person who genuinely wants to know which is best and for what reasons. Then there is the other kind of person who makes a narrow minded statement that one type is clearly better than the other type, based on their own preferences and interests but not considering that there are other people out there with different opinions and preferences than them. You know who you are and we all know you are not going to change cause that would require an open mind...
Here is a list of the Pros and Cons I go over for each style of Airgun:
Pros:
Blowback guns simulate recoil.
Blowback guns can have better and more true triggers compared to their real steel counterparts.
Blowback guns can be better suited for action shooting.
Blowback guns are better as prop guns.
Blowback guns are generally more realistic in terms of mechanics.
Non-blowback guns generally use less CO2 per shot.
Non-blowback guns generally have higher fps.
Non-blowback guns can be more accurate.
Non-blowback guns can be more reliable.
Non-blowback guns can be less expensive.
Cons:
Blowback guns generally get less shots per CO2.
Blowback guns generally have lower fps.
Blowback guns can be less accurate.
Blowback guns can be less reliable.
Blowback guns can be more costly.
Non-blowback guns do not simulate recoil.
Non-blowback guns do not have true single action only triggers.
Non-blowback guns generally have heavier triggers that slow down shooting performance.
Non-blowback guns are generally not as good for prop use and or training.
Non-blowback guns generally are not as realistic compared to their real steel counterparts.
Watch my Vimeo video where I go into detail on Blowback Airguns Versus Non-blowback Airguns again ;)
In this Vimeo video, I go over a common question I get pertaining to the recoil effect of Airguns and Blank Guns. Many people want to know if Airguns and Blank Guns have similar recoil effects to a Real Guns and if so, how much recoil will you feel from an Airgun or Blank Gun?
The short answer is yes, there is some recoil with both Airguns and Blank Guns since whenever there is a force in one direction there will be a somewhat similar force in the opposite direction creating what we feel as recoil. With Airguns since the force from the CO2 or compressed air is rather small in comparison to that of the gun powder blast from a Real Guns or even a Blank Gun, the recoil is very slight. Blank Guns have similar gun powder charges to a Real Gun and so the recoil is more noticeable but unlike a Real Gun, a Blank Gun does not really push against a sizable object like a bullet, a Blank Gun only pushes against the air in front of the barrel which has very limited resistance and so there will be much less felt recoil from a Blank Gun than the recoil from a Real Gun pushing on a heavy grain bullet.
With semi auto Guns like Blowback Pellet and BB Guns and semi auto Blank Guns, there is also the momentum and mass of the slide to consider as it moves backwards and forwards which also gives the effect of recoil and in the case of an Airgun accounts for most of the recoil felt by the shooter.
Watch my Vimeo video on this subject where I go into much more detail and explain the effect of recoil when shooting Airguns and Blank Guns:
Great news, we just received our shipment of KWC P-08 Luger CO2 Blowback Pistols and yes we have them in both 4.5mm Steel BB and 6mm Plastic Airsoft so this news should make everyone very happy!
The KWC Mauser is still a bit of a ways off since it was still a sample product when I tested it.
So make sure to pick yours up ASAP before we sell out of them as we have limited supplies and if you haven't already watched my Table Top Video and Field Test Video for the KWC P-08 Luger then make sure to do so.
Some of you may have already watched my Tanfoglio Gold Custom Field Test Video which is basically the same gun but with a sight rail and a compensator up front. In theory both guns should perform very similarly depending on the outside temperature and of course the shooters ability that day :)
During this field test for the KWC Mdoel 75 Tac BB Pistol, I put 5 shots through my Chronograph using a brand new CO2 and 5.1 grain Umarex zinc Coated BB's. I averaged just a slight bit under the factory claimed 325 fps but not by much coming in at 315 which was pretty good considering it was far from a warm summer day, perhaps about 15 Celsius?
Stepping back to my 30 foot mark, I shot 10 rounds at a paper target using a semi rested position (Sand bag up front and standing in the back). There was a 7 shot noticeable 1.5 inch group with 3 of the 10 shots hitting just outside that tighter group stretching it out to a bit over 2 inches. I was shooting a bit high and the left wiht the KWC Model 75 Tac Blowback BB Pistol but this could easily be corrected by trimming up the full adjustable rear sight.
Just like the Cybergun Tanfoglio Gold Custom, the KWC Model 75 Tac Blowback BB Pistolhas a very smooth, short and light single action trigger along with a nice crisp blowback action and a great overall balance. With this none sight rail and compensator version you do get the rear fully adjustable sight along with a more compact overall pistol that performs in much the same manor as its larger brother. Either version will allow for very quick and accurate shooting none the less.
I like shooting 1911 styled pistols, the KJWorks KP-06 1911 HI-CAPA Blowback Airsoft Pistol is no exception, it's a bit beefier in terms of overall size and even handle grip thickness but held well for me.
So let's get right to the test results! I started off by shooting 5 rounds through my Chronograph using a brand new CO2 along with .25 gram plastic Airsoft BB's. My 5 shot average velocity was 329 fps and the temperature on this day was not too warm, perhaps around 15-18 Celsius. So on a warmer day you can expect to get higher fps out of the KJWorks KP-06 Airsoft Pistol.
Moving on to the Target accuracy performance, I shot 10 .25 gram rounds using the KJWorks KP-06 from a 30 foot distance using a semi rested position (Sand bag in the front, standing in the back). I was able to place the bulk of the shots within a 1.5 inch group but one shot came out extending the group to about 2 inches. Overall the placement was fairly well centered on target, just a hair to the right but one could easily adjust the green dot sights for both windage and/or elevation as required.
The single action 1911 type trigger is exactly what you would expect from a 1911, short, light and crisp. The blowback action is very solid and this pistol settles down after each shot very quickly. If you don't mind a 1911 styled Airsoft pistol with a bit bulkier size than the KJWorks KP-06 1911 HI-CAPA may just make a good choice.
Action: Semi auto blowback, single action double action hybrid.
Ammunition Type: .177 caliber pellets and 4.5mm steel BB's.
Ammunition Capacity: 16 round magazine.
FPS: Up to 492 using 5.1 grain ammo.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the ASG CZ P-09 DUTY is similarly to the Umarex PX4 Storm and Gamo Blowback Pellet Pistols. All three Pellet shooting pistols use double sided stick based rotary magazines that hold 8 rounds in each end. They also all shoot with a single action hammer (set to the cocked position by the blowback action) while the first stage of the trigger rotates the rotary magazine and indexes a round. So I would consider them to be single/double action hybrids. The trigger pull in general is not overly heavy but it is long and there are noticeable sticky points when the magazine is rotating and the hammer is being released.
Accuracy: During my Field Shooting Test I decided to allocate 8 rounds for each test station since the magazine holds 8 rounds on each end. During my Chrony test the ASG CZ P-09 Duty started out in the high 300's and then dropped to the low 300's with an average 8 shot velocity of 334 fps. From the 30 foot mark shooting on a paper target using a semi rested position (Sand bag up front and standing in the back), I was impressed to see 7 of my 8 shots to all hit within 1 inch of each other while the oddball got away a bit and extended the grouping out to about 2 inches. The ASG CZ P-09 Duty CO2 Blowback Pellet-BB Pistol did shoot a hair low and to the left a bit but not too extreme.
Build Quality: Overall I found the ASG CZ P-09 Duty to have a good solid build quality to it, everything functioned as it should with the exception of the front sight vibrating lose and almost popping out. I would recommend checking the front sight on your CZ P-09 and making sure to super glue it in place if you find it to be loose or you could lose it while shooting the pistol and once it falls off I doubt you would find it again? The only other questionable design is the way the CO2 cover fits on this pistol. It kind of clips in place but seemed like it could loosen up over time.
Realism: The ASG CZ P-09 Duty CO2 Blowback Pellet - BB Pistol is a close replica to the real steel CZ P-09 Duty, the only real giveaway is the ejection port that is not cut out but rather moulded into the slide. I would have liked to have seen an open ejection port like the Umarex PX4. The CZ licensing and recessed barrel do help to make this a very believable Pellet shooting replica.
Shot a nice tight group for me, about 1 inches with 8 shots.
Like the white dot sights, easy to sight in on most backgrounds.
Can use both Pellets and BB's if you choose to.
Fully CZ Licensed.
Lots of metal where it needs to be: Slide, barrel, trigger, hammer, safety and slide catch/release.
Nice heavy blowback action.
Cons:
Slide catch release is non-functioning, don't know when you are out of ammo?
Sights are non-adjustable and almost lost the front sight while shooting it.
Not sure I like the CO2 cover, seems a bit flimsy
Ejection port is not cut out.
Comments:
It's nice to see another Pellet shooting blowback replica air pistol and one that has really great accuracy as well. There are a few shortcoming on the ASG CZ P-09 Duty like the moulded ejection port and the kind of lose fitting CO2 cover but overall the ASG CZ P-09 Duty is a blowback pellet pistol worth looking into. In terms of looking the part of a CZ P-09 Duty, the ASG pellet version does this very well with it's full CZ licensing and attention to detail throughout.
My Vimeo Video Review for this versatile ASG Pellet and BB action blowback shooter:
Manufacturer: KWC. Licensed and Distributed by Umarex
Model: Colt Commander 1911.
Materials: Almost all metal.
Weight: 2 pounds.
Barrel: Metal non-rifled.
Propulsion: CO2 x 1.
Action: Semi auto blowback, single action only.
Ammunition Type: 4.5mm BB's.
Ammunition Capacity: 18-19 round full size drop out metal magazine.
FPS: 325.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Umarex Colt Commander CO2 Blowback 4.5mm BB Pistol is exactly what you would expect from a true single action 1911 styled pistol. It has a short take up and then a nice light and crisp pull and release. Because of the similar mechanics not only to the trigger but other aspects of this gun, it would make a truly awesome low cost trainer to be used when your real 1911 is not practical and also to save on the high cost of real 45 semi auto shells.
Accuracy: I shot the Umarex Colt Commander BB gun at a target from 30 feet away in a semi rested position, and it performed well getting an 8 shot 1.5 inch grouping very close to the bulls-eye that extended a little larger with three additional rounds that came outside the smaller 8 shot grouping. The sights are non-adjustable even thought they kind of look like they are so it was nice to see that this BB pistol was already dialed in pretty good! My initial Chrony testing puts this gun right in the 300-325 fps range getting a 5 shot average of 306 fps which is just fine for this style of heavy full realistic blowback action BB shooter. The outside temperature was 22 Celsius (72 Fahrenheit) so the Colt Commander should shoot a bit quicker on a warmer day. You can expect to get three good magazines worth of shots with some extra CO2 left over for a potential 4th magazine. If you slow your shooting down and let the gun and CO2 warm up between magazines you can get 4 magazines with this BB gun for sure.
Build Quality: Like the other KWC 1911's, the Umarex Colt Commander version is overall a well built and mechanically sound BB pistol. Tolerances are good and the finish may even be a bit better than what KWC makes for its own non-licensed versions of this very popular 1911 series.
Realism: The Umarex Colt Commander CO2 Blowback 4.5mm BB Pistol is as close as you can get to a real steel 1911 styled 45 semi auto but with a slight modern Tactical look to it, the Colt Commander version has the addition of a: Tac style trigger and hammer, and upgraded white dot sights. This gun is nearly all metal with a very heavy blowback action that simulates the more sluggish and delayed blowback of a real steel 1911. And the true 1911 single action trigger will not disappoint you either.
All metal construction - Good weight and solid feeling gun.
Nice heavy blowback action that replicates a 1911 very well.
Very Accurate 1911 replica in terms of looks and mechanical aspects.
True 1911 single action trigger, excellent pull, very smooth and light.
Working safety and grip safety.
Decent accuracy, not too bad amount off shots for this style of gun about 3+ good magazines.
All metal full size dropout magazine that holds the BB's and CO2.
Nice addition of some Tactical features (Tac style trigger and hammer, white dot sights)
Chrome coated barrel and breach not only look really nice but wear better.
Cons:
Sacrifice fps and shots per CO2 because of the heavy blowback but worth it.
Not a big fan of the white "S & F" on the safety or the white warning instructions on the slide.
Comments:
Sure the Umarex Colt Commander CO2 Blowback 4.5mm BB Pistol is yet another KWC made 1911 but Umarex has really captured the classic 1911 style without taking it too far into the Tactical realm. The addition of the modernized white dot sights, along with the machined trigger and hammer and the chrome barrel and breach give this BB shooting blowback 1911 a well balanced look. If you're looking for a traditional 1911 A1 but with just a few modernized tweaks, then check out the Umarex Colt Commander.
My Vimeo Video Review for this quality Umarex Realistic Full Blowback BB Pistol:
This Field Test Shooting video is not going to have any big surprises but even so I really like shooting these KWC made CO2 Blowback BB 1911 Replicas and the Umarex Colt Commander is no exception.
So let's get right to the test results! I started off by shooting 5 rounds through my Chronograph using a brand new CO2 with Umarex 5.1 grain zinc coated 4.5 mm Steel BB's. My 5 shot average velocity was 306 fps and the temperature on this day was fairly average at 22 Celsius (72 Fahrenheit). So on a warmer day you can expect to get a bit higher fps out of the Umarex Colt Commander CO2 Blowback 4.5mm BB Pistol.
Moving on to the Target accuracy performance, I shot 10 rounds from the Umarex Colt Commander from 30 feet back using a semi rested position (Sand bag in the front, standing in the back). I was able to place the bulk of the shots within a 1.5 inch group but three came out extending the group somewhat, overall the placement was fairly well centered on target and the white dot sights make sighting the Umarex Colt Commander CO2 Blowback 4.5mm BB Pistol really easy on just about any color background.
The single action 1911 type trigger is exactly what you would expect from a 1911, short, light and crisp. The blowback action is solid and like a real 1911 almost has that delayed sluggish feel to it.
I finally got the opportunity to shoot the ASG CZ P-09 Duty CO2 Blowback Pellet/BB Pistol that I saw back in January of this Year while I was attending the SHOT Show in Vegas. Essentially the ASG CZ P-09 Duty is built similarly to the Umarex PX4 Storm and Gamo Blowback Pellet Pistols. They all use double sided stick based rotary magazines that hold 8 rounds in each end. They also all shoot with a single action hammer (set to the cocked position by the blowback action) while the first stage of the trigger rotates the rotary magazine and indexes a round. So I would consider them to be single/double action hybrids.
Anyways, on with this field test shooting review... As per my normal field test shooting reviews, I shoot some rounds through my Chronograph to get an average fps rating and I also step back 30 feet from a paper target and use a semi rested position to place a series of rounds downrange. I decided to allocate 8 rounds for each test station since the magazine holds 8 rounds on each end. During my Chrony test the ASG CZ P-09 Duty started out in the high 300's and then dropped to the low 300's with an average 8 shot velocity of 334 fps.
From the 30 foot mark I was impressed to see 7 of my 8 shots to all hit within 1 inch of each other while the oddball got away a bit and extended the grouping out to about 2 inches. The ASG CZ P-09 Duty CO2 Blowback Pellet-BB Pistol did shoot a hair low and to the left a bit but not too extreme.
All in all the blowback is fairly heavy, at least enough to shake the front sight around so much that it almost fell off the gun so be careful of this and perhaps super glue yours in before you lose it somewhere.
The trigger on the CZ P-09 Duty is pretty much the same as all the other blowback rotary mag pellet airguns on the market, kind of long but not too heavy yet still very usable.
Two new CO2 Blowback Airguns to preview for you today that I will of course be doing full Table Top and Field Test Shooting reviews down the road for each of them.
I've already done a full Table Top Review that included a Pre-test for this war pistol replica where you will find more details and specifications for the KWC Mauser Airsoft pistol.
In this official Field Test Shooting Video, I do my standard Chronograph test where I shoot a series of .25 gram 6mm Plastic Airsoft BB's using a brand new CO2 cartridge to see what kind of real word Feet Per Second performance I can get out of the KWC Mauser CO2 Blowback Airsoft Pistol. On this medium temperature day I averaged a very quick 415 fps which may be a bit hot for most Airsoft matches. The temperature was fairly cool at 14 Celsius or 57 Fahrenheit so the fps will only get faster on a warmer day.
During my Accuracy Shooting Test, I set myself up 30 feet away using a semi-rested stance (Sand bag up front, standing in the back). I did have to adjust my rear sight to the lowest position and even then I found that I needed to aim at the lowest ring on the target to get my shots close to the center and even then they placed a bit high. Even though the KWC Mauser Airsoft Pistol shot high the results where very good, resulting in a 10 shot grouping in the 1.5 to 2 inch range!
Overall I really enjoyed shooting the KWC Mauser CO2 Blowback Airsoft Pistol, the trigger is super nice and short with a light single action release. The blowback action is very quick and snappy which really makes the full auto rate of fire very high. You will go through a 21 round magazine in a hurry! It is a sample or prototype pistol and I would imagine that KWC could work on getting the FPS juts a bit lower so it would be more usable in an Airsoft Game, and while they're at it they should bring the shot placement down just a bit. Other than that it's a really great Airsoft War pistol replica worthy of addition to anyone collection.
I've already done a full Table Top Review that included a Pre-test for this pistol where you will find more details and specifications for this KWC Luger P-08 Airsoft replica pistol.
In this official Field Test Shooting Video, I do my standard Chronograph test where I shoot a series of .25 gram 6mm Plastic Airsoft BB's using a brand new CO2 cartridge to see what kind of real word Feet Per Second performance I can get out of the KWC P-08 Luger CO2 Blowback Airsoft Pistol. On this medium temperature day I averaged 335 fps which is a nice velocity for most Airsoft matches. The temperature was fairly cool at 14 Celsius or 57 Fahrenheit.
During my Accuracy Shooting Test, I set myself up 30 feet away using a semi-rested stance (Sand bag up front, standing in the back). I did have to adjust my aim point at the lowest ring on the target to get my shots near the center. The results where not my best for the KWC P-08 Luger CO2 Blowback Airsoft Pistol, or perhaps this pistols best performance, resulting in a 10 shot grouping in the 4 inch range. Pretty sure this Airsoft pistol can do better!
Overall I thoroughly enjoyed shooting the KWC P-08 Luger CO2 Blowback Airsoft Pistol, the trigger is nice, short and light and the blowback action reminded me a lot of the more sluggish blowback you get from a 1911 styled pistol. You can't help but notice the toggle popping up with every shot which can be distracting at first but it sure comes in handy when it locks back on the last shot clearly indicating that the pistol is empty of rounds. The KWC P-08 Luger CO2 Blowback Pistol is for sure an Airsoft replica any war pistol enthusiast will want to have.
In this Field Test Shooting Video I do my traditional Chronograph test where I shoot a series of 4.5mm Steel BB's using a brand new CO2 cartridge to see what kind of real word Feet Per Second performance I can get out of the Umarex Colt Python. On this day I averages right around 390 fps which was very close to the claimed 360 fps form Umarex. The temperature was right around 24 Celsius or 75 Fahrenheit so it was neither cold or hot.
Moving on with the Accuracy Shooting Test, I set myself up 30 feet away using a semi-rested stance (Sand bag up front, standing in the back) I got one of my best ever 6 shot groups from the Umarex Colt 357, coming in at just under 1 inch. During my previous pretest, the Umarex Revolver did well but seemed to spread out a bit vertically, this may have been due to the plastic tips on the shells needing to break in for a more consistent BB fit.
The Umarex Colt Python 357 has taken it up a notch by adding just a bit more overall weight than most comparable shell loading BB revolvers, a smother trigger and hammer mechanism and styling this revolver on the Classic Colt Python platform. If you're a revolver fan, make sure to grab one of these and if you're not a revolver fan, this pistol may just change your mind :)
In this Field Test Shooting Video I do my traditional Chronograph test where I shoot five 4.5mm Steel BB's using a brand new CO2 cartridge to see what kind of real word Feet Per Second performance we get out of the Umarex Walther PPS. On this day I averages right around 370 fps which is not bad considering it is claimed to have 360 fps. The temperature was right around 24 Celsius or 75 Fahrenheit so it was neither cold or hot.
Moving on with the Accuracy Shooting Test, I set myself up 30 feet away using a semi-rested stance (Sand bag up front, standing in the back) I did not get my best grouping in this test, with my 10 shot group spreading out to almost 3.5 inches. During my previous pretest, I was able to shoot a tighter 2 inch group with 10 well placed shots using the Umarex Walther PPS.
Even with my less then best results in the accuracy department, I still love this pistol, it has a reasonable trigger with a nice snappy blowback that is a bit surprising from such a tiny BB pistol, FPS is also good considering its size and I know this gun is able to shoot much tighter than I performed during this test.
Action: Semi & full auto, single action only with full blowback.
Ammunition Type: 6mm Plastic Airsoft BB's.
Ammunition Capacity: 21 round full size drop out metal magazine.
FPS: 400+.
Trigger Pull: The Single Action Only trigger pull on the KWC Mauser CO2 Blowback Airsoft Pistol is what you would expect from a full blowback, true single action only pistol, it has a little bit of take-up and then a smooth fairly light release. Of course when in full auto mode, just press and hold the trigger till the ammo is gone, but don't hold the trigger too long since when the BB's run out, the gun will keep firing as there is no bolt lock back on empty.
Accuracy: It took me a while to figure out exactly where this pistol was actually shooting, but once I realized the KWC Mauser was shooting way high and I adjusted the rear sight all the way to the bottom, I started getting shots at least on to the paper, I did have to hold really low to get near the bulls eye but keep in mind this is a sample pre-production model so some modifications may be in order to correct the rather high shot placement. Over all the accuracy at 30 feet out was very good with about a 2 inch group from 10 shots. Full auto was as you would expect, more of a spray and pray. I do have to say I was surprised by the feet per second performance, even with .25 gram Airsoft BB's I still shot well over 400 fps on a new CO2 cartridge.
Build Quality: The KWC Mauser CO2 Blowback Airsoft Pistol is well built being that it is pretty much entirely metal. It weighs in at a whopping 3.15 pounds so be prepared for a heavier gun but you can choose to hold it two handed by using the forward magazine as a sort of fore-grip. Again this was a pre-production sample but even so the fit and finish looked and felt good. I really liked the dark grey finish and very believable plastic wood grain grips.
Realism: The KWC Mauser Airsoft Pistol is spot on replica of the M1932 / M712 Schnellfeuer with as far as I can tell all the same working parts including the semi and full auto selector switch. The KWC Mauser also has a full working bolt, hammer, safety, adjustable rear sight and of course full size drop out metal magazine that holds the CO2 and Airsoft BB's.
Lots of metal and good overall weight - very heavy
Very high fps and good accuracy.
Very good replica of a real Mauser (M1932 / M712 Schnellfeuer) with all working parts.
Nice short single action light trigger.
Shoots in both semi and full auto selectable.
Will come in 4.5mm Steel BB and 6mm Plastic Airsoft.
Cons:
Bolt does not lock back on last shot.
Seemed to shoot really high even when adjusted as low as possible.
Not totally sure when we will have it in stock?
Comments:
Overall the KWC Mauser CO2 Blowback Airsoft Pistol is that all metal version we kind of hoped Umarex had made, and from what I can tell in the KWC product brochure, this one should be available in both 4.5mm Steel BB and 6mm Plastic Airsoft so this should make everyone pretty happy :) Other than the rather high shot placement I really liked the KWC Mauser especially the super high fps and ultra fast rate of fire in full auto mode. Another must have classic war pistol to add to the collection!
My Vimeo Video Review for the KWC Mauser CO2 Blowback Airsoft Pistol:
I have some really new guns from KWC for you today, so new that we don't even stock them yet (hopefully soon) and one of then is an un-marked and un-branded sample version that didn't even come in a proper box. Pretty sure this will be the first YouTube video review of it!
It's great that we are starting to see more of the classic older guns, it really give you a chance to appreciate some of the original designs that helped the development of the more modern guns we now have today.
In this preview-review video we take a quick look at the KWC P-08 Luger and KWC Mauser C96 CO2 powered Blowback Airsoft pistols. I will be doing a full table top and field test shooting video for each gun so make sure to check back for them later. I even do a quick comparison to the same style 4.5mm BB pistol offerings from Umarex I already reviewed, the Umarex P-08 and Umarex C96.
Both the KWC P-08 Luger and C96 Mauser are pretty much all metal with full drop out magazines that hold the CO2 and the 6mm plastic Airsoft BB's, the KWC luger holds 15 rounds while the KWC Mauser holds 19 rounds. Since both Airsoft pistols are full metal they come in nice and heavy with the C96 Mauser weighing just a hair over 3 pounds and the P-08 just a bit under 2 pounds. Both pistols have full blowback operation with very nice single action only triggers and while the P-08 shoots in semi-auto only the C96 can select fire in semi and full-auto modes.
According to the KWC product brochure, both of these new classic CO2 blowback pistols will be offered in 4.5mm Steel BB and 6mm Plastics Airsoft versions. As of right now we do not have any in stock as we are planning an order based on these two samples. We like what we see and will be bringing them in to our Canada and possible US online store so stay posted as once we have verification of an order on rout, we will be offering a pre-sale option so you can reserve yours.
Watch my preview-review of the KWC P-08 Luger and Mauser C96 CO2 Blowback Airsoft Pistols:
Materials: Mostly metal with some plastic construction.
Weight: 2.75 pounds (1218 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: 6 rounds.
FPS: 400fps.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Colt Python 357 CO2 BB Revolver is good in both single and double action, even better than the Dan Wesson and S&W 327 TRR8 shell loading revolvers, most likely because the spring tension that pushes the inner barrel to make contact with the cylinder is noticeably lighter on the Umarex Colt Python 357. Even the hammer is smoother and has less wiggle, just a better trigger and hammer mechanism overall.
Accuracy: The results I got shooting my 6 round group from a 30 foot out semi rested position where good overall. Vertically there was about a 2 inch spread while horizontally there was about a 1 inch spread. I did find the plastic tips on the brass shells seemed to be a bit tight at first and this is when I did most of my Chronograph and target shooting. I believe the tightness effected the consistency of the FPS which also effected the accuracy especially up and down. I did get one shot out of the Umarex Colt Python 357 well over the claimed 400 fps but again the fps was rather erratic most likely because of the snug BB fit due to shell break-in.
Build Quality: The Umarex Colt Python 357 being mostly metal, you would expect it to have a decent build quality and I am happy to say it does, perhaps again even better than the Dan Wesson and S&W 327 TRR8 shell loading revolvers, even the weight of the Colt Python came in close to a half of a pound more! The only real plastic I could find was in the grips and the shell tips. Fit and finish was also good with no noticeable paint wear or sloppy workmanship.
Realism: The Colt Python 357 CO2 BB Revolver overall is a close copy of the real steel Colt Python 357. I did notice the rear portion of the receiver (between the rear cylinder and hammer) to be a bit longer perhaps to accommodate the CO2 valve length, but other than that this pistol is super close to the original revolver it is based and licensed on. Agin being all metal gives this CO2 BB revolver very realistic weight and feel and the loadable brass shells make using this gun almost exactly like using a real shell loading revolver but for much less cost per shot and of course a lot less recoil on the hands.
It's a revolver with actual shells! Give you the feeling of loading and shooting a real revolver.
Mostly all metal design.
lots of detail, well made, fit and finish is very good.
Good overall weight, heaviest out of all the shell loaders.
Good overall power, accuracy and shots per CO2.
Fully adjustable sights for windage and elevation.
Well hidden CO2 Screw.
Recessed barrel.
Nice easy Trigger pull in both single and double action.
Cons:
Grips are a bit rough.
All black sights not great on dark backgrounds.
FPS seemed to fluctuate a bit
Comments:
The ASG Dan Wesson shell loading revolvers reintroduced me to the joy of loading and shooting a revolver which up until that point was not that realistic of an experience when using a BB or Pellet revolver. The Umarex Colt Python 357 has taken it up a notch by adding just a bit more overall weight, a smother trigger and hammer mechanism and styling this revolver on the Classic Colt Python platform. And all of this for even less than the cost of the original Dan Wesson shell loading series CO2 BB revolvers. If you're a revolver fan, make sure to grab one of these and if you're not a revolver fan, this pistol may just change your mind :)
My Vimeo Table Top Review for the Umarex Colt Python 357 CO2 BB Revolver:
