So it begins, I have been to this years SHOT Show in Las Vegas and checked out the new products from Umarex, Crosman, Sig Sauer and ASG. I have taken video and Interviewed the main Airgun companies. Now it's time to report back to everyone what I saw and learned. To start with here is a Teaser Video with some scenes from Vegas, inside SHOT Show and of course some of the highlight products from each airgun company.
Type: Blowback Pellet & BB Pistol. Manufacturer: Distributed by Umarex. Model:SA10. Materials: Metal & Polymer. Weight: 2.05 pounds (930 grams). Barrel: Metal rifled. Propulsion: CO2 x 1. Action: Semi auto blowback, single & double action. Ammunition Type: .177 caliber pellets & 4.5mm BB's. Ammunition Capacity: 8x4 round rotary full size drop out metal magazine. FPS: Claimed 420.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Umarex SA10 CO2 Blowback Pellet and BB Pistol is similar to most of the rotary magazine styled pellet pistols. The blowback operation does cock the hammer allowing for a lighter single action styled trigger pull but the trigger pull length is still about the same as shooting in double action. There is less trigger pull weight when the hammer is back shooting in single action but the first part of the trigger pull is necessary in order to rotate the magazine.
Build Quality: The Umarex SA10 CO2 Blowback Pellet and BB Pistol feel great in the hand and has a nice weight and solid feel to it. Like most modern day pistols the Umarex SA10 CO2 Blowback Pellet and BB Pistol has a metal slide and polymer frame, you will also find a lot of internal metal parts along with a full size drop out metal magazine. Fit and finish are also very good.
Realism: The Umarex SA10 CO2 Blowback Pellet and BB Pistol is not a copy or replica of any actual real steel gun in production but to me it most resembles a Sig Sauer, not exactly as the Umarex SA10 CO2 Blowback Pellet and BB Pistol does incorporate its own design and style. You will find a lot of real gun attributes that make this gun look and feel the deal. Like it's blowback operation, full see drop out metal magazine, wide open recessed barrel and ability to be field stripped. Available From: The Replica Airguns Store.
Pros:
Great weight and feel to it, build quality seems good.
Accessory rail for adding a laser or tactical light.
Unique full size drop out metal magazine that holds extra rotary magazines on it for quick reloading.
Have the option of shooting Steel BB’s or pellets.
Has a rifled barrel.
Gold barrel looks good.
Barrel tip is removable allowing for possible mock suppressor or silencer.
Slide catch is actually a safety making it nice and discreet.
Can easily field strip the gun.
Warning instruction are not overpowering.
Cons:
No white or yellow dot sight on the front and they are non-adjustable.
Trigger safety is just for show.
Not really a replica but a great looking gun none the less.
Comments:
I have been waiting a while to get my hands on the Umarex SA10 CO2 Blowback Pellet and BB Pistol and now that I have it for review I can say it seems to be a really well put together CO2 Blowback Airgun. OF course I still need to get some shooting in with it till I make my final decision but so far I am liking what I am seeing. Generally prefer actual Replica Airguns but the Umarex SA10 CO2 Blowback Pellet and BB Pistol does have a really nice look and feel to it, I don't even mind the Gold barrel and I am usually not a big Gold Gun fan. The unique magazine design with its snap in rotary Pellet and BB magazines shoudl come in handy when it coms time for testing and the ability to shoot either Pellets or BB's does give the shooter more options.
First I wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, hopefully you get all the toys you have been wanting! Maybe we can help you out a little with that over on our Online Canada and US Replica Airgun Stores.
I also have a new Red Ryder Type BB Rifle to show off, this one is John Wayne licensed and called the John Wayne Lil Duke. At first glace it looks a lot like a Red Ryder but it has the large loop styled lever which is designed for easier use when wearing gloves, perfect for our Canadian weather ;) The John Wayne Lil Duke Lever Action BB Rifle has a really nice fit and finish, perhaps even a bit better than the classic Red Ryder BB Gun. I really like the real wood stock finish.
Another nice touch is that the John Wayne Lil Duke Lever Action BB Rifle comes with a lasso scope rail that you can attach just behind the rear iron sight to accommodate dove tail scope mounts. Just make sure to really tighten down the rear screw as it comes loose super easy due to the spring vibration. I would even recommend adding a bit of lock tight to the screw to be sure.
Here are some of the main specifications for the John Wayne Lil Duke Lever Action BB Rifle: 4.5mm Steel BB's, leaver action spring piston, 350 fps, 550 round magazine, 2.5 pounds, smooth bore 9.5 inch barrel, adjustable rear sight for elevation, included scope mount for 11mm dovetail rings, metal and wood build.
Before I get into this Field Test Shooting Review for the Umarex Legends Ace in the Hole SAA Pellet Revolver I did want to mention again that we do have a Contest Giveaway going on till the end of this month where we will be giving away an Umarex Legends Ace in the Hole SAA Pellet Revolver to a Canada or US Winner. Sorry we can not ship outside of Canada or the US due to airgun and import regulations. Make sure to scroll to the bottom of this review to enter the contest.
Back to the Field Test Shooting Review! Rather than just testing the 3.5 inch barreled Umarex Legends Ace in the Hole SAA Pellet Revolver by itself, I also compare it to two other Umarex SAA Revolvers, in 5.5 and 7.5 inches version. I wanted to see how the barrel length effected power and accuracy and I was kind of surprised at the results.
I shot three rounds from each Umarex SAA Pellet Revolver through my Chrony Chronograph and averaged them out for each gun. Umarex claims the Umarex Legends Ace in the Hole SAA Pellet Revolver to get around 340 fps and it shot an average of 323fps with a brand new CO2 and using 8.2 gram lead pellets, not bad at all considering the pellet weight and colder temperature of around 15 degrees Celsius. next I shot the 5.5 inch Umarex SAA Pellet Revolver in the same manner and averaged 347fps which is kind of what I was expecting die to the anger barrel. SO when I came to the 7.5 inch Umarex SAA Pellet Revolver I was expecting even higher results but was surprised by my results which where exactly the same as the 3.5 inch version coming in at 323fps? Perhaps the valve was a bit detuned on the 7.5 inches version, I am not sure?
Moving on to the accuracy performance for the Umarex Legends Ace in the Hole SAA Pellet Revolver. Again I sued the same 8.2 grain RWS flathead pellets and emptied a full cylinder into my paper target positioned 30 feet downrange. My accuracy result for the Umarex Legends Ace in the Hole SAA Pellet Revolver where decent with my 6 shoot group getting around a 2 inches and well centered on the target, just a lad high but not by much. I am pretty sure I pulled one of the shots so I think I should of gotten closer to 1.5 inches. Next I Shot the 5.5 inch UmarexSAA Pellet Revolver but seemed to struggle a bit with it. I found the 5.5 inch Umarex SAA Pellet Revolver shot to the left and my 6 shot grouping was a lot more spread out exceeding 2 inches by a bit. Lastly I tested out the 7.5 inch Umarex SAA Pellet Revolver and it was the clear winner placing all 6 rounds wishing the black bullseye getting close to a 1 inch grouping. I love it when that happens :)
I don't get many Gas Blowback Airsoft Rifles to review all that often so when I get my hands on them I sure have a great time testing them out and feeling the blowback action tapping me in the shoulder as I shoot in semi or full auto modes. Sure Gas Blowback Airsoft Guns don't perform like their AEG counterparts, especially when you're shooting in full auto. You can expect way less rounds in each magazine and even with less rounds the last 5 or 10 shots when shooting rapid fire are going to be compromised but I really don't care because a well made Gas Blowback Airsoft rifle like the KJWorks M4 CQB Carbine GBB is just so much more fun to shoot than an AEG and way more realistic.
So let's get on with my test results for the KJWorks M4 CQB Carbine GBB Airsoft Rifle... The fps consistency was really decent, super consistent when I spaced out my 5 test shots they averaged 377 fps, not really having any low or high fps shots out of the bunch. I did have a full gassed up mag and was using .20 gram plastic 6mm Airsoft BB's for this part of the field test.
Again shooting in semi auto mode, I placed 10 rounds into my paper target setup downrange 30 feet and as per usual I was using a rested shooting setup sitting on a stool and resting the KJWorks M4 CQB Carbine GBB Airsoft Rifle on a sandbag up front. 9 out of the 10 rounds all grouped in about a 3/4 inch group with only 1 round coming outside a bit stretching the 10 shot grouping out to about 1.5 inches. Still really great for a Gas Blowback or any Airsoft rifle for that matter!
Next I shot the rest of the mag in full auto burst mode which was about 20 rounds left in the KJWorks M4 CQB Carbine GBB Airsoft Rifle at this point. As expected the KJWorks M4 CQB Carbine GBB Airsoft Rifle cooled down pretty quick and the last 5 rounds did fire just fine but there was a noticeable drop in power making the rounds shoot low on the target. Keep in mind I was shooting in a not too warm environment, about 15 degrees which is not bad but also not that warm.
I would have liked to have seen the KJWorks M4 CQB Carbine GBB Airsoft Rifle perform as consistently in full auto mode as it did in semi auto but that would have been asking a bit too much from a Gas Blowback Airsoft rifle. The KJWorks M4 CQB Carbine GBB Airsoft Rifle is a really well put together Airsoft Rifle that didn't let me down in the end.
Getting back to the Umarex IWI Tavor 21 Elite AEG Airsoft Rifle, how did it perform? I placed 5 rounds through my Chrony Chronograph using .20 gram plastic Airsoft BB's and it shot a pretty quick 425 fps! Not sure if I would want to use the Umarex IWI Tavor 21 Elite AEG Airsoft Rifle in any close quarters games with that velocity but it would perform well on a field and even get a round out to a nice distance.
Next I tested out the accuracy of the Umarex IWI Tavor 21 Elite AEG Airsoft Rifle as best I could in my kind of "cramped for rifles" indoor Sea Can Airguns Range. I place my paper target 30 feet down range and put 10 rounds in semi auto into the target shooting from a rested seated position with a sandbag up front for stability. The Umarex IWI Tavor 21 Elite AEG Airsoft Rifle shot a nice tight 1.5 inch grouping just a tad low and to the left but pretty close to the bulls-eye for being straight out of the box with no adjustments on my part.
In full auto mode the Umarex IWI Tavor 21 Elite AEG Airsoft Rifle performedas expected emptying the magazine making a clean 3 inch hole in my paper target with only a few of the 6mm Airsoft BB's venturing outside of it.
All in all the Umarex IWI Tavor 21 Elite AEG Airsoft Rifle is a nice performer with a good solid build quality and modern Bull-pup design. I really liked the pop-up sights and the fact that can use any standard AEG AR/M4 High capacity magazine with it.
In this yet another AEG Airsoft Field Test Shooting Video Review I mainly focus on the Cybergun Famas AEG Bullpup Airsoft Rifle and put it through my typical velocity and accuracy tests I conduct in the Replica Airguns Indoor Sea Can Shooting Range. I also show some other similar Bullpup styled AEG Airsoft Rifles in comparison that I plan on also reviewing very soon, the IWI Tavor 21 Elite Force and two AEG Bullpups from ASG, the Steyr Aug A2 and Steyr Aug A3 Proline Series..
So how did the Cybergun Famas AEG Bullpup Airsoft Rifle perform? I placed 5 rounds through my Chrony Chronograph using .20 gram plastic Airsoft BB's and I got right around a 360 fps average which is should be just about right for most indoor or outdoor shooting environments. Velocity consistency was also good.
Moving on to the accuracy portion of my indoor sea can field test, I place my paper target 30 feet down range and put 10 rounds into the target shooting from a rested seated position with a sandbag up front for stability. The Cybergun Famas AEG Bullpup Airsoft Rifle shot a nice 1.5 to 2 inch grouping just a little high but well centered. The front and back sigh are both adjustable making windage and elevation corrections very easy to do. You could also play around with the hop-up to adjust elevation at various ranges.
In full auto mode the Cybergun Famas AEG Bullpup Airsoft Rifle performed really well, I pretty much empty the magazine and the grouping only spread out to about 3 inches making a clean 3 inch hole in my paper target. There is something very gratifying about unloading an entree magazine in full auto and checking out the damage it caused :)
All in all the Cybergun Famas AEG Bullpup Airsoft Rifle is a great performer at a pretty low price tag of around $200 Canadian at the time of this review. If you want a slightly higher quality version than also checkout the Cybergun Famas F1 EVO Version which is only about $90 more and but offers better build material and and internals improvements.
In this Field Test Shooting Video Review I mainly focus on the ASG CAA M4 Sportline AEG Airsoft Rifle and put it through my typical velocity and accuracy tests I conduct in the Replica Airguns Sea Can Shooting Range. I do compare the ASG CAA M4 Proline AEG Airsoft Rifle to the ASG CAA M4 Sportline version since they look virtually identical but do have some notable differences, like the build materials and much lower cost for the ASG CAA M4 Sportline AEG Airsoft Rifle. That said both ASG CAA M4 AEG Airsoft Rifles did perform very similarly other than a bit of a velocity bump with the ASG CAA M4 Proline model over the Sportline I test in this video.
So how did the ASG CAA M4 Sportline AEG Airsoft Rifle perform? I placed 5 rounds through my Chrony Chronograph using .20 gram plastic Airsoft BB's and I got a 335 average fps which is a bit lower than the ASG CAA M4 Proline AEG Airsoft Rifle but still great for a variety of Airsoft shooting situations. I did notice that the FPS seemed to be creeping up slowly as I tested it, maybe some break in was taking place?
Moving on to the accuracy portion of my indoor field test, I place my paper target 30 feet down range and put 10 rounds into the target shooting from a rested seated position with a sandbag up front. The ASG CAA M4 Sportline AEG Airsoft Rifle shot a nice 1.5 to 2 inch grouping a little to the right of the bulls-eye and slightly low, which I can easily correct using the adjustable sights and hop-up adjustments. I like to conduct my field tests with all the guns right out of the box and with no adjustments prior to my testing since that's the way you're going to get them and you may have to also make some small correction to the sights and or hop-up adjustments.
In full auto mode the ASG CAA M4 Sportline AEG Airsoft Rifle didn't miss a beat. I emptied what was left of the mag (About 130 rounds or so) in no time with a few quick bursts making a nice mess of the paper target which is the result I'm looking for in full auto mode :)
In this Field Test Shooting Video Review I mainly focus on the ASG CAA M4 Proline AEG Airsoft Rifle and put it through my typical velocity and accuracy tests I conduct in the Replica Airguns Sea Can Shooting Range. I do compare the ASG CAA M4 Proline AEG Airsoft Rifle to the ASG CAA M4 Sportline version since they look virtually identical but do have some notable differences, like the build materials and perhaps a few internal upgrades found in the Proline version. That said both ASG CAA M4 AEG Airsoft Rifles did perform rather similarly other than a bit of a velocity bump with the ASG CAA M4 Proline model.
So how did the ASG CAA M4 Proline AEG Airsoft Rifle perform? I placed 5 rounds through my Chrony Chronograph using .20 gram plastic Airsoft BB's and I got a very respectable 392 average fps with most of the five shots actually getting 392 fps so very consistent velocity for sure.
Moving on to the accuracy portion of my indoor field test, I place my paper target 30 feet down range and put 10 rounds into the target shooting from a rested seated position with a sandbag up front. The ASG CAA M4 Proline AEG Airsoft Rifle shot a tight 1.5 inch grouping just to the right of the bullseye which I can easily correct using the adjustable sights. I like to conduct my field tests with all the guns right out of the box and with no adjustments prior to my testing since that's the way you're going to get them and you may have to also make some small correction to the sights and or hop-up adjustments.
In full auto mode the ASG CAA M4 Proline AEG Airsoft Rifle didn't miss a beat. I emptied what was left of the mag (About 200 rounds or so) in no time at all and made a nice mess of the paper target which is what I am usually going for :)
All in all the ASG CAA M4 Proline AEG Airsoft Rifle is a very high quality Airsoft gun but does come at a premium pricetag. If you're budget is a bit lower than checkout my upcoming Field Test Shooting Video of the more economical ASG CAA M4 Sportily AEG Airsoft Rifle which will be out this week.
Type: Airsoft AR, M4, M16 Styled Rifle. Manufacturer:G&G. Model:ARP-556 and ARP-9. Materials: Metal and plastic/polymer construction. Weight: (ARP-9 4.4 pounds) (ARP-556 5.3 pounds). Barrel: 6 inches, metal non-rifled. Propulsion: AEG non-blowback. Action: Semi & full auto SAO. Ammunition Type: 6mm plastic Airsoft BB's. Ammunition Capacity: (ARP-9 300) (ARP-556 450). FPS: 400+.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the G&G ARP rifles is an electric mechanical trigger that simulates a single action only trigger. There is essentially a light spring internally which supplies the trigger pressure. Pressure is even and smooth.
Build Quality: As with all of the G&G product line the G&G ARP-556 and ARP-9 AEG Airsoft CQB Rifles are really well made. Fit and finish is flawless and I had no issues shooting these guns at all. Every engagement of the trigger resulted in an Airsoft BB downrange and in full auto mode BB's where literally streaming from the barrel :) You will find a little more metal specifically in the receiver for the G&G ARP-556 over the G&G ARP-9 AEG Airsoft CQB Rifle which does make the ARP-556 a little bit heavier but not by much.
Realism: Both the G&G ARP-556 and ARP-9 AEG Airsoft CQB Rifles are super realistic, they are based on the AR, M4, M16 Rifle design but are scaled down for tactical close quarters use with their compact barrels and adjustable stocks. Most parts work as you would find on a real steel M4 like the charging handle, dust cover, simulated forward assist and of course the magazine releases. There is however no blowback operation but I can attest that if you have an 11.2 volt battery and are shooting in full auto you will feel this gun a rock'n.
2 lower and higher priced models with similar looks and performance to choose from.
Super compact CQB rifles.
Fully adjustable pop-up iron sights front and back.
Crown flash hider acts as a sound amplifier if you’re into that sort of thing?
Great internals, Internally upgraded with an ETU and MOSFET system.
Skeltonized PDW stock perfect for close quarters combat.
Nice 400 feet per second velocity, good for close and even further out ranges.
Very accurate, one of the best Airsoft rifles tested to date.
ARP-526 has an ambidextrous selector / safety switch.
ARP-556 has full metal receiver.
ARP-9 is a bit lighter and less tiring to carry, great if you plan to add on a bunch of accessories.
Cons:
No blowback operation.
ARP-9 has a plastic receiver.
You need some pretty compact batteries to fit into the short bumper tube.
Comments:
I am going to go on the record and say that the G&G ARP-556 and ARP-9 AEG Airsoft CQB Rifles would be my go to Airsoft battle rifle of choice. They have enough power for out door shooting and not too much for indoor shooting. Their compact and lightweight design will make them super easy to carry around all day and quick to place on any target in a hurry. Accuracy is not a concern since these AEG Airsoft Rifles can cut a bullseye out of a paper target no problem. Price for what you get, quality, looks. performance are all top notch with either choice of G&G ARP-556 or ARP-9 AEG Airsoft CQB Rifle you decide to go with.
My Vimeo Video Review for the G&G ARP-556 and ARP-9 AEG Airsoft CQB Rifles:
It's been a rather long time since I made an Airsoft Rifle Field Shooting Test video. I like to shoot a bit further out than 30 feet when using a rifle. Unfortunately the weather outside is getting really cold where I live so my testing will have to all be done inside the Replica Airguns Sea Can Airgun Range which only allows for about 30 feet worth of distance to my paper target. I figure if I can get a tight group at 30 feet than it shouldn't spread out too much at longer ranges!
Since the G&G ARP-9 and G&G ARP-556 have identical internals and similar barrel lengths I figured I only really needed to test one of them out so I picked the G&G ARP-556 AEG Airsoft CQB and put 5 shots through my Chrony Chronograph to get my Field Test Started. The G&G ARP-556 AEG Airsoft CQB shot a nice consistent 400 fps which is as high as I would want to go for indoor CQB type shooting. The BB's sure did get to my paper target quickly!
I followed my velocity testing with an accuracy test at 30 feet back using a rested shooting position, sand bag up front and sitting in the back. I first placed 10 rounds on my paper target in semi-auto and hit the 1.5 inch bullseye with every shot! I think this may have been a first for me using an Airsoft rifle? Of course I had to switch the G&G ARP-556 AEG Airsoft CQB over to full auto and see how she would perform. Since I was using an 11.2 volt bolt battery the rate of fire was crazy fast but even so in full-auto the bulk of the shots still hit the center bullseye cutting out a 2 inch hole in my paper target. The G&G ARP-556 AEG Airsoft CQB is a beast that I would not want to be on the receiving end of!
I'm pretty sure I found my go to AEG M4 styled CQB rifle, I'm not sure how you could beat the results I got shooting the G&G ARP-556 AEG Airsoft CQB. And if you're looking for a slightly lighter and less expensive version with the same performance then take a look at the G&G ARP-9 AEG Airsoft CQB.
I just received some really nice G& G Airsoft guns to share with everyone, I have two CQB Styled AEG rifles and a fantastic Gas Blowback Beretta Mod. 92FS.
The AEG CQB AR or M4 styled rifles are similar in a lot of ways and are super compact and really well built. The G&G ARP-9 has a polymer receiver and hand guard while the G&G ARP-556 has a full metal receiver and hand guard. Both have good weight to them. You will also find Skeletonized PDW stocks and large crown flash hiders on both models along with M-LOK hand guards. Inside you will find upgraded ETU and MOSFET electronics.
Obvious difference are the 9mm style magazine found on the G&G ARP-9 versus the M4 styled high capacity magazine on the G&G ARP-556. You also get an ambidextrous safety sector switch on the G&G ARP-556.
Next I show off the G&G GPM92 Beretta Mod. 92FS Gas Blowback Airsoft Pistol. It comes in a high quality hard plastic case with a well made speed loader. If you place the magazine in the gun you will have room for two magazine in the hard shell case. The G&G GPM92 hold 27 roads in it's double stack magazine that has some interesting new features that help it perform much beet in cold environments and really boost green gas usage. G& G calls them the Whirl Cylinder Valve system and Micro gas filter. Both help eliminate free up in the gun when shooting fast.
The G&G GPM92 Beretta Mod. 92FS is really well made and shoot in double and single action and the safety even works as a decocker. For those looking to add a mock suppressor you will happy to know the G&G GPM92 has a threaded barrel tip.
In this Classic Legends Airguns comparison video I look at a number of different Classic or Legendary BB Airguns and compare them to each other to determine which one I personally feel is the best . My final choices are of course based on my own personal opinion and in this video I end up picking two as they where kind of each in their own class.
In this Makarov comparison video I look at a variety of different versions of Makarov BB Airguns and compare them to each other to determine which one I feel is the best in their class. My final choice is of course based on my own personal opinion and even then I found it hard to pick a clear winner.
In this Revolver comparison video I look at a variety of different types of Revolver Airguns and compare them to each other to determine which one I feel is the best Revolver styled Airgun. My final choice is of course based on my own personal opinion.
In this comparison video I look at a variety of different Sig Sauer P226 Airguns and compare them to each other to determine which one I feel is the best Sig Sauer styled Airgun. Of course my choice may not be your choice :)
In this comparison video I look at a variety of different Beretta 92/Taurus PT92 Airguns and compare them to each other to determine which one I feel is the best Beretta/Taurus Airgun. Keep in mind what's best in for me may not be best for you.
In this comparison video I look at a variety of different 1911 Airguns and compare them to each other to determine which one I feel is the best 1911 Airgun, well at least for me.
Type: Multi-pump Pellet-BB rifle. Manufacturer: Umarex USA. Model:NXG APX. Materials: Metal and polymer parts. Weight: 3.4 pounds (1.54 kg). Barrel: 20 inches, rifled. Propulsion: Multi-pump. Action: Single shot pellets/repeater BB's. Ammunition Type: .177 caliber pellets & 4.5mm steel BB's. Ammunition Capacity: 75 BB's in hopper. FPS: up to 490.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Umarex NXG APX Multi-pump Pellet-BB Rifle is not too bad, I would not say it's overly light but not on the heavy side either. Essentially it has a single action trigger since you need to pre-charge the bolt to engage the trigger. There is a little bit of take-up and then a fairly noticeable break point where you will feel the most trigger weight right before it releases.
Accuracy: So far I have not performed my Field Test Shooting review for the Umarex NXG APX Multi-pump Pellet-BB Rifle so I do not have any velocity or accuracy information to share at this point. I do plan on making that Shooting video Review this week so stay posted for that one.
Build Quality: The Umarex NXG APX Multi-pump Pellet-BB Rifle is not going to be one of your highest quality airguns but it does get the job done and feels solid enough with all the working parts feeling tight and secure. Most of the Umarex NXG APX Multi-pump Pellet-BB Rifle is plastic, even the bolt and trigger but you will find more metal inside where it counts like the inner steel barrel and the outer steel barrel shroud. The stock is plastic and that's OK, I do like the addition of the rubber butt pad and cheek rest as they work well and help to make the Umarex Umarex NXG APX Multi-pump Pellet-BB Rifle feel comfortable to hold in position and shoot.
Realism: Since the Umarex NXG APX Multi-pump Pellet-BB Rifle is not a replica, realism is not really a factor here but it does look like a gun so treat it as if it was a real gun since most people will not know the difference. Always transport and store any airgun safely and discreetly.
Pros:
Low cost air rifle with a lot of features.
Iron sights actually look really usable with the fiber optic red dot up front.
Comes with an 4x15 optical sight which should help with accuracy at longer ranges.
Super easy to pump even when getting close to the 10 pump max.
Built in auto safety.
Stock and cheek rest position feel really good.
Choice of shooting pellets or BB’s.
Trigger feels pretty good, not too heavy.
Mostly an ambidextrous design so good for lefties too.
Has a rifled barrel.
Overall a good looking air rifle.
Cons:
Mostly plastic, not the highest quality build.
Included 4x15 scope is super low budget but will work till you can upgrade it down the road.
Comments: I really hope the Umarex NXG APX Multi-pump Pellet-BB Rifle shoots well as it is kind of a cool air rifle with a lot of features at a low price tag and would make a great little target and maybe even small pest air rifle if it turns out to be accurate and hit that near 500 fps mark with pellets. The Umarex NXG APX Multi-pump Pellet-BB Rifle is not going to win any quality or design awards but from a usability stand point it works well and feels good to hold and shoot, the rear stock and cheek rest are in a perfect piston for me and this is a pretty small airgun overal. Personally I would invest in an upgraded scope, something like the Walther 4x32 would be perfect and not too expensive.
Type: Break barrel pellet rifle. Manufacturer: Umarex USA. Model:Ruger Explorer. Materials: Metal and polymer parts. Weight: 4.45 pounds (2.5 kg). Barrel: 12 inches, metal rifled. Propulsion: Spring piston. Action: Single shot. Ammunition Type: .177 caliber pellets. Ammunition Capacity: 1. FPS: 495.
Trigger Pull: I found the Ruger Explorer Youth Break Barrel Pellet Rifle to have a fairly light trigger, there is some initial take up with a smooth almost undetectable break or release point, I found that as I shot the Ruger Explorer Youth Break Barrel Pellet Rifle the trigger seemed to be breaking in a bit which made it a bit hard to figure exactly when the trigger was going to release but I feel over time and once the Ruger Explorer Youth Break Barrel Pellet Rifle is broken in the trigger will become more predictable.
Accuracy: Since I have already made a shooting or field test video for the Ruger Explorer Youth Break Barrel Pellet Rifle, I can comment on its performance n this review! With 6 grain lead pellets (on the lighter side), I was able to get a 5 shot Chronograph average velocity of 485 fps. Using heavier 7-8 grain pellets the velocity slowed down a bit to around 400 fps. In terms of accuracy the Ruger Explorer Youth Break Barrel Pellet Rifle performed well getting about a 1 inch 10 shot grouping on my paper target setup 30 feet down range. I know the Ruger Explorer Youth Break Barrel Pellet Rifle can do better than this once the trigger settles down a bit since some shots went off unexpectedly.
Build Quality: The Ruger Explorer Youth Break Barrel Pellet Rifle is not an expensive air rifle and is more or less an entry level spring piston pellet shooter. That said it is built fairly well with a metal receiver, barrel and trigger setup. The modern looking stock is polymer and the steel barrel is coated in a synthetic soft plastic to help with long term durability. The real fiber optic sight is plastic so you will have to be careful with it as it does protrude a bit from the air rifle.
Realism: Since the Ruger Explorer Youth Break Barrel Pellet Rifle is not a replica realism is not really a factor here but it does look like a gun so treat it as if it was a real gun since most people will not know the difference. Always transport and store any airgun safely and discreetly.
Pros:
Really great looking air rifle with a modern look to it.
Finish is very durable with its polymer stock and plastic/rubber coated barrel.
Fully adjustable fiber optic sights are easy to sight in and use.
Receiver is notched for ring mounts so you can add an optical sight or red dot to it.
Trigger is fairly light, just need some break in time with it.
Cocking effort is fairly easy at 16.5 pounds.
Great size gun for all ages.
Power and accuracy were good for an entry level air rifle.
Cons:
I did find the trigger break/release point to be a bit unpredictable but I feel this is a break-in issue and will become more consistent over time.
You have to remember to push that safety in with ever shot.
Comments: The Ruger Explorer Youth Break Barrel Pellet Rifle is marketed as a Youth air rifle but in reality it would be great fun for all ages. I am a fairly large person at 6 feet tall and I had no problem dealing with the slightly shorter configuration. The trigger guard is nice and open and allows for large fingers which is not always the case with airguns designed for smaller individuals. The overall quality you get with the Ruger Explorer Youth Break Barrel Pellet Rifle for the lower entry level price tag is very good and in terms of performance I feel you for sure get your monies worth with the Ruger Explorer Youth Break Barrel Pellet Rifle.