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!
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:
I have been hinting about an even bigger Canada sale on the King Arms Colt M4A1 Metal AEG Airsoft Rifle and here it is - now $100 OFF the regular price (Canada Store Only) so don't wait as I'm not sure how long this sale will last...
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:
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 ;)
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!)
Materials: Plastic (polymer) and some metal construction.
Weight: .92 pounds.
Barrel: 4.5 inches, metal smooth bore.
Propulsion: 12 gram CO2 x 1.
Action: Semi auto, single and double action.
Ammunition Type: 4.5mm steel BB's.
Ammunition Capacity: 18 shot full size drop out magazine.
FPS: 410.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Umarex Browning Hi-power Mark III is not too bad but has more resistance when the BB magazine is full as the first part of the trigger pull is dedicated to advancing a BB into the BB chamber, this is true in both single and double action. Shooting the Browning Hi-power in single action mode is a bit smoother but also has some resistance right at the beginning. Overall I would say it has a medium pull and as you can see in my shooting results the trigger did not effect the accuracy negatively at all!
Accuracy: Excellent for a BB shooter I shot a 1 inch 7 shot group from 20 feet out in a semi-rested position and this is was with open sights! I also shot freehand in double action, shooting quickly and also got a very respectable 2.5 inch pattern that represented an additional 36 shots. When it came to FPS performance the Umarex Browning Hi-power Mark III was a bit lower than claimed which is not unusual with most airguns (369 fps averaged 8 shots). The Umarex Browning Hi-power did get well over 100 shots per CO2 but I would have given up a few shots for a bit more power.
Build Quality: I would have liked to have seen this air pistol replica use a lot more metal and perhaps some more working parts. As is it is mostly plastic and very light weight but the fit and finish are good overall and the gun should work just fine and hold up over time.
Realism: The Umarex Browning Hi-power Mark III is a licensed replica of the actual Browning Hi-power Mark III semi auto pistol. It is a very close "looking" copy in almost every way. I like the fact that there are no side screw holes that you find in many plastic moulded BB pistols and the Browning Mark III has a working ambidextrous safety and magazine release just like the real Browning Hi-power Mark III. The let down here is in the .92 pound weight of the Browning BB version, it just doesn't have that "gun like" weight to it which makes it feel a bit cheap. I would have really liked to see this BB pistol in all metal and with a working slide, and I would not have minded to pay extra for the upgrade in materials.
Mostly plastic which makes the gun feel kind of light weight.
No working slide.
Could have just a bit more power even at the expense of less shots per CO2.
No white dots on the sights?
Comments:
The Umarex Browning Hi-power Mark III BB CO2 pistol is a very good replica of the real steel version of this gun and in terms of "looks" alone does a good job making this pistol very believable. Now once you pick it up, you know it's not the real deal because of the plastic build and much lower weight. So with that out of the way, let's talk a bit more about what I did really like about the Browning Hi-power Mark III! I liked the excellent accuracy, easy to load and use full size drop out metal magazine not often found in a low price airgun like this, and I also like the fact that there are no screw holes on the side of this gun found in so many plastic and even some metal BB guns. So overall the Browning Hi-power Mark III is a good overall replica, has excellent accuracy and is really the only Browning Hi-power available in an airgun that I know about.
My Vimeo Table Top & Shooting Review for the Browning Hi-power Mark III BB CO2 Pistol:
I wanted to make a quick video to showcase a few items I will be reviewing and some of which are also for sale in the Replica Airguns Store.
First off we have a few of the new front firing Kimar Model 85's (Orange Slide) left in Canada. I stated out with 9 and I am not down to 3 so hurry on this one if you want one in Canada. If you are in the US, I also have them for sale in my US Replica Airguns Store in both Black and Nickel.
Next up I just wanted to show you a Kimar Lady K that will show up some time down the road in a video review, this item is now in my personal collection and sorry it is not for sale in either my Canada or US store at this time.
I have had lots of requests to review the Daisy Powerline 5501 and to be honest I have wanted to get this one for some time and even though it is available for sale in our US Replica Airguns Store I have not had the opportunity to pick one up until now so look forward to that review again some time down the road...
Last but not least I wanted to give you a closer look at the new Turkish made high powered Webley Tempest I have available in the Canada Store, these ones shoot as hard as legally possible within our Canada limitation to be classified as uncontrolled firearms and they make great compact pest control pistols that you can keep handy for when required.
OK, so that's it for now and be sure to watch the full reviews of these guns when I get to them shortly!
We where out of the Umarex Steel Storm for a while, I had a lot of people asking about this one so I thought I would let everyone know we now have the Umarex Steel Storm back in stock and for sale again in the Canada Replica Airguns Store.
Canada Customers only - Act fast on this one, I am selling the Cybergun Sig Sauer P226 X-Five Sight Rail Version at $30 off the regular price, this is for the first five customers that buy it! I am also throwing in five CO2 cartridges for free!
Keep in mind the sight rail version comes with a compensator, sight rail and adjustable rear sight and it's selling for less than the standard version right now!
Here is a bit of a heads up for some future reviews and YouTube videos. I have had a lot of requests to review the Gamo PT-85 and Gamo P-25 so I went ahead and picked up one of each. Now I do not currently sell these blowback air pistols in the Replica Airguns Canada Store but I do have them available in our US Replica Airguns Store.
I also took in an EKOL Lady in Chrome finish from a customer of mine looking to purchase another item in the Replica Airguns Store. Since I don't have this model it will get added to my personal collection of replica guns :) Either way we all benefit because now I have a new blank gun I can review for you all!
Another slap in the face to my Canada Customers :( But for my US customers this is great news, I pretty much added the entire EKOL - Voltran linup of blank guns in a variety of styles and finishes to the US Replica Airguns Store.
Here is a complete listing of the EKOL - Voltran lineup:
