In this 2016 SHOT Show Interview I talk with Bob Li from Action Sport Games. Bob shows me some of the new products this year from ASG. Some of ASG's newer pistols are the Dan Wesson 715, the CZ 75 SP-01 Shadow, the CZ P-09. New to the rifle line is the CZ Bren 80, also a couple of sniper rifles, the M40A5 and M40A3. ASG is also coming out with a an Inferno HPA version of their CZ Scorpion EVO 3A1.
The ASG Dan Wesson 715 has ot me my favorite product from ASG, you need to hold it in your hand to really understand how solid this pistol really is at close to 3 pounds. Everything about it is an improvement over previous Dan Wesson models including the trigger and hammer action, crane setup and the more actuate frame length with the new more compact internal CO2 valve. The ASG Dan Wesson 715 will be shipping in 4.5mm Steel BB, 6mm Plastic Airsoft and .177 caliber pellet versions.
ASG's two new Full blowback CZ 75 SP-01 Shadow, the CZ P-09 pistols should be coming out shortly, both will be available in 4.5mm Steel BB and 6mm Plastic Airsoft. Both pistols feature a metal slide and frame with full size drop out metal magazines and will have CO2 and Green Gas magazine configurations. The CZ P-09 will have a threaded barrel and barrel protector.
This is my SHOT Show 2016 Teaser Video! You will get to see some new gun highlights from companies like Umarex, ASG, Crosman, Sig Sauer, KWA and ISC. I will be following up this video with some interview videos very soon so do make sure to check back for those uploads. All I can say about the show is it’s huge! So much to see, so much walking and too much to take in…
ASG:
As always, ASG had some new products this year. The all new Dan Wesson 715 357 Magnum shell loading Revolver! This gun feels absolutely amazing in the hand and will be available in Steel BB, Airsfot and even Pellet shooting versions. Also new are the CZ P-09 and CZ 75 SP-01 Shadow Full Blowback BB and Airsoft Pistols.
Crosman:
Big at Crosman this year was their PCP Airbow, Crosman put a lot of focus on this product and even had a lot of crossbows on display to go with their new PCP Airbow. Crosman also introduced their low cost entry level Benjamin Maximus PCP rifle in .177 and .22 calibers offerings. Not really much in the way of replica pistols from Crosman this year, but then again last year was kind of the same?
Sig Sauer:
I finally made it to the Sig Sauer Booth this year to checkout their new CO2 Pellet gun line. All new Sig Airguns are made true to size and weight with similar trigger actions as their real steel versions. The Sig MPX is their more compact (shorter barreled) pellet shooting CO2 rifle with internal blowback and belt fed 30 round magazine. The Sig MCX is the longer barreled rifle version but built much the same as the MPX. Sig also introduced two new pellet shooting CO2 Blowback Pistols, the P226 and the P250. Both use similar double ended rotary magazines as the Umarex PX4.
Umarex:
Umarex always seems to have some new exciting Airguns products to offer at SHOT Show. The PPK is back with a few updates including no more ugly CO2 tab sticking out of the bottom! And yes the Beretta Model 92A1 will finally be shipping soon, I believe in February! My favorite product this year from Umarex would have to be the Full Blowback, Full size drop out magazine S&W M&P 40 CO2 BB Pistol. Umarex released yet another 1911 on the market, this version does come with a stick mag and sports pretty high fps and more shots per CO2 then the KWC based 1911’s. The super popular Colt SAA Revolver is now available in a pellet shooting version with a rifled barrel :) Umarex had on display another low cost revolver, the ultra futuristic looking Brodax CO2 BB Revolver.
KWA:
KWA always has really nice high quality products to showoff at there booth each year, we may even start carrying some of KWA's products this year, fingers crossed on that one… New to the KWA line are some AEG rifles with simulated blowback action, I really liked the Blowback AEG AK they had on display. KWA also released a new Airsoft shell loading revolvers that had some of the nicest looking brass and aluminum shells. On display under a glass cover was a very solid Gas Blowback Thompson Machine-gun with real wood stock, it was absolutely gorgeous!
ISC:
ISC known for their top quality AEG internals, had their full line of high quality Airsoft rifles on display. And new this year to ICS was their first ever Airsoft pistol, the blowback BLE Alpha. The BLE should be out mid year and looked and felt really nice. The trigger on it was super short and light.
I have some really awesome Interview videos I’m working on, I will be uploading them shortly so stay tuned for those…
When I say Airguns, I am referring to pretty much all BB, Airsoft, Pellet, Paintball and even Blank guns for most of the topics listed here.
Do’s:
Treat your Airgun just like you would a real gun. If something goes wrong, perhaps the outcome will not be as severe but do you really want to take a trip down to your local emergency ward to get a BB or Pellet removed?
Always assume your airgun is loaded, for some reason it always seems those empty guns are the ones that do the most damage.
Be discrete, If it looks like a gun other people will think it is a gun so don’t flash your airguns around in public. Keep it in a case when transporting and shoot it in an area that will not alarm other people.
Always wear eye protection when shooting your Airgun. Do you really want to shoot your eye out? No Joke!
Be aware of your surroundings like windows, hard objects that could make your ammo bounce back at you. Make sure you are shooting your Airgun in a safe direction at all times, know your target and beyond.
Use Airguns to teach others and learn how to safely and effectively shoot a gun. Airguns can be less intimidating then a real gun (Not so loud and very little recoil) and make for great start out and transitions guns.
Use Airguns to get more inexpensive trigger time and become a more experienced shooter. Airguns cosy only pennies per round to shoot and can be shot in way more areas than a real gun can, practice makes perfect so get shooting!
Use Airguns in areas where real guns may not be allowed or safe to use. Again, Airguns can be shot in all kinds of places, in your back yard or even in a properly setup indoor home range.
Use Airguns with adequate power for safe and humane pest control where real guns may be prohibited.Airguns are quiet and less likely for the bullet to travel long ranges which makes them ideal for close range pest control in areas where real guns are too loud and to powerful.
Don’ts:
Do not assume because it is an airgun it is not dangerous or simply a toy. Many Deaths have been caused by Airguns along with a lot of pain and suffering so treat your Airgun with respect. It is not a toy or you would find them in the toy department at your local store along with yo-yos and stuffed animals.
Do not point or shoot at people unless of course you are using an Airsoft gun in an Airsoft field or facility. Yes Airsoft guns are meant to shoot at each other (with appropriate attire like eye protection and full body clothing), but steel BB and Pellet can cause serious injury especially at close range and on direct skin contact.
Do not leave your Airgun loaded, you never know who is going to come across it and accidentally discharge it. Remember, a loaded gun is a dangerous gun in the wrong hands. You may know better than to assume the gun is undulated but children and even adults without any gun training will most definitely handle the airgun without consideration of the danger it poses.
Do not use an Airgun for self protection. See my related video. Simply put, Airguns are not practical for self defense because they rarely have enough Stopping Power. The ones that do have enough power need to be pre-charged and in most cases are only single shot meaning if you miss or don’t get the job done no the first shot then you are done.
Do not use an underpowered Airgun for pest control. See related video. Using a low powered BB pistol for pest control is cruel, you will only injure the animal making it suffer unnecessarily. Use a high powered pellet rifle to get the job done.
Do not take your gun apart, in most cases this will void the warranty and the reality is that airguns rarely need to be cleaned since no dirty gun powder is used. lead pellet rifles may require occasional barrel cleaning to keep the rifled barrel free of debris.
Do not over oil your Airgun, a little goes a long way and too much oil will just attracted dirt, use the right airgun oil and just enough to keep part functioning smoothly.
Do not over pump an Airgun. Over pumping an Airgun can cause damage to valves and seals and in a worse case situation a rupture the air pressure reservoir or even cause the airgun to explode!
Can I use Airsoft BB's in my BB Pistol? I would have to say this is by far the number one question I get asked in the comments section of my Vimeo videos. I have made several videos where this question gets addressed within the video but so far to date I have not made a stand alone video just covering Airsoft BB use in BB Guns.
So here it is, and now I have a video I can link to this so very common question, if you where wondering about this yourself than please watch my YouTube Video on this topic as it goes into a fair amount of detail about it.
The short answer to this question is no, you can not use 6mm Airsoft BB's in a 4.5mm Steel BB Pistol or Rifle. For the simple reason that 6mm is larger than 4.5mm and so the physical diameter of a6mm Plastic Airsoft BB is just to large to fit inside of a 4.5mm Steel BB magazine or barrel.
People have commented about using a 4.5mm plastic Airsoft BB in a 4.5mm BB gun and yes this could in theory be an option but I discuss why I feel this is not a good idea based on size and mass.
In this video I feature my top five favorite BB pistols for early 2016. That said there are lots of other BB pistols I truly love and enjoy but I had to pick 5 so these are them! You may notice that many of them are blowback, I do like the blowback guns after all and this is my top 5 pick so naturally many of them will have blowback action.
Here is a list of my top 5 guns featured in this video not necessarily in order of choice:
I'm getting close to uploading 600 videos now over on the Replica Airguns Vimeo channel, so there are bound to be a lot of similar questions and popular discussions. In this Replica Airguns Vimeo Video I address what I feel are my Top 10 Most Common Airgun Questions and Discussions.
Trigger Pull: The trigger on the G&G GR14 Type 57 R.O.C. is like most AEG Airsoft Rifles, being that it is essentially an electric on off switch and not a mechanical one. So it is light with not much take up. You will notice a bit of delay from the time your press the trigger till a BB is released since the electric motor must first pull back the spring and release it.
Accuracy: So far I have not tested out the G&G GR14 AEG Type 57 R.O.C. Walnut Wood Stock Airsoft Rifle. When I get the chance, I will have to set my paper target up further out than my usual 30 feet! I am also expecting the fps to be a bit higher than the stated factory default since this G&G GR14 AEG Airsoft Rifle is marked as being the "High Muzzle Velocity Version"! Stay tuned for my future Field Test Shooting video for the G&G GR14 AEG Type 57 R.O.C. Walnut Wood Stock Airsoft Rifle.
Build Quality: The G&G GR14 AEG Type 57 R.O.C. Walnut Wood Stock Airsoft Rifle looks to extremely well made with most of the build materials being metal and wood. The only none metal or wood noticeable parts would be the upper hand guard which is made out of some sort of nylon or plastic. I believe the original M14 Rifle upper hand guard was made out of fiberglass. Then Walnut Wood Stock is nicely finished and the metal parts function and look really great.
Realism: In terms of realism the G&G GR14 AEG Type 57 R.O.C. Walnut Wood Stock Airsoft Rifle is extremely authentic in terms of looks, weight and even overall length and barrel length! Most of the parts operate exactly as they would on the real M14 rifle including the selector switch, safety, magazine release, shoulder rest adjustable sights and bolt.
Lots of metal and wood parts where they would be on the real M14.
True realistic 9 pound weight.
High capacity magazine at 470 rounds.
Sights are adjustable for elevation and windage.
Semi and Full Auto selectable.
Real Walnut Wood Stock.
Flip up metal shoulder rest.
Engraved with "The Republic of China" Chinese Text Markings.
25000 rpm Hi-torque Long axis Motor with 7/8 mm Bearings.
8.4v Large Tamiya Battery System.
Cons:
Does not come with battery or charger.
Not setup as is for a scope.
Comments:
History of the M14 this rifle is based on - "The M14 rifle, formally the United States Rifle. M14 is an American selective fire automatic rifle firing 7.62x51mm NATO (.308 Winchester) ammunition. It was the standard issue U.S. rifle from 1959 to 1970. The M14 was used for U.S. Army and Marine Corps basic and advanced individual training and was the standard issue infantry rifle in CONUS, Europe, and South Korea, until replaced by the M16 rifle in 1970."
So the M14 has a place in our history books and also a place in many of our war veterans hearts. This G&G GR14 AEG Type 57 R.O.C. Walnut Wood Stock Airsoft Rifle replica is an excellent example of such a great piece of history, to have one in a working Airsoft version may be the next best option to having the real deal.
My YouTube Review Video of the G&G GR14 AEG Type 57 R.O.C. Walnut Wood Stock Airsoft Rifle:
In this Video Review I show you around the G&G CM16 Raider and Carbine AEG Airsoft Rifle's. Since these AEG Airsoft AR Rifles are a bit large to showcase using my traditional Table Top location I move into my gym and take each gun out of its box to have a good look at them. I talk about some of the main features and specification. The main features being these G&G CM16 AR15 / M16 AEG Airsoft Rifles are all really well priced but also very well made for their rather low overall cost. They do have a primarily all Nylon Fiber build even in the receivers but they still have a nice 4.6 to 5.7 pound weight to them, and once dressed up with a few accessories they come in at a perfect weight that is not too heavy to carry around in just about any game situation. The Nylon material in some way is a better choice in terms of getting scratched and dinged since they will not mark up as easily as painted metals will.
Materials: Metal and plastic (polymer) construction.
Weight: 2.7 pounds (1220 grams).
Length: Open 20.6 inches (522mm) - Closed 10.6 inches (270mm).
Propulsion: AEG.
Action: Semi and full auto.
Ammunition Type: 6mm Airsoft BB's
Ammunition Capacity: 58 round magazine.
FPS: 360+.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the ASG CZ Scorpion VZ61 AEG 6mm Airsoft Gun is what you would expect from your typical AEG Airsoft gun since it is basically an on off switch for the electric circuit, it's light and short. As with most AEG Airsoft guns there is a noticeable sight delay from the time you press the trigger till the gun actually fires a BB since the electric motor must first pull the spring plunger back and then release it to fire a round. Because the ASG CZ Scorpion VZ61 AEG 6mm Airsoft Gun uses a fairly low voltage battery it is a bit more noticeable than with some other AEG Airsoft guns and I am not sure if there are higher output batteries for this style of battery setup.
Accuracy: At this point I have not yet tested the ASG CZ Scorpion VZ61 AEG 6mm Airsoft Gun so I do not have any Chronograph fps velocity or paper target accuracy information to provide to you. I plan on performing my Field Test Shooting Review fairly soon so stay posted for that. I can say that since this is the Canada import version it should shoot a .20 gram plastics Airsoft BB at over 360 fps.
Build Quality: The ASG CZ Scorpion VZ61 AEG 6mm Airsoft Gun is a Chinese made Airsoft gun but I have to say it looks and feels really great. For sure as good as any Taiwanese airgun I have come across! The fit and finish both are excellent and there is a lots of metal in this gun including the main frame, folding stock, front and back sights, charging handle, barrel extension, magazine release, selector switch, pins, trigger and trigger guard.
Realism: The ASG CZ Scorpion VZ61 AEG 6mm Airsoft Gun is is true to scale, size and weight to that of the real steel CZ Scorpion VZ61 as far as I can tell without actually having a real CZ Scorpion VZ61 in my possession. Everything works in the same manor as the real CZ Scorpion VZ61, like the charging handle, magazine release, selector switch, adjustable rear sight and folding stock.
Lots of metal parts for a good overall realistic weight and feel.
Semi and full auto selectable.
Comes with battery and charger.
Comes with rail attachment for add on accessories
Folding metal stock.
Adjustable rear metal sight.
Working charging/cocking handle
Scorpion VZ61 Licensed.
Cons:
No blowback so ejection port does not cycle while firing.
May be hard to locate extra batteries and magazines since it is not a common style Airsoft charging system.
Fold out stock is not that usable, kind of short and low.
Made in China?
Comments:
I am really looking forward to performing my Field Test Shooting review for the ASG CZ Scorpion VZ61 AEG 6mm Airsoft Gun and expect it to perform as good as it looks and feels. In terms of size, the ASG CZ Scorpion VZ61 AEG 6mm Airsoft Gun is not much larger than most pistols yet packs a 58 round magazine and AEG reliability and consistency along with true 58 round mag-dump full auto capability. What an awesome sidearm to carry around as your backup gun or tight quarters weapon choice.
Watch my YouTube Table Top Review of the ASG CZ Scorpion VZ61 AEG 6mm Airsoft Gun:
Materials: Metal and plastic (polymer) construction.
Weight: 5.3pounds (2400 grams).
Length: Open 24.8 inches (630mm) - Closed 15.6 inches (395mm).
Propulsion: AEG.
Action: Semi and full auto.
Ammunition Type: 6mm Airsoft BB's
Ammunition Capacity: 100 round magazine.
FPS: 312+.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the ASG B&T BT5 PDW 6mm AEG Airsoft Gun is what you would expect from most AEG Airsoft guns since it is basically an on off switch for the electric circuit. It is fairly light and relatively short. As with most AEG Airsoft guns there is a noticeable sight delay from the time you press the trigger till the gun actually fires a BB since the electric motor must first pull the spring plunger back and then release it to fire a round. Higher output batteries will make this less noticeable since the electric motor will run much quicker.
Accuracy: At this point I have not yet tested the ASG B&T BT5 PDW 6mm AEG Airsoft Gun so I do not have any Chronograph fps velocity or paper target accuracy information to provide to you. I plan on performing my Field Test Shooting Review fairly soon so stay posted for that.
Build Quality: The ASG B&T BT5 PDW 6mm AEG Airsoft Gun is a Chinese made Airsoft gun but I have to say it looks and feels really well built in general. I would say easily as good as any Taiwanese gun I have come across! The fit and finish both are excellent and there is a ton of metal in this gun including the main frame, sights, but plate, charging handle, barrel extension, sling mount and magazine release.
Realism: The ASG B&T BT5 PDW 6mm AEG Airsoft Gun is is very true to scale, size and weight to that of the real steel MP5 PDW as far as I can tell without actually having a real MP5 PDW in my hands . I am pretty sure Brügger & Thomet does not actually have an MP5 version in their product lineup or as this ASG model is named BT5 rather than MP5? That said the ASG B&T BT5 PDW 6mm AEG Airsoft Gun is really simply a replica of an HK MP5 PDW and based on that, it's really close in almost every way.
Lots of metal parts for good overall weight and feel.
Semi and full auto selectable.
Comes with battery and charger.
Folding stock.
Adjustable rear metal sight.
Working Cocking Handle
B&T Licensed.
Cons:
No blowback.
Does not come with rail clamp.
Would of liked a longer higher capacity magazine.
Mine had the wrong charger.
Comments:
I am really looking forward to performing my Field Test Shooting review for the ASG B&T BT5 PDW 6mm AEG Airsoft Gun and hope it performs as good as it looks and feels. I really like my 4.5mm Steel BB Umarex HK MP5K PDW but find it to be a little bit on the lighter side since it is mostly plastic. The ASG B&T BT5 PDW 6mm AEG Airsoft Gun fixes that problem with it's mostly metal build and I also get the added benefit of having full auto that is missing from the Umarex version.
Watch my Vimeo Table Top Review of the ASG B&T BT5 PDW 6mm AEG Airsoft Gun:
Model: M16A4 with Heavy BRRS (Bolt Recoil Shock System).
Materials: Metal & Nylon.
Weight: 7.7 pounds (3500 grams).
Length: 43 inches (1100mm).
Propulsion: AEG with Heavy BRSS
Action: Semi/full auto, single action.
Ammunition Type: 6mm Plastic Airsoft BB (recommend using undersized BB's).
Ammunition Capacity: 300+ round magazine.
FPS: 360+.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the BOLT Airsoft M16A4 is fairly short and light as it is essentially just an on off switch for the internal electronic components. You can shoot this gun very quickly in semi auto mode, and of course in full auto when full auto position is selected. As is with all AEG rifles there is a bit of a delay while the spring is retracted and released, this is not as noticeable in full auto mode and also when using higher voltage 11.1 volt batteries.
Accuracy: I tested the BOLT M16A4 BRSS Airsoft rifle first on my Chronograph to see what kind of real world fps I would get from it using .20 gram Airsfot BB's. The BOLT M16A4 produced consistent 350 fps shots which is perfect for indoor or outdoor Airsoft events. I then stepped back roughly 30 feet and place 10 rounds on my paper target using a semi rested position and was able to get a nice tight 2 inch grouping. When switching up to full auto mode the grouping pretty much stayed exactly the same, right in that 2 inch pocket.
Build Quality: The Bolt M16A4 AEG Blowback Airsoft Rifle is very well made with a full Metal upper and lower receiver, along with metal and polymer parts exactly where they would be on the real steel version of an actual M16 or AR styled riffle. The only rubber or nylon components are the stock and the grips and perhaps some internal parts. I really could not find anything to complain about other than making sure to use the right sized ammo as the barrel is a true 6mm barrel and so when using actual 6mm BB's they can get jammed up. I had great results when I used 5.95mm Airsfot BB's.
Realism: As with many Airsoft guns, there is great attention to realism and the Bolt Airsoft BRSS M16A4 AEG is another great example of an Airsoft rifle based on the Colt M4 platform. It is an AEG but because of the Heavy BRSS (Bolt Recoil Shock System) you get a very nice compromise between a conventional AEG and a GBB (Gas Blow Back Airsoft) gun. In other words, like a standard AEG I get that endless stream of consistent BB's flying down range on target but unlike a true Gas Blow Back Airsoft gun, I don't get that drop off in power and limitation to about 30 usable rounds per magazine. What I do get similar to a GBB is that recoil action that helps make the shooting experience so much more believable! Even the sound from the Bolt M16A4 is much snapper than a standard AEG and more like a GBB. I also like the fact that the charging handle and forward assist work similarly to a real AR and also the dust cover cleverly exposes the bolt and internal hop-up for easy adjustment along with the bolt cycling just like a GBB rifle would cycle which is similar to a real steel AR.
Pros:
AEG Performance with GBB like Recoil.
Very high quality materials and workmanship throughout.
Lots of forward rails to place accessories on and just looks cool in general.
The fixed classic M16 stock is very comfortable and grows on you over time.
Can shorten the gun by removing the barrel extension if you like.
Can use 11.1V Li-Po or 9.6V Ni-mh or Ni-Cd batteries.
Fully Adjustable Hop-up.
Semi and Full Auto.
Cons:
BRSS system will drain the batteries faster than a standard AEG.
Can not switch out the stock as the BRSS system extends back into it.
Need to use undersized 6mm Airsoft BB’s because of the tight barrel.
Comments:
The BOLT M16A4 AEG Blowback Airsoft Rifle with BRSS Recoil is a great compromise for the avid Airsofter looking for a practical skirmish weapon, but also craving the realistic experience of having blowback with recoil similar to a Gas Blow Back systems. I really like this concept and find it great fun to shoot even if its just for plinking in the yard. The overall quality is very excellent and you just have to love the AR platform it's based on. If you're into customizing you can mix and match many external and internal parts with other existing Airsoft mechanical parts and I would imagine real steel accessories. It's great to be able to use an Airsoft rifle in virtually any weather condition and still get that Gas Blowback Feel but with AEG performance and consistency.
My Vimeo Video Review for the Bolt M16A4 AEG Blowback Airsoft Rifle with BRSS Recoil:
My first impressions with the Bolt M16A4 AEG Blowback Airsoft Rifle where not so good as it was miss feeding and miss firing terribly for me. A quick communication with BOLT Airsoft and I was informed that perhpas my BB choice was the wrong one. The Bolt M16A4 AEG Blowback Airsoft Rifle has a true 6mm barrel so it is a tight fit with BB's that are 6mm since many can actually be a bit larger making them get stuck in the breach area.
BOLT Airsoft suggested I switch my Airsfot BB choice to a slightly under sized 6mm Airsfot BB so I tried some of my 5.95mm Airsoft BB's and all I can say is it was like shooting a different gun. Not only did it feed and shoot perfectly, but the Bolt M16A4 AEG Blowback Airsoft Rifle with Heavy BRSS Recoil also became instantly more accurate for me. The moral of this story is always make sure to use the right ammo in your gun :)
So getting back to my Field Test Shooting Review for the Bolt M16A4 AEG Blowback Airsoft Rifle with BRSS Heavy Recoil... In this video Field Test Review I shoot several rounds through my Chronograph to test out the fps velocity of the Bolt M16A4 AEG Blowback Airsoft Rifle. Which by the way came in around the mid 300's. I also step back 30 feet and shoot some semi auto rounds into a paper target to see how accurate the Bolt M16A4 AEG Blowback Airsoft Rifle is. Since the Bolt M16A4 AEG Blowback Airsoft Rifle is a semi and full auto AEG Airsoft rifle, I also had to replicate my accuracy in full auto to see if my groupings would stay consistent even at a high rate of fire. I was very impressed with the accuracy in both semi and full auto, form 30 feet out you will get within 2 inches all day long.
It is fair to note that I was using 11.1 volt Li-po batteries with .20 gram BB's for the entire testing so this did effect my motor speed giving me quicker trigger response and faster full auto rate of fire. I would suggest using a high capacity battery setup since the BRSS Heavy Recoil does use up some additional battery power but boy is it worth it. The BRSS Recoil is not going to be as heavy as a true gas blowback system but it is close and does give you a nice shoulder tap but with the benefit of high capacity AEG magazines and consistent AEG performance.
In a nutshell, if you want the dependability, consistency and none stop shooting performance of an AEG Airsoft AM16 but with the blowback action of a gas system then make sure to give the Bolt M16A4 AEG Blowback Airsoft Rifle with BRSS Heavy Recoil a good look into.
A while back, BOLT was kind enough to send me one of their B.R.S.S. Recoil AEG Airsoft Rifles for review, make sure to watch my full review of the BOLT B4A1 BRSS Recoil Blowback AEG Airsoft Rifle.
Well again BOLT came through and sent me their latest offering, the BOLT AEG M16A4 Blowback Airsoft Rifle with B.R.S.S. Heavy Recoil system. B.R.S.S. stands for BOLT Recoil Shock System. The new BOLT Heavy Recoil system has a fixed stock which houses the improved recoil unit giving a more direct and solid recoil effect to the users shoulder. The BOLT M16A4 is a long length AEG Blowback Airsoft Rifle also suitable for snipers.
Here are some of the specifications:
Blowback B.R.R.S Heavy
Adjustable Hop-up
Semi & Full Auto
Standard AR 70 & 300 round magazines
312 fps & 393 fps versions
Aluminum, ABS, Nylon & Glass Fiber and Steel construction.
7.4V & 11.1V (Li-Po) or 9.6V (Ni-mh / Ni-Cd)
7.7 pounds (3500 grams)
43 inches long (1100mm)
Comes in Black / Tan
In this YouTube Preview video for the BOLT M16A4 AEG Blowback Airsoft Rifle I show you around the gun a bit and do a quick shooting test. Unfortunately I was using 6mm Airsoft BB's which I later found out where a bit to large in diameter since the BOLT M16A4 AEG Blowback Airsoft Rifle has a true 6mm barrel. After the video when I received this information from BOLT I switched to 5.95mm Airsoft BB's and the BOLT M16A4 AEG Blowback Airsoft Rifle worked perfectly for me :)
Stay tuned for my Full Table Top and Field Test Shooting videos for the BOLT M16A4 AEG Blowback Airsoft Rifle:
My main goal in this Shooting Performance Test was to see how the ANT Advanced Novelty Tech CO2 HPAConversion Kit performed side by side with a standard 12 gram CO2. Keep in mind that you can also switch over at any time to a regular 12 gram CO2 even after installing the ANT adaptor system in the gun or magazine.
My choice of Airgun for this test was the KWC - Cybergun Mini UZIConverted to Full Auto. I chose this Blowback 4.5mm CO2 BB Gun because it uses a lot of CO2 with each shot and when shooting in full auto it literally eats CO2. I knew this airguns would really put the ANT Advanced Novelty Tech CO2 HPA Conversion Kit to the test.
My first performance test was to comparing both systems using a Chronograph so I could see how the fps velocity slowed down because of the CO2 cool down effect. The 12 gram CO2 did pretty well emptying a full 25 round magazine but keep in mind I was shooting in semi auto only for the sake of using a Chronograph. I did notice a drop in velocity from a high of over 300 fps to a low of around 260. When I switched over to the Bulk CO2 ANT System and performed the same test the fps started out a bit lower but stayed pretty much about the same with a few ups and downs. The initial lower fps may have been a result of using separate magazines for each test since the valves in each magazine are most likely tuned a bit differently to let out more or less CO2 with each shot.
My second and most impressive test was to empty a full 25 round magazine in full auto mode! Again a started out using the standard 12 gram CO2 and to make this a real world test, I did not replace the 12 gram CO2 form the previous test. I figured 50 shots was a realist amount of shots to get from a single 12 gram CO2 and after all I was only shooting in semi auto which uses a lot less CO2 then shooting in full auto.
My KWC Blowback Mini UZI rocked pretty good using the 12 gram CO2 until it hit about a third the way through the magazine and then it stated to slow down and pretty much stop dead in its tracks with about 5-6 rounds still left in the magazine. The CO2 was all gone and I was left a bit unsatisfied :(
Without any significant break time to let my KWC Mini UZI warm up again, I switched over to the ANT Advanced Novelty Tech CO2 HPA Conversion Kit magazine and unloaded the full magazine in no time with no cycle rate slow down at all, even after the magazine was deprived of Steel BB's I kept squeezing the trigger and letting the blowback hammer my shoulder for several more satisfying bursts. Now that is what you expect from a full auto Blowback BB Machine gun!
In conclusion, when shooting in semi auto you will see better fps consistency using the ANT Advanced Novelty Tech CO2 HPA Conversion Kit but where this system really shines at least for me is I can shoot as fast as as long as I want and it will feel same as the very first shoot I take even when using a full auto system. No more switching out 12 gram CO2 every few magazines, just speed load some more BB's in and your good to go.
I was sent a really cool new product form a company called ANT (Advanced Novelty Tech). Their CO2/HPA Converter allows you to hook up either a large CO2 tank or High Pressure Air system using standard Paintball hose system.
What's kind of neat with the Advanced Novelty Tech CO2 HPA Conversion Kit, is that you can still interchange your 12 gram CO2 if you want to even after modifying your gun to use Bulk CO2 or HPA!
The ANT Advanced Novelty Tech CO2 HPA Conversion Kit works with well over 100 BB, Pellet and Airsoft guns most of which would be Pistols but some rifles are included in this list.
The main advantages over using standard 12 gram CO2 cartridges would be a significant lower cost for CO2, along with less fps velocity fall off, so better performance overall.
Stay posted as I will be making a field test performance test using the ANT Advanced Novelty Tech CO2 HPA Conversion Kit with my KWC Mini UZI Full Auto BB Machine gun :)
The best way to describe a Blank Gun is to imagine it as a real gun in just about every way except one… There are no dangerous bullets flying out the front of it. That’s right, a Blank Gun just like a real gun uses a brass or metal shells, loaded with a primer and gun powder, but for what ever reason reason, some rocket scientists forgot to put a bullet at the end of the Blank shell.
Why Would You Want a Blank Gun?
Isn’t the entire purpose of a gun to shoot something? So why on earth would you buy a gun that doesn't shoot anything at all, what purpose would it serve? Even Nerf guns, water guns, potato guns all shoot something…
One way to look at a Blank Gun is to imagine it as a cap gun, but for grown ups. Similar to how kids like to shoot their cap guns because they go bang and sparks and smoke fly out of them, Blank Guns do the same thing but on a much grander scale and in most cases they look and sound a lot more like a real gun than a cap gun does.
So Blank Guns don’t actually do the main function of a real gun (that is to shoot a bullet), but they do look and sound the part of a gun. So how could this be of practical use to anyone?
Signalling Devices:
First off, have you ever heard of a Starter Pistol or a Flare Gun? Blank Guns have been historically used to signal the start of races. Many Blank Guns also have the ability to shoot flares by adding a flare adaptor to them so a person can shoot a flare into the air to signal distress if they are lost or hurt.
Gun Handling and Training:
Since many Blank Guns look, operate and feel almost exactly like real guns, Blank Guns are a great place to start out when training a person on proper gun handling and operation. If they make a mistake while using a Blank Gun, the consequences are far less severe than with a real gun. There is also much less kick from a Blank Gun so shooting a Blank Gun is less scary or intimidating for new shooters.
Dog Training:
Dogs used for police, military and hunting are required to stay calm around loud noises like gun shots, trained dogs also need to get used to the presence of guns and even how to attack the gun hand of a person who could be a potential threat. Again using Blank Guns in this training situation is a much better option than using a real gun for obvious reasons.
Movies, Video TV and Stage:
Introducing live ammunition on a movie set would be ridiculous, there is absolutely no need to shoot a bullet in this type of situation. Blank Guns make perfect stage props since they again look the part and sound the part without the dangerous bullets flying all over the place…
Collectors:
Many collectors want to own guns but for reasons like gun restrictions in their area, they may not be able to own a real gun or certain types of real guns. Blank Guns can offer a person with heavy gun restrictions in their area the ability to own similar Blank Gun versions. Perhaps they can own real guns but just simply don’t want to go through the licensing and registration hassle of owning a real gun. Blank Guns can generally be purchased for far less money than a real gun which is appealing to collectors who in many cases may not even shoot them.
Celebration:
In places like Turkey, people celebrate holidays and events by shooting Blank Guns into the air, at one time they actually shoot real guns, but people where getting injured or even killed by the falling bullets. Because of this, Blank Gun production became an industry in places like Turkey as Blank Gun manufacturers like EKOL, Retay and Zoraki (also know as ATAK Arms) are Turkish companies.
So now you know some of the reasons why a person would want to own a Blank Gun. I have Blank Guns and I also own real guns too. One reason is because there are many Blank Guns I own that I can not own in their real steel versions because of Canadian gun restrictions so obtaining a similar version in a Blank Gun allows me to own these models.
If a Blank Gun is not for you, then by all means get a real gun, but please understand that there is a place for Blank Guns, and in those environments, a Blank Gun is actually a better choice than a real gun.
First off let’s get one thing straight! What I’m looking for in a BB gun is more than likely going to be way different than what someone else is looking for in what they think is the “Best BB Gun” available.
Many people will determine the Best BB Gun as the BB gun that has the highest price tag, usually you get better quality the higher the price goes up but not always, there are times when perhaps you are paying for a name brand or cosmetic add ons that don’t always make the gun better or the best.
On the other hand, some people will determine the best BB gun as the one that is the least cost since they may not have a lot of money to spend, and an expensive BB gun is a BB gun that that person would not be able to afford or even own, far from an ideal or the Best BB Gun for them.
Many people only look at the specifications to determine if that particular BB gun is the outright best BB Gun. One specification that people seem to fixate on is how powerful is the BB gun in question? If it has the highest FPS then surely it must be the best BB Gun! That Pop can never saw it coming! What about cost of operation, so things like reliability and how many shots per CO2 you can get out of a BB gun. All important features to consider when picking out the Best BB Gun!
Style is another important part of what makes a BB Gun the Best option for you, are you wanting a classic BB Pistol? Perhaps a Modern BB Gun, Maybe even a BB gun that you can not get in your area because of gun laws? Style is a very individual preference and what looks good to me may look terrible to someone else.
One aspect that is very important to me, is realism, does the BB Gun operate the same and does it have similar metal and plastic parts as the real steel version? Does the BB gun I am considering have blowback operation and a true single or double action trigger like it’s big brother? What about a full size drop out magazine and the ability to field strip the BB Gun?
Some people want their BB gun for simple backyard good old fun shooting and so as long as it shoots pretty straight and works as it’s supposed to, then that is all they care about. Many real steel shooters want a BB Gun to operate exactly like their real steel version, so they can practice with it to get in more trigger time when going to a gun range is not an option.
Of course there are aspects like Reliability, Performance, Fit and Finish, Licensing and Build Quality that all determine what makes the Best BB Gun and again it really depends which of these qualities are most important to you that will determine which BB Gun is the best BB Gun.
So how do you determine which is the Best BB Gun? Make a list of what you are looking for in a BB Gun. Attributes like Cost, Performance, Build Quality, Style, Realism, Availability…
Once you have narrowed down your Best BB Gun list, get as much information on each BB Gun you are considering, to narrow the list down even more. There are tons of Youtube videos you can watch for your Best BB Gun final short list to help you determine your ultimate choice.
So please don’t ask me what the Best BB Gun is? I can not even tell you which one I like the best since my wish list changes from day to day…
