Another quick revisit of the KWC/Cybergun M92 Beretta - Taurus full metal, full blowback, CO2 4.5mm Steel BB pistol series. They come in several flavors but are all made by KWC and in many cases redistributed licensed by Cybergun. This Field Test Shooting Video Review focuses on the Cybergun Swiss Arms P92 version.
Now that I have a more standardized Field Test Shooting format, I though I would revisit this series of KWC/Cybergun Beretta - Taurus Replica BB Pistols and do a follow up Field Test to get some more camera angles and hopefully a nice tight target grouping using my standard semi rested position from 20 feet away.
I also incorporate some high speed video near the end of this Field Test Shooting video Review to go along with the Chronograph and target portion of the Filed Test Shooting review.
The KWC - Cybergun Full Blowback All metal serious of Replica CO2 BB Pistols has been hugely popular over here at Replica Airguns and for good reason, they are very realistic in looks and operation, are priced very respectably and replicate several of the more popular semi auto pistols.
So this is not the first time I've reviewed the KWC/Cybergun Series of full metal, full blowback CO2 4.5mm Steel BB pistols. The most popular version being the Cybergun Tanfoglio Witness 1911 since it was the first one on the scene. These BB shooting 1911 replicas come in several styles and can be found in both 4.5mm Steel BB and 6mm Airsoft versions.
They are made by KWC but can also be found redistributed by Cybergun with either the Tanfoglio Witness or Swiss Arms licensing on them.
Today I revisit my Field Test Review since it has been a long time and the way I conduct my field tests has changed a bit so I wanted to test this popular 1911 CO2 Replica using multiple cameras and a more scientific testing approach.
In a nutshell, the KWC/Cybergun Swiss Arms P1911 with it's true 1911 single action trigger and full blowback shoots much like its real steel counterpart with less kick of course. It is capable of nice 1.5 inch groups from a 20 foot semi rested shooting position and shoots right around 300 fps which will put a steel BB right through both sides of a water filled pop can.
You really can't find a more fun and realistic BB pistol out there, probably why this air pistol has been such a favorite with replica airgun fans.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the King Arms Thompson Machine Guns 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 even quicker when full auto is selected. As with all AEG systems their is a slight delay between when you pull the trigger and the shot is taken as the internal spring needs to compress first before releasing.
Accuracy: In many cases Airsoft guns can be just as accurate as 4.5mm BB guns, well at least at fairly close ranges, I was able to get most of my .25 gram BB 10 round target test shots within 1 inch from 30 feet away using a semi-rested position. There where a couple BB's that lengthened the group out to about 2 inches but still a very good result when you consider these are plastic BB's being used. In Terms of FPS, I did stick with the slightly heavier 2.5 gram Airsoft BB's and still got a decent 360 average 5 shot Chronograph test result making this AEG Airsoft rifle perfect for just about any Airsoft game type.
Build Quality: The King Arms 23 Karat Gold and Chrome Platted AEG Thompson Machine Guns are very well made using Aluminum Zinc Alloy bodies and real Wood Stocks, the fit and finish is very good and pretty much everything on these rifles are either metal or wood. You will have to polish these guns with a cloth from time to time since the mirror finish shows every smudge and finger print.
Realism: I'm not sure how many real 23 Karat Gold and Chrome Platted Thompson Machine Guns there are out there but there has to be at least a few ;) But going on how these guns look and feel, they are solid and very realistic. Some people have mentioned that the bolt should be on the top for some versions of the Thompson's but there are some Thompson's with the bolt on the side so I suppose we will let that one slide. The Wood stocks are a real plus adding to the overall weight and authenticity. Most parts works as they would on the real steel Thompson M1A1 Military or M1928 Chicago (Gold or Chrome) AEG Airsoft Machine Guns.
Nice high capacity metal magazines, can be mixed and matched.
Adjustable rear sight for windage with two sight positions (Notch & Peep).
Semi and full auto selectable with really nice rate of fire.
FPS is bang on for indoor or outdoor Airsoft games.
Fully Thompson licensed.
Comes with Certificate of Authenticity.
Cons:
Does not come with a battery or charger.
Prone to finger prints and smudges.
Need to use a screw driver to get at the battery.
Comments:
I am a big fan of the King Arms Thompson line, even the all black version with the plastic stocks looks and functions great. Internally the lower cost black version is the same and having previously shot my black Thompson, I knew these blinged out 23 Karat Gold and Chrome Platted versions where also going to perform as good as they looked! I'm not so sure about buying a Gold or Chrome Thompson for everyday use, since they will get knocked around and scratched up but if you are looking for the best of the best with real wood stocks and all metal parts then make sure to consider one of the Thompson
My Vimeo Video Review for the King Arms Thompson Gold & Silver AEG Airsoft Machine Guns:
I am jumping the gun so to speak with this field test review and showing you my field test video review for the King Arms Thompson Gold M1A1 Military AEG Airsoft Machine Gun before I've even done the table top review... Guess I just wanted to shoot this one :)
I decided to perform my field test shooting review using just the Thompson M1A1 version since the 1928 style has the same internal mechanics, there really was no point in testing them both. Other than a few cosmetic changes like a stick magazine versus the drum magazine and the forward stock pistol grip on the 1928 version, these guns are pretty much the same. I also opted for the most flashy 23 karat Gold version, well... because "Gold is Best!"
So let's get to the results! As with most of the guns I field test, I shot 5 rounds through my chronograph, this time I decided to use .25 gram Airsoft BB's for both my chronograph and target portions of this shooting review since fishing the ammo out of the stick mag was a bit of a pain ;) I was able to get a respectable 360 fps average 5 shot Chrono test which makes this AEG Airsoft rifle bang on for just about any Airsoft battle situation. I would expect to get right around 380-400 fps if I was using the lighter .20 gram BB's.
Once I stepped back to the 30 foot semi rested target position, I shot 10 rounds first in semi auto which got me a pretty nice tight 1 inch group (if you throw out the couple of fliers). In Full Auto the shot placement also stayed nice and tight spreading out to about 2 inches or so. This Classic Thompson AEG Airsoft Machine Gun definitely hits what every you are shooting at and has a nice rate of fire that's not too wasteful of BB's but still offers plenty of cover when required.
At the end of this field test shooting review for the King Arms Thompson Gold M1A1 Military AEG Airsoft Machine Gun, I shoot some water filled cans while capturing the experience in slow motion using my new iPhone 5's 720p 120 frames per second 4 times slow-motion feature.
In this Field Test Shooting Reviews I test out the ASG Ruger MK 1 Gas Airsoft Pistol and put five rounds through my Chronograph to find out what the average fps is using .20 gram BB's and propane gas. ASG claims a pretty conservative 328 fps, I was expecting much higher and got much higher even on this rather mild fall BC day.
I shoot the ASG Ruger MK 1 Gas 6mm Airsoft Pistol from the 20 foot range since I hadn't done a pre-test of any sort. While shooting from a semi rested position at 20 feet back, I was able to get a 2.5 inch 10 shot group that kind of separated its self into two sub groups, one nicely centered right in the bulls eye and then another group of four that drifted a bit high and to the right a bit. The trigger pull on the ASG Ruger MK 1 Gas 6mm Airsoft Pistol is double action only and kind of on the long side but it is very smooth and has a nice satisfying metallic click to it, I found it pretty easy to shoot.
If you are a Ruger 22LR shooter than you may just want to get your hands on one of these and have the freedom of being able to shoot it just about anywhere!
My Vimeo Field Test Video Review for the ASG Ruger MK 1 Gas 6mm Airsoft Pistol:
In this Field Test Shooting Reviews I test out the ASG Bersa Thunder 9 Pro and put five rounds through my Chronograph to get a real world average fps using a brand new CO2. ASG claims around 400 fps and I got pretty close even thought the fall weather here in BC is getting kind of cooler so there may be room for a bit higher fps during warmer summer time weather situations.
I shoot the ASG Bersa Thunder 9 Pro 4.5mm Pistol from the 20 foot range since I hadn't done a pre test to date. While shooting from a semi rested position at 20 feet back, I was able to get a 2 inch 11 shot group and if I eliminated the two fliers it would have been closer to a 1 inch group. The Thunder 9 Pro BB Pistol shot pretty well centered on target getting 9 out of the 11 shots right in the black center ring. The trigger pull is very typical for this style of double action only trigger, kind of long with a slight sticky click in the middle while the BB chambers and then some more trigger pull with a fairly predictable release right near the back.
You can expect to get right around 6-7 consistent magazines worth of shots before having to change the CO2, that's well over 100+ shots! And even on the last magazine the fps seemed to stay pretty consistent.
Overall the ASG Bersa Thunder 9 Pro is well priced yet offers a realistic looking alternative to the real steel Bersa Thunder 9 Pro and still delivers decent power, more than adequate accuracy and lots of shots out of a single CO2.
My Vimeo Field Test Video Review for the ASG Bersa Thunder 9 Pro CO2 BB Pistols:
As usual with my Field Test Shooting Reviews I test out both Umarex pistols using my Chronograph and put five rounds through it with each CO2 BB Pistol to get a real world average fps. Umarex claims around 410 and I got pretty close with both pistols using a brand new Umarex CO2 cartridge in each gun. The temperature was not overly warm as we are now into fall here in Canada BC but so there may be room for a bit higher fps out of each Umarex CO2 BB pistol.
I decided to shoot both 4.5mm Pistols at the 20 foot target potion of this review since I had not done any pre tests. While shooting from a semi rested position at 20 feet back I was able to get pretty much a 2 inch 10 shot group with each gun, the XBG seemed to group a bit tighter for me than the TDP 45 and both BB Pistols shot pretty well centered on target. The trigger pull is very typical for this style of double action only trigger, kind of long with a slight sticky click in the middle while the BB chambers and then some more trigger pull with a fairly predictable release right near the back.
Both Umarex BB Pistols should get right around 6-7 consistent magazines worth of shots before having to change the CO2, that is 120+ shots! And even on the last magazine the fps seemed to stay nice and high.
Both Umarex CO2 BB pistols performed pretty well considering the super low cost and make great inexpensive plinkers that will get you decent power, more than adequate accuracy and lots of shots out of a single CO2.
My Vimeo Field Test Video Review for these Umarex CO2 BB Pistols:
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Pedersoli Derringer Guardian #11 is pretty light and short since it is a true single action only pistol, the majority of the pull comes from the pre-cocking of the hammer, there is next to no take-up or creep and I would say around a 2-3 pound trigger pull.
Accuracy: This part of the review is yet to be determined, I don't expect anything special here since there is no rear sight, I am guessing I will need to practice a bit with the Pedersoli Derringer Guardian to figure out how to sight it in using the rear chamber area as a sight bridge. Once I can figure it out I should get decent shot placement since the barrel is rifled. At this point I have no real idea what kind of fps to expect since I have not been able to acquire any #11 percussion caps, but I am guessing it will be just under 500 fps to stay Canada legal as an unregulated or uncontolled firearm. UPDATED FIELD TEST SHOOTING RESULTS HERE.
Build Quality: The build quality in the Pedersoli Derringer Guardian #11 is what you would expect from a true firearm, all the metal parts are actual steel, not zinc like you would find in most airguns. The only exception is the grips which are plastic. The fit and finish is very nice with gun bluing on the steel parts and very good quality control and fit throughout. The only improvement would have been actual wooden grips since the rest of the gun is so well made and finished.
Realism: The Pedersoli Derringer Guardian #11 is a Parlor Pistol designed for "indoor" shooting. (These guns were first developed in 1845 when French inventor, Louis Nicolas Flobert, modified a percussion cap to hold a small lead bullet) So in other words it is a real gun, not so much a replica. The #11 Pedersoli Derringer Guardian version is designed to shoot within our Canada Uncontrolled Firearms limitations so this pellet pistol can be sold within Canada to an adult without the requirement of a PAL Firearms license.
Low cost to shoot using standard .177 lead pellets and #11 percussion caps.
Legal in Canada without a PAL Firearms License.
Smallest pellet pistol I know of!
Cons:
No rear sight, will take some practice to get used to.
Plastic grips.
#11 percussion caps are a bit hard to find in stock at times.
Comments:
When I came across the Pedersoli Derringer Guardian #11 I just had to have one! Heck, it's a pellet gun, and It's kind of a blank gun or cap gun all in one, it's also one of the smallest pellet guns I have ever seen. Like most of the other pellet pistols I own, it does not require a PAL or Firearms license here in Canada and can be shot in a lot more places than a "real gun" or Controlled Firearm can because of the low energy levels it produces and of course lower volume of sound it emits. I suppose it could even be shot indoors if you had the right setup in your house or garage. Definitely one of my most unique pellet pistols I own.
My Vimeo Video Review for the Pedersoli Derringer Guardian #11 .177 Caliber Pellet Pistol:
Materials: Mostly polymer with some metal internal parts.
Weight: 1.2 pounds (530 Grams)
Barrel: Metal non-rifled.
Propulsion: CO2 x 1.
Action: Semi auto non-blowback, double action only.
Ammunition Type: 4.5mm BB's.
Ammunition Capacity: 19 round magazine.
FPS: 400.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the ASG Bersa Thunder 9 Pro has a medium and double action only fairly long pull with no real sticky areas in it. The release is right at the back of the mag well and just before the release there is a slight click where I believe the BB is loaded into the open break, just before it closes on the return of the forward moving internal barrel.
Accuracy: This part of the review is yet to be determined (Click here to watch the Filed Test Review for this ASG BB Pistol), I would expect to get reasonable results in terms of accuracy, power and CO2 usage since the design of this BB pistol is very CO2 efficient. The sights do have white dots front and back which will make target acquisition good but they are non-adjustable so hopefully it shoots well centered. We will have to see how well the ASG Bersa Thunder 9 Pro does during the field test shooting video review...
Build Quality: So far I have not been disappointed with any of the AG airguns or Airsoft guns, even the low cost versions seem to be with durability in mind. The ASG Bersa Thunder 9 Pro is a pretty basic low cost mostly plastic BB pistol so you do get what you pay for. There is a fair bit of metal internally which give the Bersa Thunder 9 Pro some weight, more then you would expect from an all plastic outer shell. The BB stick magazine is also all metal adding some additional weight. Fit and finish all seems good, no complaints and the simple build design with few moving parts means there is not a lot to go wrong or get easily broken.
Realism: The ASG Bersa Thunder 9 Pro is very accurate replica of the real steel version in terms of looks, with full licensed Bersa trademarks and even the 9x19 caliber markings in the slide ejection port area. The only real obvious indication that it is not the real version is the fact that it is plastic and the screw holes on the right side of the gun where the two plastic halves have been married together. At least the slide does not have any crew holes in it.
Decent weight for a mostly plastic gun, good use of metal inside.
Solid metal drop out stick magazine that is somewhat universal.
CO2 screw is very well hidden under the magazine but-plate.
Nice recessed barrel adds to realism.
Cons:
Mostly plastic with most parts molded into the gun.
Non-adjustable sights.
Screw holes on the right side of the frame take away a bit from the realism.
Double action trigger is a bit long and heavy.
Comments:
As you know, my preference is more towards the all metal guns with lots of working parts, full size drip out magazines and blowback action. The problem with these types of realistic airguns, is that they can be expensive and sometimes a bit temperamental with all the working parts designed more for realism and less for simplicity. Generally speaking the more realistic the gun the more of a sacrifice is made to give up things like power, CO2 efficiency and even accuracy. The ASG Bersa Thunder 9 Pro is made to look like the real steal version but it does not try to replicate it mechanically and so as a functional BB pistol it will work very well, yet give you the look and feel a real 9mm Bersa Thunder 9 Pro.
My Vimeo Video Review for this ASG Bersa Thunder 9 Pro CO2 BB Pistol:
I wanted to feature some Walther knives we sell over at our online Canada Replica Airguns Store, these Walther Knives are low cost but high value and would make either a great gift or a nice treat for yourself. If you're already ordering something else from us then save on the shipping a bit by getting one of these Walther Knives at the same time.
The Walther Knives I feature in this YouTube video are the:
The Walther Sub Companion Folding Knife is an excellent all purpose folding knife. The Sub Companion features a 440 Stainless Steel spear point blade that can handle most any utility chore. The thumb disk opener works equally well for righties or lefties and the polymer handle is textured for a sure grip.
The Walther Sliver Tactical folding knife has a 440 stainless steel blade 7.36 open 3.1 non-serrated blade .125 blade thickness 6.40 oz. Thumb stud Open assist Liner lock Aluminum scales Removable pocket clip Glass-breaker on pommel Includes a synthetic pouch Whether you're looking for a survival knife or just another general-use edged tool, this should fill the bill. This combat folding knife will be useful in so many ways, you'll wonder how you got along without it.
The Walther Black Tactical folding knife features a 441 stainless steel blade 7.8 open 3.3 partially serrated blade .130 blade thickness 6.40 oz. Thumb stud Open assist Liner lock Aluminum scales Removable pocket clip Glass-breaker on pommel Includes a synthetic pouch Whether you're looking for a survival knife or just another general-use edged tool, this should fill the bill. This tactical folding knife will comfortably fit in your hand and do whatever comes its way. At this price, you can afford to include one in your glove compartment and your range bag.
Ammunition Capacity: 17 round full size drop out metal magazine.
FPS: 328+ (Have heard it is much more).
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the ASG MK 1 is double action only which will make it a bit on the heavy and longer side, it is smooth however and does have a nice satisfying click that sounds like a firing pin being dropped. The unfortunate part is that the real steel version is a single action only trigger and one that is super short and light so the contract between the Airsoft and 22LR version may make this gun not practical is an optional training tool.
Accuracy: This part of the review is yet to be determined as I have not done my Field Test or Shooting tests for this pistol (Click here for the Field Test Shooting Video). I will put a link in here when I have done my official Field Shooting Test. For now all I can go on is some feedback from others that have claimed very high fps and excellent accuracy, I am looking forward to finding out for myself!
Build Quality: ASG as usually only distributes quality guns, the fit and finish is very good and there is use of metal where it needs to be like with the internal mechanical parts, the trigger, the safety, the rear fully adjustable sight and the full size drop out metal magazine that holds the gas and the Airsoft BB's.
Realism: The ASG MK 1 is based on a combination of the Ruger MK I-III, it looks mostly like the Mark III since the arrel is fairly stout but it does not have the typical taper near the charging handle area. Still it resembles a Ruger 22LR pistol very much. There is no blowback or charging handle operation so that means that only a double action trigger is possible, this is a bit unfortunate sine the real Ruger Mark III has an absolutely smooth and light single action trigger.
If you own a real Ruger 22LR it will be nice to have for some backyard or basement shooting.
Fully adjustable rear sight.
Full size all metal drop out magazine.
Metal trigger, metal safety and metal rear sight.
Very satisfying trigger sound, sounds like a real firing pin :)
Have heard it is really powerful and accurate - Yet to be determined…
Cons:
Fair amount of plastic but has an OK weigh to it.
No blowback (Would have allowed for a true single action trigger)
Safely is kind of heavy to operate but may break in over time.
Comments:
I think it may come down to how this ASG Ruger MK 1 Airsoft Pistol performs before I can give it my total thumbs up, I really wish it had a single action trigger but for a double action trigger it feels pretty good and I love the sounds of the internal hammer dropping. The fully adjustable sights mean that if this gun performs well in terms of accuracy then being able to dial it in to the bulls-eye will make it that much more enjoyable to shoot. Overall I like this pistol, the ergonomics are exactly like the real Ruger Mark III and even though much of the external build is plastic, it still has a good weight to it due to the all metal magazine and other internal metal parts.
My Vimeo Table Top Video Review for this ASG MK 1 Airsoft Pistol:
Action: Semi auto non-blowback, double action only.
Ammunition Type: 4.5mm BB's.
Ammunition Capacity: 19 round metal stick magazine.
FPS: 410.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on both the Umarex XBG and TDP 45 is medium to heavy but since it is a double action only trigger, this is to be expected. There is a fair amount of take up with the entire pull being about 8-9 pounds with the release point happening right at the very back of the pull, you get a bit of a clicking sound warning right before it releases. If you are used to shooting other lower priced double action triggers where the barrel protrudes out of the front of the gun when you pull the trigger then you will know what to expect with these two guns as they are setup pretty much exactly the same.
Accuracy: This part of the review is yet to be determined as I have not done my Field Test or Shooting tests for these guns. I will put a link in here when I have done my official Field Shooting Test. For now all I can go on is some feedback from others which generally claim that these Umarex CO2 BB Pistols get good all around shots per CO2, Accuracy and FPS performance.
Build Quality: The Umarex XBG and Umarex TDP 45 internally share many of the same components and I am assuming they both use many of the same internal parts, they do have much different plastics shells which you will find to have all mechanical parts to be moulded into with the exception of the Trigger, safety and magazine release. Again, most of the build materials are plastic with the exception of some internal parts, the magazines, the barrels and the triggers.
Realism: The Umarex XBG and TDP 45 CO2 BB Pistols are not actual replicas of any specific gun in production, both are styled after modern mid sized semi auto pistols but it is hard to pinpoint any one specific gun for either of them, I am sure you will give me your feedback on this. They do look like real guns but their function is based more around what the easiest way is to build a BB gun rather than how can we make this gun function as close to a real gun as possible. That said they are very efficient and simple in operation which should make them very reliable.
Nice combination of shots per CO2 and FPS (accuracy to be determined).
Universal metal stick magazine works in a bunch of guns, can mix and match.
CO2 tabs are fairly well hidden.
Rails for adding accessories.
Construction screws are less obvious (Smaller).
Tried and true design that works and is reliable.
I like the SA177 style CO2 hatch.
Cons:
Mostly all plastic shell.
Not a lot of actual working parts except for the trigger, magazine release and magazine. All else is molded in to the plastic.
Double action triggers are a bit long and heavy.
No adjustable sights so hopefully yours shoots straight?
Comments:
Personally I prefer spending a few more bucks to get air pistols that have more metal and more working parts, but not everyone has 100+ dollars to spend on an airgun or do they need it to be ultra realistic. Some people just want a gun that is easy on the wallet but still offers decent performance and reliability, and to be honest, a simpler design with less moving parts to wear out or malfunction is probably going to give you better reliability at the end of the day. It just depends what you are looking for. Even if you have a few ultra realistic high end airguns, why not pick eitther the XBG or TDP 45 budged minded Umarex models for day to day plinking and put less wear and tear on your more expensive collector pieces ;)
My Vimeo Video Review for these cost effective Umarex CO2 BB Pistols:
Getting back to some more gun videos! In this Vimeo Video I take a look at some lower cost 4.5mm BB and 6mm Airsoft pistols. The two ASG guns coming in at right around $60 and the Umarex BB pistols right at around $40. So very affordable guns to say the least.
When it comes to making these replica pistol reviews I tend to stick with the higher end "flashy guns" with all the metal parts and realistic operation. It takes a bit of prodding before I pick up a low cost gun and review it but that does not mean they are not good value for the money. I just personally don't mind spending a bit more money to get more features and quality, but for some people spending over $100 on an airgun is out of the question. Hey you have to start somewhere and at the end of the day a lower cost gun and higher cost gun still both put BB's down range :)
In this Vimeo Preview Video Review I look at four guns, two from ASG (Bersa Thunder 9 Pro and MK1) and two from Umarex (XBG and TDP 45), three are 4.5mm Steel BB shooters (XBG, TDP 45, and Bersa Thunder 9 Pro) one is a 6mm plastic Airsoft BB shooter (MK1). All are predominantly plastic and none of them have blowback operation. The 4.5mm Steel BB shooters all use CO2 with 19 shot stick metal magazines and the ASG Airsoft MK1 uses Green Gas with a 17 round full size drop out metal magazine. The BB pistols all shoot right around 400-410 fps and for the Airsoft pistol I am not sure so we will find out when I do the review for it in a bit...
All of these pistols look pretty decent and as I said for the money, I think you are getting good value here.
Make sure to watch my Vimeo Video Preview to see all this pistols a bit closer up:
I thought I would try some Sport Smoke Tactical Airsoft - Paintball Smoke Grenades (TSG) and show you how they work out in an open area and also when in an enclosed area (indoors). These Tactical Smoke Grenades put out a lot of smoke but will require either a non windy day or an area where the smoke can accumulate to give you good coverage. Either way they do a greta job of causing a distraction that will allow you to get into a better position.
Here is some info on the Sport Tactical Smoke Grenades for Airsoft and Paintball:
The Sport Smoke Tactical Smoke Grenade (TSG) is designed to meet the extreme needs of today's paintball and Airsoft enthusiasts. These high quality smoke grenades are very affordable, producing a thick white plume of smoke to cover your movement and provide a major strategic advantage.
I originally made this Field Test Review Video a few months ago but had to pull it down because it featured two WE Products. The WE AK74-UN and the WE G18C which unfortunately looks a bit like a Glock. If you are not familiar with the video I made on the Glock Trademark Infringement Cease Order I received then you should probably watch that video, it will fill in some of the gaps on why I had to cut out the WE G18C portions from this video and repost it with only the parts that showcase the WE AK74-UN.
Anyways you can still read my Original Field Test Review post minus the video and photos of the WE G18C.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Umarex Steel Force CO2 BB Machine gun is single action only, so you will need to charge the rifle by pulling back the charging handle first, one this is done the trigger is reset and ready the gun is ready to shoot. The blowback operation charges the internal bolt automatically afterwards so keep this in mind, to release the bolt you will need to take out the CO2 magazine and press the trigger. The trigger is fairly light but has some initial take up and then a bit of creep before it releases the bolt.
Accuracy: I shot the Umarex Steel Force at a target from 30 feet away in a semi rested position using both the semi auto and 6 round burst modes, the Steel Force performed very good getting around a 1.5 inch 10 shot grouping in semi auto and then spreading out a bit in 6 round burst mode which was to be expected, still a respectable grouping. Shots where well centered on the target but I did have the advantage of using a red dot scope, I found when using the none adjustable open sights that come with the Umarex Steel Force that I was shooting under the target at closer ranges. My Chrony testing did not go exactly as planned due to my temperamental Chronograph but I was able to get two shots to read and they average out at 466 fps, well over the 430 claimed fps.
Build Quality: The Umarex Steel Force CO2 BB Rifle is mostly plastic on the outside with most of it's metal parts on the inside, you will find a metal flash hider, metal trigger and metal trigger guard but other than that everything else externally is plastic. The plastic seems durable enough but it has just a bit too much shine for me which I think makes it look less like metal and more like plastic. Everything seemed to function as expected but again I would have liked to have seen a bit more metal, not necessarily the outer shell, but I feel the selector switch, sights, magazine release, charging handle and front and back sights could have been made out of metal and would have given this Umarex rifle a bit more weight and balance.
Realism: The Umarex Steel Force CO2 BB Rifle is designed on the AR platform and for the most part is about the right size shape and look of an AR pr M16 rifle. Even the selector switch, magazine release, rear adjustable stock and Charging handle function just like a real AR! Some parts are model in just for looks like the bolt release, dust cover and forward assist but at least they fully look the part. The plastic for me was the real tell here as it kind of looks like plastic where as some plastic guns are really hard to tell they are not metal, but other than that this is a pretty decent replica of an AR Rifle.
Good accuracy in both semi and 6 round burst mode.
Got lots of shots per dual CO2 (Full Hopper).
Love the adjustable AR stock which was missing and needed on the Steel Storm.
Not a bad replica of an AR platform gun.
Full auto has a very high rate of fire.
Internal blowback does give a bit of recoil feedback feel.
Lots of rials for adding on accessories.
Price point is good for a fun dull auto BB rifle.
Cons:
Sights are non adjustable.
Plastic finish could have been a bit higher grade, like what most Airsoft AR's use.
Just a bit more metal would have been nice and added to the overall weight a bit: Selector, Magazine Release, Sights, Charging handle.
Comments:
The Umarex Steel Force CO2 BB Machine Gun is for sure an improvement over the Steel Storm, first of all it is a true replica of a real rifle in production (The AR/M16 platform), it also has a rear stock that is adjustable which makes shooting this gun on target so much more easier. Overall I feel it shoots better than the Steel Storm with improved accuracy and performance. With that said the Steel Storm is still a great BB machine gun if your looking for more of a pistol SMG design. For the low cost of the Steel Force you really can not go wrong, this BB machine gun will put a smile on your face every time you take it out to shoot it.
My Vimeo Table Top and Field Test Videos for the Umarex Steel Force BB Machine Gun:
So what is the best way to describe the Umarex T.A.C. Converter? Well it converts several Umarex pistols into more of a PDW (Personal Defense Weapon). It's an accessory with a built in folding stock, included for-grip that also allows you to add other accessories to it converting your basic pistol into just about any configuration of tactical gun you can dream up! Add lasers, tac-lights, red dots, optical sights, flip up sights or what ever else you can think of...
The Umarex T.A.C. Converter works with the following Umarex pistols: The H&K USP, the S&W M&P40, the XBG, the CZ Enforcer, the Walther P99 DAO and the SA177. It currently does not work with any other pistols as you need to use the required adaptors that are specific to each gun. I suppose it is possible Umarex could make adaptors for other guns, only time will tell?
The Umarex T.A.C. Converter is a neat concept from Umarex that allows air-gunners to take an already existing umarex air pistol or one they plan to get and create something entirely different and new.
As usual with my Field Test Shooting Reviews I test out the Umarex Legends P08 Luger using my Chronograph and put five rounds through it to get a real world average fps. Umarex claims around 410 but I got a bit higher results of 435 using a brand new Umarex CO2 cartridge. The temperature was warm but not hot so there may be room for even up to 450 fps on this CO2 BB pistol Replica.
I decided to step back to the 30 foot mark for my target potion of this review since in my pre-test I was at 20 feet and I got a 1.5 inch grouping. While shooting from a semi rested position at 30 feet back I was able to place pretty much a 2 inch 10 shot group which is very good considering the rather heavy 10 pound trigger on the Umarex Legends P08 Luger BB Pistol. You will want to use a double handed grip with this gun to get good accuracy so you can relax with your trigger hand and grip tight with your supporting hand.
You can expect to get right around 6 really good and consistent magazines worth of shots before having to change the CO2, that is over 120 shots! And even on the last magazine the fps seemed to stay nice and high.
Some people have criticized the heavy trigger on this pistol but I see it as an opportunity to work on your double action shooting since some real world guns have trigger pulls up into the 10 pound range, so you never know what to expect when shooting a new gun. If you can lay down constant shots with the Umarex Legends P08 Luger CO2 BB Pistol then you should have no problems shooting other heavy triggered guns.
Action: Semi auto non-blowback, double action only.
Ammunition Type: 4.5mm BB's.
Ammunition Capacity: 21 round metal stick magazine.
FPS: 410.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Umarex P08 CO2 BB Replica is rather heavy but since it is a double action only trigger, I did not expect it to be light. There is a fair amount of take up with the entire pull being about 9-10 pounds with the release point happening right at the very back almost touching the trigger well. The release is not very predictable when trying to shoot slow but this does teach a firm yet relaxed grip to get consistent shots. This type of trigger I would consider to be a great double action training aid as it teaches proper grip and trigger control while building stregth.
Accuracy: I shot the Umarex P08 BB Pistol at a target from 20 feet away in a semi rested position, and it performed very good getting a solid 1.5 inch 10 shot grouping that was very well centered on the target. The P08 almost got a 1 inch group with the acceptation of two flyers. The sights are non-adjustable so adjusting the Umarex P08 BB gun is not possible unless using a modified aim point! My initial Chrony testing puts this classic BB replica at right around 430 fps which was higher than the claimed 410, and keep in mind my test day was not a super hot day so there is more room for higher fps with this air pistol. I managed to get six 21 round magazines worth of shots which is a very respectable 120+ shots per single CO2.
Build Quality: The Umarex P08 CO2 non-blowback BB Pistol is almost all metal with the exception of the grips which is always nice to see! I found the fit and finish to be very good with a black-grey-ish satin paint job , I did notice the paint was wearing off kind of quickly on the high points which I don't mind with this airgun since it will give it a more aged look that I feel is more fitting for this classic World War replica.
Realism: The Umarex Legends Luger P08 CO2 BB Airgun is very close to the real steel P08 (Luger) and even has the P.08 markings on it. If you where to put a real P08 side by side they would look like mirror images so in terms of looks this replica gun has it. If you're looking for working parts there are not a lot other than the trigger, magazine release, and safety. But then again there is less to go wrong!
Pretty much all metal and has a nice heavy weight to it.
Accuracy to the original is very good, lots of detail.
Magazine release and safety work like the real version.
Nice wide open recessed barrel adds to the believability.
Good concealment of CO2 cartridge and tab.
Got well over the claimed 410 fps, more around 430 fps.
Got 120 plus shots out of 1 CO2 Cartridge.
Very good accuracy (1.5 inches) and well centered on target.
Glad to see another World War BB replica pistol!
Cons:
No blowback and not a lot of moving parts.
Finish seems to wear off pretty quick on the high points but this may enhance the look for some?
Pretty heavy double action trigger, around 9-10 pounds.
Comments:
There are not too many older Classic Airguns out there from the World War era so it was great to see this one added to the Umarex lineup, now all we need is a Single Action Army Revolver ;) I am glad that Umarex made sure to make this gun look authentic, maybe even perhaps over functionality since there are not a lot of working parts. With that said, everything that does work, works well and you can expect to get lots of accurate and powerful shots from a single CO2. The fps consistency is really good on this one. Being that there are not many World War replica airguns on the market this is a must have for any collector of such guns.
My Vimeo Video Review for this great Umarex Replica P08 CO2 BB Pistol:
I have some more anticipated items from Umarex to show you all, and a special thanks to Bradley from Umarex for sending them my way to review.
If you like the Steel Storm then you should for sure like the Umarex Steel Force, both models share some basic mechanical attributes like semi auto and 6 round burst blowback operation, duel 12 gram CO2 cartridges, 300 round BB hoppers and 30 round spring fed magazines. The Steel Force however is more of a "replica" as it is modeled on the AR platform including an adjustable rear stock which will come in handy taming the high rate of fire 6 round burst mode.
Next up from Umarex is a classic replica of the Luger P08, it's always nice to see some older classics made into BB shooters, it may be the only way some of us will get to experience them and from what I can tell, the Umarex Legends P08 is near spot on! You won't find blowback or even a lot of actual moving parts other than the trigger, the safety and magazine release but this BB gun is all metal and well built, it has a nice weight to it with a firm double action trigger.
My last review item is not a gun but rather a gun accessory, the Umarex T.A.C. Converter which transforms several Umarex pistols into tactical PDW's. The actual models supported are the: HK USP, S&W MP40, X.B.G, CZ Enforcer, Walther P99 DOA and the now retired Umarex SA 177. With the T.A.C. Converter wrapped around your pistol of choice you are all setup with a folding stock and foregrip, not to mention anything else you may want to add onto the rails.
Keep posted for my full reviews of these items from Umarex.
Watch my Vimeo Update Video for these Umarex Products:
