I’m pretty sure I have never made an Interview for Barra before in any of my past SHOT Show Videos, so I was really happy when I visited their booth and discovered a bunch of really great new products to talk about with GEO. Like many other Airgun companies, Barra does incorporate rebranded products from other manufacturer popular Airguns, but they also have some unique products I have never seen before. They are either working really closely with dedicated manufacturing companies or making these items in house. Either way it’s great to see new and interesting products.
Some of the products Geo went over with me in this SHOT Show 2024 Barra Interview where: The Barra CO2 1866 Lever Action Rifle, some Rifled Pellet Barrel Kits for the Schofield Revolver and 1866 Rifle, the 1858 CO2 BB Revolver, the 357 Shell Loading CO2 Revolver, the 400 AEG Airsoft Rifle and two new nameless Airguns they are still working on and perfecting, a full Blowback Competition Style BB/Airsoft Pistol and a compact AEG Airsoft Rifle.
It was great talking with the team over at the Barra Booth and I look forward to testing out their new items as they become available.
Kicking off my SHOT Show 2024 Interviews, I present my Umarex Interview with Mark Davis, you may remember Mark from past Umarex SHOT Show Interviews? This is a fairly long interview as Mark had a lot of product to show me including…
The new Marlin Lever Action BB Rifle, the Walther PDP CO2 BB Pistol, the BBX11 1911 Blowback CO2 BB Pistol, the MarkPoint Break Barrel .177 Caliber Pellet Pistol, the Trinity Hi-Cap 2011 Blowback Airsoft Pistol, the Gambler High Stakes Single Action Army CO2 Airsoft Revolver, the Glock 380 GBB Airsoft Pistol, the CQC Elite Force AEG Airsoft Rifle with i-Trace, and the Beretta PMX GBB Airsoft Rifle.
Yep, that’s a lot of products to go over in one Interview, and Mark did a great job! I am really looking forward to getting my hands on these new products from Umarex to review for everyone!
Type: Blowback CO2 BB Pistol. Manufacturer: Distributed by Barra. Model: Barra 009. Materials: Metal & Polymer. Weight: 1.7 pounds (771 grams). Total Length: 7.75 inches (197mm) Barrel: 4 inches (102nn) metal non-rifled. Propulsion: CO2 x 1. Action: Semi & full auto blowback, single action only trigger. AmmunitionType: 4.5mm steel BB's. AmmunitionCapacity: 18 round drop out full size metal magazine. FPS: Claimed 325.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Barra 009 Full Auto Blowback CO2 BB Pistol is single action only so you will need to rack the slide first to not only chamber a 4.5mm Steel BB in the breach area, but to also cock the internal striker system. There is a working trigger safety along with a main safety under the barrel where the serial number is normally located. You can slide this back and forth to activity the safety. The Barra 009 has a nice short and light trigger as you would expect similar to a real steel Glock pistol.
Accuracy: At this point I have not shot the Barra 009 Full Auto Blowback CO2 BB Pistol so I can only quote what Barra is saying in terms of FP2 which is 325. That sounds about right based on other BB Pistols from KWC with full blowback action since much of the CO2 gas is used to work the action of the slide. This not only reduces how many shots you can expect to get out of a single 12 gram CO2 cartridge but a reduction in power over non-blowback or even partial blowback CO2 Airguns. I will be making a full Field Test Shooting Video for this BB Pistol but for now you can check out my Field Test Review for the KWC K17 since it is the same base Air Pistol with a few cosmetic changes.
Build Quality: The Barra 009 Full Auto Blowback CO2 BB Pistol looks to be well made overall with metal and plastic parts where you would find them on a real steel modern Pistol. Fit and finish is typical of a KWC made Airgun and the slide wiggle is next to zero. The slide spring is very heavy and the sound of the slide when racked and released does not have that cheap metallic sound some blowback Airguns have. I am expecting some pretty decent blowback action recoil from the Barra 009 Full Auto Blowback CO2 BB Pistol when I do my Field Test Shooting Review!
Realism: The Barra 009 Full Auto Blowback CO2 BB Pistol looks similar to a Glock but with many cosmetic changes that do differentiate it a fair amount, as in the trigger guard, the grips, the thumb guard shape and the finishing on the slide. Mostly everything operates function similar to what you would expect for a Glock styled pistol including the slide catch release, trigger safety, magazine release and even the take down switches for quick field stripping and access to the adjustable hop-up, yes it is adjustable.
Pros:
Feels very solid in the hand and well made. (Assuming it is a KWC made gun)
Shoots in both semi and Full Auto.
Has full heavy blowback operations similar to an Airsoft Pistol.
Full metal full size drop out magazine that holds the steel BB’s and CO2.
Dual safeties, under the barrel and on the trigger.
White dot sights front and back.
Fully Field Strippable.
Recessed barrel for added realism.
Metal slide with polymer frame similar to a real steal modern firearm.
Picatinny rail for adding on accessories.
If you like that look of a Glock you will probably like the look of the Barra 009.
325 fps is decent for a full blowback BB gun.
Cons:
Full Blowback operation will limit velocity and shots per CO2.
Sights are not adjustable.
Barrel opening maybe a bit under sized?
Comments:
If you want a true Glock Replica Airgun your best bet is going to be one from Umarex as they hold the Glock license and offer several options in Steel BB, Pellet, Airsoft and even Paintball. They do not offer a full auto version as far as I know so if you do want a semi and full auto Glock styled BB Pistol then the Barra 009 Full Auto Blowback CO2 BB Pistol may be one of your only options and to be honest, Umarex is sourcing many of their Glock Airguns from KWC, so you will not be compromising with quality or reliability as the build will be about the same.
On with the show… First I shot five rounds through my Chronograph using a brand new CO2 in what I would consider to be room temperaterer (20C or 70F). Sig Sauer claims their MCX Rattler shoots around 325 fps and in my testing I got a five shot average of 318 with my slowest shot hitting 298 and my fastest shot hitting 346. So I would say Sig is right on the mark here.
I then setup a fresh pepper target 30 feet away and loaded up a full magazine (30 rounds) for my accuracy test where I first shot in 10 rounds in semi auto and then the remaining 20 rounds in three round burst. I would say I was able to get around a 2 inch grouping in semi auto but I did have to shoot aiming on the bottom of the rings and I was using the flattened sights rather than the pop up sights as you have two options with the Sig Sauer MCX Rattler CO2 BB Rifle. Once I switched the selector to three round burst, my grouping really did not change all that much, maybe 3 inches at most and that was with 20 rounds.
The Sig Sauer MCX Rattler CO2 BB Rifle is a lot of fun, it is by far not the most powerful blowback full auto-ish Blowback BB Rifle out there but it performs decent and looks really good. The internal blowback action does give you a slight tapping feel and it does allow for a true single action trigger. If you want a rather compact Blowback BB Rifle with Sig licensing and branding along with Sig quality then take a look at the Sig Sauer MCX Rattler CO2 BB Rifle. Did I mention it was really affordable too?
Type: BB Rifle. Manufacturer: Sig Sauer ASP Model: Sig Sauer MCX Rattler Materials: Metal and Nylon Fiber build. Weight: 4.6 Pounds (2.1 kg). Barrel: 7 inch (17.8 cm) steel non-rifled. Propulsion: Single 12 gram CO2. Action: Semi auto and 3 round burst with internal blowback (single action only trigger). AmmunitionType: 4.5mm Steel BB’s. AmmunitionCapacity: 30 rounds spring fed. Velocity: Claimed of 325 fps.
TriggerPull: The trigger pull on the Sig Sauer MCX Rattler CO2 BB Rifle is a single action only trigger that requires initial activation of the charging handle, after the first shot the internal blowback action will do this automatically for each followup shot. The single action only trigger is fairly short with a light pull and predictable release, great for action shooting. You also have the option of shooting in true semi auto (one trigger pull and one shot) or selecting 3 round burst mode which allows for one pull of the trigger with 3 rounds in full auto.
Accuracy: I really don’t have much feedback to give here as I have only shot a single magazine so far with the Sig Sauer MCX Rattler CO2 BB Rifle in a very uncontrolled format as I was not so much testing it out but rather just having some initial fun to see what it was all about. I will of course be following up this Table Top Review with a Field Test Review shortly to find out what the actual velocity is and see how accurate it is in both semi auto and 3 round burst mode.
BuildQuality: The build quality for the Sig Sauer MCX Rattler CO2 BB Rifle is really good considering it is mostly all plastic on the outside. It does feel solid and well built when holding it in the hand. From what I can tell the metal parts would include the barrel, the charging handle, the main controls and also much of the internal components inside both the rifle and the magazine. I would have liked to have seen a metal flash hider and perhaps the pop-up Iron sights could have also been metal.
Realism: The Sig Sauer MCX Rattler CO2 BB Rifle is a 1 to 1 scale very realistic Replica of the real steel Sig Sauer Rattler normally chambered in 5.56 NATO. It would have been nice if the dust cover opened up when charging the Airgun for realism but most of the other controls work as expected, like the charging handle, selector switch, magazine release and I am not sure but maybe even the bolt release, I will know more when I make my Field Test Shooting video for the Sig Sauer MCX Rattler.
Pros:
Perfect size and weight for a fun BB semi / full auto shooter.
Fully adjustable pop up sights that are usable in both the down and up position,
Lots of accessory mounting options with the picatinny top rail and MLOCK in the sides and bottom.
Folding rear stock allows for a compact size and much easier transportation.
Ambidextrous selector switch.
Can shoot in both semi and 3 round burst modes.
Very solid AR15 type magazine that holds the 30 4.5mm steel BB’s and the single 12 gram CO2.
Reasonably priced at around $250 at the time of this video.
Sig Sauer licensing.
Cons:
Only uses a single CO2, two would have been better in a fast action shooter like this to maintain fps.
325 fps seems a bit low.
Lots of plastic but build quality does feel good.
Comments:
The Sig Sig Sauer MCX Rattler CO2 BB Rifle reminds me a lot of the Umarex Steel Storm and Steel Force which are both Compact AR type Semi and Burt mode 4.5mm CO2 Blowback Airguns. Where the Sig Sauer MCX Rattler CO2 BB Rifle shines, is in the quality and realism as compared the Umarex counterparts. I do like that both the Umarex Steel Storm and Steel Force use dual 12 gram CO2 cartridges which I feel allows them to have more consistent velocity and performance as compared to the single CO2 in the Sig Sauer MCX Rattler CO2 BB Rifle. My First impressions without really testing the Sig Sauer MCX Rattler are all pretty positive but it will really come down to how well it performs and so I will put my recommendations on hold until I actually test it out!
My Table Top Review of the Sig Sauer MCX Rattler CO2 BB Rifle:
Type: GBB Airsoft Pistol. Manufacturer: Made by EMG. Model: TTI JW4 2011 Pit Viper. Materials: Aluminum & polymer components. Weight: 2.26 pounds (1025 grams). Length: 8.5 inches (2167mm). Propulsion: CO2/Green gas. Action: Semi auto blowback, single action only trigger. AmmunitionType: 6mm plastic Airsoft BB's. AmmunitionCapacity: 28-30 round drop out full size metal magazine. FPS: Claimed 370-390.
Trigger Pull: The single action only trigger pull on the EMG TTI Pit Viper JW4 2011 GBB CO2 Airsoft Pistol is really great, there is virtually zero take-up with a light, crisp and easy release. You can double tap with ease making the EMG TTI STI 2011 Combat Master a great action pistol. One of the shortest and smoothest 1911 triggers I have tested, similar to the EMG TTI JW3 Combat Master.
Accuracy: At this point I have not shot the EMG TTI Pit Viper JW4 2011 GBB CO2 Airsoft Pistol so I have no idea what the actual real world fps is going to be and how accurate it proves itself so my comments for this part of the review will have to wait till I perform my Field Test Shooting Video coming up shortly. I do however expect it to perform very close to the EMG TTI STI 2011 Combat Master I already made a Field test Video Review for so you can check that on out in the mean time…
BuildQuality: The EMG TTI Pit Viper JW4 2011 GBB CO2 Airsoft Pistol is for the most part an all metal gun with a CNC Machined Aluminum Slide and aluminum barrel along with mostly metal parts throughout including much of the frame. Parts of the frame are polymer including the grip area and trigger guard. The fit and finish is awesome on the EMG TTI Pit Viper JW4 2011 GBB CO2 Airsoft Pistol with attention to detail everywhere.
Realism: The EMG TTI Pit Viper JW4 2011 GBB CO2 Airsoft Pistol is based off of the Pit Viper TTI, a replica of the John Wick pistol used in the John Wick 4 movie and is virtually the spitting image to it. You will find licensing and trademarks where you would find them on the real steel version. Of course all the mechanical parts work like the real version and the EMG TTI STI 2011 Combat Master can be fully field stripped allowing for quick and easy hop-up adjustments.
Pros:
Super crisp, light and short SAO trigger.
Fit and finish is excellent, very little slide wiggle.
extremely close replica of the Pit Viper 2011 pistol used in the John Wick 4 movie.
Rear sight is fully adjustable and sits very flush with the slide.
Fiber optic front sight helps with quick targets acquisition.
CNC machined Aluminum slide and barrel with polymer frame.
Flared magwell for easy quick magazine reloading.
Full size high capacity 30 round double stack metal magazine.
Ambidextrous thumb safeties.
Working grip safety as you would expect on a 1911 based gun.
Most Mechanical parts work just like a steel version and can be easily field stripped to access hop-up.
Nice snappy and fast blowback action, great for action shooting.
Licensing all over this gun true to the real steel version.
Cons:
Comes with the red tip but can be remove pretty easily.
Getting magazine but plate off is a bit tuff.
No white dot’s or fiber optics in the rear sight.
Comments:
The EMG TTI Pit Viper JW4 2011 GBB CO2 Airsoft Pistol is another great Replica of a John Wick pistol and has a less squared and smaller stature than the EMG Combat Master and a smoother overall look to it. What’s nice is that the magazines are interchangeable between the EMG TTI JW3 and JW4 versions so if you already have one then you will get additional magazine options, perhaps one in Green Gas and one in CO2. I like the slightly bulkier feel to the Combat Master but the Pit Viper is also a decent size, but again slightly more compact and less edges to get caught on your surroundings. Either way, both are awesome options if you are John Wick fan.
I love making these Mystery Box Unboxing Videos as many of the items inside are actually real mysteries to me, some I may have an idea of but even these items are new to me so it’s fun to open them up and check them all out. In this October 2023 Mystery Box Video I checkout 9 items ranging from AEG Airsoft Rifles to Airsoft , BB and Pellet Pistols. There is even a new Steel BB product from Sig Sauer that is a compact rifle with a 3 round burst option when shooting.
In this Field Test Indoor Shooting Video I take the Umarex T4E HK VP9 .43 Cal. Paintball Pistol through its paces to see what the actual velocity is and what kind accuracy I can get shooting at a paper target 30 feet away. For this Video Review I use a brand new CO2 along with .43 caliber rubber balls. I have already made a Table Top Video for the Umarex T4E HK VP9 so check that out if you’re interested in specifications and details along with more closeup video of this Paintball Pistol. And for fun I also made an interesting outside shooting video using actual Paintballs that highlights the Umarex T4E HK VP9 .43 Cal. Paintball Pistol.
So let’s get right to the results! For my Chronograph test, being indoors the temperature was about room temperature, maybe a bit lower at around 19-20 Degrees Celsius or 66-68 Degrees Fahrenheit. This can affect velocity as CO2 performs bettering in warmer conditions. My fastest Chronograph result was 283 fps while my slowest result was 268 fps averaging 277 fps so not bad as I was expecting just under 300 fps based on past experiences using similar Umarex T4E Blowback CO2 Paintball Pistols.
Next up in the Field Test was the accuracy portion, I often shoot 10 rounds in to my paper targets setup 30 feet down range, but since the Umarex T4E HK VP9 .43 Cal. Paintball Pistol magazine only holds 8 rounds I went with 8 rounds this time. I was also using a semi-rested shooting position with my hands resting on a sandbag up front and sitting on a stool in the back. I did get one Paintball that was a bit low but the other 7 all fell into a rather nice 4 inch grouping fairly well centered on the target just a bit to the right. 3 Paintballs even hit the bullseye which is pretty good for a Blowback Paintball Pistol in my books.
All in all the Umarex T4E HK VP9 .43 Cal. Paintball Pistol performed a lot like the other Umarex T4E CO2 Blowback .43 Caliber Paintball Pistols in their lineup, maybe perhaps this time around for me at least with a little bit more accuracy than past Field Tests. I had no problems with the Umarex T4E HK VP9 .43 Cal. Paintball Pistol shooting in my outside fun video and in this Indoor Field Test Video, the Umarex T4E HK VP9 has a decent DOA trigger that is fairly responsive and the blowback action has more recoil and snap than I was expecting. I would put the Umarex T4E HK VP9 .43 Cal. Paintball Pistol right in line with the other Umarex T4E CO2 Blowback .43 Caliber Paintball Pistols for sure, maybe even just a bit better in terms of my results on this day.
Summer will be over before we know it, so why not get out and shoot some Paintball Pistols on a bunch of random targets in the yard before fall kicks in! I rarely get to use actual Paintballs in my Paintball Guns as I mainly test indoors and so I pretty much have to use Rubber Balls or have to deal with a bunch of clean up afterwards.
So today I grabbed my two newest Umarex T4E Paintball Pistols, the Umarex T4E TR68 and Umarex T4E HK VP9. I of course I loaded them up with their appropriate ammo .68 and .43 caliber Paintballs, and headed outside.
Figuring out how to make the video interesting and get lots of different camera angles can be fun, so I decided to grab my Hover Camera X1 which I think from now on is going to be my new “Camera Man” when I need a camera recoding me as I move around. I also placed my Insta 360 One R and my iVUE Vista Camera glasses in the mix. All being audio recorded with my Comica Vimo C Wireless Lapel Mic so you can actually hear everything clearly.
Seems like a lot of production using all of these recording devices and then having to line up, cut and mix everything together in post. Well you guys are worth it and I’m a bit of a tech junky so it was all kind of fun for me too.
Type: Paintball Gun. Manufacturer:Umarex - T4E. Model:T4E HK VP9 Materials: Metal & Polymer. Weight: 790 grams (1.7 pounds). Barrel: Smooth bore. Power Source: 1x12 gram CO2. Action: DAO Semi-Automatic with blowback action. Ammo Type: .43 Caliber Paintball / Rubber Ball / Pepper Ball. Ammo Capacity: 8 Rounds. FPS: 300.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on Umarex T4E HK VP9 .43 Cal. Paintball Pistol feels a lot like a double action trigger mainly because when you pull the trigger, the inner barrel travels backwards into the magazine placing a paintball round in the barrel which seals the barrel with the magazine so less CO2 is wasted. This does make the trigger a little bit longer and heavier than a single action trigger because of the added friction. The internal hammer/striker is engaged from the blowback action which does help lesson the overall triggers pull weight.
Accuracy: So far I have not had the opportunity to test the Umarex T4E HK VP9 .43 Cal. Paintball Pistol, so stay posted for my upcoming Field Test Shooting Video where I will see what kind of velocity and accuracy we can expect from the Umarex T4E HK VP9 .43 Cal. Paintball Pistol. For now you can watch my Field Test Shooting Video for the Umarex T4E S&W M&P9 M2.0 .43 Cal. Paintball Pistol as it is very similar in design and should for the most part perform in a similar manner.
Build Quality: The build quality of the Umarex T4E HK VP9 .43 Cal. Paintball Pistol is good overal, you will find metal parts are where you would expect them to be, in the slide, slide catch, barrel, magazine and most internal parts giving the Umarex T4E HK VP9 .43 Cal. Paintball Pistol a decent overall weight of almost 2 pounds with the magazine in which makes the Paintball version feel comparable to a real steel HK VP9 (710 grams - 25 ounces). The T4E HK VP9 does have a polymer frame but again this is normal with todays modern guns and helps keep the weight down. Fit and finish is also very good!
Realism: The Umarex T4E HK VP9 .43 Cal. Paintball Pistol is a fully licensed replica of the real steel HK VP9 via its Umarex Licensing. The Umarex T4E HK VP9 .43 Cal. Paintball Pistol is made specifically as a training tool for owners of similar real steel HK Handguns so for that reason it is made to replicate its powder burning counterpart very closely. You will find that the slide cycle distance is a bit shorter than it would be meaning that when the side catch is engaged the slide does not go as far back in the 9mm version. Field stripping the Umarex T4E HK VP9 .43 Cal. Paintball Pistol will requires some tools and pin removal.
Pros:
Accurate weight and solid feeling gun.
Full Metal slide that locks back on the last shot.
All metal heavy full size drop out magazine adds some additional weight to the gun.
Good for real steel H&K VP9 owners looking for a similar training weapon.
Everything works pretty much like the real gun so again great as a training tool.
Easy to see white dot sights front and back.
Working trigger safety
Fit and finish is very good.
Magazine spring release pops the magazine out just enough to grab it but not drop it on the floor.
.43 caliber barrel opening, adds to realism.
Warning instructions are a lot more discrete under the trigger guard and not super white in color.
Comes with additional grip parts to customize to various hand sizes.
Cons:
Magazine only holds 8 rounds, so you are going to need extra magazines for sure.
Blowback action is not full blowback, more like a typical half blowback BB gun.
Sights are non adjustable.
Comments:
The Umarex T4E HK VP9 .43 Cal. Paintball Pistol is mechanically very close to the Umarex Walther PPQ M2 .43 Cal. Paintball Pistol and the Umarex T4E S&W M&P9 M2.0 .43 Cal. Paintball Pistol in how it functions as a Paintball Pistol so I expect all of them to shoot very similarly and that’s not a bad thing since previous versions I have tested so far have performed rather well for me in the Replica Airguns Sea Can Indoor Shooting Range. If you are an HK fan then the Umarex T4E HK VP9 .43 Cal. Paintball Pistol is about as close as you are going to get in a Replica Paintball Pistol. Owning the paintball version will allow for a lot more opportunities to get some trigger time in and hone your shooting skill with a very similar gun to the one you my own, and at a fraction off the cot to 9mm ammo.
In this Replica Airguns Unboxing Video I take a look at 6 Airguns consisting of 2 Paintball Pistols, 3 Airsoft Rifles and one Pellet Rifle. This is not a full review in any way but is rather a preview of what i will be doing full Reviews for over the next several weeks.
This is not exclusive to Airguns since trends of Airguns are highly influenced by what type of Real Steel Pistols are popular to people. This is often based on what people see portrayed in movies and TV Series, and also promoted online. There is for sure an overlap in what is popular and it is hard to say what is influencing what? Is it the popularity of Pistols out in the real world that influences what we see being used in the movies and on TV? Or is it what we see in Movies and TV that influences our choices of pistols out in the real world? Perhaps it is a combination of both?
My list is based on my own personal experience and does not represent the entirety of types of Pistol designs available.
You may be thinking, not another KWC 1911 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol Review! I get it, there are so many renditions of this 1911 Air Pistol either direct from KWC or distributed through almost all the big Airgun companies with their unique branding and licensing. Is there anything different about this version? In terms of performance not really, they all shoot about the same which is good. Not the highest fps but great triggers, nice heavy blowback operation and pretty consistent and decent accuracy. Really the only difference with the BARRA 4006 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol is it is a bit chunkier than most other KWC based 1911’s which is mostly from the more beefy picatinny rail. You can watch my Table Top Video Review for more details and specification along with more close up video of the Barra 4006 here.
Getting right into the Field Test part of this Review video, I shot 5 rounds through my Chronograph using a brand new CO2 in average room temperature conditions and I was able to average 292 fps with the slowest velocity hitting 286 fps and the fastest velocity hitting 300 fps. The general claimed fps for Full Blowback CO2 BB KWC 1911’s is around 330 as a best case most likely in very warm conditions. 300 fps is all you need to shoot pop cans and paper targets 30 feet away and feel like a champ doing so.
When it comes to the accuracy of the BARRA 4006 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol, I was not surprised to get around a 2 inch 10 round grouping at 30 feet away shooting at a paper target. This is pretty much exactly what I get from all the KWC Full Blowback 1911 BB shooters out there. Out of the box I did shoot a tad bit to the left but in terms of elevation the BARRA 4006 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol was up for the job at 30 feet out. Since the white dot sights are non-adjustable, you will have to shoot just slightly to the right to drop pop cans consistently but this again is going to be the case with just about any BB or pellet pistol that does not have adjustable sights. They rarely ever shoot perfectly dead center on the bullseye. You could add an adjustable laser sight to the picatinny rail if you do want more precision aiming.
So that brings us to the concluding of this Filed Test Shooting Video for the BARRA 4006 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol. All in all a super fun 1911 Replica Airgun with one of the best trigger out there, nice heavy blowback action, velocity that gets the job done and accuracy to match. I have a soft spot for 1911’s and I love full blowback all metal Airguns, the BARRA 4006 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol seems to have little bit more heft to me (@ 2.2 pounds) which I like in a 1911, perhaps closer to a real steel 1911 in this case. Another great CO2 Blowback BB Pistol to chooses from!
I was really looking forward to testing the ASG 1911 US-C CO2 Blowback BB Pistol in the Replica Airguns Sea Can Indoor Shooting Range, mainly because it offers a new type of system for loading BB’s into the Breach that does not require any trigger effort while still providing more efficient CO2 usage. I am happy to say that the ASG 1911 US-C CO2 Blowback BB Pistol does provide a higher velocity with this system, more efficient CO2 usage and it still maintains good accuracy with a really great feeling single action only trigger, the same as you would fid on a classic 1911! If you are mainly interested in details and specifications along with more close up video of the ASG 1911 US-C CO2 Blowback BB Pistol then watch my Table Top Video Review.
So let’s get right into the performance… As always I started out with my Chronograph Velocity Test to see what the actual fps is for the ASG 1911 US-C CO2 Blowback BB Pistol. ASG claims 420fps which is about 100 fps higher than what you can expect best case scenario from a KWC Full Blowback CO2 1911. My 5 shot average in this test was 372fps using a brand new CO2 in medium temperature settings. In a warmer shooting situation you may get a little bit higher fps but I would not expect a lot more out of this pistol. Still I would say on average about 70fps faster than the Full Blowback KWC 1911’s I have tested in the past.
Moving on to my accuracy test, I shot 10 rounds at a fresh paper target from 30 feet away using a semi rested shooting position with my hands rested on a sand bag up front and sitting on a stool in the back. My 10 shot grouping ended up being around 2 inches which is a little on the tighter side than you would expect from most Blowback BB Pistols. It did shoot a little bit low but side to side was very well centered. The trigger felt really good while the blowback action is very fast and snappy as compared to the full blowback KWC 1911’s I have reviewed in the past.
I was very happy with the performance of the ASG 1911 US-C CO2 Blowback BB Pistol overall! The trigger was short and light as I was hoping for, the velocity was perfect for a blowback CO2 Pistol getting really close to 400 fps, and the partial blowback action although not as aggressive as some otters blowback CO2 BB Pistols was still strong enough to give some good feedback while shooting. One point I would like to make with this pistol is to not take the magazine out or rack the slide between magazine reloading as you can very easily double load a BB into the breach either resulting in a double shot or possible BB jam. If you want a Blowback 1911 with that classic 1911 trigger and a little bit better performance than most other blowback 1911’s ,then the ASG 1911 US-C CO2 Blowback BB Pistol is a really great choice!
Type: Blowback CO2 BB Pistol. Manufacturer: Distributed by BARRA/KWC. Model:1911 4006. Materials: Mostly Metal. Weight: 2.1 pounds (953 grams). Total Length: 8.7 inches (220mm). Barrel: 4.7 inches (119mm) metal non-rifled. Propulsion: CO2 x 1. Action: Semi auto blowback, SOA trigger. Ammunition Type: .4.5mm steel BB’s. Ammunition Capacity: 17 round drop out full size metal magazine. FPS: Claimed 370.
Trigger Pull: The Single Action Only trigger pull on the BARRA 4006 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol is like all other KWC design full blowback 1911’s. This is a good thing since it is one of the best triggers on a KWC Airgun, really short and really light! The main reason for the excellent SAO trigger is because the blowback action not only cycles the slide but it also load a BB in the breach and also cocks the hammer allowing for a simple hammer release by way of the trigger action.
Accuracy: At this point I have not shot the BARRA 4006 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol or performed my Field Test shooting Video. That said since I have reviewed a ton of the KWC 1911’s and they all share the same mechanics features, I expect the BARRA 4006 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol to get similar results which is an fps about 330 and decent accuracy at 30 feet out.
Build Quality: I says this about just about every KWC based Airgun and the BARRA 4006 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol is no exception, overall the fit and finish is good but the finish can wear a bit over time on the high spots. I will say KWC has gotten better over time with their finish process seeming to wear a lot less than their earlier made products. Like almost all KWC Airguns the BARRA 4006 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol is pretty much full metal with the exception of the grips and the air nozzle.
Realism: The BARRA 4006 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol is a fantastic replica of a real steel Tactical 1911. And again broken record time here… The entire line of KWC blowback BB Pistols replicates the look and action of their real steel counterparts super closely so unless you get right up n this Replica BB Gun and really inspect it you will not be able to tell it apart from the real version.
Pros:
Has that well liked KWC 1911 look in a more modernized tactical design.
Has that classic 1911 short and light single action only trigger we all love.
Field Strippable just like the real steel version.
All working parts just like a real steel 1911.
Working grip safety.
Full size drop out metal magazine that holds the CO2 and 17 BB’s.
Accessory rail on bottom of the frame for add on accessories.
Ambitious thumb safety.
Recessed barrel for realism.
Full blowback action for simulated recoil and a smoother trigger.
Good overall fit and finish.
Cons:
Painted markings on slide are a bit much.
Full blowback operation robs power and shots per CO2.
Sights are not adjustable.
Comments:
What can I really say about the BARRA 4006 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol? It’s pretty much exactly like all the other KWC built 1911’s but perhaps with i't’s own slightly different look to it. Thats not a bad thing since this design has been around for I am not sure but I want to say over a decade now so anything that needed to be worked out has been worked out. I loved the KWC 1911 when it first came out and still love any one of these new version today. If you’re in the market for a full blowback CO2 BB Pistol then take your pick, I like the heft and tactical modern design of the BARRA 4006 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol and also appreciate that it still has some classic 1911 component going on.
Type: Blowback CO2 BB Pistol. Manufacturer: Distributed by ASG. Model: 1911 US-C. Materials: MostlyMetal. Weight: 1.9 pounds (874 grams). Total Length: 8.7 inches (220mm). Barrel: 4.7 inches (119mm) metal non-rifled. Propulsion: CO2 x 1. Action: Semi auto blowback, SOA trigger. Ammunition Type: .4.5mm steel BB’s. Ammunition Capacity: 18 round drop out full size metal magazine. FPS: Claimed 420.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the ASG 1911 US-C CO2 Blowback BB Pistol is surprisingly really good as this is a new design mechanically different than the standard KWC 1911. There is a slide nozzle on the top of the magazine that pushes a BB into the breach area of the barrel and seals off the magazine for the barrel allowing for higher fps and I would imagine better CO2 efficiency. There are other Blowback Airguns that do this but most incorporate the trigger force to push the slide nozzle forward causing some friction and creating more of a double action trigger feel. I believe the ASG 1911 US-C CO2 Blowback BB Pistol uses the blowback action to engage this slide nozzle allowing for a true short and light single action trigger. Which the ASG 1911 US-C CO2 Blowback BB Pistol does have.
Accuracy: At this point I have not shot the ASG 1911 US-C CO2 Blowback BB Pistol or done my Field Test Performance Video. I really have no idea what to expect from it as this a new design I have never seen or shot before. I have high expectations based mainly on the advertised specifications but also from my observations looking over the mechanics and how this Airgun feels in the hand. Hopefully it performs as good as I am wishing for…
Build Quality: The ASG 1911 US-C CO2 Blowback BB Pistol has good fit and finish, I would compare it to a KWC 1911 in this department, I have a feeling it may be made in the KWC factory as the manual uses some of the same graphics found in most KWC manuals. I could be wrong here. That said the ASG 1911 US-C CO2 Blowback BB Pistol is mostly all metal with the exception of the pistol grips as expected.
Realism: The ASG 1911 US-C CO2 Blowback BB Pistol looks exactly like a real steel 1911 with the exception of an additional pin in the frame. The slide also does not cycle as much as a real steel 1911 or even like a standard KWC 1911 and field striping will not be done in the conventional manner since the slide catch release does not easily come out. All that said I feel like tis 1911 airgun design may be a nice compromise between performance and realism.
Pros:
Has that well liked KWC 1911 look but with different internals.
Looks to have a nice short and light single action only trigger.
Because of new type design I expect really good fps and lots of shots per CO2.
All working parts just like a real steel 1911.
Working safety and grip safety.
Full size drop out metal magazine that holds the CO2 and 18 rounds.
Integrated CO2 Allen key tool.
Recessed barrel for realism.
Blowback action for simulated recoil and a smoother trigger.
Good overall fit and finish.
Cons:
Painted markings on slide are a bit much.
Field strip is not conventional.
Sights are not adjustable.
Comments:
I am really optimistic that the ASG 1911 US-C CO2 Blowback BB Pistol will be a real winner here as it has a lot going for it! First of all it’s a 1911 and who doesn’t like a 1911? It is also a really solid replica on its own rights so it should check most boxes here with its blowback action, full size drop out metal magazine, nice SAO trigger and all metal build. On top of this all ,the specifications look really good with higher velocity than the standard KWC 1911 and I am also assuming better CO2 efficiency. Take all of this into account and the ASG 1911 US-C CO2 Blowback BB Pistol could be the new 1911 standard to go by.
In this Update Preview Video I take a look at three CO2 Air Pistols from ASG, Gamo and Barra. All shoot 4.5mm steel BB’s and one can also shoot .177 caliber pellets. two of them have blowback action. Two are also styled after the popular 1911 Semi Auto Pistol. The ASG 1911 has a unique magazine and chambering system that is the first I have seen of this in a Blowback Airgun. It offers with blowback operation along higher fps and a nice light semi auto trigger, which is a combination not offered in many Airguns.
Airguns are generally cheaper to buy and for sure cheaper to shoot. Airguns can cost as little as $50-100 to buy while real guns in similar models will cost many time more. Cost of ammo is so much less expensive than Real Gun ammo by a mile!
Difficulty to Obtain:
Airguns in most countries do not require any licensing or registration. Generally there are more available options in Airgun choices than Real Gun choices as restrictions often prohibit many Real Guns to be obtained.
Places to Shoot:
Unless you live in a super remote locations and your laws allow you to shoot Real Guns in those locations, then in most cases you can shoot an Airgun almost anywhere within reason. You can even shoot certain Airgun models in your basement. Airsoft is a great option for indoor shooting as the plastic ammo does not carry very much energy so with minimal effort you can make a backstop that will trap the ammo very well.
Trigger Time:
Because ammo is much less expensive and places you can shoot are easier to find, you can get a lot more Trigger Time under your belt which will also improve your shotgun with Real Guns and after all it’s just fun to shoot guns even if they are Airguns.
Safety:
I am not talking about safety in terms of protection. I am talking about safety as in if you do something stupid and your Gun goes off accidentally. If you accidentally fire your Airgun indoors, the bullet will not travel through floors or walls and potentially harm or kill someone on the other side. If you do manage to shoot yourself with an Airgun, the consequence are much less severe than shooting yourself with a Real Gun. That said, always treat an Airgun as if it was a Real Loaded Gun, as server injury and even death can occur even with an Airgun.
Ware Games and Training Situations:
There is no way you can use a standard Real Gun to shoot at people, unless extensively altered with special parts that make the Real Gun unusable to shoot live ammo. With Airguns you have the choice of using an Airsoft or Paintball gun that are both designed specifically for this purpose.
Pest Control:
If you have the need for pest control in an urban area where you do not want a stray bullet to travel too far or penetrate buildings if a shot where to go awry, then an Airgun designed for accuracy and power may be perfect for the job. Accuracy with target and hunting Airguns is on par if not better than many Real Guns and are have powerful enough to kill a pest humanely without having too much power for the job and having to worry as much about your background.
Prop Guns:
As mentioned already, Airguns can look a lot like Real Guns, so they are perfect to be used as a stand-in or Prop Gun when you need to simulate the look and function of a Real Gun. Again they are easier and cheaper to obtain and if something does go wrong, the consequences are much less severe.
Social Stigma:
Unfortunately Real Guns and perhaps any gun these days are looked upon with a social stigma as being the cause of the Crime rather than a tool used in a Crime. And so people blame Guns for these crimes rather than the people committing these crimes. If a person is motivated enough to do something bad, they are going to do it either way and will use whatever means is available to them to commit these Crimes. Including other means like: Knives, Blunt Objects, Poisons, Vehicles, Explosives… Sad but true! Airguns are not used in homicides or mass shootings as they are completely underpowered for a crime like this. They can however be used in crimes as a show of threat, as they do look a lot like real guns, generally people that use Airguns for real crimes, if challenged will give up immediately as they are completely outgunned. Don’t bring an Airgun to a Real Gun fight, you have better chance with a knife!
In this Comparison Video I show several models of Glock Replica Airguns distributed under the Umarex/Glock license. Umarex has brought to market several Glock Replica Airguns to date including BB, Pellet, Airsoft and even Paintball versions in a variety of models. I showcase only a few of these models in this video but it is a good selection to give most people an idea of what is available from our Replica Airguns website in terms of Glock Pistols.
The KJ Works KP-13 CO2 Blowback Airsoft Pistol does look a bit like a Glock but don’t be fooled, it is fore sure not a Glock at all. That said it might just make a great training Airsoft pistol if you own a real steel Glock or plan on owning one in the future as it is about the same size and shape and operates similarly to a real Glock. In this video I put it through its paces using my Chronograph to find out the real world velocity and I also place 10 shots on a paper target to see what kind of accuracy I can get from 30 feet away.
Starting with my power or velocity test I put 5 rounds through my Chronograph using standard .20 gram Airsoft Plastic BB’s. I was using a brand new CO2 and the temperature being around 21 degrees Celsius or 70 degrees Fahrenheit, so not too hot or cold. I did only test using the preinstalled internal non-extended barrel so if you do plan on using the longer extend barrel that the KJ Works KP-13 CO2 Blowback Airsoft Pistol comes with, you will more than likely get another 30-40 fps out of this Airsoft Pistol. That said I was able to get an average of 348 fps with my slowest shoot hitting 329 fps and my fastest shot hitting 363 fps. As expected the fastest shot was my first shot out of the Airsoft gun and my slowest shot was my last as the Airgun cooled down.
I then moved on to my accuracy portion of the Field Test for the KJ Works KP-13 CO2 Blowback Airsoft Pistol. It did shoot rather high so I did have to aim at the bottom ring of the target to actually hit closer to the middle. It also shot just a tad to the left but not much so keep that in mind since the sights are not easily adjustable. Hop-up adjustments may lower the rounds a bit but it’s hard to say how much. The KJ Works KP-13 CO2 Blowback Airsoft Pistol did get close to a 1 inch 9 shot grouping (first shot was really high aiming at the bullseye), so that was impressive and the blowback feels solid with a really nice Glock like short and easy trigger.
The KJ Works KP-13 CO2 Blowback Airsoft Pistol is a nice looking and good performing Airsoft Pistol that looks enough like a glock to perhaps appeal to Glock lovers looking for something similar but unique in its own way. After all doesn't everyone already have a Glock, so be a bit different and pick yourself up one of these KJ Works KP-13 CO2 Blowback Airsoft Pistols and be a trend setter!
