Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Gletcher GOLD APS Stetchkin is nice in both double and single action modes. Double action is fairly light as the hammer spring tension is moderate. The blowback operation will of course pre-cock the hammer allowing for single action shooting on almost all of your shots but the trigger pull length remains the same in both single and double action. The only difference is that in single action mode, the first part of the trigger pull, or should I say the take-up portion is much lighter until it gets to the hammer release point where you will notice more pressure and a short crisp release point.
Accuracy: I have already done a field test shooting review for the standard blowback Gletcher APS Stechkin which other than the finish is the same gun and will perform exactly the same. Make sure to checkout that shooting review for more info on how the Gletcher APS performed. In summary, I was able to get very close to the claimed 400 fps even on a rather cool early spring day (under 10 degree Celsius). I also shot with around a 2 inch 10 shot grouping from my standard target setup of 30 feet back in a semi rested position.
Build Quality: The Gletcher GOLD APS Stechkin CO2 Blowback BB Pistol is well made, the Gold and black etched finish looks really nice but may not be to everyones personal taste, kind of a love it or hate situation when it comes ot Gold guns ;) The fit is good, not a lot of slide wiggle and pretty much the entire pistol is metal including the frame, slide, trigger, slide catch-release, safety, hammer, magazine and inner barrel. The only plastic parts would be the grips, outer barrel and some internal seals and o-rings.
Realism:The GOLD CO2 BB Gletcher APS is a 1 to 1 replica of the Stechkin Soviet Military sidearm, all the mechanical parts function just like you would find on the real steel version other than the full auto mode located on the safety, which has been disabled, perhaps for the European markets where full auto airguns are not allowed. The barrel opening and the stick magazine are the real only tell-tale signs that this is the airgun version rather than a real Stechkin.
Pros:
Come in a nice Velvet lined Wooden Box.
Gold Plated with etching )either love it or hate it)
Very solid and weighty gun. Mostly all metal.
High capacity 22 round all metal stick magazine
Blowback operation is pretty heavy, slide locks back on last round.
Operational parts all work like they should (slide catch, safety, hammer, elevation adjustment, mag release)
Field Strippable.
May be able to attach a stock on it?
Shooting performance, good trigger pull, around 400 fps and got about a 2 inch grouping from 30 feet away.
Cons:
No reassessed barrel opening.
Would have liked to have seen full size drop out metal magazine on this gun.
Full auto feature disabled on safety.
Gold version is a lot more expensive than the standard blowback version. ($349 versus $179)
Comments:
When I saw this pistol in the Gletcher catalog, I did not realize how large it actually was, I was expecting the Gold Gletcher APS Stechkin to be a bit larger than the Makarov but it really does dwarf the Makarov. Being that it is a large pistol it does have some weight to it but it does not feel heavy for its size. The grips are long front to back but not overly thick side to side so even medium sized hands should be OK shooting this BB air pistol. I am really happy to see another historic airgun added to the available Replica Airguns at our disposal and it's a bonus that we also get this one with blowback operation. You do have your choice when it comes to what you are looking for in terms of finish and operation, there is of course the APS GOLD blowback BB Version being reviewed in this video, the standard black/grey none blowback APS BB version, the black/grey blowback APS BB version which again is mechanically exactly the same as the GOLD. If your prefer Airsfot you can even find a Gletcher APS Blowback Airsoft model to fit your needs. All you have to decide is which one is for you!
My Vimeo Table Top Video of the Gletcher APS Stechkin CO2 Blowback BB Pistol:
I try and make it to my local gun show which is held in Chilliwack BC about this time each year. It is put on by the Historical Arms Collectors Society of BC and there are generally a lot of used long guns (rifles) some pistols, lots of accessories, knives, hunting gear, knick·knacks and even some antique items. I tend to be looking for airguns or blank guns that are rare or a good deal.
This year I came across a few items that caught my eye. The first item was a Daisy replica 4.5mm BB pistol, I am not a big fan of Daisy replica gun in general as they are usually a far cry from the originals but this Daisy Powerline Model 400 was actually a really good copy of a Desert Eagle in size and looks. Sure it had a lot of plastic in it but it was made in Japan and even being around 20 years olds was holding up really well. This Daisy Powerline 400 even had Blowback which back then was not all that common.
The Daisy Powerline 400 BB Desert Eagle has a 20 round removable magazine that fits along the top of the barrel and it has a claimed fps. It is almost all high grade plastic with the exception of the single action only trigger, safety, hammer, barrel and several internal parts.
The next interesting item I found was a little compact 8mm blank shooter originally made in West Germany. So this blank gun is close to 30 years old. The SM Model 110 8mm Blank Pistol kind of reminds me of my EKOL Tuna in terms of size and functionality since both have the same half slide and magazine release system.
The SM Mod 110 8mm Blank Pistol is front venting and pretty much all metal with reinforced steel areas, it has a 5 round single stack magazine and shoots in single action only.
My last purchase for this show was a new item, here in Canada we generally are not allowed much in the way of items specifically labeled for self defense. There are some work arounds for instance we can carry a knife as long as it is not concealed entirely and we only intend to use it as a tool. We can also carry pepper spray again only for use on animals. Generally speaking we have not been allowed stun guns or tasers here in Canada and even importing them can land you in a lot of trouble! Again it seems a work around has been made, as long as the Stun Gun or Taser is at least 480mm in length then it is not considered a concealable weapon and as long as you have it out on display and only intend to use it on animals that may be a threat to you then all is good :)
The Stun Gun I purchased is basically a baton with a flashlight on the front and a 1 million volt taser on the front of it. You have several options with this device if harm is eminent. You can try blinding the threat with the built in flashlight which is not all that powerful but good for finding your way in dark areas, you can give the attacker a whack with the baton baseball bat style and if none of that is working well let em have the 1 million volt sandwich! We should be getting some of these Stun Baton Flashlights in our Canada Replica Airguns Store at some point so stay posted for that item.
Type: BB air pistol. Manufacturer: Umarex - KWC. Model: Colt Combat Vet Limited Edition 1911. Materials: Pretty much all metal build. Weight: 2 pounds. Barrel: 4.38 inchesBrass, non-rifled. Propulsion: CO2 x1. Action: Semi auto blowback, single action only. Ammunition Type: 4.5mm Steel BB's. Ammunition Capacity: 18-19 rounds. FPS: 320.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Umarex Colt Combat Vet Limited Edition 1911 is like all the other KWC made CO2 full blowback 1911's, it's exactly what you would expect from a real 1911 single action only pistol which helps to make this replica 1911 a great trainer. So in other words the trigger pull is super short, super light with very little take-up and a nice crisp break.
Accuracy: I have not shot this "version" of the Umarex - KWC 4.5mm BB 1911 but it will undoubtedly perform exactly like all the others. I can expect decent under 2 inch groupings from 30 feet out and will get a little over 300 fps on a full CO2 cartridges. Depending on how fast I shoot off my magazines, I should expect to get around 3 good mags and if I slow things down a bit I should get a forth magazine so anywhere from 50-70 good or so shots per CO2 out of the Umarex Colt Combat Vet Limited Edition 1911.
Build Quality: Very good, with almost all metal construction, good weight and craftsmanship, the KWC 1911 line of pistols have proven themselves over time and even though some of the original first run units had some CO2 valve issues, this seems to have been fixed over the years. You will find most of these KWC pistols in general have a rather thin coating for a finish and so they tend to wear a bit on the high spots but with this weathered Umarex Colt Combat Vet Limited Edition 1911 that really isn't a concern!
Realism: This is as close as you can come to the look, weight, feel, and action of the real 1911 in virtually almost every way including the ability to field strip this pistol! All the mechanical parts work just like they do on a real steel 1911 including the grip safety. I'm not sure what more you could ask for? The Umarex Colt Combat Vet Limited Edition 1911 even has that real gun wear and tear look to it which in my opinion even adds to the realism.
Extremely realistic airgun replica of an original Colt 1911 A1 styled 45 auto.
All metal construction - Good weight and solid feeling gun.
Would make an excellent training gun as it functions just like the real steel 1911 45 handgun.
Blowback action is very firm adding to the realism of shooting this weapon.
Field strips just like the real 1911 45 auto.
True 1911 Single action only trigger, excellent pull, very smooth and light.
Working grip safety.
Colt Licensed by Umarex
Weathering gives this pistol a very authentic look to it.
Warning instructions are nicely out of the way.
Cons:
It goes through CO2 very fast as do all the KWC full blowback pistols.
Sights are non-adjustable.
Umarex decided to label the safety, perhaps for legal reasons but it detracts from the finish.
Comments:
You would think by now I would be getting tired of reviewing yet another variation of the KWC made 1911? Nope! The Umarex Colt Combat Vet Limited Edition 1911 with it's Umarex Colt licensed and Weathered appearance adds just enough to respark my interest in these awesome CO2 Blowback 1911 replicas and every time I pick one up I get a little excited and want to go out and shoot some rounds through one :) If for some reason you have not picked up one of these 1911's to date then make sure to grab the Umarex Colt Combat Vet Limited Edition 1911 before they are all gone!
My Vimeo Videos for the Umarex Colt Combat Vet Limited Edition 1911 BB Pistol:
Trigger Pull: The ASG Dan Wesson 357 Revolver has a smoother trigger than the previous non 715 Dan Wesson Revolvers. There seems to be less of that friction while the cylinder rotates past the spring engaged inner barrel. Even the Hammer has a nicer fell to it with less side to side wiggle. Single action is really nice with a very short take up and light release point.
Accuracy: I have not had a chance to test out the ASG Dan Wesson 715 6 Inch Silver CO2 BB Revolver so far since the outside whether has been rather cold and wet. In terms of accuracy I would expect at least a 1-2 inch grouping from 30 feet out and the clamed fps of 430 seems to be in line with what we should see from the 4.5mm BB shooting Dan Wesson 715. I guess we will have to find out later on when I do my Field Test Shooting video to be sure...
Build Quality: I thought the previous generation Dan Wesson Revolvers where built really nice but the new Dan Wesson 715 takes this up several notches higher. All you need to do is pick this gun up and immediately you are in a state of wow! You almost need to ask yourself if it is in fact the Real Steal Dan Wesson 715 357 Magnum Revolver it feels that good. ASG has beefed up the barrel assembly to a solid component that adds a lot of forward weight which would be just like what you would expect from the 357 Magnum shooting version. To balance it all off the forward weight, the grips section is also reinforced with metal underneath the Hogue Styled rubber finger grips which again are another huge improvement over the plastic pistol grips found on previous models of the ASG Dan Wesson's. The stainless finish is of course awesome and this guns simply looks and feels great!
Realism: Again referencing the new ASG Dan Wesson 715 6 Inch Silver CO2 BB Revolver to it's predecessors, the Dan Wesson 715 is a true replica of the Dan Wesson 715 357 Magnum Revolver in almost every aspect and not just the Dan Wesson name. I could tell you everything that was the same but it's simply much easier to point out the only real difference I was able to point out and that would be the two pins that connect the barrel assembly to the frame of the BB version of the Dan Wesson 715. Not a deal breaker by any means and the pins really don't take away from this gun in my opinion.
Another great shell loading revolver, perhaps one of the nicest modern BB revolvers to date!
Almost all metal design, super heavy, feels like a real gun in the hand.
Lots of detail in this gun, very well made, fit and finish is excellent.
Dan Wesson Licensed and an excellent replica overall.
Adjustable rear sight for windage and elevation.
Rubber Hogue style finger grips, huge improvement over previous Dan Wesson grips.
Well hidden CO2 screw and Allen key built into the removable grip.
Much improved hammer and trigger action, smoother trigger and less wiggle in hammer.
Barrel opening is very realistic, even has simulated rifling.
Safety design is well hidden and easy to use.
Cons:
Two pins to attach the barrel assembly to the frame are not in line with the real steel version.
Trigger still has a bit of that initial friction in double action mode because of the spring loaded internal barrel.
Comments:
I was already a big fan of the Dan Wesson line of Revolvers, this new 715 version of the Dan Wesson takes it to a whole new level! In terms of the modern shell loading CO2 Revolvers out there the ASG Dan Wesson 715 6 Inch Silver CO2 BB Revolver is by far my new favorite. ASG completely redesign their new ASG Dan Wesson 715 6 Inch Silver CO2 BB Revolver basing it entirely on the real steel version and capturing the quality, look and feel nearly exactly. if you already have a Dan Wesson Revolver and think that perhaps you can pass the new version by, well I would think again or you may be missing out on one of the best BB Revolvers out there at this time.
My Vimeo Video Table Top Review for the Dan Wesson 715 CO2 BB Revolver:
I am showcasing here on the Replica Airguns website and over on the Replica Airguns YouTube channel a series of videos I am making for the purpose of selling some guns out of my personal collection. I simply have no more room for the new guns and in some cases I either have duplicate guns or very similar versions so there is no need to have both. Some guns I am less attached to and as I already stated I need to make room for some of the new stuff I will be reviewing and or buying for myself.
In this third Mike's Personal Guns For Sale video I am offering four BB rifles, three of which have full auto or at least burst mode ability and the fourth BB rifles is more of a Shotguns with the ability to shoot three BB's at once. Most of these BB rifles are really hard to get here in Canada now since one is not made anymore and the two are simply not currently being imported into Canada.
Make sure to watch my above YouTube video to see these four BB rifles I am selling and instructions on how you can take part in the sale and purchase of them. By the way I am only selling to Canadian residents since shipping cross borders is a little sketchy.
Here is a list of the BB Rifles I am selling from my personal gun collection:
Another preview video with some pistols from Umarex, ASG and Gletcher. Two of these Airguns I got to see whiel I wa sin SHOT Show this year so it was nice to be able to spend a bit more time with each one now that I have them in person for review :)
Lets start off with the ASG Dan Wesson 715, mine happens to be the Stainless version in 4.5mm Steel BB. What an upgrade over the original Dan Wesson Revolver and I thought those where already really good! The all new ASG Dan Wesson 715 is super solid coming in close to three pounds with its mostly solid metal construction.
Next up is the Umarex Combat Vet 1911 which is essentially a KWC 1911 distributed and Colt licensed via Umarex. The Umarex Combat Vet 1911 is a limited edition product made to look weathered and used and it does look amazing!
Lastly the Gletcher Stechkin in a Gold finish shipped in a real wood box with velvet lining. This is the same Airgun as the Gletcher APS but blinged out a bit, the Gold finish is lined with black etching to really make this gun look unique.
Ammunition Type: 4.5mm steel BB's. or .177 cal. pellets.
Ammunition Capacity: 6 rounds.
FPS: (BB 410) (Pellet 380).
Trigger Pull: Trigger pull on the John Wayne Duke Colt SAA BB and Pellet Revolver is the best I have ever come across in an airgun. Being that these Single Action Army Revolvers are single action only, most of the work is done while you pre-cock the hammer. The trigger pull is under 2 pounds and has virtually no take up with a crisp release. I love the ratcheting sound as you pull back the hammer just like using a real SAA Revolver!
Accuracy: I have not yet tested these John Wayne Duke Colt SAA BB and Pellet Revolvers so far but expect the BB version to perform for the most part just like the Umarex only versions I tested previously. Here are my notes from my previous testing:
"I tested both 4.5mm steel BB's and 4.7mm Lead ball BB's in the Umarex Colt Single Action Army Shell Loading BB Revolver. With the Steel 4.5mm BB's I shot just under a 2 inch 6 shot grouping when shooting from a 30 foot distance using a semi rested position (Sand bag up front, standing in the back). The shots where pretty well center hitting the paper target just a little bit high, they did seem to stray a little more left and right rather then up and down. When I switch ammo to the 4.7mm Lead BB's I got a similar 2 inch grouping but they hit the target a bit lower and tended to shoot tighter from side to side with more variation up and down, perhaps because the lead BB's did not seem to shoot at a vary consistent velocity. My Chronograph testing for the Steel BB's was right around 400 fps while the Lead BB's being heavier shot a bit slower at just under 300 fps."
Build Quality: The John Wayne Duke Colt SAA BB and Pellet Revolvers have a mostly all metal construction other than the plastic grips and any seals. The fit and finish is excellent with a great overall weight in the hand. Whether you get the Nickel or Weathered version. The mechanical action of the hammer and trigger feels just like it would on a real single action army revolver.
Realism: In terms of replicating a real steel Colt Single Action Army Revolver, these guns are absolutely amazing replicas. It's really hard to tell the airgun version from the real steel version, except for the smaller in diameter shells and the discreet safety switch located under the frame. Even the barrel is nicely recessed and has some fake rifling twists in it to give the appearance of a large caliber round. The CO2 is well hidden with the Allen key built into the handle so no ugly CO2 screw tab hanging down.
Still the best airgun reproduction of the Single Action Army Revolver, a very accurate replica of the real steel old west version.
Recessed barrel has the look of a large caliber bullet.
Great weight and feel in the hand.
Shell loading design that loads from the back so no need to remove shells if you wish not to.
Hammer and trigger action is about perfect, no take-up, very crisp and super light (under 2 pounds).
Finish on both the Nickel and Blued is very nice.
Colt and John Wayne Duke licensing.
Very well concealed CO2 with built in Allen key.
Discreet safety location.
If you prefer pellets over steel BB, now you have the option.
Cons:
Still has the warming instruction on the right side of the barrel but not super obvious especially on the Nickel version.
Real version would shoot 45 caliber, dummy shells are actual closer to 357 so a bit smallish.
Wood grips to me look a little fake up close but the John Wayne emblem kind of makes up for it.
Comments:
Shell loading BB and Pellet revolvers have been out for a while now and have changed the way many of us feel about airgun revolvers. Airgun revolvers used to be kind of overlooked because they where not the most exciting replica airguns out there but now we have not only the new Dan Wesson 715 shell loading revolvers but also these Colt Single Action Revolvers with Colt and John Wayne Duke licensing on them available in both BB and pellet shooting versions! There is something special about these old cowboy day classic revolver that makes them so elegant and just a real work of art you can not only own and look at but also take out and shoot whenever the spirit moves you to do so!
My Vimeo Table Top Review for the John Wayne Duke Colt SAA BB and Pellet Revolver:
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Air Venturi ISSC M22 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol is pretty decent overall. Unlike the original 22LR ISSC M22 that is single action only, the BB version shoots on both single and double action. When shooting in double action, the trigger pull is a little bit heavier since the hammer is not pre-cocked but shooting in single action does require full trigger pull length since the first stage of the trigger pull chambers a BB into the breach area. The second stage when shooting in single action releases the hammer.
Accuracy: I have only shot the Air Venturi ISSC M22 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol briefly, and only using a free standing position shooting at some pop cans. I did notice the Air Venturi ISSC M22 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol shot a little bit low at 20 feet but was well centered side to side. The BB's seemed to travel pretty quick and the blowback action was snappy and allowed for some pretty decent rapid fire action. I will be following up this table top review with a field test shooting video down the road.
Build Quality: I was impressed with this pistol right out of the box, being an owner of the real steel 22LR version, I was actually rather surprised at how accurate of a reproduction in terms of build quality the Air Venturi ISSC M22 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol was. The BB ISSC M22 has a good weight and feel to it and metal and plastic parts in pretty much all the same places you would find them in the 22LR shooting version. The plastic frame feels solid and well made while the metal slide has very close tolerances and the black satin finish looks good and seems to be wearing pretty well.
Realism: Again as an owner of the first generation real steel 22LR ISSC M22, and placing these guns side by side, they are nearly undistinguishable other than the changes Glock had ISSC make to the current versions so yes there are some cosmetic differences between my first generation M22 and the current version of this replica BB ISSC M22. That aside if you are an owner of the 22LR ISSC M22, then you are going to have to have one of these Air Venturi ISSC M22 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol to go along with it for even cheaper cost per shot then 22LR ammo. In terms of working parts, everything is the same except for the de-cocker since the BB model de-cocker is moulded into the slide and none functioning. I wish the Air Venturi ISSC M22 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol was easily filed stripable but I guess you can not have everything :)
Pros:
Really great overall replace of the 22LR ISSC M22.
Metal and plastic parts in all the same places as the 22LR ISSC M22.
Full blowback operation with single action trigger.
Full size drop put metal magazine that holds the CO2 and BB’s
Almost all mechanical parts work the same as the 22LR ISSC M22. (exception of slide safety)
ISSC m22 licensed.
Adjustable rear sigh for windage.
Accessory rail for addons.
One of the closest 4.5mm Steel BB pistols to a Glock that we have available to us.
Cons:
Does not seem to field strip at least easily.
Slide safety is module into slide and none functioning.
Comments:
All in all this may just be my new favorite blowback BB pistol, I obviously like the design since I already own the 22LR version and it does look a lot like a Glock so that may be a benefit to you Glock lovers out there. The Air Venturi ISSC M22 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol really does seem to have a lot going for it... Blowback operation, a full size drop out metal magazine that holds the CO2 and BB's, decent fps and accuracy, an adjustable rear sight, working parts where they are supposed to work on the real steel version and that Glock look and feel but without the worries of Glock coming after you for violations of their copywrite since this is a licensed ISSC M22 replica.
My Vimeo Video Review for the Air Venturi ISSC M22 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol:
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.
In this 2016 SHOT Show Interview I talk with Nichol Goines from Umarex USA. Nichol and I discuss some new and somewhat revised products from Umarex like the Full Blowback Smith & Wesson M&P40, the soon to finally be released Beretta Model 92 A1, a new Pellet version of last years Colt Single Action Army Revolver and a reappearance and revision of the Walther PPK CO2 Blowback BB pistol.
Last year Umarex introduced their Colt Single Action Army CO2 BB Revolvers and I would say last year they where on of my highlight airguns for the show. They have been selling like gang-busters! One question people have been asking is if there will be a pellet shooting version? Well now there is and like the Steel BB version the pellets load from the back of the shell making it super easy to reload the removable brass shells. The new Pellet SAA Revolver also has a rifled barrel to help with accuracy.
M&
I would have to say this years gun highlight well at least from Umarex is their new Smith & Wesson M&P40 full blowback CO2 BB Pistol. It is a perfect copy of the real steal version complete with a full size drop out magazine and full Beretta licensing. I really hope this one ships soon and does not get delayed like the Beretta Model 92 A1 introduced last year and still yet to be shipped :(
Speaking of the Beretta Model 92 A1 CO2 Blowback BB pistol. It is finally getting released this February and like the S&W M&P40, is a virtual identical replica of the original Beretta Mod. 92 A1 complete with full blowback, a full size drop out magazine and of course all the trades and licensing in all the right locations.
Last and not least but still worth noting is the CO2 Blowback BB shooting Walther PPK. It kind of dropped out of productions which is a real shame since it was the replica BB pistol that got all of this started for me several years back and to this day is still a lot of fun ot shoot! Even James Bond went back to the PPK for the latest 007 movie! Well it's back and this time Umarex got rid of the ugly CO2 tab and replaced it with a discreet Allen key screw. Saves us all from doing the CO2 screw mod :)
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…
I just got some really interesting new guns and shooting accessories I wanted to share with everyone in this Vimeo Video Preview!
First off, I have some metal targets designed for Airguns, you can shoot them with lead pellets and heavy gram Airsoft BB's but be sure not use standard 4.5mm steel BB's as they can ricochet and come back at you at high velocity. That is unless you are using the new Excite Low Ricochet Smart Shot BB's I also showcase in this video.
A couple other accessories I highlight are a Western Leather Gun Slinger Belt and Holster which pair up perfectly with the first BB gun I have to show you today. Most of you should be familiar with the Umarex Colt Single Action Army Revolvers I have made several reviews and videos for, they are super popular and for good reason. How about a John Wayne Duke Version available in Stainless and Antique versions? I thought you would like that!
Next up and probably the item I am most excited to introduce to everyone is the ISSC M22 4.5mm CO2 BB Pistol. I actually own the first generation ISSC M22 in 22LR, the same gun this BB pistol is based on. It seems to have everything going for it and I was happy to discover after making this video that it does in fact have blowback operation even though this is not state on the box or in the manual? The ISSC M22 really is a beautiful pistol and I am totally looking forward to reviewing it. If you're a Glock fan this is about as close as we can legally get to owning a replica Glock BB pistol since Glock has OK'd production of the real steel ISSC MK22 in its new form.
I will be working with my suppliers to make these items available in our Replica Airguns Stores as soon as we can...
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:
With the popularity of the KWC - Cybergun 1911 Blowback CO2 Pistols and how super realistic they are in so many ways, it is no surprise that people often ask me if they can replace the original grips with grips made for a real 1911.
The short answer is yes you can! You will have to be prepared to remove just a little bit of material from the backside of both grips near the bottom of the handle where there is an area that has been flared out to accommodate the CO2. Not really a big deal, you can use a Dremel for the quick and easy approach or even some sand paper if you don't mind taking a little more time.
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.
Whether you like it or not, most of us have come across an Airgun with an ugly orange tip on it at some point. In most cases you will find the intrusive orange or red tips on Airsoft guns that shoot plastic BB's, in some cases you will even find them on Airguns that shoot either lead pellets and/or steel BB's.
It really comes down to where you live as to what your local gun laws have determined is required for your area. You may even live in a region where Airguns and Airsoft guns are not allowed at all! So for you a red or orange tip on the front would be welcome if it would allow you to own an Airgun or Airsoft gun. What about the entire gun being painted a bright color, well that is the case for some folks so again having a red or orange tips may not be as bad as it originally seemed...
In Canada where I live, we used to only be allowed Airsoft guns that had clear sections as our replica gun laws are very strict and all black Airsoft guns would have fallen iinto the "replica" category if they did not have large clear plastic see-through sections on them. This clear section law was revised somewhat over the last several years to allow for all black Airsoft guns here in Canada. It was determined that many Airsoft guns with higher fps limits could cause a serious injury to a human, making them less of a toy in the eyes of the law and more of a weapon. Because of this, Airsoft guns that are capable of shooting a .20 gram plastic BB at a velocity of 360 fps or "higher" are now considered to be similar in the eyes of the law to a regular steel BB or lead pellet shooting Airgun. In Canada, Pellet and Steel BB guns are actually considered firearms of a sort so this allows the higher fps Airsoft guns to be all black since it can not be a replica of a firearm if it is in fact considered to be a firearm by law.
The long and short of all of this is that here in Canada we do not require our Airsoft guns to have orange or red tips since they are considered more or less to be just like any other Airgun and our Airguns do not have red or orange tips either.
Getting back to the title of this article "No Orange Tip On Your Airsoft Gun! Are You Insane?" I often get folks from the US giving me heck for removing the orange tips from my Airsoft guns or asking me why my Airsoft guns don't have them in the first place. These people even state that I could get in a lot of trouble for this! Perhaps they think I live in the US or that US laws govern Canada as well? I am not sure but I can say for the record that I am not breaking any laws at least here in Canada where I live.
I know in the US that wholesalers and retailers by law have to sell Airsoft guns with the affixed orange tips on them, once the end user receives that gun and depending on which state they live in, it may or may not be legal to remove the orange tip. Again, you will need to look into your local state laws as they are different from state to state in the US.
I don't often review target and or hunting rifles since for the most part Replica Airguns is all about well... replica airguns :) I have reviewed some of my own personal spring piston and pump rifles since I have them and there is a cross over in folks that like both the replica airguns and airguns meant for target and or hunting purposes.
We do have a small selection of spring piston rifles in our Replica Airguns Canada store suitable for target and small game so I thought I would point some of them out in this preview video.
Action: Semi auto non-blowback, double action only.
Ammunition Type: Steel BBs 4.5mm.
Ammunition Capacity: 21 rounds
FPS: 394 fps/ 120 m/s.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the KWC Metal Slide CQBP M45 A1 Non-Blowback CO2 BB Pistol was about medium to hard but I have definitely experienced heavier trigger pulls on some guns. It is nice that the trigger is in the style of a 1911 and not your typical lever styled trigger like you will find on some 1911 wannabe's. I imagine if the CQBP M45 A1 has a lever style trigger it would have more leverage and be a bit lighter.
Accuracy: I have not shot the KWC Metal Slide CQBP M45 A1 Non-Blowback CO2 BB Pistol but expect it to perform similar to the Cybergun Sig Sauer GSR Sigarms I reviewed a while back since both guns have similar internals so for now until I do my dedicated Field Test review you can read my Cybergun Sig Sauer GSR Sigarms Review: "Accuracy was decent but not outstanding, I got around a 2.5 inch grouping from a 20 foot away free standing position, shooting just to the left and high on the target. I did find that I was able to zone in a bit better with the Cybergun GSR as I got used to the trigger. I also put the Cybergun Sig Sauer GSR through my Chrony Chronograph and got very close the manufacturers 397 claimed feet per second, actually starting off well above it and settling down to around the 370 FPS mark. My 8 shot average on a new CO2 was actually 422 FPS."
Build Quality: You will find a pretty nice balance of metal and plastic on the KWC Metal Slide CQBP M45 A1 Non-Blowback CO2 BB Pistol. The metal slide, magazine barrel and some literals give it a really decent weight in the hand and the fit and fish feel good overall. The trigger and hammer are not the best aspects of the gun in terms of quality as they are both plastic and both kind of made more for show and less for function.
Realism: The KWC Metal Slide CQBP M45 A1 Non-Blowback CO2 BB Pistol looks and feel the part of a M45 1911 A1 including a full size drop out metal magazine, working magazine release and safety. The slide catch release is none functioning and so is the hammer which does not cock back for single action shooting. It would have been nice to have a single action trigger and a working slide to finish off this pistol but it is meant to be more of an entry level pistol at the end of the day.
Should have good FPS and lots of shots per CO2 based on my 4.5mm BB version testing!
Rail for mounting accessories.
Nice white dot sights.
Recessed barrel give it a more realistic look.
True 1911 style looking trigger even though it is double action only.
True 1911 working safety.
Cons:
No blowback - slide does not move either.
Hammer moves but does not cock so no single action shooting.
Non adjustable rear sight.
Trigger action is bit heavy and long so it’s not going to be the fastest action shooter.
Comments:
If you're looking for a lower cost well made 1911 in that classic A1 style but with a little bit of updating like having a Picatinny rail and tactical sights then the KWC Metal Slide CQBP M45 A1 Non-Blowback CO2 BB Pistolmay just be right for you. So it doesn't have blowback or a working slide, on the other hand it has lots of metal on it giving it good weight and feel and with less moving parts there will be less to go wrong down the road. You can also expect to get fps into the 400 range with a decent amount of shots per CO2 so the trade off not having blowback may be worth it for this reason. All in all a nice airgun in the under $100 category.
My Vimeo Videos for the KWC Metal Slide CQBP M45 A1 CO2 Air Pistol:
