As usual with my Field Test Shooting Reviews I test out both Umarex pistols using my Chronograph and put five rounds through it with each CO2 BB Pistol to get a real world average fps. Umarex claims around 410 and I got pretty close with both pistols using a brand new Umarex CO2 cartridge in each gun. The temperature was not overly warm as we are now into fall here in Canada BC but so there may be room for a bit higher fps out of each Umarex CO2 BB pistol.
I decided to shoot both 4.5mm Pistols at the 20 foot target potion of this review since I had not done any pre tests. While shooting from a semi rested position at 20 feet back I was able to get pretty much a 2 inch 10 shot group with each gun, the XBG seemed to group a bit tighter for me than the TDP 45 and both BB Pistols shot pretty well centered on target. The trigger pull is very typical for this style of double action only trigger, kind of long with a slight sticky click in the middle while the BB chambers and then some more trigger pull with a fairly predictable release right near the back.
Both Umarex BB Pistols should get right around 6-7 consistent magazines worth of shots before having to change the CO2, that is 120+ shots! And even on the last magazine the fps seemed to stay nice and high.
Both Umarex CO2 BB pistols performed pretty well considering the super low cost and make great inexpensive plinkers that will get you decent power, more than adequate accuracy and lots of shots out of a single CO2.
My Vimeo Field Test Video Review for these Umarex CO2 BB Pistols:
I thought I would try some Sport Smoke Tactical Airsoft - Paintball Smoke Grenades (TSG) and show you how they work out in an open area and also when in an enclosed area (indoors). These Tactical Smoke Grenades put out a lot of smoke but will require either a non windy day or an area where the smoke can accumulate to give you good coverage. Either way they do a greta job of causing a distraction that will allow you to get into a better position.
Here is some info on the Sport Tactical Smoke Grenades for Airsoft and Paintball:
The Sport Smoke Tactical Smoke Grenade (TSG) is designed to meet the extreme needs of today's paintball and Airsoft enthusiasts. These high quality smoke grenades are very affordable, producing a thick white plume of smoke to cover your movement and provide a major strategic advantage.
I originally made this Field Test Review Video a few months ago but had to pull it down because it featured two WE Products. The WE AK74-UN and the WE G18C which unfortunately looks a bit like a Glock. If you are not familiar with the video I made on the Glock Trademark Infringement Cease Order I received then you should probably watch that video, it will fill in some of the gaps on why I had to cut out the WE G18C portions from this video and repost it with only the parts that showcase the WE AK74-UN.
Anyways you can still read my Original Field Test Review post minus the video and photos of the WE G18C.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Umarex Steel Force CO2 BB Machine gun is single action only, so you will need to charge the rifle by pulling back the charging handle first, one this is done the trigger is reset and ready the gun is ready to shoot. The blowback operation charges the internal bolt automatically afterwards so keep this in mind, to release the bolt you will need to take out the CO2 magazine and press the trigger. The trigger is fairly light but has some initial take up and then a bit of creep before it releases the bolt.
Accuracy: I shot the Umarex Steel Force at a target from 30 feet away in a semi rested position using both the semi auto and 6 round burst modes, the Steel Force performed very good getting around a 1.5 inch 10 shot grouping in semi auto and then spreading out a bit in 6 round burst mode which was to be expected, still a respectable grouping. Shots where well centered on the target but I did have the advantage of using a red dot scope, I found when using the none adjustable open sights that come with the Umarex Steel Force that I was shooting under the target at closer ranges. My Chrony testing did not go exactly as planned due to my temperamental Chronograph but I was able to get two shots to read and they average out at 466 fps, well over the 430 claimed fps.
Build Quality: The Umarex Steel Force CO2 BB Rifle is mostly plastic on the outside with most of it's metal parts on the inside, you will find a metal flash hider, metal trigger and metal trigger guard but other than that everything else externally is plastic. The plastic seems durable enough but it has just a bit too much shine for me which I think makes it look less like metal and more like plastic. Everything seemed to function as expected but again I would have liked to have seen a bit more metal, not necessarily the outer shell, but I feel the selector switch, sights, magazine release, charging handle and front and back sights could have been made out of metal and would have given this Umarex rifle a bit more weight and balance.
Realism: The Umarex Steel Force CO2 BB Rifle is designed on the AR platform and for the most part is about the right size shape and look of an AR pr M16 rifle. Even the selector switch, magazine release, rear adjustable stock and Charging handle function just like a real AR! Some parts are model in just for looks like the bolt release, dust cover and forward assist but at least they fully look the part. The plastic for me was the real tell here as it kind of looks like plastic where as some plastic guns are really hard to tell they are not metal, but other than that this is a pretty decent replica of an AR Rifle.
Good accuracy in both semi and 6 round burst mode.
Got lots of shots per dual CO2 (Full Hopper).
Love the adjustable AR stock which was missing and needed on the Steel Storm.
Not a bad replica of an AR platform gun.
Full auto has a very high rate of fire.
Internal blowback does give a bit of recoil feedback feel.
Lots of rials for adding on accessories.
Price point is good for a fun dull auto BB rifle.
Cons:
Sights are non adjustable.
Plastic finish could have been a bit higher grade, like what most Airsoft AR's use.
Just a bit more metal would have been nice and added to the overall weight a bit: Selector, Magazine Release, Sights, Charging handle.
Comments:
The Umarex Steel Force CO2 BB Machine Gun is for sure an improvement over the Steel Storm, first of all it is a true replica of a real rifle in production (The AR/M16 platform), it also has a rear stock that is adjustable which makes shooting this gun on target so much more easier. Overall I feel it shoots better than the Steel Storm with improved accuracy and performance. With that said the Steel Storm is still a great BB machine gun if your looking for more of a pistol SMG design. For the low cost of the Steel Force you really can not go wrong, this BB machine gun will put a smile on your face every time you take it out to shoot it.
My Vimeo Table Top and Field Test Videos for the Umarex Steel Force BB Machine Gun:
As usual with my Field Test Shooting Reviews I test out the Umarex Legends P08 Luger using my Chronograph and put five rounds through it to get a real world average fps. Umarex claims around 410 but I got a bit higher results of 435 using a brand new Umarex CO2 cartridge. The temperature was warm but not hot so there may be room for even up to 450 fps on this CO2 BB pistol Replica.
I decided to step back to the 30 foot mark for my target potion of this review since in my pre-test I was at 20 feet and I got a 1.5 inch grouping. While shooting from a semi rested position at 30 feet back I was able to place pretty much a 2 inch 10 shot group which is very good considering the rather heavy 10 pound trigger on the Umarex Legends P08 Luger BB Pistol. You will want to use a double handed grip with this gun to get good accuracy so you can relax with your trigger hand and grip tight with your supporting hand.
You can expect to get right around 6 really good and consistent magazines worth of shots before having to change the CO2, that is over 120 shots! And even on the last magazine the fps seemed to stay nice and high.
Some people have criticized the heavy trigger on this pistol but I see it as an opportunity to work on your double action shooting since some real world guns have trigger pulls up into the 10 pound range, so you never know what to expect when shooting a new gun. If you can lay down constant shots with the Umarex Legends P08 Luger CO2 BB Pistol then you should have no problems shooting other heavy triggered guns.
Action: Semi auto non-blowback, double action only.
Ammunition Type: 4.5mm BB's.
Ammunition Capacity: 21 round metal stick magazine.
FPS: 410.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Umarex P08 CO2 BB Replica is rather heavy but since it is a double action only trigger, I did not expect it to be light. There is a fair amount of take up with the entire pull being about 9-10 pounds with the release point happening right at the very back almost touching the trigger well. The release is not very predictable when trying to shoot slow but this does teach a firm yet relaxed grip to get consistent shots. This type of trigger I would consider to be a great double action training aid as it teaches proper grip and trigger control while building stregth.
Accuracy: I shot the Umarex P08 BB Pistol at a target from 20 feet away in a semi rested position, and it performed very good getting a solid 1.5 inch 10 shot grouping that was very well centered on the target. The P08 almost got a 1 inch group with the acceptation of two flyers. The sights are non-adjustable so adjusting the Umarex P08 BB gun is not possible unless using a modified aim point! My initial Chrony testing puts this classic BB replica at right around 430 fps which was higher than the claimed 410, and keep in mind my test day was not a super hot day so there is more room for higher fps with this air pistol. I managed to get six 21 round magazines worth of shots which is a very respectable 120+ shots per single CO2.
Build Quality: The Umarex P08 CO2 non-blowback BB Pistol is almost all metal with the exception of the grips which is always nice to see! I found the fit and finish to be very good with a black-grey-ish satin paint job , I did notice the paint was wearing off kind of quickly on the high points which I don't mind with this airgun since it will give it a more aged look that I feel is more fitting for this classic World War replica.
Realism: The Umarex Legends Luger P08 CO2 BB Airgun is very close to the real steel P08 (Luger) and even has the P.08 markings on it. If you where to put a real P08 side by side they would look like mirror images so in terms of looks this replica gun has it. If you're looking for working parts there are not a lot other than the trigger, magazine release, and safety. But then again there is less to go wrong!
Pretty much all metal and has a nice heavy weight to it.
Accuracy to the original is very good, lots of detail.
Magazine release and safety work like the real version.
Nice wide open recessed barrel adds to the believability.
Good concealment of CO2 cartridge and tab.
Got well over the claimed 410 fps, more around 430 fps.
Got 120 plus shots out of 1 CO2 Cartridge.
Very good accuracy (1.5 inches) and well centered on target.
Glad to see another World War BB replica pistol!
Cons:
No blowback and not a lot of moving parts.
Finish seems to wear off pretty quick on the high points but this may enhance the look for some?
Pretty heavy double action trigger, around 9-10 pounds.
Comments:
There are not too many older Classic Airguns out there from the World War era so it was great to see this one added to the Umarex lineup, now all we need is a Single Action Army Revolver ;) I am glad that Umarex made sure to make this gun look authentic, maybe even perhaps over functionality since there are not a lot of working parts. With that said, everything that does work, works well and you can expect to get lots of accurate and powerful shots from a single CO2. The fps consistency is really good on this one. Being that there are not many World War replica airguns on the market this is a must have for any collector of such guns.
My Vimeo Video Review for this great Umarex Replica P08 CO2 BB Pistol:
I did want to take the Blackwater BW1911 R2 back a bit further than usual and shoot it from 30 feet out to see what kind of results I would get and got pretty close to a two inch group that was well centered but just a bit under the bulls eye. This is not going to be the hottest gun in terms of fps as my Chronograph confirmed for us coming in at just a bit over 300 fps. I can see this BB pistol hitting the claimed 320 fps and even faster on a hotter test day.
The beauty of the KWC/Cybergun 1911 serious is the true single action trigger and full blowback operation, these airguns look, operate and shoot just like a true model 1911 45 auto but of course with a bit less kick ;)
I did have one hiccup during my testing when the heavy blowback in combination with my high thumb position, knocked the safety into the safe position, other than that this CO2 Blowback BB Pistol performed very well for me and like the other KWC/Cybergun 1911's was a total joy to shoot.
Watch my full Video Field Test Shooting Vimeo Video below:
Action: Semi-Automatic, Non-Blowback, Single & Double Action
Ammunition Type: 4.5mm Steel BBs
Ammunition Capacity: 17 Rounds
FPS: Up to 407
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the ASG CZ 75D Compact is fairly light in single action as all the cocking has already been done, when shooting in double action mode, the pull is still fairly light but has a point right before the break where it stiffens up for a moment, not too noticeable when shooting quickly but you may find it more noticeable when shooting slow in double action.
Accuracy: I did do my pre-shooting test and fired off some shots through the ASG CZ 75D Compact airgun at a target from 20 feet away in a semi rested position, it performed well getting a 1 inch group with a few stragglers stretching it out to just under 2 inches fairly well centered on the target. The sights are adjustable for windage in the back so this could be corrected if the gun out of the box is not shooting exactly down the center. My Chrony testing with a five shots resulted in fps ranging from 380 right to almost 400.
Build Quality: ASG as usually only distributes high quality guns, the fit and finish is as nice on the ASG CZ 75D Compact as any other other ASG product, The slide wiggle is virtually nonexistent, one of the best I have seen thus far. I would have liked to have seen a metal slide on this one but even so the gun has decent weight and balance to it coming in at 4 pounds in a compact pistol. There is metal where it really matters like in the trigger, hammer, safety, magazine release and of course many internal parts.
Realism:The ASG CZ 75D Compact is very accurate replica of the real steel version, with full licensed CZ trademarks and even the 9x19 caliber markings in the slide ejection port area. The magazine is full metal and full size and does not have any tell tale CO2 tab sticking out or elongated area hiding it. Again the metal slide would have finished it off.
Well made, fit and finish is very good (slide has zero wobble).
Good combination of power, accuracy and shots per CO2.
Adjustable rear white dot sight.
Full size drop out Metal magazine adds weight to it.
Single and double action hammer trigger.
Recessed barrel.
Accessory rail for add ons.
Cons:
No Blowback action but does have a working slide.
Plastic slide, would have better balance and feel with a metal slide.
Slide catch does not work, moulded in.
CO2 is a bit hard to install - be careful!
Comments:
I am a bit of a blowback guy so I generally don't look as much forward to reviews of guns without blowback, It was however nice that the ASG CZ 75D Compact does have a moveable slide and it has the least amount of wobble out of any gun I have reviewed to date. I was impressed withe the overall performance of this air pistol, nothing stands out but overall it is a nice complete package getting lots of shots per CO2, good fps, good accuracy, a single and double action trigger, adjustable sights, a rail for add ons, a full size drop out metal magazine and it's a rally good overall replica with full CZ licensing throughout. Not bad for a fairly low cost 45.mm CO2 BB pistol!
All references, photos and video claiming that any item in this review/video looks like a Glock or is a Replica of a Glock in any way shape or form have been removed from this post as requested by Glock "Renzulli Law Firm"
I almost forgot to do my field test review for my WE AK-74UN & WE G18C Tactical GBB Airsoft Pistol and Rifle! I decided to do them both together on this one but I still did my usual full testing for both guns which consisted of my Chronograph, Target and Can destruction along with some high speed slow motion of the blowback action of both guns in full auto mode.
Photo of WE G18C Removed by Request from Glock "Renzulli Law Firm"
Your best bet is to watch my Youtube video and see how both of these WE Airsoft guns perform. Overall they are both rally nice and super realistic, the WE G18C Tactical is definitely the full auto monster here while the AK-74UN is the bull in the China store with its crazy heavy blowback action, it has so much recoil that when shooting in full auto it kind of runs our of steam near the end, not so with the WE G18C as it did not slow down even with the 50 round magazine loaded up!
The WE AK-74UN even with it's crazy recoil holds on target very well in semi and full auto and of course has the superior fps performance. I found when shooting the G18C in full auto, I needed to hold my aim-point low as the blowback and super fast cycle rate wanted to pull the gun up and over my target, same would be true with a real gun so no surprise here.
Photo of WE G18C Removed by Request from Glock "Renzulli Law Firm"
I filmed this video Field Test Shooting Review of my Cybergun VFC Smith & Wesson M&P 9C GBB Airsoft Pistol alongside my Cybergun Tanfoglio Gold Custom which I already posted, both guns performed very well for me. I am supper impressed with the realism of the Cybergun VFC Smith & Wesson M&P 9C and was hopping that the testing would prove this Airsoft pistol to be equally as good of a shooter as it is a looker and I was not let down. It's not going to win any awards for super high fps or tight accuracy but it did a nice job overall and most importantly it worked without any problems whatsoever.
I shot this Cybergun blowback Airsoft pistol using .20 gram Airsoft BB's through my Chrony Chronograph and got just under 300 fps which is not bad for such a compact short barreled GBB Airsoft pistol. I also shot 5 rounds first in semi auto at the target from 20 feet out using a semi rested position (resting on a sand bag up front and kneeling in the back) and the S&W M&P 9C shot a respectable 2 inch grouping. When I switched over to full auto and blasted the last 10 rounds it was pretty much a spray and pray but who cares it was fun and if anyone was standing in front of that they where gonna get hit for sure.
I really like the Cybergun VFC Smith & Wesson M&P 9C GBB Airsoft Pistol , not just because it really looks the part, it also feels solid and well built, everything about it seems to be very high quality and the shooting performance is no letdown either. This may even be one of my favorite Airsoft pistols! Look forward to my upcoming Table Top Review for this very fine Cybergun Airsoft Pistol...
As per usual I shot this blowback BB pistol through my Chronograph and actually got a much higher than the 300 claimed 5 shot average fps of 341. I kind of had a feeling right out of the box this gun had more in it! I also shot 10 rounds at the target from 20 feet out using a semi rested position (resting on a sand bag up front and kneeling in the back). Again the Cybergun Tanfoglio Gold Custom Blowback BB Pistol performed very well shooting a tight 1 inch grouping. When I free handed it and rattled off the remaining 7-8 rounds left in the magazine the grouping only widened to about 2 inches, this may be in part to the heavy weight and good balance and stability of the Cybergun Tanfoglio Gold Custom.
Since this 4.5mm Steel BB pistol does not come with any iron sights, you will need to purchase a red dot, I was fortunate enough to find a very nice silver matchup at my local surplus store that worked out well with this airgun. The magazine does claim to hold 18 rounds but 17 is a bit better fit, I was able to get off three magazine s before the CO2 fizzled out. One of the nicest traits this guns has to offer is the very smooth, short and light single action trigger which in part I am sure helped me get that 1 inch 10 round grouping. Another factor that may help the accuracy of the Tanfoglio Gold Custom is the fact that even though the blowback is decent, the 3 pounds of steel holding this airgun in place keep movement to a minimum.
All in all this is a really great IPSC styled BB shooter with a unique and ultra modern look, kind of like a CZ 75 on steroids you could say. It shot very nicely for me and even performed better than claimed and better than expected. Although I did have an idea this CO2 Blowback BB Pistol was going to impress!
FPS: 750 with Pellets and 800 with BB's for the US version (Up to 495 with Canada version).
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Crosman MK-177 is medium length and fairly light. The trigger mainly releases the bolt so no pre-cocking of the trigger is required. The trigger is plastic but seems to work just fine as there is no real load on the trigger when shooting, you do need to get used to where the release point since there is some take up well before the trigger releases.
Accuracy: I found the Crosman MK-177 Air Rifle to be a very good shooter, getting about a 1 inch 10 shot grouping from 30 feet out in a semi rested position (sand bag up front, standing in the back). I also put 3 rounds through my somewhat failing Chrony Chronograph using 3,5 & 10 pumps and the MK-177 with the maximum 10 pump shot as high as 631 fps using 6.9 grain RWS lead pellets. I would expect the Canadian detuned version to shoot well below the 500 fps Canada limit much like my Canadian Crosman M4-177 I reviewed a while back.
Build Quality: The Crosman MK-177 Multi-pump Air Rifle is mostly molded plastic, but for a $100-ish Military Styled Replica Air Rifle it hits the mark in terms of affordability and if it was an all metal airgun you would more than likely expect to double or tripple this price point! Even though plastic is used throughout this Air Rifle, there are some internal metal parts where they need to be, the fit and finish seems to be good and I do not get the feeling the Crosman MK-177 is cheaply made in any way. The fact that most parts are molded means there is very little that can snap or break off and will make this air rifle even more durable longterm.
Realism: The Crosman MK-177 is a lose replica or copy of an FN SCAR Assault Rifle or ACR. It is not exact in terms of true dimensions to accommodate the pumping mechanism, You will not find very many working parts as just about everything is molded into the plastic on this Crosman MK-177 rifle. Unlike the Crosman M4-177 the lower magazine area is not removable and the rear stock is also none adjustable, I am not sure why Crosman didn't add these features to the MK-177 like they did to the M4-177? I am glad to see another Replica Assault rifle on the market as so few of them are available in Pellet or steel BB shooters.
None red dot version comes with detachable and adjustable iron sights.
Rails on top and sides for accessories.
Option of shooting pellets or BB's, I would stick to pellets and save the barrel since it is not semi auto.
Feels super solid since there are very few moving parts that could break.
Looks like the Crosman M4-177 Pellet magazines are compatible.
Cons:
Mostly plastic and just about everything is molded into the gun.
Bolt and magazine are on opposite sides?
Would of been cool if Crosman made a dedicated BB magazine?
Comments:
The Crosman MK-177 Multi-Pump Pellet/BB Air Rifle is very much like it's brother the Crosman M4-177 with a few plusses and a few minuses when comparing the two of them together. On the plus side the MK-177 has a bit more power and also the pumping is much easier while yielding higher internal pressures. On the downside the Crosman MK-177 is almost entirely molded plastic with no removable lower magazine or adjustable stock, and the bolt has been switched around to what I feel is the wrong side since now you need to index the magazine on one side and work the bolt on the other requiring a less efficient approach. Either way it is nice to have another replica air rifle on the marker and for the relatively low price you get a nice accurate pellet rifle, great for target shooting and even small pest control.
Watch my Vimeo Full Video Review of the Crosman MK-177 Pellet/BB Air Rifle:
I wanted to cover some basic Airgun, Airsoft Gun, Blank Gun and Paintball Gun information on what do they all shoot, what makes them shoot and some other miscellaneous info thrown in along the way...
Your should also watch the video attached at the bottom of this post as it goes into a fair amount of detail.
Let's begin with the types of ammo used:
Airgun Ammo
Airgun ammo for the most part is broken down into BBs and Pellets, the most standard size BB and Pellet is the 4.5mm or .177 caliber Steel BB and Lead Pellet. You can also get Pellets in other calibers and even other materials other than lead such as steel or aluminum, some can have plastic skirting around a metal interior.
Pellets also come in a variety of caliber's like .177, .20. 22. 25 and even larger but then I would start considering them to be bullets as they will take on the shape of a bullet when they get into the larger sizes.
Airgun Ammo is not be fired at people, it is primarily used for target and hunting small game.
Airguns can use Spring Pistons, CO2, Compressed Air and Multi-pump propulsion systems.
Airsoft Gun Ammo
Airsoft Guns for the most part shoot round 6mm (.22 caliber) plastic BBs which come in a variety of weights ranging from .12 grams up to .48 grams. There are larger Airsoft BBs such as 8mm and even larger.
There are biodegradable and even tracer florescent Airsoft BBs available.
Airsoft Ammo is traditionally used for Airsoft battles and can be fired at people using protective gear. Airsoft Ammo can also be used for target shooting.
Airsoft Guns can use Spring Pistons, Spring Piston - AEG (Electric Motor) CO2, Gas (Green, Red, Propane) and Compressed Air propulsion systems.
Paintball Gun Ammo
Paintball Guns or "Markers" have been historically used for the sport of Paintball but their whereabouts came from the need of ranchers and forestry workers to mark trees. Hence the name "Marker"
Paintball ammo comes in a variety of sizes ranging with the most common being .43 and .68 caliber. They are generally made from a gelatin outer coating containing primarily polyethylene glycol, other non-toxic and water-soluble substances, and dye, they are usually biodegradable.
Paintball Guns can also shoot a variety of Paintball Ammo that can be made out of Rubber, Plastic, Glass and they can also contain Powders and even Pepper for use in non lethal defense.
Paintball Guns can generally use either CO2 or Compressed Air as their propellant.
Blank Gun Ammo
Blank Guns are just like Real Guns but without the dangerous bullet at the end of the brass shell. Other than that they work exactly the same as a Real Gun!
Blank Guns are used when a bullet is not required or even wanted. For instance... Gun safety, gun training, training animals to be around guns and/or loud noises, Props for Movies - Stage - Film - TV, Collectors that do not want the red tape associated with owning a Real Gun or when owning a Real Gun is prohibited.
Blank Guns can shoot a variety of sized ammo, most common are .22 caliber crimped, .380 crimped, 8mm P.A.K. and 9mm P.A.K.
Blank Guns use gun powder as their means of operation.
Here are the most common forms of propulsion used in the guns we discussed earlier:
CO2
CO2 is the most common propellant in Airguns (BB and Pellet), it is also used in Airsoft Guns and Paintball Guns.
CO2 is a compressed gas which expands when released, it requires a warm environment to fully expand and tends to cool it's surroundings quickly when shot fast or in full automatic which can slow the velocity of the projectile and even freeze up the gun being used.
The most common reusable CO2 cartridges are 12 and 88 gram but you can get larger CO2 tanks in a variety of sizes that can be refilled with CO2.
Gas
Gas is used primarily in Airsoft Guns, I have not personally seen an Airgun that is made to use Gas other than CO2.
Gas is similar to CO2 in that it is a compressed gas that expands when releases, it also cools down the gun it is being used in and requires a warm environment.
Gas comes in a variety of names, Green Gas, Red Gas and Propane Gas. Green Gas contains Propane as it's base but has additives in it like silicone for lubrication .
Red Gas is know to be a bit more powerful than Green Gas as it has Chlorodifluoromethane or HCFC-22, R22 or Freon 22 used in refrigeration which turns to a liquid under a slightly higher pressure giving you slightly higher fps.
Many people use propane gas with an adapter that allows the mixture of silicone as propane is cheaper to buy.
Compressed Air (HPA)
Compressed Air (HPA - High Pressure Air) is most commonly used in Airguns and Paintball Guns but some people use it for their Gas based Airsoft guns.
The compressed air comes from high PSI tanks that can be purchased in a variety of sizes and contains compressed air at pressures up to 5000psi.
These tanks are reusable and usually need to be refilled at a paintball or scuba shop, some people buy their own compressors or large scuba tanks for refilling purposes.
Some Compressed Air (HPA) guns have their own built in tanks that can be filled with a compressor or even a manual pump.
Compressed air does not cool down the gun it is being used in and is a great option for high output or fully automatic guns.
Multi-Pump Pneumatic
Multi-Pump Pneumatic systems are most commonly used in Pellet and/or BB guns.
Multi-Pump Pneumatic guns use the same principle as HPA - High Pressure Air guns in that they require pressurized air as the propellant. The main difference with Multi-Pump Pneumatic guns, is that you do all the work by pumping the gun between shots. Generally speaking you pump the gun 3-10 times, take a shot and repeat this process.
Multi-Pump Pneumatic guns are not effected by air temperature and are great for target and small pest control.
Spring Piston
Spring pistons are generally found in Pellet Rifles and Pistols but some Airsoft Guns also use a Spring Piston System and generally speaking Spring Piston Guns are single shot only or in other words, the Spring needs to be drawn back before each shot. Spring Piston Guns can have magazines that allow for quicker repeat shots.
Spring Piston Guns come in many cocking configurations, Brake Barrel and Side lever to name a couple.
The Spring can be a Mechanical Spring or a Gas Spring.
Spring Piston Guns are not effected by temperature and are often used for small game hunting and target shooting.
Automatic Electric Guns (AEG)
Automatic Electric Guns are generally found in Airsoft Rifles but there are some Airsoft Pistols (AEP) that use this same system.
Automatic Electric Guns use a similar system to a Spring Piston gun but have an electric motor that does all the work of drawing back the spring. You can even have fully automatic AEG guns.
The power for the electric motor comes from removable batteries, so it is a combination a battery supplying the motor with the power to draw back the spring that creates a pillow of air that shoots the BB.
AEG Airsoft Guns are great for situations when you require high capacity magazines with full auto capability.
Gun Powder
Gun powder is used in Blank Guns, in the same manor that it is used in a Real Gun, the charge from the Gun Powder supplies the force required to operate the blowback in most semi auto Blank Pistols, it also creates the sound of a live round along with the muzzle flash which makes Blank Guns great for training and as Props for Movies and Film.
Because the kinetic energy from a blank gun is the same as a real gun, blank guns can be very dangerous when used in close proximity to an object, see my "Are Blank Guns Dangerous Video"!
Some other Gun Relevant Terminology:
Blowback
Blowback operation is when some of the force of the propellant is used to move the slide backwards, which in most cases cocks the hammer for single action and can also pickup and chamber a round into the barrel.
The slide spring supplies the energy for the return to the forward position of the slide.
Blowback Guns do rob some power from the bullet force and in the case of CO2 or Gas Guns the also reduce the amount of shots per CO2 or Gas fill.
Revolver, Semi Automatic
Revolver: Revolvers feed ammunition via the rotation of a cartridge-filled cylinder, in which each cartridge is contained in its own ignition chamber, and is sequentially brought into alignment with the weapon's barrel by a mechanism linked to the weapon's trigger (double-action) or its hammer (single-action)
Semi Automatic: semi-automatic pistols use the energy of one shot to reload the chamber for the next. Typically recoil energy from a fired round is mechanically harnessed. After a round is fired, the pistol will cycle, ejecting the spent casing and chambering a new round from the magazine, allowing another shot to take place immediately.
Single Shot, Repeater, Semi Automatic & Fully Automatic
Single Shot: A Single Shot Gun needs to be reloaded each time it is shot.
Repeater: Repeating action Guns are single barreled guns containing multiple rounds of ammunition. These rounds are loaded from a magazine by means of a manual or automatic mechanism, and the action that reloads the rifle also typically re-cocks the firing action. The term repeating rifle is most often applied to weapons in which the next cartridge is loaded by a manual action, as opposed to semi-automatic rifles, in which the force of one shot is used to load the next.
Semi Automatic: A semi-automatic, or self-loading, firearm is a weapon that performs all steps necessary to prepare the weapon to fire again after firing.
Fully Automatic: A Gun that uses either its recoil or a portion of the gas propelling the projectile to remove the spent cartridge (in the case of a gun-shell), fire again repeatedly, as long as the trigger is held down or until the magazine is exhausted. Automatic Guns are distinguished from semi-automatic Guns in their ability to fire more than one shot in succession once the trigger is pulled.
Single-Action (SA): trigger performs the single action of releasing the hammer or striker to discharge the firearm each time the trigger is pulled.
Double-Action (DA): The trigger both cocks and releases the hammer or striker
SA-DA: A SA/DA firearm combines the features of both mechanisms. You can pull the trigger in Double Action when the hammer is down which cocks and releases the trigger or you can cock the hammer with your thumb and then release the trigger using Single Action to fire the weapon.
Lever Action, Pump Action, Bolt Action
Lever Action: In a classic lever-action firearm, rounds are individually loaded into a tubular magazine parallel to and below the barrel. A short bolt is held in place with an over center toggle action. Once closed, the over center action prevents opening solely by the force on the bolt when the weapon is fired. This toggle action is operated by a hand grip that forms part of the trigger guard. When operated, a spring in the tubular magazine pushes a fresh round into position. Returning the operating lever to the home position chambers the round and closes the breach.
Pump Action: With a pump-action firearm, the action is operated by a movable fore-end that goes backwards and forwards to eject, extract, and chamber a round of ammunition. Pump-actions are usually associated with shotguns.
Bolt Action: The bolt opens and closes the breech end of the barrel and contains the firing pin. The bolt is held in place with a lever that fits into a notch. Moving this lever out of the notch will release the restraint on the bolt, allowing it to be drawn back. An extractor removes the spent cartridge, which is then ejected through the lever slot. A spring at the bottom of the magazine pushes up the reserve rounds, positioning the topmost between the bolt and the chamber at the base of the barrel. Pushing the bolt lever forward chambers this round and pushing the lever into the notch locks the bolt and enables the trigger mechanism.
Magazine vs Clip
Magazine: A magazine is an ammunition storage and feeding device within or attached to a repeating firearm. Magazines can be removable (detachable) or integral to the firearm. The magazine functions by moving the cartridges stored in the magazine into a position where they may be loaded into the chamber by the action of the firearm. The detachable magazine is often referred to as a clip, although this is technically inaccurate.
Clip: A clip is a device that is used to store multiple rounds of ammunition together as a unit, ready for insertion into the magazine or cylinder of a firearm. This speeds up the process of loading and reloading the firearm as several rounds can be loaded at once, rather than one round being loaded at a time. The term "clip" is also frequently used to refer to a detachable magazine, though such usage is incorrect.
I wanted to show off a few new items that I will be reviewing, one being the Crosman MK-177 Pellet and BB pneumatic multi-pump air rifle that was very graciously provided to me by Crosman for review. And the other item is something kind of new in terms of the type of gun, since it is not really gun but rather a bow, or crossbow to be exact. We hope to be adding to our Replica Airguns Store a couple variations of the Avalanche Trailblazer 150lb Crossbows in wood stock and polymer stock versions.
Here are a couple key points about each item being looked at in this update video and then I will leave you with some detailed photos to drool over and of course my YouTube Update Video to watch...
Crosman MK-177 multi-pump bolt action .177 caliber BB/pellet air rifle:
Shoots both .177 caliber pellets and 4.5mm Steel BB's
Maximum 800 FPS (US Version being reviewed here)
5 shot pellet magazine and 300+ BB reservoir
Multi-pump single shot bolt action
3-10 pumps per shot
16.75 inch rifled barrel
3.5 pounds
Mostly plastic with some internal metal parts
Avalanche Trailblazer 150lb Crossbow with Wood Stock:
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the WE AK74UN GBB Airsoft Rifle is very light (maybe even under 1 pound) since the blowback action has already pre-cocking the action making this rifle single action only. The take-up is very short, about one eighth of an inch or even less! The magazine has two switches, the one on the top allows you to dry fire while the one on the backside resets the trigger block. You will need to push the side switch down after reloading your magazine to allow the trigger/hammer to function again.
Accuracy: Out of the box the WE AK74UN Airsoft Rifle shot on the high side for me, about 8 inches at 30 feet, you can adjust the front sight post to some degree for elevation but I was not able to find any way of adjusting the windage? I did my pretest shooting from the 30 foot mark and I found the WE AK74UN Gas Blowback Airsoft Rifle AK74 Replica shot a very respectable 5 shot 1.5 inch group in semi auto which opened up of course when I shot the rest of the rounds in full auto. The full auto group stayed pretty tight considering all the recoil that was going on. I would say this gun should be able to shoot fairly accurately at distances even greater than 50 feet and even in full auto.
Build Quality: The WE AK74UN Airsoft Rifle is very well made with a lot of actual stamped steel parts, the only metal (zinc alloy) would be the trigger group, bolt, and part of the front sight, the pistol grip and front stock are made out of a matt finished hard plastic. Fit and finish is near perfect and I had no problems with the functionality of this Airsoft replica in any way. There are third party steel replacement parts for the trigger group and bolt if you want to swap these out at some point.
Realism: Everything about this gun is realistic! Operation, field stripping, tones of steel and metal parts, the long travel bolt, the slower cycle rate, and the heavy recoil all make the WE AK74UN GBB Airsoft Rifle as near perfect a working replica that you can find. Sure WE modernized this AK74 variant a bit with the addition of some enhancements but they do work well and make this Airsoft rifle very usable.
Long travel bolt with heavy blowback, lower cycle rate like a real AK!
Lots of steel and metal in this gun, very hefty and solid.
Awesome blowback kick really hits you in the shoulder.
Semi auto & full auto selectable.
Field strips just like the real AK.
Nice high 400+ FPS and good 1.5 inch 5 shot group from 30 feet away.
Decent use of Gas.
Modified improved selector/safety switch can be used with trigger finger and also can be used to lock the bolt back for easy hop-up adjustments.
Magwell guide helps with insertion of the magazine.
Cons:
Long travel bolt kicks so hard that it can wear the softer Zinc Alloy internal parts quickly like the bolt and trigger grouping.
Sights are not really very adjustable, at least for windage.
Comments:
I really love my WE AK74UN Gas Blowback Airsoft Rifle, it is truly one of the most realistic replica guns I own, not just in looks but in how it functions and shoots. The heavy use of stamped steel, lots of metal throughout, full travel bolt with heavy blowback and realistic AK cycle rate make this one of the most fun guns to shoot that I own. If you're looking for a Gas Blowback AK styled Airsoft rifle this one is one of the best out there!
My Vimeo Table Top Video REVIEW of the WE AK74UN Gas Blowback Airsoft Rifle:
Photo of WE G18C Removed by Request from Glock "Renzulli Law Firm"
All references, photos and video claiming that any item in this review/video looks like a Glock or is a Replica of a Glock in any way shape or form have been removed from this post as requested by Glock"Renzulli Law Firm"
Type: Airsoft GBB Pistol. Manufacturer:WE. Model:G18C. Materials: Metal & plastic. Weight: 1.7 pounds (776 Grams). Barrel: 4.5 inches, smooth bore. Propulsion: (GBB) Gas Blowback. Action: Semi & full auto. Ammunition Type: Airsoft 6mm Plastic BB's. Ammunition Capacity: 25 rounds. FPS: Up-to 380 with longer barrel attached. Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the WE G18C is very nice and light since the blowback action does most of the work pre-cocking the action. There is a built in and working trigger safety like you would find on a real steel NAME REMOVED with about a quarter inch of take-up leading to a very light and crisp release.
Photo of WE G18C Removed by Request from Glock "Renzulli Law Firm"
Accuracy: Out of the Box the WE G18C shot great rather well for me when I did my pretest from the 20 foot mark, I found the WE G18C was dialed in pretty decent and shot very close to the bulls eye, maybe a hair to the left which is good since the sights are non adjustable. I shot a very respectable 5 shot 1.5 inch group in semi auto which opened up a great deal when I shot the remaining 15 rounds but at least they all seemed to stay pretty much on the paper which is not bad considering how much this gun jumps around in full auto.
Photo of WE G18C Removed by Request from Glock "Renzulli Law Firm"
Build Quality: The WE G18C Airsoft seems to be well made, and you will find lots of metal parts where they need to be, again similar as what you would find in a real NAME REMOVED. Fit and finish is nice but I did have an issue with the gas tube when I first got mine, it broke rendering the gun inoperable, a quick swap out with a new gas tube and all is well and so far after a number of magazine worth of shots the WE G18C is still working well and the new gas tube is holding up.
Photo of WE G18C Removed by Request from Glock "Renzulli Law Firm"
Realism: WE has taken some liberty with the markings on their WE G 18C copy, they are similar to what you would find on a real NAME REMOVED but not actually the same, as longs as you don't look too closely you will most likely be fooled into believing it's a licensed NAME REMOVED! As for how the WE G18C is built and how it operates, you will find it's a dead ringer to a real steel NAME RMOVED and even breaks down exactly the same. Reviewed by:Replica Airguns.
Photo of WE G18C Removed by Request from Glock "Renzulli Law Firm"
Pros:
It's a NAME REMOVED Replica!
Lots of metal in this gun similar to a real NAME REMOVED.
Kind of licensed similar to a NAME REMOVED.
Semi auto & full auto selectable :)
Very solid blowback kick.
Field strips just like a NAME REMOVED.
Very good accuracy and power even with the shorter barrel installed
Comes with two barrels, one for use with the suppressor to increase fps for Canadian import.
Photo of WE G18C Removed by Request from Glock "Renzulli Law Firm"
Cons:
No real sight adjustments.
Had a problem with the Gas Tube cracking almost right out of the box.
Photo of WE G18C Removed by Request from Glock "Renzulli Law Firm"
Comments: I have heard many people say they love WE products and then there are some that claim they are not all that well made! Other than my issue with the cracked gas tube, my WE G18C is holding up well and is working nicely, I think some earlier WE products lacked some refinement which may have led to problems but from what I have heard as of late, WE has stepped things up and is making a better product these days. My WE AK74UN is a testament to this as it is built like a tank and has tons of real stamped steel all throughout. Getting back to the WE G18C Airsoft GBB, it's really fun to shoot with it's amazing blowback and for a GBB pistol it shoots pretty hard and finds the target with easy.
Photo of WE G18C Removed by Request from Glock "Renzulli Law Firm"
My YouTube Video of the WE G18C Gas Blowback Airsoft Pistol:
I have already done a pretest for the Umarex Walther P99 CO2 Blowback Airsoft Pistol while making my Table Top Review and it shot right around the 333 fps mark, but it was a colder day then. I also shot my Umarex Walther P99 DAO from a much closer 20 foot distance for the pretest and got a respectable 2 inch grouping.
On the actual Field Test Shooting day it was much warmer (tank top weather ;) and so as would be expected, this time my Umarex Walther Airsoft P99 shot a bit quicker at right around a 356 fps average, shooting 10 rounds through my Chronograph. I would expect to get even more fps on an even hotter day as it was only about 22 degrees Celsius or about 72 Fahrenheit on this test day.
Accuracy from 30 feet out was pretty close to my pretest 20 foot testing if you exclude the two flyers but again the Umarex Airsoft P99 version was shooting a bit to the left which unfortunately can not be adjusted other than changing my sight position on the target. I would think the trend to the left will only increase as we shoot further out but this gun is really best suited for close quarters shooting anyways and should have no problems right up to 50 feet shooting a man sized target..
You can expect to get around 100 shots or a good 6 full 15 shot magazines from Umarex Walther P99 CO2 Blowback Airsoft Pistol which should get you nicely through a CQB match without having to change CO2 cartridges. For being a rather low cost Airsoft gun, it did perform well enough for me on this day, keep in mind it does have a firm long pull double action only trigger so really fast shooting will take it's toll on your trigger finger ;)
Watch my Field Test Shooting Video for the Umarex Walther P99 CO2 Blowback Airsoft Pistol:
I've had the opportunity to review and shoot my Dan Wesson 4.5mm Steel BB Version so I kind of knew what to expect with the Airsoft version, much of the same but with perhaps a little bit less accurate further out shooting since the plastic BB's will tend to drift a bit more.
I already did my pretest for the ASG Dan Wesson 6 Inch Silver CO2 Airsoft Revolver while making my Table Top Review and shot right around the 400 fps mark, but it was a colder day then, I also shot my ASG Dan Wesson Airsoft Revolver from a closer up 20 feet for the pretest and got a nice tight 1.5 inch shot group.
On the actual Field Test Shooting day it was much warmer (tank top weather ;) and so as would be expected, this time my ASG Dan Wesson 6 Inch Silver CO2 Airsoft Revolver shot a bit faster at closer to a 420 fps average with 6 shots put through it. There is even room for some more fps still as it was only about 22 degrees Celsius or about 72 Fahrenheit on the test day.
Accuracy from 30 feet out was not as tight as my pretest 20 foot testing and I would imagine this will spread out even more the further back we go with the Airsoft ASG Dan Wesson, as is the case with Airsoft BB's. Airsoft BB's are just not as accurate as steel BB's especially when shooting at longer ranges. I would expect this Airsoft Dan Wesson version should still be very effective on a "man sized target" up to about 60 feet or so. Keep in mind there is no hop-up in this revolver so teh Airsoft BB's will drop much more than a gun that has hop-up.
Like the 4.5mm BB shooting version you can expect a good 100 or more shots from this Airsoft BB Shooting Dan Wesson CO2 Revolver. Having tradition revolver single and double action makes for both precise and action styled shooting. All in all a really nice Airsoft pistol from ASG.
Watch my Field Test Shooting Video for the ASG Dan Wesson 6 Inch Silver CO2 Airsoft Revolver:
Action: Semi auto, double action only with blowback.
Ammunition Type: 6mm plastic Airsoft BB's.
Ammunition Capacity: 15 round stick magazine.
FPS: 380.
Trigger Pull: The Double Action Only trigger pull on the Umarex Walther P99 CO2 Blowback Airsoft Pistol is long but not overly heavy for a double action trigger, it does have a break point mid way where it locks partway back, I presume this is the point in which a BB is loaded from the magazine into the barrel? The rest of the pull is still medium but much shorter with a distinct release point.
Accuracy: I did do a quick preliminary test before I made this table top review to get an idea of where this gun performs in terms of FPS and accuracy, I shot 5 rounds through my Chronograph on a fresh CO2 and got an average of 333FPS which was a bit lower than the claimed 380 but it was not the hottest of days. I also stepped back 20 feet and from a semi rested position I was able to get 9 shots within 2 inches of each other which was not bad for a DAO gun that I have never shot before. I did shoot a bit down and to the left with the set sights.
Build Quality: The Umarex Walther P99 is well built for its rather low price tag, it may not have all the bells and whistles but it does get the job done with good fit and finish and materials used. You will find a plastic/polymer frame but there is a lot of metal where it would normally be found on the real steel version like in the slide, magazine, trigger, slide catch, magazine release, inner barrel and many other internal parts. No real complaints here!
Realism: The Umarex Walther P99 CO2 Blowback Airsoft Pistol is pretty close in looks to a real steel Walther P99 with the exception of a missing decocker, but I'm pretty sure this is the same with the real steel DAO version? There is also the funny looking safety on the right side of the frame found on many Umarex airguns. I have to mention the red tip but again this can be removed and even when removed the barrel it is still recessed which adds to the realism. The Blowback action, Walther licensing and nice heavy weight all add up to make this Airsoft pistol look and feel the part.
Metal slide and internal parts gives it decent weight.
Rail for accessories.
Well hidden CO2 screw.
Walther licensing.
Recessed inner barrel.
White dot sights, easy to use.
Right amount of power for indoor CQB style airsoft games.
Cons:
Comes with a red tip even in Canada.
Double action only, so trigger is a bit heavier.
Kind of funny safety, not like the real gun.
Blowback was a bit sluggish.
Comments:
Overall the Umarex Walther P99 CO2 Blowback Airsoft Pistol is a very good buy, it's a decent replica of the real steel Walther P99 with blowback operation, lots of metal parts, good fit and finish, decent performance and full Walther licensing and trademarks. All at a very affordable price tag. It may lack some of the extras you will find on more expensive and more functional Airsoft pistols but the simplicity of the Umarex Walther P99 CO2 Blowback Airsoft Pistol means it will most likely be a bit more reliable with less to go wrong down the road. If you have been looking for a nice Walther styled replica in an Airsoft version this may be just be the ticket!
My Vimeo Video Review for the Umarex Walther P99 CO2 Blowback Airsoft Pistol:
Trigger Pull: The ASG Dan Wesson Airsoft Revolver has a predictable trigger with the single action being a bit lighter and more consistent, not just in feel but also in fps. Double action shooting is very usable without a lot of extra pressure required and makes for fun consecutive shooting albeit you will run our of ammo pretty quick compared to many high capacity semi auto styled airguns.
Accuracy: I shot the Dan Wesson Airsoft Revolver at a target from 20 feet away in a semi rested position, and it performed excellent, getting a 1.5 inch 6 shot grouping dead center in the bullseye! The sights are fully adjustable for elevation and windage so getting these guns centered on the bullseye if you where out a bit would be very easy. My Chrony testing for the Dan Wesson Airsoft Revolver with a six shots averaged result was 399 fps.
Build Quality: This detailed revolver is extremely well built! All the Dan Wesson Revolvers are almost all metal with just a few components made out of plastic, like the handle and CO2 screw tab. The handle feels like a cross between plastic and rubber but is basically plastic with a coated paint on it that can wear off with long term use so try and go easy on the grips. The finish on the six inch silver Dan Wesson is amazing and looks just like polished stainless steel. Very nice indeed!
Realism: The ASG Dan Wesson BB revolvers are as close as you can get to a real six shooter, ASG didn't leave out any details and has really brought us an extremely believable CO2 revolver that mimics the real steel in almost every way! Loading and ejecting actual brass shells into the cylinder makes you feel like this gun is much more then an unassuming airgun!
It's a revolver with actual brass shells giving you the feeling of a real 6 shooter!
Almost all metal design.
lots of detail in this gun, very well made, fit and finish is excellent.
Good power and good accuracy.
Fully adjustable sights.
Can mount a scope of some sort on it with the rail attached.
Right amount of power, even for some indoor CQB style airsoft games
Cons:
Plastic CO2 screw tab (but is well hidden and protected).
Grips can wear a bit with extended use.
Red tip on the US version :(
Comments:
I wasn't really a revolver person until I got my Dan Wesson's! They are really fun to shoot and yes you only get to fire off 6 shots at a time but the reloading is kind of fun and adds to the realism of shooting a revolver styled gun. The other benefit to taking breaks every 6 shots to reload is the time it allows your CO2 and gun to warm up which increases the overall FPS and shots per CO2. I am not sure if a large six shot revolver is the way to go when in a high intensity Airsoft game but I can tell you when you're on the other end of the barrel of one of these you are probably not thinking how many shots does he have left :)
My Vimeo Video Table Top Review for this amazingly real Airsoft Revolver:
