The weather has been bad, cold, wet and dark, not conducive for Airgun testing at all but it has been a long time since I got outside to shoot any of my guns and so I braved the storm and setup all my lights and cameras and made a shooting video for you all :)

I was really curious about the Daisy CO2 Pellet/BB shooters I made a table top review of just recently, the Daisy Powerline 617X and Daisy Powerline Model 008. So I loaded some fresh CO2, a mag of 7 grain lead pellets and a mag of 4.5mm Steel BB's for each gun and conducted my Chronograph and Target tests accordingly.

I shot 5 round of pellets and 5 rounds of steel BB's throughout my Chronograph using the Powerline 617X first and then the Powerline 008 secondly. Both guns performed really close during the chrony section shooting the pellets at close to 400 fps and the steel BB's at just over 400 fps. The Daisy 008 seemed to be releasing more CO2 with each shot because it seemed louder and had more kick, but because of the shorter barrel I did not see an increase in fps over the Daisy 617X. I would image the Daisy 617X will get more shots per CO2 in the long run.

As per my usual target accuracy testing I stepped back 30 feet and emptied a magazine again of both lead pellets and 4.5mm steel BB's for each gun into some paper targets using a semi-rested position (sand bag up front and standing in the back). Again the Daisy Powerline 617X seemed to outperform the Daisy Powerline 008 just a bit getting a little bit tighter grouping with both the lead pellets and steel BB's, right around the 1 inch mark with 6 rounds per ammo type. I think the single action trigger may have helped a bit but I do have to say the double action only trigger on the Daisy Powerline 008 is really nice and smooth making shot placement very easy. This may have been the reason for the very respectable 1.5 inch 8 shot pellet grouping I got with the Daisy 008.

All in all two very nice and versatile pellet/BB shooters from Daisy, worth looking into for sure.

Buy Daisy Guns in the Canada Store 

Buy Daisy Guns in the US Store

Type: Air Pistol.

Manufacturer: Daisy

Model:Powerline Model 617X.

Materials: Plastic with some metal parts.

Weight: 1.3 pounds (590 grams).

Barrel: 4 inches - Metal rifled.

Propulsion: 12 gram CO2.

Action: Double action only.

Ammunition Type: .177 caliber lead pellets & 4.5mm Steel BB's.

Ammunition Capacity: 6 round rotary magazine.

FPS: 485 fps using steel BB's.

Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Daisy Powerline Model 617X CO2 Pellet-BB Pistol is pretty decent on both single and double action, single action of course being shorter and lighter. I even found when adding the 6 shot rotary magazine, this did not effect the trigger pull at all. I would not say the trigger pull is light, but it is not heavy either and the release or breaking point is very predictable which should make the Daisy Powerline Model 617X a pretty good shooter in theory.

Accuracy: This is yet to be determined since I have not yet done my Field Test Shooting review for this airgun. I would expect to get just over 400 fps using lead pellets and as much as verging on 500fps using steel BB's. My prediction is that the pellets will perform best in terms of accuracy since the 5 inch barrel is rifled and the trigger feels good. The sights are not adjustable, but I am hoping the Daisy Powerline Model 617X centers well on target but we will have to find out when I do my shooting review.

Build Quality: The Daisy Powerline Model 617X CO2 Pellet-BB Pistol is made in Japan which is know for producing quality products in general. I would have to say by giving the Powerline 617X a good look over that it appears to be well made with good fit and finish even though most of the gun is plastic on the outside. The metal parts are where they need to be, lots internally in structural areas and externally as in the trigger, hammer, safety, and of course the  internal metal rifled barrel.

Realism: The Daisy Powerline Model 617X CO2 Pellet-BB Pistol is a replica of a Beretta Model 92 even thought there are no Beretta markings on the gun. Some of the parts are moulded in like the take down lever, slide catch release and magazine release but on the plus side the ambidextrous safety is in the correct location, working and metal. The internal metal frame give the Daisy Model 617X enough weight to feel good in the hand but is much lighter than a real solid steel Beretta 92. Size is comparable and other than the sticking out CO2 tab this gun does look like a Beretta 92 until you get up close and personal.

Available in the:Replica Airguns Store

Pros:

• Fairly low cost with what looks to be decent fps and hopefully good accuracy. (Around $70-80)

• Shoot both .177 caliber lead pellets & 4.5mm Steel BB’s.

• Both Single and Double action trigger are smooth and not super heavy, easy to predict breaking points.

• Red fiberoptic front sight makes it easy to line up targets in different light situations.

• Latch holds barrel in place nice and firmly.

• Pretty decent replica of a Beretta Model 92.

• Made in Japan.

Cons:

• No adjustable sights.

• Kind of ugly CO2 tab on bottom of grips.

• Only has a 6 shot magazine.

• Barrel is not recessed

Comments:

I have heard that this Daisy pistol shoots steel 4.5mm BB's at right up around the 500 fps range so even lead pellets should have good velocity out of the Daisy Powerline Model 617X CO2 Pellet-BB Pistol. The single action trigger has a nice medium pull with a very predictable break so as long as the sights are centered on target well, I should expect a nice grouping. If you like the Beretta style of gun, don't want to spend an arm and a leg on a pellet shooting version, than the Daisy Powerline Model 617X CO2 Pellet-BB Pistol should work well for you.

My Vimeo Table Top  Review of the Daisy Powerline Model 617X CO2 Pellet-BB Pistol:

Buy Daisy Guns in the Canada Store

Buy Daisy Guns in the US Store

Type: Air Pistol.

Manufacturer: Daisy

Model:Powerline Model 008

Materials: Plastic with some metal parts.

Weight: 1 pound (454 grams).

Barrel: 4 inches - Metal rifled.

Propulsion: 12 gram CO2.

Action: Double action only.

Ammunition Type: .177 caliber lead pellets & 4.5mm Steel BB's.

Ammunition Capacity: 8 round rotary magazine.

FPS: 480 fps using steel BB's.

Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Daisy Powerline Model 008 CO2 Pellet-BB Pistol is pretty decent considering it is a double action only pistol. The trigger action is relatively short and fluid for a DAO trigger setup and I found when adding the rotary magazine, this did not effect the trigger pull at all. I would not say the trigger pull is light, but it is not heavy either and the release or breaking point is very predictable which should make the Daisy Powerline Model 008 a pretty good shooter in theory.

Accuracy: This is yet to be determined since I have not yet done my Field Test Shooting review. I would expect to get right around 400 fps using lead pellets and as much as 480 fps using steel BB's. My prediction is that the pellets will perform well in terms of accuracy since the barrel is rifled and the trigger feels good. The sights are not adjustable, but I am hoping the Daisy Powerline Model 008 centers well on target but we will have to find out when I do my shooting review.

Build Quality: The Daisy Powerline Model 008 CO2 Pellet-BB Pistol is made in Japan which is know for producing good quality products in general. I would have to say by giving the Powerline 008 a good look over that it appears to be well made with good fit and finish even though most of the gun is plastic. The metal parts are where they need to be, internally in structural areas and externally as in the trigger, hammer, CO2 lever, Safety, and of course the metal rifled barrel.

Realism: The Daisy Powerline Model 008 CO2 Pellet-BB Pistol as far as I can tell is not really a replica of any gun that I am aware of? It does look a bit like the Gamo P-25 I reviewed a while back in overall basic shape but is smaller. The Daisy Powerline Model 008 does look like a gun and the recessed barrel and CO2 loading system that looks like the but plate of the magazine help to make this air pistol look realistic.

Available in the: Replica Airguns Store

Pros:

• Fairly low cost with what looks to be decent fps and hopefully good accuracy. (Around $70-80).

• Shoots both .177 caliber lead pellets & 4.5mm steel BB’s.

• Double action only trigger is smooth and not super heavy while still being relatively short for a double action trigger, and with an easy to predict breaking point.

• Fairly ergonomic gun to hold but grips are a tad bit thick.

• Like the CO2 loading design, no tabs sticking out.

• Nice and compact.

• Made in Japan.

Cons:

• No adjustable sights.

• No single action trigger.

• Grips may be a bit thick for some people with smaller hands.

• No markings on the sights for easier target acquisition.

Comments:

I am looking forward to testing this gun out when I do my Field Test Shooting review. No the Daisy Powerline Model 008 is not blowback and it does not have a  lot of metal parts but overall the Daisy Powerline Model 008 CO2 Pellet-BB Pistol feels really good in the hand a really nice for a double action only trigger. I am hoping the Daisy Powerline Model 008 CO2 Pellet-BB Pistol shoot pretty hard and hopefully nice and accurate for me. I like the overall size of the Daisy Powerline Model 008, nice and compact with easy to load 8 round pellet and BB magazines which should work well no matter what ammo I choose to go with. 

My Vimeo Table Top  Review of the Daisy Powerline Model 008 CO2 Pellet-BB Pistol:

Buy Daisy Guns in the Canada Store

Buy Daisy Guns in the US Store

Here is a Press Release taken from the NFA website, I have also made a YouTube Video going over all of this in my own words and what it really means for us law abiding airgun owners in Canada so make sure to watch my video below for further explanation...

"On Wednesday, November 5, the Supreme Court of Canada issued its ruling R. v. Dunn, finding that most air guns are considered “firearms” for all purposes in the Criminal Code except for licensing and registration.

The Court affirmed the previous decision of the Ontario Court of Appeal, which itself had overruled a decade of its own jurisprudence in finding that air guns are “firearms”. Prior to this case, the courts had held that air guns are not treated as “firearms” unless they are used for some offensive or unlawful purpose.

This decision applies to all air guns that are capable of causing serious bodily injury or death. Most courts have found that any air gun with a velocity of more than 214 feet-per-second meets this threshold. The vast majority of air guns sold across the country are capable of such a velocity.

This decision will have numerous significant impacts on those who buy and use air guns lawfully in Canada.

First of all, the Criminal Code provisions regarding careless storage, use and transportation of firearms now apply to air guns. Therefore, it is an offence to store or transport an air gun in a “careless” manner. However, because the ordinary firearms Storage Regulations do not apply to air guns, air gun owners are left with absolutely no guidance as to what precisely constitutes careless storage of an air gun.

It will be left up to police, prosecutors and courts to determine what charges will be laid, which will be prosecuted and ultimately who will be found guilty of this nebulous and ambiguous offence.

Moreover, as air gun owners do not require a license or a firearms safety course to possess these items, law-abiding Canadians will not be put on notice of the new legal requirements for air gun use, storage, transportation, etc.

Secondly, the offence of “carrying a concealed weapon” now applies to air guns, regardless of whether or not the air gun owner acts in an otherwise lawful manner. Placing an air gun in a backpack, a pocket or other concealed place will now be a criminal offence.

As the Supreme Court has ruled on this issue, the only route forward is through legislative amendment. Canada’s National Firearms Association has been extremely active on this front and will continue to pressure the government and provide all assistance in order to see that this decision be responded to by Parliament."

Canada’s National Firearms Association is this country’s largest and most effective advocacy organization representing the interests of firearms owners and users.

My big concern with this new Supreme Court of Canada ruling is that it really only effects law abiding Canadians. The criminals are not going to be worrying about how they store, transport and handle an airgun and since this new "airgun rule" does not change how an airgun can be purchased, or the fact that a criminal can still be charged with a gun crime while using an airgun in a crime, nothing has really changed by this new law from a criminals perspective.

Even more disturbing is the fact that the vast majority of airgun owners are now criminals since most will not be storing their airguns in the same way a firearm needs to be stored. Most Airgun owners do not have a PAL Firearms license, so they will have no idea of this new airgun ruling or even be educated on firearms handling and regulations, making most airgun owners criminals because for the most part, they will be storing, transporting and handling airguns in an unlawful manner now according to this new airgun ruling.

Links:

• RCMP on Airguns
• Safe Storage and Handling of Firearms
• NFA Press Release

Here is my follow up Shooting Field Test to my Umarex CP88 Competition Table Top Review. During this Field Test Shooting video review I not only shoot my CP88 Competition version but I also compare it to the non Competition CP88 version to see if fps and accuracy are effected when adding the longer barrel? I shoot 5 rounds through my Chronograph with both guns to get an average fps and I also step back 30 feet and setup resting my hands on a sand bag and standing in the back for a fairly secure shooting stance. Since the Umarex Walther CP88's have an 8 shot rotary magazine I went with an 8 shot grouping for my accuracy test from 30 feet.

Overall both guns performed similarly and as expected the longer barrel CP88 Competition had the higher fps with 424 average versus 347 average, but what was surprising was how much faster the CP88 Competiton shot. Right around 80 fps more which is significant considering there is only 2 inches more of added barrel length to the Umarex CP88 Competition version. I am thinking that perhaps my CP88 Competition test model was tuned a bit better at the factory?

When it came to accuracy, both guns performed about the same getting about 1 inch group from 30 feet back. This was not a surprise since barrel length has less effect on accuracy than most people think.

Both guns are a pleasure to shoot and will not only perform great shooting close up but if you go with the higher fps Umarex Walther CP88 Competition you will be able to shoot much further out because of the rifled barrel and decent fps performance.

Buy the CP88 Competition in the Canada Store

Buy the CP88 Competition in the US Store

This video is to give you a heads up on a few guns I will be reviewing shortly. Most of them are different version of guns I have already reviewed except for the Baby Desert Eagle which so far has eluded me :)

ASG STI Duty One CO2 4.5mm Steel BB Pistol (Non Blow Back)

• 4.5mm Steel BB

• 12 gram CO2

• 20 Round Drop Out Metal Magazine

• 407 FPS

• 1.8 Pounds

Buy ASG STI Duty One in Canada

Buy ASG STI Duty One in the US

Umarex CP88 Competition CO2 .177 Caliber Pellet Pistol

• .177 Caliber Lead Pellets

• 12 gram CO2

• 8 Round Metal Magazine

• 407 FPS

• 2.56 Pounds

Buy Umarex CP88 Competition CO2 in Canada

Buy Umarex CP88 Competition CO2 in the US

Umarex Baby Desert Eagle CO2 4.5mm Steel BB Pistol

• 4.5mm Steel BB

• 12 gram CO2

• 15 Round Drop Internal Magazine

• 410 FPS

• .9 Pounds

Buy Umarex Baby Desert Eagle in Canada

Buy Umarex Baby Desert Eagle in the US
 

Umarex TAC XBG CO2 4.5mm Steel BB Pistol

• 4.5mm Steel BB

• 12 gram CO2

• 19 Round Drop Out Metal Magazine

• 410 FPS

• 1.85 Pounds

Buy Umarex Tactical Adjustable in the Canada

Buy Umarex Tactical Adjustable in the US

This Article and Video expresses my views and opinions on this matter and should not be taken as legal advice.

Main points covered:

• Uncontrolled Firearms do not require a Firearms License within Canada to own and operate.

• What is an Uncontrolled Airgun and Airsoft Gun?

• What is an Uncontrolled Blank Gun / Starter Pistols?

• What about Fully Automatic Airguns and Airsoft Guns?

• What about Replica Guns?

NOTE: Controlled Firearms require a POL (Possession Only License) , PAL (Possession Acquisition License) or R-PAL (Restricted Possession Acquisition License) within Canada to own and operate. 

MEMORANDUM D19-13-2

Firearm – a barreled weapon from which any shot, bullet, or other projectile can be discharged and that is capable of causing serious bodily injury or death to a person, and includes any frame or receiver of such a barreled weapon and anything that can be adapted for use as a firearm.

“Uncontrolled”firearms are those devices that, although falling within the definition of a firearm in the Criminal Code, are exempt from specific legal requirements of the Firearms Act and its regulations, as well as from other legislative provisions. “Uncontrolled” firearms should not be subdivided into any of the non-restricted, restricted, or prohibited classes. The following types of firearms are deemed “uncontrolled”:

Flare, blank, rivet and industrial guns: Any device that is designed exclusively for signaling, for notifying of distress, or for firing blank cartridges or for firing stud cartridges, explosive-driven rivets or other industrial projectiles, provided that the importer intends to use it only for the purpose for which it is designed.

NOTE: (Toy guns and starter pistols do not generally qualify as firearms. However, some toy or model guns and starter pistols may be designed with very realistic mechanisms or appearances (e.g., color, size, scale, translucency) and resembling a real make and model of a firearm. In such cases, they may be considered replica firearms even if they are made of plastic, die cast zinc, or other material.)

Low muzzle velocity/energy guns: Any barreled weapon that is not designed or adapted to discharge projectiles at a muzzle velocity exceeding 152.4 meters per second (500 feet per second) and at a muzzle energy exceeding 5.7 Joules, or to discharge projectiles that are designed or adapted to attain a velocity exceeding 152.4 meters per second (500 feet per second) and an energy exceeding 5.7 Joules. Both thresholds of 152.4 mps and 5.7 Joules must be exceeded for the firearm to be considered “controlled”. This requirement exempts firearms that fire below the threshold velocity with a standard projectile, but exceed the threshold velocity when fired with a high-velocity projectile. 

Airsoft guns and certain types of paintball guns or markers may qualify as a replica firearm, if the muzzle velocity of the projectile does not cause serious bodily harm and their external features are clearly designed to resemble a specific and readily identifiable make and model of a firearm. To be considered a firearm, within the meaning of the Criminal Code, an airsoft gun must have a muzzle velocity in excess of 111.6 meters per second (366 feet per second).

NOTE: This memorandum used to state when using a .20 gram BB but does not specify this BB weight anymore?

NOTE: The term air gun is a colloquial term referring to BB or pellet guns. Such guns operate either as spring- powered, gas-powered, or electrically powered. If the muzzle velocity of the air gun is less than 152.4 mps (500 fps)/5.7 joules but still able to cause serious bodily injury to a person, it may be considered an “uncontrolled” firearm. Airsoft guns and certain types of paintball guns may qualify as a replica firearm (see paragraph 49 of this memorandum).

Replica firearms:

“Replica firearm” is defined as any device that is designed or intended to exactly resemble, or to resemble with near precision, a firearm, and that itself is not a firearm, but does not include any such device that is designed or intended to exactly resemble, or to resemble with near precision, an antique firearm.

For a device to be a replica firearm it must meet all three requirements:

• (a) it cannot be a firearm, meaning it does not discharge a projectile with sufficient energy to cause serious bodily injury or death to a person. If the device is a firearm, then it cannot be a replica firearm (and vice versa);

• (b) it must resemble exactly, or with near precision, a real existing firearm of an identifiable make and model. With respect to visual examination, note that the maximum observing distance is one at which the equivalent make and model of the firearm can be identified. This distance will vary from one firearm make to the next. For example: A Luger pistol has a very distinctive silhouette as compared to other makes and is therefore more readily identified from further away. The examination of the object is something more than casual, but less than detailed. The device does not need to be so close that markings are identifiable; and

• (c) it cannot be designed or intended to exactly resemble, or to resemble with near precision, an antique firearm. 

RCMP Website "Air Guns"

1. Air guns that are "Controlled" Firearms for purposes of both the Firearms Act and the Criminal Code

These are air guns with both a high muzzle velocity (greater than 152.4 meters or 500 feet per second) and a high muzzle energy (greater than 5.7 joules or 4.2 foot-pounds). The "muzzle velocity" is the speed of a projectile at the instant it leaves the muzzle of a gun, normally expressed in meters per second or feet per second. The "muzzle energy" is the energy of a projectile at the instant it leaves the muzzle of a gun, expressed in joules or foot-pounds. Air guns need to meet both standards to be classified as "Controlled" firearms for purposes of the Firearms Act.

These high-powered air guns are subject to the same license and registration requirements as a conventional "Controlled" firearm. Owners and users are also required to store, transport, display and handle them safely in accordance with the regulations supporting the Firearms Act.

Usually, the manufacturer's specifications are used to determine what muzzle velocity and muzzle energy an air gun was designed to have. This information may be available in the user's manual or on the manufacturer's website. If the information is not available, individuals can call the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Canadian Firearms Program (CFP) at 1-800-731-4000 and ask to speak to a firearm technician to find out if the air gun is considered to be a firearm for purposes of the Firearms Act.

High-powered air rifles are generally classified as non-restricted firearms. However, the classification depends on the exact design of the air gun. Air rifles manufactured to resemble an assault rifle could be non-restricted, restricted or prohibited depending on the exact model imitated. High-powered air rifles would also be prohibited firearms if fully automatic or if they have a sawed-off barrel. They could also be restricted firearms if they have a folding stock that reduces the overall length to less than 660mm. 

Additional thought on this subject: Even though Uncontrolled Firearms are not governed by the same laws that apply to Controlled Firearms within the Firearms act and do not need to be handled or stored similar in the same way you are required to handle, transport and store a Controlled Firearm, we need to treat our Uncontrolled Airguns, Airsoft Guns and Blank guns with care and go over and above what is expected when had handle, transport and store them.

This YouTube video was made to touch upon the tragic shooting and death of a young man at the Beavercreek Walmart in the US. The tragedy was the result of poor judgment and misunderstanding of the situation that started with John Crawford (22) deciding to walk around a Walmart store with a very realistic looking replica Air Rifle. Subsequently in the midst of all the excitement as customers ran out of the store, Angela Williams (37) had a medical emergency that also cost her her life. 

Below is an outline of YouTube video that follows:

John Crawford 22 Years old was shot  by police in a Beavercreek Walmart while holding a Crosman MK-177 Pellet BB gun.

Another death as a result: Angela Williams, 37, was with her 9-year-old daughter and suffered a medical emergency and died as a result as people attempted to flee the store amongst the panic.

John Crawford is Survived by: LeeCee Johnson, 22 Mother of Crawford's children (Believe he had 2 children)

NOTES: 

• Walmart US keeps these guns on shelf in the box generally, but not locked up or behind glass.
• In Canada Most places keep even Airguns behind locked glass. 

The weapon (Crosman MK-177), which can shoot both pellets and BBs, had been removed from its original packaging, was this done by John Crawford or was it already unpackaged when he picked it up?

Ronald Ritchie made the original 911 call, I listened to two of the police 911 phone call recording and he seemed to be talking level headed and not making it out to be anything more than what he saw which was a black man walking around a Walmart with what looked like a real rifle. John Crawford was holding the rifle while he had his phone between his shoulder and ear, John was fiddling with the rifle and looked to be trying to load it. Ronald Ritchie said John was periodically pointing it at people (which may or may not have been intentional).

LeeCee Johnson, 22, who identified herself as the mother of Crawford’s children, said she was talking to Crawford on her cell phone at the time of the shooting:

“We was just talking. He (John) said he was at the video games playing videos and he went over there by the toy section where the toy guns were. And the next thing I know, he said ‘It’s not real,’ and the police start shooting and they said ‘Get on the ground,’ but he was already on the ground because they had shot him,” she said. She added she “could hear him just crying and screaming” and said officers “shot him down like he was not even human.”

First and Foremost, this event is very tragic and my condolences go out to the families and friends of John Crawford and Angela Williams.

Questions we need to ask ourselves:

• Why was John Crawford walking around the Walmart with what looked like an "assault rifle" in a very public location?
• With all the public shootings these days, why would you walk around a public Walmart with what looks like a very real and threatening rifle, similar to the kinds used in these types of shootings in the past?
• Why did the police seem so quick to shoot John down? Where they a bit eager or hyped up? It would be very interesting to see the surveillance video for this tragedy?
• Why are very realistic Airguns on open display and so easy to attain? Keep in mind even a regular break barrel Airgun looks like a real rifle to most people.

What is so damaging about all this:

• This will add "ammunition so to speak" for bureaucrats and authorities to question if Airguns should look realistic, or if they now need to have bright colored markings all over them so people will assume they are not reel? Or perhaps outlaw them completely or make them very hard to attain for the average person.
• Now the general public will have yet another reason to have a negative view on Airguns. I fear that putting more restrictions on airguns is just a stepping stone to more restrictions on real guns and more restrictions on our rights overall.

What ever happened to common sense? It has become uncommon these days…

 Based on how easy it is for a person to get their hands on very realistic looking Airguns in most US based retail stores, I am surprised this tragedy has not happened already, or more often.

Would you walk around your neighborhood with what looks like an Assault rifle? So why walk around a Walmart with one?

Unfortunately we can not protect everyone from themselves, the more failsafes we put in place, the less reasonability people have for themselves and the more responsibility it seems is placed on businesses, government, organizations, parks and events…

We even need warning labels on our coffee telling us it's hot, or to not put poison in our mouths, there are railing and barriers around any bit of water or slight ledge.

Society is programing people to think less fore themselves and trust that everything is going to be OK.

Well it's not true, there is still something called survival of the fittest no matter how many safety nest are in place.

We need to spend more time teaching our kids how to act and behave and how to think for themselves and not be so dependent on everyone else to protect them from themselves. Don't  leave it up to the TV, movies, video games or even their just as oblivious friends. 

Hey everyone, we just got a really large Umarex order in our Canada location so if you have been waiting on some product from Umarex we should have most items in stock now...

Some of the more popular Umarex items these days are:

• Umarex Steel Force 6 Round Burst CO2 BB Rifle
• Umarex Steel Storm 6 Round Burst CO2 BB Gun
• Umarex H&K MP5K-PDW CO2 BB Rifle
• Beretta PX4 Storm CO2 Blowback Pellet / BB Pistol
• Desert Eagle Black Magnum Research CO2 Blowback Pellet Pistol
• Umarex Browning Buck Mark URX .177 Break Barrel Pellet Pistol
• Beretta FS M84 Blowback CO2 BB Pistol
• Colt Python 6 Inch CO2 Steel BB Revolver
• Colt Commander 1911 Blowback CO2 BB Pistol
• Umarex Legends Luger P08 CO2 BB Pistol
• Walther PPS CO2 Blowback BB Pistol
• Umarex Legends C96 Blowback CO2 BB Pistol
• Legends Makarov Ultra Blowback CO2 BB Pistol
• Umarex HPP Blowback CO2 BB Pistol
• Umarex Walther P38 Blowback CO2 BB Pistol
• Walther CP99 Compact Black Blowback CO2 BB Pistol
• Walther PPK CO2 BB Blowback Pistol 

In this "head to head to head" pistol shootout I compare three of my more powerful, or you could say effective air pistols against each other. Shooting at some pop cans from about 30 feet away to see how destructive each one is. I don't generally recommend air pistols for pest control simply because they tend to be less accurate and powerful than rifles, especially out at the longer ranges where a magnified scope is required and notably where the pesky vermin like to hang out.

I would have to say out of the three tested in this video comparison, the Webley Alecto in .22 caliber and the Modified Drozd Full Auto BB Gun would for sure get the job done at closer ranges. The Webley Alecto simply because it can hurl a heavy grain .22 caliber lead pellet right around the 500 fps mark which will take down small pests, again at close ranges.

My second choice or even first choice depending on how active the pest are would be my modified full auto 1200 rounds per minute Drozd that hurls 4.5mm Steel BB's at over 500 fps (under 4.2 foot pounds) at a rate of 20 BB's per second! A 4.5mm Steel BB traveling at 500 fps will penetrate fur and feathers very well and with most of the 20 BB's hitting a target in a matter of 1 second, that is going to humanly put a small to even medium sized pest down for sure. And yes the Drozd becomes a pistol when yuo take the rear stock off ;)

My last choice for the job is the Xisico XSP180 in .177 caliber since like the Webley Alecto it is only a single shot, so you got to make it count and being that it has less overall energy than the Webley Alecto again I would prefer the Alecto over the XSP180.

Watch my "head to head to head" Vimeo video to see how these three pellet pistols compare:

• Make sure to watch my previous Full Table Top and Field Test Review!

A classic air pistol with its roots going as far back as the 1920's, the Webley Tempest still holds its own with todays modern sprig piston air pistols. And perhaps in one category (Back Pack Pistol) it may even outshine most of them!

Even though for the most part this website and YouTube channel are dedicated to replica style airguns, there are still many of us who plain and simple like all types of airguns and both appreciate and at times even need more of a single purpose target / hunting airgun for either pest control or taking with us while in the back country.

If you plan on spending some time in the wilderness and may even be required to fend for yourself in terms of food, you would, I am sure appreciate something like the Webley Tempest in your backpack. It will add an additional 2.1 pounds plus the weight of a tin of lead pellets but you never know, it could even save your life if you get lost or injured and need to camp out till help arrives.

The really great part about the Webley Tempest is that it is considered an uncontrolled firearm here in Canada because it just squeezes under our Canada limits in terms of fps and power so you can legally pack it around with you while out hiking, camping, backpacking or what have you. With that said I feel the Webley Tempest still has enough fps, foot pounds of energy and accuracy to wrangle up some small game at close range.

In this YouTube video I demonstrate the effectiveness of the Webley Tempest at taking down 6 "small game" sized targets at a distance of 30 feet or so shooting free hand. I also put a couple of rounds through the Chronograph using some RWS 11.9 grain lead pellets to show you that it has some decent power for such a small compact spring piston air pistol.

Buy Webley Tempest Air gun in our Store

• Make sure to checkout my Table Top Review for the Umarex PX4 Storm:

I originally reviewed my first generation Umarex PX4 Storm CO2 Blowback Pellet Pistol back in August of 2010. Mine was actually one of the first PX4's to come into Canada. Since it has been almost 4 years since I first got my hands on this pellet pistol, I though it might be worth taking a revisit of it and comparing a first generation version to a current generation version of the Umarex PX4.

Cosmetically they are really close, I found it hard to tell them apart visually, My first generation had perhaps a slightly lighter colored slide? Other than that they look identical. When I loaded them both up with pellets I did notice that my 4 year old PX4 magazine was tighter in terms of loading the pellets, So in other words, the new Umarex PX4 magazine has slightly larger diameter holes. I don't think this really made much of a difference while shooting, it's just a bit easier to load the newer magazines.

In terms of shooting performance, both Umarex PX4 Storms performed very similarly, getting almost the exact feet per second rating on my Chronograph. (First generation had 363 average fps versus current version with 357 average fps). By the way I was using 7 grain flat head RWS pellets for both my Chronograph and target testing.

Both pistols also shot really nice groupings, form side to side there was about a 1.5 inch spread but vertically the groupings seemed to get more into around the 3 inch spread range. This could be perhaps because of shooting heavy grain pellets and the variation in fps which will make a heavy grain pellet drop a bit. My first generation PX4 did seem to shoot a bit higher on target then my current generation PX4 which seemed to like to shoot right in the bulls eye area.

Both pistols have a really nice snappy and hard hitting blowback action especially using a new CO2, they are also a bit on the louder side so be aware of this when shooting in residential areas. You can expect to get around 4 decent magazines or 64 shots per CO2 but there will be some power drop near the end of the CO2.

Overall the Umarex PX4 Storm CO2 Blowback Pellet Pistol is a great looking replica of the real steel PX4 and also performs very well in terms of power, accuracy and shots per CO2 for such a hard hitting blowback pellet pistol. It is is also one of our best priced Pellet Pistols in my books for value versus cost spent.

Watch my Vimeo Video Umarex Beretta PX4 Storm Blowback Pellet Pistol First Generation Versus New Head to Head Showdown:

Buy PX4 Storm in Canada   -   Buy PX4 Storm in the US

Some updates to share with you, first off we have the KWC Luger P-08's back in stock. And that would be for the 6mm Airsoft and 4.5mm Steel BB versions. get them while you can, our last batch ran out fast!

I also show off the Umarex TDP 45 Tac which is the tactical version of the TDP 45 and comes with the additions of a threaded barrel that houses a removable mock silencer, a sight rail for adding a red dot scope and a removable laser. All of this for around $60 so great value for sure!

I also wanted to revisit the Umarex PX4 Storm Blowback Pellet Pistol since I reviewed this gun way back and my personal Umarex PX4 Storm was one of the first to enter Canada and as I saw with the Umarex CP99 Compact, Umarex made some slight tweaks to it and improved the overall performance. So perhaps a side by side comparisons in order, first generation versus present generation.

I also mention the ASG Bersa Thunder Pro 9 because I actually forgot I had reviewed it and was going to review it again. Guess I am either getting old and losing losing my mind or I have made way too many videos and can not keep track anymore, perhaps a bit of both, anyways ignore that part of the video, you can already watch my Table Top Review and Filed Test Review for the ASG Bersa Thunder Pro 9.

This topic of Blowback Airguns Versus Non-blowback Airguns comes up often so I thought I would address it a second time around since I get a lot of new visitors and subscribers daily who may not have watched my first video explanation on this topic. You can also checkout my first video on this subject since there may be some stuff I missed out in this video second video ;)

There are really two types of people asking or commenting on Blowback Airguns Versus Non-blowback Airguns. The first type of person who genuinely wants to know which is best and for what reasons. Then there is the other kind of person who makes a narrow minded statement that one type is clearly better than the other type, based on their own preferences and interests but not considering that there are other people out there with different opinions and preferences than them. You know who you are and we all know you are not going to change cause that would require an open mind...

Here is a list of the Pros and Cons I go over for each style of Airgun:

Pros:

• Blowback guns simulate recoil.

• Blowback guns can have better and more true triggers compared to their real steel counterparts.

• Blowback guns can be better suited for action shooting.

• Blowback guns are better as prop guns.

• Blowback guns are generally more realistic in terms of mechanics.

• Non-blowback guns generally use less CO2 per shot.

• Non-blowback guns generally have higher fps.

• Non-blowback guns can be more accurate.

• Non-blowback guns can be more reliable.

• Non-blowback guns can be less expensive.

Cons:

• Blowback guns generally get less shots per CO2.

• Blowback guns generally have lower fps.

• Blowback guns can be less accurate.

• Blowback guns can be less reliable.

• Blowback guns can be more costly. 

• Non-blowback guns do not simulate recoil.

• Non-blowback guns do not have true single action only triggers.

• Non-blowback guns generally have heavier triggers that slow down shooting performance.

• Non-blowback guns are generally not as good for prop use and or training.

• Non-blowback guns generally are not as realistic compared to their real steel counterparts. 

Watch my Vimeo video where I go into detail on Blowback Airguns Versus Non-blowback Airguns again ;)

In this Vimeo video, I go over a common question I get pertaining to the recoil effect of Airguns and Blank Guns. Many people want to know if Airguns and Blank Guns have similar recoil effects to a Real Guns and if so, how much recoil will you feel from an Airgun or Blank Gun?

The short answer is yes, there is some recoil with both Airguns and Blank Guns since whenever there is a force in one direction there will be a somewhat similar force in the opposite direction creating what we feel as recoil. With Airguns since the force from the CO2 or compressed air is rather small in comparison to that of the gun powder blast from a Real Guns or even a Blank Gun, the recoil is very slight. Blank Guns have similar gun powder charges to a Real Gun and so the recoil is more noticeable but unlike a Real Gun, a Blank Gun does not really push against a sizable object like a bullet, a Blank Gun only pushes against the air in front of the barrel which has very limited resistance and so there will be much less felt recoil from a Blank Gun than the recoil from a Real Gun pushing on a heavy grain bullet.

With semi auto Guns like Blowback Pellet and BB Guns and semi auto Blank Guns, there is also the momentum and mass of the slide to consider as it moves backwards and forwards which also gives the effect of recoil and in the case of an Airgun accounts for most of the recoil felt by the shooter.

Watch my Vimeo video on this subject where I go into much more detail and explain the effect of recoil when shooting Airguns and Blank Guns:

• Make sure to also checkout my Field Test Shooting Review for the ASG CZ P-09 Duty

Type: Pellet & BB air pistol.

Manufacturer: ASG.

Model: CZ P-09 DUTY.

Materials: Metal slide and polymer frame.

Weight: 1.6 pounds (726 grams).

Barrel: Metal rifled.

Propulsion: CO2 x 1.

Action: Semi auto blowback, single action double action hybrid.

Ammunition Type: .177 caliber pellets and 4.5mm steel BB's.

Ammunition Capacity: 16 round magazine.

FPS: Up to 492 using 5.1 grain ammo.

Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the ASG CZ P-09 DUTY is similarly to the Umarex PX4 Storm and Gamo Blowback Pellet Pistols. All three Pellet shooting pistols use double sided stick based rotary magazines that hold 8 rounds in each end. They also all shoot with a single action hammer (set to the cocked position by the blowback action) while the first stage of the trigger rotates the rotary magazine and indexes a round. So I would consider them to be single/double action hybrids. The trigger pull in general is not overly heavy but it is long and there are noticeable sticky points when the magazine is rotating and the hammer is being released.

Accuracy: During my Field Shooting Test I decided to allocate 8 rounds for each test station since the magazine holds 8 rounds on each end. During my Chrony test the ASG CZ P-09 Duty started out in the high 300's and then dropped to the low 300's with an average 8 shot velocity of 334 fps. From the 30 foot mark shooting on a paper target using a semi rested position (Sand bag up front and standing in the back), I was impressed to see 7 of my 8 shots to all hit within 1 inch of each other while the oddball got away a bit and extended the grouping out to about 2 inches. The ASG CZ P-09 Duty CO2 Blowback Pellet-BB Pistol did shoot a hair low and to the left a bit but not too extreme.

Build Quality: Overall I found the ASG CZ P-09 Duty to have a good solid build quality to it, everything functioned as it should with the exception of the front sight vibrating lose and almost popping out. I would recommend checking the front sight on your CZ P-09 and making sure to super glue it in place if you find it to be loose or you could lose it while shooting the pistol and once it falls off I doubt you would find it again? The only other questionable design is the way the CO2 cover fits on this pistol. It kind of clips in place but seemed like it could loosen up over time.

Realism: The ASG CZ P-09 Duty CO2 Blowback Pellet - BB Pistol is a close replica to the real steel CZ P-09 Duty, the only real giveaway is the ejection port that is not cut out but rather moulded into the slide. I would have liked to have seen an open ejection port like the Umarex PX4. The CZ licensing and recessed barrel do help to make this a very believable Pellet shooting replica.

Purchased From: The Replica Airguns Store.

Pros:

• Shot a nice tight group for me, about 1 inches with 8 shots.

• Like the white dot sights, easy to sight in on most backgrounds.

• Can use both Pellets and BB's if you choose to.

• Fully CZ Licensed.

• Lots of metal where it needs to be: Slide, barrel, trigger, hammer, safety and slide catch/release.

• Nice heavy blowback action.

Cons:

• Slide catch release is non-functioning, don't know when you are out of ammo?

• Sights are non-adjustable and almost lost the front sight while shooting it.

• Not sure I like the CO2 cover, seems a bit flimsy

• Ejection port is not cut out. 

Comments:

It's nice to see another Pellet shooting blowback replica air pistol and one that has really great accuracy as well. There are a few shortcoming on the ASG CZ P-09 Duty like the moulded ejection port and the kind of lose fitting CO2 cover but overall the ASG CZ P-09 Duty is a blowback pellet pistol worth looking into. In terms of looking the part of a CZ P-09 Duty, the ASG pellet version does this very well with it's full CZ licensing and attention to detail throughout. 

My Vimeo Video Review for this versatile ASG Pellet and BB action blowback shooter:

Buy the CZ P-09 Duty in Canada

Buy the CZ P-09 Duty in the US

• Make sure to also checkout my Table Top Review for the ASG CZ P-09 Duty

I finally got the opportunity to shoot the ASG CZ P-09 Duty CO2 Blowback Pellet/BB Pistol that I saw back in January of this Year while I was attending the SHOT Show in Vegas. Essentially the ASG CZ P-09 Duty is built similarly to the Umarex PX4 Storm and Gamo Blowback Pellet Pistols. They all use double sided stick based rotary magazines that hold 8 rounds in each end. They also all shoot with a single action hammer (set to the cocked position by the blowback action) while the first stage of the trigger rotates the rotary magazine and indexes a round. So I would consider them to be single/double action hybrids.

Anyways, on with this field test shooting review... As per my normal field test shooting reviews, I shoot some rounds through my Chronograph to get an average fps rating and I also step back 30 feet from a paper target and use a semi rested position to place a series of rounds downrange. I decided to allocate 8 rounds for each test station since the magazine holds 8 rounds on each end. During my Chrony test the ASG CZ P-09 Duty started out in the high 300's and then dropped to the low 300's with an average 8 shot velocity of 334 fps.

From the 30 foot mark I was impressed to see 7 of my 8 shots to all hit within 1 inch of each other while the oddball got away a bit and extended the grouping out to about 2 inches. The ASG CZ P-09 Duty CO2 Blowback Pellet-BB Pistol did shoot a hair low and to the left a bit but not too extreme.

All in all the blowback is fairly heavy, at least enough to shake the front sight around so much that it almost fell off the gun so be careful of this and perhaps super glue yours in before you lose it somewhere.

The trigger on the CZ P-09 Duty is pretty much the same as all the other blowback rotary mag pellet airguns on the market, kind of long but not too heavy yet still very usable.

Buy the CZ P-09 Duty in Canada - Buy the CZ P-09 Duty in the US

Two new CO2 Blowback Airguns to preview for you today that I will of course be doing full Table Top and Field Test Shooting reviews down the road for each of them.

First up, the Umarex Colt Commander CO2 Blowback BB Pistol:

• Uses 4.5mm steel BB's.

• Uses 12-gram CO2 cartridges.

• Blowback semi auto action.

• 18-rd drop-free full size BB magazine.

• Single-action-only.

• Fixed front and rear white dot sights.

• Skeleton trigger and hammer.

• Textured grips.

• 325 fps.

• 2.1 pounds.

• Smooth bore barrel.

• Functioning grip safety.

• Slide stays open when last BB is shot.

• All metal.

• Fully Colt licensed.

Next we have the ASG CZ P-09 Duty CO2 Blowback Pellet/BB Pistol:

• Uses .177 caliber pellets or 4.5mm steel BB's.

• Uses 12-gram CO2 cartridges.

• Blowback semi auto action.

• 16-rd drop-free double sided magazine.

• Single and double action.

• Fixed front and rear white dot sights.

• 380 fps.

• 1.6 pounds.

• Rifled barrel.

• Threaded muzzle.

• Metal and plastic.

• Fully CZ licensed.

Buy the Colt Commander in Canada - Buy the Colt Commander in the US

Buy the CZ P-09 Duty in Canada - Buy the CZ P-09 Duty in the US

This may be a bit controversial for some people who don't like the thought of using an gun for hunting or extermination of unwanted pests. But weather or not it is accepted by all, it is a practice that many people still embrace including myself when done in a humane way.

Let's start off by addressing this topic by asking some questions and filling in some of the answers. Keep in mind I go into much more detail in my Vimeo video below.

What is the reason that you need to Shoot or Hunt an Animal?

Are you shooting an animal out of need or just for fun, sure there is a thrill in the sport of hunting but after taking down your prey, the animal should not be killed in vain as the meat should be eaten. There are also times when pesky critters get into your gardens, tree farms, feeding stations garbages and who knows what else? I personally think shooting an animal that has not done you any harm or that you don't plan on eating is not ethical. So question your motives wisely?

Can you use an Airgun for Hunting and or Pest Control?

The short answer is yes! As long as you choose the correct Airgun for the job, one that has enough power and accuracy to get the job done in a humane manner. Using an underpowered or inaccurate gun of any type for the chosen target will lead to the animal being wounded and possibly getting away to suffer unnecessarily.

What about Pistols versus Rifles?

Given the choice, a rifle will always be your best bet, rifles tend to be more accurate since they are more stable to hold and the fact that the sights are further apart which improves the guns accuracy. Most rifles also allow for enhanced sighting systems like red dots or magnified scopes for even further accuracy improvements. There are some pistols made specifically for hunting and target shooting that can be accurate but I would limit their use to shorter ranges.

What about Pellet guns versus BB guns?

BB guns in general are not meant for hunting or pest control, and in most cases they are underpowered and not as accurate as their pellet shooting counterparts, especially out at longer ranges where most pests keep their distances to. If you plan on doing some hunting and or pest control, please invest in an adequate pellet rifle to get the job done humanly.

What type of Ammo is best for Hunting and Pest Control?

There are lots of types of pellets available, pointed, rounded, flat, hollow-point and even pellets that have nylon tips. At the end of the day, use the pellet that is the most accurate in your Airgun because shot placement will win over pellet shape any day of the week. The reality is that as long as that pellet hits the target with adequate velocity, it doesn't matter what shape it is, it's more than likely going to pass right through the animal.

What is the lowest FPS that I can use?

I would rather ask the question, what is the highest fps I can get away with since more fps will give you more margin for error, since it will have a flatter trajectory and will do more damage even if your shot is off a bit. An experienced shooter could make a kill shot on a small pest even with a 400 fps airgun but the shot would have to be perfect and the range would have to be close. Of course when shooting larger game, you will need larger caliber pellets with higher velocities. Also when using a high velocity airgun you need to consider what is beyond your target, if you miss, where is that pellet or bullet going to end up? You need to make sure you do not injure anyone by mistake as pellets/bullets can travel a long distance.

How large of an Animal can an Airguns Kill?

This is really dependent on the Airgun being used, Airguns come in many different calibers, from .177 right up to .50 caliber, some PCP Airguns can even take down a deer! You need to do your research and make sure the Airgun you choose has both the power and accuracy you need for the intend prey.

Where can I use an Airgun for Hunting and or Pest Control?

This is a question you need to ask your local authorities as laws and hunting regulations are different just about everywhere. Even shooting pests on your property may require a permit so be careful to obey your local laws.

Two of our most popular single shot target/hunting pellet shooters are back in stock again after what has been a rather long delay. The truth of the matter is we just didn't have a supplier for them anymore here in Canada until now. Webley as a company has been through some pretty big changes over the past several years and now hopefully it has all been worked out and supply will be steady.

Don't worry about the quality, that is still top notch! We now have the Turkish made Webley Alecto and Webley Tempest (both available in .177 and .22 caliber pellets) back in stock and I am happy to say the Alecto has even been improved with an upgraded Air Reservoir and even higher fps than before which means the Webley Alecto and the Webley Tempest now shoot right up to our maximum fps here in Canada before becoming restricted firearms so no need for an R-PAL which means happy shooting in places other than a gun range!

I would even rcomend both these Webley pistols for small pest control especially in the .22 caliber versions as they have the power and accuracy to get the job done.

Buy Webley Airguns in our Canada Store - Buy Webley Airguns in our US Store