In this Filed Test Shooting Video recorded in the Replica Airguns Indoor Sea Can Shooting Range, I test out the Crosman SNR357 CO2 Dual Ammo Revolver to find out what the real world velocity is in fps shooting both 4.5mm steel BB’s and .177 caliber lead Pellets. I also shoot a full cylinder or 6 rounds of each ammo type into a paper target setup 30 feet down range again using both BB’s and Pellets to see which ammo type may be more accurate out of the Crosman SNR357 CO2 Dual Ammo Revolver? If you are more interested in details and specifications along with some closer up video of the Crosman SNR357 Revolver then make sure to watch my Table Top Video for it.
Let’s get right to the velocity test of the Crosman SNR357 CO2 Dual Ammo Revolver. Crosman claims up to 400 fps but I am not sure if this is for BB’s or Pellets or maybe even light weight alloy Pellets. In any case I used standard 4.5mm 5.1 grain steel BB’s and around 7 grain lead Pellets for this test. Shooting 3 rounds of 4.5mm steel BB’s through my Chronograph I averaged 332 fps with the three shots recording 327, 344, 325 fps. Switching to lead Pellets I averaged 263 fps with the three recorded shots of 263, 276, 251. The 4.5mm steel BB’s as you can see shot faster than the lead Pellets but this was most likely due to the heavier 7 gram weight of the lead pellets.
Typically Pellets are going to be more accurate than BB’s but in the case of the Crosman SNR357 CO2 Dual Ammo Revolver I actually found the BB’s to be a bit more accurate for me? Again starting with 4.5mm steel BB’s I loaded up 6 sheets with steel 4.5mm BB’s and using single action I shot the entire cylinder into a fresh paper target setup 30 feet away. I did use my standard shooting stance of sitting in the back on a stool and placing my hands on a sand bag up front for some stability. I did notice the Crosman SNR357 CO2 Dual Ammo Revolver liked to shoot a slight bit high and to the left with BB’s but I did get really close to a 1 inch grouping with just one shot coming outside that tighter group. Switching to .177 caliber Pellets shot placement did come down bit an where more centered but the grouping got a bit larger to closer to around 3.5 inches, son in the case of the Crosman SNR357 CO2 Dual Ammo Revolver BB’s did perform better in both velocity and accuracy.
The Crosman SNR357 CO2 Dual Ammo Revolver design has been around for a while basically starting out as the Dan Wesson version back in the day. Crosman has now incorporated the same Revolver into their lineup but with their own branding on it. This basic design has worked well and proven to be reliable and is still current with todays more modern Shell Loading Revolvers. It’s also nice that you have the option of shooting both 4.5mm Steel BB’s and .177 Caliber Pellets as the Crosman SNR357 CO2 Dual Ammo Revolver does come with a set of each shells for a total of 12 shells.
In this Filed Test Shooting Video recorded in the Replica Airguns Indoor Sea Can Shooting Range, I test out the GAMO P-27 NBB CO2 Dual Ammo Pistol to find out what the actual velocity is in fps shooting both 4.5mm steel BB’s and .177 caliber lead Pellets. I also put a full side of each magazine into a paper target setup 30 feet down range again using both BB’s and Pellets to see which ammo type may be more accurate out of the GAMO P-27 NBB CO2 Dual Ammo Pistol? If you are more interested in details and specifications along with some closer up video of the GAMO P-27 then make sure to watch my Table Top Video for it.
Let’s get right to the velocity test of the GAMO P-27 NBB CO2 Dual Ammo Shooting 4.5mm Pistol. Gamo does claim up to 430 fps, I am not sure if this is for BB’s or Pellets or maybe even light weight alloy Pellets. In any case I used standard 4.5mm 5.1 grain steel BB’s and around 7 grain lead Pellets for this test. Shooting 3 rounds of 4.5mm steel BB’s through my Chronograph I averaged 342 fps with the three shots recording 349, 342, 334 fps. Switching to lead Pellets I averaged 288 fps with the three recorded shots of 290, 291, 282. The 4.5mm steel BB’s as you can see shot faster than the lead Pellets but this was most likely due to the heavier weight of the lead pellets.
I was interested to find out if the .177 caliber Pellets where going to be more accurate in the GAMO P-27 NBB CO2 Dual Ammo Pistol as pellets traditionally are more accurate than BB’s but in the case of the GAMO P-27 the barrel is not rifled so there may be less of a benefit shooting pellets for accuracy purposes? The best way to find out is to try it out so that’s exactly what I did. Again starting with 4.5mm steel BB’s I place one side of the 16 round magazine, so 8 rounds into a fresh pepper target setup 30 feet away. I did use my standard shooting stance of sitting in the back on a stool and placing my hands on a sand bag up front for some stability. I did notice the GAMO P-27 NBB CO2 Dual Ammo Pistol liked to shoot a bit high and to the left but I did get around a 3.5 inch grouping and if I removed two shots that where on the outside of the grouping I would have had closer to a 2 inch grouping. Switching to the .177 caliber Pellet side of the magazine I then was able to get my 8 rounds a bit tighter hitting around a 1.5 inch grouping with most of the shots all within 1 inch of each other. Pellets at least for me where the better choice in terms of accuracy.
The GAMO P-27 NBB CO2 Dual Ammo Pistol is a fun little BB and Pellet plinker capable of plinking and action shooting at closer up ranges. I would not want to shoot out much further than 30-40 feet or so but it is accurate enough especially with Pellets to hit pop can sized objects at those ranges. I do like that you have the option of shooting both single and double action as the GAMO P-27 NBB CO2 Dual Ammo Pistol does have an actual working hammer and this does lighten up the trigger a bit more for accurate shot placement when shooting in single action. If a fairly affordable NBB dual Ammo Airgun is what you are after than consider grabbing yourself one over at of one of our Replica Airgun Online Stores, Canada or the US.
I don’t believe I have ever interviewed EKOL at SHOT Show in the past. I have dropped by their booth and taken a look at their product line and chatted but this year EKOL had some new and interesting products that I feel fit in nicely with Replica Airguns products and Replica Airgun enthusiasts.
In this EKOL SHOT Show 2024 Interview Omer from EKOL goes over three Airguns that are new for this year. The EKOL ES P92 which is a CO2 BB Blowback Beretta 92 Replica but rather than rebrand a KWC made version, EKOL makes their own in their own factory and it is very unique compared to other CO2 BB Blowback Beretta 92’s on the market.
Another product form EKOL based on the ES P92 Pistol is the EKOL ES P95B which I would call an SMG or submachine gun with a folding stock, but it only shoots in semi auto and is based off of EKOL’s ES 92 mechanically.
Lastly, Omer showed me one of their Replica Pellet Rifles, the EKOL AK which is a break barrel AK Replica Spring Piston Pellet Rifle that really looks a lot like an AK 47. EKOL also makes a very believable AR/M16 Break Barrel Pellet Rifle as well!
We have not carried much if any of the EKOL product line over the last few years so hopefully we can get some of these into our Online Replica Airguns Stores as they should even be legal for import into Canada.
It’s alwasy nice to have a chat with Bob at ASG, I have been interviewing him for years now and really missed not being at SHOT Show the last three years. As always, Bob really knows the ASG product line inside and out and took us through some of the new products and changes to the ASG lineup in 2024.
Some of the products include: The ASG CZ P-10 C CO2 Blowback Airsoft Pistol, the Steyr L9-A2 CO2/Gas Blowback Airsoft Pistol, the USW Gas Blowback Airsoft Pistol, the new Hybrid Airsoft line including the CO2 Blowback H-22 and the AEG H-15, the ICS Ape SE AEG Airsoft Rifle, and lastly the ICS Carnotaurus, Legacy, ACME High-Capa Pistol Series.
I am looking forward to get my hands-on many of these new ASG products and making reviews for everyone to checkout in the near future…
I’m pretty sure I have never made an Interview for Barra before in any of my past SHOT Show Videos, so I was really happy when I visited their booth and discovered a bunch of really great new products to talk about with GEO. Like many other Airgun companies, Barra does incorporate rebranded products from other manufacturer popular Airguns, but they also have some unique products I have never seen before. They are either working really closely with dedicated manufacturing companies or making these items in house. Either way it’s great to see new and interesting products.
Some of the products Geo went over with me in this SHOT Show 2024 Barra Interview where: The Barra CO2 1866 Lever Action Rifle, some Rifled Pellet Barrel Kits for the Schofield Revolver and 1866 Rifle, the 1858 CO2 BB Revolver, the 357 Shell Loading CO2 Revolver, the 400 AEG Airsoft Rifle and two new nameless Airguns they are still working on and perfecting, a full Blowback Competition Style BB/Airsoft Pistol and a compact AEG Airsoft Rifle.
It was great talking with the team over at the Barra Booth and I look forward to testing out their new items as they become available.
Kicking off my SHOT Show 2024 Interviews, I present my Umarex Interview with Mark Davis, you may remember Mark from past Umarex SHOT Show Interviews? This is a fairly long interview as Mark had a lot of product to show me including…
The new Marlin Lever Action BB Rifle, the Walther PDP CO2 BB Pistol, the BBX11 1911 Blowback CO2 BB Pistol, the MarkPoint Break Barrel .177 Caliber Pellet Pistol, the Trinity Hi-Cap 2011 Blowback Airsoft Pistol, the Gambler High Stakes Single Action Army CO2 Airsoft Revolver, the Glock 380 GBB Airsoft Pistol, the CQC Elite Force AEG Airsoft Rifle with i-Trace, and the Beretta PMX GBB Airsoft Rifle.
Yep, that’s a lot of products to go over in one Interview, and Mark did a great job! I am really looking forward to getting my hands on these new products from Umarex to review for everyone!
Type: BB PistolPellet Pistol. Manufacturer: Distributed by Crosman. Model: SNR357. Materials: Mostly metal, some plastic parts. Weight: 1.92 pound (871 grams). Total Length: 8.13 inches (20.65cm). Barrel: 3 inches (7.6cm) metal non-rifled. Propulsion: CO2. Action: Revolver single and double action. AmmunitionType: 4.5mm BB’s / .177 cal. pellets. AmmunitionCapacity: 6 round cylinder. FPS: Claimed 400.
Trigger Pull: The Crosman SNR357 CO2 Dual Ammo Revolver has both a single and double action trigger, meaning you can pre-cock the hammer and shoot in single action which has a light short trigger pull. Or you can simply shoot in double action by pulling the trigger when the hammer is down and the trigger will cock the hammer and also release it to fire the Revolver. In double action the trigger is noticeably longer and heavier than in single action as your trigger finger now has to do all the work for the action. Having both single and double action is nice as you can shoot in action rapid fire using the double action or slow down and shoot with more accuracy in single action.
Accuracy: I have not tested out this exact Crosman SNR357 CO2 Dual Ammo Revolver but I have reviewed several similar products from Dan Wesson which essentially are the exact same mechanical gun manufactured by Wingun for both ASG and Crosman. I will be making a new Field Test Video for the Crosman SNR357 in a week or two but you can take a look at my recent Field Test Video for the Dan Wesson 2.5 inch Gold version which is mechanically the same gun as the Crosman SNR357 CO2 Dual Ammo Revolver.
Build Quality: When it comes to the build of the Crosman SNR357 CO2 Dual Ammo Revolver, it is alsmot all metal other than mainly the grips and the CO2 tab as far as I can tell. It weighs in at nearly 2 pounds even for a more compact revolver so it feels very hefty in the hand. In similar Dan Wesson models there has been some concerns with the hammer feeling a bit sloppy but this has never caused any concern in terms of functionality. I also am not a fan of the way the grips slide back for access to the CO2 as they can come off and misalign when trying to put them back in place. Other than that this pistol is a solid well made revolver.
Realism: The Crosman SNR357 CO2 Dual Ammo Revolver is styled after a 357 type snub nosed revolver and looks for the most part true to scale and form. As this product design was one of the first shell loading revolvers back in the day, manufacturers had to use parts that where already available as in the CO2 valves which where at the time a bit longer than they can make now. Because of this, the area between the cylinder and the back the revolver is a bit long to accommodate the longer valves made at that time. This does distorts the gun a little bit but to be honest most people will not notice.
Pros:
Design has been around for a while now and so it is well tested.
A decent looking replica of a 357 type revolver.
Single and double action trigger allows for both action and more laid back and precise shooting ability.
400 claimed fps is more than adequate for plinking and action shooting.
Always fun loading up the 6 removable shells and placing them in the cylinder.
Fully adjustable sights for dead center shooting.
CO2 is fully well hidden inside the grips.
Can choose between shooting pellets or BB’s.
Cons:
Barrel is not recessed.
Area between cylinder and hammer is a bit long as it has to accommodate the CO2 valve.
Grip removal can be a bit finicky.
Comments: The Crosman SNR357 CO2 Dual Ammo Revolver is far from a new styled gun on the market, it’s been around for about a decade originally introduced main stream by ASG as their Dan Wesson 357. Being an older styled airgun means any issues it may have had are now for sure worked out so you know you are getting a solid and reliable Air Pistol here. If you are looking for an updated 357 then take a look at the Dan Wesson 715 series as some of the issues I have mentioned with the SNR357 are worked out on the newer style 357 Revolvers.
Type: BB Pistol. Manufacturer: Distributed by Crosman. Model: Fortify. Materials: Mostly plastic, some internal metal parts. Weight:1 pound (455 grams). Total Length: 10.5 inches (26.6cm). Barrel: 5.55 inches 14cm) metal non-rifled. Propulsion: CO2. Action: Revolver SAO. Ammunition Type: 4.5mm Steel BB’s. Ammunition Capacity: 18 round internal magazine. FPS: Claimed 420.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Crosman Fortify Single Action Army CO2 BB Revolver is a single action only trigger, so you will have to cock the hammer back before each shot which does take away most of the trigger pull length and weight, making it short and light and easy to shoot. Perfect for slowed down accurate shot placement, but less effective as an action shooter.
Accuracy: I have not tested out the Crosman Fortify Single Action Army CO2 BB Revolver any capacity, nor do I have any experience with it as the design is new from Crosman and I have not seen it before with any other Airgun on the market. So for now all we can go on is what Crosman claims, which is around 420fps and when it comes to accuracy your guess will be as good as mine so keep checking back for my upcoming Field Test Shooting Video for the Crosman Fortify Single Action Army CO2 BB Revolver were I will test the velocity and accuracy out in the Replica Airguns Indoor Sea Can Shooting Range.
Build Quality: When it comes to the build for the Crosman Fortify Single Action Army CO2 BB Revolver, there is not a lot to write home about. It is basically a mostly plastic gun with some metal parts internally like the barrel, trigger, hammer and CO2 area. The Crosman Fortify has that lower cost Airgun, two halves, screwed together build which generally looks better on the side without the screws showing. As it is mostly plastic it is very light in the hand at around a pound or so. Overal there are not a lot of moving parts so it should be reliable enough just because of this. All the mechanical components do what they need to do and feel solid enough.
Realism: The Crosman Fortify Single Action Army CO2 BB Revolver at a glance looks a lot like a Colt Single Action Army Revolver, it has the same shape and size but the weight is very slight. The lack of actual bullet holes in the cylinder looking from the front of the revolver also takes away from the realism. I guess I am really used to the new generation revolvers with working cylinders and real loadable shells but these guns are more expensive and hold less ammo as they are genuine to the 6 shooter capacity.
Pros:
Inexpensive revolver as compared to other shell loading styled revolvers out there.
A decent looking replica of a Colt Single Action Army revolver.
Single action only trigger is short and light and well suited to careful shot placement shooting.
420 claimed fps is about perfect for plinking at ranges up 30-40 feet.
18 round magazine has a nice high capacity and easy to load when empty
Safety is well thought out and built into an already existing part of the gun rather than simply adding a switch afterwards.
I like the look with the all back frame and bone white grips.
CO2 Allen key is built into grip so always have it on hadn’t and will not lose it.
Cons:
Mostly plastic builds makes it a bit light in the hand.
No fake shell holes in the front of the cylinder, could have added this for a more genuine look.
Safety is rather on the the firm side.
Comments: The Crosman Fortify Single Action Army CO2 BB Revolver is a completely new concept in design over what we have become use to in todays Single Action Army Revolvers. I want to hold my opinion on it till I actually shoot it as that could make or break this one for me. Maybe if it is a really fun shooter then I can excuse some of the shortcomings it has as a Replica Revolver but I guess we will see in a little bit when I get to my Field Test Shooting Review for it. For under $100 it may be worth it to some to try out especially if you don't already own a Single Action Army Revolver in your Airgun collection.
Starting the year off with a Preview Unboxing Update Video of three CO2 Air Pistols. One from Gamo is a NBB CO2 Dual Ammo (Pellet/BB) Semi Auto style pistol called the Gamo P-27. The other two are for Crosman and are both Revolvers but from very different aras. The First Revolver I look at is the Crosman SNR357 which is essentially an early revision rebranded Dan Wesson in a 2.5 inch barrel. You can use either .177 caliber pellets or 4.5mm BB’s with it loading them into the 6 shells that come with it. A new comer I have never seen is the Crosman Fortify styled after the classic Single Action Army Colt 45 old West Revolver. Unlike many of today shell loading CO2 Revolvers, the Crosman Fortify has an internal tube fed magazine with a spring follower that holds 18 4.5mm Steel BB’s.
Watch my Preview Unboxing Update Video where I take a quick look and go over some basic specifications along with my initial thoughts…
In this Field Test Shooting Video I shoot my Crosman 2240 CO2 .22 Caliber Pellet Pistol here in the Replica Airguns Indoor Sea Can Shooting Range and find out just what we can expect in terms of power and accuracy. I do this by first placing 4-5 rounds through mu Chronograph and average them out to see what the fps velocity is. I then shoot 10 rounds at a paper target setup 30 feet away to see just how tight of a grouping I can get! If you are more interested in specifications and details along with some closer up video of the Crosman 2240 CO2 .22 Caliber Pellet Pistol then checkout my Table Top Video located here.
So on with the Filed Test Shooting Video I first placed 4 shots through my Chronograph using a fresh CO2 along with Crosman flathead wadcutter lead pellets that weigh around 15 grain each. The temperature here in the Replica Airguns Sea Can was around 20C or 70F so close to what is considered average room temperatures. My slowest shot through the Chronograph was 412 and my fastest shot was 419 averaging 415 fps. Crosman claims the 2240 CO2 .22 Caliber Pellet Pistol is capable of 460 fps, so we were close and this was with mid weight lead pellets so lighter pellets would for sure hit that claimed velocity.
Next up was the accuracy test where I proceeded to shoot 10 rounds into a fresh pepper target setup 30 feet down range. As always I was using a semi rested shooting position with my hands rested on a paper target up front and seated on a stool in the back which does help me with shot placement but there will still be some human factor to consider as in the one shot that I pulled pretty hard to the right of the main grouping. With that one stray removed from the grouping I was able to get around a 1.25 inch 10 shot grouping with several of the shots hitting right on top of each other. Not bad with open sights and my aging eye sight. I know most people could do better especially with an upgraded sighting system as the Crosman’s stock open sights are pretty basic. Right out of the box without any sight adjustments my grouping hit just a tad high and slightly to the left but the sights on the Crosman 2240 CO2 .22 Caliber Pellet Pistol are fully adjustable but kind finicky so it will take a bit to get this Pellet Pistol dialed in.
for well under a hundred dollars Canadian the Crosman 2240 CO2 .22 Caliber Pellet Pistol is great value and fully capable as a target or even small pest control Air Pistol. You will need to take some time dialing in the sights and getting used to it to get sub 1 inch 30-40 foot shots but it is totally possible. Crosman has been making versions if this Air Pistol for decades so you know it is going to be reliable and consistent and you can mod this gun in so many ways to get even better ease of use and improved performance out of it so if you don’t have a fairly compact target pellet pistol in your collection, than perhaps it is time to pick one up!
I have already reviewed several Crosman 357 Pellet/BB Revolvers in the past like the Crosman Vigilante which also has the ability to shoot both .177 caliber pellets and 4.5mm Steel BB’s, (Really they all are with the right magazine). With the Vigilante my pellet chronograph tests got similar results but with Steel BB’s the Crosman Vigilante did a lot better than my Crosman Triple Threat CO2 Dual Ammo Revolver using a similar 6 inch barrel. As expected both the Crosman Vigilante and the Crosman Triple Threat did about the same in terms of accuracy getting better results with pellets over Steel BB’s.
Starting with the velocity portion of my Indoor Field Test Shooting video, I placed a brand new 12 gram CO2 into the Crosman Triple Threat CO2 Dual Ammo Revolver and tested out some 7 grain .177 caliber Lead Pellets. I averaged 382 fps in what I would consider normal indoor temperature ranges so you can expect a bit higher velocities in warmer conditions. Moving on to 4.5mm 5.1 grain Steel BB’s, I averaged quite a bit lower velocity at 288 fps. I was surprise since it was almost 100 fps lower than the heavier 7 grain lead pellets. The logical reason for this is that lead Pellets fit the barrel much more snug, stoping any CO2 from getting around them which helps increase the velocity over Steel BB’s which are a hard metal and need to be slightly smaller in diameter and therefore do let some CO2 get by reducing the pressure behind them.
For the accuracy porting of the the Indoor Field Test I shot 10 rounds for my pellet magazine first and then 6 rounds for the BB magazine, simply because this is how many rounds each magazine holds… Makes sense right? Even with the pellet magazine holding 10 rounds over the BB magazine’s 6 rounds, the Pellet magazine was still able to get a much tighter grouping at around 1 inch over the BB target which was closer to 3 inches. BB’s seemed to really like to hook a bit with the Crosman Triple Threat CO2 Dual Ammo Revolver, so I would for sure go with pellets if accuracy is importatn to you. Both pellets and BB’s shot a little bit high and to the left from the bulls-eye but that can easily be adjusted with the fully adjustable rear sight.
The Crosman Triple Threat performed rather as expected and was not a big surprise other than the BB’s really having a much lower velocity this time around. It is clear to me that I would not waste my time shooting Steel BB’s unless this is all I had on hand as they where not only much slower but also a lot less accurate. Over time the steel BB’s could damage the rifled steel barrel effecting future pellet accuracy. The Crosman Triple Threat CO2 Dual Ammo Revolver offers a lot of options with ammo choice and barrel choice that alter it’s looks and even performance to some degree but if you want a Crosman 357 type CO2 Revolver than it for sure gives you the most flexibility.
Type: Non-blowback CO2 BB Pistol. Manufacturer: Distributed by Bear River. Model: Bear River BR45. Materials: Mostly plastic. Weight: 1 pounds (454 grams). TotalLength: 8 inches (203mm). Barrel: 4.72 inches (120mm) metal non-rifled. Propulsion: CO2 x 1. Action: Semi auto non-blowback, DOA trigger. AmmunitionType: .4.5mm steel BB’s. AmmunitionCapacity: 20 round drop out metal stick magazine. FPS: Claimed 410.
Trigger Pull: The Bear River BR45 NBB CO2 BB Pistol has a double action trigger commonly found on lower cost NBB CO2 BB Pistols with a long trigger pull that requires more length and effort to pull, but I would say is still usable for action shooting. Your finger will get worked a bit after several magazines of action shooting. The Bear River BR45 trigger pull makes the internal metal barrel move forward and out of the front of the barrel opening but as it has a recessed barrel you don’t really see it protruding out of the front. When you reach the release point the barrel snaps back into the BB Pistol acting like the hammer and releasing CO2 and shooting a BB.
Accuracy: I have not shoot the Bear River BR45 NBB CO2 BB Pistol yet or performed my standard Field Test Shooting Video, so I can not comment at this time on the actual performance other than what is claimed in terms of fps (410fps). I have shot several similar CO2 BB Pistols which share almost the exact same internal components but have a different external skin on them. One bonus is that all this style of metal stick magazines are the same so they will be interchangeable. My previous experiences with similar BB Pistols is that they will get mid 400fps velocities and in general will shot around a 2 inch grouping or so. It is hard to say how close the Bear River BR45 is going to shoot to the bullseye, as out of the box it may shoot a bit high or low or left or right. We will find out during my shooting test.
Build Quality: The Bear River BR45 NBB CO2 BB Pistol is an almost all plastic moulded Airgun with only a few metal parts I can pick out. The trigger and magazine are metal along with the inner barrel and the area where the CO2 goes in. Because of the plastic build, it is rather light weight at around 1 pound which can actually be good if you were to drop it on a hard surface as the mass is low resulting in less damage. Scratches will also be less noticeable on an all plastic exterior Airgun over a metal Airgun as the material on a plastic Airgun is going to have the color throughout the material rather than a painted surface that will show blemishes a lot more. The simplicity of the design means you should get a lot of use from the Bear River BR45 before encountering any issues.
Realism: The Bear River BR45 NBB CO2 BB Pistol is not a replica of an exact real steel gun in production but it does take after a Sig Sauer or H&K looking at the basic shape and features. There are few external mechanical working parts on the Bear River BR45 other than the trigger, safety, magazine and inner barrel. The barrel is well recessed and the CO2 tab is sunken in the grip which helps in terms of it looking more realistic.
Pros:
Nice size BB pistol, feels good in the hand.
Decent FPS rating of 410.
Picatinny rail on frame for adding on accessories.
Non-blowback should get lots of shots per CO2.
Easy to see white dot sights front and back.
CO2 tab is recessed and somewhat hidden under the grip.
Double action trigger pull is long but not too firm.
Uses a generic all metal stick magazines commonly found in lower cost BB pistols.
Recessed barrel looks that part.
Simple design with not a lot of moving parts will make it reliable for a long time.
Cons:
All plastic gun for the most part.
Not many working parts, pretty much all moulded gun.
CO2 tab a bit hard to use for people with bigger fingers.
Comments:
The Bear River BR45 NBB CO2 BB Pistol is a basic mostly all plastic NBB CO2 BB Pistol very simple in design which makes it dependable and reliable as there is a lot less to go wrong as compared to a blowback metal BB Pistol with lots of moving parts. Also keep in mind the metal in Airguns is not as hard or strong as you find in a Real Steel Pistol so all of these moving metal parts will wear over time and some may eventually fail. Other advantages of a NBB CO2 BB Pistol are that it will have a decent velocity rating and it will also get more shots per CO2 as compared to blowback Air Pistols, so not only is the initial cost of a simple NBB Air Pistol going to be less but also you will not need as much CO2 to operate it. I do like the size of the Bear River BR45 NBB CO2 BB Pistol as it is a bit larger than similar NBB Replica Air Pistols which for me and my larger hands is a good thing.
Type: Non-blowback CO2 BB Pistol. Manufacturer: Distributed by Barra. Model: Barra 380. Materials: Mostly plastic. Weight: .93 pounds (422 grams). TotalLength: 6.89inches (175mm). Barrel: 4.25 inches (108mm) metal non-rifled. Propulsion: CO2 x 1. Action: Semi auto non-blowback, DOA trigger. AmmunitionType: .4.5mm steel BB’s. AmmunitionCapacity: 20 round drop out metal stick magazine. FPS: Claimed 410.
TriggerPull: The Barra 380 NBB CO2 BB Pistol has a typical double action trigger with a longer trigger pull that requires more length and effort to pull, but I would say is still usable as an action shooter. Your finger will get a bit tired after several magazines of action shooting. The Barra 380 trigger pull makes the internal metal barrel move forward and out of the front of the barrel opening enough to see it clearly, then when you reach the release point it snaps back into the BB Pistol acting like the hammer and releasing CO2 and shooting a BB.
Accuracy: I have yet to shoot the Barra 380 NBB CO2 BB Pistol or even performed my standard Field Test Shooting Video as of yet, so I can not comment at this time on the actual performance other than what is claimed in terms of fps - 410fps by the way. I have shot several similar CO2 BB Pistols which share almost the exact same internal components but have a different external skin on them. One benefit is that all this style of metal stick magazines are the same so they will be interchangeable. My previous experiences with similar BB Pistols is that they will get mid 400fps velocities and in general will shot around a 2 inch grouping or so. It is hard to say how close theBarra 380 NBB CO2 BB Pistol is going to shoot to the bullseye, as out of the box it may shoot a bit high or low or left or right. We will find out during my shooting test.
BuildQuality: The Barra 380 NBB CO2 BB Pistol is a pretty much almost all plastic Airgun with only a few metal parts I can see on it. The trigger is metal along with the inner barrel and the area where the CO2 goes in. Because of the plastic build, it is rather light weight which can actually be good if you where to drop it on a hard surface as the mass is low resulting in less damage. Scratches will also be less noticeable on a plastic Airgun over a metal Airgun as the material on a plastic Airgun is all tan/black throughout the material rather than a painted surface that will show blemishes a lot more. The simplicity of the design means you should get a lot of use from the Barra 380 before encountering any issues.
Realism: The Barra 380 NBB CO2 BB Pistol is not a replica of an exact real steel gun in production but it does take after a compact Beretta when you look at the open barrel and similar trigger guard. There are few external mechanical working parts on the Barra 380 CO2 NBB BB Pistol other than the trigger, safety, magazine and inner barrel. The barrel is slightly recessed and the CO2 tab is hidden in the grip which helps in terms of it looking the part.
Pros:
Nice compact size BB pistol easy to transport.
Decent FPS rating of 410.
Should get lots of shots per CO2 as it is non-blowback
Picatinny rail on frame for adding accessories.
Does have a white dot sight up front.
Finger groves on pistol grips for a secure grip.
CO2 tab is well hidden within the grip.
Double action trigger pull is long but not too firm.
Uses a generic all metal stick magazines commonly found on lower cost BB pistols.
Simple design with not a lot of moving parts will make it reliable for a long time.
Cons:
All plastic gun for the most part.
Not many working parts, pretty much all moulded gun.
Grip can pop of kind of easy if you pull a bit hard.
Sights are non adjustable and no white dots on the rear sight.
Comments:
I often mention how I prefer blowback Airguns that have a more solid weight and feel to them with more working parts, but again there is a lot more that can go wrong and complex parts wear out over usage a lot quicker than a more simple design as in the the case of the Barra 380 NBB CO2 BB Pistol. Price is also going to be a lot less when looking a more simplified Air Pistol like the Barra 380, as the plastic build is a lot cheaper to produce over more expensive metals. Another bonus with non-blowback CO2 airguns is that they do tend to have a higher velocity with more shots per CO2 than a similar CO2 Blowback Pistol, so less expensive to shoot over time. It really depends what you are really looking for? A couple other strong points to mention about the Barra 380 NBB CO2 BB Pistol would be the compatibility with other similar styled CO2 BB pistol metal stick magazines and if you like the look of a Beretta then you may also like the look of the Barra 380.
Type: Non-blowback CO2 BB Pistol. Manufacturer: Distributed by Crosman. Model: MK45. Materials: Mostly plastic. Weight: .63 pounds (281 grams). Total Length: 7.25 inches (184mm). Barrel: 4.5 inches (114mm) metal non-rifled. Propulsion: CO2 x 1. Action: Semi auto non-blowback, DOA trigger. AmmunitionType: .4.5mm steel BB’s. AmmunitionCapacity: 20 round drop out metal stick magazine. FPS: Claimed 480.
Trigger Pull: The Crosman MK45 CO2 NBB BB Pistol has a typical double action tiger with a longer trigger pull that requires more length and effort to pull, but I would say is still usable as an action shooter. The Crosman MK45 trigger pull makes the internal metal barrel move forward and out of the front of the barrel opening a bit, then when you reach the release point it snaps back into the BB Pistol acting like the hammer and releasing CO2.
Accuracy: I have yet to shoot the Crosman MK45 CO2 NBB BB Pistol or performed my standard Field Test Shooting Video, so I can not comment at this time on the actual performance other than what is claimed in terms of fps. I have shot several similar CO2 BB Pistols which share almost the exact same internal components but have a different external skin on them. The good news is the metal stick magazines for all of these type NBB CO2 BB Pistols are the same so they will be interchangeable. My previous experiences with similar BB Pistols is that they will get mid 400fps velocities and in general will shot around a 2 inch grouping or so. It is hard to say how close the Crosman MK45 CO2 NBB BB Pistol is going to shoot to the bullseye, as out of the box it may shoot a bit high or low or left or right. We will find out during my shooting test.
Build Quality: The Crosman MK45 CO2 NBB BB Pistol is a pretty much an all plastic Airgun with only a few metal parts I can find on it. The trigger is metal along with the inner barrel and the area where the CO2 goes in. Because of the plastic build, it is rather light weight which can actually be good in a fall as the mass is low resulting in less damage if you were to drop it on a hard surface. Scratches will also be less noticeable on a plastic Airgun over a metal Airgun as the material on a plastic Airgun is all tan/black rather than a painted surface that will show blemishes a lot more. The simplicity of the design means you should get a lot of use from the Crosman MK45 CO2 NBB BB Pistol before encountering any issues.
Realism: The Crosman MK45 CO2 NBB BB Pistol is not a replica of an exact real steel gun in production but it does share a lot of cosmetic characteristics as what you would see on a Sig Sauer or even H&K Pistol. The magazine release on the Crosman MK45 looks and works a lot like what you will find on an H&K Pistol. There are few external mechanical working parts on the Crosman MK45 CO2 NBB BB Pistol other than the trigger, safety and inner barrel. The barrel is slightly recessed and the CO2 tab is hidden in the grip which helps in terms of believability.
Pros:
Desert tan with black grips looks really good in my opinion.
High FPS rating of 480.
Picatinny rail on frame for adding on accessories.
Non-blowback should get lots of shots per CO2.
Easy to see fiber optic sights front and back.
CO2 tab is nicely hidden inside the grip.
Double action trigger pull is long but not too firm.
Uses a generic all metal stick magazines commonly found on lower cost BB pistols.
Ambidextrous magazine release.
Simple design with not a lot of moving parts will make it reliable for a long time.
Cons:
All moulded plastic BB gun for the most part.
Not many working parts, it’s pretty much an all plastic BB gun.
Grips are fairly loose, they don't really snap into place.
Sights are not adjustable.
Comments:
I personally prefer blowback Airguns that have a more solid weight and feel to them with more working parts, but again there is a lot more that can go wrong and parts tend to complex parts wear out over usage a lot quicker than a more simple design like in the case of the Crosman MK45 CO2 NBB BB Pistol. Price is also going to be a lot less when looking a more simplified Air Pistol like the Crosman MK45, as the plastic build is a lot cheaper to produce. Another bonus with non-blowback CO2 airguns is that they do tend to have a much higher velocity and also generally you will also get more shots per CO2 than a similar CO2 Blowback Pistol. It really depends what features you want more and in this case you also get a more cost effective Air Pistol with plenty of shooting enjoyment. A couple other strong points to mention about the Crosman MK45 CO2 NBB BB Pistol would be the fiber optic sights front and back and its sharp l looking two tone layout.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Crosman Triple Threat CO2 Dual Ammo Revolver like pretty much all of the 357 type Crosman Revolvers is rather nice in single action with virtually zero take-up and it has a not too light weight with a predictable feel to it. In double action it does get much longer and heavier but still very usable. If you have larger thicker finger then you may want to start off in single action as the finger opening is a bit tight.
Accuracy: I have not specifically tested out the Crosman Triple Threat so far but I would be very surprised if it was any different than the standard Crosman 357 and the Crosman Vigilante I have already done Field Test Reviews for. Other than the shape of the outer barrel, both of these guns are virtually the same including the frame and the 6 inch barrels. Back in 2012 when I tested out the Crosman 357 I averaged around 400 fps using mid grain lead pellets and was able to get a 1 to 1.5 inch multi-shot grouping at 30 feet away from my paper target. I will be making an update Field Test Shooting Video so we will see if I can replicate these results with the standard Crosman 357 and Vigilante CO2 Pellet and BB Revolver.
Build Quality: The CCrosman Triple Threat CO2 Dual Ammo Revolver is a fairly basic pistol that incorporates a variety of length plastic outer barrels and inner steel barrels (3/6/8 inches), the grips are also plastic as expected and so are the magazines and sights. Most everything else is metal including the receiver, trigger and hammer. This line of Crosman 357 pistols has been around for decades so you can expect hours of fun and reliable shooting with their multi-barrel dual ammo version.
Realism: There are for sure a lot more realistic looking Replica Revolvers out there with swing out cylinders that eject the shells just like their real steel counterparts, but where the Crosman Triple Threat shines is in performance, reliability and consistency. You will get more shots per CO2, higher fps and better accuracy with the Crosman Triple Threat CO2 Pellet and BB Revolver over other more realistic Revolvers on the market.
Pros:
Inexpensive Pellet revolver with a proven track record that goes back decades.
Good usage of metal parts where you need them most. (Metal trigger, hammer, frame, barrel, CO2 Tab screw
Single and double action trigger for action and more focused shooting.
Excellent accuracy and good power with a reasonable amount of shots per CO2 (based on similar versions).
Fully adjustable rear sight.
Riffled steel barrels (All three of them).
3 different barrel choices (3/6/8 inches) depending on the look and how compact you want it to be.
CO2 and tab are nicely hidden and use all metal.
Come with both a Pellet and BB magazines..
Cons:
Outer barrels are plastic but very solid. Metal would have added a bit more weigth perhaps better balance?
Grips and trigger pull length may be a bit long for smaller handed people when shooting in double action.
Not your most real revolver out there in terms of replicas out there but probably more usable then most.
No white dots on the sights.
Comments: The Crosman Triple Threat CO2 Dual Ammo Revolver is basically another reskinned Crosman 357 at the end of the day with a ton of options including 3 different barrel lengths that will change the look, size and power depending on your needs. You also have the choice of what ammo you want to use, cheaper 4.5mm Steel BB’s or more accurate and even higher velocity lead pellets for greater downrange energy and precision. If you are not sure which Crosman 357 type revolver to get? The standard 357… the Vigilante or the Triple Threat, maybe go with the Triple Threat at the end of today as it offers the most options and variety of configurations.
Type: Pellet Pistol. Manufacturer: Crosman Model: 2240. Materials: Mostly metal with some plastic. Weight: 1.81 pounds (821 grams). Barrel: 7.5 inches (190.5mm) - metal, rifled. Propulsion: Single 12 gram CO2. Action: Single Shot SAO. AmmunitionType: .22 Caliber Pellets. AmmunitionCapacity: 1. MaxFPS: 460.
TriggerPull: The Single action only trigger pull on the Crosman 2240 CO2 .22 Caliber Pellet Pistol is very good, super light with just a little bit of take-up, the release is very predictable, the actual weight of the trigger pull is only 3.88 pounds which allows for less shooter input equalling more accuracy. The trigger is a bit on the tin side but since it is so light weight it does not affect the shooter much. You can also get aftermarket parts galore for the Crosman 2240 CO2 .22 Caliber Pellet Pistol which include options fro alternative triggers.
Accuracy: I have shot a bunch of the Crosman Series bolt action pistols in this category, most being the pump version but really the only difference is going to be that it takes a bit longer to pump up the gun as compared to simply loading a pellet and the fact that CO2 will be effected by temperature and how much CO2 is let in the cartridge. Accuracy for either version is going to be very good and so I expect when I do my actual Field test Shooting Video for the Crosman 2240 CO2 .22 Caliber Pellet Pistol it will perform as just like the others - good!
BuildQuality: The build quality of the Crosman 2240 CO2 .22 Caliber Pellet Pistol is nothing extraordinary but it has passed the test of time as this design has been sued for several decades in Crosman Air Pistols and riles. The Crosman 2240 is mostly all metal with only the grips and the sights being made out of plastic but again these parts can be upgraded to wood and metal parts if you wish to. A sight upgrade would be recommended as they are a bit hard to adjust but once they are adjusted they will work just fine.
Realism: The Crosman 2240 CO2 .22 Caliber Pellet Pistol is not a replica of any real steel gun in production. It is not mean to be and is made for the sole purpose of target and possible small pest control along with some back yard shooting.
Pros:
Very inexpensive target pistol at well under $100 at this time.
Know to have very good accuracy!
CO2 allows for fairly quick follow-up shots as no pumping is required.
Mostly metal construction.
Fairly long rifled barrel.
Fully adjustable sights.
Really short and light single action trigger
Would be good for small pest control because of .22 caliber pellet and just under 500 fps along with excellent accuracy for shot placement ability at closer ranges.
Lots of mods and upgrades available for this gun from Crosman and other companies.
Grips feel good for both left and right handers.
Cons:
Trigger is a bit thin but Can be upgraded.
Sights are fully adjustable but a bit hard to adjust. Sights are also mainly plastic.
Does require CO2 to us since no pumping. Cold weather will effect velocity.
Comments: The Crosman 2240 CO2 .22 Caliber Pellet Pistol may not be the most impressive looking airgun on the market but it does have an amazing track record for being reliable and an accurate shooter. If you aren’t taken back by its appearance then go ahead and dress it up almost anyway you want to over time. Change the barrel, or trigger or breach or sights or grasp or all of the above. The Crosman 2240 CO2 .22 Caliber Pellet Pistol is by far one of the most upgradeable Air Pistols on the market and honestly as it comes out of the box it really does not need anything to have fun and nail everything you aim at.
Type: BB Rifle. Manufacturer: Sig Sauer ASP Model: Sig Sauer MCX Rattler Materials: Metal and Nylon Fiber build. Weight: 4.6 Pounds (2.1 kg). Barrel: 7 inch (17.8 cm) steel non-rifled. Propulsion: Single 12 gram CO2. Action: Semi auto and 3 round burst with internal blowback (single action only trigger). AmmunitionType: 4.5mm Steel BB’s. AmmunitionCapacity: 30 rounds spring fed. Velocity: Claimed of 325 fps.
TriggerPull: The trigger pull on the Sig Sauer MCX Rattler CO2 BB Rifle is a single action only trigger that requires initial activation of the charging handle, after the first shot the internal blowback action will do this automatically for each followup shot. The single action only trigger is fairly short with a light pull and predictable release, great for action shooting. You also have the option of shooting in true semi auto (one trigger pull and one shot) or selecting 3 round burst mode which allows for one pull of the trigger with 3 rounds in full auto.
Accuracy: I really don’t have much feedback to give here as I have only shot a single magazine so far with the Sig Sauer MCX Rattler CO2 BB Rifle in a very uncontrolled format as I was not so much testing it out but rather just having some initial fun to see what it was all about. I will of course be following up this Table Top Review with a Field Test Review shortly to find out what the actual velocity is and see how accurate it is in both semi auto and 3 round burst mode.
BuildQuality: The build quality for the Sig Sauer MCX Rattler CO2 BB Rifle is really good considering it is mostly all plastic on the outside. It does feel solid and well built when holding it in the hand. From what I can tell the metal parts would include the barrel, the charging handle, the main controls and also much of the internal components inside both the rifle and the magazine. I would have liked to have seen a metal flash hider and perhaps the pop-up Iron sights could have also been metal.
Realism: The Sig Sauer MCX Rattler CO2 BB Rifle is a 1 to 1 scale very realistic Replica of the real steel Sig Sauer Rattler normally chambered in 5.56 NATO. It would have been nice if the dust cover opened up when charging the Airgun for realism but most of the other controls work as expected, like the charging handle, selector switch, magazine release and I am not sure but maybe even the bolt release, I will know more when I make my Field Test Shooting video for the Sig Sauer MCX Rattler.
Pros:
Perfect size and weight for a fun BB semi / full auto shooter.
Fully adjustable pop up sights that are usable in both the down and up position,
Lots of accessory mounting options with the picatinny top rail and MLOCK in the sides and bottom.
Folding rear stock allows for a compact size and much easier transportation.
Ambidextrous selector switch.
Can shoot in both semi and 3 round burst modes.
Very solid AR15 type magazine that holds the 30 4.5mm steel BB’s and the single 12 gram CO2.
Reasonably priced at around $250 at the time of this video.
Sig Sauer licensing.
Cons:
Only uses a single CO2, two would have been better in a fast action shooter like this to maintain fps.
325 fps seems a bit low.
Lots of plastic but build quality does feel good.
Comments:
The Sig Sig Sauer MCX Rattler CO2 BB Rifle reminds me a lot of the Umarex Steel Storm and Steel Force which are both Compact AR type Semi and Burt mode 4.5mm CO2 Blowback Airguns. Where the Sig Sauer MCX Rattler CO2 BB Rifle shines, is in the quality and realism as compared the Umarex counterparts. I do like that both the Umarex Steel Storm and Steel Force use dual 12 gram CO2 cartridges which I feel allows them to have more consistent velocity and performance as compared to the single CO2 in the Sig Sauer MCX Rattler CO2 BB Rifle. My First impressions without really testing the Sig Sauer MCX Rattler are all pretty positive but it will really come down to how well it performs and so I will put my recommendations on hold until I actually test it out!
My Table Top Review of the Sig Sauer MCX Rattler CO2 BB Rifle:
Type: GBB Airsoft Pistol. Manufacturer: Made by EMG. Model: TTI JW4 2011 Pit Viper. Materials: Aluminum & polymer components. Weight: 2.26 pounds (1025 grams). Length: 8.5 inches (2167mm). Propulsion: CO2/Green gas. Action: Semi auto blowback, single action only trigger. AmmunitionType: 6mm plastic Airsoft BB's. AmmunitionCapacity: 28-30 round drop out full size metal magazine. FPS: Claimed 370-390.
Trigger Pull: The single action only trigger pull on the EMG TTI Pit Viper JW4 2011 GBB CO2 Airsoft Pistol is really great, there is virtually zero take-up with a light, crisp and easy release. You can double tap with ease making the EMG TTI STI 2011 Combat Master a great action pistol. One of the shortest and smoothest 1911 triggers I have tested, similar to the EMG TTI JW3 Combat Master.
Accuracy: At this point I have not shot the EMG TTI Pit Viper JW4 2011 GBB CO2 Airsoft Pistol so I have no idea what the actual real world fps is going to be and how accurate it proves itself so my comments for this part of the review will have to wait till I perform my Field Test Shooting Video coming up shortly. I do however expect it to perform very close to the EMG TTI STI 2011 Combat Master I already made a Field test Video Review for so you can check that on out in the mean time…
BuildQuality: The EMG TTI Pit Viper JW4 2011 GBB CO2 Airsoft Pistol is for the most part an all metal gun with a CNC Machined Aluminum Slide and aluminum barrel along with mostly metal parts throughout including much of the frame. Parts of the frame are polymer including the grip area and trigger guard. The fit and finish is awesome on the EMG TTI Pit Viper JW4 2011 GBB CO2 Airsoft Pistol with attention to detail everywhere.
Realism: The EMG TTI Pit Viper JW4 2011 GBB CO2 Airsoft Pistol is based off of the Pit Viper TTI, a replica of the John Wick pistol used in the John Wick 4 movie and is virtually the spitting image to it. You will find licensing and trademarks where you would find them on the real steel version. Of course all the mechanical parts work like the real version and the EMG TTI STI 2011 Combat Master can be fully field stripped allowing for quick and easy hop-up adjustments.
Pros:
Super crisp, light and short SAO trigger.
Fit and finish is excellent, very little slide wiggle.
extremely close replica of the Pit Viper 2011 pistol used in the John Wick 4 movie.
Rear sight is fully adjustable and sits very flush with the slide.
Fiber optic front sight helps with quick targets acquisition.
CNC machined Aluminum slide and barrel with polymer frame.
Flared magwell for easy quick magazine reloading.
Full size high capacity 30 round double stack metal magazine.
Ambidextrous thumb safeties.
Working grip safety as you would expect on a 1911 based gun.
Most Mechanical parts work just like a steel version and can be easily field stripped to access hop-up.
Nice snappy and fast blowback action, great for action shooting.
Licensing all over this gun true to the real steel version.
Cons:
Comes with the red tip but can be remove pretty easily.
Getting magazine but plate off is a bit tuff.
No white dot’s or fiber optics in the rear sight.
Comments:
The EMG TTI Pit Viper JW4 2011 GBB CO2 Airsoft Pistol is another great Replica of a John Wick pistol and has a less squared and smaller stature than the EMG Combat Master and a smoother overall look to it. What’s nice is that the magazines are interchangeable between the EMG TTI JW3 and JW4 versions so if you already have one then you will get additional magazine options, perhaps one in Green Gas and one in CO2. I like the slightly bulkier feel to the Combat Master but the Pit Viper is also a decent size, but again slightly more compact and less edges to get caught on your surroundings. Either way, both are awesome options if you are John Wick fan.
I love making these Mystery Box Unboxing Videos as many of the items inside are actually real mysteries to me, some I may have an idea of but even these items are new to me so it’s fun to open them up and check them all out. In this October 2023 Mystery Box Video I checkout 9 items ranging from AEG Airsoft Rifles to Airsoft , BB and Pellet Pistols. There is even a new Steel BB product from Sig Sauer that is a compact rifle with a 3 round burst option when shooting.
30 feet is not really a long enough distance to test out a Spring Piston Break Barrel Air Rifle but it’s been pretty rainy outside as the weather here in British Columbia has progresses into full on rainy fall weather. So we will have to make do with the 30 foot limitation I have here in the Replica Airguns Sea Can Indoor Shooting Range. At least it is warm and the lighting is perfect :) In this Filed Test Shooting Video for the Beeman Black Panther Dual Caliber Break Barrel Pellet Rifle I test out the velocity in fps along with the accuracy at 30 feet away. For both of these tests I use 15.43 grain .22 caliber Gamo lead pellets. If you are more invested in details and specifications along with some closer up video then watch my Table Top Video for the Beeman Black Panther.
Beeman claims just under 500 fps for the Beeman Black Panther Dual Caliber Break Barrel Pellet Rifle but it is unclear if this is with .177 caliber or .22 caliber pellets and what kind of pellet are being used? Light weigth Alloy or standard Lead pellets. I decided to go with the .22 caliber barrel for all my testing but may try out the .177 caliber barrel in a future update Field Test Video. I placed 5 shots through my Chronograph using the 15.43 grain .22 caliber lead pellets and was able to get an average velocity of 422 fps. The slowest shot was 418 fps with the fastest shot hitting a max of 429 fps so all fairly close together. In terms of energy output, a pellet that weighs 15.43 grain travelling at 422 fps has a foot pound energy of 6.1.
I am not the best shot when it comes to sprig Piston Air Rifles, but I did my best here. I shot a total of 8 shots on the paper target and the main group was about 1 inch in diameter, this consisted of 6 pellets in that main group with 2 pellets that came out one shot a bit high and one shot a bit to the right. I was using the built in post and notch fiber optic sights rather than installing the 4x32 scope. After all the target was only 30 feet away. I am pretty sure one could easily get a .5 inch grouping at this range with perhaps a 1 inch grouping at distances closer to the 50-60 foot mark, which should make this a decent pest control option when using the .22 caliber ammo as I feel it would get the job done with a bit more authority.
The Beeman Black Panther Dual Caliber Break Barrel Pellet Rifle comes with two barres offering the ability to shoot using .177 caliber pellets or .22 caliber pellets with a quick barrel change. .177 caliber pellets could be used for smaller pest control but I would mainly use the .177 barrel for basic target practice as .177 caliber pellets are definitely cheaper than .22 caliber pellets. When you do require that slight additional stopping power, then go with the .22 caliber barrel for sure!
