So it begins, I have been to this years SHOT Show in Las Vegas and checked out the new products from Umarex, Crosman, Sig Sauer and ASG. I have taken video and Interviewed the main Airgun companies. Now it's time to report back to everyone what I saw and learned. To start with here is a Teaser Video with some scenes from Vegas, inside SHOT Show and of course some of the highlight products from each airgun company.
Type: Blowback Pellet & BB Pistol.
Manufacturer: Distributed by Umarex.
Model: SA10.
Materials: Metal & Polymer.
Weight: 2.05 pounds (930 grams).
Barrel: Metal rifled.
Propulsion: CO2 x 1.
Action: Semi auto blowback, single & double action.
Ammunition Type: .177 caliber pellets & 4.5mm BB's.
Ammunition Capacity: 8x4 round rotary full size drop out metal magazine.
FPS: Claimed 420.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Umarex SA10 CO2 Blowback Pellet and BB Pistol is similar to most of the rotary magazine styled pellet pistols. The blowback operation does cock the hammer allowing for a lighter single action styled trigger pull but the trigger pull length is still about the same as shooting in double action. There is less trigger pull weight when the hammer is back shooting in single action but the first part of the trigger pull is necessary in order to rotate the magazine.
Accuracy: At this point I have not shot the Umarex SA10 CO2 Blowback Pellet and BB Pistol so I have no feedback to share so far but I plan to test out the Umarex SA10 CO2 Blowback Pellet and BB Pistol during my next indoor Sea Can Field Test Shooting video. I will be testing out both pellets and BB's for velocity and accuracy.
Build Quality: The Umarex SA10 CO2 Blowback Pellet and BB Pistol feel great in the hand and has a nice weight and solid feel to it. Like most modern day pistols the Umarex SA10 CO2 Blowback Pellet and BB Pistol has a metal slide and polymer frame, you will also find a lot of internal metal parts along with a full size drop out metal magazine. Fit and finish are also very good.
Realism: The Umarex SA10 CO2 Blowback Pellet and BB Pistol is not a copy or replica of any actual real steel gun in production but to me it most resembles a Sig Sauer, not exactly as the Umarex SA10 CO2 Blowback Pellet and BB Pistol does incorporate its own design and style. You will find a lot of real gun attributes that make this gun look and feel the deal. Like it's blowback operation, full see drop out metal magazine, wide open recessed barrel and ability to be field stripped.
Available From: The Replica Airguns Store.
Pros:
Great weight and feel to it, build quality seems good.
Accessory rail for adding a laser or tactical light.
Unique full size drop out metal magazine that holds extra rotary magazines on it for quick reloading.
Have the option of shooting Steel BB’s or pellets.
Has a rifled barrel.
Gold barrel looks good.
Barrel tip is removable allowing for possible mock suppressor or silencer.
Slide catch is actually a safety making it nice and discreet.
Can easily field strip the gun.
Warning instruction are not overpowering.
Cons:
No white or yellow dot sight on the front and they are non-adjustable.
Trigger safety is just for show.
Not really a replica but a great looking gun none the less.
Comments:
I have been waiting a while to get my hands on the Umarex SA10 CO2 Blowback Pellet and BB Pistol and now that I have it for review I can say it seems to be a really well put together CO2 Blowback Airgun. OF course I still need to get some shooting in with it till I make my final decision but so far I am liking what I am seeing. Generally prefer actual Replica Airguns but the Umarex SA10 CO2 Blowback Pellet and BB Pistol does have a really nice look and feel to it, I don't even mind the Gold barrel and I am usually not a big Gold Gun fan. The unique magazine design with its snap in rotary Pellet and BB magazines shoudl come in handy when it coms time for testing and the ability to shoot either Pellets or BB's does give the shooter more options.
If you're interested in picking up an Umarex SA10 for yourself you can find them in our Replica Airguns Canada and US Online Store.
Type: BB Pellet Pistol
Manufacturer: Umarex
Model: SA10
Material: Polymer frame with metal slide.
Weight: 929.8 g (2.05 pounds).
Power Source: 12 g CO2 x 1.
Action: Single & Double action
Ammo Type: 4.5mm steel BBs and /177 caliber Pellets.
Ammo Capacity: 8 rounds.
FPS: 420
I have been having a hard time getting my hands on the Umarex SA10 CO2 Blowback Pellet and BB Pistol to do a review for everyone. It's been a rather low stock item. We have had it in a couple of times but not in a lot of quantity and since the demand has been higher than the supply the Umarex SA10 CO2 Blowback Pellet and BB Pistol tends to be out of stock most of the time! Hopefully that changes in the future?
This YouTube video is a Preview video only for the Umarex SA10 CO2 Blowback Pellet and BB Pistol so I do not go over a lot, I sim,ply show you around the gun and take a look at the packaging and any info on the packaging. My Future Table Top Video Review will have a lot more details along with a full field strip of the Umarex SA10 CO2 Blowback Pellet and BB Pistol.
I have yet to shoot the Umarex SA10 CO2 Blowback Pellet and BB Pistol so in terms of the Umarex SA10 actually power and accuracy, we will again fidn out when I do my Field Test Shooting view review for the Umarex SA10 CO2 Blowback Pellet and BB Pistol so check back for those review videos.
Here's what we know for now! The Umarex SA10 has a metal frame and polymer slide, it shoots both .177 caliber pellets and 4.5mm Steel BB's. The Umarex SA10 CO2 Blowback Pellet and BB Pistol has blowback action with a single and double action trigger and sports a full size drop out metal magazine that holds the CO2 and removable rotary 8 round magazines, 4 in total 1 ready for shooting and the other 3 on standby ready to be hot swapped. We should expect around 400 fps with lighter ammo and I am hoping for decent accuracy using pellets since the Umarex SA10 CO2 Blowback Pellet and BB Pistol does have a rifled steel barrel.
Wow, we had a great contest giveaway for the Umarex Ace in the Hole Single Action Army Revolver. We received 406 participants with close to 2000 separate entries, so thank you everyone that got involved. Unfortunately for the other 405 participants there can only be one winner and to see who that winner is you're going to have to watch my Contest Giveaway announcement video...
First I wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, hopefully you get all the toys you have been wanting! Maybe we can help you out a little with that over on our Online Canada and US Replica Airgun Stores.
I also have a new Red Ryder Type BB Rifle to show off, this one is John Wayne licensed and called the John Wayne Lil Duke. At first glace it looks a lot like a Red Ryder but it has the large loop styled lever which is designed for easier use when wearing gloves, perfect for our Canadian weather ;) The John Wayne Lil Duke Lever Action BB Rifle has a really nice fit and finish, perhaps even a bit better than the classic Red Ryder BB Gun. I really like the real wood stock finish.
Another nice touch is that the John Wayne Lil Duke Lever Action BB Rifle comes with a lasso scope rail that you can attach just behind the rear iron sight to accommodate dove tail scope mounts. Just make sure to really tighten down the rear screw as it comes loose super easy due to the spring vibration. I would even recommend adding a bit of lock tight to the screw to be sure.
Here are some of the main specifications for the John Wayne Lil Duke Lever Action BB Rifle: 4.5mm Steel BB's, leaver action spring piston, 350 fps, 550 round magazine, 2.5 pounds, smooth bore 9.5 inch barrel, adjustable rear sight for elevation, included scope mount for 11mm dovetail rings, metal and wood build.
Look forward to a head to head showdown between the John Wayne Lil Duke Lever Action BB Rifle, the Classic Red Ryder BB Gun and the Marlin Cowboy BB Rifle.
Before I get into this Field Test Shooting Review for the Umarex Legends Ace in the Hole SAA Pellet Revolver I did want to mention again that we do have a Contest Giveaway going on till the end of this month where we will be giving away an Umarex Legends Ace in the Hole SAA Pellet Revolver to a Canada or US Winner. Sorry we can not ship outside of Canada or the US due to airgun and import regulations. Make sure to scroll to the bottom of this review to enter the contest.
Back to the Field Test Shooting Review! Rather than just testing the 3.5 inch barreled Umarex Legends Ace in the Hole SAA Pellet Revolver by itself, I also compare it to two other Umarex SAA Revolvers, in 5.5 and 7.5 inches version. I wanted to see how the barrel length effected power and accuracy and I was kind of surprised at the results.
I shot three rounds from each Umarex SAA Pellet Revolver through my Chrony Chronograph and averaged them out for each gun. Umarex claims the Umarex Legends Ace in the Hole SAA Pellet Revolver to get around 340 fps and it shot an average of 323fps with a brand new CO2 and using 8.2 gram lead pellets, not bad at all considering the pellet weight and colder temperature of around 15 degrees Celsius. next I shot the 5.5 inch Umarex SAA Pellet Revolver in the same manner and averaged 347fps which is kind of what I was expecting die to the anger barrel. SO when I came to the 7.5 inch Umarex SAA Pellet Revolver I was expecting even higher results but was surprised by my results which where exactly the same as the 3.5 inch version coming in at 323fps? Perhaps the valve was a bit detuned on the 7.5 inches version, I am not sure?
Moving on to the accuracy performance for the Umarex Legends Ace in the Hole SAA Pellet Revolver. Again I sued the same 8.2 grain RWS flathead pellets and emptied a full cylinder into my paper target positioned 30 feet downrange. My accuracy result for the Umarex Legends Ace in the Hole SAA Pellet Revolver where decent with my 6 shoot group getting around a 2 inches and well centered on the target, just a lad high but not by much. I am pretty sure I pulled one of the shots so I think I should of gotten closer to 1.5 inches. Next I Shot the 5.5 inch UmarexSAA Pellet Revolver but seemed to struggle a bit with it. I found the 5.5 inch Umarex SAA Pellet Revolver shot to the left and my 6 shot grouping was a lot more spread out exceeding 2 inches by a bit. Lastly I tested out the 7.5 inch Umarex SAA Pellet Revolver and it was the clear winner placing all 6 rounds wishing the black bullseye getting close to a 1 inch grouping. I love it when that happens :)
So in the end the 5.5 inch Umarex SAA Pellet Revolver had the most power, the 7.5 inch Umarex SAA Pellet Revolver was the most accurate and that leaves us with the Umarex Legends Ace in the Hole SAA Pellet Revolver which had the best compromise of power and accuracy at the end of the day.
Let's start this review off by first stating that this is also a contest, I know it's been a while but I am happy to announce that we will be having way more regular contests for our viewers and subscribers! To kicking things off with this new contest trend we are giving away an Umarex SAA Ace in the Hole CO2 Pellet Revolver to one lucky either Canada or US winner. Sorry for legal and shipping reasons we have to stay within Canada and the US.
And we're gong high tech with this contest implementing Gleam to allow a number of ways for you to get involved and have more chance to win! Go to the bottom of this post to get involved!
So I guess I better include a written review here to :) We'll keep it short this time since I am sure we are all mostly interested in the contest!
Type: Pellet Revolver.
Manufacturer: Umarex.
Model: Ace in the Hole.
Materials: Full Metal.
Weight: 885 grams (1.95 pounds).
Barrel: Rifled
Power Source: CO2.
Action: Semi-Automatic.
Ammo Type: .177 Pellets.
Ammo Capacity: 6 Rounds.
FPS: 340 using lead pellets.
Pros:
Short barrel increases draw speed.
Thumb spur hammer primed for rapid fire.
Realistic heavy metal frame with weathered finish.
Authentic rotation cylinder with loading gate.
Interchangeable clip-op front sights.
Has good combination of accuracy and power for a short barreled revolver.
CO2 Allen Key built into pistol grip.
Cons:
Shells must be loaded one at a time but can be kept in the cylinder.
Plastic sights detract a bit from realism.
The Ace in the Hole has more than one trick up its sleeve. This CO2 pellet gun is an original take on the classic Single Action Army revolver. The oversized thumb spur allows you to fan the hammer with your palm, like a real gunslinger. Swap in the sight that works best for your aim, or remove it entirely and shoot from the hip.
Overall I found it to be one of my favorite of the Umarex SAA Colt Revilers. I like that it's a pellet shooter and the Umarex Ace in the Hole is even capable of shooting decent weight led pellets at close to the claimed fps. The size and weigth of this CO2 Revolver feel perfect coming in at almost 2 pounds in an all metal airgun.
The weathered finish with the Ace logo imbedded in the pistol grips looks really great, the only distraction from the realism would be the plastic removable front sights. I am not sure why Umarex did this but it will help in quick draw situations. Overall the Umarex Ace in the Hole is a super well built and ultra realistic SAA Revolver that will not disappoint any old west airgun collector. get your while we still have them.
In this Revolver comparison video I look at a variety of different types of Revolver Airguns and compare them to each other to determine which one I feel is the best Revolver styled Airgun. My final choice is of course based on my own personal opinion.
Some of the Revolver Styled Airguns I consider in this comparison video are the: Colt Single Action Revolver Series, Webley MK VI, Gletcher NGT, Crosman 357, Umarex Python, KWC 357, Dan Wesson Classic and Dan Wesson 715.
So which Old and New Revolver did I pick as my favorite? Make sure to watch my Which Airgun Revolver is the Best Vimeo Video and find out!
In this comparison video I look at a variety of different Sig Sauer P226 Airguns and compare them to each other to determine which one I feel is the best Sig Sauer styled Airgun. Of course my choice may not be your choice :)
Some of the airguns I consider in this comparison video are the: Umarex HPP BB Pistol, the Sig Sauer P226 Pellet Pistol, the Cybergun/KWC X-Five BB Pistols in Standard and Sight Rail versions, the Cybergun KJWorks KP01 P226 Airsoft Pistol, and the KJWorks KP02 P229 Airsoft Pistol.
So which Sig Sauer P226 did I like the best? Make sure to watch my YouTube Video and find out!
In this comparison video I look at a variety of different Beretta 92/Taurus PT92 Airguns and compare them to each other to determine which one I feel is the best Beretta/Taurus Airgun. Keep in mind what's best in for me may not be best for you.
Some of the guns I consider in this comparison video are the: KWC/Cybergun GSG 92 / Taurus PT99, the Cybergun SA 92, the Umarex Beretta Mod. 92 A1 /Desert Storm, the ASG/KJWorks X9 Beretta M9, the Kimar/Crosman CK92 and the Umarex Beretta M 92FS.
So which one did I like the best? Make sure to watch my Vimeo Video and find out :)
In this comparison video I look at a variety of different 1911 Airguns and compare them to each other to determine which one I feel is the best 1911 Airgun, well at least for me.
Some of the guns I consider are the Umarex Colt Government 1911 A1 Pellet Pistol, the Sig Sauer Max Michel and Spartan 1911 BB Pistols, the Daisy Winchester Model 11 BB Pistol, and a selection of KWC made 1911's: Tanfoglio Witness 1911, Swiss Arms SA 1911 Tactical, Swiss Arms SA 1911 Seventies, KWC M1911 Tac A1 and the Umarex Colt Commander 1911.
So which one did I like the best? Well watch my YouTube Video to find out :)
Type: Multi-pump Pellet-BB rifle.
Manufacturer: Umarex USA.
Model: NXG APX.
Materials: Metal and polymer parts.
Weight: 3.4 pounds (1.54 kg).
Barrel: 20 inches, rifled.
Propulsion: Multi-pump.
Action: Single shot pellets/repeater BB's.
Ammunition Type: .177 caliber pellets & 4.5mm steel BB's.
Ammunition Capacity: 75 BB's in hopper.
FPS: up to 490.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Umarex NXG APX Multi-pump Pellet-BB Rifle is not too bad, I would not say it's overly light but not on the heavy side either. Essentially it has a single action trigger since you need to pre-charge the bolt to engage the trigger. There is a little bit of take-up and then a fairly noticeable break point where you will feel the most trigger weight right before it releases.
Accuracy: So far I have not performed my Field Test Shooting review for the Umarex NXG APX Multi-pump Pellet-BB Rifle so I do not have any velocity or accuracy information to share at this point. I do plan on making that Shooting video Review this week so stay posted for that one.
Build Quality: The Umarex NXG APX Multi-pump Pellet-BB Rifle is not going to be one of your highest quality airguns but it does get the job done and feels solid enough with all the working parts feeling tight and secure. Most of the Umarex NXG APX Multi-pump Pellet-BB Rifle is plastic, even the bolt and trigger but you will find more metal inside where it counts like the inner steel barrel and the outer steel barrel shroud. The stock is plastic and that's OK, I do like the addition of the rubber butt pad and cheek rest as they work well and help to make the Umarex Umarex NXG APX Multi-pump Pellet-BB Rifle feel comfortable to hold in position and shoot.
Realism: Since the Umarex NXG APX Multi-pump Pellet-BB Rifle is not a replica, realism is not really a factor here but it does look like a gun so treat it as if it was a real gun since most people will not know the difference. Always transport and store any airgun safely and discreetly.
Pros:
Low cost air rifle with a lot of features.
Iron sights actually look really usable with the fiber optic red dot up front.
Comes with an 4x15 optical sight which should help with accuracy at longer ranges.
Super easy to pump even when getting close to the 10 pump max.
Built in auto safety.
Stock and cheek rest position feel really good.
Choice of shooting pellets or BB’s.
Trigger feels pretty good, not too heavy.
Mostly an ambidextrous design so good for lefties too.
Has a rifled barrel.
Overall a good looking air rifle.
Cons:
Mostly plastic, not the highest quality build.
Included 4x15 scope is super low budget but will work till you can upgrade it down the road.
Comments:
I really hope the Umarex NXG APX Multi-pump Pellet-BB Rifle shoots well as it is kind of a cool air rifle with a lot of features at a low price tag and would make a great little target and maybe even small pest air rifle if it turns out to be accurate and hit that near 500 fps mark with pellets. The Umarex NXG APX Multi-pump Pellet-BB Rifle is not going to win any quality or design awards but from a usability stand point it works well and feels good to hold and shoot, the rear stock and cheek rest are in a perfect piston for me and this is a pretty small airgun overal. Personally I would invest in an upgraded scope, something like the Walther 4x32 would be perfect and not too expensive.
The Umarex NXG APX Multi-pump Pellet-BB Rifle is available in both the Stand Alone Air Rifle and Kit Version that comes with the addition of safety glasses, targets and ammo.
Type: Break barrel pellet rifle.
Manufacturer: Umarex USA.
Model: Ruger Explorer.
Materials: Metal and polymer parts.
Weight: 4.45 pounds (2.5 kg).
Barrel: 12 inches, metal rifled.
Propulsion: Spring piston.
Action: Single shot.
Ammunition Type: .177 caliber pellets.
Ammunition Capacity: 1.
FPS: 495.
Trigger Pull: I found the Ruger Explorer Youth Break Barrel Pellet Rifle to have a fairly light trigger, there is some initial take up with a smooth almost undetectable break or release point, I found that as I shot the Ruger Explorer Youth Break Barrel Pellet Rifle the trigger seemed to be breaking in a bit which made it a bit hard to figure exactly when the trigger was going to release but I feel over time and once the Ruger Explorer Youth Break Barrel Pellet Rifle is broken in the trigger will become more predictable.
Accuracy: Since I have already made a shooting or field test video for the Ruger Explorer Youth Break Barrel Pellet Rifle, I can comment on its performance n this review! With 6 grain lead pellets (on the lighter side), I was able to get a 5 shot Chronograph average velocity of 485 fps. Using heavier 7-8 grain pellets the velocity slowed down a bit to around 400 fps. In terms of accuracy the Ruger Explorer Youth Break Barrel Pellet Rifle performed well getting about a 1 inch 10 shot grouping on my paper target setup 30 feet down range. I know the Ruger Explorer Youth Break Barrel Pellet Rifle can do better than this once the trigger settles down a bit since some shots went off unexpectedly.
Build Quality: The Ruger Explorer Youth Break Barrel Pellet Rifle is not an expensive air rifle and is more or less an entry level spring piston pellet shooter. That said it is built fairly well with a metal receiver, barrel and trigger setup. The modern looking stock is polymer and the steel barrel is coated in a synthetic soft plastic to help with long term durability. The real fiber optic sight is plastic so you will have to be careful with it as it does protrude a bit from the air rifle.
Realism: Since the Ruger Explorer Youth Break Barrel Pellet Rifle is not a replica realism is not really a factor here but it does look like a gun so treat it as if it was a real gun since most people will not know the difference. Always transport and store any airgun safely and discreetly.
Pros:
Really great looking air rifle with a modern look to it.
Finish is very durable with its polymer stock and plastic/rubber coated barrel.
Fully adjustable fiber optic sights are easy to sight in and use.
Receiver is notched for ring mounts so you can add an optical sight or red dot to it.
Trigger is fairly light, just need some break in time with it.
Cocking effort is fairly easy at 16.5 pounds.
Great size gun for all ages.
Power and accuracy were good for an entry level air rifle.
Cons:
I did find the trigger break/release point to be a bit unpredictable but I feel this is a break-in issue and will become more consistent over time.
You have to remember to push that safety in with ever shot.
Comments:
The Ruger Explorer Youth Break Barrel Pellet Rifle is marketed as a Youth air rifle but in reality it would be great fun for all ages. I am a fairly large person at 6 feet tall and I had no problem dealing with the slightly shorter configuration. The trigger guard is nice and open and allows for large fingers which is not always the case with airguns designed for smaller individuals. The overall quality you get with the Ruger Explorer Youth Break Barrel Pellet Rifle for the lower entry level price tag is very good and in terms of performance I feel you for sure get your monies worth with the Ruger Explorer Youth Break Barrel Pellet Rifle.
I don't do a lot of Springer (Spring Piston) Air Rifle shooting tests or even reviews for that matter. Mainly for a couple of reasons: Number 1, my content is mostly focused around Replica style Airguns and Number 2, it's kind of hard to test out the longer range airguns in my 30 foot airgun range. That said I felt the Ruger Explorer Youth Break Barrel Pellet Rifle would be a really great airgun to review since it is both affordable and even though it is targeted for the youth market, it really does make a great shooter for all ages.
I have not done a Table Top Review for the Ruger Explorer Youth Break Barrel Pellet Rifle but plan to shortly so stay posted for more detailed info on the Ruger Explorer Youth Break Barrel Pellet Rifle down the road in that review.
Even at 30 feet out, shooting the Ruger Explorer Youth Break Barrel Pellet Rifle should give us an idea of the ballpark this gun is able to shoot within, I also only used the adjustable fiber optic open sights for this review but I would suggest a low powered optical Scope or even a Red Dot since the Ruger Explorer Youth Break Barrel Pellet Rifle is grooved for scope mounts.
So how'd we do during my Field Test Shooting Video for the Ruger Explorer Youth Break Barrel Pellet Rifle? Not bad I would say! Using about 6 grain rather light weight .177 caliber lead pellets I was able to get really close to the 500 fps claimed fps mark coming in just under at a 5 shot testing average of 485 fps. I did put a couple heavier grain pellets through my Chrony Chronograph and got closer to the 400 fps mark, still not bad for this lighter sprung spring piston air rifle.
In terms of accuracy, shooting at my paper target setup 30 feet down range in my Sea Can Airgun Range, I shot about a 1 inch 10 shot grouping. I was finding the trigger break-in to be a bit unpredictable during this testing which led to some premature shots going off so I do feel once the Ruger Explorer Youth Break Barrel Pellet Rifle is broken in and me getting use to the trigger break, I should be able to improve on this result.
Overall the Ruger Explorer Youth Break Barrel Pellet Rifle is a really nice entry level airgun perfect for all ages and not just the youth market. It looks really cool, is easy to cock and has a very resilient finish. Oh ya it shoots pretty good to!
Yet another retest for an airgun I have already reviewed. But some airguns need another "shot"! Today I just kind of felt like shooting a springer and the Baikal MP-53M Break Barrel .177 Pellet Air Pistol came to mind. I'm not the best at shooting spring pistons airguns since they take a more softer relaxed grip and I tend to hold guns with a bit of a firmer grip.
If you're interested you can watch my previous Field Test Shooting Video for the Baikal MP-53M I performed a couple years back outside on my deck.
As always in my new Sea Can Shipping Container I perform a Chronograph velocity test to see what the real world feet per second is and then I perform a followup accuracy test shooting 10 rounds at a paper target 30 feet down range using a rested seated position. During the velocity Chrony test for the Baikal MP-53M Break Barrel .177 Pellet Air Pistol I was able to get an average of 405 fps which was much higher than my previous testing where I averaged 319 fps. I was using different 7 grain lead pellets but I don't think they where that much different in weigth since the Diabolo pellets should have been around 6-7 grain.
Moving onto the accuracy portion of my Field Test review, this time around my shots stayed a little tighter than last time stretching out to about 2 inches but most of the 10 shots where all within 1 to 1.5 inches. The trigger on the Baikal MP-53M Break Barrel .177 Pellet Air Pistol is really great, super light with just a little take-up and virtually a hair trigger after that with zero friction.
I also wanted to mention that cocking the Baikal MP-53M Break Barrel .177 Pellet Air Pistol is fairly easy and that I did find I needed to set the rear sigh to the all the way down position to get my shots to hit close to the bullseye as this gun seemed to like to shoot rather high out of the box.
Another revisit for an inexpensive and fun BB shooter, the Crosman Marlin Cowboy BB Rifle! I have done some previous video reviews and comparisons for the Crosman Marlin Cowboy BB Rifle so make sure to check them out. I also recently did an update Field Test Shooting Video for the Daisy Red Ryder BB gun which is a very comparable airgun to the Crosman Marlin Cowboy BB Rifle.
Here is a quick overview of the Crosman Marlin Cowboy BB Rifle, it's designed for younger smaller shooter with it's short stock but it's still fun of all ages! You can store 700 4.5mm Steel BB's in its internal magazine and Crosman claims a max velocity of 350 fps. Like the Daisy Red Ryder the power source is a spring piston that is activated by the lever action.
Now let's talk about how the Crosman Marlin Cowboy BB Rifle performed in my Sea Can Field Test Shooting test... Crosman claims a max fps of 350, my Chronograph results came in at a 5 shot average of 316 fps which is not bad compared to the Daisy Red Ryder that also has a claimed fps of 350 but only shot around 240 fps.
So the Crosman Marlin Cowboy BB Rifle is the clear winner in terms of velocity over the Daisy Red Ryder but what about accuracy? That's a different story, the Crosman did not perform all that great for me shooting at a paper target 30 feet away using a rested shooting position. I shot 10 rounds at my paper target and got about a 5-6 inch grouping, there was an underlying smaller tight group that was closer to about 3 inches but a god 3-4 of the BB's came out of it spreading out the group significantly. Compare that to the Daisy Red Ryder with a nice tight 2 inch group.
So what do you want? Power or accuracy? I figure since the Crosman Marlin Cowboy BB Rifle is really targeted of the younger more entry level shooter that it should have good accuracy so they know when they are doing it right and less concerned on if the gun is performing as it should. Sure power is fun and smashing your targets does give a certain satisfaction but you have to hit the target first :)
Both the Crosman Marlin Cowboy BB Rifle and Daisy Red Ryder BB Gun are fun airguns for sure, I guess it just comes down to which one you want to buy...
It's been a while since I pulled out the old Daisy Red Ryder BB Gun. And I know I have already done some Vimeo videos for the Red Ryder and the Crosman Marlin Cowboy but I really wanted to make an updated Field Test Video specifically for the Red Ryder and see how it fairs in a more controlled shooting test.
As always with my Field Test Shooting videos I test out the velocity using my Chrony Chronograph and see what the real world fps is compared to what Daisy Claims which by the way is up to 350 fps. I also setup a paper target about 30 feet back and take 10 shots using a rested and seated shooting position to determine what kind of grouping I can get and how well centered the airgun is out of the box.
During my velocity testing the Daisy Red Ryder BB Gun shot well under the claimed 350 fps by around 100 fps. I can say that the Daisy Red Ryder BB Gun was super consistent and shot between 242 fps as a low and 244 fps as a high averaging 243 fps. The Daisy Red Ryder is sure one of the most consistent airguns I have tested to date in terms of velocity constancy! This will help a lot with vertical accuracy.
During my accuracy test I would have to say the Daisy Red Ryder BB Gun shot pretty close to a 2 inch grouping and was pretty well centered with 4 shots hitting the black bullseye , I did pull my last shot a bit which extended the group a little but this was for sure my fault as I new I pulled it as soon as I shot it, the stock actually dropped on my shoulder a little just as I pulled the trigger.
Overall I really enjoy shooting the Daisy Red Ryder BB Gun, it's so simple yet so fun to shoot, there is just something about a lever action rifle that I really like and the super low cost to purchase and shoot a Daisy Red Ryder BB Gun also makes it a must have for anyone no matter how many airguns you own or what type you shoot.
I was a bit surprised by the Umarex DX-17 Spring Powered BB Pistol, it actually shot a lot better than I was expecting it to perform. I did have to aim rather low since the Umarex DX-17 BB Pistol likes to shoot on the high side but if you are shooting at closer in ranges then you won't have to adjust your aim point so high.
Getting into my performance testing for the Umarex DX-17 Spring Powered BB Pistol, I placed 5 shots through my Chrony Chronograph and averaged 210 fps which again was very close to the Umarex claimed 200 fps, even a little bit higher! he DX-17 is a single shot repeater but because of the BB reservoir you can quickly reload follow up shots by simply point the Umarex DX-17 Spring Powered BB Pistol a little upward while pulling the slide back and pushing it forward to active the spring piston and load a BB at the same time.
As I mentioned the Umarex DX-17 Spring Powered BB Pistol shot on the high side, at 30 feet it's a good 8-9 inches high but I have a feeling that this is about as high as the BB's will rise since they are not going that fast and gravity will start bringing them back down. At about 10-15 feet out from a target the Umarex DX-17 Spring Powered BB Pistol seemed to shoot about 3-4 inches high so not nearly as bad and this can be adjusted pretty easy by simply aiming a bit under the target you are shooting at. In terms of a 10 shot grouping theUmarex DX-17 Spring Powered BB Pistol got about a 4 inch grouping which I have to say kind of surprised me as I was expecting a much larger spread.
So for about $20 you kind of get what you pay for but I really think with the Umarex DX-17 Spring Powered BB Pistol you perhaps get a little more! It has a really good trigger, seemed to be built pretty tuff, shot exactly right on the claimed fps mark and was even able to keep a reasonable grouping. And to keep costs down even more you never need to buy CO2 so that's another bonus.
The Sig Sauer ASP P320 CO2 Blowback .177 Caliber Pellet Pistol is a really nice evolution to the already existing line of Sig Sauer ASP Pellet Pistols. The 30 round belt fed pellet magazine is what really sets it apart from the Sig ASP P250 and Sig ASP P226 which both share the traditional double sided 8 round rotary pellet magazines found in other CO2 pellet pistols like the Umarex PX4 and ASG CZ P-09 Duty.
The big question I had was how is the trigger going to feel and is a 30 round belt magazine going to be reliable? Will other aspects of the Sig Sauer ASP P320 CO2 Blowback .177 Caliber Pellet Pistol function and perform like its rotary magazine brothers?
So I figured I would put the Sig Sauer ASP P320 CO2 Blowback .177 Caliber Pellet Pistol up against both the Sig ASP P250 and P226 and see how they all faired against each other.
During my Chronograph feet per second shooting test I compared all three blowback pellet pistols shooting five rounds from each of them using a brand new CO2 and Sig Sauer 5.25 grain Match Ballistic Alloy Pellets. It was a close race with the Sig ASP P250 averaging 413 fps, the Sig ASP P226 just under with a 409 fps average and the Sig ASP P320 coming in a very close third at 405 fps. Only about 8 fps separating all of them!
Moving on to the target portion of my testing. As per my standard Field Test Shooting Reviews I setup my paper targets about 30 feet from my rested shooting position and since the ASP P250 and P226 both have 8 rounds per side rotary magazines I decided to shoot an 8 round grouping with all three Sig ASP pellet pistols. It was really close and perhaps one could say most of the variability was because of the human factor. All three CO2 Blowback Pellet Pistols shot about 2 inch groupings with perhaps one or two outliers, again most likely my fault :) I would say the Sig Sauer ASP P250 was perhaps the most accurate with the tightest of the three groups and also the most centered. The Sig Sauer ASP P226 and Sig Sauer ASP P320 where both a close second with both of them shooting just a tad left on target but pretty close to the center.
What about that Sig Sauer ASP P320 CO2 Blowback .177 Caliber Pellet Pistol trigger and belt fed magazine? The trigger actually felt great, much lighter than I was expecting and I did not have one pellet feed error during my entire testing. At the end of the day all three Sig ASP pellet guns performed about the same, but I have to say having 30 rounds at your disposal without having to reload or rotate the stick mag really makes the Sig ASP P320 stand out and perhaps make it the winner in a very close contest.
Type: BB air pistol.
Distributer: Umarex.
Model: DX-17.
Materials: Mostly plastic build.
Weight: 1.6 pounds (726 grams).
Barrel: 4.27 inches, non-rifled.
Propulsion: Spring.
Action: Single shot.
Ammunition Type: 4.5mm Steel BB's.
Ammunition Capacity: 15 round BB reservoir.
FPS: 200.
Trigger Pull: The single action only trigger pull on the Umarex DX-17 Spring Powered BB Pistol is actually pretty good. It's fairly short with only a little bit of very light take up and then an easy release that has no added friction. So you will have to get use to when and where the release happens but it is a really decent trigger for such an inexpensive airgun.
Accuracy: I have only shot the Umarex DX-17 Spring Powered BB Pistol a few times to get use to the mechanical operation of using this spring powered pistol since there is a very specific order in which you need to cock and load the Umarex DX-17 for proper operation. I did find the DX-17 shot a bit high for me at 30 feet out so I had to adjust my aim point about 5-6 inches lower to hit targets at this range. For further out shooting you many not need to do so since the fps is fairly low and I would expect the BB to drop pretty quickly. In terms of power being that the Umarex DX-17 Spring Powered BB Pistol is only rated at 200fps, well it seems sufficient enough for plinking away at targets and should have no problem getting through a pop can.
Build Quality: I was expecting this $20 low cost BB airgun to be fairly low quality in general but when I took it out of the plastic clamshell packaging I was pleasantly surprised by the overall quality and how the Umarex DX-17 Spring Powered BB Pistol felt in my hand. It has a good weight to it and the fit and finish are really good. Mechanical parts tolerances feel snug and the plastic used feels of good quality.
Realism: The Umarex DX-17 Spring Powered BB Pistol as far as I know is not a replica of any specific real steel gun in production but it does kind of remind me of a Browning Hi-power at least the back half and the way the frame angles up a bit in front of the trigger. Other than that it looks the part of a real gun. The DX-17 has what looks like real working parts on it with the slide catch, magazine release and magazine but plat all moulded into the airgun.
Available at the: Replica Airguns Store
Pros:
At $21 Canadian its great value for a target plinker.
It actually looks and feels pretty good in person, better than I expected build quality and weight to it.
No CO2 required so very cheap to shoot.
Single action trigger is actually really decent, better than most airguns.
Accessory rail for adding a red dot or perhaps a tactical light.
15 round reservoir makes followup shots quicker and no fumbling around loading BB’s in-between shots.
Lower fps means if you do do something stupid you are less likely to have to make a trip to the doctor
Cons:
Pretty low fps so don’t expect any long range shooting or great penetration.
Sights are not adjustable and it seems to shoot kind of high.
Why not rifle the barrel and make pellets an option?
Comments:
I rarely review these super low cost airguns especially spring powered ones with low fps, it almost seems like why would you want any of that? But you know the Umarex DX-17 Spring Powered BB Pistol is actually a great little airgun and you really can't beat the price tag. You are also going to save a bunch of money not having to buy CO2 and once you load 15 rounds into the BB reservoir you can empty the DX-17 fairly quickly. Sure the power seems a bit low but it gets the job done and like I said if there was an accident, you are less likely to break that window or require medical attention. I think this would be a great add on to an existing order you might be making with us, that way you wouldn't have to pay for shipping for this one item and you get a fun little plinker for only $20 more.
My Vimeo Videos for the Umarex DX-17 Spring Powered BB Pistol:
