In this Comparison video I go through the benefits and shortcomings of both Blowback and Non-Blowback Airguns. I focus mainly on Airguns but there is a definite crossover with Airsoft guns.

Here are some basic statements that best describe both Blowback and Non-Blowback Airguns.

Blowback Airguns:

• Blowback Airguns usually have a movable slide that moves back and forth with each shot.

• Sometimes the blowback operation is internal (Internal bolt) so there may not be an external moveable slide.

• Some CO2 is used to move the slide rearwards in a Blowback Airgun.

• The Blowback motion of the slide with some blowback airguns can also cock the hammer or internal striker allowing for true single action trigger pull. But not always!

• Some Blowback airguns have the potential for full auto capabilities since they can have a true semi auto action.

• There is some noticeable recoil from the Blowback action simulating the recoil of a real gun.

Non-Blowback Airguns:

• Non-Blowback Airguns can have fixed or movable slides but they will not cycle back and forth with each shot.

• Non-Blowback Airguns tend to have less working parts since no Blowback valves are required or even a moveable slide.

• There are some Blowback and Non-Blowback Airguns that field strip similarly to their real steel counterparts but this is most commonly found in Blowback Airguns.

• Non-Blowback Airguns require the shooter to cock the hammer for single action shooting or use a double action trigger pull for semi auto like performance.

Pros:

Blowback Airguns:

• Blowback Action causes a noticeable recoil which makes the airgun feel more realistic.

• Blowback Airguns in some cases have true semi auto action with true single action triggers which mimic the authenticity of the real steel versions of the guns they replicate much better making them better training tools.

• Having some recoil makes blowback Airguns potentially better training tools.

• Blowback Airguns look really cool when shooting them  and are great action prop guns.

Non-Blowback Airguns:

• Non-Blowback Airguns tend to have less working parts so less to go wrong and more reliability.

• Non-Blowback Airguns can be more accurate since the recoil from the blowback is not a factor.

• Non-Blowback Airguns have more potential power and more shots per CO2 since no CO2 is robbed for the blowback operation.

Cons:

Blowback Airguns:

• Blowback operation can rob some of the power and will also rob how many shots you get from the Airgun.

• Blowback Airguns are effected even more by cold weather and the cool down effect.

• The recoil from Blowback Airguns can effect accuracy for some shooters.

Non-Blowback Airguns:

• Non-Blowback airguns are generally double action when shooting semi auto and so the trigger pull will be longer and heavier.

• Non-Blowback Airguns do not replicate the recoil action of a real gun.

• Non-Blowback Airguns do not look as cool to shoot and are not as good of an action prop gun.

Is an Airgun Good for Self Defense? Another one of those questions I get asked fairly often that's a bit hard to answer in a few sentences... Not all of us have easy access to a 9mm pistol or even a rifle but many of us can get our hands on an airgun fairly easily and they look real enough, I guess that is one thing they have going for them.

But what if the mere sight of what looks like a gun does not scare an intruder off? If you where hoping that would be enough, you may just be out of luck and what if you just brought an Airgun to a "real" gun fight? You are going to be drastically "outgunned" pun intended and here's why. A 4.5mm Steel BB weighs about 5.1 grains and generally you are looking at about 2-3 foot pounds of energy from a CO2 BB gun. Even a .177 caliber lead pellet is only marginally heavier at around 7-8 grains and if you're really lucky you might just get 4 foot pounds of energy out of a CO2 pellet pistol.

So let's take a look at a fairly conservative "real pistol" rounds, the 9mm. The 9mm rounds come in different bullet weighs but you can get a 120 grain 9mm in a plus p ammo with as much as 400 foot pounds of energy and even with that much raw power, many people claim that a 9mm round does not always have enough stopping power to put down a person even when shot multiple times center mass. It just depends what vital organs or arteries you hit that determines if he gets lucky or you get lucky.

Your 5.1 grain 4.5mm Steel BB is not going to do anything if it hits any type of clothing and even if you find some flesh it's just going to piss off the intruder.

My suggestion is to consider a bat or a golf club or a really big knife or just about anything other than an airgun because if the sight of the airgun replica does not scare an intrude away then you are really buggered.

Keep in mind that you need to abide by any laws regarding the use of self defense in your areas. Even just physical force could be considered a crime and at the end of the day you are ultimately accountable for your actions.

I finally answer the question... Which Airgun is the Best? There has to be a best airgun out there right? So let's cut to the chase and stop waisting everyones time and money buying the third Best Airgun or even the second best Airgun! Why would you even want anything other than the very best Airgun available to mankind!

I really hope you weren't one of the gullible ones that actually bought something other than the Best Airgun, well I guess you're going to have to watch my YouTube video to find out which Airgun is the Best Airgun of all time...

I would think that most of you by now are aware of my other YouTube Channel, GetFitOver40, or perhaps not? Either way you are now :) I have been running GetFitOver40.com for almost as long as I have been running the ReplicaAirguns YouTube Channel and Website but I put GetFitOver40 on the back burner until about a year ago where I started investing some of my time back into it and as of right now the GetFitOver40 YouTube Channel has over one hundred videos, close to one millions videos views and over four thousand subscribers so it's doing pretty well.

If you haven't already guessed, GetFitOver40 is a fitness channel geared to those 40+ but I have lots of fitness related info for all ages including fitness gadget reviews!

My latest endeavor is a collaboration with the folks over at mrKnife.com, I like knives and they have an abundant supply of knifes for me to review so it seems like a good fit. Mr Knife is a Canada based online store supplying a variety of knife brands including, Cold Steel, SOG, Kershaw Canada and Ontario Knife Company. Here is the mrKnife new YouTube channel location.

So if any of these other YouTube Channels and Websites interest you then please show me your support and check them out and subscribe :)

This video in many ways goes over a Q&A I did back November 2013 but since we keep getting asked these question all the time, I thought I would address them again :)

1. How much is shipping in Canada? In a nut shell... $15 flat rate across Canada even to Ontario  and Quebec.

4. Will I have problems with Customs? No you will not since all the items we have listed in our Canada Replica Airguns store have already been imported into Canada and will be shipped from Canada to Canada, no boarders are crossed when we ship to you.

7. Are all guns legal in Canada? Yes, since they have all been legally imported into Canada already, they are legal to sell, buy and own in all parts of Canada. Some items you will have to be 18+ years old to purchase.

10. What about price matching? We will price match any Canada based online or retail store within Canada that ships from within Canada. The only stipulation we have is that the item be currently in stock since some "questionable" business will drop the price on items they do not have in stock or have discontinued.

13. How long will shipping take? We always do our best to get your orders packed up as quick as we can and generally have them out the door within one or two business days, there are times when we get backed up with orders and this may timeframe may get stretched out to three days at most. Once Canada Post has the order it will take another 1-5 business days to get to you depending on how far away you are located from our BC based warehouse.

I hope this info has cleared a few things up for everyone!

I have already posted individual company updates on this years 2014 Vegas SHOT Show so make sure to checkout the links to each post below. You can also watch my Full Vimeo video that includes some video and a few more photos...

• SHOT SHOW VEGAS 2014 UMAREX BOOTH

• SHOT SHOW VEGAS 2014 ASG BOOTH

• SHOT SHOW VEGAS 2014 CROSMAN BOOTH

• SHOT SHOW VEGAS 2014 GAMO BOOTH

• SHOT SHOW VEGAS 2014 INOKATSU AIRSOFT

• SHOT SHOW VEGAS 2014 G&G BOOTH

• SHOT SHOW VEGAS 2014 MISCELLANEOUS

I get asked all the time what my favorite guns are? Truth is it changes from time to time but I still keep coming back to these guns over and over again, here are my top 10 Airguns. But this does not mean these are the only guns I like and you never know, I may change the list from time to time...

MICHAEL'S TOP 10 AIRGUN PISTOLS

We carry a lot of the G&G line and perhaps have as much in stock as you would find at the G& G booth ;) I did see a few items we do not have in stock so I will have to see what I can do about that. Some products that I hope to see added to our Canada Replica Airguns Store would for sure be the M1 Grand and our Canadian Military Colt C7A1/2.

I also visited my friends at the ASG booth but for some reason I did not get a photo  of their booth? I do have some video walk through stuff I will show you in my YouTube Video coverage of this years Vegas SHOT Show. Most importantly I have lots of gun photos so let's take a look at them...

One of my favorite ASG pistols is the Bersa BP9CC, I have already reviewed it and I just really like how this gun looks and holds, ASG took it one step further this year by adding a two-tone silver version and I have to say it looks awesome in person, my photos do not do it justice at all :(

A new handgun to the ASG blowback pistol series is the CZ P-09 Duty Pellet pistol. Basically it shares similar mechanics to the Umarex PX4 and Gamo PT-85 using the double sided rotary pellet magazine with 8 shots located on each end of the stick magazine. The ASG CZ P-09 Duty features a metal slide, working hammer and safety.

Another pellets pistol that should be very familiar to most of you is the new .177 caliber pellet shooting Dan Wesson in 6 inch silver and 8 inch black versions. ASG added a rifled barrel and redesigned solid brass shells that hold pellets instead of 4.5mm Steel BB's. Expect to take a little bit longer to reload the pellets as unscrewing the tip of each shell is required to place a .177 caliber pellet in each bullet tip.

Of course ASG has tons of licensed pistols to choose from, many on both 4.5mm Steel BB and 6mm Plastic Airsoft!

One new rifle that stood out to me was the ASG CZ Scorpion EVO 3 A1 AEG Airsoft Rifle, the Scorpion features an intelligent AEG system that detects when there may be a potential feeding problem and also when the magazine is out of ammo.

Umarex had a lot of new products this year so I thought I would start off showing you some of them. I will be following this post up with a full 2014 Vegas SHOT Show video once I finish posting some of my photos and comments on the show events.

Here is a photo of the main Umarex Booth.

I have always liked the 4.5mm BB version of the Umarex Makarov, Umarex now has the Makarov Ultra version that features blowback, a working slide catch and full size drop out magazine, looking forward to testing this one out!

Another kind of new addition to the 4.5mm Steel BB lineup is the Umarex Beretta Model 84FS. It has been available overseas but is now coming to North America. The Umarex Beretta Model 84FS also features blowback and a full size drop out magazine.

I'm not sure if we needed another rebranded version of the KWC 1911 Blowback BB pistol, but we got one anyways! Umarex now has their own version of what looks to similar to the KWC Tac A1 but with Colt licensing. 

Umarex also made up a very limited edition and very weathered looking blowback BB shooting 1911 based on the KWC design called the Colt 1911 WWII Commemorative. I am not sure how many where made but I know there are not a lot of them... Hope I can get my hands on one...

Umarex came out with Smith & Wesson 327 TRR8 last year and this year they have added a similar styled 4.5mm Steel BB shooting revolver with removable shells but in a licensed Colt Python 357 version.

Last but not least and going back many years, Umarex is bringing out another Legends Series 4.5mm BB pistol. The German Mauser C96, I'm not 100% sure if it's blowback or not but it does seem to have a working action, the main pistol is made out of Polymer but it does have a full size drop out magazine and seems to have good weight overall. Most of the parts work like the original Mauser C96 including the adjustable rear sight and safeties.

This post is really all about watching the YouTube video and seeing how these two similar CO2 4.5mm Steel BB revolvers compare to each other. I was working with a new Chronograph since again it was really dark outside and my old Chronograph does not like darkness. I did get some usable Chrony results with the new one but I did have to work for it ;)

Make sure to checkout my other posts for my Dan Wesson revolvers and also the Umarex S&W 327 TRR8.

Watch the video below to see the Dan Wesson 8 inch 4.5mm Steel BB Revolver go head to head against the Umarex S&W 327 TRR8 in both a test of the feet per second performance and accuracy shooting at 30 feet using a semi rested position.

Buy S&W 327 TRR8 in Canada   -   Buy S&W 327 TRR8 in the US

Buy ASG Dan Wesson Revolvers in Canada  -  Buy ASG BB Pistols in the US

I get many question over on my Vimeo Channel, lots of times people asking me which gun is better and in most cases it really comes down to personal preference. But in some situations the comparisons are really close and to be honest it's even hard for me to decide which gun I think is better.

I get asked which one has higher fps, or is more accurate, or has harder blowback recoil... the list goes on. Without actually taking both gun outside and doing a head to head test using the same exact situations, I really can not honestly tell you! So that's exactly what I am going to do. Take some of the most commonly asked about gun comparisons and have a showdown.

Over the next while I will be making a total of five separate videos where I compare the following CO2 BB pistols head to head:

• The Tanfoglio Gold Custom versus the Sig Sauer P226 X-Five Sight Rail Version

• The KWC Model M1911 Tac A1 versus the Cybergun/KWC GSG 92/M92

• The ASG Dan Wesson 8 inch Revolver versus the Umarex Smith & Wesson 327 TRR8

• The ASG CZ 75 P-07 Duty versus the ASG Bersa BP9CC versus the ASG STI Duty One 1911

• The Gamo PT-85 versus the Umarex Beretta PX4 Storm

Make sure to come back and check out these upcoming head to head field test shooting videos!

So it's 2014 but I still needed to make my 2013 Airgun, Airsoft Gun and Blank Gun Collection Favorites for 2013. It's become a tradition I guess you could say. No I do not show all the guns in my collection but I do cover most of my favorites and also some new guns I picked up in 2013.

Here's a peek but make sure to watch the YouTube video bellow where I go over all my top picks for 2013. You can also buy many of the guns I show in this YouTube video over in our Canada and US Replica Airguns Store!

2013 BB Pistols

2013 Pellet Pistols

2013 Airsoft Pistols

2013 Blank Pistols

2013 Rifles

A quick heads up for all our Canada Replica Airguns Store Customers. We just got in a bunch more Umarex products so if you have been waiting on something to come back in stock it may just be waiting for you... Including the very popular Umarex Steel Force BB Machine gun.

Buy Umarex Products in the Canada Store

Boxing Week Sale at Replica Airguns (25th -31st  December, 2013!) The Christmas - New Year Festivity brings much awaited discounts on all items in the Replica Airguns Canada and USA store. All items at flat 20% off!

We combed through some of 2013's best Christmas promotions and came up with a flat 20% off discount on all items in our Canada and USA based stores. An exciting mix of all models of Replica airguns, rifles, pistols and accessories is on sale for our subscribers and existing customers.

Use this exclusive coupon code to avail the discount:

• For Canada customers (http://www.replicaairguns.ca/)– KASDJALSKDJAJK
• For USA customers (/) – IUK55DOTXV70

 

I wanted to let all our Canada Store Customers know we recently received an order of Umarex and Cybergun products!

I wanted to let all our Canada customers know that if you place your order by December 16th, we will get your order to you by the 24th. Of course if Canada Post screws up then this is outside of our control.

For our US customers we of course will do our very best to get your orders to you as quickly as possible during this holiday season.

Since both the Gold ASG Dan Wesson and the G&G G731 Airsoft Revolvers both have the 2.5 inch barrels on them and in many ways are very similar (at least mechanically), I thought I would not only do my Table Top Review but also my Field Test Shooting Review using both guns side by side so we can really get an idea of how they perform and compare.

As per usual, I test both pistols out on my Chronograph to see what kind of real world feet per second rating I get, since they are 6 shot Revolvers, I fired 6 single action rounds from each gun using .20 gram plastic Airsoft BB's and averaged out the string. Both guns shot a little bit over 400 fps with the Dan Wesson having just a bit of a higher fps over the G&G G731.

Next up was the accuracy test, I decided to setup at my 30 foot mark so that any accuracy differences would be more noticeable, again I shot 6 rounds from each gun while I used a semi rested position, (sand bag for a hand rest and standing in the back). This time I would have to give the slight edge to the G&G G731 as it seemed to shoot just a bit tighter grouping over my Dan Wesson Gold. Both guns shot pretty close to a 2 inch 6 shot group.

Both pistols have pretty decent single and double action triggers, there is a some noticeable friction when shooting in double action due to the way the barrel seals against the cylinder so you may want to shoot in single action when going for the most accurate of shooting.

When it comes to sight picture the Dan Wesson does have a fully adjustable rear sight but the G&G G731 gets the job done with it's simple yet effective grove sight which I kind of preferred with this style of short barreled revolver.

If you want more of that combat look with some Gold Bling than perhaps the Gold ASG Dan Wesson is the one for you? Perhaps you want something like the G&G G731, as compact and simple as it gets that you know you can count on as a backup ready sidearm. There isn't a bad choice here with either of these nice compact Airsoft Revolvers.

Buy ASG Gold Airsoft Pistol in Canada  -  Buy Airsoft Revolvers in the US

Buy G&G G731 Airsoft Pistols in Canada  -  Buy Airsoft Revolvers in the US

Type: Airsoft Revolvers.

Manufacturer: ASG - G&G

Model:Dan Wesson 2.5 inch Gold - G&G G731 2.5 inch Silver & Black

Materials: Mostly metal.

Weight: 1.87 pounds. (850 grams) - 1.65 pounds. (750 grams)

Barrel: Metal non-rifled.

Propulsion: CO2 x 1.

Action: Revolver, single and double action.

Ammunition Type: 6mm plastic Airsoft BB's.

Ammunition Capacity: 6 rounds.

FPS: 394.

Trigger Pull: Both of these pistols have about the same style of triggers, they both shoot in true revolvers style offering single and double action triggers. The double action has a bit of friction to it since the cylinder is being rotate during the first part of the trigger pull and there is a spring fed metal gasket between the barrel and the cylinder that creates a seal but does apply pressure and results in some friction and a heavier trigger pull in double action. Single action is much lighter on both guns.

Accuracy: This part of my testing has not been conducted to date, I will put a link in here when I have completed my Shooting Field Test review for the ASG Dan Wesson 2.5 inch Gold and G&G G731 2.5 inch Airsoft pistols. Even thought the claimed fps is around 400 for both guns I am expecting more like 350-375 fps. Accuracy should be decent at closer ranges but since there is no hop-up, neither gun would be good at longer ranges in my opinion.

Build Quality: These detailed revolver are really well built! Both are almost all metal with just a few components made out of plastic, like the handles on both guns and the CO2 screw tab on the Dan Wesson. Both revolvers grips gave me just a bit of concern, you will need to be careful when snapping in the grip on the G&G G731 and the Dan Wesson grips have been known to ware a bit with heavy use. The finish on both of these guns is amazing and while the Silver finish on the G&G looks just like polished stainless steel, the Gold finish on the Dan Wesson offers a very unique and customized finish not found on too many guns. And if you just want classic black then there is always the G&G G731 in standard black as an option.

Realism: The ASG Dan Wesson and G&G G731 revolvers are as close as you can get to real six shooters, all the parts work pretty much like a real revolver, the realistic loading of the metal shells not only make it feel like you are handling a real revolver but also finish off the look making it really hard to tell that both these pistols are in fact Airsoft Revolvers.

Purchased From: The Replica Airguns Store.

Pros:

• Revolver with actual brass shells giving you the feeling of a real 6 shooter!

• Almost all metal design.

• lots of detail in both revolvers, very well made, fit and finish is excellent.

• Should have respectable power for a short barreled pistol.

• Fully adjustable sight on the ASG Dan Wesson.

• G&G G731 is super compact and flush, great out of the way back up side arm.

• No Red Tip on the Canada version.

Cons:

• Plastic CO2 screw tab on the Dan Wesson (but is well hidden and protected).

• A bit of concern with wearing and usage on the grips for both guns.

• No adjustable sight on the G&G G731 but super clean looking.

• Red tip on the US version :(

Comments:

As with all of these shell loading revolvers, they are just so realistic and really fun to load up and shoot. You actually get a bit of time in-between shooting to take a breath and enjoy the entire experience rather than just unload round after round with some of the other super high round magazine guns. I love the compact size of both guns, perhaps the G&G G731 just a bit more with it's super clean edges and even smaller profile. But on the other hand the Dan Wesson ASG 2.5 inch has that more aggressive combat look if that is more to your liking! Either way, both guns make a great choice for an out of the way revolver styled side arm when you need that extra backup firepower!

My Vimeo Video Table Top Review for these compact realistic Airsoft Revolvers:

Buy ASG Gold Airsoft Pistol in Canada  -  Buy Airsoft Revolvers in the US

Buy G&G G731 Airsoft Pistols in Canada  -  Buy Airsoft Revolvers in the US

What can I say, most places are jack'n up their prices and we seem to keep lowering them!

Now I know some of you are going to say, "why are these guns so much lower cost in the US than in Canada?" You can blame that one on the money grabbers along the way when we have to ship and import many products from the US to Canada. In fact our supplier is exactly the same for all the Cybergun products in both Canada and the US, it just costs a lot more for us to land them here in Canada , and you guessed it, we pass that extra cost right back to you our beloved Canadian customers :)

So back to the good news for our US customers...

If you have not already picked up one of these amazing Replica CO2 Blowback BB pistols then make sure to do so now that they are at an all time low price point:

• Buy the Cybergun Tanfoglio Witness 1911 A1 Blowback - Full Metal in the US

• Buy the Cybergun Beretta/Taurus P92 - Full Metal in the US