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…
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.
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.
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.
In this Indoor Field Test Shooting Video I test out the Umarex T4E TR68 .68 Caliber Paintball Revolver to see what the real world velocity is and what kind accuracy I can get shooting at a paper target 30 feet away. For this Video Review I use a brand new CO2 along with .68 caliber Rubber Balls. I have already made a Table Top Video for the Umarex T4E TR68 so check that out if you’re interested in specifications and details along with more closeup video of this Paintball Revolver. And for fun I also made an interesting outside shooting video using actual Paintballs that highlights this Revolver along with the Umarex T4E HK VP9 .43 Cal. Paintball Pistol.
So let’s get straight to the shooting results! For my Chronograph test, being indoors the temperature was about room temperature, maybe a bit lower at around 19-20 Degrees Celsius or 66-68 Degrees Fahrenheit. Temperature can affect velocity as CO2 performs better in warmer conditions. My fastest Chronograph result was 205 fps while my slowest shot hitting 190 fps resulting in a average of 198 fps . Keep in mind the .68 caliber Rubber Balls have a lot more weight to them than the smaller .50 or .43 Caliber Balls used in other Umarex T4E Paintball Airguns.
Next I performed the accuracy portion which for me is the fun part, I often shoot 10 rounds in to my paper targets setup 30 feet down range, since the Umarex T4E TR68 .68 Caliber Paintball Revolver magazines only holds 5 rounds, I did have to make a quick magazine change half way through my Accuracy Test. I was also using a semi-rested shooting position with my hands resting on a sandbag up front and sitting on a stool in the back. There was also one other disruption in my shooting worth mentioning as I had to go up and put the paper target back on as it was dislodged by the energy of these larger Rubber Balls. That all said, I was able to get about a 5 inch grouping from my 10 rounds which is pretty good for a Paintball Airgun. I am confident you will be able to get all your shots on a body sized target at 30 feet out with a little bit of practice. Most of the shots were pretty well centered, perhaps just a little bit under the bullseye.
Even though the Umarex T4E TR68 .68 Caliber Paintball Revolver is a lot larger than the somewhat similar Umarex T4E TR50 .50 Caliber Paintball Revolver, I prefer it as I found it to shoot a bit more reliably and with good accuracy. It is maybe a bit large for some people as compared to the TR50 but I feel the extra size is worth it for the increased energy at point of impact and again the superior accuracy and reliability.
Summer will be over before we know it, so why not get out and shoot some Paintball Pistols on a bunch of random targets in the yard before fall kicks in! I rarely get to use actual Paintballs in my Paintball Guns as I mainly test indoors and so I pretty much have to use Rubber Balls or have to deal with a bunch of clean up afterwards.
So today I grabbed my two newest Umarex T4E Paintball Pistols, the Umarex T4E TR68 and Umarex T4E HK VP9. I of course I loaded them up with their appropriate ammo .68 and .43 caliber Paintballs, and headed outside.
Figuring out how to make the video interesting and get lots of different camera angles can be fun, so I decided to grab my Hover Camera X1 which I think from now on is going to be my new “Camera Man” when I need a camera recoding me as I move around. I also placed my Insta 360 One R and my iVUE Vista Camera glasses in the mix. All being audio recorded with my Comica Vimo C Wireless Lapel Mic so you can actually hear everything clearly.
Seems like a lot of production using all of these recording devices and then having to line up, cut and mix everything together in post. Well you guys are worth it and I’m a bit of a tech junky so it was all kind of fun for me too.
Type: Paintball Gun. Manufacturer:Umarex - T4E. Model:T4E TR68 Materials: Metal & Polymer. Weight: 773 grams (1.7 pounds). Barrel: 6.5 inches (165mm) ,Smooth bore. Total Length: 13 inches (331mm). Power Source: 1x12 gram CO2. Action: Revolver - Double action only trigger. Ammo Type: .68 Caliber Paintball or Rubber Ball. Ammo Capacity: 5 Rounds x 3 magazines. FPS: 230-300.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on Umarex T4E TR68 .68 Caliber Paintball Revolver is double action only but not very long with a much smoother feel than the TR50, so maybe Umarex did some improving here. without any ammo in it the T4E TR68 trigger feels responsive for a double action trigger. We will have to see when I do my Field Test Shooting Video how it performs and if fully loaded up and primed, if it feels the same?
Accuracy: So far I have not had the opportunity to test the Umarex T4E TR68 .68 Caliber Paintball Revolver out, the only other similar product that may compare would be the Umarex T4E TR50 but I have a feeling both these guns will perform rather different since the ammo is a lot larger on the TR68. Also with the way the different triggers feel, I expect this to help with performance on the Umarex T4E TR68.
Build Quality: The build quality of the Umarex T4E TR68 .68 Caliber Paintball Revolver is good overall. It is a mostly plastic build with some metal parts where they need to be internally. It is essentially two plastic halves held together by small screws with few actual mechanical working external parts. You have the trigger with its working trigger safety, the removable magazine and magazine release and of course the quick puncture CO2 screw knob. The hammer is internal. The Umarex T4E TR68 .68 Caliber Paintball Revolver is not very heavy but it does feel really solid in the hand because of its very large size.
Realism: The Umarex T4E TR68 .68 Caliber Paintball Revolver is not really a replica per say of any real steel gun that I know of. It does share a lot of similarities with the Crosman Vigilante which is a CO2 BB/Pellet Revolver with its main design going back several decades. The Umarex T4E TR68 .68 Caliber Paintball Revolver looks similar to what a modern looking large caliber revolver such as a 357 or 44 magnum looks like. It is not going to fool anyone up close that you actually have a real steel revolver but then again I don’t think if you are shooting it at anyone they are going to want to get all that close to you :)
Pros:
Hoping to get a bit more raw energy out of the T4E TR.68 than the TR50 as it uses larger heavier ammo. (TR50 averaged 328 using rubber balls for reference).
Lots of mounting options for accessories like a tac light, laser or other sighting option with it’s upper and lower picatinny rail setup.
Quick CO2 pierce system so you can leave a CO2 in it ready to go any time with no worries about CO2 leaking out while in storage.
Working Trigger Safety.
White dot sights super easy to see on targets of varying colors and shades.
DOA Trigger feels pretty decent, not too long or heavy.
Comes with 3 total magazines you can preload ready for use.
Super non-complicated design. Once loaded with CO2 and Paintballs or Rubber Balls, all you need to do is hit the CO2 knob and then pull the trigger.
Build quality feels good, the gun is fairly beefy but not overly heavy.
Grip is normal size even thought the gun itself is fairly large.
Cons:
Mostly all plastic build.
Sights are not adjustable so hopefully it is well centered out of the box.
Do not expect a lot of shots per CO2. Will find out when I do my Field Test Shooting Review.
Comments:
The Umarex T4E TR68 .68 Caliber Paintball Revolver is an interesting Paintball gun, overseas versions are marketed as the HDR86 which stands for “Home Defense Revolver”, while the North American or Canada version is marketed as the TR68 for “Training Revolver”. This is mainly because in Europe most countries are not allowed to own real handguns but can own “Self Defense handguns”. In the US real handguns are very easy to obtain and can be used for self defense. Just across the border here in Canada we can not really purposely have on hand anything that we plan to use as a weapon for self defense so the Umarex T4E TR68 .68 Caliber Paintball Revolver, like the TR50 is marketed as a Training Revolver. What’s the difference? Not much, our North American 230+ fps version is a lot like the lower powered German versions in terms of power but you can also get more powerful versions in the UK. All that said, the Umarex T4E TR68 .68 Caliber Paintball Revolver at least here in Canada is made and marketed as a Training Paintball gun maybe not all that suitable on the field? What you decide to do with it is up to you.
In this Replica Airguns Unboxing Video I take a look at 6 Airguns consisting of 2 Paintball Pistols, 3 Airsoft Rifles and one Pellet Rifle. This is not a full review in any way but is rather a preview of what i will be doing full Reviews for over the next several weeks.
This is not exclusive to Airguns since trends of Airguns are highly influenced by what type of Real Steel Pistols are popular to people. This is often based on what people see portrayed in movies and TV Series, and also promoted online. There is for sure an overlap in what is popular and it is hard to say what is influencing what? Is it the popularity of Pistols out in the real world that influences what we see being used in the movies and on TV? Or is it what we see in Movies and TV that influences our choices of pistols out in the real world? Perhaps it is a combination of both?
My list is based on my own personal experience and does not represent the entirety of types of Pistol designs available.
Airguns are generally cheaper to buy and for sure cheaper to shoot. Airguns can cost as little as $50-100 to buy while real guns in similar models will cost many time more. Cost of ammo is so much less expensive than Real Gun ammo by a mile!
Difficulty to Obtain:
Airguns in most countries do not require any licensing or registration. Generally there are more available options in Airgun choices than Real Gun choices as restrictions often prohibit many Real Guns to be obtained.
Places to Shoot:
Unless you live in a super remote locations and your laws allow you to shoot Real Guns in those locations, then in most cases you can shoot an Airgun almost anywhere within reason. You can even shoot certain Airgun models in your basement. Airsoft is a great option for indoor shooting as the plastic ammo does not carry very much energy so with minimal effort you can make a backstop that will trap the ammo very well.
Trigger Time:
Because ammo is much less expensive and places you can shoot are easier to find, you can get a lot more Trigger Time under your belt which will also improve your shotgun with Real Guns and after all it’s just fun to shoot guns even if they are Airguns.
Safety:
I am not talking about safety in terms of protection. I am talking about safety as in if you do something stupid and your Gun goes off accidentally. If you accidentally fire your Airgun indoors, the bullet will not travel through floors or walls and potentially harm or kill someone on the other side. If you do manage to shoot yourself with an Airgun, the consequence are much less severe than shooting yourself with a Real Gun. That said, always treat an Airgun as if it was a Real Loaded Gun, as server injury and even death can occur even with an Airgun.
Ware Games and Training Situations:
There is no way you can use a standard Real Gun to shoot at people, unless extensively altered with special parts that make the Real Gun unusable to shoot live ammo. With Airguns you have the choice of using an Airsoft or Paintball gun that are both designed specifically for this purpose.
Pest Control:
If you have the need for pest control in an urban area where you do not want a stray bullet to travel too far or penetrate buildings if a shot where to go awry, then an Airgun designed for accuracy and power may be perfect for the job. Accuracy with target and hunting Airguns is on par if not better than many Real Guns and are have powerful enough to kill a pest humanely without having too much power for the job and having to worry as much about your background.
Prop Guns:
As mentioned already, Airguns can look a lot like Real Guns, so they are perfect to be used as a stand-in or Prop Gun when you need to simulate the look and function of a Real Gun. Again they are easier and cheaper to obtain and if something does go wrong, the consequences are much less severe.
Social Stigma:
Unfortunately Real Guns and perhaps any gun these days are looked upon with a social stigma as being the cause of the Crime rather than a tool used in a Crime. And so people blame Guns for these crimes rather than the people committing these crimes. If a person is motivated enough to do something bad, they are going to do it either way and will use whatever means is available to them to commit these Crimes. Including other means like: Knives, Blunt Objects, Poisons, Vehicles, Explosives… Sad but true! Airguns are not used in homicides or mass shootings as they are completely underpowered for a crime like this. They can however be used in crimes as a show of threat, as they do look a lot like real guns, generally people that use Airguns for real crimes, if challenged will give up immediately as they are completely outgunned. Don’t bring an Airgun to a Real Gun fight, you have better chance with a knife!
I have made a fair amount of video reviews for the Dan Wesson Line of AIrguns that encompass Table Top and Field Test Reviews on several versions of the Dan Wesson line: BB, Pellet, Airsoft, in a variety of barrel and color choices. It has been a while, so why not make another Review Video to revisit the Dan Wesson Line and so this time here we have the Steel BB version in a 2.5 inch barrel length. As always I will test they CO2 Revolver to find out what the velocity is and how accurate it is shooting at a paper target. Also make sure to watch my Table Top Video for specifications, details and closeup video.
Here we go with the Velocity test! I placed a brand new CO2 in the ASG Dan Wesson 2.5 inch Gold CO2 BB Revolver and shot a cylinder full of 4.5mm steel BB’s that weigh 5.1 grain through my Chronograph. The temperature was average so about room temperature. Only the last 4 of my shots registered on my Chronograph as it was acting up a bit on me at first two shots but I did manage to average 332 fps with the last four. The first two shots would have been a little bit faster had they registered on my chronograph so this may have brought up the average a bit to say around 334…
I then placed a fresh paper target 30 feet down range and proceeded to unload a full 6 round cylinder into it, I was shooting in single action with the hammer cocked back between shots. I was also using a semi rested shooting position with my hands resting on a sand bag up front and seated in the back for stability. Generally speaking even with Steel BB’s I can get close to a 1-2 inch grouping with hess Dan Wessons but this time my 6 shot grouping only produced a 3 inch group? It was probably me as there is always some human error involved and each test can result in different results so keep that in mind. The grouping was well centered out of the box but the ASG Dan Wesson 2.5 inch Gold CO2 BB Revolver does have fully adjustable sights in case yours is a bit off.
It never get’s old loading up the shells with ammo and placing them in the cylinder followed by either quick action shooting or more relaxed and accurate single action shooting, then repeating again and again… The original Dan Wesson line of revelers has been around for a long time now and if I am not mistaken was the first Airgun revolver to use reloadable shells. We now have more refined 715 version of the Dan Wesson which does have some improvement but the original versions still hold strong and are very capable and fun shell loading revolvers that come it a bit lower price tag then the newer 715 versions so no matter which version you get you will have lot of fun shooting and reloading these enjoyable Airguns!
Type: BB Revolvers. Manufacturer: ASG Model: Dan Wesson 2.5 inch Gold Materials: Mostly metal. Weight: 1.9 pounds. (862 grams) Barrel: Metal non-rifled. Propulsion: CO2 x 1. Action: Revolver, single and double action. Ammunition Type: 4.5mm Steel BB's. Ammunition Capacity: 6 rounds (removable shells). FPS: 327
Trigger Pull: The ASG Dan Wesson 2.5 inch Gold CO2 BB Revolver shoots in true modern revolver style offering single and double action. 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 add some resistance to the trigger pull in double action. Single action is much lighter as expected since pulling the hammer back turns the cylinder removing that friction point from the equasion.
.Accuracy: So far I have not done my Filed Test Shooting Video for the ASG Dan Wesson 2.5 inch Gold CO2 BB Revolver, but I plan to in the near future as a revisit since I have made a lot of similar Field Test Videos for the Dan Wesson line of products in 4.5mm Steel BB and 6mm Airsoft, here is a link to me shooting the 8 inch a while back in my old setup. Wow, this one goes back to 2014 almost 10 years ago!
Build Quality: The ASG Dan Wesson 2.5 inch Gold CO2 BB Revolver overall is really well built with good weight to it and a nice fit and finish, I do like the Gold version in this 2.5 inch version. It is almost all metal with the exception of the grips which are made of a semi hard plastic. One beef I have with the original ASG Dan Wesson line of revolvers are how the grips slide back to access the CO2, closing them can be a bit of a chore as they can come off their track super easily. The other complaint I hear about them is the play in the trigger and hammer side to side.
Realism: The ASG Dan Wesson 2.5 inch Gold CO2 BB Revolver like all the other ASG Dan Wesson Revolvers is very realistic with its realistic pop out cylinder and 6 removable shells you can reuse and load up for numerous rounds of shooting. You can also buy additional shells and have them preloaded and ready to go in the Speed loader to speed things up. Two things about the ASG Dan Wesson 2.5 inch Gold CO2 BB Revolver that take away a bit from the realism would be the non recessed barrel and the rather large space in front of the hammer. A real steel Dan Wesson or even most revolvers do not have this large space. I believe they did this to allow for the internal valve system. The newer Dan Wesson 715 however was designed with a smaller space in front of the hammer.
Pros:
It's a revolver with actual shells! Gives you the feeling of a real 6 shooter.
Almost all metal design with good weight and feel.
Lots of detail in this gun, very well made, fit and finish is very good.
Good power and good accuracy. (going off of already done older reviews)
Fully adjustable rear sight for windage and elevation.
Can add the included accessory rail for more options (optical or red dot sight…).
Dan Wesson licensed via ASG.
Gold finish is unique. (Gold is the Best!)
Moulded and textured pistol grips.
Grips fully hide CO2 screw.
Can shoot in both double and single action for action shooting or more accurate shot placement.
Cons:
Plastic CO2 screw tab.
Plastic grip setup can be a bit awkward to close.
2.5 inch does not have the recessed barrel.
Hammer and trigger are a bit sloppy compared to 715 version.
Comments:
It’s been a while since I reviewed one of the first generation ASG Dan Wesson Revolvers and the ASG Dan Wesson 2.5 inch Gold CO2 BB Revolver does bring back some memories for me going back almost a decade. If I’m not mistaken this revolver was the first one to implement actual removable and reloadable shells making Airgun Replica Revolvers a lot more interesting and realistic! I do kind of prefer the newer 715 version as they are even beefier than the original ASG Dan Wessons and ASG has fixed the sloppy hammer and trigger along with the space in front of the hammer has been reduce making the 715 even that much more realistic.
Watch my Vimeo Video Table Top Review for the Dan Wesson 2.5 Inch Gold BB Revolver:
In this Preview Review Video I take a look at 4 newer products now in our Replica Airguns Online Store. One is a 4.5mm Steel BB Revolver, two are 6mm Airsoft Pistols and one is a .68 caliber Paintball Shotgun.
The first item I take look at in this video is the Umarex HK30 AEG Airsoft Pistol, this product is pretty entry level with analyst all plastic build and is very light to hold. It does however shoot in both semi and full auto since it is an AEG Airsfto Pistol (not many of them out there). The fps is rather low at a claimed fps at just under 200, the Umarex HK30 AEG Airsoft Pistol also comes with two 16 round remove; plastic magazines. Who knows, maybe it will be fun?
Next I take a look at the ASG Dan Wesson 2.5 inch 4.5mm Steel BB Gold Revolver. This is a CO2 powered shell loading BB revolver very much like similar ones I have reviewed in the past but in Gold finish. Will the gold finishes make it perform better, well I guess we better find out!
I then take a look at a “Glock Like” CO2 Blowback Airsoft Pistol for KJWorks called the KP13. It has a full size drop out metal magazine that holds the CO2 along with 24 rounds of 6mm Airsoft BB’s. The KJWorks KP-13 has a metal slide, metal magazine and polymer frame with a velocity over 360fps using the included barrel extension.
Last but perhaps the most interesting for me is the Umarex T4E HDB which is a lower cost Paintball/Rubber Ball Shotgun which could possibly be used for home protection? The T4E HDB is a mostly plastic constructed rifle with decent weight to it and uses an internal spring fed 16 round magazine. You will find all kinds of mounting points for accessories and for a sling on the Umarex T4E HDB and again at much lower cost than similar T4E rifle based Paintball/Rubber ball Airguns.
Sights for guns in general are the same for Airguns as is with real steel guns for the most part and can be mixed and matched with a couple of exceptions. Spring piston rifles for instance are an exception because of the unique vibration the spring makes and how it can damage a standard optical sight, so in this case you’re best to use an optical sight designed for a spring piston Airgun. In most other cases sights can be used on all types of guns.
In this Airgun Sights video I will go over the various types of sights that either come as part of the gun design or can be added afterwards using a rail or mounting system.
Types of Airgun Sights most commonly used.
Iron Sight (Fixed or removable).
Iron Sight (Adjustable).
Iron Sight (White Dot, Fiber Optic).
Come in Post/Notch, Post/Aperture (Peep).
Common on Pistols and Rifles
Laser Sight:
Generally added to a rail or can sometime be integrated into the design of the gun.
Common on both Pistols and Rifles.
Red DotandHolographic:
Generally not magnified.
Most common on Rifles but can be used on Pistols.
Optical Magnified (Telescopic)
Come in a variety of magnifications for different shooting ranges.
There are many types of magazines used in Airguns and some of this is dependent on the ammunition used.
For instance a stacked type of magazine often used for Steel BB and Airsoft can not be used for Pellets as pellets tend to deform when stacked in such a way since there is no metal casting protecting them from mashing into each other.
So what type of magazines do we generally see in Airguns? The most common Airgun magazines are as follows:
Simple Stick Magazine
Mostly used with Steel BB but also found in some Airsoft Airguns.
Some Pellet Airguns use a type of stick magazine with a rotary magazine on each end.
Used in non-blowback and blowback Airguns.
Can be made from plastic or steel or a combination of both materials.
Full Size Drop Out Magazine
Used with Steel BB and Airsoft guns.
Generally you will find these types magazines hold both the BB’s and CO2.
Used in non-blowback and blowback Airguns.
Commonly used with Airsoft Rifles in mid to high capacity.
Can be made from plastic or steel or a combination of both materials.
Rotary magazine
Used with Steel BB, Airsoft and Pellet Airguns.
Used in non-blowback and blowback Airguns.
Can be made from plastic or steel.
Can often use mixed ammo types as in both 4.5mm Steel BB and .177 caliber pellet.
Belt Fed Magazine
Like rotary magazine belt fed magazine can accommodate Steel BB, Pellet and Airsoft but are most often used with Pellet Airguns.
Usually found in a full size magazine that also holds the CO2.
Used in non-blowback and blowback Airguns.
Can be made from plastic or steel or a combination of both materials.
Internal Magazine
Used with Steel BB, Airsoft.
Can have a hopper built in hat feeds a spring fed magazine.
Usually found in lesser expensive Airguns but not a rule.
In this Video I go through each type of Airgun Magazine and talk about their differences and uses.
For this Video 2 Accuracy Test I shoot all of the above listed Airguns at a paper target setup 30 feet down range using a semi rested shooting position with my hands resting on a sand bag up front and seated on a stool in the back. It’s not perfect but works well enough. I didn’t take a ton of time with each gun since there where 4 to shoot in this Field Test Shooting Video so accuracy may have been a bit better if I took a little more time with each gun.
In Video 2 I test the power and penetration of each Airgun option shooting at a pop can, a soup can and a toilet paper roll so make sure to watch that video if you have not already watched it.
For this Video 1 Power Test I shoot all of the above listed Airguns first at a pop can, then a soup can and then a toilet paper roll. The ides is to test penetration abilities with the pop and soup can and then raw force shooting the toilet paper as it will absorb all the energy from each airgun round and by gauging how much the toilet paper reacts or moves it should tell us which airgun has the most raw power or energy.
In Video 2 I will be testing accuracy using my standard 30 round paper target setup in the Replica Airguns Sea Can so stay posted for that upcoming video shortly…
In this Field Test Shooting Review I test out the Umarex S&W M29 8 Inch Barrel Shell Loading CO2 BB Revolver in the Replica Airguns Sea Can Indoor Shooting Range to find out its velocity and accuracy using both 4.5mm Steel BB’s and .177 Caliber Lead Pellets. The version I am using is the BB version but my viewers have informed me that the BB version may in fact shoot just as well as the pellet version using pellets even without the rifled barrel due to how pellets are shaped not always requiring a rifled barrel to fly true. So let’s find out!
Starting with the velocity test, I shot 4 rounds of each ammo through my Chronograph using a fresh CO2 cartridge. Umarex claims the Umarex S&W M29 8 Inch Barrel Shell Loading CO2 BB Revolver is able to get a maximum fps of 420 using standard 4.5mm steel BB’s and I was able to average 396 so every close. In warmer conditions 420 fps should be possible. Switching to the .177 caliber lead pellets the fps lowered a bit to an average of 323 fps as expected since the pellets are much heavier (around 7 grain versus 5 grain). I would expect the energy of the pellets to be a bit higher and also keep that energy out to further ranges so if you plan to shoot longer ranges perhaps go with the lead pellets over the BB’s as long as they are similar in accuracy which I test next.
For the accuracy portion of the test I again started off with the 4.5mm Steel BB’s and fired 6 rounds into my paper target setup 30 feet down range. I shot the Umarex S&W M29 8 Inch Barrel Shell Loading CO2 BB Revolver using a seated shooting position with my hands resting up front on a sand bag to help with stability but it’s not perfect and there is always some human factor to consider. That said I was able to shoot a 1.5 inch 6 shot grouping with the BB’s and if I remove one outlier from the group that reduced it to closer to around an inch so not too bad for a BB shooter. I then switching up to the .177 caliber lead pellets and was a bit surprised that even without a rifled barrel the pellets seemed to perform better than the Steel BB’s getting a solid 1 inch grouping with no real outliers in it!
Unfortunately I do not have the actual rifled barrel version of the Umarex S&W M29 8 Inch Barrel Shell Loading CO2 Revolver. Perhaps in the future I can compare the BB verso to the Pellet version using pellets to see if there is an improvement with the addition of the rifled barrel. I can say the BB version without the rifled version shoots pellets just fine at least up to 30 feet so feel free to shoot whatever ammo you want to with it and not be worried about compromising accuracy or velocity.
Type: BB Pistol. Manufacturer: Umarex. Model: M29. Materials: Metal & plastic. Weight: 2.5 pounds (1135 grams). Barrel Length: 8.375 inches (Smooth bore). Total Length: 12.13 inches. Propulsion: 12 gram CO2 cartridge. Action: Revolver, single and double action. Ammunition Type: 4.5mm steel BB's (Also available in 6mm Airsoft). Ammunition Capacity: 6 rounds. FPS: 420fps claimed.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Umarex S&W M29 8 Inch Barrel Shell Loading CO2 BB Revolver is light in single action but not too light, there is virtually no take up and the release is predictable. In double action the trigger pull is heavier as the cylinder and hammer are both actuated manually by the trigger but even so the pull is not what I would call heavy for a double action revolver. The double action trigger pull is nice and even and will not tire out your finger too much firing all six rounds quickly.
Accuracy: At this point i have not made my Field Test Shooting portion of my review for the Umarex S&W M29 8 Inch Barrel Shell Loading CO2 BB Revolver but I expect to get close to the 420 fps claimed velocity and I also expect to shoot around a 1 to 2 inch grouping based on my past experienced with similar Shell Loading BB Revolvers. I may even pull of a 1/5 inch group if I am on my game and so is the gun… We will have to all wait till next week when I record the shooting portion of my review for the Umarex S&W M29 8 Inch Barrel Shell Loading CO2 BB Revolver.
Build Quality: Overall the all metal build quality of the Umarex S&W M29 8 Inch Barrel Shell Loading CO2 BB Revolver is very good. The black chrome finish looks really nice but does show every finger print and any grease from your hands. The imitation wood grips look just like real wood and with only the exception of a small scratch or crack in the front plastic red sight, the Umarex S&W M29 8 Inch Barrel Shell Loading CO2 BB Revolver was flawless.
Realism: The Umarex S&W M29 8 Inch Barrel Shell Loading CO2 BB Revolver is the same revolver used in one of the Dirty Hariy Movies and really looks exactly the same. As with all the shell loading BB/pellet/Airsoft Revolvers, they look and perform exactly like the real steel versions other than recoil of course. The only give away for the Umarex S&W M29 8 Inch Barrel Shell Loading CO2 BB Revolver would be the diameter of the shells as Umarex decided to repurpose the 38/357 shells used in their other smaller caliber shell loading revolvers. It would have been nice to have a larger 44/45 caliber sized shell that they could use in both the Colt 45 Single Action Army Revolvers and this 44 Magnum version of the Smith and Wesson M29 Revolver. The barrel opening is closer to that of a 44 Magnum so they did get that part right.
Pros:
Classic iconic 44 magnum movie revolver.
Mostly all metal build.
Good overall weight, it’s big so expected to weigh a fair amount.
Lots of detail, well made, fit and finish is very good.
Fully S&W Licensed via Umarex.
Love the black chrome look but prone to finger prints.
Simulated wood grips look real enough.
Should have good overall power, accuracy and shots per CO2 (claimed around 80 per CO2).
Adjustable rear sight for windage/elevation with red dot front sight.
CO2 Allen key built into grip.
Recessed barrel true to 44 magnum opening size.
Nice Trigger pull in both single and double action.
Cons:
Shells are closer to 357 not 44 magnum in size.
Don’t like the white writing on the right side.
Black chrome finish shows lots of finger prints and grease.
Comments:
I really like that Umarex decided to give us this more classic Revolver to add to our collection of Airgun Revolvers! I was a big fan of the Dirty Harry Movies so this gun is for sure going to be part of my Airgun collection and even if you are not a fan, you should probably be a fan of the Smith and Wesson M29 which was considered to be one of the most powerful revolvers back in its day. Right now you can get it in 4.5mm Steel BB and 6mm Plastic Airsoft but hopefully there is a .177 caliber Pellet version on its way at some point.
My Table Top Video of the Umarex S&W M29 8 Inch Barrel Shell Loading CO2 BB Revolver:
I have a nice Airgun Pistol Update Unboxing video to checkout where I take a look at 5 Airguns four of which are Gas Blowback Airsoft Pistols and one is a CO2 BB Revolver. I don’t go into a lot of details here on each Airgun as this is mainly just a preview video to let everyone know we have these products in our Online Replica Airgun Stores and give a you a quick look at them. I will be following up with individual Table Top and Field Test Videos where I go into more details and also show you how each gun performs in the Replica Airguns Indoor Sea Can Shooting Range.
