Whether you like it or not, most of us have come across an Airgun with an ugly orange tip on it at some point. In most cases you will find the intrusive orange or red tips on Airsoft guns that shoot plastic BB's, in some cases you will even find them on Airguns that shoot either lead pellets and/or steel BB's.
It really comes down to where you live as to what your local gun laws have determined is required for your area. You may even live in a region where Airguns and Airsoft guns are not allowed at all! So for you a red or orange tip on the front would be welcome if it would allow you to own an Airgun or Airsoft gun. What about the entire gun being painted a bright color, well that is the case for some folks so again having a red or orange tips may not be as bad as it originally seemed...
In Canada where I live, we used to only be allowed Airsoft guns that had clear sections as our replica gun laws are very strict and all black Airsoft guns would have fallen iinto the "replica" category if they did not have large clear plastic see-through sections on them. This clear section law was revised somewhat over the last several years to allow for all black Airsoft guns here in Canada. It was determined that many Airsoft guns with higher fps limits could cause a serious injury to a human, making them less of a toy in the eyes of the law and more of a weapon. Because of this, Airsoft guns that are capable of shooting a .20 gram plastic BB at a velocity of 360 fps or "higher" are now considered to be similar in the eyes of the law to a regular steel BB or lead pellet shooting Airgun. In Canada, Pellet and Steel BB guns are actually considered firearms of a sort so this allows the higher fps Airsoft guns to be all black since it can not be a replica of a firearm if it is in fact considered to be a firearm by law.
The long and short of all of this is that here in Canada we do not require our Airsoft guns to have orange or red tips since they are considered more or less to be just like any other Airgun and our Airguns do not have red or orange tips either.
Getting back to the title of this article "No Orange Tip On Your Airsoft Gun! Are You Insane?" I often get folks from the US giving me heck for removing the orange tips from my Airsoft guns or asking me why my Airsoft guns don't have them in the first place. These people even state that I could get in a lot of trouble for this! Perhaps they think I live in the US or that US laws govern Canada as well? I am not sure but I can say for the record that I am not breaking any laws at least here in Canada where I live.
I know in the US that wholesalers and retailers by law have to sell Airsoft guns with the affixed orange tips on them, once the end user receives that gun and depending on which state they live in, it may or may not be legal to remove the orange tip. Again, you will need to look into your local state laws as they are different from state to state in the US.
Materials: Mostly metal with some plastic construction.
Weight: 2 pounds (900 grams).
Barrel: 2.25 inches, non-rifled.
Propulsion: 12 gram CO2.
Action: Revolver, single & double actions.
Ammunition Type: 4.5mm steel BB's.
Ammunition Capacity: 6 rounds.
FPS: 328 fps (120 m/s).
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Gletcher CLT-B25 357 2.5 Inch CO2 BB Revolver is good in both single and double action, even better than the Dan Wesson and S&W 327 TRR8 shell loading revolvers, most likely because the spring tension that pushes the inner barrel to make contact with the cylinder is noticeably lighter on the KWC - Gletcher 357's. Even the hammer is smoother and has less wiggle, just a better trigger and hammer mechanism overall.
Accuracy: In terms of power and accuracy, you can checkout my full Field Test Shooting Video here. I did get a nice 2 inch 6 shot grouping on my paper target setup 30 feet away from my standard semi-rested position (sand bag up front and standing in the back). Accuracy was a bit lower than the factory claimed 320 or so fps coming in at an average of 280. I did perform my field test back in May so the weather was not all that warm perhaps effecting peek fps performance somewhat.
Build Quality: The Gletcher CLT-B25 357 2.5 Inch CO2 BB Revolver being mostly metal has a very good build quality, perhaps even better than the Dan Wesson and S&W 327 TRR8 shell loading revolvers, even the weight of the KWC 357 is noticeably more! The only real plastic or rubber I could find was in the grips and the shell tips. Fit and finish was also good with no noticeable wear or sloppy workmanship.
Realism: The KWC - Gletcher CLT-B25 357 2.5 Inch CO2 BB Revolver overall is a close copy a the real steel 357 styled revolver. I did notice the rear portion of the receiver (between the rear cylinder and hammer) to be a bit longer perhaps to accommodate the CO2 valve length, but other than that this pistol is super close to the original 357 styled revolver it is based on. Again being all metal gives this CO2 BB revolver very realistic weight and feel and the loadable brass shells make using this gun almost exactly like using a real shell loading revolver but for much less cost per shot and of course a lot less recoil on the hands that a real 357 magnum or even when shooting 38 special shells for that matter.
It's a revolver with actual shells! Give you the feeling of loading and shooting a real revolver
Mostly all metal design
lots of detail, well made, fit and finish are both good.
Good overall weight, even for this short 2.5 inch barrel version.
Fully adjustable rear sight for windage and elevation.
Well hidden CO2 Screw.
Recessed barrel.
Nice Trigger pull in both single and double action.
Tactical fingered grips look good and allow for a firm hold.
Cons:
Grips are a bit rough, not as rubbery as they look.
Grips may be a bit large for people with smaller hands.
All black sights not great on dark backgrounds.
FPS could be a bit higher!
Comments:
The Gletcher - KWC CLT-B25 357 2.5 Inch CO2 BB Revolver is yet another addition to the increasing lineup of shell loading revolvers available today in both Steel BB and Airsoft versions. The 2.5 inch reviewed here is meant to be the compact version with its snub nosed barrel but I would have to say it is not a small gun at all coming in at 2 pounds and with rather large grips and a pretty large cylinder to pack around. But then again, that may be just what you are looking for? The shorter barrel does effect the fps performance since longer barreled versions of this same pistol I have tested do shoot much hotter but that is to be expected with pretty much any short barrelled CO2 pistol.
My Vimeo Table Top Review for the Gletcher CLT-B25 357 2.5 Inch CO2 BB Revolver:
Trigger Pull: Trigger pull on the Webley MK VI .455 CO2 Shell Loading BB Revolver is great in both single and double action, for a shell loading revolver the double action is the best I have come across with next to no friction like I would usually find with shell loading revolvers when shot in double action mode.
Accuracy: I tested the Webley MK VI .455 CO2 Shell Loading BB Revolver on my pool deck first off shooting 6 rounds through my Chronograph. The claimed fps is 427, I got really close to 400 fps in my testing so there is the potential for this revolver to shoot up into the low 400's. When I stepped back 30 feet and shot 6 rounds form my semi rested position, I got a really tight 1 inch group with almost all the rounds landing in the bulls eye. My shots where just a hair to the right but not by much which is good since the sights on this pistol are none adjustable. You can check-out my full Field Test Shooting Video here!
Build Quality: The Webley MK VI .455 CO2 Shell Loading BB Revolver is pretty much an all metal construction other than the plastic grips and any internal seals. The fit and finish is excellent with a great overall weight in the hand. The only complaint I have is that the grips being a thin plastic seem kind of low quality compared to the rest of this otherwise high quality Webley CO2 BB Revolver.
Realism: In terms of replicating a real steel Webley MK VI .455, Webley did a really great job with their CO2 BB firing version. Webley even includes a Small Arms Training Manual based off of the real steel variant. Webley based the BB CO2 MK VI from the original blueprints and the licensing is form the original 1915 version. The only real tell that this is a CO2 BB revolver would be the small safety switch on the lower right side frame and the CO2 valve located right behind the hammer.
Looks amazing and is a very accurate replica of the real steel Webley MK VI.
Great weight and feel in the hand at 2.4 pounds
nice deep Recessed barrel with true .455 caliber opening.
Break barrel design makes it really easy to load the dummy shells.
Hammer / trigger action is great in single and double action.
Webley Licensed.
Well concealed CO2.
Fairly discreet safety location.
No ugly warning instructions on the gun!
Cons:
One of the higher cost shell loading revolvers we sell.
Sights are none adjustable.
Real version would shoot .455 caliber rounds, the dummy shells are actually closer to 357.
Could be a bit loud for some back yard shooters?
Plastic grips seem a bit cheap compared to the rest of this high quality gun.
Comments:
Another classic shell loading CO2 BB Revolver, nothing wrong with that, I remember a time when finding a realistic revolver, even a modern version was hard to do. Now we have a growing selection of super realistic revolvers that replica their original real steel variation with ultra realism. The Webley MK VI .455 CO2 Shell Loading CO2 BB Revolver is no exception and makes for yet another option if you want a well designed, super functional and ultra realistic classic BB revolver.
My Vimeo Table Top Review for the Webley MK VI .455 CO2 Shell Loading CO2 BB Revolver :
In part one test of the Umarex Polymer Colt Python 357 CO2 BB Revolver, the Chronograph velocity test I managed to get 5 reading out of 10 shots (Chrony was acting up again) and averaged 426 fps using 5.1 grain zinc coated RWS BB's with a brand new 12 gram CO2. Perhaps my average would have been slightly higher if I got all 5 readings on the first 5 shots since the fps is always a bit higher. My highest reading was 442 fps while my lowest reading near the end was 406 fps.
Part two, the accuracy component to this Shooting Field Test gave my fairly good results but perhaps not as good as the all Metal Shell Loading Umarex Colt Python I tested out earlier. I did find the Umarex Polymer Colt Python 357 CO2 BB Revolver shot well centered but got about a 2 inch grouping shooting 10 rounds on the paper target. If you find yours is not set to shoot exactly on the bulls eye you can easily adjust the sights for windage and elevation.
If you are wanting a higher than 6 round CO2 BB Revolver with a low price tag, good velocity, easy loading, adjustable sights, a smooth single and double action trigger and decent accuracy than checkout the Umarex Polymer Colt Python 357 CO2 BB Revolver!
In this Field Test Shooting Review I put the Webley MKVI .455 CO2 Shell Loading BB Revolver through my Chronograph and Target Tests to see how powerful and accurate the Webley MKVI really is!
Starting off with the the velocity Chronograph test, I shot 6 rounds through my Chrony using a brand new CO2 and RWS 5.1 grain zinc coated steel BB's in my Webley MKVI .455. My 6 shot string averaged just under 400 fps right at 397. Pretty decent for a shell loading BB revolver, not to mention very consistent shot to shot!
Next up was the accuracy component for this Field Test and as per usual, I setup my sand bag 30 feet away from my paper target and unloaded a full 6 round cylinder in to my ammo trap. I use a semi rested position, standing in the back resting my hands on a sand bag up front. This has proven to be a fairly stable shooting platform for me but there is some human factor involved. I was impressed with my 1.5 inch 6 shot grouping (right in the bulls eye) that could as easily been a 1 inch group if the one flyer had stayed a bit tighter but still really good performance for a none rifled BB shooter!
The hammer and trigger on the Webley MKVI .455 CO2 Shell Loading BB Revolver are very smooth in both single and double action with single action shooting being the shortest and lightest for best accuracy. It is still nice that this old school revolver offers double action shooting when you want to unload on your target quickly.
I also like the top break loading design which makes loading fast and easy on this 2.4 pounds all metal CO2 BB Revolver.
Trigger Pull: Trigger pull on the Umarex Colt Single Action Army Shell Loading BB Revolvers is the best I have ever come across in an airgun. Being that the Umarex Single Action Army Revolvers are single action only, most of the work is done while you pre-cock the hammer. The trigger pull is under 2 pounds and has virtually no take up with a crisp release.
Accuracy: I tested both 4.5mm steel BB's and 4.7mm Lead ball BB's in the Umarex Colt Single Action Army Shell Loading BB Revolver. With the Steel 4.5mm BB's I shot just under a 2 inch 6 shot grouping when shooting from a 30 foot distance using a semi rested position (Sand bag up front, standing in the back). The shots where pretty well center hitting the paper target just a little bit high, they did seem to stray a little more left and right rather then up and down. When I switch ammo to the 4.7mm Lead BB's I got a similar 2 inch grouping but they hit the target a bit lower and tended to shoot tighter from side to side with more variation up and down, perhaps because the lead BB's did not seem to shoot at a vary consistent velocity. My Chronograph testing for the Steel BB's was right around 400 fps while the Lead BB's being heavier shot a bit slower at just under 300 fps.
Build Quality: The Umarex Colt Single Action Army Shell Loading BB Revolvers have a mostly all metal construction other than the plastic grips and any seals. The fit and finish is excellent with a great overall weight in the hand. Whether you get the Nickel or Blued version. The mechanical action of the hammer and trigger feels just like it would on a real single action army revolver.
Realism: In terms of replicating a real steel Colt Single Action Army Revolver, Umarex has done a really great job with their CO2 BB firing version. It's really hard to tell one from the other except for the smaller shells and the discreet safety switch located under the frame. Even the barrel is nicely recessed and has some fake rifling twists in it. The CO2 is well hidden with the Allen key built into the handle so no ugly screw tab hanging down.
Looks amazing and is a very accurate replica of the real steel old west version.
Recessed barrel with fake rifling.
Great weight and feel in the hand.
Shell loading design that loads from the back so no need to remove shells if you wish not to.
Hammer and trigger action is about perfect, no take-up, very crisp and super light.
Finish on both the Nickel and Blued version is very nice.
Very well concealed CO2 with built in Allen key.
Discreet safety location.
Cons:
In your face warning instruction on the right side of the barrel are a shame.
Real steel version would shoot .45 caliber bullets, dummy shells are actual closer to a .38.
Seems really quiet to shoot, would like to see a louder more powerful version!
Comments:
All I can say is we finally got our Airgun 1857 Colt Single Action Army Revolver! I have been asking the big airgun companies for this for a while and I knew it would be very popular once made available. As it turns out, not only do the "Americans" want one, but so do many folks overseas! I am really glad that time and effort was put into this first version and we got such a great product that looks amazing and shoots just as good as it looks. For anyone who is interested in owning the classic cowboy six shooter, you have to make sure to get one of these super realistic Single Action Historic Revolves!
My Vimeo Table Top Review for the Umarex Colt Single Action Army CO2 BB Revolver :
Some more new guns I will be checking out, well one is just a different finish of the Umarex Colt SAA Revolver but for sure worth taking a look at in this Preview Video.
All the guns in the Vimeo Preview Video and CO2 4.5mm BB Pistols, three are styled after revolvers and one is based on a semi auto modern pistol.
Starting with the revolvers I show off the absolutely gorgeous blued finish on the Umarex Colt Single Action Army BB Revolver and it all I can say is it really needs to be seen in person to fully appreciate how great it looks. I was not expecting the blued version to look nicer than the Nickel version but in my opinion it is my favorite of the two. And that's not to say the Nickel version is not a great looking pistol in it's own right.
I've been waiting a while to see firsthand the Webley & Scott MK6 CO2 BB Revolver and it finally came this week. Another really well built and designed classic Revolver to add to the list of shell loading CO2 BB Revolvers. I was really impressed with the trigger and hammer action, both single and double action feel super smooth and the position of the hammer makes for really easy draw for single action shooting. The 2.4 pound all metal weight give the Webley & Scott MKVI great balance and realism, while the top-break design makes for super easy loading.
Not to be mistaken with the Full Metal Shell Loading Umarex Colt Python 357, I take a look at the more affordable Umarex Polymer Colt Python 357 that fits the bill nicely when looking for a BB Revolver with a nice hammer and trigger, fully adjustable sights, and higher than average capacity magazines than your standard revolver.
Last but not least I look at another fairly affordable CO2 BB Pistol, the Umarex HK45. It's a pretty basic CO2 BB pistol but looks really good and has decent weight with its metal slide. The HK45 features white dot sights, a Picatinny rail, an all metal drop out stick magazine and full Heckler and Koch licensing.
Part 2 of my two part Field Test Shooting Video Review, this one focuses on the accuracy or target portion using my Umarex Colt Single Action Army Shell Loading BB Revolver. As per usual I set my self up 30 feet from my paper targets using a semi rested position (Standing in the back, while resting the gun on a sand bag up front). I normally take 10 shots and see what kind of a grouping I can get but with a six shooter that requires some reloading so we will base this testing on six shots.
Like part 1 in my Chronograph or velocity Field Test, I use a variety of ammo, starting off with 4.5mm Steel BB's and then switching to some 4.7mm Lead BB's for the second group of 6 shots from the Umarex Colt Single Action Army Revolver. I decided not to try the Dan Wesson Dummy Shells since they proved to be not so reliable during my Chronograph testing.
At the end of the Video I have some fun with my KWC / Cybergun Government 1911 just to see how it compares to a fixed barrel revolver.
Make sure to watch my below YouTube Review Video to see my full shooting accuracy result, I can say both the steel and lead BB's shot from the Umarex Colt Single Action Historic BB Revolver shot similar under 2 inch groupings with the lead BB's dropping a bit on the target with their slower velocity.
I decided to split this Field Test Shooting Review of the Umarex Colt Single Action Army into two parts since i wanted to do multiple tests with multiple types of ammo and dummy shells. at the end of the video I also throw in my Cybergun / KWC 1911 Blowback BB Pistol just for fun since both of these pistols where used in the US Military.
I start off by testing out the Umarex Colt Single Action Shell Loading BB Revolver shooting 6 rounds through my Chronograph using the included Umarex Dummy Shells with steel 5.1 grain 4.5mm BB's since this is what most people will experience. In my second test I switch up the ammo slightly and try out some much heavier Lead BB's that are a bit larger than 4.5mm (about 4.7mm) and weigh in at somewhere between 7-8 grains.
On my third test I go back to the standard 4.5mm Steel BB's but switch out the included Umarex dummy shells and replace them with some Dan Wesson Dummy Shells. Both shells are about the same length and width but with the included Umarex shells, you load the BB's into the back of the shell. With the Dan Wesson shells you load the BB into the front of the shell.
What do you do when you have some nice weather and a brand new Umarex Shell Loading Colt Single Action Historic CO2 BB Revolver that you are itching to try out! Well you go shoot it, that's what you do! So I thought I would setup a bunch of miscellaneous targets along with some cameras and record the fun so you all could join me :)
I did use steel BB's for the most part but I also gave some lead BB's I had lying around a try, the lead BB's are a bit larger in diameter so they fit fairly snug, I would not recommend using them on anything other than a brand new CO2 cartridge or they could get stuck in a shell or the barrel. The lead BB's are also much heavier than steel BB's so they do not go as fast but seemed to work pretty good for me. A great option if you are shooting at metal targets with your Umarex Colt Peacemaker!
I also discovered that one can simply load BB's directly into the back of each shell without having to actually take the shells out of the Umarex Colt Single Action Army Revolver, so if you only have 6 shells and want to keep the shooting moving along then just pop the BB's directly into the shells.
I finally got my hands on one of the Umarex Colt Single Action Historic Revolvers! Rather than making you wait for my full Table Top and Field Test Reviews I thought I would post a quick unboxing preview video. Of course my full Table Top and Field Test videos will follow...
In this unboxing preview video of the Umarex Colt Peacemaker Single Action Army Revolver I show you around the CO2 4.5mm BB Revolver Replica and even compare it to a few similar revolvers I have lying around.
The Umarex Shell Loading Colt Peacemaker is an amazing replica and simulates the old west cowboy Single Action Only Revolvers in almost every detail. I love the hammer action and the ratchet sound it makes as you draw it back. The Single Action Only Trigger is very light at under 2 pounds just as it should be.
This is my Official Field Test Shooting Review video for the Gletcher CLT B25 CO2 BB Shell Loading Revolver. This pistol is actually made by KWC and is the same base gun that Umarex uses in their Licensed Colt Python 357 6 inch barrel version.
In this Shooting video I performance various Field Tests on the Gletcher CLT B25 using my Chronograph to get a true live performance reading of the velocity in fps. I also shoot 6 rounds at a paper target positioned 30 feet from my semi-rested position (Sand bag up front and standing in the back).
Velocity wise, the Gletcher CLT B25 CO2 BB Revolver shot a little low while using standard 5.1 grain zinc coated steel BB's coming in with a 5 shot average of 280 fps. the claimed the fps from Gletcher is 100 m/s which works out to 328 fps so there is room for some improvement, perhaps on a warmer day I may see these numbers?
I then moved back to my 30 feet shooting position to test out the accuracy using paper target, the Gletcher CLT B25 CO2 BB Shell Loading Revolver produced n OK 6 shot grouping that was just over 2 inches in diameter. Not supper but also not too bad considering the short barrel and how tight the front and back sights are together. I'm pretty sure I can do a bit better as one of the shots did pull a bit out form the rest making the grouping larger than it could have been.
Overall, the Gletcher CLT B25 CO2 BB Revolver shot pretty has a nice feel to it when shooting, the trigger/hammer setup is nice in both single and double action, the grips and balance feels good and overall this is a very fun shell loading BB revolver to shoot.
This is my Official Field Test Shooting Review video for the Gletcher SW R25 CO2 Shell Loading Pellet Revolver. At this time we are out of stock, I am not sure exactly when we are going to have them back in stock.
In this Field Test Shooting video I test out the performance of the Gletcher SW R25 using my Chronograph to get an actual Feet Per Second velocity rating, I also shot 6 rounds at a paper target setup 30 feet away using a semi-rested position (Sand bag up front and standing in the back).
Velocity wise, the Gletcher SW R25 CO2 Pellet Revolver shot pretty hard considering I was using 7 grain lead pellets (as compared to 5.1 grain steel BB's) and this was the shortest barreled version at 2.5 inches. The Gletcher SW R25 averaged a 337 fps 6 shot velocity with its highest fps shot of 351.
I then stepped back 30 feet and shot at a paper target, the Gletcher SW R25 CO2 Shell Loading Pellet Revolver produced a nice tight 6 shot grouping that was really close to 1 inches in diameter. Considering how short the barrel is and how close together the front and back sight are to each other, this is not a bad result at all. I am sure the rifled barrel helped a lot here. I did shoot a bit high and to the left but this can easily be corrected by adjusting the rear sight for windage and elevation.
Overall, the Gletcher SW R25 CO2 Pellet Revolver shot pretty hard and with good accuracy for a shell loading pellet revolver. It will be interesting to see how well the 8 inch version of this Gletcher Shell Loading Pellet Revolver does when I test it out shortly?
I always like getting and shooting the airguns I review and the Gletcher NGT CO2 BB Revolver was no disappointment! The Gletcher NGT is a fairly small air revolver and so pretty much anyone should be able to shoot this air pistol even if you have smaller hands, I did find that pre-cocking the hammer for single action shooting was a bit of a stretch when reaching over with the thumb, but you can just as easily shoot in double action, both trigger pulls are nice and light with the double action being a bit longer.
Loading the 7 round cylinder will take longer than your standard stick magazine BB pistol since you first need to pop some 4.5mm Steel BB's into each shell and then individually load each shell into the Gletcher's metal cylinder while you index it.
In terms of FPS performance, the Gletcher NGT Silver CO2 BB Revolver shot right about where I thought it would shoot getting about a 342 fps average 7 shot velocity. Claimed is up to 350 so the NGT hit it's marks in this category even on a rather cool day. I found that the little Gletcher NGT had a pretty loud crack to it and could even feel a small amount of push back with each shot.
I really felt comfortable using the rather old school fixed open post and notch sights, the sliver finish on the white background of the targets I was using did make it a bit tuff to line up but I was able to get a pretty nice close to 2 inch grouping that was very well centered on target. the Gletcher NGT Revolver would be great for knocking pop cans off of fence posts :)
I would definitely recommend the Gletcher NGT CO2 BB Revolver in either silver or black, what ever your preference? Not only is it a real looker but it also has the performance to back it's looks.
So getting back to this ASG Dan Wesson 6 inch Silver & 8 Inch Black Pellet Revolver Field Test Review, how did they perform? Well not that well in my books, the fps performance was just way too low and way too inconsistent, with a 6 shot Chronograph Test I got an average fps of 259 for the 6 inch and 188 for the 8 inch, that's right the longer barrel revolver actually performed worse! My explanation is that just not enough CO2 is being released by the CO2 valve to get the heavier and more snug lead pellets to a high enough velocity. And having a longer barrel is actually creating more resistance slowing down the lead pellets. If more CO2 was introduced, more expansion would take place which would take full advantage of the longer barrel.
Once I setup 30 feet back for my paper target testing, I kind of had a felling that I was not going to see great results, pellets moving inconsistent around 200 fps are not going to shoot as accurately as more consistent pellets traveling at 300+ fps. The variation in velocity from both Dan Wesson Pellet Revolvers I was getting really effected the elevation of the pellets landing on the target. Because of teh slow velocity of the pellets, there was a really long delay between shooting the gun and the actual pellets hitting the target, I could even hear variations in this delay as the fps fluctuated up and down :(
I did want to mention that the temperature was not overly warm on my test day but I did keep both guns nice and warm inside prior to my testing them, on a hotter day there would be a slight increase in fps performance but not a radical one that would make a huge difference.
If you are wondering if perhaps the problem may be due to the CO2 I used or my Pellet selection? ASG was kind enough to send me some of their CO2 and Diablo approved Pellets to use for this Field Test Shooting Review.
To be perfectly honest, I would rather shoot the Steel BB version of the Dan Wesson Revolvers since they performed much better in terms of feet per second velocity and target accuracy. Even loading the BB versions is much easier and quicker for more time spent shooting.
I generally like to focus more on the good and less on the bad when it comes to the guns I review and sure the Dan Wesson Pellet Revolvers are really sexy Airguns but when it comes to actual shooting results I was disappointed with them. I think ASG needs to take another look at their Dan Wesson Pellet Revolver design and perhaps work on some higher fps and more consistent fps performance.
Watch my Full Vimeo ASG Dan Wesson 6 inch Silver & 8 Inch Black Pellet Revolver Field Test Review:
The best way to describe a Blank Gun is to imagine it as a real gun in just about every way except one… There are no dangerous bullets flying out the front of it. That’s right, a Blank Gun just like a real gun uses a brass or metal shells, loaded with a primer and gun powder, but for what ever reason reason, some rocket scientists forgot to put a bullet at the end of the Blank shell.
Why Would You Want a Blank Gun?
Isn’t the entire purpose of a gun to shoot something? So why on earth would you buy a gun that doesn't shoot anything at all, what purpose would it serve? Even Nerf guns, water guns, potato guns all shoot something…
One way to look at a Blank Gun is to imagine it as a cap gun, but for grown ups. Similar to how kids like to shoot their cap guns because they go bang and sparks and smoke fly out of them, Blank Guns do the same thing but on a much grander scale and in most cases they look and sound a lot more like a real gun than a cap gun does.
So Blank Guns don’t actually do the main function of a real gun (that is to shoot a bullet), but they do look and sound the part of a gun. So how could this be of practical use to anyone?
Signalling Devices:
First off, have you ever heard of a Starter Pistol or a Flare Gun? Blank Guns have been historically used to signal the start of races. Many Blank Guns also have the ability to shoot flares by adding a flare adaptor to them so a person can shoot a flare into the air to signal distress if they are lost or hurt.
Gun Handling and Training:
Since many Blank Guns look, operate and feel almost exactly like real guns, Blank Guns are a great place to start out when training a person on proper gun handling and operation. If they make a mistake while using a Blank Gun, the consequences are far less severe than with a real gun. There is also much less kick from a Blank Gun so shooting a Blank Gun is less scary or intimidating for new shooters.
Dog Training:
Dogs used for police, military and hunting are required to stay calm around loud noises like gun shots, trained dogs also need to get used to the presence of guns and even how to attack the gun hand of a person who could be a potential threat. Again using Blank Guns in this training situation is a much better option than using a real gun for obvious reasons.
Movies, Video TV and Stage:
Introducing live ammunition on a movie set would be ridiculous, there is absolutely no need to shoot a bullet in this type of situation. Blank Guns make perfect stage props since they again look the part and sound the part without the dangerous bullets flying all over the place…
Collectors:
Many collectors want to own guns but for reasons like gun restrictions in their area, they may not be able to own a real gun or certain types of real guns. Blank Guns can offer a person with heavy gun restrictions in their area the ability to own similar Blank Gun versions. Perhaps they can own real guns but just simply don’t want to go through the licensing and registration hassle of owning a real gun. Blank Guns can generally be purchased for far less money than a real gun which is appealing to collectors who in many cases may not even shoot them.
Celebration:
In places like Turkey, people celebrate holidays and events by shooting Blank Guns into the air, at one time they actually shoot real guns, but people where getting injured or even killed by the falling bullets. Because of this, Blank Gun production became an industry in places like Turkey as Blank Gun manufacturers like EKOL, Retay and Zoraki (also know as ATAK Arms) are Turkish companies.
So now you know some of the reasons why a person would want to own a Blank Gun. I have Blank Guns and I also own real guns too. One reason is because there are many Blank Guns I own that I can not own in their real steel versions because of Canadian gun restrictions so obtaining a similar version in a Blank Gun allows me to own these models.
If a Blank Gun is not for you, then by all means get a real gun, but please understand that there is a place for Blank Guns, and in those environments, a Blank Gun is actually a better choice than a real gun.
First off let’s get one thing straight! What I’m looking for in a BB gun is more than likely going to be way different than what someone else is looking for in what they think is the “Best BB Gun” available.
Many people will determine the Best BB Gun as the BB gun that has the highest price tag, usually you get better quality the higher the price goes up but not always, there are times when perhaps you are paying for a name brand or cosmetic add ons that don’t always make the gun better or the best.
On the other hand, some people will determine the best BB gun as the one that is the least cost since they may not have a lot of money to spend, and an expensive BB gun is a BB gun that that person would not be able to afford or even own, far from an ideal or the Best BB Gun for them.
Many people only look at the specifications to determine if that particular BB gun is the outright best BB Gun. One specification that people seem to fixate on is how powerful is the BB gun in question? If it has the highest FPS then surely it must be the best BB Gun! That Pop can never saw it coming! What about cost of operation, so things like reliability and how many shots per CO2 you can get out of a BB gun. All important features to consider when picking out the Best BB Gun!
Style is another important part of what makes a BB Gun the Best option for you, are you wanting a classic BB Pistol? Perhaps a Modern BB Gun, Maybe even a BB gun that you can not get in your area because of gun laws? Style is a very individual preference and what looks good to me may look terrible to someone else.
One aspect that is very important to me, is realism, does the BB Gun operate the same and does it have similar metal and plastic parts as the real steel version? Does the BB gun I am considering have blowback operation and a true single or double action trigger like it’s big brother? What about a full size drop out magazine and the ability to field strip the BB Gun?
Some people want their BB gun for simple backyard good old fun shooting and so as long as it shoots pretty straight and works as it’s supposed to, then that is all they care about. Many real steel shooters want a BB Gun to operate exactly like their real steel version, so they can practice with it to get in more trigger time when going to a gun range is not an option.
Of course there are aspects like Reliability, Performance, Fit and Finish, Licensing and Build Quality that all determine what makes the Best BB Gun and again it really depends which of these qualities are most important to you that will determine which BB Gun is the best BB Gun.
So how do you determine which is the Best BB Gun? Make a list of what you are looking for in a BB Gun. Attributes like Cost, Performance, Build Quality, Style, Realism, Availability…
Once you have narrowed down your Best BB Gun list, get as much information on each BB Gun you are considering, to narrow the list down even more. There are tons of Youtube videos you can watch for your Best BB Gun final short list to help you determine your ultimate choice.
So please don’t ask me what the Best BB Gun is? I can not even tell you which one I like the best since my wish list changes from day to day…
First off we are not talking about 6mm Plastic Airsoft Guns but rather 4.5mm Steel BB versus .177 caliber Pellet.
Same but Different:
Generally speaking a BB CO2 Pistol and a Pellet CO2 Pistol are very similar, they just shoot a bit different types of ammo, that will determine a couple mechanical differences in both guns. You may come across a CO2 Pistol that can shoot both Pellets and BB's but these are not as common.
Magazine Types:
The fist main difference is usually the magazine design, since lead pellets don’t stack on top of each other very well compared to steel BB’s, action CO2 BB and Pellet pistols will have a very different types of magazine designs. Pellet CO2 Pistols will generally use a rotary type magazine while BB Pistols will use a stick or stacked ammo magazine. In terms of realism, a stick or stacked magazine is better suited than a rotary magazine. Some Action Pellet Pistols will have what looks like a stick magazine, but the stick will actually have two rotary magazine on either side. You will often find higher capacity magazines in BB CO2 Pistols since Rotary magazines usually only offer around 8 rounds (16 on a double sided stick style).
Another downside to a rotary magazine is knowing when you are out of ammo, a rotary magazine does not allow for this, it will just keep turning around and around no matter if there is ammo in it or not, so you need to listen to the the sound of the CO2 gun to determine when a rotary type magazine is empty. BB Action shooters do not have this problem since in most cases the magazine BB spring follower acts exactly the same as real steel gun follower locking back the slide on the last shot, stopping any follow up shots from happening.
Ammo Size:
Steel BB’s traditionally only come in 4.5mm which is the same as .177 caliber. Lead pellets can come in a myriad of sizes, the most comma being .177, .20 and .22 caliber but they can go as large as 50 caliber for PCP air rifles used to hunt even large game.
Barrel Rifling:
Another common difference between BB and Pellet CO2 Pistols is the rifling inside the barrels. Lead pellets need to spin in order for them to shoot straight. Steel BB’s on the other hand fly pretty true thought the air weather they spin or not. Rifling is most often not used in steel BB pistols because the hardened steel can damage the rifling and since there is little to no benefit in adding rifling to a BB guns barrel in terms of accuracy, then why even have it. Pellet pistols with their softer lead ammunition need to have the rifling in order to create the spin that keeps the pellet true and straight while in flight.
Accuracy:
Even though many BB CO2 Pistols can shoot accurately at close to medium ranges, they are not as accurate as a Pellet CO2 Pistol, especially as the distance become greater to your target. Not only does the spinning of the pellet help accuracy, but also the added mass of the lead pellet keeps them from being as effected by cross winds and airborne debris.
Hunting and/or Pest Control:
In most cases I do not recommend using a pistol for pest control because, plain and simple they are harder to shoot accurately. This is because there is no stock on a pistol to help steady the gun, and the front and rear sight are much closer together on a pistol than compared to rifle sights which means there is more margin for error when signing in a target. Pistols are generally lower powered than rifles which also plays a roll when considering a pistol for pest control since it may not have enough power to get the job done humanly. That said, there are pellet pistols deigned with power in mind, usually these are spring piston, or pressurized air powered air guns which can have a lot more power than a standard CO2 BB or Pellet Pistol.
Pistols versus Rifles:
This is not the forum for a full pistol versus rifle comparison. I can tell you that you will find a lot more pellet rifles than your will find BB rifles, they both exist but for the most part rifles are geared more towards target shooting and hunting. Most of the BB rifles available would be styled after replicas so the focus is not necessarily on power and or accuracy in these models.
Abundance:
In terms of Replica Action Shooters, BB Pistols outweigh the Pellet pistols by a land-slide. BB’s just work better in action pistols because the round hard steel ammo operates much easier and more reliably than the softer lead pellets, at least for action shooters. And the point of Replica Action Shooters is not so much power and accuracy but more so towards rapid fire good old back yard fun shooting.
Which is Best?
Well… Neither one is best, it just depends what you are looking for.
Do you want accuracy at longer ranges - if so maybe get a Pellet CO2 Pistol.
Do you want more realism in terms of magazine loading and your slide locking back on the last shot - then you may be in the market for a BB CO2 Pistol.
Do you want more power down range - heavy pellets are going to hit harder and truer than lighter Steel BB’s.
Do you want trouble free shooting - hard steel BB’s rarely miss-feed or misfire compared to softer Lead Pellets especially in action shooters.
The best is what’s best for you and not always what's best for me…
