I'm getting close to uploading 600 videos now over on the Replica Airguns Vimeo channel, so there are bound to be a lot of similar questions and popular discussions. In this Replica Airguns Vimeo Video I address what I feel are my Top 10 Most Common Airgun Questions and Discussions.
I don't often review target and or hunting rifles since for the most part Replica Airguns is all about well... replica airguns :) I have reviewed some of my own personal spring piston and pump rifles since I have them and there is a cross over in folks that like both the replica airguns and airguns meant for target and or hunting purposes.
We do have a small selection of spring piston rifles in our Replica Airguns Canada store suitable for target and small game so I thought I would point some of them out in this preview video.
Type:BB rifle
Manufacturer: Daisy
Model: Red Ryder.
Materials: Stained solid wood stock and forearm, leather saddle thong.
Weight: 2.2 pounds.
Barrel: 10.85 inches, smooth bore.
Propulsion: Spring.
Action: Lever Action.
Ammunition Type: 4.5mm Steel BB's.
Ammunition Capacity: 650 rounds
FPS: 350.
Ruger Explorer Youth Air Pellet Rifle
Type: Pellet rifle.
Manufacturer: Ruger
Model: Explorer.
Materials: All-weather composite black stock, metal.
Weight: 4.5 pounds.
Barrel: 15 inches, rifled
Propulsion: Spring piston.
Action: Break barrel.
Ammunition Type: .177 caliber lead pellets.
Ammunition Capacity: 1 round.
FPS: 495.
Ruger Air Hawk Combo Pellet Rifle with 4x32 Scope
Type: Pellet rifle.
Manufacturer: Ruger
Model: Air Hawk.
Materials: Wood, metal.
Weight: 8.16 pounds.
Barrel: 18.7 inches, rifled
Propulsion: Spring piston.
Action: Break barrel.
Ammunition Type: .177 caliber lead pellets.
Ammunition Capacity: 1 round.
FPS: 495.
Browning Leverage Pellet Rifle with 3-9x40 Scope
Type: Pellet rifle.
Manufacturer: Browning
Model: Leverage.
Materials: Wood, metal.
Weight: 8.6 pounds.
Barrel: 18.9 inches, rifled
Propulsion: Spring piston.
Action: Under lever.
Ammunition Type: .177 caliber lead pellets.
Ammunition Capacity: 1 round.
FPS: 490.
Browning Gold Series Synthetic Pellet Rifle with 3x9x40 Scope
Type: Pellet rifle.
Manufacturer: Browning / Umarex
Model: Gold Series.
Materials: All-weather composite black stock, metal.
Weight: 8.4 pounds.
Barrel: 14 inches, rifled
Propulsion: Spring piston.
Action: Break Barrel.
Ammunition Type: .177 caliber lead pellets.
Ammunition Capacity: 1 round.
FPS: 495.
I thought I would post this video of my recent Victoria Cup Men's Physique Fitness Contest for my Airgun fans that are also interested in what I am doing over on my fitness related YouTube Channel and Website GetFitOver40.com.
Don't worry - More Airgun videos coming next week when I get back from my trip.
It has been way too long since I got to go to the gun range and shoot my "big boy" guns! I say that sarcastically, sure my real steel guns are fun to shoot but it sure costs a lot of money and basically all we really do is shoot paper targets. Shooting at papper targets is fun for a while but I kind of enjoy shooting my airguns at pretty much any type of target I choose to shoot at. And of course any time I want to and for pennies per shot.
So getting back to Range Day shooting my real steel big boy guns ;) I went with a couple of buddies of mine and we shot a nice variety of guns. My Norinco NP-30 double stack 45 cal 1911, my Wyoming Arms Parker 10mm, a couple of my friends Glock 40 cals, my Norinco NP-34 P228 and Norinco Tokarev Type 54 9mm pistols, my Chiappa 1911-22 and ISSC M22 22LR pistols, a nice Sig Mosquito 22LR, my buddies S&W M&P 15-22 22LR rifle along with my ISSC MK22 SCAR 22LR rifle and my friends mighty custom Ruger Mini 14 in .223 caliber...
It was a cold day but a really fun day and it gave me a chance to really use my iPhone 6 plus camera for its slow-motion capabilities in a decent lighting situation.
Enjoy the footage of these "real guns" shooting in real time and slowed down.
Since I have already doen dedicated reviews for both the T.A.C Converter and XBG BB Pistol, I won't drag this written reviw on too long since yuo can read my other dedicated reviews for each product.
In a nutshell, when you buy the Umarex T.A.C. Converter XBG CO2 BB Pistol Combo, you get the XBG CO2 4.5mm BB Pistol preinstalled in the T.A.C Converter, you also get the included fore-grip which is renovable by the way can coudl be used stand alone on any other gun with an under barrel Picatinny rail.
Keep in mind that this combo kit only works with the XBG Pistol since there are no included adaptors for the other Umarex pistols designed to work with the T.A.C Converter. (H&K USP, S&W M&P40, XBG, CZ Enforcer, Walther P99 DAO, SA177).
The addition of the T.A.C. Converter to the XBG really improves the shoot-ability since the rear folding stock allows for a much more stable hold position. You also have the addition of whit dot sights front and back with the rear sight being adjustable for windage only. I would recommend a compact light weight red dot sight for this gun since using the included open sights are hard to keep in focus because of how close the rear sight ends up being to your eyes when in the shouldered position.
With the top, bottom, and side picatinny rails you can add litterally all types of accessories to this package including a tac light, laser, optical sight, red dot, folding metal sights to name a few.
The XBG BB Pistol has a nice combincation of 400+ fps with tuns of shots per CO2 and respectible accuary with easy access to the Drop out metal BB magazine.
For under $60 in our Canada Replica Airguns store this is a really fun package!
While the weather is still holding on, I setup some clay pigeon targets at varying further out distances than the typically 30 feet I shoot on my deck. I paced out approximately 40-60-80-100+ foot ranges conservatively thinking this would be a good test to see if a 6mm Airsoft rifle could effectively hit targets at any of these ranges using heavy .36 gram Airsoft BB's.
Make sure to checkout my other video I shot on the same day that features my Baikal Drozd Blackbird taking it through this exact same long range shooting test.
So today I brought out an Airsoft Sniper rifle since this is what it's made to do, the model being the ASG AW .308 Airsoft Sniper. As with many of my shooting videos I captured all the fun using a bunch of different cameras and camera angles along with a dedicated lapel microphone so the audio also comes in nice and clear.
So make sure to watch my YouTube video and see how the ASG AW .308 Airsoft Sniper Rifle does shooting clay pigeons up to 100 Plus feet away...
This Article and Video expresses my views and opinions on this matter and should not be taken as legal advice.
Main points covered:
Uncontrolled Firearms do not require a Firearms License within Canada to own and operate.
What is an Uncontrolled Airgun and Airsoft Gun?
What is an Uncontrolled Blank Gun / Starter Pistols?
What about Fully Automatic Airguns and Airsoft Guns?
What about Replica Guns?
NOTE: Controlled Firearms require a POL (Possession Only License) , PAL (Possession Acquisition License) or R-PAL (Restricted Possession Acquisition License) within Canada to own and operate.
Firearm – a barreled weapon from which any shot, bullet, or other projectile can be discharged and that is capable of causing serious bodily injury or death to a person, and includes any frame or receiver of such a barreled weapon and anything that can be adapted for use as a firearm.
“Uncontrolled”firearms are those devices that, although falling within the definition of a firearm in the Criminal Code, are exempt from specific legal requirements of the Firearms Act and its regulations, as well as from other legislative provisions. “Uncontrolled” firearms should not be subdivided into any of the non-restricted, restricted, or prohibited classes. The following types of firearms are deemed “uncontrolled”:
Flare, blank, rivet and industrial guns: Any device that is designed exclusively for signaling, for notifying of distress, or for firing blank cartridges or for firing stud cartridges, explosive-driven rivets or other industrial projectiles, provided that the importer intends to use it only for the purpose for which it is designed.
NOTE: (Toy guns and starter pistols do not generally qualify as firearms. However, some toy or model guns and starter pistols may be designed with very realistic mechanisms or appearances (e.g., color, size, scale, translucency) and resembling a real make and model of a firearm. In such cases, they may be considered replica firearms even if they are made of plastic, die cast zinc, or other material.)
Low muzzle velocity/energy guns: Any barreled weapon that is not designed or adapted to discharge projectiles at a muzzle velocity exceeding 152.4 meters per second (500 feet per second) and at a muzzle energy exceeding 5.7 Joules, or to discharge projectiles that are designed or adapted to attain a velocity exceeding 152.4 meters per second (500 feet per second) and an energy exceeding 5.7 Joules. Both thresholds of 152.4 mps and 5.7 Joules must be exceeded for the firearm to be considered “controlled”. This requirement exempts firearms that fire below the threshold velocity with a standard projectile, but exceed the threshold velocity when fired with a high-velocity projectile.
Airsoft guns and certain types of paintball guns or markers may qualify as a replica firearm, if the muzzle velocity of the projectile does not cause serious bodily harm and their external features are clearly designed to resemble a specific and readily identifiable make and model of a firearm. To be considered a firearm, within the meaning of the Criminal Code, an airsoft gun must have a muzzle velocity in excess of 111.6 meters per second (366 feet per second).
NOTE: This memorandum used to state when using a .20 gram BB but does not specify this BB weight anymore?
NOTE: The term air gun is a colloquial term referring to BB or pellet guns. Such guns operate either as spring- powered, gas-powered, or electrically powered. If the muzzle velocity of the air gun is less than 152.4 mps (500 fps)/5.7 joules but still able to cause serious bodily injury to a person, it may be considered an “uncontrolled” firearm. Airsoft guns and certain types of paintball guns may qualify as a replica firearm (see paragraph 49 of this memorandum).
Replica firearms:
“Replica firearm” is defined as any device that is designed or intended to exactly resemble, or to resemble with near precision, a firearm, and that itself is not a firearm, but does not include any such device that is designed or intended to exactly resemble, or to resemble with near precision, an antique firearm.
For a device to be a replica firearm it must meet all three requirements:
(a) it cannot be a firearm, meaning it does not discharge a projectile with sufficient energy to cause serious bodily injury or death to a person. If the device is a firearm, then it cannot be a replica firearm (and vice versa);
(b) it must resemble exactly, or with near precision, a real existing firearm of an identifiable make and model. With respect to visual examination, note that the maximum observing distance is one at which the equivalent make and model of the firearm can be identified. This distance will vary from one firearm make to the next. For example: A Luger pistol has a very distinctive silhouette as compared to other makes and is therefore more readily identified from further away. The examination of the object is something more than casual, but less than detailed. The device does not need to be so close that markings are identifiable; and
(c) it cannot be designed or intended to exactly resemble, or to resemble with near precision, an antique firearm.
1. Air guns that are "Controlled" Firearms for purposes of both the Firearms Act and the Criminal Code
These are air guns with both a high muzzle velocity (greater than 152.4 meters or 500 feet per second) and a high muzzle energy (greater than 5.7 joules or 4.2 foot-pounds). The "muzzle velocity" is the speed of a projectile at the instant it leaves the muzzle of a gun, normally expressed in meters per second or feet per second. The "muzzle energy" is the energy of a projectile at the instant it leaves the muzzle of a gun, expressed in joules or foot-pounds. Air guns need to meet both standards to be classified as "Controlled" firearms for purposes of the Firearms Act.
These high-powered air guns are subject to the same license and registration requirements as a conventional "Controlled" firearm. Owners and users are also required to store, transport, display and handle them safely in accordance with the regulations supporting the Firearms Act.
Usually, the manufacturer's specifications are used to determine what muzzle velocity and muzzle energy an air gun was designed to have. This information may be available in the user's manual or on the manufacturer's website. If the information is not available, individuals can call the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Canadian Firearms Program (CFP) at 1-800-731-4000 and ask to speak to a firearm technician to find out if the air gun is considered to be a firearm for purposes of the Firearms Act.
High-powered air rifles are generally classified as non-restricted firearms. However, the classification depends on the exact design of the air gun. Air rifles manufactured to resemble an assault rifle could be non-restricted, restricted or prohibited depending on the exact model imitated. High-powered air rifles would also be prohibited firearms if fully automatic or if they have a sawed-off barrel. They could also be restricted firearms if they have a folding stock that reduces the overall length to less than 660mm.
Additional thought on this subject: Even though Uncontrolled Firearms are not governed by the same laws that apply to Controlled Firearms within the Firearms act and do not need to be handled or stored similar in the same way you are required to handle, transport and store a Controlled Firearm, we need to treat our Uncontrolled Airguns, Airsoft Guns and Blank guns with care and go over and above what is expected when had handle, transport and store them.
Perhaps the last of my 4.5mm Steel BB Dull Auto Fun Video? We'll see? Today I take out my Umarex EBOS (Electric Burst of Steel) 8 Round Burst BB Machine Gun and again take aim at a bunch of clay pigeons I set up 30 feet away. Even thought the EBOS does not have the highest rate of fire with only 500 rounds per minute, it does get the job done because it stays true on target and really proved to be very accurate allowing me to even trim off the smallest bits of clay pigeon stuck in the edges of the holders.
The rate of fire on the Umarex E.B.O.S. almost reminds me of what you would hear or expect from an AK 47 type machine gun.
Near the end of this video I try my luck at shooting some of the clay pigeons out of the air shotgun style but failed horribly :( Perhaps I should give by modified 1200 rounds per minute Drozd Blackbird a go at it :)
This may be a bit controversial for some people who don't like the thought of using an gun for hunting or extermination of unwanted pests. But weather or not it is accepted by all, it is a practice that many people still embrace including myself when done in a humane way.
Let's start off by addressing this topic by asking some questions and filling in some of the answers. Keep in mind I go into much more detail in my Vimeo video below.
What is the reason that you need to Shoot or Hunt an Animal?
Are you shooting an animal out of need or just for fun, sure there is a thrill in the sport of hunting but after taking down your prey, the animal should not be killed in vain as the meat should be eaten. There are also times when pesky critters get into your gardens, tree farms, feeding stations garbages and who knows what else? I personally think shooting an animal that has not done you any harm or that you don't plan on eating is not ethical. So question your motives wisely?
Can you use an Airgun for Hunting and or Pest Control?
The short answer is yes! As long as you choose the correct Airgun for the job, one that has enough power and accuracy to get the job done in a humane manner. Using an underpowered or inaccurate gun of any type for the chosen target will lead to the animal being wounded and possibly getting away to suffer unnecessarily.
What about Pistols versus Rifles?
Given the choice, a rifle will always be your best bet, rifles tend to be more accurate since they are more stable to hold and the fact that the sights are further apart which improves the guns accuracy. Most rifles also allow for enhanced sighting systems like red dots or magnified scopes for even further accuracy improvements. There are some pistols made specifically for hunting and target shooting that can be accurate but I would limit their use to shorter ranges.
What about Pellet guns versus BB guns?
BB guns in general are not meant for hunting or pest control, and in most cases they are underpowered and not as accurate as their pellet shooting counterparts, especially out at longer ranges where most pests keep their distances to. If you plan on doing some hunting and or pest control, please invest in an adequate pellet rifle to get the job done humanly.
What type of Ammo is best for Hunting and Pest Control?
There are lots of types of pellets available, pointed, rounded, flat, hollow-point and even pellets that have nylon tips. At the end of the day, use the pellet that is the most accurate in your Airgun because shot placement will win over pellet shape any day of the week. The reality is that as long as that pellet hits the target with adequate velocity, it doesn't matter what shape it is, it's more than likely going to pass right through the animal.
What is the lowest FPS that I can use?
I would rather ask the question, what is the highest fps I can get away with since more fps will give you more margin for error, since it will have a flatter trajectory and will do more damage even if your shot is off a bit. An experienced shooter could make a kill shot on a small pest even with a 400 fps airgun but the shot would have to be perfect and the range would have to be close. Of course when shooting larger game, you will need larger caliber pellets with higher velocities. Also when using a high velocity airgun you need to consider what is beyond your target, if you miss, where is that pellet or bullet going to end up? You need to make sure you do not injure anyone by mistake as pellets/bullets can travel a long distance.
How large of an Animal can an Airguns Kill?
This is really dependent on the Airgun being used, Airguns come in many different calibers, from .177 right up to .50 caliber, some PCP Airguns can even take down a deer! You need to do your research and make sure the Airgun you choose has both the power and accuracy you need for the intend prey.
Where can I use an Airgun for Hunting and or Pest Control?
This is a question you need to ask your local authorities as laws and hunting regulations are different just about everywhere. Even shooting pests on your property may require a permit so be careful to obey your local laws.
I get asked about what cameras I use fairly often so a while back I made a video showing some of the cameras I used at that time. Since that video was made I have been using a newer pair of "HD Camera Glasses" called Pivothead Recons' which I really like and are very good quality and are perfect for that first person video camera angle.
In this video review, I show you around my pair of Pivothead Recon 1080p HD Camera Glasses and include some footage taken with them. I talk a bit about the specifications but have included the below specs right off of Pivothead's website to make sure it all gets covered:
OPTICS
4 ELEMENT GLASS LENS
Largan Glass Camera Lens
FOCUS
Recon'sContinuosFocus | Auto Focus: 4”- | Fixed focus: 2.8’ – | Macro 4”- 28”
FIELD OF VIEW
75 Degrees
IMAGE SENSOR
8MP Sony CMOS
RAM
2GB SDRAM
VIDEO
RESOLUTION
1080p@30fps | 720p@60fps | 720p@30fps
VIDEO FORMAT
Mp4 H.264
EXPOSURE
Auto | Bright | Dim
VIDEO OPTIONAL SETTING
Black & White | Face Tracking | Time/Date Stamp
AUDIO FORMAT
AAC MONO
44.1 kHz
PHOTO
IMAGE SIZE OPTIONS
8MP | 5MP | 3MP
BURST OPTIONS
16 Shot Stills | 10 Shot Stills | 5 Shot Stills | 3 Shot Stills
TIME LAPSE OPTION
1 Shot/1s | 1 Shot/30s | 4 Shots/8s
4 Shots/30s | 10 Shots/30s | 5 Shots/60s
FOCUS
Auto | Macro
EXPOSURE
Auto | Bright | Dim
ISO
Auto | 200 | 800 | 1600
PHOTO OPTIONAL SETTING
Black & White | Face Tracking | Time/Date Stamp
STORAGE
INTERNAL MEMORY
8GB
INTERFACE
USB CABLE
USB 2.0 Cable for Charging and Data Transfer
POWER
RECHARGEABLE
Rechargeable 3.7VLi-Polymer/440mAh
DC POWER
USB power via Micro USB, 5V DC 500mA
OPERATING SYSTEM
SYSTEM
Mac | PC | Android
PRE SET MODES
Active | Action Sport | Power Save
Spectator | Hands On (Macro) | Social | Black & White
CERTIFICATION
FCC | FDA | CE
Make sure to watch my Vimeo Video Review of the Pivothead Recon HD Video Glasses:
You may wonder why I am doing another video on the G&G CM16 Raider Gas Blowback Airsoft AR Rifle? That's because the one I have here in this Update Video is Version 2 and yes there is a difference. So far I can only tell you about the obvious stuff since I really have not tested it out to see if there are any other performance gains with Version 2 over Version 1.
G&G has made some improvement with Version 2 enhancing several areas:
First off, there is now a selector switch on both sides of the receiver allowing for left or right handed use.
Carrying on with the ambidextrous theme, G&G also added a magazine release to the left side of the receiver.
Another missing feature was a bolt lock out when your magazine was empty, this has been added and so the bolt will lock back about 1/3 the way back locking out the gun and letting you know when you are out of ammo.
The bolt release on Version 1 was just for show and did not function. On Version 2, with the bolt lock, G&G also added a working bolt release.
Those are some pretty significant improvements to the G&G Armament CM16 Raider GBB Version 2 in my books! So now it's time to test it out and see if full auto mode has been improved. I found with Version 1, that when using full auto, the G&G CM16 Raider GBB would have some trouble getting through a full mag dump but when shooting very quickly in semi auto had no problems at all.
Make sure to check back for my full review and shooting field test for the G&G CM16 Raider GBB Version 2 AR Airsoft Rifle.
Type: BB Pistol.
Manufacturer:Cybergun - KWC.
Model:Tanfoglio Gold Custom.
Materials: Almost entirely all Metal.
Weight: 2.96 pounds (1344 grams).
Barrel: 4 inches, metal non-rifled.
Propulsion: 12 gram CO2.
Action: Semi auto, single action only with full blowback.
Ammunition Type: 4.5mm steel BB's.
Ammunition Capacity: 20 round full size drop out metal magazine.
FPS: 300+.
Trigger Pull: The Single Action Only trigger pull on the Cybergun - KWC Tanfoglio Gold Custom Blowback BB Pistol is what you would expect for a gun made specifically for IPSC styled shooting, it is nice and light with a very short take up and smooth release. Exactly what you would be looking for when wanting to shoot accurately and quickly!
Accuracy: I have already done my dedicated Field Test Shooting Video for the Tanfoglio Gold Custom Blowback BB pistol so check out the link here, I can tell you it shot a very nice tight grouping and stayed on target between shots very well, it also got a bit higher than claimed fps which is always nice for a Blowback steel BB shooter.
Build Quality: The Tanfoglio Gold Custom Blowback BB Pistol is well built being that it is pretty much entirely metal (even the grips), It weighs in at almost three pounds so be prepared for a heavy gun, the tolerances are very good with very little slide slop and the seems are virtually non existent on this air pistol, the golden brown color is unique and I kind of like the way the writing on the gun blends into the color of the gun so it does not stand out too much.
Realism: The Cybergun - KWC Tanfoglio Gold Custom Blowback BB Pistol is based loosely on a CZ 75 styled pistol, Cybergun - KWC has taken some liberties in restyling it to some degree and really made this pistol look the part of a dedicated target shooter. In terms of functioning and looking like a real gun it has it all, full size drop out metal magazine, full blowback operation, full slide lock back and of course it can be field striped if need be.
Purchase it from:The Replica Airguns Store
Pros:
All metal construction - Good weight and very solid feeling gun.
Full size drop out metal magazine.
Heavy and snappy blowback action.
Good fit and finish.
Well balanced, so even with heavy blowback the gun stays on target.
Light and smooth single action trigger for quick followup shots.
Very Good accuracy, and a bit better than claimed fps.
Come with sight rail for mounting a red dot sight.
Would make a nice entry level IPSC trainer.
Cons:
Does not come with iron sights of any kind.
Not a lot of shots per CO2 about three magazines.
Sacrifice fps and shots per CO2 because of the heavy blowback but worth it.
Need to remove compensator to field strip the gun.
Comments:
Overall the Cybergun - KWC Tanfoglio Gold Custom Blowback BB Pistol is a great gun to shoot, I found it to be one of the nicest balanced guns I have shot to date which allowed me to shoot this blowback BB pistol really quickly and yet stay right on target even with the heavy and snappy blowback operation. I was pleased to see it even come in a bit higher than the claimed fps from Cybergun. The heavy all metal three pound weight and good fit and finish makes this airgun a nice choice if your looking for an action shooter that performs very well.
My Vimeo Video Review for the Cybergun - KWC Tanfoglio Gold Custom Blowback BB Pistol:
All references, photos and video claiming that any item in this review/video looks like a Glock or is a Replica of a Glock in any way shape or form have been removed from this post as requested by Glock "Renzulli Law Firm"
I almost forgot to do my field test review for my WE AK-74UN & WE G18C Tactical GBB Airsoft Pistol and Rifle! I decided to do them both together on this one but I still did my usual full testing for both guns which consisted of my Chronograph, Target and Can destruction along with some high speed slow motion of the blowback action of both guns in full auto mode.
Photo of WE G18C Removed by Request from Glock "Renzulli Law Firm"
Your best bet is to watch my Youtube video and see how both of these WE Airsoft guns perform. Overall they are both rally nice and super realistic, the WE G18C Tactical is definitely the full auto monster here while the AK-74UN is the bull in the China store with its crazy heavy blowback action, it has so much recoil that when shooting in full auto it kind of runs our of steam near the end, not so with the WE G18C as it did not slow down even with the 50 round magazine loaded up!
The WE AK-74UN even with it's crazy recoil holds on target very well in semi and full auto and of course has the superior fps performance. I found when shooting the G18C in full auto, I needed to hold my aim-point low as the blowback and super fast cycle rate wanted to pull the gun up and over my target, same would be true with a real gun so no surprise here.
Photo of WE G18C Removed by Request from Glock "Renzulli Law Firm"
I kind of "jumped the gun" a bit today (pun intended), I just felt like shooting one of my newer guns I had waiting for me to review. I actually shot and filmed this Cybergun Tanfoglio Gold Custom Blowback BB Pistol and my Cybergun Smith & Wesson M&P 9C GBB Airsoft Pistol both at the same time, what can I say, the weather was nice and I wanted to shoot something :)
As per usual I shot this blowback BB pistol through my Chronograph and actually got a much higher than the 300 claimed 5 shot average fps of 341. I kind of had a feeling right out of the box this gun had more in it! I also shot 10 rounds at the target from 20 feet out using a semi rested position (resting on a sand bag up front and kneeling in the back). Again the Cybergun Tanfoglio Gold Custom Blowback BB Pistol performed very well shooting a tight 1 inch grouping. When I free handed it and rattled off the remaining 7-8 rounds left in the magazine the grouping only widened to about 2 inches, this may be in part to the heavy weight and good balance and stability of the Cybergun Tanfoglio Gold Custom.
Since this 4.5mm Steel BB pistol does not come with any iron sights, you will need to purchase a red dot, I was fortunate enough to find a very nice silver matchup at my local surplus store that worked out well with this airgun. The magazine does claim to hold 18 rounds but 17 is a bit better fit, I was able to get off three magazine s before the CO2 fizzled out. One of the nicest traits this guns has to offer is the very smooth, short and light single action trigger which in part I am sure helped me get that 1 inch 10 round grouping. Another factor that may help the accuracy of the Tanfoglio Gold Custom is the fact that even though the blowback is decent, the 3 pounds of steel holding this airgun in place keep movement to a minimum.
All in all this is a really great IPSC styled BB shooter with a unique and ultra modern look, kind of like a CZ 75 on steroids you could say. It shot very nicely for me and even performed better than claimed and better than expected. Although I did have an idea this CO2 Blowback BB Pistol was going to impress!
Type: Pellet/BB Multi-pump Air Rifle.
Manufacturer:Crosman.
Model: MK-177.
Materials: Plastic with some metal.
Weight: 3.5 pounds.
Barrel: 16.75 inches, rifled.
Propulsion: Multi-pump.
Action: Single shot - bolt action with manual advance magazine.
Ammunition Type: .177 caliber pellets & 4.5mm steel BB's.
Ammunition Capacity: 5 shot pellet magazine - 18 shot BB internal BB magazine - 350 round BB hopper.
FPS: 750 with Pellets and 800 with BB's for the US version (Up to 495 with Canada version).
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Crosman MK-177 is medium length and fairly light. The trigger mainly releases the bolt so no pre-cocking of the trigger is required. The trigger is plastic but seems to work just fine as there is no real load on the trigger when shooting, you do need to get used to where the release point since there is some take up well before the trigger releases.
Accuracy: I found the Crosman MK-177 Air Rifle to be a very good shooter, getting about a 1 inch 10 shot grouping from 30 feet out in a semi rested position (sand bag up front, standing in the back). I also put 3 rounds through my somewhat failing Chrony Chronograph using 3,5 & 10 pumps and the MK-177 with the maximum 10 pump shot as high as 631 fps using 6.9 grain RWS lead pellets. I would expect the Canadian detuned version to shoot well below the 500 fps Canada limit much like my Canadian Crosman M4-177 I reviewed a while back.
Build Quality: The Crosman MK-177 Multi-pump Air Rifle is mostly molded plastic, but for a $100-ish Military Styled Replica Air Rifle it hits the mark in terms of affordability and if it was an all metal airgun you would more than likely expect to double or tripple this price point! Even though plastic is used throughout this Air Rifle, there are some internal metal parts where they need to be, the fit and finish seems to be good and I do not get the feeling the Crosman MK-177 is cheaply made in any way. The fact that most parts are molded means there is very little that can snap or break off and will make this air rifle even more durable longterm.
Realism: The Crosman MK-177 is a lose replica or copy of an FN SCAR Assault Rifle or ACR. It is not exact in terms of true dimensions to accommodate the pumping mechanism, You will not find very many working parts as just about everything is molded into the plastic on this Crosman MK-177 rifle. Unlike the Crosman M4-177 the lower magazine area is not removable and the rear stock is also none adjustable, I am not sure why Crosman didn't add these features to the MK-177 like they did to the M4-177? I am glad to see another Replica Assault rifle on the market as so few of them are available in Pellet or steel BB shooters.
Available in the:Replica Airguns Store.
Pros:
The only SCAR Pellet/BB rifle I know of?
Fairly well priced.
Excellent accuracy!
Very easy to pump.
None red dot version comes with detachable and adjustable iron sights.
Rails on top and sides for accessories.
Option of shooting pellets or BB's, I would stick to pellets and save the barrel since it is not semi auto.
Feels super solid since there are very few moving parts that could break.
Looks like the Crosman M4-177 Pellet magazines are compatible.
Cons:
Mostly plastic and just about everything is molded into the gun.
Bolt and magazine are on opposite sides?
Would of been cool if Crosman made a dedicated BB magazine?
Comments:
The Crosman MK-177 Multi-Pump Pellet/BB Air Rifle is very much like it's brother the Crosman M4-177 with a few plusses and a few minuses when comparing the two of them together. On the plus side the MK-177 has a bit more power and also the pumping is much easier while yielding higher internal pressures. On the downside the Crosman MK-177 is almost entirely molded plastic with no removable lower magazine or adjustable stock, and the bolt has been switched around to what I feel is the wrong side since now you need to index the magazine on one side and work the bolt on the other requiring a less efficient approach. Either way it is nice to have another replica air rifle on the marker and for the relatively low price you get a nice accurate pellet rifle, great for target shooting and even small pest control.
Watch my Vimeo Full Video Review of the Crosman MK-177 Pellet/BB Air Rifle:
Earlier this week my father called me up and asked if I wanted to head out with him to go do some hunting/shooting. He has his bear tag but for the most part, hunting with my Dad consists of driving around in his truck hoping to stumble on something since he can not walk all that far these days.
We had a great time just enjoying each others conversation and of course the beauty of Canada BC's Harrison Lake area. We also got to shoot some guns to "make sure they where sighted in and working correctly". I brought my Norinco 12 Gauge Homeland Security 780 which I needed to test out and I'm glad I did since it needs some TLC to get working smoothly. I also brought along my little Henry Lever Action 22LR which is always a blast to shoot. My Dad brought his Savage Arms 7mm Magnum just in case we did see a bear on this outing.
Long story short we didn't bring any meat back home with us but we did see some out of season doe and of course had some nice father-son time together...
I don't often get to shoot my airguns out at the 100 foot mark but I purchased my Sheridan Silver Streak .20 Caliber Multi Pump Pellet Rifle mainly to shoot up to and even past this fairly distant range as the Silver Streak is my new vermin gun for pests around the farm. I get a lot of Crows that to be honest are just feathered bullies that pick on all the other friendly birds on the farm, they have also been known to get into my garbage and even attack the Eagles and Hawks in the area. Flying Rats I like to call them.
In this Field test Shooting video I test out my brand new Sheridan Silver Streak on the Chronograph to see just how powerful it really is not just at the maximum 8 pumps but also at 3 and 5 pumps. I was actually very surprised at the very decent power I got from only 3 pumps (460 fps), you could easily take out a small rat with the 14.3 grain .20 caliber lead pellets I was using for my Chrony test. At 5 pumps I gained close to another 100 fps and at 8 pumps I maxed out at just a hair under 640 fps respectively. With the 14.3 grain pellets I was using this worked out to right around 13 foot pounds of energy. (My Sheridan was purchased using a PAL)
I also shot my Sheridan Silver Streak .20 Caliber Pellet Rifle at a target setup 100 feet or just over 30 yards away and was able to get what I felt was a nice 1.5 inch 5 shot grouping. 4 of the 5 pellets where all within 1 inch of each other with my first shot being a bit lower and to the right of the rest spreading the group out to about 1.5 inches. Keep in mind I was also a bit winded from all the pumping and I could feel and see my heartbeat in my 9 power Bushnell scope making my crosshairs bob back and forth ever so slightly.
I have not shot my Sheridan Silver Streak all that much and plan to hone my skills further so when the time comes I will be ready for them pesky crows.
Stay tuned for my future Table Top review of my Sheridan Silver Streak, for now you can checkout my Preview video that has some preliminary info.
For the most part, this video is to test out some cameras and using them all together in a multi-camera scenario. I wanted to see how many camera angles I could shoot at one time and see how they would all work together when editing the video.
Cameras used:
My new Pivothead Recon Camera Glasses.
Sony HDR-AS15 Action Cam.
Drift HD170 Point of View Camera.
Nikon 1 with 10mm fixed lens.
Casio TRYX.
*All cameras where shooting in 1080p for this video.
I hope to use camera setups like this in the future, maybe not all at once but at least a couple at a time to give you some viewing options.
I picked out my WE SCAR GBB Airsoft Rifle for this test as it had a lot of mounting points and the Gas Blow Back makes for some great video action. Unfortunately My WE SCAR was not working at 100% but I still think I was able to pull off this test video either way.
Watch my Multi-Camera-Angle Test Video shooting the WE SCAR GBB AIrsoft Rifle:
ALL GUNS ARE NOW SOLD - THANKS FOR THE AWESOME RESPONSE!
This is a first for me but I guess you could say I have to make room for some more guns ;) I have some duplicate guns and a couple I juts don't have a need for anymore so instead of having them sit around collecting dust, I thought I would offer them up for sale and get them in the hands of someone who can really appreciate and get some use out of them...
Here is a list of the items up for sale:
Shipping/Handling is $15 Canadian and $25 to the US and you must be 18 or over to buy. You will need to email me at mike@replicaairguns.com to let me know what gun/guns you want to buy - first come first serve, I will send a PayPal request to the person with the first offer to buy and give them 24 hours to pay or I move on to the next buyer.
You can watch my YouTube Video to get a good look at each pre-owned item up for sale:
I like to show off some of my acquisitions from time to time even if they are guns I don't necessarily have for sale, I am a collector and some items are not always common enough or even popular enough to keep in our Replica Airguns Store.
Today I show you two blank guns I picked up from a recent gun show I attended in Chilliwack BC. There where not many blank guns at the show, the two I found may have been the only blank guns there, at least that I saw? The ROHM RG300 .22 Caliber Blank Pistol and RST MOD. 1966 .22 Caliber Blank Revolver I picked up for a pretty good price, at least in my mind, $55 for the ROHM and $20 for the RTS. A nice addition to my blank gun collection!
I have been contemplating between a PCP (Pre Charged Pneumatic) or a really good Multi-pump air rifle for pest control around my house, I have been using a spring piston rifle but the combination of my limited skills with spring piston rifles and the fact that most pests in my area stay a good 50+ yards back, means I need an airgun with pin-point accuracy. At the end of the day I decided on the Sheridan Silver Streak because it was a bit more affordable than a PCP air rifle and also the Sheridan is such a classic air rifle but still with the right amount of power and accuracy to get the job done.
Checkout some more photos...
Watch my Vimeo Preview Video of these three guns:
