Lots of CO2 BB Rifles getting reviewed these days and that’s kind of awesome, I remember a few years back and we barely had any realistic Replica BB rifles available to us. Now we have an ever increasing list of choices from Historical to Modern.
Todays Field Test Shooting Video focusses on the Air Venturi Springfield Armory M1 Carbine CO2 BB Rifle, I have not done my Table Top Video yet for it but I did make a preview video where I show it around a bit and talk about some basic specs. In short the Air Venturi Springfield Armory M1 Carbine CO2 BB Rifle is a CO2 powered semi auto 4.5mm Steel BB firing replica of the Springfield Armory M1 Carbine. It holds the CO2 and 15 rounds of Steel BB’s in its full size drop out metal magazine. Available with a plastic or upgraded wood stock.
For the Field Test Shooting part of this review I tested out the power and accuracy of the Air Venturi Springfield Armory M1 Carbine CO2 BB Rifle by first shooting 5 rounds through my Chronograph to establish the Feet Per Second velocity. I then placed a fresh paper target 30 feet downrange, while using a rested and seated shooting position I fired off 10 rounds into the target to see how tight of a group I can get with the Air Venturi Springfield Armory M1 Carbine CO2 BB Rifle. I used a brand new CO2 along with 5.1 grain 4.5mm Zinc coated Steel BB’s. The temperature was a conservative 22 degrees Celsius or 71 degrees Fahrenheit.
During my Chronograph velocity test I was a bit surprised to only obtain an average of 335 fps from the Air Venturi Springfield Armory M1 Carbine CO2 BB Rifle. Air Venturi claims closer to 425 so I am not sure why it was nearly 100 fps lower than claimed but perhaps the CO2 did not pierce as well as it could have, that said 335 fps does get the job done when shooting targets 20-30 feet away.
In terms of accuracy I was very pleased with the Air Venturi Springfield Armory M1 Carbine CO2 BB Rifle, it kind of made up for the slower than expected feet per second by getting a sub 1 inch 10 round group and I am not a big fan of peep sights so I was really not expecting these results. Right out of the box the Air Venturi Springfield Armory M1 Carbine CO2 BB Rifle shot pretty close to the bullseye, just s slight bit to the left and about 1-2 inches high. The rear sight is adjustable for elevation so that can be taken care of pretty easy.
The purpose of my Field Test Shooting Video is to find out how the airgun being reviewed performs in terms of velocity and accuracy, and if the ratings on paper end-up being the same or close to the tested results. Crosman claims the Crosman Bushmaster MPW CO2 Blowback BB Machine Gun is capable of shooting 5.1 grain 4.5mm Steel BB’s at up to 430 fps. When I tested the Crosman Bushmaster MPW CO2 Blowback BB Machine Gun using my Chronograph averaging out 5 shots using a brand new set of CO2 cartridges I averaged 385 fps. Note the temperature in my Indoor Airgun Sea Can Shooting Range was not super warm at about 20-22 degrees Celsius or right around 70 degrees Fahrenheit. I was able to get 405 fps from the Crosman DPMS SBR CO2 Blowback BB M4 but I have a feeling the temperate may have been a little bit warmer for the DPMS SBR Testing which does help to increase the fps.
Moving on to the accuracy portion of this Field Test Shooting Review for the Crosman Bushmaster MPW CO2 Blowback BB Machine Gun, I loaded up the 25 round magazine with the maximum amount t it would hold and then placed 10 semi auto shots on my paper target setup 30 feet downrange. I was using a rested and seated shooting position to help minimize human factor. I was a bit surprised that the Crosman Bushmaster MPW CO2 Blowback BB Machine Gun shot a 2.5 inch semi auto 10 shot group since the Crosman DPMS SBR CO2 Blowback BB M4 was able to get just under 1 inch when I performed the same test.
I then flipped the semi auto selector switch to full auto and dumped the remaining 15 rounds into my paper target in full auto mode and to my surprise the Crosman Bushmaster MPW CO2 Blowback BB Machine Gun actually tightened up it’s grouping a little bit closer to 1.5 inches which is amazing in full auto mode with the airgun rocking around a lot due to the blowback action.
I think it really comes down to which of the Crosman AR type full auto BB rifles you like the look of since both are very capable shooters. Or just get both if you can’t decide :)
In this Field Test Shooting Review Video I test out both the 3.8 Compact and 4.5 Full Size Air Venturi Springfield Armory XDM Blowback CO2 BB Pistols to see how they perform in both velocity and accuracy. I thought it would be interesting to see how the shorter and longer barreled versions compare side by side and if we sill see a difference in power and down range accuracy…
As always I use a brand new 12 gram CO2 along with 5.1 gran zinc coated steel BB’s for my testing and on this day the temperature in the Sea Can Indoor Airgun range was around 24 degrees Celsius or 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
Watch my Video for all the main differences but in short here they are for those reading this post:
Steel BB version uses CO2 while the Airsoft version uses Green Gas or Propane.
There is no orange tip on the Steel BB version while Airsoft versions come with orange tips installed.
Steel BB versions have 20 round full length magazines for both the 3.8 and 4.5 inch versions, while the Airsoft 3.8 compact comes with the shorter 14 round magazine and the Airsoft 4.5 comes with a longer 25 round magazine.
FPS for the Steel BB versions are 270fps for the 3.8 and 325fps for the 4.5, comparably the Airsoft 3.8 is claimed to have 280fps with the 4.5 version a bit higher at 330fps. (Keep in mind that steel BB’s weigh more at around .33 grams compared to the .20 gram plastic Airsoft BB’s used for testing).
I did notice that on the sliver slide version, my earlier Airsoft 4.5 had more of a parkerized metallic finish while my same Steel BB version I received at a later time had more of brushed stainless look to it. Air Venturi has since informed me that all silver slide version will now have the brushed stainless finish.
It felt like Christmas the other day when a bunch of Springfield Armory new products showed up at my door! So first off thanks to Air Venturi for sending me these new products for review. I already got my hands on the Springfield Armory XDM 3.8 and 4.5 GBB Airsoft version but have been wanting to also review the CO2 Blowback Steel BB versions.
In this video I show all these new Springfield Armory CO2 Blowback BB guns quickly but will of course be making dedicated Table Top and Fired Test Shooting Video for them upcoming.
Type: Gas Blowback Airsoft Pistol. Manufacturer: Air Venturi Model: Springfield Armory XDM 3.8 & 4.5 Inch Materials: Metal slide & Mag with Polymer frame. Weight: 1.75 & 1.9 pounds (794 & 861 grams). Length: 7.25 & 8.25 inches total length Barrel: 3.8 & 4.5 inch Metal non-rifled smooth bore. Propulsion: Green gas or propane. Action: Blowback, single action only. Ammunition Type: 6mm plastic Airsoft BB's. Ammunition Capacity: 14 & 25 rounds. FPS: 280-330 fps.
Trigger Pull: The single action only trigger pull on the Air Venturi Springfield Armory XDM GBB Airsoft Pistol is pretty much what you would expect on a striker fired SAO pistol. There is very little take up with a light release which should make for great action shooting and help with accuracy when slowing things down a bit.
Accuracy: This time I actually have done my Field Test Shooting video for the Air Venturi Springfield Armory XDM GBB Airsoft Pistol and it did pretty good, getting a 2 inch 10 round grouping from 30 feet away shooting just a bit low on the target, nothing a bit of hop-up adjustment shouldn’t be able to account for. The claimed fps is 330 for the 4.5 inch version and I was able to average right around 300.
Build Quality: At SHOT Show this year I commented on the Air Venturi Springfield Armory XDM Pistols and how great they looked and felt. Nothing really different now that I have them in my hands for review. I did notice that my AIrsoft version with the Silver Slide had a kind of metallic parkerized finish while my BB Silver Slide version has a more stainless steel look. I prefer the Stainless Steel look a lot more and feel it makes the Air Venturi Springfield Armory XDM Pistols look higher quality. Hopefully Air Venturi sticks with the Stainless Steel finish? Build quality and finish are good thought the gun.
Realism: The Air Venturi Springfield Armory XDM GBB Airsoft Pistol is really one of the best 1 to 1 copies I have seen out there. It looks pretty much identical including all the licensing and markings in all the right places. It also is full blowback with a full size drop out metal magazine and all the mechanical working parts work the same as the real steel version including the trigger safety, grip safety, slide catch release, take down leaver and magazine release. Field striping is done just like the 9mm big brother allowing for easy hop-up adjustments.
Lots of metal parts where the real steel version would also have them.
Fully Field Strippable.
Adjustable Hop-up.
Easy to use sights, fiber optic up front and white dot on the back.
Springfield Armory fully Licensed.
Working serial number, trigger and backstop safeties.
Comes with different sized back straps for small to large hands.
Rail for adding accessories.
Warning instructions are nice and discreet!
Your choice of compact or full size versions also in all black or silver slide.
Performed well in my Field Test Shooting Review getting a 2 inch 10 shot grouping and close to the claimed fps.
Cons:
Comes with the orange tip we all love but should be pretty easy to remove.
Sights are non-adjustable. Can use Hop-up to bring shots up or down.
Silver Slide Airsoft version finish is not my favorite.
Comments:
Like I said at SHOT Show this year I was super impressed with the entire Springfield Armory lineup and now that I have them in my hands I am still just as impressed with the Air Venturi Springfield Armory XDM GBB Airsoft Pistols. You are getting pretty much what everyone looks for in a Replica Airgun: 1 to 1 size and similar weight, full blowback action, full size drop out metal magazine, fully licensed, adjustable hop-up, filed strippable and similar build materials you would find as compared to the real steel 9mm version. I also like that you have a ton of choice offered by Air Venturi: Airsoft or BB, 3.8 inch compact or 4.5 inch full size, silver or black slide and even short lower capacity or longer high capacity magazines for the 3.8 inch version.
My Table Top Review of the Air Venturi Springfield Armory XDM GBB Airsoft Pistol
Type: BB Rifle. Manufacturer: Crosman. Model: Bushmaster MPW. Materials: Metal & plastic. Weight: 6.5 pounds (4.98 kilograms). Length: 21 inches (Stock all the way in). Propulsion: 12 gram CO2 dual cartridges. Action: Blowback - single action only. Ammunition Type: 4.5mm steel BB's. Ammunition Capacity: 25 rounds. FPS: 430fps. Rate of Fire: 1400 rounds per minute in full auto
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Crosman Bushmaster MPW CO2 Blowback BB Machine Gun is single action only since the charging handle must be cocked first before you can shoot it. The trigger is short and fairly light as you would expect from an AR type trigger action. The bonus with the Crosman Bushmaster MPW CO2 Blowback BB Machine Gun is when you switch it over to full auto mode and just one pull and hold of the trigger will empty the 25 round magazine in just seconds.
Accuracy: So far I have not actually shot the Crosman Bushmaster MPW CO2 Blowback BB Machine Gun but since the internals are exactly the same as the Crosman DPMS SBR CO2 Blowback BB M4 I have already fully review, then I will expect it to performa about the same until I do my Field Test Shooting Review. You shoudl expect about 400 fps in semi auto mode and in terms of accuracy I hope to get a similar 3/4 inch 10 round semi auto grouping from 30 feet away. Full auto will open up the group a bit but not too much, maybe around 2 inches…
Build Quality: The Crosman Bushmaster MPW CO2 Blowback BB Machine Gun is well made all around. Weighing in at 6.5 pounds without any add on accessories it feel solid and well built. There is a lot of metal going on inside and out of this rifle but keep in mind the top and bottom receiver are plastic with metal parts where they need to be like in the internals, pretty much all the working parts are metal, the magazine is full metal, the buffer tub is metal, charging handle, selector switch, magazine release, bolt release, trigger and of course the barrel is metal.
Realism: The Crosman Bushmaster MPW CO2 Blowback BB Machine Gun is about as real as you are going to get in a CO2 Blowback AR/M4 styled Airgun. You can even take it apart and split the top and bottom receivers like the real steal version. The blowback action gives you some recoil but more importantly offers a true single action trigger and of course the full auto ability we all love. Almost all the working parts work like they would on a real M4 other than the forward assist which is moulded into the receiver.
Pros:
Super realistic working M4/AR 4.5mm BB Rifle just like the DPMS SBR but in a different flavor.
Full blowback operation with both semi and full auto shooting, can feel the blowback operation rocking the gun.
Good weight and feel to it.
Almost everything works exactly like the real steel version. (Charging handle, dust cover, bolt release, magazine release, selector switch…)
Duel CO2 full metal drop out magazine that holds the 25 4.5mm steel BB’s.
Adjustable and customizable AR buttstock.
Included red dot sights and ability to add pop-up iron sights.
Lots of rails for mounting additional cool hardware.
Built in Mock Suppressor.
Cons:
Receiver is plastic but well made and does not compromise feel or weight since there is lots of metal throughout this gun.
No iron sights included.
No fore grip included like the DPMS SBR.
Comments:
The Crosman Bushmaster MPW CO2 Blowback BB Machine Gun is really pretty much the same as the Crosman DPMS SBR CO2 Blowback BB Full Auto Rifle with more or less Cosmetic changes. One big advantage over the DPMS SBR is the AR comparable buffer tube which allows you to swap out any AR styled rear stock you choose! You also get an included Red Dot sight since there are no Iron sights. The Crosman Bushmaster MPW CO2 Blowback BB Machine Gun is super customizable with its quad-rail so go ahead and dress yours up with Iron sights, lasers, tactical lights, foregrips or whatever else you can dream up.
My Table Top Video of the Crosman Bushmaster MPW CO2 Blowback BB Machine Gun:
Using .20 gram BB’s I loaded up the Air Venturi Springfield Armory XDM GBB Airsoft Pistol with propane gas and placed several rounds through my Chronograph to see what the feet per second average would be. The last 5 shots I took where actual the fastest averaging 290 fps, a little bit slower than I was expecting but just about right for close quarters Airsoft games.
I then switched over to .32 gram Airsoft BB’s since they tend to be a bit more accurate out at longer ranges. Using a fresh paper target and shooting from a rested and seated position 30 feet away, I took 10 shots with the Air Venturi Springfield Armory XDM GBB Airsoft Pistol. The result was a 10 round grouping of about 2 inches with one straggler just outside the main group. The Air Venturi Springfield Armory XDM GBB Airsoft Pistol did shoot a little bit low at 30 feet but I am sure the hop-up can be adjusted for this. It was well centered left to right which is a good thing since the sights are non-adjustable.
I really like the Air Venturi Springfield Armory XDM GBB Airsoft Pistol, it looks and feels very solid with a nice balance in the hand. The Single Action Only Trigger is short and light making follow up shots quick and responsive. The blowback action is crisp with good simulated recoil. I look forward to trying out the Steel BB version of the Air Venturi Springfield Armory XDM GBB Pistol as soon as I get my hands on one which should be pretty soon. Take your pick, Airsoft or Steel BB, either is a great choice!
In this Field Test Shooting video I perform two main Airgun tests using the Sig Sauer P365 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol. The Chronograph Test to find out what the actual real world velocity is using a brand new CO2 along with 5.1 grain 4.5mm high quality Steel BB’s. And secondly I perform an Accuracy Test where I shoot 10 rounds at a paper target setup 30 feet away while using a rested seated position to take out as much human factor as possible. By the way the temperature on this day in the Sea Can Indoor Airgun Shooting Range was 24 degrees Celsius or 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
Starting with the Chronograph Test, I shot 5 rounds with the Sig Sauer P365 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol through my Chronograph and averaged 287 fps with the fastest being 297 fps and the lowest being 276 fps. This was pretty close to Sig Sauers 295 maximum fps claim and right in line for a super short barrelled blowback BB pistol.
So how did the Sig Sauer P365 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol do in terms of accuracy? Well not bad. I was able to get around a 2.5 inch 10 shot grouping with all but one shot hitting within 2 inches of each other. I did find the Sig Sauer P365 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol shot a little bit low at 30 feet but not a crazy amount. In terms of windage it was well centered, maybe just a hair to the right.
Overall the Sig Sauer P365 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol is a nice shooter, it has a very fast and snappy blowback action and makes a kind of popping sound that’s is louder than I expected. The SAO trigger when using good quality smooth 4.5mm Steel BB’s was decent allowing me to concentrate on my shooting rather than struggle with the trigger. All in all I really love this little Air Pistol, Sig Sauer did a great job bringing it to market and getting as much into the Sig Sauer P365 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol as they could considering it’s super compact size.
Type: Air Pistol. Manufacturer: Sig Sauer ASP Model:Sig Sauer P365. Materials: Metal and polymer build. Weight: .8 pounds (363 Grams). Barrel: 3.2 inches - smooth bore. Propulsion: 12 gram CO2. Action: Blowback singe action only. Ammunition Type: 4.5mm steel BB’s. Ammunition Capacity: 12 round full size drop out magazine. Max FPS: 295.
Trigger Pull: The trigger on the Sig Sauer P365 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol is a single action only trigger so you will need to rack the slide to cock the trigger and internal striker, after which the blowback operation will do this for you. When the Sig Sauer P365 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol is unloaded the trigger pull length is short and the trigger weight is fairly light. That said when you load the full size drop out magazine with steel 4.5mm BB’s, the trigger pull weight increases significantly. This is because the inner barrel comes back and into the magazine when the trigger is pulled allowing for a better seal between the barrel and magazine which increases power and CO2 efficiency. The drawback to this is more friction on the trigger when you pull it with a loaded magazine.
Accuracy: Since I have not done my Field Test Shooting Review for the Sig Sauer P365 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol, I can not comment fully on how the Sig Sauer P365 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol will perform in terms of accuracy and power. I did have the chance to shoot off a couple magazines worth of ammo in the yard shooting at some pop cans around 30 feet away and the Sig Sauer P365 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol seemed to hit them most often then not. I was a bit surprised by the snappy blowback and loud pop the Sig Sauer P365 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol made and will not be surprised if it is able to hit the claimed 295 fps velocity using a brand new CO2.
Build Quality: The Sig Sauer P365 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol has a metal and plastic (polymer) build, the slide is metal along with part of the full size magazine and I am sure several inner parts will also be metal. The frame along with section of the magazine are plastic. It’s kind of hard to tell if the trigger, safeties, slide catch and take down leavers are metal but I believe they are with the magazine release being plastic. The Sig Sauer P365 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol is not the heaviest Airgun coming in at about .8 pounds but for its size it feels good. Fit and finishes are also good.
Realism: The Sig Sauer P365 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol is a replica of the real steel Sig Sauer P365 which is a 9mm striker fired everyday cary compact pistol. It looks and feels the part with most external mechanical working parts mimicking the real steel version well enough. I was not able to easily field strip the Sig Sauer P365 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol since the takedown leaver seems to be only for show. One main difference between the CO2 Airgun and Real Steel version of the Sig Sauer P365 is the use of polymer in the frame for the Airgun version while the real steel Sig Sauer P365 has a metal frame. I imagine this is because 9mm rounds pack some punch and a small polymer frame may not have been up to the job. not something to be concerned with in a CO2 version of the same pistol.
One of the smallest CO2 BB Airgun on the market and somehow Sig managed to get a full size drop out magazine in it?
Good overall replica of the real steel P365 Sig Sauer pistol in terms of looks and operation.
Full Sig Sauer markings and licensing.
Working ambidextrous safeties and slide catch release (locks back after last shot).
Snappy blowback feel.
White and green dot sights front and back.
Rail for accessories (Maybe).
Recessed barrel opening and open ejection port for added realism.
Warning instructions are super discreet!
Cons:
SAO trigger gets a bit harder to pull when loaded up with BB’s.
Has a polymer frame as compared to the metal frame on the real steel version.
Not easily field strippable..
Comments: The Sig Sauer P365 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol was a real show stopper at this years SHOT Show, I was amazed that Sig Sauer was able to actually figure out a way to fit a full size drop out magazine that holds both the CO2 and 12 steel BB’s in such a compact Airgun. The Sig Sauer P365 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol is even small than the Walther PPK in many ways so great work by Sig in figuring out how to engineer their new Sig Sauer P365 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol. I also think the the Sig Sauer P365 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol is a great replica of the real steel version in looks, feel and function which is what we are all looking for when considering buying a new CO2 replica Air Pistol. My initial test shots went well and make me feel optimistic about how the Field Test Shooting Video will go when I make it shortly.
My Table Top Review of the Sig Sauer P365 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol:
Again I have some new products to show everyone. Some we got a bit of a preview of when I was at SHOT Show 2019 earlier this year but now I have them in my hands to show off and of course will be doing full Table Top and Filed Test for anything new as soon as I can get to them.
Starting with Sig Sauer, they sent me their brand new Sig Sauer P365 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol. This was probably one of my favorite new Air Pistols at SHOT Show simply because it is so small and somehow Sig was able to find a way to put a full size drop out metal magazine that holds both the CO2 and BB’s in it. This is one I am really looking forward to testing out in the Indoor Sea Can Airgun Shooting Range.
Another fantastic product is Crosman’s DPMS Full Auto CO2 BB Rifle which was pretty much perfect the first time around. Well at SHOT Show this year Crosman updated it a bit mainly with some cosmetic changes and now is offering the Crosman MPW, a slightly shorter version of the DPMS and now with an AR Compatible Stock for customizing your Crosman’s MPW Full Auto CO2 BB Rifle.
So maybe not as exciting… I also take a look at a NBB CO2 BB Makarov from KWC that is pretty basic but is much less expensive and will offer higher FPS and more shots per CO2 being that it is Non-blowback Airgun. It will be interesting to see how it compares performance wise to the KWC Full Blowback CO2 BB version.
Last but also super cool and I know it’s not really as Airgun related but still something I think everyone will be interested in is the Pocket Shot Pro Arrow Pouch with D-Loop. I reviewed the Pocket Shot “Slingshot” a while back, this new product allows you to use standard Arrows with their new Arrow Pouch getting around 40 pounds of pull and it comes with a trigger release. By the way the Pocket Shot Pro Arrow system is legals to hunt deer with in most US States, I’m not sure about Canada but perhaps here too?
I have been looking forward to making this Filed Test Shooting Review for some time now. I have reviewed lots of other KWC CO2 BB 1911’s in the past but this is the first pellet shooting version and it even has a full size drop out metal magazine that holds the CO2 and duel 6 round rotary magazines. Sure there is no blowback operation and the trigger is double action only but it does have a rifled barrel and I was hoping it would get decent accuracy because of this. Let’s find out…
Starting with my Chronograph test to see if I could hit the 345 fps claimed velocity on the outside of the KWC M1911 Non-Blowback CO2 Pellet Pistol Box, as always I used a brand new CO2 cartridge for testing. I then loaded 6 RWS Super-H-Point 6.9 grain lead pellets into the 6 round rotary magazines and fired off 6 shots to get an average. Even using these lead non-hypervelocity pellets I was able to get an average of 341 fps with some of the faster shots hitting 350 fps so yes the KWC M1911 Non-Blowback CO2 Pellet Pistol does get the pellets up to 345 fps as claimed by KWC. The temperature was about average at right around 24 degrees Celsius or 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
Time for the accuracy potion of my Field Test Shooting Review for the KWC M1911 Non-Blowback CO2 Pellet Pistol. Since the KWC M1911 Non-Blowback CO2 Pellet Pistol has twin 6 round rotary magazines, I decided to shoot them all off and get a 12 round grouping on my paper target setup 30 feet down range shooting from a seated and rested position. My first 6 rounds all hit well within 1 inch or less of each other about 1.5 inches high from the bullseye and just a tad to the left. I then rotated the KWC M1911 Non-Blowback CO2 Pellet Pistol 6 shot rotary magazine to the remaining 6 rounds and again almost all of them shot right on top of the first 6 rounds, I did pull one shot a bit that hit low and then may have pulled another shot just a little bit high from the 1 inch group but 10 of the 12 rounds ended up making a nice 1 inch hole in the target.
Even though the KWC M1911 Non-Blowback CO2 Pellet Pistol has a double action only trigger, it is very usable in terms of placing accurate shots on target. The trigger is really not too heavy and does have a predictable break and release point to it. The gun holds just like any other 1911 I have shot but is slightly lighter and a little bit top heavy since it has a polymer frame to go along with the metal slide and magazines. If you’re looking for a realistic looking and feeling pellet firing 1911 with decent fps and excellent accuracy then look no further than the KWC M1911 Non-Blowback CO2 Pellet Pistol.
The question comes up often about which Airgun to buy. Customers are wondering when they are looking at a specific Airgun and they see several similar products but from different companies, are they the same gun and if so which one should they decide to buy?
One of the biggest Airgun suppliers out there is for sure KWC, their BB and Airsoft guns are redistributed through companies like Umarex, Crosman, Sig Sauer, ASG, Gletcher and more. Often times the companies that redistribute KWC Airguns hold licensing agreements with real gun manufacturers like Smith & Wesson, Glock, Colt, Beretta, Sig Sauer, Taurus to name a few… KWC makes the Airguns in their Taiwanese factory but they are not allowed to put a real gun manufacturer license on the Airguns they distribute directly so KWC distributed Airguns will generally be all black.
I have also seen companies like Umarex distribute a new KWC Airgun that I have not seen yet from KWC, I believe KWC works with these big name Airgun companies directly and will build a new gun or variation of an existing KWC Airgun for them and give that Company an exclusive for a period of time. KWC will eventually regain the rights to sell that Airgun model directly after 6 months to a year.
Now that you know a little bit more on how it all works let’s get back to whether you should buy a KWC branded Airgun or other Brands same Airgun. It really comes down to I would say three factors. Do you want a Licensed version of the Airgun you are buying? Is there a price difference? Which gun is available to buy when I am ready to buy?
When you buy the Licensed version of the KWC Airgun redistributed through a third part Airgun Company you will often get a lot more writing on the Airgun than just the Gun Manufacturers name. Warning information comes to mind and does not look all that attractive on the slide where it is usually found in bright white lettering. If you like a cleaner look and don’t mind the lack of licensing then the KWC distributed version will generally be all back, nice and clean looking.
You would think buying the KWC Version that is sold more directly to the end customer would be the less expensive of the options because less hands are involved in the selling process. This is not always true, it is more about supply and demand, if more people want the cleaner looking KWC version but it’s harder to get ahold of than the price of the KWC version may actually be higher than say the Umarex or Crosman version. So shop around if price is the deciding factor as the guns are going to be mechanically the same with just some slight cosmetic differences between them.
Lastly, availability maybe what eventually leads you to buy a KWC version over an Umarex, or Crosman or Sig version since if the gun is not in stock well you may have limited options and so the one in stock is going to be perhaps your only option! Don’t feel like you got short changed, again these guns are virtually all the same at the end of the day no matter if you buy it from KWC, Umarex, Crosman, Sig Sauer, ASG, Gletcher or whomever.
The subject of Red/Orange tips on Airguns is often a bit controversial, the idea behind putting a Red or Orange tip on an Airgun is to distinguish an Airsoft gun from a “Real Gun”. Is this really a good idea? Do we really want to encourage people from treating an Airgun as if it was not real? Does the Orang/Red tip give people the wrong idea that an Airgun can be used with less responsibility than a real gun and if so what are the consequences.
In my “Is a Red or Orange Tip on an Airgun a Good or Bad Idea” YouTube Video I dress two main issues I have with putting Red or Orange Tips on Airguns and in this case I am talking mainly from the perspective of a person living in North America where we often see Red/Orange tips on Airsoft guns that come from the US. In Canada our legally imported Airsoft guns do not require Red or Orange tips since they are actually considered unregulated firearms as an Airsoft gun has been determined to be able to cause serious injury.
Main Point Number 1: Does adding a Red or Orange tip give the false impression that an Airgun is a toy and can be treated just like a toy? Would you give an Airgun to a child unsupervised? Can an Airgun cause a serious injury or even death, and if so why is an Airgun potentially less dangerous than a “Real Gun”?
Main Point Number 2: Does the additional a Red/Orange Tip on and Airgun make it harder for law enforcement to make a decision when they are forced to act on someone that appears to have a gun and is using it in a dangerous way? What do they do when a person is brandishing what looks to be a firearm but it appears to have a Red or Orange Tip on it? What if someone simply painted the tip Red or Orange to throw people off and make them second guess themselves allowing the perpetrator critical time to get the first and most critical shots off?
I am not trying to stir up any pots here but simply bringing up concerns I have with adding Red or Orange Tips to Airguns. Maybe the powers that be need to reconsider if a Red or Orange Tip on an Airgun is a good or bad idea?
Type: BB Pistol. Manufacturer: KWC. Model: TT-33. Materials: Mostly all Metal with some plastic parts. Weight: 1.54 pounds (700 grams). Barrel: Non-rifled. Propulsion: 12 gram CO2. Action: Non-Blowback - single action only trigger and hammer. Ammunition Type: 4.5mm Steel BB's. Ammunition Capacity: 19 rounds. FPS: 423
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the KWC Model TT-33 CO2 SAO Non-Blowback BB Pistol is strictly single action only, and I mean like a Single Action Only Revolver. You will need to cock the hammer manually with each shot since the trigger does not actuate the hammer as it is only used to release the hammer. And since there is no blowback action the slide recoil will also no accurate the hammer. Because fo this don’t expect the KWC Model TT-33 CO2 SAO Non-Blowback BB Pistol to be an action shooter but the trigger is decent on it since it is short and not too heavy.
Build Quality: The KWC Model TT-33 CO2 SAO Non-Blowback BB Pistol is built well enough with a mostly metal construction. It feels very solid and the only plastic parts I can tell for sure being the grips. Everything else appears to be all metal. The entire gun is basically two separate halves joined together with screws that you can see but in terms of being well built I would have to say the KWC Model TT-33 CO2 SAO Non-Blowback BB Pistol is a very solid well built airgun.
Realism: This is one area where the KWC Model TT-33 CO2 SAO Non-Blowback BB Pistol may let a few people down, there is not working slide or blowback operation and with the screws required to join the two haves of the gun being fairly visible on the right side of the KWC Model TT-33 CO2 SAO Non-Blowback BB Pistol, it does take away form the realism. The biggest downside for me is the lack of an ejection port entirely, not even a fake one etched into the slide? On the hotter hand you do get a recessed barrel, full size drop out metal magazine and I like the way KWC worked the safety into the slide catch release rather than adding another safety somewhere on the gun where it was not meant to be.
Pros:
One of a handful of 4.5mm BB shooting Tokarev replicas out there.
Very solid and weighty gun for it’s size. Mostly all metal.
Full size drop out metal magazine that holds the CO2 and BB’s.
Recessed barrel adds to realism.
Non-blowback will increase fps and CO2 efficiency.
SAO trigger shoudl help with accuracy.
Did a good job of making the safety discreet by working it into the slide catch release.
Cons:
No action shooting since it has a SAO trigger/hammer.
No Blowback operation and no ejection port on slide?
Has the rather noticeable assembly screws on the slide.
Comments:
I like certain things about the KWC Model TT-33 CO2 SAO Non-Blowback BB Pistol and then some things make it hard for me to like it. I like the weigth and feel and almost entirely full metal build including the full size drop out metal magazine. I also expect the single action only trigger to work well for getting some decent accuracy. On the other hand having to cock the hammer on what shoudl be a semi auto pistol is a bit weird and the lack of the ejection port completely on the slide is a big oversight in my books. Maybe the KWC Model TT-33 CO2 SAO Non-Blowback BB Pistol will redeem itself when I do my Field Test Shooting video next week and sway me back to the in favor side? We will have to wait and see.
My Table Top Video of the KWC Model TT-33 CO2 SAO Non-Blowback BB Pistol:
Type: Pellet air pistol. Distributer:KWC. Model: M1911. Materials: Metal and polymer build. Weight: 2.2 pounds (990 grams). Barrel: Rifled steel. Propulsion: CO2 x1. Action: Semi auto non-blowback, double action only. Ammunition Type:.177 caliber pellets. Ammunition Capacity: 12 rounds. FPS: 345.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the KWC M1911 Non-Blowback CO2 Pellet Pistol is not what your would expect from a real steel 1911 since the KWC M1911 Non-Blowback CO2 Pellet Pistol is a double action only shooter as com[pared to a single action only trigger like what you would find on an actual 1911. That said it works fairly well as long as you make sure to full release it after each shot, short releases may result in the hammer not going back all the way. As with most double action triggers it is a bit long and heavy bit not unusable, just the prepared to get a little bit of a finger workout.
Accuracy: I have not shot the KWC M1911 Non-Blowback CO2 Pellet Pistol just yet but will be doing so shortly so stay posted for my Field Test Shooting video for the KWC M1911 Non-Blowback CO2 Pellet Pistol. I expect it to do fairly well in terms of accuracy and power since there is no blowback and the barrel is rifled.
Build Quality: The KWC M1911 Non-Blowback CO2 Pellet Pistol is built just like all the other KWC airguns, it’s not going to be the best quality you have ever seen but it is very good and KWC has been making airguns for a while not not just for themselves but for other companies like Umarex, Gletcher, ASG, Crosman and even Sig Sauer. You will find metal on this gun where it matters… The slide, full size drop out metal magazine and of course lots of internal parts. The frame, trigger, fake hammer, magazine release and slide catch are all plastic. Fit and finish is good overall.
Realism: The KWC M1911 Non-Blowback CO2 Pellet Pistol really does look and feel like a real steel 1911 A1 pistol with the exception of the trigger. everything is is really believable even though not all parts are work like the slide, slide catch release, fake hammer… On a real 1911 A1 the frame would also be metal adding to the overall weight but the KWC M1911 Non-Blowback CO2 Pellet Pistol comes in at 2.2 pounds so it’s no lightweight and with the metal magazine in the hun it has good balance to it.
Good weight and solid feeling gun. Lots of metal where you need it.
All metal full size drop out magazine holds CO2 and 12 pellets.
Decent looking replica of 1911 A1.
One of a few CO2 1911 pellet pistols out there.
Recessed barrel helps with look of realism.
Rifled barrel will help with accuracy.
Non-blowback operation with increased fps and CO2 efficiency.
More realistic looking than the Umarex pellet 1911 for a lot less money.
Cons:
No blowback - slide does not move either.
Hammer moves but does not cock so no single action shooting.
Trigger action is bit heavy but not not too bad for a double action trigger.
Comments:
I’m a bit on the fence with the KWC M1911 Non-Blowback CO2 Pellet Pistol. It looks really good and has a lot of potential in terms of power and accuracy over the Cybergun/KWC Blowback BB version which has always been a favorite of mine. Maybe it will impress me when I get to my Field Test Shooting Review for it but will it be enough to win me over the realism of shooting the full blowback BB version? I guess we will have to find out!
My Vimeo Videos for the KWC M1911 Non-Blowback CO2 Pellet Pistol:
Some new guns came in for me to highlight, some will get full reviews and some are KWC unlicensed versions of some Airguns I have already reviewed so this unboxing update video will suffice for them.
In this Field Test Shooting video for the Umarex Beretta M9A3 Full Auto CO2 Blowback BB Pistol I take it through a series of tests to see what kind of velocity and accuracy we can expect form the Umarex Beretta M9A3 Full Auto CO2 Blowback BB Pistol.
To see what kind of power the Umarex Beretta M9A3 Full Auto CO2 Blowback BB Pistol has I place 5 shots through my Chronograph using a brand new CO2 and 5.1 grain standard steel BB’s. The temperature inside my Sea Can indoor airguns shooting range was about 22 degrees Celsius or 70 degrees Fahrenheit so not too warm or too cold, perfect for CO2 Airgun testing. The Umarex Beretta M9A3 Full Auto CO2 Blowback BB Pistol was able to average 363 fps which was actually a little bit faster than Umarex’s claimed 330fps.
Moving on to my accuracy test for the Umarex Beretta M9A3 Full Auto CO2 Blowback BB Pistol I first placed 10 semi auto rods into my paper target situated 30 feet downrange and form my seated and rested position I was able to get most of the shots in a 1 inch grouping with two outliers. Keep in mind I had to repeat this test since my first 10 shot grouping was very low on the target. I also found the Umarex Beretta M9A3 Full Auto CO2 Blowback BB Pistol shot a little bit to the left but not a lot. Perhaps the internal hop-up adjustment may bring the BB’s up a bit on target?
I then replaced the magazine with a fully loaded one and just for fun shot some full auto bursts into the target, as expected my results where more or less “Spray and Pray” with some steel BB’s bouncing off of harder potions of the target and coming back at me…
Overall the Umarex Beretta M9A3 Full Auto CO2 Blowback BB Pistol is a decent performer and a lot of fun to shoot with very snappy blowback operation. Other than ti shooting low on the target I had nothing to complain about and I really think it’s one of the nicest Steel BB shooting Blowback Beretta pistols on the market.
In the Field Test Shooting Video I perform my standard Chronograph and accuracy tests on the G&G GTP9 GBB Airsoft Pistol. I put 5 rounds ( At least I try to…) through my Chrony Chronograph using slightly heavier than usual .32 gram plastic Airsoft BB's with a full propane filled magazine. My Sea Can Indoor Airgun Range was warmed up sufficiently for a gas gun test (Around 22 degrees Celsius or 70 degrees Fahrenheit) but perhaps because I was using the heavier .32 gram Airsoft BB’s I only managed to get around 230fps for the G&G GTP9 GBB Airsoft Pistol.
Moving onto my accuracy test I placed 10 shots on target 30 feet down range using a rested shooting position, sitting in the back and sand bag up front. I was impressed with how tight of a 10 shot grouping I got! I was able to get the bulk of the shots all within about an inch with only two shots hitting just a little outside of this. The G&G Armament GTP9 GBB Airsoft Pistol did shoot a little bit low and just a tad to the left but you shoudl be able to raise it up as needed using the built in Hop-up adjustment.
You will notice in my Filed Test Shooting Youtube Video that I did has some initial problems with the G&G Armament GTP9 GBB Airsoft Pistol misfiring some rounds. This seemed to only happen when I switched to a brand new propane tank and topped up the magazine all the way. My first 4-5 shots seemed to vent a lot of gas and for some reason the G&G Armament GTP9 GBB Airsoft Pistol would misfire. Once I got through the initial rounds the G&G Armament GTP9 GBB Airsoft Pistol shot just fine. Not the most powerful Airsoft gun I have tested but for indoor close quarter Airgun battles the G&G Armament GTP9 GBB Airsoft Pistol would perform just fine.
