I wanted to get this video out to you a bit sooner but I have been really sick the past three days and so I have not had a lot of time to put this YouTube Video together. It's a pretty simple compilation of some photos and videos I took during my time walking around the 2012 SHOT Show in Las Vegas, not all of it is to do with airguns but most of it is. I even took a few touristy shots since it wasn't all work ;)
The SHOT Show is out of this world! You really need a week to check it all out or perhaps a clone of yourself... I barely touched the surface today. I did make sure I had a chance to checkout both Umarex and Crosman, I also made it to some other booths, but I will touch on them later in another post. There is enough information I can share with you from Crosman and Umarex to keep you drooling for now.
In short, here is what is new...
Crosman is bringing back the C51 Glock inspired Blowback BB pistol that we all thought was dead and I have to say it looks really really nice - more to come on this one. Crosman also has the new C*TT BB pistol that looks to be a blowback pistol replica of the Russian Tokarev. I also saw a very nice looking two tone version of the M4-177 and there may just be a Canadian detuned under 500 fps version on the way? Crosman is also introducing a really well made Nitro Piston air pistol called the Benjamin Trail NP that looks to be a very well made break barrel spring piston air pistol that shoots in the 500 fps neighbourhood.
Umarex also had some new items, one of which at first glance looks a lot like the Crosman C41 P38 replica but I have to say it has more going for it with a locking slide, licensed trade marks, true single action and overall just a more realistic version of the real P38. Umarex is also bringing the Smith & Wesson 327 TRR8 BB Revolver to North America, which is very similar to the Dan Wesson line but with extra rails on the top and bottom of the barrel. Umarex is also adding a couple Browning based air guns, one is a low fps Browning Buck Mark copy which is a break barrel .177 caliber pellet shooter targeted for the beginner target shooter and also a Browning High Power replica. One last BB pistol many people have been asking for is the Beretta 90 Two BB pistol and it looks like it has landed in North America finally!
Make sure to check back for some more photos and more info on all these guns...
Action: Electronic trigger with 1-3-6 round burst & 300-340-600 Rounds Per Minute.
Ammunition Type: 4.5mm steel BB's.
Ammunition Capacity: 900 rounds.
FPS: 360-500.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the IZH Drozd Blackbird is nice and light due to the fact that the trigger is not mechanical but is instead an electronic on-off switch that operates a solenoid. The solenoid pulsates in turn hitting the CO2 valve release. This is how the single fire and burst fire rates are achieved, by means of electronics.
Accuracy: The Drozd Blackbird is designed to be a machine gun and so testing it in single shot mode for accuracy is kind of taking it out of its element. Even so it did reasonably well, but when when I flicked it over to full auto it actually seemed to tighten up and start grouping even more centered and closer together considering the vast amount of rounds coming out of the barrel all at once :)
Build Quality: This is a typical Russian made gun, all business and less importance put on looks but even so it is visually appealing, at least to me! Everything works exactly as it should and even though the main shell is made out of plastic, it's really more of a weapons grade polymer so there is no cause for concern here. There are a fair amount of metal components like the factory barrel, much of the magazine and many internal parts. This air gun is very durable!
Realism: The Baikal Drozd Blackbird IZH MP-661K is not a replica, but it does look like a sub machine gun of sorts, I'm really just not sure exactly what it looks like as it kind of has its own look. When you start shooting it, looks just don't seem to matter anymore, all you can think about is how much damage is happening down range.
A bit more accuracy in semi auto mode would have been nice.
On the pricey side.
Comments:
The Baikal Drozd Blackbird IZH MP-661K takes all the fun you get with the Classic Drozd and gives you even more fun. It may be one of the more pricy BB machine guns on the market but it is well worth the extra cost to get such a quality product that not only is great out of the box but can also be modified in so many ways to improve its performance and looks dramatically. If you are looking for the absolute top player in the BB Machine gun category then the Drozd Blackbird is the top contender with its excellent build quality and performance along with the nearly unlimited modifications available to make the Blackbird perform up to anyones standards.
My Vimeo Video Review for this Russian made Blackbird BB Machine gun:
I'm kind of doing this one backwards this time around. I was going to do the table top review of the Baikal Drozd Blackbird first but the weather was just too nice to pass up today to not get outside and give this gun a thorough testing.
I will be posting the table top review in a few days with all the specification (Here it is now) but if you're looking for some basic info on the Blackbird you can checkout our online store where you can find some statistics on the Drozd Blackbird and you can also checkout my Drozd Classic Review where I do a short comparison between the Drozd Classic and the newer updated Blackbird version.
I had a lot of fun shooting this gun, it lays down a lot of steel in a very short amount of time and has a virtually endless 900 round BB hopper that just keeps on going. During my testing I shot close to 400 rounds or more using one 88 gram CO2 cartridge and even near the end the Baikal Drozd Blackbird had pretty good feet per second performance.
My Baikal Blackbird does have some upgrades: (JimC Barrel, Full Auto-High RPM Mod Chip, Added Accessory Rails, Red Dot Scope, Tactical Light, Laser and Bulk Air kit) but the stock version is "almost" as fun :)
Thought I would share this photo of a Magazine doubler for his Umarex MP5K PDW one of my viewers (Daniel) sent to me. He lives in the UK and bought his from a supplier out his way. I don't sell them sorry but I have included an Amazon link for my US viewers.
Here it is by popular demend, a video of all my Air and Blank Guns, many of which where added in 2011. Thank you to everyone for your suport, without you all, this would not have been posible!
Here is a list of all my Air and Blank Guns so far...
Pistols BB:
Umarex PPK/S Nickel platted 4.5mm Blowback CO2 BB Pistol (Full Auto Mod).
Umarex PPK/S 4.5mm Blowback CO2 BB Pistol.
Umarex CP99 Compact 4.5mm Blowback CO2 BB Pistol.
Umarex CP99 Compact Recon 4.5mm Blowback CO2 BB Pistol.
Umarex H.P.P 4.5mm Blowback CO2 BB Pistol.
Umarex SA177 4.5mm Blowback CO2 BB Pistol.
Umarex Steel Storm 4.5mm Blowback CO2 BB Machine Pistol.
Umarex Makarov 4.5mm CO2 BB Pistol.
Umarex H&K USP 4.5mm CO2 BB Pistol.
Umarex Colt Defender CO2 4.5mm BB Pistol.
Umarex Colt Special Combat CO2 4.5mm BB Pistol.
Umarex Smith & Wesson M&P 4.5mm CO2 BB Pistol.
Umarex Beretta Elite II 4.5mm CO2 BB Pistol.
Baikal IZH MP-654K (Makarov) 4.5mm CO2 BB Pistol (Nickel).
Cybergun P226 X-Five 4.5mm Blowback CO2 BB Pistol.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Kimar Model K 760 is a bit stiff but on a beginner gun I would recommend the trigger to be on the heavy side for safety reasons and also to teach correct trigger control. It did not seem to effect my shooting at all which was nice.
Accuracy: Very good, I was surprised at the tight group I got from a semi rested position and with open sights, I nearly got a 3/4 inch group from 30 feet out which is about the best I can expect from just about any gun I have shot in the same manner. The Kimar Model K 760 spring piston break barrel rifle also shot true to it's claimed feet per second rating and got right around the 450 fps velocity mark.
Build Quality: The Kimar K 760 .177 air rifle is not going to win any prizes for style or craftsmanship but it gets the job done and in about as simple a manner as is required. With that said, what can really go wrong with it?Crank the barrel and pull the trigger. The lack of a safety does not really bother me as I never ever trust a safety and it's always good to learn how to keep a gun safe at all times even when you "believe" it is not loaded or ready to shoot. There is some plastic found on the Kimar K 760 like in the sights and the stock but the mechanical parts are all metal including the trigger.
Coming in at around $50, you can not ask the world from the Kimar Mod. K 760 .177 Caliber Spring Piston Rifle! What you can ask for is for decent accuracy and usable fps, and that's exactly what you are going to get from the Kimar K 760. This break barrel air rifle is really perfect for a beginner shooter on a budget or even for someone who may want to pack it around in some ugly situations where you wouldn't want to subject your high priced top quality air rifle. For the money you really can't lose with this one!
Ammunition Type: .22 caliber pellets. (Also available in .177 caliber)
Ammunition Capacity: 1 round.
FPS: 400+.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Xisico XSP180 is amazing right out of the box. You actually have to be very carful because it doesn't take much to release it. I like mine setup this way but you can adjust it to your shooting style.
Accuracy: Very good, I was expecting to do much worse as I am far from a spring piston expert shooter. Even though I'm not as comfortable on the springers, I found the XSP180 easy to shoot even with the heavier spring piston kick. From 30 feet out I was able to get a tight 1 inch group shooting from a semi rested position. The Xisico XSP180 surprised me yet again with 470 fps average velocities even in the large .22 caliber version I was using.
Build Quality: The Xisico is priced on the lower end for a target pistol and because of this uses perhaps a bit more plastic then similar styled pistols. That said I found the plastic to be good quality and the gun had good overall weight to it. There are times when plastic is better suited then metal and I felt it was used well in this gun. Of course there is metal internally and externally but the main shell is primarily made out of plastic. All the moving parts worked well and felt nice and tight. I did not feel any concern that this gun would let me down.
Realism: The Xisico XSP180 is not a replica of any gun that I know of but it does have a modern look to it with its elongated design and ergonomic features.
I wasn't expecting the world from this spring piston break barrel pistol because it is a more price conscience gun and yes it may not be as refined as the Webley Alecto I also reviewed but I have to say it performed well and exceeded my expectations in most every way. First off, when the manufacturer claims 400 fps from the .22 caliber version this usually means the absolute best case scenario! I used medium grain pellets and still got some amazing chronograph results from this spring piston shooter right up into the 470 fps range. Secondly, being a springer with a heavy recoil, I figured it would effect my shot placement but again I was surprised and shot as tight a group as I can expect from any pistol with open sights from 30 feet out. lastly, again if you can get your head around the plastic, this gun feels well made and I would expect a lot of good times shooting with it for many years. If you're on a bit of a budget but want a compact shooter you can target shoot with or even take down small to medium sized pests, then grab yourself a Xisico XSP180.
Sometimes you just got to make a video because you can and because it's just plain old fun! And that's why I made this video of me shooting some cans with dual full auto BB machine guns. One is my full auto converted and trusted Cybergun Mini UZI and the other is my newly acquired ZMZ Tyrex PPA-K-01 Russian Machine Pistol.
Looking for an ultra compact, super inexpensive, Italian made air rilfe for target or small pest control? Look no further!
This brand new air Italian made rifle from Kimar in .177 caliber is an ideal first air rifle for plinking targets in the back yard and because of it's very compact size it is excellent for small or first time shooters. Don't assume it doesn't have any power? You get up to 450fps velocities which makes the Kimar K 760 useful for shooting small rodents.
The Kimar 760 is very inexpensive yet has a high quality finish on the synthetic stock and metal work and fires accurate groups from 15 meters out with its open sights which are adjustable for windage and elevation.
One of my viewers sent some photos of his custom sanded and polished two-tone ASG STI Duty One 1911. Ken did an awesome job and it makes me want to do the same to mine :)
He started out by sanding off the paint with 500 grit sandpaper and working his way finer right up to 2000 grit and then finishing off with some Meguiar’s NXT Generation metal polish. The results are amazing - see for yourself!
I am pleased to announce that we have added another target shooter to the Replica Airguns Store and this one also does not require any CO2!
The Xisico XSP180 is a very close copy of the Diana P5 Magnum and is a spring action pistol that packs the power of an air rifle within its compact, lightweight body. At under 17" in length and weighing only 2.5 lbs, the XS180P reaches muzzle velocities of up to 500fps using .177 caliber pellets and up to 400fps using .22 caliber pellets.The XSP180 is packed with performance features.
The picatinny rail underneath the barrel provides many tactical options for the shooter. The competition style hand grips gives a comfortable, natural fit enabling better accuracy. Premier fiber optic adjustable sights as well as an auto/manual safety and adjustable trigger round out the long list of features.
Action: Electronic trigger with 1-3-6 round burst & 300-340-600 Rounds Per Minute.
Ammunition Type: 4.5mm steel BB's.
Ammunition Capacity: 30 rounds.
FPS: 360-500.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the IZH Drozd is nice and light due to the fact that the trigger is not mechanical but is instead an electronic on-off switch that operates a solenoid. The solenoid pulsates in turn hitting the CO2 valve release. This is how the single fire and burst fire rates are achieved.
Accuracy: When I was sighting the Baikal Drozd in I got several 5 shot groups well within 1 inch 30 feet out from the target. But when I did my actual video accuracy test, the Drozd did not perform as well, getting more like a 2 inch group, still very reasonable for a gun that can shoot 600 rounds per minute out of the box and 1200 rounds per minute when modified. With metal streaming out the barrel like that you are pretty much going to hit what ever you point it at, the odds are in your favor!
Build Quality: This is a typical Russian made gun, all business and less importance put on looks but even so it is visually appealing, at least to me! Everything works exactly as it should and even though the main shell is plastic it is really a weapons grade polymer so there is no cause for concern here. There are a fair amount of metal components like the factory barrel, most of the magazine and many internal parts.
Realism: Again, the Baikal Drozd IZH MP-661K is not a replica, but it does look like a sub machine gun in many ways, I'm really just not sure exactly what it looks like but when you are shooting this gun you really don't think much about this point because you are too busy grinning!
Rear stock can get lose sometimes (just add some tape to tighten it up a bit).
Comments:
The Baikal IZH MP-661K is one of the most fun BB machine guns out there and well worth the extra cost to get such a quality product that not only is great out of the box but can also be modified in so many ways to improve it's performance and looks dramatically. Sure the Baikal IZH MP-661K now has a big brother, the Drozd Blackbird, but the Blackbird may be just a bit of overkill for some, I kind of like the Drozd Classics more compact size and if you can't nail what your shooting at with 30 rounds then your doing something very wrong! The Drozd is really the epitome of extreme BB gun weaponry!
My Vimeo Video Review for this Russian made BB Machine gun:
Type: Pellet air rifle. Manufacturer:Baikal. Model:IZH MP-61. Materials: Metal & plastic. Weight: 4.3 pounds. Barrel: 18.5 inches, metal-rifled. Propulsion: Spring piston. Action: Repeater. Ammunition Type: .177 caliber pellets. Ammunition Capacity: 5 rounds. FPS: 490. Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the IZH MP-61 is a nice light 1.4 pounds and the release stage is also adjustable, you actually need to be careful of accidental shots as the trigger is light enough to go off before you are ready to shoot. Accuracy: Very good, I was not so sure when first using the IZH-61 with my initial scope and pellet setup but my second open sight test with different pellets yielded a very tight 1 inch group from 30 feet out in a standing unrested position.
Build Quality: This is a no-nonsense gun made Russian style, it is built to be cost effective so there are parts that could be made with metal that are plastic but there isn't anything on this gun that feels cheap or poorly built. Baikal also doesn't cheap out on the plastic as not all plastic is the same. I actually dropped the IZH MP-61 right on the front hooded sight without any adverse effects, cheap plastic would have cracked and broken. Realism: Since the Baikal IZH-61 is not a replica gun, I can not really compare it to any existing one rifle out there, but it does look very tactical in design, much more so then your standard spring piston air rifle. Purchased this rifle from: The Replica Airguns Store.
Pros:
Inexpensive spring piston rifle.
Very unique looking air rifle.
Side pull lever design.
5 round magazine/clip.
Right on the money with FPS.
Adjustable Stock.
Adjustable Trigger.
11mm dovetail rail mount for scopes.
Very light weigh and easy to cock.
Made in Russia
Cons:
Plastic stock seems to mark up easy - kind of part of the utilitarian look.
Mechanics takes a bit of getting use to.
Scope rail mount is a bit short.
Comments: The Baikal IZH MP-61 is a really nice low cost yet full featured air riffle! You really get a lot of rifle for your money: You get an efficient side lever design with a 5 shot magazines for quick repeat shots, a very light weight and adjustable trigger, an adjustable stock, a rail mount for a scope and one of the more tactical looking air rifles available on the market. The Baikal MP-61 also takes the FPS right up to the limit without going over so no license or PAL is required to own this one in Canada. This air rifle is designed for target shooting but could also be used for small pest control if your marksmanship is good enough to hit the vital kill zones of your prey.
My YouTube Video Review for this Russian made Air rifle:
The Webley Alecto (AKA: Zoraki HP-01) may not fit in exactly as a "Replica" Airgun, although it does resemble a bloated Dessert Eagle! But it is an Airgun worthy of spending some time reviewing an this is now my third Vimeo Video review for the Webley Alecto. My first Video Review was a Table Top Review where I covered most of the Webley's basic operation. My second Vimeo Video was a Chronograph Test to see what my Webley Alecto could do performance wise for FPS.
I really wanted to do a video of this gun just shooting because that's what it does best, put lead down range very accurately! So I setup three cameras to capture it all from just about every angle I could think of and I set up 30 feet away from my target and shot 5 rounds in a rested position using a Red Dot Scope. The results where not surprising - pretty close to a 1/2 inch grouping!
If you're looking for a compact, hard hitting, accurate target or small pest control Air gun then look no further, the Webley Alecto has the goods!
Watch the full Multi-angle Vimeo Video of my Webley Alecto Shooting Test:
I can't help but share some of the photos my happy viewers and customers send me and it seem like the hot item right now is the Cybergun Tanfoglio Witness 1911 CO2 BB Pistol yet again.
These latest photos are brought to you by Mil3 who added rubber grips and an accessory rail to his Tanfoglio Witness 1911. He said the rubber grips only needed some slight carving out on the back side to make them fit.
The Baikal IZH-61 has a very interesting style and design, it is compact, lightweight and a truly affordable air rifles that offers a unique blend of attributes inherent in hi-class sporting weapons such as a five way adjustable trigger, an adjustable stock,an adjustable rear sight and fully hooded front sight. The Baikal IZH-61 also has provisions to mount a scope or red dot sight.
Some other interesting design element are a fixed barrel with a heavy duty side cocking lever and a 5 shot pellet magazine fed into the barrel by a slide feeder ensuring high pattern results.
I've had a few questions about replacing the gips on the Cybergun Tanfoglio Witness 1911 BB pistol and if it is possible to use standard 1911 wood grips? The answer is yes if you don't mind spending about 15-20 minutes removing just a bit of the wood material in a few spots on the 1911 Wood Grips
Here are the instruction thanks to one of my Customers and viewers Michel:
First of all the holes are in the right place thank god for that! A dremel is the ideal tool youll need, and the whole mod.
Mark out the material you want to remove.
Remove the material on bottom part of each grip with a dremel using a cicular sandpaper bit.
Repeat on other grip .On the top of the grip on the mag release side you might have to remove material to clear pin.
After on the other side of the mag release button make sure there is enough clearance for when you depress the button.
Another filed test video in the series. This one is of the Umarex Walther PPK/S CO2 4.5mm BB pistol, I show you both my regular unmodified all black PPK/S and shoot it through my Chrony Chronograph with an averaged reading of 282 FPS, not bad considering the manufacturers claim is 295.
I also shoot 8 rounds with my stock Umarex PPK/S at a target to see what kind of accuracy I get, and just for fun I shoot a 15 round magazine into the same target with my modified fully-auto sliver slided PPK/S.
To finish things up, I slowdown the action just a bit using my high speed Casio camera to capture the blowback action of both my stock and modified Umarex Walther PPK's.
Enjoy my YouTube Video of my Umarex Walther PPK/S CO2 BB pistols getting Chronographed, shooting at a target and slowed down a bit with my High Speed Camera.