We recently picked up the Steambow line of Compact Crossbows and I have already made a Table Top Review for some of their products. So far I had not shot or tested any of the Steambow product line yet and so it was nice to get the chance to shoot a few different models over in the Archery Pavilion at SHOT Show and also talk with Tobias their product specialist. I did get the chance to drop by the Steambow Booth and talked with the Steambow team and founder about some of their new products coming out including a new Rubber Ball crossbow they are working on that should be coming out in the near future.
I’m back from SHOT Show 2025 Las Vegas and finished transferring and uploading all the video from all the cameras we shot it all on. We had a great time, we met a lot of great folks at the booths and it’s now time to put it all together and make some videos for everyone so I can share the experience!
I always like to put out a “Teaser Video” with some quick clips of the entire experience including some of the travels, a bit of the resort we stayed at, shots of Vegas and of course lots of the SHOT Show 2025 experience along with the booths we visited. Enjoy this quick preview and stay posted for my upcoming Interview Videos shortly…
Type: Multi-Ammo Pistol. Distributer:Alies Airguns. Model:GEM. Materials: Mostly metal with some plastic build. Weight: Barrel dependent. Total Length: Barrel dependent 3.5 inches (89mm) with BB and Airsoft Barrels. Barrel: Barrel dependent 2 inches (51mm) with BB and Airsoft Barrels Propulsion: 8 or 12 gram CO2 (12 Gram CO2 required adaptor sold separately). Action: Break Barrel / Single shot. Ammunition Type: 4.5mm Steel BB's / 6mm Airsoft BB’s (Can also purchase .117 Pellet, .50 & .43 cal Paintball, 9mm Arrow Barrels) Ammunition Capacity: 1 round. FPS: up to 400 using 4.5mm Steel BB’s.
Trigger Pull: The Alias GEM Multi Ammo Mini CO2 Airgun is a true single action only pistol that requires the pulling back of the hammer for each shot. This does give it a very nice trigger action that is short to medium in length with an easy release. The makeup is about medium for a single action trigger with a bit of an unpredictable release as there is no point in time that you feel it breaking on you. This can be good or bad depending on how you like your triggers as it is hard to tel when ti will actually release but the smoothness makes it a good trigger overall in my opinion
Accuracy: I have not shot the Alias GEM Multi Ammo Mini CO2 Airgun at all so far as it requires 8 gram CO2 and so I am waiting on the 12 gram adaptor for it before I can even give it a quick try. I will be making a full Field test Review for it swapping between a bunch of barrel options to see how each barrel adn ammo type performs in terms of power adn accuracy so stay posted for that video down the road a bit.
Build Quality: Build quality for the Alias GEM Multi Ammo Mini CO2 Airgun is very good with an almost all metal build other than the front and back sights, the trigger, the safety adn the barrel release. I kind of wish these parts were also metal as the rest of the Airgun is so pristine! The weight of this pistol feels very dense as it is so small yet has a good weight. The fir and finishes is all very good with the chrome finish on most parts and even the inclusion of what I believe are real gem stones on each side of the grips. The mechanical parts are also smooth and precise.
Realism: As far as I know the Alias GEM Multi Ammo Mini CO2 Airgun is not a replica of any production real steel gun that I am aware of. It looks to me like some sort of futuristic compact laser pistol? In terms of gun shape and what we are use to in terms of what a gun is it checks most of the boxes but it is it’s own design for sure.
Pros:
Super compact design, probably the smallest Airgun available.
Multiple quick change barrel and ammo options.
Mostly all metal build, very high quality materials.
Nice smooth and light SAO trigger.
Able to also use 12 gram CO2 with optional adapter.
Comes in different colors (red or black).
Decent velocity up to 400 fps depending on ammo type.
Eye-catching chrome and gemstone detailing make it a collector's piece.
Cons:
Uses 8 grams CO2 standard, harder to get and more expensive.
Only a single shot, not an action shooter.
On the pricy side at over $300 Canadian.
Comments:
I have to say that the Alias GEM Multi Ammo Mini CO2 Airgun is not going to be for everyone as the price point is up there a bit for such a simple single action gun. That said it is super unique and the quality adn design is top notch. It may in fact be the smallest CO2 Airgun on the market adn you can literally put it in your front pocket easily. That combined with all the barrel and ammo options makes it super flexible if you plan on shooting a variety of different ammo types. Like I said in the video you may even be able to get away with buying it as a gift for your wife or girlfriend since it technically can be defined as being jewelry with the imbedded Gem stones in the grips. That may be a bit of a stretch unless she is also an Airgun fan.
This video was made right at the end of December 2024 but I am posting it in the new year so we will call it a late December video… That makes two Mystery Box Videos for December 2024 which means a lot of new products on my plate to review this new year. Hopefully I can get a bunch of them done before I head out to SHOT Show this year in a couple of weeks as I will have a lot of videos and interviews to post for SHOT Show as is always the case when I get back.
At least in this unboxing videos I can give you an idea of some of the new products we have in the Replica Airgun online Stores usually in both the Canada and the US Replica Airgun Stores. In this Unboxing Video I received 5 new products to show you. A Less Lethal Pistol and Spring Piston BB Pistol from Umarex, a Carbine Airsoft Rifle from KJWorks, a Multi-barrel super compact Airgun from Alias Airguns out of Canada, and Bug Exterminator from a company called Skell Inc. Here are some of the basics for each of them:
Type: CO2 Air Pistol. Manufacturer:Alias Airguns. Model: Gem. Caliber: Multi Barrel Comes with 4.5mm Steel BB adn 6mm Airsoft. Power Source: Single 8g CO2 Cartridge or 12 gram with adaptor. Magazine Capacity: Single shot. Buy the .50 Caliber Paintball Barrel Set: AA1002. Buy the Rocket Barrel Set: AA1003. Buy the 12 Gram CO2 Adaptor: AA1004.
Type: Spring Air BB Pistol. Manufacturer:Umarex. Model: DSX 45. Ammo Type:4.5mm Steel BBs. Power Source: Spring Air. Magazine Capacity: 13 Rounds (Rapid Load) with 200 Round Reservoir.
Type: Pump Action Bug Exterminator. Manufacturer: Skell Inc. Model: Bug-A-Salt 3.0. Ammo Type: table Salt. Power Source: Spring Air. Magazine Capacity: a bunch.
you need to cock the bow in order for the trigger to be engaged. The trigger mechanism basically just pushes the bow string up and over the lip of the rail releasing the bow, so there is a bit of friction and I would guess it is about 8-10 pounds maybe a bit less. There is no actual safety on the Steambow AR-6 Stinger II Tactical so you will have to practice appropriate finger control so as to not accidentally fire a bolt unintentionally.
Accuracy: I have not recorded my Field Test Shooting Video for the Steambow AR-6 Stinger II Tactical and so I am not sure what to expect. I have shot a similar bow, the Bear X Desire XL Crossbow so it should perform a lot like that one but without the auto loading bolt system. If you want, you can check that Field Test Shooting Video out here, I expect the Steambow AR-6 Stinger II Tactical to have perhaps slightly less power over the Bear X Desire XL as it is rated to have a 55 pound draw as compared to the 60 pounds of the Bear X Desire XL. In terms of accuracy I do not expect anything similar to a pellet or even BB rifles or pistol but I hope to get somewhere near a 6-8 inch grouping with the 6 bolts loaded in the internal magazine.
Build Quality: The Steambow AR-6 Stinger II Tactical is overall well made but does consist of a lot of plastic or polymer, that said it feels sturdy enough when holding it in the hand. The bow itself is fiberglass and the only real metal I can confirm is the cocking rail, mostly everything else other than the nuts, bolts, safety are some sort of plastic. Fit and finish is good. I am hoping the auto bolt loading system will perform well and be consistent but we will find out when I make my Field Test Shooting Video for it soon.
Realism: The Steambow AR-6 Stinger II Tactical is not a Replica pistol or rifle, it is a target bow that one could perhaps use of small game if you become proficient with shooting it. I do think this is a crossover product in terms of interest with people that are also interested in Airguns or target shooting. The other benefit is that it has a lot more power than a non regulated Airgun as the it uses nice heavy 142 grain bolts traveling at near 200 fps which gives an energy rating of around 12 foot pounds, the speed may be less than an Airgun but the energy is a lot higher. If raw power is what you are interested in, then this is your best option for something still compact and quiet if you do not have a firearms license or want to avoid that hassle and the legalities around regulated firearms.
Pros:
Light weight and compact.
More power than an airgun yet still quiet to shoot so can use discreetly just about anywhere with a good back stop setup.
Auto loading system for quick follow up shots.
Easy to draw the bow using the stock for leverage.
Top and bottom Picatinny rail mounting options for sights and accessories.
Fiber optic mid sight setup.
Ambidextrous bolt safety easy to engage and disengage.
6 bolts included to fully load the internal magazines.
180 fps (10ft/lbs).
Comes with standard fore grip.
5 portion AR compatible adjustable rear but stock.
Cons:
Fairly expensive.
Sights are not adjustable, mid sight is not as easy to sight in.
Will need a good backstop or will lose lots of bolts.
Takes a little bit of time to set it up but not too hard, just follow the steps in the manual.
Comments:
The Steambow AR-6 Stinger II Tactical is an interesting product, the autoloading system with built in 6 round magazines turns this from a simple target bow into a bit of an action shooter once you get the reloading down. As a potential pest control solution it for sure has the power as long as you can harness it by practicing to the point where you can get those 142 grain bolts on target and make a humane shot at the ranges you plan on using it for. Having quick follow up shots I feel is necessary just in case the first shot does not quite get the job done. If you don’t need external 10 round magazines or the upgraded accessories found on the Steambow M10 Tactical and want something a little more affordable than check the AR-6 Stinger out as it is very versatile as a compact Recurve Crossbow.
Many Canadians ask about options for what they perhaps could use for home defense since we are not allowed to really use any kind of a weapon to defend ourselves. A product classified as “Less Lethal” may be of interest to people living in Canada. I interviewed Byrna, just such a company that offers alternatives to standard “Lethal Interventions” for self protection and Josh from Byrna was kind enough to go over their pistol and rifle offerings specifically built to shoot paintball type ammunition for the purpose of stopping bad guys.
I am hoping this is a product we will be able to add to our online Replica Airgun Stores, as they do tick the boxes for import into Canada such as shooting well under 500 fps, yet having the ability to cause serious injury so as to allow them to be considered a non regulated firearm.
In this Indoor Field Test Shooting Video I test out the Umarex T4E TR68 .68 Caliber Paintball Revolver to see what the real world velocity is and what kind accuracy I can get shooting at a paper target 30 feet away. For this Video Review I use a brand new CO2 along with .68 caliber Rubber Balls. I have already made a Table Top Video for the Umarex T4E TR68 so check that out if you’re interested in specifications and details along with more closeup video of this Paintball Revolver. And for fun I also made an interesting outside shooting video using actual Paintballs that highlights this Revolver along with the Umarex T4E HK VP9 .43 Cal. Paintball Pistol.
So let’s get straight to the shooting results! For my Chronograph test, being indoors the temperature was about room temperature, maybe a bit lower at around 19-20 Degrees Celsius or 66-68 Degrees Fahrenheit. Temperature can affect velocity as CO2 performs better in warmer conditions. My fastest Chronograph result was 205 fps while my slowest shot hitting 190 fps resulting in a average of 198 fps . Keep in mind the .68 caliber Rubber Balls have a lot more weight to them than the smaller .50 or .43 Caliber Balls used in other Umarex T4E Paintball Airguns.
Next I performed the accuracy portion which for me is the fun part, I often shoot 10 rounds in to my paper targets setup 30 feet down range, since the Umarex T4E TR68 .68 Caliber Paintball Revolver magazines only holds 5 rounds, I did have to make a quick magazine change half way through my Accuracy Test. I was also using a semi-rested shooting position with my hands resting on a sandbag up front and sitting on a stool in the back. There was also one other disruption in my shooting worth mentioning as I had to go up and put the paper target back on as it was dislodged by the energy of these larger Rubber Balls. That all said, I was able to get about a 5 inch grouping from my 10 rounds which is pretty good for a Paintball Airgun. I am confident you will be able to get all your shots on a body sized target at 30 feet out with a little bit of practice. Most of the shots were pretty well centered, perhaps just a little bit under the bullseye.
Even though the Umarex T4E TR68 .68 Caliber Paintball Revolver is a lot larger than the somewhat similar Umarex T4E TR50 .50 Caliber Paintball Revolver, I prefer it as I found it to shoot a bit more reliably and with good accuracy. It is maybe a bit large for some people as compared to the TR50 but I feel the extra size is worth it for the increased energy at point of impact and again the superior accuracy and reliability.
Summer will be over before we know it, so why not get out and shoot some Paintball Pistols on a bunch of random targets in the yard before fall kicks in! I rarely get to use actual Paintballs in my Paintball Guns as I mainly test indoors and so I pretty much have to use Rubber Balls or have to deal with a bunch of clean up afterwards.
So today I grabbed my two newest Umarex T4E Paintball Pistols, the Umarex T4E TR68 and Umarex T4E HK VP9. I of course I loaded them up with their appropriate ammo .68 and .43 caliber Paintballs, and headed outside.
Figuring out how to make the video interesting and get lots of different camera angles can be fun, so I decided to grab my Hover Camera X1 which I think from now on is going to be my new “Camera Man” when I need a camera recoding me as I move around. I also placed my Insta 360 One R and my iVUE Vista Camera glasses in the mix. All being audio recorded with my Comica Vimo C Wireless Lapel Mic so you can actually hear everything clearly.
Seems like a lot of production using all of these recording devices and then having to line up, cut and mix everything together in post. Well you guys are worth it and I’m a bit of a tech junky so it was all kind of fun for me too.
Type: Paintball Gun. Manufacturer:Umarex - T4E. Model:T4E TR68 Materials: Metal & Polymer. Weight: 773 grams (1.7 pounds). Barrel: 6.5 inches (165mm) ,Smooth bore. Total Length: 13 inches (331mm). Power Source: 1x12 gram CO2. Action: Revolver - Double action only trigger. Ammo Type: .68 Caliber Paintball or Rubber Ball. Ammo Capacity: 5 Rounds x 3 magazines. FPS: 230-300.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on Umarex T4E TR68 .68 Caliber Paintball Revolver is double action only but not very long with a much smoother feel than the TR50, so maybe Umarex did some improving here. without any ammo in it the T4E TR68 trigger feels responsive for a double action trigger. We will have to see when I do my Field Test Shooting Video how it performs and if fully loaded up and primed, if it feels the same?
Accuracy: So far I have not had the opportunity to test the Umarex T4E TR68 .68 Caliber Paintball Revolver out, the only other similar product that may compare would be the Umarex T4E TR50 but I have a feeling both these guns will perform rather different since the ammo is a lot larger on the TR68. Also with the way the different triggers feel, I expect this to help with performance on the Umarex T4E TR68.
Build Quality: The build quality of the Umarex T4E TR68 .68 Caliber Paintball Revolver is good overall. It is a mostly plastic build with some metal parts where they need to be internally. It is essentially two plastic halves held together by small screws with few actual mechanical working external parts. You have the trigger with its working trigger safety, the removable magazine and magazine release and of course the quick puncture CO2 screw knob. The hammer is internal. The Umarex T4E TR68 .68 Caliber Paintball Revolver is not very heavy but it does feel really solid in the hand because of its very large size.
Realism: The Umarex T4E TR68 .68 Caliber Paintball Revolver is not really a replica per say of any real steel gun that I know of. It does share a lot of similarities with the Crosman Vigilante which is a CO2 BB/Pellet Revolver with its main design going back several decades. The Umarex T4E TR68 .68 Caliber Paintball Revolver looks similar to what a modern looking large caliber revolver such as a 357 or 44 magnum looks like. It is not going to fool anyone up close that you actually have a real steel revolver but then again I don’t think if you are shooting it at anyone they are going to want to get all that close to you :)
Pros:
Hoping to get a bit more raw energy out of the T4E TR.68 than the TR50 as it uses larger heavier ammo. (TR50 averaged 328 using rubber balls for reference).
Lots of mounting options for accessories like a tac light, laser or other sighting option with it’s upper and lower picatinny rail setup.
Quick CO2 pierce system so you can leave a CO2 in it ready to go any time with no worries about CO2 leaking out while in storage.
Working Trigger Safety.
White dot sights super easy to see on targets of varying colors and shades.
DOA Trigger feels pretty decent, not too long or heavy.
Comes with 3 total magazines you can preload ready for use.
Super non-complicated design. Once loaded with CO2 and Paintballs or Rubber Balls, all you need to do is hit the CO2 knob and then pull the trigger.
Build quality feels good, the gun is fairly beefy but not overly heavy.
Grip is normal size even thought the gun itself is fairly large.
Cons:
Mostly all plastic build.
Sights are not adjustable so hopefully it is well centered out of the box.
Do not expect a lot of shots per CO2. Will find out when I do my Field Test Shooting Review.
Comments:
The Umarex T4E TR68 .68 Caliber Paintball Revolver is an interesting Paintball gun, overseas versions are marketed as the HDR86 which stands for “Home Defense Revolver”, while the North American or Canada version is marketed as the TR68 for “Training Revolver”. This is mainly because in Europe most countries are not allowed to own real handguns but can own “Self Defense handguns”. In the US real handguns are very easy to obtain and can be used for self defense. Just across the border here in Canada we can not really purposely have on hand anything that we plan to use as a weapon for self defense so the Umarex T4E TR68 .68 Caliber Paintball Revolver, like the TR50 is marketed as a Training Revolver. What’s the difference? Not much, our North American 230+ fps version is a lot like the lower powered German versions in terms of power but you can also get more powerful versions in the UK. All that said, the Umarex T4E TR68 .68 Caliber Paintball Revolver at least here in Canada is made and marketed as a Training Paintball gun maybe not all that suitable on the field? What you decide to do with it is up to you.
In this Replica Airguns Unboxing Video I take a look at 6 Airguns consisting of 2 Paintball Pistols, 3 Airsoft Rifles and one Pellet Rifle. This is not a full review in any way but is rather a preview of what i will be doing full Reviews for over the next several weeks.
Airguns are generally cheaper to buy and for sure cheaper to shoot. Airguns can cost as little as $50-100 to buy while real guns in similar models will cost many time more. Cost of ammo is so much less expensive than Real Gun ammo by a mile!
Difficulty to Obtain:
Airguns in most countries do not require any licensing or registration. Generally there are more available options in Airgun choices than Real Gun choices as restrictions often prohibit many Real Guns to be obtained.
Places to Shoot:
Unless you live in a super remote locations and your laws allow you to shoot Real Guns in those locations, then in most cases you can shoot an Airgun almost anywhere within reason. You can even shoot certain Airgun models in your basement. Airsoft is a great option for indoor shooting as the plastic ammo does not carry very much energy so with minimal effort you can make a backstop that will trap the ammo very well.
Trigger Time:
Because ammo is much less expensive and places you can shoot are easier to find, you can get a lot more Trigger Time under your belt which will also improve your shotgun with Real Guns and after all it’s just fun to shoot guns even if they are Airguns.
Safety:
I am not talking about safety in terms of protection. I am talking about safety as in if you do something stupid and your Gun goes off accidentally. If you accidentally fire your Airgun indoors, the bullet will not travel through floors or walls and potentially harm or kill someone on the other side. If you do manage to shoot yourself with an Airgun, the consequence are much less severe than shooting yourself with a Real Gun. That said, always treat an Airgun as if it was a Real Loaded Gun, as server injury and even death can occur even with an Airgun.
Ware Games and Training Situations:
There is no way you can use a standard Real Gun to shoot at people, unless extensively altered with special parts that make the Real Gun unusable to shoot live ammo. With Airguns you have the choice of using an Airsoft or Paintball gun that are both designed specifically for this purpose.
Pest Control:
If you have the need for pest control in an urban area where you do not want a stray bullet to travel too far or penetrate buildings if a shot where to go awry, then an Airgun designed for accuracy and power may be perfect for the job. Accuracy with target and hunting Airguns is on par if not better than many Real Guns and are have powerful enough to kill a pest humanely without having too much power for the job and having to worry as much about your background.
Prop Guns:
As mentioned already, Airguns can look a lot like Real Guns, so they are perfect to be used as a stand-in or Prop Gun when you need to simulate the look and function of a Real Gun. Again they are easier and cheaper to obtain and if something does go wrong, the consequences are much less severe.
Social Stigma:
Unfortunately Real Guns and perhaps any gun these days are looked upon with a social stigma as being the cause of the Crime rather than a tool used in a Crime. And so people blame Guns for these crimes rather than the people committing these crimes. If a person is motivated enough to do something bad, they are going to do it either way and will use whatever means is available to them to commit these Crimes. Including other means like: Knives, Blunt Objects, Poisons, Vehicles, Explosives… Sad but true! Airguns are not used in homicides or mass shootings as they are completely underpowered for a crime like this. They can however be used in crimes as a show of threat, as they do look a lot like real guns, generally people that use Airguns for real crimes, if challenged will give up immediately as they are completely outgunned. Don’t bring an Airgun to a Real Gun fight, you have better chance with a knife!
Type: Paintball Shotgun. Manufacturer:Umarex - T4E. Model:Umarex T4E HDB. Materials: Metal & Polymer. Weight: 5.52 pounds (2.5 kg). Barrel: 18.5 inches (470.5mm) Metal smooth bore. Power Source: 1x12 gram CO2. Action: Semi Auto DOA with Internal Magazine. Ammo Type: .68 Caliber Paintball or Rubber Ball. Ammo Capacity: 16 Rounds. FPS: 220 claimed
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on Umarex T4E HDB .68 Caliber Paintball Shotgun is basically a Double Action Only Trigger as there is no blowback or way in which to preload a hammer or striker system. So basically your finger does all the work so the trigger pull is I would say about medium length and about medium pull. It does works just fine for fairly rapid follow up shooting. Each pull of the trigger also extends a rear breach-like tube that seals off the CO2 from the internal magazine or there would be a lot of CO2 leakage.
Accuracy: Normally I do not get the chance to perform the Field Test before making my Table Tope Video Review but with the Umarex T4E HDB .68 Caliber Paintball Shotgun, I did it the other way around so I do have performance metrics I can share with you, at least summarized. I suggest watching my Full Field Test Shooting Video Review for the Umarex T4E HDB .68 Caliber Paintball Shotgun for a the full breakdown. In summary, the Umarex T4E HDB .68 Caliber Paintball Shotgun shot a bit low on the target but had a decent grouping of I would say around 4-6 inches which is really good for a Paintball Gun. In terms of power my Chronograph results shooting 5 rounds produced an average of 176fps but the temperature was not super warm so in warmer conditions you can expect this to go up a bit, I would say 200fps is realistic.
Build Quality: The build quality of the Umarex T4E HDB .68 Caliber Paintball Shotgun is really good for the lower price of this unit compared to other higher priced T4E products, you will get a pretty much all plastic outer shell. That said there is still a fair amount of metal in this PaintBall Shotgun including the barrel, internal magazine, sights, trigger, sling mounts and some internal parts. All in all the Umarex T4E HDB .68 Caliber Paintball Shotgun has a good weight and feel to it with nice fit and finish.
Realism: The Umarex T4E HDB .68 Caliber Paintball Shotgun as far as I know is not an exact replica of any specific Shotgun but it does look like what you would expect to see from a Pistol Grip Tactical Styled Shotgun. In terms of mechanical working parts everything does what it supposed to do and works as expected.
Accuracy was really good, probably my tightest grouping so far to date with a Paintball Gun shooting at 30 feet away.
Lots of mounting option for accessories like a tac light, laser or other sighting option with it’s top and side picatinny rail and M-LOK setup.
Quick CO2 pierce system so you can leave a CO2 in it ready to go any time with no worries about CO2 leaking out over time.
Simple to use Cross Bolt Safety.
Nice high capacity super easy to load 16 round magazine.
Ambidextrous sling mountain points.
Low cost for what you get compared to other Umarex/T4E products.
Build quality feels pretty good considering it is a much lower cost than other T4E rifles/shotguns.
Looks very intimidating.
Cons:
Mostly plastic external build.
Sights are not adjustable.
Will not get lots of shots per single CO2.
No rear stock so will not be as accurate using a non rested shooting posting.
Comments:
The Umarex T4E HDB .68 Caliber Paintball Shotgun is a well built and decent performing Paintball Shotgun and for the price you do get a lot of gun for your money. In some ways it even outperforms the HDX in my books including lower price, ease to load, quicker follow shots being semi auto, more compact size and even accuracy was better with the Umarex T4E HDB .68 Caliber Paintball Shotgun. So if you’re on a budget, don’t feel like you are compromising at all here, you are getting a really good Paintball Shotgun solution!
In this Field Test Shooting Video I test out the Umarex T4E HDB .68 Caliber Paintball Shotgun to see what the actual fps is and what kind of accuracy we can get out of these .68 Caliber Rubber balls at 30 feet down range. I have not done a Table Top Video just yet for the Umarex T4E HDB .68 Caliber Paintball Shotgun so stay posted for that upcoming video so stay posted for that, in the meantime you can watch my Preview Videos where I do show it up and close and go over some main specifications.
Starting with the velocity portion of this video I used .68 caliber rubber balls which are not super heavy and not made out of a very hard rubber as you can squish them with your fingers fairly easily. I put 5 rounds through my chronograph after loading a pair of 12 gram CO2 cartriges into the CO2 chamber. My results averaged 176fps which may seem slower than expected but they did hit my target pretty hard pulling the paper in with them. Each round was fairly consistent ranging from 167 to 182 fps trailing off a bit after each shot which is expected.
Moving on to the accuracy portion for the Umarex T4E HDB .68 Caliber Paintball Shotgun, I proceeded to shoot around 10 rounds into my fresh paper target setup 30 feet down range. My target is basically an 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper and my goal was ot get all my shots onto the paper which I easily managed. I was impressed with the grouping from the Umarex T4E HDB .68 Caliber Paintball Shotgun as it performed better than most Paintball guns using rubber balls. The shot placement was a bit lower than I was aiming but all the rounds where within I would say 4-5 inches of each other with no real outliers in the grouping.
All in all the Umarex T4E HDB .68 Caliber Paintball Shotgun performed better than I was expecting, I bit more fps would be nice but the rubber balls do hit the paper with a fair amount of energy, I would for sure not want to get hit by one at close range with light clothing on. The accuracy again was really good for a a paintball rifle and this being one of the lower cost Umarex T4E rifle/shotgun based products it performed as good if not better than much higher priced versions. If you’re looking for a fun Paintball Rifle that won’t break the bank and has a good feature set then pick one up for us!
In this Preview Review Video I take a look at 4 newer products now in our Replica Airguns Online Store. One is a 4.5mm Steel BB Revolver, two are 6mm Airsoft Pistols and one is a .68 caliber Paintball Shotgun.
The first item I take look at in this video is the Umarex HK30 AEG Airsoft Pistol, this product is pretty entry level with analyst all plastic build and is very light to hold. It does however shoot in both semi and full auto since it is an AEG Airsfto Pistol (not many of them out there). The fps is rather low at a claimed fps at just under 200, the Umarex HK30 AEG Airsoft Pistol also comes with two 16 round remove; plastic magazines. Who knows, maybe it will be fun?
Next I take a look at the ASG Dan Wesson 2.5 inch 4.5mm Steel BB Gold Revolver. This is a CO2 powered shell loading BB revolver very much like similar ones I have reviewed in the past but in Gold finish. Will the gold finishes make it perform better, well I guess we better find out!
I then take a look at a “Glock Like” CO2 Blowback Airsoft Pistol for KJWorks called the KP13. It has a full size drop out metal magazine that holds the CO2 along with 24 rounds of 6mm Airsoft BB’s. The KJWorks KP-13 has a metal slide, metal magazine and polymer frame with a velocity over 360fps using the included barrel extension.
Last but perhaps the most interesting for me is the Umarex T4E HDB which is a lower cost Paintball/Rubber Ball Shotgun which could possibly be used for home protection? The T4E HDB is a mostly plastic constructed rifle with decent weight to it and uses an internal spring fed 16 round magazine. You will find all kinds of mounting points for accessories and for a sling on the Umarex T4E HDB and again at much lower cost than similar T4E rifle based Paintball/Rubber ball Airguns.
In this Field Test Shooting Video I test out the Umarex T4E HDX .68 Paintball Shotgun to find out what the actual fps is and if .68 Caliber Rubber Balls shot out of this Paintball gun are even going to be somewhat accurate at 30 feet out? If you have not already watched my Table Top Video where I go over the details and specifications with some closer up video showing you around the Umarex T4E HDX .68 Paintball Shotgun then make sure to watch it here…
Starting with the velocity portion of this video I used .68 caliber rubber balls which are not super heavy and not made out of a very hard rubber as you can squish them with your fingers fairly easily. I put 5 rounds through my chronograph after loading a pair of 12 gram CO2 cartriges into the CO2 chamber. My results averaged 206 fps which may seem slower than expected but they did hit my target pretty hard and actually knocked the cardboard backing right off of it. Each round was fairly consistent ranging from 203 to 210 fps.
Moving on to the accuracy portion of this test I proceeded to shoot around 10 rounds into my fresh paper target setup 30 feet down range. My target is basically an 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper and my goal was ot get all my shots onto the paper which I managed successfully. I would say most of the rounds all hit within about 5-6 inches of each other which for a Paintball Gun is very good! Keep in mind I was shooting using a seated position with the Umarex T4E HDX .68 Paintball Shotgun rested up front on a sand bag.
All in all the Umarex T4E HDX .68 Paintball Shotgun performed really well shooting consistent velocities and also getting all the rounds on an 8.5 x 11 inch target easily at 30 feet away which means if you where shooting at a persons body area you would easily hit it every shot making this a decent close quarters shooter which is what it really would be used for at the end of the day. Could you use it for less lethal home defense? I guess so especially if you can get your hands on pepper balls but I am not sure if regular rubber or paintballs balls would stop someone? Just seeing this impressive shotgun may in fact be more of a deterrent then being shot by it, but if it get’s the job done then why not.
Type: Paintball Shotgun. Manufacturer:Umarex - T4E. Model:HDX .68 Paintball Shotgun. Materials: Metal & Polymer. Weight: 6.8 pounds (3.100 kg). Barrel: 16.2 inches (411.5mm) Metal smooth bore. Power Source: 2x12 gram CO2. Action: Pump Action with Internal Magazine. Ammo Type: .68 Caliber Paintball or Rubber Ball. Ammo Capacity: 16 Rounds. FPS: 250-360?
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on Umarex T4E HDX .68 Paintball Shotgun is a single action only trigger that requires the Pump Action to engage the trigger. Without working the pump the trigger is in the rear portion and does not operate until the Shotgun is pumped, then it pops forward and becomes active. At that point I would say it is fairy short and light, maybe with a little bit of friction but not bad overall. There is also a cross-bolt safety right behind the trigger making it easy to engage and disengage the safety.
Accuracy: So far I have not had the opportunity to test the Umarex T4E HDX .68 Paintball Shotgun but plan a full Field Test Shooting Video shortly. As with most Paintball Airguns they are not going to be super accurate even at 30 feet away. Generally speaking most tests I have done with Paintball guns using rubber balls perform about the same with most of the rubber balls hitting my paper sheet target (8x11) but some even missing completely. In terms of power, on the box Umarex claims 250 fps but I have seen higher velocity specifications on websites including our own so I guess we will find out for sure when I perform my Field Test Shooting Video for the Umarex T4E HDX .68 Paintball Shotgun,
Build Quality: The build quality of the Umarex T4E HDX .68 Paintball Shotgun is very good since this Paintball Shotgun is made for military and law enforcement training use. It has a very good weight and feel to it and has metal parts where you would expect them including the receiver. If you picked this item up along with a real steel Shotgun it would be hard to tell or feel the difference at first inspection.
Realism: The Umarex T4E HDX .68 Paintball Shotgun as far as I know is not an exact replica of any specific Shotgun but it does look like what you would expect to see from a Tactical Styled Pump Action Shotgun. In terms of mechanical working parts everything does what it supposed to do and works as expected.
Expected fairly high fps power of 350+ with .68 caliber paintballs/rubber balls, a bit too high for your average paintball field but perhaps powerful enough to discourage an extruder?
Lots of mounting option for accessories like a tac light, laser or other sighting option with its upper and lower picatinny rail setup.
Quick CO2 pierce system so you can leave a CO2 in it ready to go any time with no worries about CO2 leaking out.
Simple to use Cross Bolt Safety.
Nice high capacity 16 round internal magazine.
Dual CO2 offers more shots per CO2 change.
Build quality feels really good, very solid, with lots of weight to it.
Very intimidating looking, just that alone may scare off an intruder.
Cons:
Need a tool to load rounds.
Will not get lots of shots per dual CO2, around 70 or so but not bad.
A bit on the large and bulky side.
Comments:
I am not sure exactly what one would use this Paintball Rifle for but there are a few options. You could use it on the field but with everyone else using high capacity rapid fire Paintball Guns you might be “Out Gunned” to say the least unless of course everyone else was limited in some way to their ammo capacity and rate of fire. Again the Umarex T4E HDX .68 Paintball Shotgun could be used as a non lethal home defense option when combined with the right ammunition type like say some pepper balls? The look of this Shotgun is probably enough to make an intruder get the heck out but I would not count on it. No matter what you plan to use it for it is an awesome Paintball Airgun for sure but just be aware if is not going to be the cheapest option at around $450 Canadian.
As the title suggest this a video about a Huge Mystery Box so I am not going to say what’s in it, I can say that their are 4 main products mostly rifles per-say. One is a Futuristic Full Auto BB Rifle, one is a Paintball Shotgun, One is an AEG Airsoft Rifle and one is a Replica Break Barrel Pellet Rifle.
So I have a lot of variety here to show everyone! I did absolutely zero research on any of the products I show in this video since like you I had no real idea what was inside other than how many and that most where rifle based.
Enjoy finding out what new products I will be reviewing over the next month with dedicated Table Top and Field Test Shooting videos.
Type:Arrow Rifle. Manufacturer: Umarex Model:AirSaber Elite X2. Materials: Metal and Polymer. Weight: 8.7 pounds (3.9kg). Air Tank: 4000 PSI - 240cc. Barrel: Double barrel system. Propulsion: PCP (Compressed Air). Action: Side cocking - Single action trigger. Ammunition Type: 350 grain Arrows. Ammunition Capacity: 2. Max FPS: 450 Claimed.
Trigger Pull: The trigger on the Umarex AirSaber Elite X2 Double Barrel PCP Arrow Rifle is single action only requiring you to engage the side cocking latch system before you can shoot it. You will also be required to manually select the barrel using the side mounted cross bolt between shots. The trigger feels pretty light in general since it is a single action only trigger but it does have a fair amount take-up and creep before releasing.
Accuracy: I have not performed any shooting tests with the Umarex AirSaber Elite X2 Double Barrel PCP Arrow Rifle as of yet and I am not sure if I will since this product does require a high powered crossbow type backstop which I do not have at this time. I want to make sure I have a safe shooting environment before unleashing 169 foot pounds of energy downrange. I would imagine since the Umarex AirSaber Elite X2 Double Barrel PCP Arrow Rifle is designed more for mid to large game hunting that it will be accurate out to mid and long ranges, of course you will need to practice at the ranges you will be shooting at to know how the arrow will fly and how much elevation you will need to to adjust for.
Build Quality: The Umarex AirSaber Elite X2 Double Barrel PCP Arrow Rifle is really well built and solid coming in at 8.7 pounds. For it’s size it is not heavy since it ustilizes a combination of metal, aluminum and polymer. All the mechanical parts feel high quality and reactive.
Realism: The Umarex AirSaber Elite X2 Double Barrel PCP Arrow Rifle is not a replica of any real steel gun in production since it is a hunting rifle through and through. It is rifle shaped of course since that is what we have gown accustomed to using and so why change the main design. If you have used a rifle before then you will have no problem using the Umarex AirSaber Elite X2 Double Barrel PCP Arrow Rifle as it is more of a rifle and less of a bow or crossbow to use. It just happens to shoot arrow rather than bullet.
Pros:
Canada non PAL Airgun with enough power to hunt medium to larger game!
Overall price point is good, nothing like this to compare to.
Arrows are propelled from the front, so no archers paradox when aiming.
Arrows come with field tip arrows but can be unscrewed and replaced with broad tip arrow heads for hunting.
Easy to use cross bolt safety on trigger.
Pistol grip allows for easy hold and control.
Fit and finish is excellent.
PCP for more power and consistency than CO2.
Picatinny rails on top for scope, sides and bottom for other accessories.
Rubber butt-plate for added comfort.
Improved easy to use side cocking system.
Double barrel allows for quick follow up shot.
Higher PSI for high power with same amount of shots as older single barrel AirSaber.
Cons:
Need a pump or other compressed air-fill system.
Will require a proper backstop system to practice safety with.
Arrows are not cheap so make sure of your shots.
Comments: The Umarex AirSaber Elite X2 Double Barrel PCP Arrow Rifle is a really unique product that allows virtually anyone to be able to hunt even larger game without a firearms license in Canada. It is not really a riffle or a crossbow, it is it’s own creation that takes the best of a rifle and the best from archery combining both into an easy to learn and use way to be able to hunt proficiently and perhaps even in areas rifles are not allowed to go. For the extra $100 or so I would recommend the Umarex AirSaber Elite X2 Double Barrel version over the original single version barrel but both will get the job done at the end of the day since usually your first shot is your only shot.
In this Preview Unboxing Video I take a look at three rifles, two are Airsoft Rifles and one is an Archery Rifle. Then First Airsoft Rifle form Tokyo Marui i s full Gas Blowback all metal build AR 15 of the highest quality and realism while the second Airsoft Rifle from Sig Sauer is an AEG but again a high quality product for sure. Lastly I take a look at Umarex’s lates Airsaber which now sports dual Arrow configuration for quick follow up shots. I do plan to make future more intensive table top and shooting videos for some if not all of thees Rifles but this video will at least wet your appetite a bit.
This was an unusual Field Test Review for me to do as I really don’t test out Bows or Crossbows all that much and I don’t have the best backstop setup for doing such reviews. So I spent some time making a backstop that was capable of stopping these just over 6 inch almost 10 gram or 150 grain bolts. It required some layers of foam and cardboard along with a blanket behind just in case, and even with this setup the bolts managed to lodge themselves right up to the Fletching (feather part of the arrow). Also make sure to watch my Table Top Video Review for the Bear X Desire XL Crossbow to see it up nice and close and get all the specifications and features.
I kind of wanted to change up this review just a bit and so I recorded my Chronograph Velocity at the same time as I did my Target or Accuracy Test to simplify things. I used 5 bolts in all and got what I felt was a good result using the Bear X Desire XL Crossbow.
In terns of velocity Bear X claims that the Bear X Desire XL Crossbow will shoot around 175 fps. I was able to get consistent 190+ fps readings using the 147 grain 6.5 inch aluminum bolts with my lowest fps being 192 and the highest being 194 so super consistent. This gave an overall Foot Pound energy of 12.4 foot pounds! This is enough for small pests for sure, it really comes down to accuracy at this point as you will want to get either a head or shoulder area shot for a humane kill.
I did do a pre test to make sure I was on target and duding this test I was able to get about a 5 inch 5 shot grouping. During my recored Accuracy Test this did open up a bit as one arrow went high and to the right so if I leave that arrow out of the test I did manage to get another 5 inch grouping with three of the arrows all within 1.5 inches of each otter. I figure with high quality arrows and some practice time using the Bear X Desire XL Crossbow, you should be able to use it for small pest control at least at closer in ranges.
All in all the Bear X Desire XL Crossbow surprised me with how powerful it really was and with the accuracy using standard default bolts. This is for sure not a toy and you would never want to accidentally shoot this at someone as it could cause a very serious injury or even death and I mean that since these arrow would for sure pierce several inches into the body. So if you’re looking for something with a bit more raw power than your standard non-regulated Airgun, then check out the Bear X Desire XL Crossbow over in both our Canada and US Online Replica Airguns Stores.
