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.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Steambow M10 Tactical Recurve Crossbow is a single action only trigger as 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 a metal bolt style safety just above where the trigger releases that is ambidextrous, push it forward for safe and back for fire.
Accuracy: I have not recorded my Field Test Shooting Video for the Steambow M10 Tactical Recurve Crossbow and so I am not sure what to expect so far. 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, I expect the Steambow M10 Tactical Recurve Crossbow to have a bit more power over the Bear X Desire XL as it is rated to have a 75 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 10 bolts.
Build Quality: The Steambow M10 Tactical Recurve Crossbow is well made but does consist of mostly plastic or polymer, that said it feels sturdy enough when holding it and is one of the heavier compact recurve Crossbow systems at 4 pounds. 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 and sling ring 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
Realism: The Steambow M10 Tactical Recurve Crossbow 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 it. I do think there is a crossover product in terms of interest with people that are also interested in Airguns. 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. 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 it.
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.
Comes with bow pre-strung and ready to mount.
Lots of Picatinny rail mounting options for sights and accessories.
Fiber optic front sight with two rear sight options (grove and peep).
Ambidextrous bolt safety easy to engage and disengage.
20 bolts included to fully load both 10 round magazines.
190-200 fps (11-12ft/lbs).
Comes with upgraded fore grip.
6 portion AR compatible adjustable rear but stock with cheek adjustment.
Cons:
Fairly expensive.
Sights are not adjustable.
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 M10 Tactical Recurve Crossbow is an interesting product, the autoloading system with 10 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. Having quick follow up shots is necessary just in case the first shot does not quite get the job done. The upgraded add on accessories you get with the Steambow M10 Tactical Recurve Crossbow really give it a quilty feel and it is nice you not only have a fully adjustable AR compactly rear stock with a cheek rest but you have the option of a peep or grove rear sight to line up the fiber optic front sight. The price is on the high side but if you want the most ultimate Compact Recurve Crossbow auto loading system with maximum ammo then this is for sure the product for you.
I did my unboxing vide for both the Steambow AR-6 Stinger II Tactical and M10 Tactical already which is generally a preview of the products I am unboxing but with these types of compact crossbows, they generally need a bit of setup before they are complete and ready to view and use.
For that reason I wanted to make a quick combined Preview Video for Steambow AR-6 Stinger II Tactical and M10 Tactical Crossbows so you can see what they look like all put together, and what the main differences are between the two of them. This way you can figure out which one might be the best choice if you are in the market for a product like this.
Let’s go over the main specifications and differences to determine what you get with each one:
Distributed by: Steambow GmbH Austria.
Materials: Mostly plastic with some metal parts.
Weight: M10 4 pounds / AR-6 2.6 pounds.
Lengt: M10 24.2 inches / AR-6 22 inches.
Width: M10 17.5 inches / 17.5 inches.
Magazine Capacity: M10 10 bolts per external magazine / AR-6 6 bolts per internal magazine.
Another Mystery Box to share with everyone but this time I peaked a bit so it’s not as much of a mystery for me, but it will be for you. I was glad I peaked as the items inside where not the usual assortment and it was good I was able to get a bit of pre-intel on them before I jumped into this unboxing, as there was a lot to discover about each of the three items in the Mystery Box. I hope they appeal to some of you, I think they are very interesting and after checking them out, some of you may decide to add one or two of them to your collection.
The first two items I looked at are from an Austrian based company called Steambow. They are both compact crossbows that offer a unique reloading system with built in Magazines that hold either 6 or 10 rounds depending on the version you buy. The Steambow AR-6 Stinger II Tactical is the less expensive yet still “kind of expensive” version with a built in 6 round magazine While the AR Series Steambow M10 Tactical has an upper that accepts 10 round magazines you can preload. The Steambow AR-6 Stinger II Tactical comes with a 55 pound pre-strung bow that produces around 10 foot pounds of energy, while the Steambow M10 Tactical come with a 75 pound pre-strung bow which should produce close to 12 or more foot pounds of energy. Both incorporate fiber optic slights, lots of rail mounting options, AR style rear stocks which shoulder mount easy and quick cocking to make the most of the automatic bolt loading systems.
Another Archery based item also in this months Mystery Box was the Umarex AirJavelin FishR PCP based arrow launcher designed for anglers. It is intended to work with a fishing real of your choice and comes with a single retrievable barbed arrow, so a lot like bow fishing but with a PCP propulsion system. The Umarex AirJavelin FishR has a built in 4500 psi tank that is regulated to 800 psi and the arrow is a whopping 1250 grain to cut through the water with ease. The entire system is salt water resistant so you can use it in both fresh and salt water conditions. There are both picatinny and M-LOK mounting options for sights and accessories.
Stay posted for my Table Top and Field Testing Video Reviews coming shortly…
In this Indoor Field Test Shooting Video, I put the EMG SAI 2011 DS 4.3 CO2 Blowback Airsoft Pistol through my usual performance shooting test by first finding out what the velocity is by shooting 5 rounds through my Chronograph using a fresh CO2 along with .20 gram Airsoft BB’s. I follow this up with a 10 round accuracy test, again using .20 gram Airsoft BB’s and shooting at a paper target setup 30 feet down range, while seated on a stool in the back with my hands rested on a sand bag up front. This generally works pretty well and helps me get the most out the gun I am testing. If you are also interested in details and specifications than make sure to watch my Table Top Video I already made for the EMG SAI 2011 DS 4.3 CO2 Blowback Airsoft Pistol.
So how did the EMG SAI 2011 DS 4.3 CO2 Blowback Airsoft Pistol do in my testing? Not bad! Starting with the velocity fps test I shot 5 rounds through my chronograph with a brand new 12 gram CO2 cartridge and while EMG claims around 400 fps, I only averaged 321 fps with my fastest shot hitting 323 fps and my slowest shot hitting 318. So relatively close in terms of fps but not close to the 400 claimed fps. Totally fine for Airsoft games, perhaps in super hot temperatures, it can do better but in standard room temperatures this is what I got.
Next up I tested out the EMG SAI 2011 DS 4.3 CO2 Blowback Airsoft Pistol’s accuracy from 30 feet away and put 10 rounds down range as best as I was able to do with my slightly aging eyes. I was happy with the results with most of the rounds staying within about 2 inches of each other and just slightly to the right of the bullseye, but pretty much perfect in terms of elevation. There where a couple of rounds that came outside of the base 2 inch grouping, which increased the grouping to about 3 inches total.
I am a huge 1911 fan and so a 2011 design only tuns up the dial that much more. The EMG SAI 2011 DS 4.3 CO2 Blowback Airsoft Pistol performed without a glitch for me and I love the extra heft and snappy blowback action along with the crips light and short single action 1911 trigger. I was a bit surprised by the lower 323 fps velocity, but to be honest this is more than a capable velocity for a combat close range Airsoft Pistol. The EMG SAI 2011 DS 4.3 CO2 Blowback Airsoft Pistol is a real looker for sure, it just needs that eye soar of an orange tip removed to perfect its look. If you like the look and feel of a 1911/2011 in your hand, and if stainless steel is your color of choice, then I would say go for this one.
Type: GBB Airsoft Rifle Manufacturer:Umarex / KWA Model:HK 416 A4 Materials: Mostly all metal. Weight: 7.75 pounds (3.5 kg). Total Length: 31.1-34.4 inches (79-88cm). Barrel: 15.4 inches (39cm) non rifled. Propulsion: Gas Blowback. Action: Single action semi & full auto. Ammunition Type: .6mm plastic Airsoft BB’s. Ammunition Capacity:30 round magazines. FPS: 400 fps.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Umarex HK 416 A4 GBB Airsoft Rifle is typical of a single action only trigger found on the AR platform. It has a very slight take up with just a little bit of resistance part way, and then a predictable light break. The reset has a noticeable click to it and it is also very short allowing for very fast semi auto shooting. Of course you can always put it in full auto and let her rip, but you will have to restrain yourself since there are only 30 rounds in the magazine like you would find in a standard AR.
Accuracy: Like most of my Table Top Videos, they are made prior to shooting the gun I am reviewing, so we are all going to have to wait until I make my official Field Test Shooting Video for the Umarex HK 416 A4 GBB Airsoft Rifle. Where I will be testing out the velocity in fps using my Chronograph, and I will also shoot the Umarex HK 416 A4 in both semi auto and full auto to see how tight of groupings I can get at least at 30 feet away. I fully expect the Umarex HK 416 A4 GBB Airsoft Rifle to perform well as this is a very high quality product made by KWA.
Build Quality: The Build quality on the Umarex HK 416 A4 GBB Airsoft Rifle is outstanding with metal everywhere you would find it on a real steel AR. Of course the rear adjustable stock is plastic. Because of all the metal front to back, the Umarex HK 416 A4 is on the heavy side at 7.75 pounds, so packing it around all day may be a bit tiring but well worth the joy and pride when holding it. Fit and finish is also excellent, you will pay more for this GBB Airsoft Rifle but the material are nothing but quality.
Realism: The main thing you get from a GBB Airsoft Rifle over an AEG Airsoft Rifle, is not just quality components and build materials, but the user experience which is so much more realistic than shooting an AEG. The Umarex HK 416 A4 GBB Airsoft Rifle just feels so real in weight, how the controls all work, the full cycling of the bolt with a nice heavy and snappy blowback recoil on your shoulder. Even the way the buffer tube spring rings after each shot just makes this GBB Airsoft Rifle a joy to shot and experience. Sure it only holds 30 rounds per mag and shot consistency will vary depending on your shooting environment as all gas guns can be temperamental in colder weather. That said, a real AR does not hold 500 rounds in a mag and they can also be a bit finicky on the battle field.
Pros:
It’s GBB, love the realism of GBB Airsoft Rifles, it doesn’t get any more fun.
Tons of metal all over this rifle weighing in at almost 8 pounds.
Lots of accessory mounting options with the Precision CNC machined Quad Picatinny top side and bottom rails.
Full adjustable metal pop up sights.
H&K Lisence via Umarex.
6 position adjustable AR compatible rear stock.
Trigger feel is awesome, feels like a real steel AR trigger, you can’t even get close with an AEG.
Ambidextrous selector switches for left and right handers.
The threaded barrel can attach a silencer or other flash hidders.
All parts work just like the real steel version.
Can filed strip just like a real steel AR.
Cons:
Low magazine capacity as compared to an AEG.
Will be subject to cold weather conditions and cool down.
Very expensive to have and own such realism.
Comments:
The Umarex Umarex HK 416 A4 GBB Airsoft Rifle is for sure not going to be for everyone as it is with out a doubt a very expensive Gas Blowback Airsoft Rifle. It may not even be your best option out on the Airsoft Field, as more than likely you are going to get out gunned by everyone else using an AEG with their 500 round magazines and endless torrent of BB’s coming at you. If you just want the most realistic Airsoft Experience, than look no further than the Umarex HK 416 A4 GBB Airsoft Rifle, as it does not get more realistic than this and if you want to replicate your real steel AR perhaps for training and practice sessions, than there is no way you can beet the Umarex HK 416 A4. For those with deep wallets that want the ultimate and most realistic AR you can get, you can’t go wrong with the Umarex HK 416 A4 GBB Airsoft Rifle.
My Vimeo Table Top Review for the Umarex HK 416 A4 GBB Airsoft Rifle:
Here we go with another unboxing video this month, and this is a big box, so no doubt the mystery items are going to be big too! As always with new products, I will be following up with dedicated Table Top and Field Test Videos for each of them so make sure to check down the road for those videos for a lot more information and actual performance results…
Don’t look below if you want to just watch the video and be surprises by what’s inside the mystery box but if you want a quick peak before hand then checkout the basic specs below for all three new items I will be reviewing soon.
Here is Bonus Video Five in my series of Full Auto Fun videos I make each summer where I pick a few Full Auto Airguns and record some fun outside shooting with them. In this years Full Auto Fun Video series I do a bit of a walk around on my property and shoot a bunch of water filled pop cans. Maybe this doesn’t sound super exciting but I do use some really creative camera angles to capture it all which makes it lot more interesting to watch for sure!
In this Fifth Bonus Full Auto Fun Video I bring out a past Full Auto Fun Airgun that I just couldn’t resist takin out for some full auto fun once again. The WE AK74UN Gas Blowback Full Auto Airsoft Rifle has got to be one of the hardest blowback Airguns I have shot, I would say even a bit more blowback feel than the KWA Mini UZI! The WE AK74UN Gas Blowback Full Auto Airsoft Rifle also does a great job of keeping Airsoft BB’s on target even in full auto with all that recoil as you will see in this video as I dial it in part way through my walk about. Unfortunately we do not sell anything like this anymore at least in Airsoft, the closest thing to it is the Crosman AK1 Blowback CO2 Full Auto BB Rifle which is still a lot of fun with a bit less recoil but a higher rate of fire.
I have only tested out another similar Crossbow setup one other time so this is not my normal Field Test Review. Like last time when I made my Bear X Desire XL Crossbow Field Test Video, in this Field Test Video I record my Chronograph velocity for the CenterPoint Hornet Recurve Compact Crossbow at the same time as I shoot at the target so I did not have to make two separate video segments and basically did it all in one go. I did have a bit of a brain fart and forgot I needed to setup two separate cameras, one on the Chronograph and one on the Target, as I generally only need one camera at a time for my usually two segment Field Test Videos. So getting to the point, I did not have dedicated camera on the target while shooting and in hind sight it would have been better to have the camera on the Target rather than the Chronograph as my camera glasses generally record the Chronograph readings for me too. I do walk up to the Target at the end of the video so we do get to see exactly where all the bolts landed, so I can show you the final result at the end of the day.
In terns of velocity, CenterPoint claims a velocity of 191 fps. I was able to get consistently just over 180 fps so pretty close. My Chrono readings using the included 147 grain 6.5 inch aluminum bolts ranged from 180 to 182 fps so very consistent. This gave an overall Foot Pound energy of 10.61 foot pounds so velocity and foot pound energy were just a little bit under the claimed rating! 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, and I am not sure if this bow is up of the job? You will have to see how accurate it will be for you and make that decision for yourself..
In terms of accuracy I found the CenterPoint Hornet Recurve Compact Crossbow to be fairly accuracy on the windage side (left and right), basically with all the bolts only being about 2 inches apart side to side. Where it did not perform as well was in elevation with the bolts ranging about 8 inches top to bottom. I am not sure why this was the case as the velocity is very consistent and generally less consistent velocities account for elevation changes. All the bolts hit the target using the included red dot with no pre adjustments but it did shoot just a bit to the right and maybe overall a bit low. This can easily be corrected using the red dot windage and elevation adjustments.
Interestingly the CenterPoint Hornet Recurve Compact Crossbow has a higher claimed velocity over the Bear X Desire XL Crossbow I tested a while back, yet the Bear X Desire XL Crossbow actually shot a bit faster hitting 190+ fps, not a huge difference but an interesting observation. The CenterPoint Hornet Recurve Compact Crossbow does come with a red dot but both have Picatinny Rails so Red Dots will fit on both Crossbows no problem. I am going to address the elephant in the room, if you compare both of these Crossbows they are virtually the same with the exception of the branding and distribution of them. So I would say get either one, the Bear X Desire XL Crossbow is actually less money as it does not come with an included Red Dot but at least right now it is out of stock so your only option may the the CenterPoint Hornet Recurve Compact Crossbow, both are a lot of fun and pack a lot more punch than your standard non regulated Air Rifle.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the CenterPoint Hornet Recurve Compact Crossbow is a single action only trigger as you need ot 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 it so there is a bit of friction and I would say it is about 10 pounds maybe a bit less. The safety is also engaged when you cock the bow requiring you to take the CenterPoint Hornet Recurve Compact Crossbow off safe before shooting as an added layer of safety.
Accuracy: I have not made my Field Test Shooting Video for the CenterPoint Hornet Recurve Compact Crossbow and so I am not sure what to expect from it. I have shot a similar bow, the Bear X Desire XL Crossbow so it should perform similar to that one if you want to check that Field Test Shooting Video out, but I expect the CenterPoint Hornet Recurve Compact Crossbow to have a little bit more power as it has a rated fps and draw weight a little bit higher than the Bear X Desire XL Crossbow, we will see?
Build Quality: The CenterPoint Hornet Recurve Compact Crossbow is actually made pretty decently, yes it is mostly plastic and light weight but feels sturdy enough to hold, the bow itself is fiberglass and the only real metal I can confirm is the cocking rail, mostly everything else other than the nuts and bolts that hold it together are some sort of plastic, The only part that does not feel up to par with the quality is the included red dot, it is fairly entry level but I am sure it will get the job done, and if it stops getting the job done at some point you can upgrade it then, or simply use the included rear iron sight which is fully adjustable.
Realism: The CenterPoint Hornet Recurve Compact Crossbow is not a Replica as is what I usually review here on the channel. But I think there is a crossover in terms of interest for a product like this with people that are also interested in Airguns. The other benefit is that it has a lot more power than a non regulated Airgun as the CenterPoint Hornet Recurve Compact Crossbow uses nice heavy 146 grain bolts traveling at almost 200 fps which gives an energy rating of around 12 foot pounds. So if raw power is what you are after, then this is your best option for something still compact if you do not have a firearms license.
Pros:
Fairly inexpensive.
Super light weight and compact.
More power than an Airgun yet still quiet to shoot so you can use discreetly just about anywhere with a good back stop setup.
Easy to draw the bow using the stock for leverage.
Safety is automatically engaged.
Picatinny rail already has iron fully adjustable rear sight and comes with a very basic red dot sight to get you started.
Fiber optic front sight.
3 bolts included.
191 fps (12ft/lbs).
Comes with fore grip.
5 portion adjustable rear but stock.
Cons:
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.
Careful not to wash you hadn't or thumb with the string (Ouchy).
Comments:
The CenterPoint Hornet Recurve Compact Crossbow is a nice crossover product that appeals to Airgun enthusiasts as it does not require a firearms license and can be used in a lot more locations than a standard gun. It also has decent power as compared to a non regulated Airgun hitting 12 foot pounds which is at least 4x more than most non regulated Airguns can achieve. In terms of pest control, it does have the power required for small pests but accuracy is not going to be as good as an Airgun so hitting the rather small sweet spot on a small pest is not going to be easy and you want to be humane about it, so make sure if you do plan on using this for some sort of pest control, that you practice your accuracy and are confident in your shot placement. Personally I would just enjoy shooting it as a target bow that literally cost you nothing after purchase as long as you don’t lose the bolts.
Another box showed up at my door and this time I had no idea what was inside it, I asked the boys in the warehouse to surprise me and send some new product as I was low on review items, and in a couple of days later this tall somewhat large box showed up. In this Replica Airguns June Mystery Box Unboxing Video I open the box and take a look at what’s inside. I recommend you just watch the video and enjoy the suspense with me, but if you want to cheat and find out now, then look below at quick breakdown of each item…
In this velocity and accuracy Field Test Shooting Video of the EMG SAI BLU Blowback CO2 Airsoft Pistol, I test out what the velocity is in feet per second (FPS) using a brand new 12 gram CO2 loading up .20 gram plastic 6mm Airsoft BB’s by shooting 5 rounds through my trusted Chronograph. Salient Arms claims 375 to 390 fps which is on the higher side for many blowback Airsoft Pistols. I then setup a fresh paper target 30 feet down range here in the Replcia Airguns Sea Can, and shoot 10 rounds at it using a semi rested shooting position to find out how the EMG SAI BLU Blowback CO2 Airsoft Pistol shoots in terms of if it is anywhere near the bullseye out of the box and if it can get a decently tight grouping. If you have not already watched my Table Top Video Review for the EMG SAI BLU, then make sure to watch it for details, specifications and some nice close up 4k video.
First up in my Field Test of my velocity test of the EMG SAI BLU Blowback CO2 Airsoft Pistol, I shot my standard 5 rounds through the Chronograph and then averaged them out. The slowest shot was 392 fps while the fastest shot hit 399 fps, this averaged 395 fps which was slightly higher than the claimed maximum of 390! Temperature was maybe a bit under 20 degrees Celsius, I would say closer to 18 or 19 which is in the low to mid 60’s or so degrees Fahrenheit, so it is possible for the EMG SAI BLU Blowback CO2 Airsoft Pistol to hit even higher fps velocity in warmer temperatures.
I then set things up for the accuracy portion of this test and placed a fresh paper target 30 feet downrange, using a semi rested shooting position (hands rested on a sandbag up front and sitting on a stool in the back) I proceeded to place 10 rounds into the target with the EMG SAI BLU Airsoft Pistol. The EMG SAI BLU Blowback CO2 Airsoft Pistol did end up shooting fairly well centered on the target with some rounds even entering the bullseye for me. I found it shot just slightly to the right but not by much, in terms of elevation it averaged right in the center. The grouping for the 10 rounds was about 3 inches total but I feel the .20 gram BB’s where a bit of a light choice for this Airsoft Pistol as the velocity is higher than some and a heavier Airsoft BB’s would have probably gotten me better results.
I really enjoyed shooting the EMG SAI BLU Blowback CO2 Airsoft Pistol. Everything about it feels really good, the single action trigger is perfect, nice and short, light and crisp, the slide has such a snappy response to it with more blowback feel than I was expecting for a lighter slide. The overall feel and weight of the gun just feels good in the hand, not too heavy or light, the perfect weight to pack around as a dedicated sidearm for sure. It also has that Glock look and feel to it but with its own unique look so you won’t be just another dude with a Glock, not that that’s a bad thing but it does get a bit boring… The EMG SAI BLU Blowback CO2 Airsoft Pistol is a premium Airsoft Pistol so you will pay a bit more but you will get a really nice gun in terms of looks, originality and performance.
Type: GBB Airsoft Pistol. Manufacturer: Distributed by EMG. Model:SAI BLU. Materials: Metal and plastic. Weight: 1.3 pounds (570 grams). Total Length: 8.5 inches (216mm). Barrel: 4 inches (102mm) metal rifled. Propulsion: CO2 x1. Action: Semi auto Blowback, SAO trigger. Ammunition Type: 6mm Airsoft BB’s. Ammunition Capacity: 25. FPS: Claimed 375-390.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the EMG SAI BLU Blowback CO2 Airsoft Pistol like a Glock is single action only and it is very light and short, perhaps lighter and shorter than a Glock trigger in my opinion. The EMG SAI BLU does have a working trigger safety similar to a Glock and for storage there is also a serial number switch located just in front of the trigger guard where you would expect it to be.
Accuracy: I have not made my Field test Shooting Video or even tested out the EMG SAI BLU Blowback CO2 Airsoft Pistol so far so I can not comment on the performance other than the claimed velocity of (375-390 fps). My plan is to have this info available next week when I make my Field test Shooting Video so stay posted of that video coming up shortly…
Build Quality: The EMG SAI BLU Blowback CO2 Airsoft Pistol is very well made with quality materials throughout. You will find a machined aluminum slide with lightening cuts, aggressive slide serrations with SAI rollmarks, an injected moulded polymer frame and a full metal drop out magazine. The SAI brass color removable back-strap and magazine release are also made out of metal and the backstop can be swapped out for other sizes but you will have to acquire those on your own.
Realism: The EMG SAI BLU Blowback CO2 Airsoft Pistol is custom designed and built by Salient Arms to fill the void between M&P ergonomics and Glock reliability. So it is not an exact replica but it does share its looks to a certain degree with a Glock, but I am sure Salient Arms did there best to not cross any lines in terms of infringement on other product designs. In terms of realistic operation the EMG SAI BLU functions and operates as you would expect a real steel pistol like it is designed around to operate.
Pros:
Nice light and short single action trigger.
Fit and finish is excellent, with qaulity build materials.
Fairly light weight pistol, easy side arm to pack around ready when you need it.
Fiber optic front sight for quick and easy shot placements.
Frame integrated 20mm accessory rail is ideal for mounting weapon lights and other accessories.
Threaded, fluted SAI style outer barrel (EMG SAI licensed proprietary convex thread cap included)
SAI brass color removable backstrap and magazine release for added weight to enhance balance while shooting.
Full size metal magazine holds the CO2 and 25 Airsoft BB’s which adds additional weight and balance.
Most mechanical parts work just like a steel version of this style of modern semi auto pistol.
Unique individualized serial number laser-engraved on every model.
Very snappy and responsive slide action.
Machined aluminum slide with lightening cuts, aggressive slide serrations with SAI rollmarks.
Cons:
Mine did not come with the EMG SAI licensed proprietary convex thread barrel cap .
Will need to purchase additional back straps separately if required.
Price is a bit on the higher side.
Comments:
The EMG SAI BLU Blowback CO2 Airsoft Pistol is a really well designed and built pistol and may be an option for someone looking for a Glock but that maybe want’s to have a more unique pistol with many of the features and benefits a Glock offers. I’m not sure I like the brass/gold highlights but I would say it is not over the top. I am especially impressed with how smooth the slide cycle feels, how snappy the return is and the spring feels the perfect amount. I am expecting when I load a 12 gram CO2 and actually fire the EMG SAI BLU Blowback CO2 Airsoft Pistol, the blowback operation will be really good! You will pay a bit of a premium for this Airsoft Pistol but it does have premium build and materials in it so it will be worth the slightly higher cost.
In this shooting velocity and accuracy Field Test Video of the Umarex KWA HK USP Match GBB Airsoft Pistol, I test out what the velocity is in fps using propane gas along with .20 gram plastic 6mm Airsoft BB’s by placing 6 rounds through my Chronograph. Umarex claims 365 fps just above the 360 Canada minimum import regulation. I then setup a fresh paper target 30 feet down range in the Sea Can and shoot 10 rounds into it using a semi rested shooting position to find out if the Umarex KWA HK USP Match GBB Airsoft Pistol shoots near the bullseye on the target out of the box and if it can get a decently tight grouping. If you have not already watched my Table Top Video Review for the Umarex KWA HK USP Match GBB Airsoft Pistol, then make sure to do so for details, specifications and some nice close in 4k video.
First, my velocity test of the Umarex KWA HK USP Match GBB Airsoft Pistol, I shot 6 rounds through my Chronograph and then averaged them all out. The slowest shot was 354 fps while the fastest shot hit 378 fps, this averaged 362 fps which was really close to the Umarex claim of 365 fps. Temperature was maybe a bit under 20 degrees Celsius, I would say closer to 17 or 18 which is in the low 60’s or so degrees Fahrenheit, so I would expect a bit higher fps velocity in warmer temperatures, maybe as high as 380 or so…
As promised, I then placed a fresh paper target 30 feet downrange and using a semi rested shooting position (hands rested on a sandbag up front and sitting on a stool in the back - works for me). I proceeded to place 10 rounds into the target with the Umarex KWA HK USP Match GBB Airsoft Pistol, and was a bit surprised at what I saw when I went up to the target. I would say the grouping was around 6 inches which is not what I expected from this quality of Match Grade Airsoft Pistol. it should of easily broke 2 inches? The bulk of the shots did shoot within 2 inches and very close to the bullseye I might add, but 2 shots went high and 2 shots went low making the grouping a lot larger unfortunately. Perhaps a heavier Airsoft BB is what this Airgun needs as I think it has a lot more potential than it showed me here today.
You never know what to expect when making a Filed Test Shooting Video. Some low cost basic shooters end up performing really well and surprising me. In this case I was a bit underwhelmed by the Umarex KWA HK USP Match GBB Airsoft Pistol, at least in terms of the accuracy portion of the test. In terms of velocity it was bang on, and I love the way it shoots and feels, the blowback is steady and crips and the trigger feels really good. Again I am hoping the accuracy results were more about ammo choice as I can see it really wanted to place Airsoft BB’s near the bullseye and in that under 2 inch grouping, but it struggled perhaps with my light weight ammo choice. All around I think the Umarex KWA HK USP Match GBB Airsoft Pistol is a great option, you just need to work with it a little bit and find out what it likes to shoot.
Type: GBB Airsoft Pistol. Manufacturer: Distributed by Umarex - Manufactured by KWA. Model:HK USP Match Materials: Metal and plastic. Weight: 2.45 pounds (1120 grams). Total Length: 9.5 inches (242mm). Barrel: 4.5 inches (114mm) metal rifled. Propulsion: Green Gas. Action: Semi auto Blowback, SA DA trigger. Ammunition Type: 6mm Airsoft BB’s. Ammunition Capacity: 28. FPS: Claimed 365.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Umarex KWA HK USP Match GBB Airsoft Pistol is nice in both single and double action. Most of the time you will be shooting in single action as once the blowback action kicks in the slide cycle will pre-cock the hammer allowing for short light single action trigger pulls. You can de-cock this pistol dropping the hammer, at that point your next shot will be in double action until the blowback action again pre-cocks the hammer for you. Both single and double action on this pistol feel good with single action being shorter and lighter while the double action is still very usable.
Accuracy: I have yet to shoot the Umarex KWA HK USP Match GBB Airsoft Pistol or perform my standard Field Test shooting Video so I can not comment on the performance other than what Umarex claimes in terms of velocity (365 fps). I expect the Umarex KWA HK USP Match to perform well as it is a competition style pistol with fully adjustable sights. So even if it shoots bit off out of the box I can dial it in closer to the bulls eye with a simple turn of the sight adjustment screws. This Airsoft gun has a really nice weight and feel in the hand and is really well balance so that should help out with accuracy but we will find out soon enough…
Build Quality: The Umarex KWA HK USP Match GBB Airsoft Pistol is a quality product all around with Metal and Polymer construction. You will find a machined aluminum alloy slide, CNC machined aluminum compensator weight and an injection molded polymer frame. Fit and finishes is very good which is what I find with most KWA built products. Internally this product KWA utilizes the NS2 gas blowback system that provides excellent gas efficiency and performance.
Realism: The Umarex KWA HK USP Match GBB Airsoft Pistol is as close to the real steel version as you can get with an Airsoft Pistol replicating looks and function very closely. It has full blowback action with all the mechanical parts operating as they would on the real steel version. Metal parts and plastic parts are found in all the same places and you can fully field strip the Umarex KWA HK USP Match GBB Airsoft Pistol just like the .45 caliber version.
Pros:
Single and double action trigger with a nice light short single action trigger.
Fit and finish is excellent, top notch build materials.
This pistol is pretty heavy at almost 2.5 pounds!
Extremely close replica of the real steel HK USP Match in both looks and function.
Decently priced for a quality Airgun.
Fully adjustable match grade sights.
I like the look of the compensator extension and flared magwell.
Full ambidextrous controls.
Full size metal magazine holds the Gas and 28 Airsoft BB’s which adds additional weight and balance.
Most Mechanical parts work just like the real steel version and can be field stripped with a bit of work.
No need to field strip to adjust the hop-up as a tool is included for that.
Heavy slide spring with fast blowback action, great for action shooting.
Licensing all over this gun true to the real steel version.
Cons:
Has a painted on orange tip.
Not super easy to filed strip
May be a bit heavy and bulky for some people.
Comments:
The Umarex KWA HK USP Match GBB Airsoft Pistol is on the larger size and may not be for everyone but if you don’t mind a beefier Airsoft Pistol, you will get a lot from this one. It almost has a bit of that RoboCop look to it which I don’t mind. You also have a lot of control over this Airsoft Pistol with full ambidextrous controls, fully adjustable sights and both a single and double action trigger. And then there is the compensator, it does look cool but I am not really sure how much it is going to improve shooting this gun if any. For the price you do get a lot with the Umarex KWA HK USP Match GBB Airsoft Pistol.
Type:Blowback BB Pistol. Manufacturer: Made and Distributed by ASG. Model:CZ 75 SP-01 Shadow. Materials: Mostly all Metal. Weight: 2.37 pounds (1076 grams). Barrel: 4.5 inches (114mm) metal non-rifled. Total Length: 8.26 inch (210mm). Propulsion: 1 x Co2. Action: Semi auto blowback, single & double action trigger. Ammunition Type: 4.5mm steel BB's. Ammunition Capacity: 17 round drop out full size metal magazine. FPS: Claimed 312.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the ASG CZ 75 SP-01 Shadow Blowback CO2 BB Pistol is both single and double action, by either pulling the slide or hammer back you engage the single action trigger which is nice and short and light with a medium take-up. You will need to pull the slide back to load a BB into the breach area for your first shot or you will simply be shooting CO2 on that first shot. If you drop the hammer down once a BB is in the breach, you can shoot in double action which is much heavier but it is fairly smooth without any noticeable sticking points.
Accuracy: I have not shot the ASG CZ 75 SP-01 Shadow Blowback CO2 BB Pistol or made my Field Test Shooting Video for it, that will happen next week. So for now I can not comment on the true velocity or accuracy of this product. It is very well made so I expect it to perform like most Full Blowback CO2 BB pistols which means it should shoot around a 1-2 inch 10 shot grouping at 30 feet away, and I expect it to achieve a velocity close to the manufacturers claimed fps, so around 300 fps or just above. We will find out for sure next week!
Build Quality: TheASG CZ 75 SP-01 Shadow Blowback CO2 BB Pistol is distributed by ASG but I am not 100% sure who makes it for them. I feel it could be either KJWorks or KWA. In either case both companies make very high quality Airguns and that is present with the ASG CZ 75 SP-01 Shadow Blowback CO2 BB Pistol. Fit and finish are excellent and the entire gun is virtually all metal. It weighs in at almost 2.5 ponds and has a very solid feel to it.
Realism: The ASG CZ 75 SP-01 Shadow Blowback CO2 BB Pistol is a 1 to 1 copy of the real steel CZ 75 SP-01 Shadow and side by side it would be very hard to tell them apart. It features full blowback operation and can by fully field stripped. All the mechanical parts work like the real steel version adding to the realism of shooting this CO2 Blowback BB Pistol. Again it is almost all metal which not only helps it look the part, but also feel the part. It is a very realistic replica and to make it even more believable, ASG has provide the CZ licensing to add all the correct markings to this product.
Pros:
Single and double action trigger with a nice light short single action trigger.
Fit and finish is excellent, very little slide wiggle, all metal build.
This pistol is pretty heavy at just under 2.5 pounds!
Extremely close replica of the real steel CZ SP-01 Shadow in both looks and function.
Well priced for a quality Airgun.
Fiber optic front sight helps with quick target acquisition.
I like the stainless barrel, it won’t be as prone to scratches and wear marks.
Deep recessed barrel for added realism.
Full size 17 round metal magazine holds the CO2 and BB’s and adds additional weight.
Rail for adding accessories like a laser or tac light.
Most mechanical parts work just like the steel version and can be easily field stripped to access the hop-up.
Heavy slide spring with fast blowback action, great for action shooting.
Licensing all over this gun, true to the real steel version.
Cons:
Rear sight is not adjustable.
FPS is perhaps a bit low at 312?
May be a bit heavy for some people.
Comments:
I am pretty sure that the ASG CZ 75 SP-01 Shadow Blowback CO2 BB Pistol started out life as a 6mm Airsoft Pistol, and then this version was simply converted over to shoot 4.5mm Steel BB’s by more than likely swapping out the barrel, perhaps changing the nozzle and modifying the magazine to allow for 4.5mm BB’s over the 6mm Airsoft BB’s. And that is OK with me as I really like how Full Blowback Airsoft Pistols recreate that realistic shooting experience. The downside to all of this is a bit of a perforce hit since Full Blowback Airsoft Pistols use up a lot of CO2 to create that full heavy blowback experience. You also lose some power along the way. I am fine with that but some people may not be. Overall I really like the ASG CZ 75 SP-01 Shadow Blowback CO2 BB Pistol. It is high quality and looks awesome. Now I just need to find out how it shoots :)
I’ve got some new Airguns to show everyone today and all of them are Pistols of some sort or another. I show you three 4.5mm BB Pistols from ASG, a Cybergun 1911 NBB BB Pistol, an Airsoft Full Blowback Pistol from EMG and lastly from Umarex, an HK Full Blowback Airsoft Pistol. This is not a full review by any means, the video is mainly to let you know what is coming up in terms of Table Top and Field Test Videos and that we do have these products at least listed in our Replica Airgun Store.
This year at the KWA Booth I had the pleasure of running into John, and we went over a bunch of new items KWA had on display. John was even rocking a similar pair of Ray Ban Meta AI Glasses which made us look a little bit like twins…
In this KWA SHOT Show Interview John higgled the following products from KWA: The KWA ATP-Z and ATP-CT Optics Ready GBB AIrsoft Pistols which are convertible to SMG versions, along with a new prototype TAC-9 GBB Airsoft Rifle.
KWA AIrsoft products have always been one of favoriteAirsoft guns for their quality, looks and performance. They tend to offer a lot of Gas Blowback options which I really appreciate as a Replica AIrgun Collector.
It’s alwasy nice to have a chat with Bob at ASG, I have been interviewing him for years now and really missed not being at SHOT Show the last three years. As always, Bob really knows the ASG product line inside and out and took us through some of the new products and changes to the ASG lineup in 2024.
Some of the products include: The ASG CZ P-10 C CO2 Blowback Airsoft Pistol, the Steyr L9-A2 CO2/Gas Blowback Airsoft Pistol, the USW Gas Blowback Airsoft Pistol, the new Hybrid Airsoft line including the CO2 Blowback H-22 and the AEG H-15, the ICS Ape SE AEG Airsoft Rifle, and lastly the ICS Carnotaurus, Legacy, ACME High-Capa Pistol Series.
I am looking forward to get my hands-on many of these new ASG products and making reviews for everyone to checkout in the near future…
I’m pretty sure I have never made an Interview for Barra before in any of my past SHOT Show Videos, so I was really happy when I visited their booth and discovered a bunch of really great new products to talk about with GEO. Like many other Airgun companies, Barra does incorporate rebranded products from other manufacturer popular Airguns, but they also have some unique products I have never seen before. They are either working really closely with dedicated manufacturing companies or making these items in house. Either way it’s great to see new and interesting products.
Some of the products Geo went over with me in this SHOT Show 2024 Barra Interview where: The Barra CO2 1866 Lever Action Rifle, some Rifled Pellet Barrel Kits for the Schofield Revolver and 1866 Rifle, the 1858 CO2 BB Revolver, the 357 Shell Loading CO2 Revolver, the 400 AEG Airsoft Rifle and two new nameless Airguns they are still working on and perfecting, a full Blowback Competition Style BB/Airsoft Pistol and a compact AEG Airsoft Rifle.
It was great talking with the team over at the Barra Booth and I look forward to testing out their new items as they become available.
