Type: Blowback BB Pistol Manufacturer: Crosman Model:Night Stalker Materials: Metal and Plastic. Weight: 1.6 pounds (726 grams). Barrel: 4.75 inches rifled. Length: 7 inches. Propulsion: CO2 x 1 Action: Blowback , single action only trigger. Ammunition Type: 4.5mm Steel BB's. Ammunition Capacity: 20 Rounds. FPS: 420.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Crosman Night Stalker CO2 Blowback BB Pistol with Laser is single action only and therefor is fairly light in general. It does have a longer take-up then most single action only triggers but has a predictable and crisp release to it. You will need to rack the slide for the first shot in order to pre-cock the hammer but then the blowback action takes over this process for you.
Accuracy: I actually have performed my Field Test Shooting Video for the Crosman Night Stalker CO2 Blowback BB Pistol with Laser and in terms of power I did manage to get really close to the claimed 420 fps with my results being 405 in medium warm temperatures. Accuracy was not as goods as I was hoping for with a 10 shot grouping of around 3 inches. It would have been nice to get closer to a 2 inch grouping. The laser will need to be adjusted out of the box to line up the aim point with the shot placement.
Build Quality: The build quality for the Crosman Night Stalker CO2 Blowback BB Pistol with Laser is good overall, the Airgun feels really solid in the hand and even though it is not super heavy it is also not a large Airguns so it feels solid enough being mostly made out of metal. You will find it has a metal slide, frame, trigger, hammer and also the stick magazine giving the Crosman Night Stalker CO2 Blowback BB Pistol with Laser a nice balance to it. Fit and finish is also good with only a little bit of slide wiggle.
Realism: The Crosman Night Stalker CO2 Blowback BB Pistol with Laser is not an exact replace of any real steel gun in production that I know of but it does kind of look like a larger Walther PPK that is a bit more squared off and modernized. I would say closer in size to a Makarov which also has some PPK looking traits to it. The blowback operation does also help in terms of realism but it is very snappy and quick, almost too fast for the eye to see.
Pros:
Pretty much all metal gun feels good in the hand.
Snappy blowback operation.
Decent single action trigger (has a bit of take-up but fairly light release).
Comes with integrated laser which is easy to sight in using the supplied Allen key.
Stick mag is all metal with good weight to it.
Laser does not impede the rail so you can still add on accessories..
White dot sight on the back sight.
Cons:
Sights are not adjustable but laser is.
Blowback feel is very slight.
CO2 tab is slightly exposed.
Stick mag rather than full size magazine.
Comments: I do really like the look and feel of the Crosman Night Stalker CO2 Blowback BB Pistol with Laser, it has a nice size and weight to it and balances nicely in the hand. The integrated laser keeps this airguns streamline and even allows for the addition of a tac light or other rail accessory to be added. Blowbacks action is slight but does allow for single action only trigger which makes it lighter than a double action trigger and more responsive for action shooting. The Velocity is up and into the 400 fps range which is good for a blowback CO2 BB Pistol, I would just like to see the accuracy tighten up a little bit but perhaps my test results could be improved with more trigger time using the Crosman Night Stalker CO2 Blowback BB Pistol.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Umarex Beretta CX4 Storm and the Crosman Night Stalker are both pretty decent and weigh in at 8.5 pounds for the Beretta CX4 and 7 pounds for the NightStalker. This is a bit surprising since the Umarex Beretta trigger only releases the action while the Crosman NightStalker has to rotate the 12 shot magazine with each trigger pull.
Accuracy: This is still to be determines in a later field test review but from my past shooting experiences with both these guns I found them to be pretty good and even though the Crosman NightStalker is a far cheaper built and priced gun then the Umarex CX4 Storm, I think it may have the edge on the German made counterpart.
Build Quality: Both of these Beretta CX4 Storm looking guns have plastic shells with internal metal parts but they are night and day when comparing the build quality. Don't get me wrong, the night Stalker is not a badly built rifle but when sitting side by side with the Umarex CX4 Storm, you can really see the extra quality that went in to the German made Umarex version. It has much heavier and thicker materials and the fit and finish is excellent, pretty much what you would expect to see on the real Beretta CX4 Storm.
Realism:The Umarex Beretta CX4 Storm is obviously a replica of the real steel Beretta CX4 Storm and it really is an excellent replica in almost every way with the excepetion of the screw holes one side. The pellet shooting version even includes the hard shell case that looks to be the same one the real CX4 comes with. So what about the NightStalker? The Crosman NightStalker is a look-a-like for the replica Beretta CX4 Storm but not really a replica. It still looks very good and makes for a a decent rifle if your looking for something that has that CX4 Storm look and feel.
Purchased From: Private Sale.
Pros for Umarex Beretta CX4 Storm:
Very well made - made in Germany.
Almost perfect replica with lots of detail.
Comes in a nice hard-shell case.
Adjustable sights for windage and elevation.
Has built in picatinny top rail.
Large capacity 30 rounds belt-fed pistol grip loading magazine just like the real CX4 Storm.
True Blowback operation.
Lots of shots per 88 gram CO2.
Pros for Crosman NightStalker:
Made in the USA.
Inexpensive yet a very respectable shooter.
Adjustable sights for windage and elevation.
Can mount rails for sights and add on accessories.
Decent capacity 12 round rotary magazine.
Lots of shots per 88 gram CO2.
Cons for Umarex Beretta CX4 Storm:
A bit on the expensive side!
Canadian detuned version is very underpowered.
Trigger pull is a bit hard for a true blowback gun.
Cons for Crosman NightStalker:
Kind of simple and basic in design!
Canadian detuned version is very underpowered.
Would have been nice if it came with a top rail of remounting a scope.
12 shot magazine a bit tricky to load till you get used to it.
Comments:
I don't do a lot of rifle reviews as there seems to be a lot less replica air rifles when compared to the vast amounts of replica air pistols available. So it's kind of nice to have these two air rifles that I can show you. Of course if money was no object, then I would recommend the Umarex Beretta CX4 Storm over the Crosman NightStalker especially since the NightStalker does not seem to be in production anymore - kind of a shame since it is really a very respectable multi-shot blowback air rifle for the money. Neither one of these air rifles are made for hunting but I suppose if you have the non-Canadian version that have not been detuned then they may have enough power for small pests. Either way these guns are meant for fun times, and they are fun to shoot rapid fire on targets so if you want a very believable CX4 Storm for a lot less money then the real steel version not only to buy but shoot, then look no further...
