In this Field Test Shooting Video I test out Crosman’s latest version to the 357 line of CO2 Revolvers and perform both my Velocity and Accuracy test using both .177 caliber Lead Pellets and 4.5mm Steel BB’s to see which ammo has better velocity/power and is most accurate. Also make sure to watch my Table Tope Video Review where I go ver specifications and features and show the Crosman Vigilante CO2 Pellet and BB Revolver up nice and close.
Starting with the velocity portion of my Indoor Field Test Shooting video I placed a brand new 12 gram CO2 into the Crosman Vigilante CO2 Pellet and BB Revolver and tested out some 7 grain .177 caliber Lead Pellets. I was able to average 389 fps in what I would consider normal indoor temperature ranges so you can expect a bit higher velocities in outdoor weather conditions. Moving on the 4.5mm 5.1 grain Steel BB’s, I averaged a bit lower at 360 fps which may seem confusing since the Steel BB’s are lighter than the Lead Pellets? The Lead Pellets fit the barrel much more snug stoping any CO2 from getting around them which helps increase the fps over the Steel BB’s which are a hard metal and need to be slightly smaller in diameter and therefore do let some CO2 get by reducing the pressure behind them.
For my accuracy porting of the the Indoor Field Test I was going to place 6 shots from each magazine into my paper target setup 30 feet down range but ended up using all 10 rounds for the pellet magazine, perhaps because I was just having too much fun :) Since the BB magazine only holds 6 rounds my shot grouping for BB’s only included 6 shots so keep that in mind for the final results. All said and done the Lead Pellets outperformed the Steel BB’s once again getting about a 1.5 inch grouping over the 2.5 inch grouping for the Steel BB’s. And I know the Crosman Vigilante CO2 Pellet and BB Revolver is more than capable of getting a .5 to 1 inch grouping from previous Field Tests I have made using similar 357 type Crosman Revolvers.
The Crosman Vigilante CO2 Pellet and BB Revolver is just one of those must have old school classic Air Pistols I think everyone should own at least some sort of version of. I do like the look of the Vigilante barrel with it’s more modern and aggressive design and functional top and bottom rails for adding on accessories. The ability to choose what ammo type you want to shoot is also a plus and the price point is bang on for a nice CO2 Air powered Revolver.
Type: Pellet & BB Revolver Manufacturer: Crosman Model:Vigilante Materials: Metal and Plastic. Weight: 2 pounds (908 grams). Barrel: 6 inches rifled. Length: 11.36 inches. Propulsion: CO2 x 1 Action: Revolve , single and double action trigger. Ammunition Type: 4.5mm Steel BB's / .177 caliber Pellets. Ammunition Capacity: 6-BB / 10-Pellet round rotary magazines. FPS: 465-BB’s / 435-Pellets.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Crosman Vigilante CO2 Pellet and BB Revolver is rather nice in single action with virtually zero take-up and it has a not too light weight with a predictable feel to it. In double action it does get much longer and heavier but still very usable. If you have larger thicker finger then you may want to start off in single action as the finger opening is a bit tight.
Accuracy: I have not specifically tested out the Crosman Vigilante CO2 Pellet and BB Revolver so far but I would be very surprised if it was any different than the standard Crosman 357 I tested back in 2012. Other than the shape of the outer barrel, both of these guns are virtually the same including the frame and the 6 inch barrels. Back in 2012 when I tested out the Crosman 357 I averaged 402 fps using 6.9 grain pellets and was able to get a 1 inch multi-shot grouping at 30 feet away from my paper target. Not sure if this was the entire 10 round mag or not? I will be making an update Field Test Shooting Video so we will see if I can replicate these results with the Crosman Vigilante CO2 Pellet and BB Revolver.
Build Quality: The Crosman Vigilante CO2 Pellet and BB Revolver is a fairly basic pistol that incorporates a plastic outer barrel and inner steel barrel, the grips are also plastic as expected and so are the magazines and sights. Most everything else is metal including the receiver, trigger and hammer. This line of Crosman 357 pistols has been around for decades so you can expect hours of fun and reliable shooting with it.
Realism: There are for sure a lot more realistic looking Revolvers out there with swing out cylinders that except shells just like their real steel counterparts but where the Crosman Vigilante CO2 Pellet and BB Revolver shines is in performance. You will get more shots per CO2, higher fps and better accuracy with the Crosman Vigilante CO2 Pellet and BB Revolver over other more realistic Revolvers on the market.
Pros:
Inexpensive Pellet revolver with a proven track record that goes back decades.
Good usage of metal parts where you need them most. (Metal trigger, hammer, frame, barrel, CO2 Tab screw
Single and double action trigger for action and more focused shooting.
Excellent accuracy and good power with a reasonable amount of shots per CO2.
Fully adjustable rear sight.
Can mount a bunch of accessories on the picatinny barrel top and bottom rails.
CO2 and CO2 tab are nicely hidden and use all metal.
Comes with both a Pellet and BB magazine.
Cons:
Outer barrel is plastic but very solid. Metal would have added a bit more weight and perhaps better balance?
Grips and trigger pull length may be a bit long for smaller handed people when shooting in double action.
Not your most realistic revolver in terms of replicas out there but I would say more usable than most.
No white dots on the sights.
The Crosman Vigilante CO2 Pellet and BB Revolver is basically a reskinned Crosman 357 at the end of the day but I have to say it is my favorite looking Crosman 357 out there with its aggressive barrel design. And the added bonus are the top and bottom Picatinny rails which make for mounting accessories like Red Dots, Lasers and Tac Lights super easy! if you’re looking for function over realism at a price point that is more than fair then pick yourself up one of the Crosman Vigilante’s from our Replica Airguns Store!
