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In this Field Test Shooting Review Video I test out both the 3.8 Compact and 4.5 Full Size Air Venturi Springfield Armory XDM Blowback CO2 BB Pistols to see how they perform in both velocity and accuracy. I thought it would be interesting to see how the shorter and longer barreled versions compare side by side and if we sill see a difference in power and down range accuracy…

As always I use a brand new 12 gram CO2 along with 5.1 gran zinc coated steel BB’s for my testing and on this day the temperature in the Sea Can Indoor Airgun range was around 24 degrees Celsius or 75 degrees Fahrenheit.

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Starting with the Chronograph test I placed 5 rounds through each gun and averaged out the result. The 3.8 inch Compact Air Venturi Springfield Armory XDM Blowback CO2 BB Pistol averaged 281 fps while the 4.5 inch Full Size Air Venturi Springfield Armory XDM Blowback CO2 BB Pistol averaged 303 fps. So it looks like the additional .7 inches increases the velocity about 20 fps!

I then shot 10 steel BB’s from each Air Venturi Springfield Armory XDM Blowback CO2 BB Pistol on my paper target setup 30 feet down range using a rested and seated shooting position. The 3.8 Compact Air Venturi Springfield Armory XDM Blowback CO2 BB Pistol shot about a 2 inch grouping but seemed to shoot rather low, just outside the outer rings so about 3-4 inches below the bullseye. Windage was good pretty much dead center left to right on the target.

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I did find the 4.5 Air Venturi Springfield Armory XDM Blowback CO2 BB Pistol to shoot a little bit low as well but not as low as the 3.8 XDM staying inside the rings and about 2 inches below the bullseye, again all within about 2 inches and well center left to right.

At the end of the day both the 3.8 and 4.5 Air Venturi Springfield Armory XDM Blowback CO2 BB Pistols perfumed flawlessly for me with really great SAO triggers and a nice heavy blowback feel giving a noticeable recoil effect. The 3.8 Springfield Armory XDM did shoot a little bit slower as expected and a little bit lower on the target. It all comes down to choice and there are many with the Air Venturi Springfield Armory XDM Blowback Air Pistols. Airsoft or Steel BB, 3.8 inch or 4.5 inch, all black or silver slide. You decide which one is best for you :)

• Buy Springfield Armory XDM Blowback Airguns in the Canada Store

• Buy Springfield Armory XDM Blowback Airguns in the US Store

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For more of a traditional Table Top Features and Specifications video for the Air Venturi Springfield Armory XDM Air Pistol, then watch my Table Top Review for the Airsoft Springfield Armory XDM here.

Since both the 6mm Airsoft and 4.5mm Steel BB Air Venturi Springfield Armory XDM’s are nearly identical with only a few exceptions, I didn’t feel it was necessary to make another almost identical Table Top Video for the Steel BB firing Air Venturi Springfield Armory XDM. Instead I want to focus mainly on the differences in this comparison video.

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Watch my Video for all the main differences but in short here they are for those reading this post:

• Steel BB version uses CO2 while the Airsoft version uses Green Gas or Propane.

• There is no orange tip on the Steel BB version while Airsoft versions come with orange tips installed.

• Steel BB versions have 20 round full length magazines for both the 3.8 and 4.5 inch versions, while the Airsoft 3.8 compact comes with the shorter 14 round magazine and the Airsoft 4.5 comes with a longer 25 round magazine.

• FPS for the Steel BB versions are 270fps for the 3.8 and 325fps for the 4.5, comparably the Airsoft 3.8 is claimed to have 280fps with the 4.5 version a bit higher at 330fps. (Keep in mind that steel BB’s weigh more at around .33 grams compared to the .20 gram plastic Airsoft BB’s used for testing).

• I did notice that on the sliver slide version, my earlier Airsoft 4.5 had more of a parkerized metallic finish while my same Steel BB version I received at a later time had more of brushed stainless look to it. Air Venturi has since informed me that all silver slide version will now have the brushed stainless finish.

• Buy Air Venturi Springfield Armory XDM Airguns in the Canada Store

• Buy Air Venturi Springfield Armory XDM Airguns in the US Store