Make sure to also checkout my Table Top Comparison Review for the Umarex SA177 and Umarex 9XP!

I wanted to not only do my Field Test Shooting review for the Umarex 9XP Blowback CO2 BB Pistol but also compare it to the discontinued Umarex SA177 since both guns share most of their internal parts. I had a good idea that both airguns would perform very similarly with perhaps the newer 9XP having the edge due to it being almost 5 years newer.

A with all my current BB Pistol Field Test Shooting Reviews, I test out the real world Feet Per Second performance by shooting 5 rounds through my Chronograph to see what they average out at, of course I use a brand new CO2 for this and my choice of BB was RWS Zinc coated 5.1 grain Steel BB's.

I started out testing the Umarex SA177 to use as my baseline and after about 5 warmup shots, the SA177 came back to life after sitting on the shelf for many years un-shot. My 5 shot string averaged a respectable 397 fps which is pretty good for a blowback pistol!

I then moved on to the newer Umarex 9XP CO2 Blowback Pistol and right away it popped out all 5 shots at over 400 fps with an average of 412 for my 5 shot string. Not only was the Umarex 9XP more powerful but it also had a snappier blowback action and was louder than the SA177 leading me to believe the CO2 valve may be setup to let out a bit more CO2 with each shot.

Stepping back 30 feet from my paper target I proceeded to again first test out the Umarex SA177 for the accuracy portion of this field test. I used my standard semi rested shooting stance, (sand bag up front, standing in the back) since it offers me a pretty stable shooting platform. I generally like to shoot 10 rounds into the paper target but the SA177 for some reason was having some slide lock back issues and I lost a BB in the process. Later on when I reloaded my SA177 I did not have this same problem so I am not sure what was going on. Even though the slide was locking back on some shots it did not really seem to effect the accuracy all that much. I got a main grouping that was about 1.5 inches in diameter and then a couple shots went out of that group extending the diameter to about 2.5 to 3 inches. Still pretty good for a blowback pistol. The shots where fairly well centered on the target.

When I performed the same test using my Umarex 9XP, I did not have any slide lock back issues and was able to get all 10 shot on target although one mystery shot did not seem to make a hole at all even though I clearly heard it fire and hit the target, perhaps it went exactly through an already existing hole? Either way I had a nice 5-6 shot group dead center on the target well under a 1 inch diameter and then 4 shots came outside extending the grouping to about 2 inches, again another well centered grouping!

In conclusion the Umarex 9XP Blowback CO2 BB Pistol is a nice replacement for the SA177, it performs very similarly to the SA177, even perhaps a bit better! To me it felt like the trigger on the Umarex 9XP was a bit heavier than the SA177 but not by much? Maybe the 9XP hammer spring is heavier which would explain the increase in fps. SO if you have been wanting an SA177 but can not find one used, grab yourself one of the Umarex 9XP's, you will not be disappointed :)

Buy the Umarex 9XP in Canada

Buy the Umarex 9XP in the US

A few years back the Umarex SA177 disappeared off the face of the earth, well not really, it simply juts stopped being made and fairly quickly retailers ran out of stock... As with anything that people want but can not get any more, the demand went up and all of a sudden everyone seemed to want to get their hand on an Umarex SA177 Blowback BB Pistol.

You might ask why Umarex stopped making what at the time was a fairly popular CO2 BB Pistol? Well if you know anything about Glock, they do not like it all that much when a company makes a product that they feel infringes upon their intellectual properties and copy writes. Did the SA177 look like a Glock, well sure it had some similarities and perhaps Glock felt it was a bit too similar and so may have kindly asked Umarex to stop making it? At least that's what I think happened :)

So that brings us to now. And a new gun on the market called the Umarex 9XP that in many ways is a lot like the SA177 but with a slightly new skin on it, one that differentiates itself a bit more from the traditional Glock look. Sure the Umarex 9XP Blowback BB Pistol has a some Glock looking properties but it am guessing it has enough subtle changes to make the lawyers over at Glock HQ happy enough to allow Umarex to again sell an airgun very similar to the SA177.

Internally and mechanically as far as I can tell the Umarex SA177 and Umarex 9XP are the same and so they should both perform very similarly too each other and with pretty much all the same specifications. Even the magazines seem to be interchangeable! The trigger and trigger pull look to be identical and even the slide catch release are modeled after each other. Again, the only difference are some minor cosmetic changes to the metal slide and polymer frame.

So if you have been looking to get your hands on an SA177, well the next best or perhaps even better airgun is now available in the new Umarex 9XP! And the price is all right too!

Buy the Umarex 9XP in Canada

Some "not so new" CO2 Blowback 4.5mm Steel BB Pistols from Umarex, but still popular Replica BB guns that have received a lot of attention and to be honest have to date not had a real "proper" Field Test. So why not put the Umarex SA177 and Umarex HPP side by side for yet another installment of Head to Head Shootouts!

Right off the bat I have to say that one of these very fine Blowback Air Pistols has been retired by Umarex. Word on the street is that some suits from a company that sell real steel semi auto pistols that kind of share a similarity to the Umarex SA177 may have applied some pressure to Umarex and somehow the mold got broken and guess what... No more Umarex SA177's :(

On a positive note, you can still get the Umarex HPP which in my opinion was always a better shooter with a much heavier and snappier blowback along with a very smooth trigger. And yes we have it the HPP for sale in our Canada and US Replica Airguns Stores.

Getting back to this Field Test Head to Head Shootout for the Umarex SA177 and HPP CO2 Blowback 4.5mm Steel BB Pistols. I tested them both out on the Chronograph shooting 5 rounds in each gun using a brand new 12 gram CO2 in combination with 5.1 grain Umarex Zinc Coated Steel BB's. The SA177 average a bit higher at 395 fps while the HPP came in just a hair lower at a respectable 372 fps average.

In terms of accuracy from 30 feet out using a semi rested position (sand bag in the front, standing in the back), Both guns wanted to shoot just a bit to the left and they both had a definite internal tighter group that was about 1.5 inches with some strays that came outside opening the groups up to around 3 inches or so. Both BB Air Pistols worked flawlessly with no problems, again the Umarex HPP for me was more enjoyable to shoot with it's heavy blowback and lighter trigger over the SA177. You can also expect to get around 100 or even more shots out of a single CO2 cartridge.

Make sure to checkout my initial Table Top comparison video for these two Umarex Blowback BB Pistols, it goes back a few years for sure :)

Buy Umarex HPP gun in Canada   -   Buy Umarex HPP in the US

So what is the best way to describe the Umarex T.A.C. Converter? Well it converts several Umarex pistols into more of a PDW (Personal Defense Weapon). It's an accessory with a built in folding stock, included for-grip that also allows you to add other accessories to it converting your basic pistol into just about any configuration of tactical gun you can dream up! Add lasers, tac-lights, red dots, optical sights, flip up sights or what ever else you can think of...

The Umarex T.A.C. Converter works with the following Umarex pistols: The H&K USP, the S&W M&P40, the XBG, the CZ Enforcer, the Walther P99 DAO and the SA177. It currently does not work with any other pistols as you need to use the required adaptors that are specific to each gun. I suppose it is possible Umarex could make adaptors for other guns, only time will tell?

In my below Vimeo video, I show you the Umarex T.A.C. Converter with my Umarex SA177 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol installed, I also show you how to take out the pistol and then I walk you through the installation of my Walther P99 DOA CO2 Blowback Airsoft Pistol that is designed to fit into the T.A.C. Converter.

The Umarex T.A.C. Converter is a neat concept from Umarex that allows air-gunners to take an already existing umarex air pistol or one they plan to get and create something entirely different and new.

Buy Umarex TAC Converter in the Canada Store

Buy Umarex TAC Converter in the US Store

After what seemed like an eternity, I finally caved in to popular demand and brought the very Glock-like Umarex SA177 Blowback BB Pistol to the Replica Airguns Store!

I stepped it up a notch and have included not just one but two magazines with every SA177 so you can practice your quick magazine changes and just keep on shooting :) After all, isn't that what you really want to do?

Here 's some more info on the SA177 from Umarex:

The Umarex SA177 BB Repeater is modeled after the popular Glock carry pistol widely used by governmental agencies, and it uses blowback action to simulate a real firearm. The metal slide and integrated accessory rail add to the overall realism of this gun. A drop-out metal magazine houses the CO2 and 19 BBs for the air pistol. The fiber optic sights and ergonomic grips allow for accurate and comfortable shooting at up to 400 fps velocity which is very high for a gun in this price range and with blowback functionality.

• 4.5mm BB
• CO2 Powered
• 19 round metal magazine
• 400 fps
• 1.5 pounds
• 4.1 inch steel non-rifled barrel
• Double action
• Blowback
• Metal slide - polymer frame
• Tactical Rail Mount
• Fiber optic sights
• Comes with two magazines

Buy this gun in Canada   -   Buy this gun in the US

Another popular CO2 Blowback BB pistol is the Umarex SA177. It looks very much like a Glock but without the Glock licensing. I also reviewed this Umarex product a while back before I had my Chrony Chronograph and so as with many of my guns I put this well priced CO2 BB replica to the Chrony test to find out its real world feet per second rating.

The Umarex SA177 had a claimed FPS of 400 and when I shot an 8 shot test through my Chrony Chronograph I got a 392 FPS average reading! Very close to the manufacturers stated FPS, and my testing was not on the warmest of days so this CO2 air gun may even do better on a warm summer day.

I also took another 8 shots on a target from 20 feet back in a free standing position to see what kind of results I would get with the Umarex SA177 and it did surprisingly well, the first 7 shots got a nice tight 1.5 inch group but the last shot got away on me just a bit.

Near the end of the YouTube video I bring out my Casio High Speed camera and shot my Umarex SA177 in action at 210 frames per second, you can really see the blowback of the slide and realistic recoil effect a blowback gun offers.

Enjoy my Vimeo Video of the Umarex SA177 CO2 BB gun getting Chronographed, shooting at a target and slowed down a bit with my High Speed Camera.

Buy this gun in Canada

   -   

Buy this gun in the US

(Photo curtesy of www.co2airguns.net)

Related Posts:

• UMAREX H.P.P AND SA177 COMPARISON/REVIEW

Type: BB air pistol.

Manufacturer: Umarex.

Model:SA177.

Materials: Metal Slide and Polymer Frame.

Weight: 1.5 pounds.

Barrel: 4.1 inches, steel, non-rifled.

Propulsion: CO2 x1.

Action: Semi auto blowback, double action.

Ammunition Type: Steel BBs 4.5mm.

Ammunition Capacity: 19 rounds

FPS: 400

Trigger Pull: This gun has a heavy trigger pull, the first 3/4 of the trigger pull actuates the hammer with a noticeable click when the hammer is all the way back and ready to fire. The last part of the trigger pull is much lighter. With practice you will be able to engage the hammer and then fire the gun in a kind of simulated single action mode.

Accuracy: Medium.

Build Quality: In its price range this air gun offers good build quality and value, it feels solid and well built, even the magazine is metal.

Realism: Even though this gun is not an actual licensed copy of a Glock 17C, it does resemble one very closely. There is good detail with a cut-out ejection port, concealed CO2 cartridge, trigger safety, and realistic larger barrel opening, making this Replica Airgun look very close to the genuine Glock.

Purchased this gun from: The Replica Airguns Store

Pros:

• Well priced for what you get.

• Metal and Polymer construction like the real Glock.

• Would make an excellent training gun as it functions and looks much like the real Glock handgun.

• Good realism: Cut out slide ejection port, large barrel opening, concealed CO2 with flush magazine, safety on trigger.

• Nice fiber optic sights.

• Has good power to CO2 usage ratio, can get around 100 shots per CO2 cartridge.

• Picatinny rail for accessories like Laser sights and tactical lights.

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Cons:

• The trigger pull is a bit heavy making accuracy somewhat hard at first, once you get used to the break point, it gets easier to shoot.

• The slide spring is very light so the snap back is slow, it's not noticeable when you are shooting the airgun but more so when you release the slide with the slide release.

Comments:

I really like this Umarex air gun mostly because they put a lot of attention into the detail making this Glock Replica Blowback BB Airgun a treat to own and shoot. It's priced right so just about anyone can own one and once you get used to the trigger break point it makes for a decently accurate action plinker.

Here is the Vimeo Field Test Video for this Airgun:

Buy BB Guns in Canada

Buy BB Guns in the US

Related Posts:

• UMAREX SA177 CO2 BB AIRGUN - FIELD TEST

• UMAREX HPP CO2 BB AIRGUN - FIELD TEST

I received both of these Umarex blowback BB guns (Umarex H.P.P and the Umarex SA177) about a month ago and so far I have very little to complain about either of them!

Some of the specs:

• Both of them are CO2 powered

• Both of them shoot 4.5mm BB's

• Both of them have blowback action

• Both of them shoot around 400 FPS

• The H.P.P  is styled after the Sig Sauer 266

• The H.P.P is mostly all metal construction

• The H.P.P has a 15 round magazine

• The SA177 is styled after the Glock

• The SA177 has a metal slide and composite frame

• The SA177 has a 19 round magazine

• The SA177 has fiber optic sights

Here is a quick summary of these airguns…

Both of these Umarex airguns are great value for the money and both shoot pretty hard and accurate for blowback styled BB guns. Both have long trigger pulls with the SA177 being a bit on the heavy side. Neither one has a very heavy blowback feel but there is enough blowback to make them responsive and fun to shoot.

The construction on both of these BB airguns is overall very good with the SA177 being more realistic in comparison to the H.P.P. The H.P.P tends to be a more comfortable gun to shoot because of its weighty feel in the hand and lighter trigger pull.

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I highly recommend both of these air guns. If you're looking for realism then get the SA177, and if you want the better shooter of the two, get the H.P.P.

I will be doing a more thorough shooting review with videos for each one of these Umarex blowback CO2 BB guns in the near future so stay tuned!

Here is the Vimeo Video of my Umarex H.P.P and SA177 Comparison/Review:

Buy Umarex HPP gun in Canada

Buy Umarex HPP in the US