We recently received some new pistols from KJWorks, The CO2 versions in Full Metal of the Colt 1911, the Berretta M9 and the Berretta M9A1. All of these guns are really well made, the fit and finish is excellent. Definitely a very high quality Airsoft pistol and worth spending a little bit more to get this extra quality. We have even lowered the price on many of our new KJWorks guns to make them even more affordable so check them out in our Canada Replica Airguns Store!
So I made a quick demo preview video where I get away from my table top and go outside to show them off a bit and shoot a few rounds through them at some clay pigeons. I did have some camera issues but you will get a good idea on how these guns look and perform.
Materials: Plastic (polymer) and some metal construction.
Weight: 2.7 pounds (1200 grams).
Length: 27.5 inches (700mm).
Propulsion: Spring.
Action: Pump.
Ammunition Type: 6mm Airsoft BB's
Ammunition Capacity: 30 shots per shell.
FPS: 280 (3 shot burst) using .20 gram BB's.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the ASG Franchi SAS 12 feels a bit heavy at first, but since this is not a rapid fire Airsoft gun and needs to be pumped between shots, your finger does not get tired and you will only get 10 shots (3 shot bursts each) off between reloading another full shell. That said the takeup is rather short and the release is predictable once you get used to it being a bit on the heavy side.
Accuracy: Keeping in mind that the ASG Franchi SAS 12 Spring Powered Airsoft Shotgun is in fact a "Shotgun", I did not expect to get sniper rifle accuracy from it and in fact I wanted the three burst rounds to spread out just a bit, similar to how a real shotgun blast would perform. I was very happy with the overall accuracy and spread I got when shooting from 30 feet out in a free standing position.I simple used the open iron sights and all the rounds seemed to center well and spread out just enough to get good coverage on my paper target. In terms of Feet Per Second performance I was not sure what ot expect since three .20 gram BB's where being shot out all at once. I was very happy to see consistent 280 fps velocities which was actually a bit more than I expected considering .60 grams of Airsoft BB's are being shot out with each shot.
Build Quality: This is an almost all external polymer Airsoft Shotgun with the excepting of the outer and inner barrel and a few other parts like the ring mounts, loading bay door and perhaps a few more internal parts being made out of metals. Overall the ASG Franchi SAS 12 feels solid but a bit on the lighter side. I would of liked to have seen more metal parts to perhaps get the weight up a bit but being that the ASG Franchi SAS 12 Short Barreled Airsoft Shotgun is on the light side makes it a great choice as a backup gun that you could easily sling over your back and not be bothered by it all that much.
Good accuracy and fps performance. BB's spread out just right
Light weight and short so great for packing around in tight quarters.
Full Metal Barrel Assembly.
No need for batteries or gas, just load with BB’s and away you go!
Comes with speed loader, extra shell, jam rod and sling strap.
Can also get it with a full stock.
Cons:
May get a bit tiring on the arm after a lot of repetitive shooting.
Would of been nice to include a few more extra shells.
Sights are none adjustable but it centered well for me
Trigger is a bit on the heavy side.
Comments:
The ASG Franchi SAS 12 Short Barreled Airsoft Shotgun is a super fun low cost Airsoft Pump Action Spring Powered Shotgun that shoots pretty hard considering it blast three rounds at a time and the Airsoft BB's hit their mark every time! It's light enough to use in most close quarter combat situations or even strap on your back as a secondary backup weapon. The best part is all you need is a bag of Airsoft BB's and you can shoot all day long, no need for batteries or gas.
Watch my Vimeo Table Top Review of the ASG Franchi SAS 12 Short Barreled Airsoft Shotgun:
Model: M16A4 with Heavy BRRS (Bolt Recoil Shock System).
Materials: Metal & Nylon.
Weight: 7.7 pounds (3500 grams).
Length: 43 inches (1100mm).
Propulsion: AEG with Heavy BRSS
Action: Semi/full auto, single action.
Ammunition Type: 6mm Plastic Airsoft BB (recommend using undersized BB's).
Ammunition Capacity: 300+ round magazine.
FPS: 360+.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the BOLT Airsoft M16A4 is fairly short and light as it is essentially just an on off switch for the internal electronic components. You can shoot this gun very quickly in semi auto mode, and of course in full auto when full auto position is selected. As is with all AEG rifles there is a bit of a delay while the spring is retracted and released, this is not as noticeable in full auto mode and also when using higher voltage 11.1 volt batteries.
Accuracy: I tested the BOLT M16A4 BRSS Airsoft rifle first on my Chronograph to see what kind of real world fps I would get from it using .20 gram Airsfot BB's. The BOLT M16A4 produced consistent 350 fps shots which is perfect for indoor or outdoor Airsoft events. I then stepped back roughly 30 feet and place 10 rounds on my paper target using a semi rested position and was able to get a nice tight 2 inch grouping. When switching up to full auto mode the grouping pretty much stayed exactly the same, right in that 2 inch pocket.
Build Quality: The Bolt M16A4 AEG Blowback Airsoft Rifle is very well made with a full Metal upper and lower receiver, along with metal and polymer parts exactly where they would be on the real steel version of an actual M16 or AR styled riffle. The only rubber or nylon components are the stock and the grips and perhaps some internal parts. I really could not find anything to complain about other than making sure to use the right sized ammo as the barrel is a true 6mm barrel and so when using actual 6mm BB's they can get jammed up. I had great results when I used 5.95mm Airsfot BB's.
Realism: As with many Airsoft guns, there is great attention to realism and the Bolt Airsoft BRSS M16A4 AEG is another great example of an Airsoft rifle based on the Colt M4 platform. It is an AEG but because of the Heavy BRSS (Bolt Recoil Shock System) you get a very nice compromise between a conventional AEG and a GBB (Gas Blow Back Airsoft) gun. In other words, like a standard AEG I get that endless stream of consistent BB's flying down range on target but unlike a true Gas Blow Back Airsoft gun, I don't get that drop off in power and limitation to about 30 usable rounds per magazine. What I do get similar to a GBB is that recoil action that helps make the shooting experience so much more believable! Even the sound from the Bolt M16A4 is much snapper than a standard AEG and more like a GBB. I also like the fact that the charging handle and forward assist work similarly to a real AR and also the dust cover cleverly exposes the bolt and internal hop-up for easy adjustment along with the bolt cycling just like a GBB rifle would cycle which is similar to a real steel AR.
Pros:
AEG Performance with GBB like Recoil.
Very high quality materials and workmanship throughout.
Lots of forward rails to place accessories on and just looks cool in general.
The fixed classic M16 stock is very comfortable and grows on you over time.
Can shorten the gun by removing the barrel extension if you like.
Can use 11.1V Li-Po or 9.6V Ni-mh or Ni-Cd batteries.
Fully Adjustable Hop-up.
Semi and Full Auto.
Cons:
BRSS system will drain the batteries faster than a standard AEG.
Can not switch out the stock as the BRSS system extends back into it.
Need to use undersized 6mm Airsoft BB’s because of the tight barrel.
Comments:
The BOLT M16A4 AEG Blowback Airsoft Rifle with BRSS Recoil is a great compromise for the avid Airsofter looking for a practical skirmish weapon, but also craving the realistic experience of having blowback with recoil similar to a Gas Blow Back systems. I really like this concept and find it great fun to shoot even if its just for plinking in the yard. The overall quality is very excellent and you just have to love the AR platform it's based on. If you're into customizing you can mix and match many external and internal parts with other existing Airsoft mechanical parts and I would imagine real steel accessories. It's great to be able to use an Airsoft rifle in virtually any weather condition and still get that Gas Blowback Feel but with AEG performance and consistency.
My Vimeo Video Review for the Bolt M16A4 AEG Blowback Airsoft Rifle with BRSS Recoil:
My first impressions with the Bolt M16A4 AEG Blowback Airsoft Rifle where not so good as it was miss feeding and miss firing terribly for me. A quick communication with BOLT Airsoft and I was informed that perhpas my BB choice was the wrong one. The Bolt M16A4 AEG Blowback Airsoft Rifle has a true 6mm barrel so it is a tight fit with BB's that are 6mm since many can actually be a bit larger making them get stuck in the breach area.
BOLT Airsoft suggested I switch my Airsfot BB choice to a slightly under sized 6mm Airsfot BB so I tried some of my 5.95mm Airsoft BB's and all I can say is it was like shooting a different gun. Not only did it feed and shoot perfectly, but the Bolt M16A4 AEG Blowback Airsoft Rifle with Heavy BRSS Recoil also became instantly more accurate for me. The moral of this story is always make sure to use the right ammo in your gun :)
So getting back to my Field Test Shooting Review for the Bolt M16A4 AEG Blowback Airsoft Rifle with BRSS Heavy Recoil... In this video Field Test Review I shoot several rounds through my Chronograph to test out the fps velocity of the Bolt M16A4 AEG Blowback Airsoft Rifle. Which by the way came in around the mid 300's. I also step back 30 feet and shoot some semi auto rounds into a paper target to see how accurate the Bolt M16A4 AEG Blowback Airsoft Rifle is. Since the Bolt M16A4 AEG Blowback Airsoft Rifle is a semi and full auto AEG Airsoft rifle, I also had to replicate my accuracy in full auto to see if my groupings would stay consistent even at a high rate of fire. I was very impressed with the accuracy in both semi and full auto, form 30 feet out you will get within 2 inches all day long.
It is fair to note that I was using 11.1 volt Li-po batteries with .20 gram BB's for the entire testing so this did effect my motor speed giving me quicker trigger response and faster full auto rate of fire. I would suggest using a high capacity battery setup since the BRSS Heavy Recoil does use up some additional battery power but boy is it worth it. The BRSS Recoil is not going to be as heavy as a true gas blowback system but it is close and does give you a nice shoulder tap but with the benefit of high capacity AEG magazines and consistent AEG performance.
In a nutshell, if you want the dependability, consistency and none stop shooting performance of an AEG Airsoft AM16 but with the blowback action of a gas system then make sure to give the Bolt M16A4 AEG Blowback Airsoft Rifle with BRSS Heavy Recoil a good look into.
A while back, BOLT was kind enough to send me one of their B.R.S.S. Recoil AEG Airsoft Rifles for review, make sure to watch my full review of the BOLT B4A1 BRSS Recoil Blowback AEG Airsoft Rifle.
Well again BOLT came through and sent me their latest offering, the BOLT AEG M16A4 Blowback Airsoft Rifle with B.R.S.S. Heavy Recoil system. B.R.S.S. stands for BOLT Recoil Shock System. The new BOLT Heavy Recoil system has a fixed stock which houses the improved recoil unit giving a more direct and solid recoil effect to the users shoulder. The BOLT M16A4 is a long length AEG Blowback Airsoft Rifle also suitable for snipers.
Here are some of the specifications:
Blowback B.R.R.S Heavy
Adjustable Hop-up
Semi & Full Auto
Standard AR 70 & 300 round magazines
312 fps & 393 fps versions
Aluminum, ABS, Nylon & Glass Fiber and Steel construction.
7.4V & 11.1V (Li-Po) or 9.6V (Ni-mh / Ni-Cd)
7.7 pounds (3500 grams)
43 inches long (1100mm)
Comes in Black / Tan
In this YouTube Preview video for the BOLT M16A4 AEG Blowback Airsoft Rifle I show you around the gun a bit and do a quick shooting test. Unfortunately I was using 6mm Airsoft BB's which I later found out where a bit to large in diameter since the BOLT M16A4 AEG Blowback Airsoft Rifle has a true 6mm barrel. After the video when I received this information from BOLT I switched to 5.95mm Airsoft BB's and the BOLT M16A4 AEG Blowback Airsoft Rifle worked perfectly for me :)
Stay tuned for my Full Table Top and Field Test Shooting videos for the BOLT M16A4 AEG Blowback Airsoft Rifle:
Ammunition Capacity: 15 round full size drop out metal magazine.
FPS: 417.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the ASG MK II is double action only which will make it a bit on the heavy and longer side when compared to a real steel Ruger MK II, it is smooth however and does have a nice satisfying click that sounds like a firing pin being release. The unfortunate part is that the real steel version is a single action only trigger and one that is super short and light so the contrast between the Airsoft and 22LR version may make this gun not practical is an optional training tool if you win the 22LR version also.
Accuracy: This part of the review is yet to be determined as I have not done my Field Test or Shooting tests for this pistol. I will put a link in here when I have done my official Field Shooting Test. For now all I can go on is some feedback from others that have claimed very high fps and excellent accuracy, I am looking forward to finding out for myself! You can watch my Ruger MK I Gas version Field Test Shooting Review to get an idea on how the ASG Ruger MK II version might perform.
Build Quality: ASG as usually distributes quality guns, the fit and finish on the ASG Ruger MK II Dual Tone CO2 6mm Airsoft Pistol is very good and there is use of metal where it needs to be like with the internal mechanical parts, the trigger, the safety, the rear fully adjustable sight and the full size drop out metal magazine that holds the CO2 and the Airsoft BB's. Thee MK II version has a metal upper which adds additional weight over the MK 1's plastic upper.
Realism: The ASG MK II is based on real steel Ruger MK II with the fluted barrel in a two-tone finish and looks very close to a real Ruger MK II. There is no blowback operation or bolt operation so that means that only a double action trigger is possible, this is a bit unfortunate since the real Ruger Mark II has an absolutely smooth and light single action trigger. On the positive side you can field strip the ASG Ruger MK II Dual Tone CO2 6mm Airsoft Pistol just like the real version.
If you own a real Ruger 22LR it would be nice to have for some backyard or basement shooting.
Adjustable rear sight for windage.
Adjustable Hop-up for Elevation.
Full size all metal drop out magazine that holds the CO2 and Airsoft BB's.
Metal upper barrel, Metal trigger, metal safety and many metal internals.
Very satisfying trigger sound, sounds like a real firing pin :)
Field Strips just like the real steel Ruger MK Series.
Cons:
Plastic sights front and back, plastic trigger.
No blowback (Would have allowed for a true single action trigger)
Double Action Only, unlike the real steel version that is single action only.
Comments:
Compared to the my previous review of the ASG Ruger MK I, the MK II for me is a big improvement. The metal upper barrel assembly makes all the difference in terms of weight and feel and with the two-tone look it is for sure a very attractive looking pistol. I also prefer using CO2 for the increased performance of higher fps and less cool down effect over a gas system. I am hopping my Field test Shooting video goes well and the ASG Ruger MK II Dual Tone CO2 6mm Airsoft Pistol performs on point for me.
My Vimeo Table Top Video Review for this ASG Ruger MK II Airsoft Pistol:
My main goal in this Shooting Performance Test was to see how the ANT Advanced Novelty Tech CO2 HPAConversion Kit performed side by side with a standard 12 gram CO2. Keep in mind that you can also switch over at any time to a regular 12 gram CO2 even after installing the ANT adaptor system in the gun or magazine.
My choice of Airgun for this test was the KWC - Cybergun Mini UZIConverted to Full Auto. I chose this Blowback 4.5mm CO2 BB Gun because it uses a lot of CO2 with each shot and when shooting in full auto it literally eats CO2. I knew this airguns would really put the ANT Advanced Novelty Tech CO2 HPA Conversion Kit to the test.
My first performance test was to comparing both systems using a Chronograph so I could see how the fps velocity slowed down because of the CO2 cool down effect. The 12 gram CO2 did pretty well emptying a full 25 round magazine but keep in mind I was shooting in semi auto only for the sake of using a Chronograph. I did notice a drop in velocity from a high of over 300 fps to a low of around 260. When I switched over to the Bulk CO2 ANT System and performed the same test the fps started out a bit lower but stayed pretty much about the same with a few ups and downs. The initial lower fps may have been a result of using separate magazines for each test since the valves in each magazine are most likely tuned a bit differently to let out more or less CO2 with each shot.
My second and most impressive test was to empty a full 25 round magazine in full auto mode! Again a started out using the standard 12 gram CO2 and to make this a real world test, I did not replace the 12 gram CO2 form the previous test. I figured 50 shots was a realist amount of shots to get from a single 12 gram CO2 and after all I was only shooting in semi auto which uses a lot less CO2 then shooting in full auto.
My KWC Blowback Mini UZI rocked pretty good using the 12 gram CO2 until it hit about a third the way through the magazine and then it stated to slow down and pretty much stop dead in its tracks with about 5-6 rounds still left in the magazine. The CO2 was all gone and I was left a bit unsatisfied :(
Without any significant break time to let my KWC Mini UZI warm up again, I switched over to the ANT Advanced Novelty Tech CO2 HPA Conversion Kit magazine and unloaded the full magazine in no time with no cycle rate slow down at all, even after the magazine was deprived of Steel BB's I kept squeezing the trigger and letting the blowback hammer my shoulder for several more satisfying bursts. Now that is what you expect from a full auto Blowback BB Machine gun!
In conclusion, when shooting in semi auto you will see better fps consistency using the ANT Advanced Novelty Tech CO2 HPA Conversion Kit but where this system really shines at least for me is I can shoot as fast as as long as I want and it will feel same as the very first shoot I take even when using a full auto system. No more switching out 12 gram CO2 every few magazines, just speed load some more BB's in and your good to go.
I was sent a really cool new product form a company called ANT (Advanced Novelty Tech). Their CO2/HPA Converter allows you to hook up either a large CO2 tank or High Pressure Air system using standard Paintball hose system.
What's kind of neat with the Advanced Novelty Tech CO2 HPA Conversion Kit, is that you can still interchange your 12 gram CO2 if you want to even after modifying your gun to use Bulk CO2 or HPA!
The ANT Advanced Novelty Tech CO2 HPA Conversion Kit works with well over 100 BB, Pellet and Airsoft guns most of which would be Pistols but some rifles are included in this list.
The main advantages over using standard 12 gram CO2 cartridges would be a significant lower cost for CO2, along with less fps velocity fall off, so better performance overall.
Stay posted as I will be making a field test performance test using the ANT Advanced Novelty Tech CO2 HPA Conversion Kit with my KWC Mini UZI Full Auto BB Machine gun :)
This is my Official Field Test Shooting Review video for the Gletcher SW R25 CO2 Shell Loading Pellet Revolver. At this time we are out of stock, I am not sure exactly when we are going to have them back in stock.
In this Field Test Shooting video I test out the performance of the Gletcher SW R25 using my Chronograph to get an actual Feet Per Second velocity rating, I also shot 6 rounds at a paper target setup 30 feet away using a semi-rested position (Sand bag up front and standing in the back).
Velocity wise, the Gletcher SW R25 CO2 Pellet Revolver shot pretty hard considering I was using 7 grain lead pellets (as compared to 5.1 grain steel BB's) and this was the shortest barreled version at 2.5 inches. The Gletcher SW R25 averaged a 337 fps 6 shot velocity with its highest fps shot of 351.
I then stepped back 30 feet and shot at a paper target, the Gletcher SW R25 CO2 Shell Loading Pellet Revolver produced a nice tight 6 shot grouping that was really close to 1 inches in diameter. Considering how short the barrel is and how close together the front and back sight are to each other, this is not a bad result at all. I am sure the rifled barrel helped a lot here. I did shoot a bit high and to the left but this can easily be corrected by adjusting the rear sight for windage and elevation.
Overall, the Gletcher SW R25 CO2 Pellet Revolver shot pretty hard and with good accuracy for a shell loading pellet revolver. It will be interesting to see how well the 8 inch version of this Gletcher Shell Loading Pellet Revolver does when I test it out shortly?
So getting back to this ASG Dan Wesson 6 inch Silver & 8 Inch Black Pellet Revolver Field Test Review, how did they perform? Well not that well in my books, the fps performance was just way too low and way too inconsistent, with a 6 shot Chronograph Test I got an average fps of 259 for the 6 inch and 188 for the 8 inch, that's right the longer barrel revolver actually performed worse! My explanation is that just not enough CO2 is being released by the CO2 valve to get the heavier and more snug lead pellets to a high enough velocity. And having a longer barrel is actually creating more resistance slowing down the lead pellets. If more CO2 was introduced, more expansion would take place which would take full advantage of the longer barrel.
Once I setup 30 feet back for my paper target testing, I kind of had a felling that I was not going to see great results, pellets moving inconsistent around 200 fps are not going to shoot as accurately as more consistent pellets traveling at 300+ fps. The variation in velocity from both Dan Wesson Pellet Revolvers I was getting really effected the elevation of the pellets landing on the target. Because of teh slow velocity of the pellets, there was a really long delay between shooting the gun and the actual pellets hitting the target, I could even hear variations in this delay as the fps fluctuated up and down :(
I did want to mention that the temperature was not overly warm on my test day but I did keep both guns nice and warm inside prior to my testing them, on a hotter day there would be a slight increase in fps performance but not a radical one that would make a huge difference.
If you are wondering if perhaps the problem may be due to the CO2 I used or my Pellet selection? ASG was kind enough to send me some of their CO2 and Diablo approved Pellets to use for this Field Test Shooting Review.
To be perfectly honest, I would rather shoot the Steel BB version of the Dan Wesson Revolvers since they performed much better in terms of feet per second velocity and target accuracy. Even loading the BB versions is much easier and quicker for more time spent shooting.
I generally like to focus more on the good and less on the bad when it comes to the guns I review and sure the Dan Wesson Pellet Revolvers are really sexy Airguns but when it comes to actual shooting results I was disappointed with them. I think ASG needs to take another look at their Dan Wesson Pellet Revolver design and perhaps work on some higher fps and more consistent fps performance.
Watch my Full Vimeo ASG Dan Wesson 6 inch Silver & 8 Inch Black Pellet Revolver Field Test Review:
First off let’s get one thing straight! What I’m looking for in a BB gun is more than likely going to be way different than what someone else is looking for in what they think is the “Best BB Gun” available.
Many people will determine the Best BB Gun as the BB gun that has the highest price tag, usually you get better quality the higher the price goes up but not always, there are times when perhaps you are paying for a name brand or cosmetic add ons that don’t always make the gun better or the best.
On the other hand, some people will determine the best BB gun as the one that is the least cost since they may not have a lot of money to spend, and an expensive BB gun is a BB gun that that person would not be able to afford or even own, far from an ideal or the Best BB Gun for them.
Many people only look at the specifications to determine if that particular BB gun is the outright best BB Gun. One specification that people seem to fixate on is how powerful is the BB gun in question? If it has the highest FPS then surely it must be the best BB Gun! That Pop can never saw it coming! What about cost of operation, so things like reliability and how many shots per CO2 you can get out of a BB gun. All important features to consider when picking out the Best BB Gun!
Style is another important part of what makes a BB Gun the Best option for you, are you wanting a classic BB Pistol? Perhaps a Modern BB Gun, Maybe even a BB gun that you can not get in your area because of gun laws? Style is a very individual preference and what looks good to me may look terrible to someone else.
One aspect that is very important to me, is realism, does the BB Gun operate the same and does it have similar metal and plastic parts as the real steel version? Does the BB gun I am considering have blowback operation and a true single or double action trigger like it’s big brother? What about a full size drop out magazine and the ability to field strip the BB Gun?
Some people want their BB gun for simple backyard good old fun shooting and so as long as it shoots pretty straight and works as it’s supposed to, then that is all they care about. Many real steel shooters want a BB Gun to operate exactly like their real steel version, so they can practice with it to get in more trigger time when going to a gun range is not an option.
Of course there are aspects like Reliability, Performance, Fit and Finish, Licensing and Build Quality that all determine what makes the Best BB Gun and again it really depends which of these qualities are most important to you that will determine which BB Gun is the best BB Gun.
So how do you determine which is the Best BB Gun? Make a list of what you are looking for in a BB Gun. Attributes like Cost, Performance, Build Quality, Style, Realism, Availability…
Once you have narrowed down your Best BB Gun list, get as much information on each BB Gun you are considering, to narrow the list down even more. There are tons of Youtube videos you can watch for your Best BB Gun final short list to help you determine your ultimate choice.
So please don’t ask me what the Best BB Gun is? I can not even tell you which one I like the best since my wish list changes from day to day…
First off we are not talking about 6mm Plastic Airsoft Guns but rather 4.5mm Steel BB versus .177 caliber Pellet.
Same but Different:
Generally speaking a BB CO2 Pistol and a Pellet CO2 Pistol are very similar, they just shoot a bit different types of ammo, that will determine a couple mechanical differences in both guns. You may come across a CO2 Pistol that can shoot both Pellets and BB's but these are not as common.
Magazine Types:
The fist main difference is usually the magazine design, since lead pellets don’t stack on top of each other very well compared to steel BB’s, action CO2 BB and Pellet pistols will have a very different types of magazine designs. Pellet CO2 Pistols will generally use a rotary type magazine while BB Pistols will use a stick or stacked ammo magazine. In terms of realism, a stick or stacked magazine is better suited than a rotary magazine. Some Action Pellet Pistols will have what looks like a stick magazine, but the stick will actually have two rotary magazine on either side. You will often find higher capacity magazines in BB CO2 Pistols since Rotary magazines usually only offer around 8 rounds (16 on a double sided stick style).
Another downside to a rotary magazine is knowing when you are out of ammo, a rotary magazine does not allow for this, it will just keep turning around and around no matter if there is ammo in it or not, so you need to listen to the the sound of the CO2 gun to determine when a rotary type magazine is empty. BB Action shooters do not have this problem since in most cases the magazine BB spring follower acts exactly the same as real steel gun follower locking back the slide on the last shot, stopping any follow up shots from happening.
Ammo Size:
Steel BB’s traditionally only come in 4.5mm which is the same as .177 caliber. Lead pellets can come in a myriad of sizes, the most comma being .177, .20 and .22 caliber but they can go as large as 50 caliber for PCP air rifles used to hunt even large game.
Barrel Rifling:
Another common difference between BB and Pellet CO2 Pistols is the rifling inside the barrels. Lead pellets need to spin in order for them to shoot straight. Steel BB’s on the other hand fly pretty true thought the air weather they spin or not. Rifling is most often not used in steel BB pistols because the hardened steel can damage the rifling and since there is little to no benefit in adding rifling to a BB guns barrel in terms of accuracy, then why even have it. Pellet pistols with their softer lead ammunition need to have the rifling in order to create the spin that keeps the pellet true and straight while in flight.
Accuracy:
Even though many BB CO2 Pistols can shoot accurately at close to medium ranges, they are not as accurate as a Pellet CO2 Pistol, especially as the distance become greater to your target. Not only does the spinning of the pellet help accuracy, but also the added mass of the lead pellet keeps them from being as effected by cross winds and airborne debris.
Hunting and/or Pest Control:
In most cases I do not recommend using a pistol for pest control because, plain and simple they are harder to shoot accurately. This is because there is no stock on a pistol to help steady the gun, and the front and rear sight are much closer together on a pistol than compared to rifle sights which means there is more margin for error when signing in a target. Pistols are generally lower powered than rifles which also plays a roll when considering a pistol for pest control since it may not have enough power to get the job done humanly. That said, there are pellet pistols deigned with power in mind, usually these are spring piston, or pressurized air powered air guns which can have a lot more power than a standard CO2 BB or Pellet Pistol.
Pistols versus Rifles:
This is not the forum for a full pistol versus rifle comparison. I can tell you that you will find a lot more pellet rifles than your will find BB rifles, they both exist but for the most part rifles are geared more towards target shooting and hunting. Most of the BB rifles available would be styled after replicas so the focus is not necessarily on power and or accuracy in these models.
Abundance:
In terms of Replica Action Shooters, BB Pistols outweigh the Pellet pistols by a land-slide. BB’s just work better in action pistols because the round hard steel ammo operates much easier and more reliably than the softer lead pellets, at least for action shooters. And the point of Replica Action Shooters is not so much power and accuracy but more so towards rapid fire good old back yard fun shooting.
Which is Best?
Well… Neither one is best, it just depends what you are looking for.
Do you want accuracy at longer ranges - if so maybe get a Pellet CO2 Pistol.
Do you want more realism in terms of magazine loading and your slide locking back on the last shot - then you may be in the market for a BB CO2 Pistol.
Do you want more power down range - heavy pellets are going to hit harder and truer than lighter Steel BB’s.
Do you want trouble free shooting - hard steel BB’s rarely miss-feed or misfire compared to softer Lead Pellets especially in action shooters.
The best is what’s best for you and not always what's best for me…
First off I have reviewed all of these ASG guns in the BB version which I will link to below so you can read the full reviews. The main difference with this review is that I am reviewing the 6mm Airsoft versions and in the case of the ASG Bersa BP9CC and ASG CZ 75D Compact, the only difference is the ammo they shoot, with the ASG CZ 75 P-07 Duty, my Airsoft version is not blowback whereas the 4.5mm Steel BB version I reviewed earlier did have blowback operation.
My YouTube video for these ASG Airsoft versions does go into a lot of detail on each gun but in this written review I will keep to the basics since you can get most of the detailed information already in my 4.5mm Steel BB reviews for each gun.
Some of you have been waiting on back orders and to also make new orders of ASG products, we just received an ASG order so many ASG items are now back in stock! Any back orders will be taken care of first and then new orders will be processed, as always, stock is limited especially on certain items so act fast!
Barrel: Metal rifled (6 Inch Sliver - 8 Inch Black).
Propulsion: CO2 x 1.
Action: Revolver, single and double action.
Ammunition Type: .177 caliber pellets.
Ammunition Capacity: 6 rounds.
FPS: 426+.
Trigger Pull: The ASG Dan Wesson Pellet Revolvers have predictable triggers with the single action being a bit more consistent since the take up is short, and the release is fairly light. Double action mode is very usable without a lot of extra pressure required. I found I just wanted to shoot this gun in single action mode because it felt more natural being that it is a six shooter.You also want to take your time shooting since loading the pellets into each shell and then the shells into the cylinder takes a bit of time.
Accuracy: This is yet to be determined since I have not to date had the opportunity to get outside and shoot these Pellet firing Dan Wesson's. Based on the exceptional results I got shooting my Dan Wesson Steel BB versions from 30 feet away, I should be abel to crack an inch or two 6 round grouping if my shooting is on. In terms of fps performance, ASG claims the pellet versions to shoot around the same velocity as the steel BB versions. With that in mind, this should give the Pellet shooting Dan Wesson's the advantage for raw power, since the lead pellets are heavier than steel 4.5mm BB's.
Build Quality: Like the entire Dan Wesson Revolver line from ASG, the pellet series is no exception and the fit and finish is very good. Most of the revolver is metal with the exception of the grips which are a plastic with a bit of a rubberized texture to them. The modified rifled barrels are made out of hardened steel and similarly so are portions of the newly designed pellet loading shells. Overall these are improvements to the quality of the Pellet shooting Dan Wesson Revolvers over the BB and Airsoft Dan Wessons.
Realism: The ASG Dan Wesson revolvers are as close as you can get to a real six shooter. Loading and ejecting actual shells into the cylinder makes you feel like this gun is much more then an unassuming airgun! If you want that real revolver experience than a shell loading Dan Wesson is the way to go, and the addition of a rifled barrel and lead pellets to the Pellet firing version should make the shooting experience even better.
It's a revolver with actual shells! Gives you the feeling of a real 6 shooter.
Almost all metal design.
Lots of detail in this gun, very well made, fit and finish is very good.
Should have good power and good accuracy. Even better than the BB versions!
Adjustable rear sight for windage and elevation.
Barrel and shell redesign are a big improvement over the BB shooting versions.
Cons:
Has a plastic CO2 screw tab.
Loading pellets does take longer than the BB versions.
May use more CO2 per shot than the BB versions because of heavier ammo.
Comments:
Since I can't comment too much on the shooting experience these Pellet Dan Wessons will offer, I can say I am impressed with how ASG did the redesign of the inner barrel and pellet loading shells. It is obvious that ASG didn't just grab some parts of the shelf and quickly modify a BB version to shoot Pellets. ASG did it right and you can see the new adapted parts are of high quality and are even an improvement over the BB versions in many ways. On paper the Pellet shooting Dan Wesson's should be more accurate especially out at further ranges than the BB shooting Dan Wesson's and the Pellet versions should also hit the target with more force since they shoot a heavier projectile at around the same fps as the 4.5mm Steel BB version.
My YouTube Video Review for these Dan Wesson Pellet shooting Revolvers:
