I received some review BB and Airsoft guns and as I often like to do, I made a quick Update Vimeo Video for you. This way I can show them off real quickly so you get at least a bit of a taste of what's in store...
Below are the guns I show you in todays Update Video!
FPS: 750 with Pellets and 800 with BB's for the US version (Up to 495 with Canada version).
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Crosman MK-177 is medium length and fairly light. The trigger mainly releases the bolt so no pre-cocking of the trigger is required. The trigger is plastic but seems to work just fine as there is no real load on the trigger when shooting, you do need to get used to where the release point since there is some take up well before the trigger releases.
Accuracy: I found the Crosman MK-177 Air Rifle to be a very good shooter, getting about a 1 inch 10 shot grouping from 30 feet out in a semi rested position (sand bag up front, standing in the back). I also put 3 rounds through my somewhat failing Chrony Chronograph using 3,5 & 10 pumps and the MK-177 with the maximum 10 pump shot as high as 631 fps using 6.9 grain RWS lead pellets. I would expect the Canadian detuned version to shoot well below the 500 fps Canada limit much like my Canadian Crosman M4-177 I reviewed a while back.
Build Quality: The Crosman MK-177 Multi-pump Air Rifle is mostly molded plastic, but for a $100-ish Military Styled Replica Air Rifle it hits the mark in terms of affordability and if it was an all metal airgun you would more than likely expect to double or tripple this price point! Even though plastic is used throughout this Air Rifle, there are some internal metal parts where they need to be, the fit and finish seems to be good and I do not get the feeling the Crosman MK-177 is cheaply made in any way. The fact that most parts are molded means there is very little that can snap or break off and will make this air rifle even more durable longterm.
Realism: The Crosman MK-177 is a lose replica or copy of an FN SCAR Assault Rifle or ACR. It is not exact in terms of true dimensions to accommodate the pumping mechanism, You will not find very many working parts as just about everything is molded into the plastic on this Crosman MK-177 rifle. Unlike the Crosman M4-177 the lower magazine area is not removable and the rear stock is also none adjustable, I am not sure why Crosman didn't add these features to the MK-177 like they did to the M4-177? I am glad to see another Replica Assault rifle on the market as so few of them are available in Pellet or steel BB shooters.
None red dot version comes with detachable and adjustable iron sights.
Rails on top and sides for accessories.
Option of shooting pellets or BB's, I would stick to pellets and save the barrel since it is not semi auto.
Feels super solid since there are very few moving parts that could break.
Looks like the Crosman M4-177 Pellet magazines are compatible.
Cons:
Mostly plastic and just about everything is molded into the gun.
Bolt and magazine are on opposite sides?
Would of been cool if Crosman made a dedicated BB magazine?
Comments:
The Crosman MK-177 Multi-Pump Pellet/BB Air Rifle is very much like it's brother the Crosman M4-177 with a few plusses and a few minuses when comparing the two of them together. On the plus side the MK-177 has a bit more power and also the pumping is much easier while yielding higher internal pressures. On the downside the Crosman MK-177 is almost entirely molded plastic with no removable lower magazine or adjustable stock, and the bolt has been switched around to what I feel is the wrong side since now you need to index the magazine on one side and work the bolt on the other requiring a less efficient approach. Either way it is nice to have another replica air rifle on the marker and for the relatively low price you get a nice accurate pellet rifle, great for target shooting and even small pest control.
Watch my Vimeo Full Video Review of the Crosman MK-177 Pellet/BB Air Rifle:
We have added some items to the Canada and US Replica Airguns Stores, most are completely new items and one is a Canada only item we added to the US store!
I wanted to cover some basic Airgun, Airsoft Gun, Blank Gun and Paintball Gun information on what do they all shoot, what makes them shoot and some other miscellaneous info thrown in along the way...
Your should also watch the video attached at the bottom of this post as it goes into a fair amount of detail.
Let's begin with the types of ammo used:
Airgun Ammo
Airgun ammo for the most part is broken down into BBs and Pellets, the most standard size BB and Pellet is the 4.5mm or .177 caliber Steel BB and Lead Pellet. You can also get Pellets in other calibers and even other materials other than lead such as steel or aluminum, some can have plastic skirting around a metal interior.
Pellets also come in a variety of caliber's like .177, .20. 22. 25 and even larger but then I would start considering them to be bullets as they will take on the shape of a bullet when they get into the larger sizes.
Airgun Ammo is not be fired at people, it is primarily used for target and hunting small game.
Airguns can use Spring Pistons, CO2, Compressed Air and Multi-pump propulsion systems.
Airsoft Gun Ammo
Airsoft Guns for the most part shoot round 6mm (.22 caliber) plastic BBs which come in a variety of weights ranging from .12 grams up to .48 grams. There are larger Airsoft BBs such as 8mm and even larger.
There are biodegradable and even tracer florescent Airsoft BBs available.
Airsoft Ammo is traditionally used for Airsoft battles and can be fired at people using protective gear. Airsoft Ammo can also be used for target shooting.
Airsoft Guns can use Spring Pistons, Spring Piston - AEG (Electric Motor) CO2, Gas (Green, Red, Propane) and Compressed Air propulsion systems.
Paintball Gun Ammo
Paintball Guns or "Markers" have been historically used for the sport of Paintball but their whereabouts came from the need of ranchers and forestry workers to mark trees. Hence the name "Marker"
Paintball ammo comes in a variety of sizes ranging with the most common being .43 and .68 caliber. They are generally made from a gelatin outer coating containing primarily polyethylene glycol, other non-toxic and water-soluble substances, and dye, they are usually biodegradable.
Paintball Guns can also shoot a variety of Paintball Ammo that can be made out of Rubber, Plastic, Glass and they can also contain Powders and even Pepper for use in non lethal defense.
Paintball Guns can generally use either CO2 or Compressed Air as their propellant.
Blank Gun Ammo
Blank Guns are just like Real Guns but without the dangerous bullet at the end of the brass shell. Other than that they work exactly the same as a Real Gun!
Blank Guns are used when a bullet is not required or even wanted. For instance... Gun safety, gun training, training animals to be around guns and/or loud noises, Props for Movies - Stage - Film - TV, Collectors that do not want the red tape associated with owning a Real Gun or when owning a Real Gun is prohibited.
Blank Guns can shoot a variety of sized ammo, most common are .22 caliber crimped, .380 crimped, 8mm P.A.K. and 9mm P.A.K.
Blank Guns use gun powder as their means of operation.
Here are the most common forms of propulsion used in the guns we discussed earlier:
CO2
CO2 is the most common propellant in Airguns (BB and Pellet), it is also used in Airsoft Guns and Paintball Guns.
CO2 is a compressed gas which expands when released, it requires a warm environment to fully expand and tends to cool it's surroundings quickly when shot fast or in full automatic which can slow the velocity of the projectile and even freeze up the gun being used.
The most common reusable CO2 cartridges are 12 and 88 gram but you can get larger CO2 tanks in a variety of sizes that can be refilled with CO2.
Gas
Gas is used primarily in Airsoft Guns, I have not personally seen an Airgun that is made to use Gas other than CO2.
Gas is similar to CO2 in that it is a compressed gas that expands when releases, it also cools down the gun it is being used in and requires a warm environment.
Gas comes in a variety of names, Green Gas, Red Gas and Propane Gas. Green Gas contains Propane as it's base but has additives in it like silicone for lubrication .
Red Gas is know to be a bit more powerful than Green Gas as it has Chlorodifluoromethane or HCFC-22, R22 or Freon 22 used in refrigeration which turns to a liquid under a slightly higher pressure giving you slightly higher fps.
Many people use propane gas with an adapter that allows the mixture of silicone as propane is cheaper to buy.
Compressed Air (HPA)
Compressed Air (HPA - High Pressure Air) is most commonly used in Airguns and Paintball Guns but some people use it for their Gas based Airsoft guns.
The compressed air comes from high PSI tanks that can be purchased in a variety of sizes and contains compressed air at pressures up to 5000psi.
These tanks are reusable and usually need to be refilled at a paintball or scuba shop, some people buy their own compressors or large scuba tanks for refilling purposes.
Some Compressed Air (HPA) guns have their own built in tanks that can be filled with a compressor or even a manual pump.
Compressed air does not cool down the gun it is being used in and is a great option for high output or fully automatic guns.
Multi-Pump Pneumatic
Multi-Pump Pneumatic systems are most commonly used in Pellet and/or BB guns.
Multi-Pump Pneumatic guns use the same principle as HPA - High Pressure Air guns in that they require pressurized air as the propellant. The main difference with Multi-Pump Pneumatic guns, is that you do all the work by pumping the gun between shots. Generally speaking you pump the gun 3-10 times, take a shot and repeat this process.
Multi-Pump Pneumatic guns are not effected by air temperature and are great for target and small pest control.
Spring Piston
Spring pistons are generally found in Pellet Rifles and Pistols but some Airsoft Guns also use a Spring Piston System and generally speaking Spring Piston Guns are single shot only or in other words, the Spring needs to be drawn back before each shot. Spring Piston Guns can have magazines that allow for quicker repeat shots.
Spring Piston Guns come in many cocking configurations, Brake Barrel and Side lever to name a couple.
The Spring can be a Mechanical Spring or a Gas Spring.
Spring Piston Guns are not effected by temperature and are often used for small game hunting and target shooting.
Automatic Electric Guns (AEG)
Automatic Electric Guns are generally found in Airsoft Rifles but there are some Airsoft Pistols (AEP) that use this same system.
Automatic Electric Guns use a similar system to a Spring Piston gun but have an electric motor that does all the work of drawing back the spring. You can even have fully automatic AEG guns.
The power for the electric motor comes from removable batteries, so it is a combination a battery supplying the motor with the power to draw back the spring that creates a pillow of air that shoots the BB.
AEG Airsoft Guns are great for situations when you require high capacity magazines with full auto capability.
Gun Powder
Gun powder is used in Blank Guns, in the same manor that it is used in a Real Gun, the charge from the Gun Powder supplies the force required to operate the blowback in most semi auto Blank Pistols, it also creates the sound of a live round along with the muzzle flash which makes Blank Guns great for training and as Props for Movies and Film.
Because the kinetic energy from a blank gun is the same as a real gun, blank guns can be very dangerous when used in close proximity to an object, see my "Are Blank Guns Dangerous Video"!
Some other Gun Relevant Terminology:
Blowback
Blowback operation is when some of the force of the propellant is used to move the slide backwards, which in most cases cocks the hammer for single action and can also pickup and chamber a round into the barrel.
The slide spring supplies the energy for the return to the forward position of the slide.
Blowback Guns do rob some power from the bullet force and in the case of CO2 or Gas Guns the also reduce the amount of shots per CO2 or Gas fill.
Revolver, Semi Automatic
Revolver: Revolvers feed ammunition via the rotation of a cartridge-filled cylinder, in which each cartridge is contained in its own ignition chamber, and is sequentially brought into alignment with the weapon's barrel by a mechanism linked to the weapon's trigger (double-action) or its hammer (single-action)
Semi Automatic: semi-automatic pistols use the energy of one shot to reload the chamber for the next. Typically recoil energy from a fired round is mechanically harnessed. After a round is fired, the pistol will cycle, ejecting the spent casing and chambering a new round from the magazine, allowing another shot to take place immediately.
Single Shot, Repeater, Semi Automatic & Fully Automatic
Single Shot: A Single Shot Gun needs to be reloaded each time it is shot.
Repeater: Repeating action Guns are single barreled guns containing multiple rounds of ammunition. These rounds are loaded from a magazine by means of a manual or automatic mechanism, and the action that reloads the rifle also typically re-cocks the firing action. The term repeating rifle is most often applied to weapons in which the next cartridge is loaded by a manual action, as opposed to semi-automatic rifles, in which the force of one shot is used to load the next.
Semi Automatic: A semi-automatic, or self-loading, firearm is a weapon that performs all steps necessary to prepare the weapon to fire again after firing.
Fully Automatic: A Gun that uses either its recoil or a portion of the gas propelling the projectile to remove the spent cartridge (in the case of a gun-shell), fire again repeatedly, as long as the trigger is held down or until the magazine is exhausted. Automatic Guns are distinguished from semi-automatic Guns in their ability to fire more than one shot in succession once the trigger is pulled.
Single-Action (SA): trigger performs the single action of releasing the hammer or striker to discharge the firearm each time the trigger is pulled.
Double-Action (DA): The trigger both cocks and releases the hammer or striker
SA-DA: A SA/DA firearm combines the features of both mechanisms. You can pull the trigger in Double Action when the hammer is down which cocks and releases the trigger or you can cock the hammer with your thumb and then release the trigger using Single Action to fire the weapon.
Lever Action, Pump Action, Bolt Action
Lever Action: In a classic lever-action firearm, rounds are individually loaded into a tubular magazine parallel to and below the barrel. A short bolt is held in place with an over center toggle action. Once closed, the over center action prevents opening solely by the force on the bolt when the weapon is fired. This toggle action is operated by a hand grip that forms part of the trigger guard. When operated, a spring in the tubular magazine pushes a fresh round into position. Returning the operating lever to the home position chambers the round and closes the breach.
Pump Action: With a pump-action firearm, the action is operated by a movable fore-end that goes backwards and forwards to eject, extract, and chamber a round of ammunition. Pump-actions are usually associated with shotguns.
Bolt Action: The bolt opens and closes the breech end of the barrel and contains the firing pin. The bolt is held in place with a lever that fits into a notch. Moving this lever out of the notch will release the restraint on the bolt, allowing it to be drawn back. An extractor removes the spent cartridge, which is then ejected through the lever slot. A spring at the bottom of the magazine pushes up the reserve rounds, positioning the topmost between the bolt and the chamber at the base of the barrel. Pushing the bolt lever forward chambers this round and pushing the lever into the notch locks the bolt and enables the trigger mechanism.
Magazine vs Clip
Magazine: A magazine is an ammunition storage and feeding device within or attached to a repeating firearm. Magazines can be removable (detachable) or integral to the firearm. The magazine functions by moving the cartridges stored in the magazine into a position where they may be loaded into the chamber by the action of the firearm. The detachable magazine is often referred to as a clip, although this is technically inaccurate.
Clip: A clip is a device that is used to store multiple rounds of ammunition together as a unit, ready for insertion into the magazine or cylinder of a firearm. This speeds up the process of loading and reloading the firearm as several rounds can be loaded at once, rather than one round being loaded at a time. The term "clip" is also frequently used to refer to a detachable magazine, though such usage is incorrect.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the WE AK74UN GBB Airsoft Rifle is very light (maybe even under 1 pound) since the blowback action has already pre-cocking the action making this rifle single action only. The take-up is very short, about one eighth of an inch or even less! The magazine has two switches, the one on the top allows you to dry fire while the one on the backside resets the trigger block. You will need to push the side switch down after reloading your magazine to allow the trigger/hammer to function again.
Accuracy: Out of the box the WE AK74UN Airsoft Rifle shot on the high side for me, about 8 inches at 30 feet, you can adjust the front sight post to some degree for elevation but I was not able to find any way of adjusting the windage? I did my pretest shooting from the 30 foot mark and I found the WE AK74UN Gas Blowback Airsoft Rifle AK74 Replica shot a very respectable 5 shot 1.5 inch group in semi auto which opened up of course when I shot the rest of the rounds in full auto. The full auto group stayed pretty tight considering all the recoil that was going on. I would say this gun should be able to shoot fairly accurately at distances even greater than 50 feet and even in full auto.
Build Quality: The WE AK74UN Airsoft Rifle is very well made with a lot of actual stamped steel parts, the only metal (zinc alloy) would be the trigger group, bolt, and part of the front sight, the pistol grip and front stock are made out of a matt finished hard plastic. Fit and finish is near perfect and I had no problems with the functionality of this Airsoft replica in any way. There are third party steel replacement parts for the trigger group and bolt if you want to swap these out at some point.
Realism: Everything about this gun is realistic! Operation, field stripping, tones of steel and metal parts, the long travel bolt, the slower cycle rate, and the heavy recoil all make the WE AK74UN GBB Airsoft Rifle as near perfect a working replica that you can find. Sure WE modernized this AK74 variant a bit with the addition of some enhancements but they do work well and make this Airsoft rifle very usable.
Long travel bolt with heavy blowback, lower cycle rate like a real AK!
Lots of steel and metal in this gun, very hefty and solid.
Awesome blowback kick really hits you in the shoulder.
Semi auto & full auto selectable.
Field strips just like the real AK.
Nice high 400+ FPS and good 1.5 inch 5 shot group from 30 feet away.
Decent use of Gas.
Modified improved selector/safety switch can be used with trigger finger and also can be used to lock the bolt back for easy hop-up adjustments.
Magwell guide helps with insertion of the magazine.
Cons:
Long travel bolt kicks so hard that it can wear the softer Zinc Alloy internal parts quickly like the bolt and trigger grouping.
Sights are not really very adjustable, at least for windage.
Comments:
I really love my WE AK74UN Gas Blowback Airsoft Rifle, it is truly one of the most realistic replica guns I own, not just in looks but in how it functions and shoots. The heavy use of stamped steel, lots of metal throughout, full travel bolt with heavy blowback and realistic AK cycle rate make this one of the most fun guns to shoot that I own. If you're looking for a Gas Blowback AK styled Airsoft rifle this one is one of the best out there!
My Vimeo Table Top Video REVIEW of the WE AK74UN Gas Blowback Airsoft Rifle:
Photo of WE G18C Removed by Request from Glock "Renzulli Law Firm"
All references, photos and video claiming that any item in this review/video looks like a Glock or is a Replica of a Glock in any way shape or form have been removed from this post as requested by Glock"Renzulli Law Firm"
Type: Airsoft GBB Pistol. Manufacturer:WE. Model:G18C. Materials: Metal & plastic. Weight: 1.7 pounds (776 Grams). Barrel: 4.5 inches, smooth bore. Propulsion: (GBB) Gas Blowback. Action: Semi & full auto. Ammunition Type: Airsoft 6mm Plastic BB's. Ammunition Capacity: 25 rounds. FPS: Up-to 380 with longer barrel attached. Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the WE G18C is very nice and light since the blowback action does most of the work pre-cocking the action. There is a built in and working trigger safety like you would find on a real steel NAME REMOVED with about a quarter inch of take-up leading to a very light and crisp release.
Photo of WE G18C Removed by Request from Glock "Renzulli Law Firm"
Accuracy: Out of the Box the WE G18C shot great rather well for me when I did my pretest from the 20 foot mark, I found the WE G18C was dialed in pretty decent and shot very close to the bulls eye, maybe a hair to the left which is good since the sights are non adjustable. I shot a very respectable 5 shot 1.5 inch group in semi auto which opened up a great deal when I shot the remaining 15 rounds but at least they all seemed to stay pretty much on the paper which is not bad considering how much this gun jumps around in full auto.
Photo of WE G18C Removed by Request from Glock "Renzulli Law Firm"
Build Quality: The WE G18C Airsoft seems to be well made, and you will find lots of metal parts where they need to be, again similar as what you would find in a real NAME REMOVED. Fit and finish is nice but I did have an issue with the gas tube when I first got mine, it broke rendering the gun inoperable, a quick swap out with a new gas tube and all is well and so far after a number of magazine worth of shots the WE G18C is still working well and the new gas tube is holding up.
Photo of WE G18C Removed by Request from Glock "Renzulli Law Firm"
Realism: WE has taken some liberty with the markings on their WE G 18C copy, they are similar to what you would find on a real NAME REMOVED but not actually the same, as longs as you don't look too closely you will most likely be fooled into believing it's a licensed NAME REMOVED! As for how the WE G18C is built and how it operates, you will find it's a dead ringer to a real steel NAME RMOVED and even breaks down exactly the same. Reviewed by:Replica Airguns.
Photo of WE G18C Removed by Request from Glock "Renzulli Law Firm"
Pros:
It's a NAME REMOVED Replica!
Lots of metal in this gun similar to a real NAME REMOVED.
Kind of licensed similar to a NAME REMOVED.
Semi auto & full auto selectable :)
Very solid blowback kick.
Field strips just like a NAME REMOVED.
Very good accuracy and power even with the shorter barrel installed
Comes with two barrels, one for use with the suppressor to increase fps for Canadian import.
Photo of WE G18C Removed by Request from Glock "Renzulli Law Firm"
Cons:
No real sight adjustments.
Had a problem with the Gas Tube cracking almost right out of the box.
Photo of WE G18C Removed by Request from Glock "Renzulli Law Firm"
Comments: I have heard many people say they love WE products and then there are some that claim they are not all that well made! Other than my issue with the cracked gas tube, my WE G18C is holding up well and is working nicely, I think some earlier WE products lacked some refinement which may have led to problems but from what I have heard as of late, WE has stepped things up and is making a better product these days. My WE AK74UN is a testament to this as it is built like a tank and has tons of real stamped steel all throughout. Getting back to the WE G18C Airsoft GBB, it's really fun to shoot with it's amazing blowback and for a GBB pistol it shoots pretty hard and finds the target with easy.
Photo of WE G18C Removed by Request from Glock "Renzulli Law Firm"
My YouTube Video of the WE G18C Gas Blowback Airsoft Pistol:
I have a couple of guns I wanted to share with you all and no we do not sell them at this point in time and I can not say if we will or not down the road.
There is just no way we can carry every brand of gun and every gun from every brand, that said I still sometimes have my eye on a gun and will pick it up even if I have to pay full retail juts so I can add it to my collection and also do a review for all of you.
Photo of WE G18C Removed by Request from Glock "Renzulli Law Firm"
Today I showcase two Gas Blowback Airsoft guns from WE. I have been wanting to get an AK variant of some sort since there was a big whole in my collection after the RCMP came into my house and took my scary AK BB gun away. And if for some reason you feel this "again" legally imported through the CBSA non convertible airgun is in some way a concern, please feel free to come on over and have a good look, no SWAT team necessary this time. I am just around the corner from the police station and I make a good cup of coffee!
Getting back to this update, the other WE Airsoft gun is the WE G18C which like the WE AK74UN, also has semi and full auto select-ability. Both guns have excellent blowback kick with the AK74UN having a full travel blot which kicks like a mule and has a slower full auto cycle rate much like a real AK47.
Both guns have metal parts where you would find them on the real steel versions while the AK even goes so far to have actual stamped steel all over just like you would find on an AK.
Photo of WE G18C Removed by Request from Glock "Renzulli Law Firm"
I will be doing full reviews for both these WE GBB Airsoft guns so stay posted for those video reviews, in the meantime you can watch my Update Video showcasing both these WE Airsoft guns.
The rainy weather let up today so I grabbed up my Umarex - KWA MP7 Blowback Airsoft PDW and put it through its paces today. I was a bit surprised that my groupings from 30 feet away shooting from a semi-rested position where a bit spread out, mostly top to bottom. Perhaps the hop up was effecting the MP7? The good news is that shooting in full auto did not seem to make things any worse :) I was using .25 gram BB's for the accuracy test.
As for the Chronograph portion of this field test shooting review, the Umarex - KWA MP7 Blowback Airsoft Machine Pistol shot a bit higher than claimed at just over 400 fps using .20 gram BB's with Propane Gas. I had no problems shooting a full magazine of 40 rounds with a full gas fill up and the cycle rate stayed nice and high with very little cool down effect.
I really enjoyed shooting the Umarex - KWA MP7 Blowback Airsoft PDW, it has a nice sound with just the right amount of blowback to give it a good feel without throwing off the sights, the trigger was very light and responsive and I ended up preferring to use the pop up sights over the pistol sights as I was shooting mostly with the stock and fore grip open. Those Cans never had a chance!
All in all the Umarex - KWA MP7 Blowback Airsoft PDW is one of the coolest compact and ultra modern Airsoft guns I have had the pleasure to review and test out.
Watch my Field Test Shooting Vimeo Video for the Umarex - KWA MP7 Blowback Airsoft PDW:
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Umarex - KWA H&K MP7 A1 is single action only as the charging handle has to be pulled back to open and release the bolt for the first shot fired. There is a trigger safety that must be engaged to fire, but it is not noticeable when shooting this Airsoft PDW. There is a short take-up and then a nice light release and short reset.
Accuracy: I was able to get decent accuracy in both semi auto and full auto burst with my H&K MP7 due to the mild to medium blowback. I would say I shot somewhere in the 2-3 spread with my 10 shot grouping from 20 feet out. When I do my full Field Test Shooting Review I will take it back a bit further and shoot form 30 feet out. I did get a bit higher then claimed fps right up into the 400 fps range when testing the Umarex - KWA H&K MP7 A1 on my Chronograph.
Build Quality: The Umarex - KWA H&K MP7 A1 Airsoft PDW is built extremely well, using near exact components that you would find on the real HK MP7, yes it has a plastic or polymer shell but that is what you would find on the 4.6mm x 30 real steel version. The Umarex MP7 Airsoft PDW does use lots of metal where it needs to be like in the internal housing, pins, bolt, barrel, rails and even the magazine. The fit and finish is bang on, this gun is as solid as they come!
Realism: I have to say the Umarex - KWA H&K MP7 A1 is pretty much a bang on copy of the real steel H&K MP7. The only telltale sign is the Umarex branding and warning label on the right side receiver, even the 6mm caliber markings are near impossible to make out on the underside right beside the serial number plate. Of course the red flash hider is a big "red flag" that takes away form the realism but for us here in Canada, a bit of red paint is all that is needed to fix that problem. just be aware that the flash hider is really glued on tight so plan that project accordingly!
Excellent attention to detail with lots of working parts.
Full H&K licensing and markings.
Good overall 400 fps power for a short barreled gas blowback gun.
Very nice trigger with working trigger safety.
Lots of metal parts where they need to be and would be on the real K&H MP7 PDW.
Semi auto & full auto selectable.
High capacity GBB magazine (40 rounds)
Sights are fully adjustable and offer two positions.
Built in for-grip and rear slide-out stock
Easy access to hop up system.
Cons:
Came with the orange tip, you may want to paint it. (hard to get off as it is glued on!)
May be too powerful for CQB skirmishes without some detuning.
Comments:
I really like the Umarex - KWA H&K MP7 A1 Airsoft PDW, it's my kind of Airsoft gun! I love the modern look, I love the features and the price is also really good for what you are getting here, a GBB gun that is super versatile and can be used in close our out at range. The build quality is what impressed me the most, this Airsoft gun is super solid, that combined with the attention to every detail would fool just about anyone that it's not the real deal until a very close inspection is done:) The Umarex - KWA H&K MP7 A1 reminds me of the other ASG MP9 KWA built PDW I reviewed earlier, they are like two peas in a pod but both with their own unique personalities.
I will be doing proper Table Top and Field Test Videos for each of these Airsoft guns as soon as I can get to them all, starting with the Umarex Gas Blowback H&K MP7 A1 Airsoft PDW so stay posted for these upcoming video reviews...
After many many requests to show how the Umarex Walther PPK CO2 Tab Modification is done I have relented to public demand. I don't actually cut my tab in this PPK CO2 Tab Modification Video but I do go step-by-step in detail and compare my modified Umarex PPK to my unmodified Umarex PPK. It is really very basic on how this is done and only a hack say and perhaps a file are all that is required to make the modifications to the PPK CO2 tab in order to make it flush with the bottom of the handle area.
Your best bet is to simply watch my YouTube Video located below and follow the steps there but here it is in text form:
Place an empty (already pierced) CO2 into your Umarex Walther PPK and tighten the unmodified CO2 tab until fully tightened, just like you would tighten a fresh CO2.
Take note at how many threads are exposed between the bottom of the handle and the top of the plastic CO2 tab, there should be about 2-4 threads exposed.
Unscrew the CO2 tab all the way, place the PPK BB Pistol so it is secure (in a vice of some sort) and use a hacksaw or dremel to shorten the CO2 screw just above the plastic tab at the thread location you previously noted. Be conservative as you can always cut or file the screw a bit shorter if your first cut was not short enough.
Now use the same hacksaw or dremel to cut a notch in the exposed cut area of the CO2 screw so that you can use a slot screwdriver to tighten the CO2 screw.
That's it - Enjoy your modified Umarex Walther PPK CO2 BB Pistol!
Watch my Vimeo Video of the Umarex Walther PPK CO2 Tab Modification Tutorial:
Ammunition Capacity: 13 round full size metal magazine -18 round metal stick magazine.
FPS: 428 - 380.
Trigger Pull: There is a lot of difference between the trigger on both of these guns, first off the Umarex Makarov has both a single and double action trigger/hammer while the KWC Makarov has a double action only trigger/hammer. Comparing the double action of both guns the definite advantage goes to the 4.5mm Steel BB shooting Umarex Makarov as it is shorter and lighter, the KWC Airsoft Makarov does not have a bad trigger but it is much longer and a bit heavier, but still very usable. The single action trigger on the Umarex Makarov is not really any lighter than when shooting in double action, it is however much shorter with a medium take-up and predictable release.
Accuracy: Both Airsoft and BB Makarov's performed very well in their shooting tests for me, they bot shot fairly well centered with the KWC Makarov getting all five shots in the black bullseye and the Umarex Makarov having a tighter group but just off to one side. This was good news since both guns do not have adjustable sights! They also scored very well in the velocity department shooting over their advertised claimed feet per second rating. The Umarex BB version shot a very respectable 390 fps while the KWC Airsoft pistol shot a very surprising 480 fps well over the claimed factory 430 fps. Both guns also shot very accurately out to ranges of 50 feet or so. From a single CO2 I was able to get 162 shots from the Umarex Makarov and 112 shots from the KWC Makarov before I noticed a significant power drop.
Build Quality: Neither one these Makarov replicas is going to win a prize for build quality, some shortcuts have been made to keep the price down on each model, but they are both built with mostly metal parts and they both performed perfectly for me during my testing. The Umarex 4.5mm Steel BB Makarov did have more moving parts while the KWC did weigh in a bit heavier, both guns had reasonable fit and finish to them.
Realism: In terms of being good Makarov replicas the pair for sure look the part, size and overall weight are very true to the original real Steel Makarov PM with the Umarex Makarov having a working slide, Makarov licensing and the ability to be field stripped. The KWC Makarov had a nicer recessed barrel and full size drop out metal magazine. I was not a big fan of the KWC screws on the right side slide or the Umarex exposed CO2 tab.
KWC may shoot a bit too hot for CQB Airsoft games.
Both guns do not have adjustable sights.
Comments:
To be honest when I got the KWC Airsoft BB shooting Makarov, I was not all that awe struck, the lack of a working slide, DOA trigger and screw holes in the slide put me off just a bit. This Airsoft pistol did warm up to me a lot once I shot it, I was surprised by the very high fps and how accurate it was for such a low cost Airsoft pistol. I can really see this gun being used as a backup or sidearm in an out doors style Airsoft game where you may need to shoot targets out at range where other lower powered pistols just would not be able to get out to. The Umarex Makarov has always had a place in my heart, it is just a really good little CO2 BB pistol for the price with mostly all metal parts, a working slide, single and double action trigger and very good overall performance. In my books you can not go wrong choosing either of these Makarov replicas so choose wisely!
My Vimeo Video Table Top Comparison Review for these Makarov Air Replicas:
This is not meant to be a full review of either the BB or Airsoft version of the Cybergun - KWC CO2 Blowback Mini UZI's but I do talk about specifications, show you around both guns, and put them both through a full Field Test so I guess in a way, perhaps it can be considered to be a full review ;)
I will list the specifications here for you but I am not going to get into details like Trigger Pull, Build Quality, Accuracy and Realism. You can check out my other video reviews for more information on the Mini UZI:
As I said you can check out all my other videos for info on these very accurate Mini UZI Replicas, I mainly want to go over some of the main differences and similarities for both the BB and Airsoft versions.
In terms of build quality they are made almost exactly the same and weigh in at a hefty near 5 pounds, the only differences are the inner barrel and magazines to accommodate the different sized ammo. The BB version has a 25 round single stack magazine that does not have a follower to stop the bolt from continuing to operate even after the magazine is empty. While the 6mm Airsoft version has a double stack magazine that holds 38 rounds and does have a follower to stop the bolt which can save you some unintentional wasted CO2.
The Airsoft Mini UZI version is distributed by KWC while the 4.5mm BB version is distributed by Cybergun, you will find the UZI and IWI licensing on the Cybergun 4.5mm BB version but not on the KWC 6mm Airsoft version.
Out of the box the KWC Airsoft Mini UZI is ready to go in both semi auto and full auto while the 4.5mm steel BB version will only shoot in semi auto mode, it can however be easily modded to shoot in full auto.
Both guns come in cardboard boxes with manuals, some BB's and an Allen key to tighten the CO2. The KWC Airsoft Mini UZI also comes with a handy speed loader.
There is a slight fps velocity difference between the two with the KWC Airsoft 6mm plastic rounds traveling at around 400 fps (with .20 gram BB's) and the 4.5mm Steel BB's traveling at right around 350 fps. In the field test portion I test both guns out on some water filled cans to see how each ammo type performs in terms of penetration.
Your best bet is to watch both my Table Top and Field Test Comparison Video Reviews and see for yourself how they compare!
For the most part, this video is to test out some cameras and using them all together in a multi-camera scenario. I wanted to see how many camera angles I could shoot at one time and see how they would all work together when editing the video.
Cameras used:
My new Pivothead Recon Camera Glasses.
Sony HDR-AS15 Action Cam.
Drift HD170 Point of View Camera.
Nikon 1 with 10mm fixed lens.
Casio TRYX.
*All cameras where shooting in 1080p for this video.
I hope to use camera setups like this in the future, maybe not all at once but at least a couple at a time to give you some viewing options.
I picked out my WE SCAR GBB Airsoft Rifle for this test as it had a lot of mounting points and the Gas Blow Back makes for some great video action. Unfortunately My WE SCAR was not working at 100% but I still think I was able to pull off this test video either way.
Watch my Multi-Camera-Angle Test Video shooting the WE SCAR GBB AIrsoft Rifle:
The KWC/Cybergun Model 1911 Blowback BB Pistols and Airsoft Pistols are very popular and so I tend to get lots of questions about them like: Are they the same quality? What version shoots the best? How do I remove the white warning lettering? Can I get one in an Airsoft version? Can I add a laser or tactical light? Can I change the grips...
So in this YouTube video I compare all four existing KWC and Cybergun model 1911's showing you the Cybergun Tanfoglio Witness 1911 in 4.5mm Steel BB, the KWC Model 1911 and Model 1911 A1 Tac also in 4.5mm Steel BB and lastly the KWC Model 1911 in 6mm Airsoft plastic BB.
Watch my Vimeo Video of these four KWC and Cybergun Model 1911 4.5mm Steel BB and Airsoft CO2 Blowback Pistols:
We just added some Baikal producst to the Canada Replica Airguns Store, we even have the already full auto modded Baikal Drozd Blackbird ready to shoot 1200 rounds per minut.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the KJWORKS KP-05 is what you would expect from a true 1911 single action only trigger, it has very little take up with a smooth crisp and light release to it.
Accuracy: I shot the KJWORKS KP-05 from 20 feet out in semi rested position and got very good test results. I was able to place 10 rounds in under 1.5 inches and getting four shots right in the bullseye making the shot placement very good even without adjusting the sights (which can be adjusted for windage). The KJWORKS HP-05 1911 styled HI-CAPA Airsoft Replica shot right around 300 fps range while conducting my 5 shot average chrony testing which was surprisingly low for the CO2 magazine version, this may have been a temperature or CO2 related condition, when I conduct my full Field Test Shooting Review, I will review this and see if we can do better? I also got two full 30 round magazines worth of shots which is what you would expect from this style of full heavy blowback airsoft pistol.
Build Quality: I am extremely impressed with the build quality of all the KJWORKS Airsoft guns so far, the fit and finish is the best around on any of my guns including my 4.5mm steel BB shooters. After shooting several magazines worth of BB's, areas that are painted like the metal friction areas show very light wear which is rarely the case with metal built blowback airguns. Again the tolerances between the moving parts like the slide and frame are very tight showing excellent workmanship and machining from KJWORKS.
Realism: The KJWORKS KP-05 6mm Airsoft pistol is a replica of a High Capacity styled tactical 1911 45 Auto and is a great looking and functioning replica. You will not find any actual licensing on this pistol and the CO2 magazine does stick out a bit to accommodate the 12 gram CO2 but other than that this Airsoft pistol looks and works near exactly like a real 1911 tactical semi auto and is fully field strip-able. I really like the updated more tactical add ons like the tactical rail, machined trigger and hammer, white dot adjustable sights, wrap around grips and ambidextrous safety.
All metal pistol with good overall realistic weight to it.
Full heavy blowback operation.
Typical KJWORKS excellent fit and finish.
High capacity magazine 30 rounds.
Very good accuracy and well centered on target.
Nice replica of a High Capacity Tactical 1911 styled pistol.
I like the stainless highlights and ambidextrous safety and Rail for accessories.
Fully field strip-able.
Cons:
Shot a bit low Feet Per Second for me - should do better?
CO2 magazine is long to accommodate the 12 gram CO2.
Slide is heavy enough but seems to be a bit sluggish which is kind of a 1911 trademark so that can be taken as good or bad.
Comments:
The KJWORKS KP-05 1911HI-CAPA is another excellent full blowback Airsoft pistol from KJWORKS. The HP-05 is a classic upgraded more modernized version of the 1911 semi auto pistol which is a great foundation to build any pistol from. I found the CO2 usage to be decent on the KP-05 but felt that I should have been able to get more fps out of this pistol, I will be testing the KJWORKS KP-05 again and hope to see some better results in this area. With that aside, the KP-05 1911 HI-CAPA is a great shooter and as is, with its high capacity magazine would be a perfect sidearm for any Airsoft related squirmish or even just for honing up your shooting skills when getting to the gun range is not an option.
Ammunition Capacity: 18 round full size metal magazine.
FPS: 320.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the KWC M1911 A1 Tac blowback BB Pistol is exactly what you would expect from a true single action 1911 styled pistol. It has a short take up and then a nice light and crisp pull to it. Because of the similar mechanics not only to the trigger but other aspects of this gun, it would make an awesome low cost trainer to be used when your real 1911 can not be.
Accuracy: I shot the KWC M1911 A1 Tac BB gun at a target from 20 feet away in a semi rested position, and it performed well getting a 2 inch grouping just a bit off center of the target. The sights are adjustable for windage so zeroing the KWC M1911 A1 Tac in would not be much of a problem! My initial Chrony testing puts this gun right in the 300-320 fps range which is just fine for this style of heavy full realistic blowback action BB shooter. I also managed to get three very good magazine worth of shots with some extra CO2 left for a potential 4th magazine. If you slow your shooting down and let the gun and CO2 warm up between magazines you can get 4 magazines with this gun for sure.
Build Quality: KWC did a great job with the KWC M1911 A1 Tac. The quality and build characteristics may even be just a bit better than my other KWC/Cybergun blowback air pistols. Everything that should be metal is the same on this as the original, the slide and barrel wiggle are minimal and the finish seems to be wearing fairly well on this KWC airgun. I do expect over time fore some of the finish to wear off on the high points but this can also give the gun some character ;)
Realism: The KWC M1911 A1 Tac BB airgun is as close as you can get to the real steel 1911 A1 45 auto but with an obvious more modern Tactical look to it, the Tactical version has the addition of a: Tac style trigger and hammer, textured grips, ambidextrous safety, adjustable white dot sights, rail for accessories. This gun is nearly all metal with very heavy blowback making it feel real to hold in the hand and shoot.
All metal construction - Good weight and solid feeling gun.
Nice heavy blowback action.
Very Accurate 1911 A1 styled replica in many way.
True 1911 Single action trigger, excellent pull, very smooth and light.
Accurate trigger design and working grip safety.
Decent accuracy, not too bad amount off shots for this style of gun about 3+ good magazines.
All metal full size dropout magazine.
Love the upgraded Tactical features (Tac style trigger and hammer, textured grips, ambidextrous safety, adjustable white dot sights, rail for accessories)
Cons:
Sacrifice fps and shots per CO2 because of the heavy blowback but worth it.
Finish on the Cybergun and KWC guns can ware off on the high points a bit but some people like this look.
Comments:
I love my Cybergun Tanfoglio Witness 1911 as do many of you based on the amount of sales we have had on that unit! After all who does not appreciate such an accurate replica of the Classic Colt 1911 A1 45 auto? The only problem with the classic 1911 is that it is missing a few of todays more modern features and that's what is so nice abut the new KWC M1911 A1 Tac BB Pistol, it takes an all ready great design and makes it even better by adding the Tac style trigger and hammer, textured grips, ambidextrous safety, adjustable white dot sights and rail for add on accessories. So if you're a 1911 fan looking for as close as you can get to the real steel in a more modern version than look no further, this is it!
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the ASG Bersa BP9CC is light due to its true blowback operation that cocks the internal striker back with each shot taken. For some reason there is a slight creepiness in the trigger when the metal magazine is loaded, but it does not effect the lighter weight of the trigger pull. There is also a fair amount of take-up but the reset is short.
Accuracy: I shot the ASG Bersa BP9CC Blowback Airgun at a target from 20 feet away in a semi rested position, and it performed well getting a 2 inch grouping fairly centered on the target. The sights are non-adjustable, but for me there was no real need to adjust them. My initial Chrony testing puts this gun right in the 350 fps range.
Build Quality: ASG did another great job with the Bersa BP9CC, quality and build characteristics are very similar to my CZ 75 P-07 DUTY reviewed earlier. Everything that should be metal and polymer is the same on this as the original, and the fit and finish is very good in general!
Realism: The ASG Bersa BP9CC BB gun is as close as you can get to the real steel version while still retaining a good overall working airgun, the only real giveaway is the slightly longer but-plate on the magazine (most likely to allow for the CO2 screw tab). It looks very much like the real deal right down to the licensed Bersa trademarks and the 9x19 caliber markings on the slide and ejection port.
Good power and decent accuracy for a blowback gun with good usage of CO2.
Very well made, fit and finish is very good.
Very usable white dot sights.
All metal dropout magazine.
Gun feels great in the hand, love the thin profile.
Cons:
Magazine but plate is a bit on the long side, only telltale sign. also has strange moulding marks on it.
Trigger is a bit creepy when you have a loaded magazine and if you very slowly pull the trigger a BB can drop out of the barrel if holding downward.
Blowback is mild because of the lighter slide and reduced blowback movement.
Comments:
There are few smaller blowback air pistols that not only look great but perform well, this is one of them! I love the thin profile and overall operation of this pistol, for that very same reason the real steel version is doing exceptionally well here in North America which would make this airgun version a must have for any owners of the 9mm Bersa BP9CC. I highly recommend the ASG Bersa BP9CC 4.5mm BB Blowback Pistol to anyone looking for a very good quality and realistic BB pistol that does not compromise performance and build quality.
I am happy to report back to you on all the new cool stuff I got to see at this years 2013 SHOT Show in Las Vegas. Make sure to also watch my Vimeo video at the bottom of this post for some first person styled play by play of my experience at the Vegas SHOT Show 2013. (like you're there with me ;)
First up I want to cover a new gun from ASG, I have been wanting to get my hands on the 4.5mm Bersa BP9CC and I finally got to, not only did I get my hands on it but ASG was kind enough to supply me with one to take home for review. You can get the Bersa BP9CC in both Blowback and non-blowback versions and also in either BB or Airsoft. I opted for the 4.5mm BB Blowback version. I will be reviewing this BB gun very soon!
ASG also had a very cool prototype of an Airsoft CZ Scorpion EVO 3A1 hopefully coming out soon.
While roaming around SHOT Show 2013, I came across an interesting booth from FlashFog Security. I often get people asking me about using an airgun as a home defense weapon and I strongly advise against this. If the intruder is not scared off by the gun there is little an airgun can do to actually stop them. The FlashFog system works by rapidly filling a room with dense fog combined with a strobe light effect which blinds and disorients intruders completely. There is little an intruder can do other then try and get the heck out of there!
UPDATE: FlashFog just added a new section to their website specifically for School Security to help keep our schools safer from potential safety threats! So check it out: School Security Smoke Screen
I was a bit surprised by Gamo this year, they tend to stay away from actual Replica's and generally make BB/Pellet guns that look like popular guns but not any gun in particular. Gamo has a new BB/Pellet MP9 based machine pistol that uses a similar mechanism to their P-25 and PT-85 so it can shoot both 4.5mm BB's and .177 caliber Pellets using a double ended 16 shot rotary magazine. It also has an internal blowback system so it should have some recoil feel to it! I am pretty sure it is semi auto only but still a nice addition to their lineup!
Gamo also brought out a new 4.5mm BB Blowback pistol called the C-15 which has a metal slide and plastic frame, it kind of reminds me of the Umarex HPP in how it looks and feels.
Umarex had several new products that I am sure everyone is going to like! One that I think will do really well is the Steel Force, the Steel Force is designed around the 4.5mm BB shooting Steel Storm platform so it has a 6 round burst blowback operation and holds the 2x12 gram CO2 in the magazine while the BB's go in a 300 round hopper that feeds into a 30 round spring fed internal magazine. Like the Steel Storm it will shoot around 430 fps. The Steel Force has the advantage of being styled after the AR platform so it has a collapsible stock which will make shooting very easy.
Another often asked for airgun replica is the historic German Luger. This year Umarex stepped up to the plate and introduced the Umarex P.08 4.5mm BB pistol. Sorry, no blowback or even a working slide on this one but it is all metal and has a very good weight and feel to it.
If you're a fan of the entry level Umarex XBG then you may be interested in the new Umarex T.D.P. 45 which is very similar to the XBG in looks and features but with a slightly different look to it.
If you've ever wanted to turn your pistol into more of a PDW styled gun, you may be able to depending on which Umarex gun you have? Umarex added a very cool accessory called the T.A.C Converter that converts your Umarex HK USP (BB-Airsoft), SW MP40 (BB), XBG (BB), CZ Enforcer (Airsoft) and Walther P99 DOA (Airsoft) into more of a tactical (PDW) or Personal Defense Weapon complete with for-grip, adjustable rear sight, lots of rail options and a foldable stock.
I am assuming the Crosman M4-177 Pellet/BB Rifle has been doing well for Crosman as they have expanded with some more similar assault styled air rifles. The Crosman MSR77NP pretty much looks like a classic M16 but is in fact a Nitro Piston break barrel pellet rifle able to shoot .177 caliber pellets at 1200 fps (I hope there is a 499 fps Canada version planned too?).
A new takeoff of the M4-177 is the MK-177 which also shoots .177 caliber pellets and 4.5mm BB's using a multi-Pump System but it uses an upgraded more efficient pump system that squeaks out more fps with less pumps. The Crosman MK-177 is designed after the FN SCAR and is available in an adjustable iron sight version or a Red Dot equipped kit version.
One thing you can never get enough of in my opinion is another 1911 pistol! Crosman is introducing their GI Model 1911BB Blowback 4.5mm CO2 pistol, the one they had on hand was more of a prototype so the slide was not operational but it will feature an all metal design, blowback operation, 450 fps and a 20 round drop out magazine. I am sorry to say but it looks like the Crosman C51 has been dropped from Crosman's lineup but if you want a similar styled gun you can checkout the KWC SW40F which is a very close airsoft version.
We recently started carrying G&G Armament Airsoft guns, you can checkout my review of the Xtreme 45. I did stop by their booth and they had some new products on display, the M1 Grand (all wood stock) Airsoft had it's magwell all wrapped up as G&G had a propriety magazine system they did not want their competition to see. G&G also had some very interesting targets that light up, when shot they would react by individually turning off so you could see if you hit it or not.
There was a rather large crowd at the KWA booth but it was a shared booth so it's hard to say what everyone was looking at, the KWA area was pretty full, I did talk to the KWA rep and asked him point blank if KWC and KWA where the same or sister companies and the answer was not at all. There are often a lot of guns that look like they could be from the same company, I guess there is a lot of copying going on ;) One gun from KWA I would love to get my hands on is the Kriss SMG!
Now keep in mind many of these guns I have highlighted today are not available yet and a lot of them should be coming out in the spring time frame so please try to refrain from repeatedly asking when I will review them and have them in the store, it takes time and as much as we all want them now, they get here when they get here!
Watch my Vimeo video of the Replica Aiguns at SHOT Show Vegas 2013
