This is not exclusive to Airguns since trends of Airguns are highly influenced by what type of Real Steel Pistols are popular to people. This is often based on what people see portrayed in movies and TV Series, and also promoted online. There is for sure an overlap in what is popular and it is hard to say what is influencing what? Is it the popularity of Pistols out in the real world that influences what we see being used in the movies and on TV? Or is it what we see in Movies and TV that influences our choices of pistols out in the real world? Perhaps it is a combination of both?
My list is based on my own personal experience and does not represent the entirety of types of Pistol designs available.
As always I placed a brand new C02 in the Gamo P-430 CO2 Dual Ammo BB Pellet Pistol to get maximum power and the temperature was around 21 degrees Celsius or about 70 degrees Fahrenheit which is warm enough to get good velocity results but not hot enough for maximum fps so keep that in mond. I deiced to shoot 4 Steel BB’s, and 4 Lead Pellets through my chronograph and averaged the velocities out for each ammo type. The Steel BB’s weigh about 5.1 grain while the Lead Pellets weigh a bit over 7 grain so I was expecting to see higher numbers with the BB’s which is exactly what I got but not near as high as the claimed 495 fps.
My actual velocity result for Lead Pellets was a 4 shot average of 332 fps with the slowest being 313 and the fastest shot hitting 359. For steel BB’s I was able to average 346 fps so not a lot faster at the end of the day but close. My slowest Steel BB Chronograph reading was 342 with the fastest shot at 356 which was actually just a bit slower than the Lead Pellet fastest velocity reading. Lead Pellets tend to seal in the barrel better than Steel BB’s so even though they are a bit heavier they still get pretty close velocity readings to BB’s since the less CO2 blows by the ammo with Lead Pellets.
Sine the Gamo P-430 CO2 Dual Ammo BB Pellet Pistol has a double sided rotary magazine that holds 8 rounds on each end, I loaded one side with BB’s and one side with Pellets and proceeded to see how tight of a grouping each ammo type was capable of with 8 rounds. As expected again the Lead Pellets performed better getting about a 1.5 inch grouping well centered up a down on the bullseye but a tad to the left of it. The Steel BB’s did spread out somewhat getting closer to a 4 inch grouping that this time was better centered side to side but a little bit low of the Bullseye. Out of the box the sights seem to be fairly well centered which is nice since they are not adjustable.
So the Gamo P-430 CO2 Dual Ammo BB Pellet Pistol isn’t the flashiest Replica Airgun out there, maybe not the most powerful or accurate Airgun either but it is fun to shoot and does offer more options in terms of ammo choices when shooting. Velocity is really close between Steel BB’s and Lead Pellets and since the Lead Pellets are about 2 grain heavier they will have more energy downrange when they hit a target. The Lead Pellets also performed better in the accuracy department and shot a respectable 1.5 inch 8 shot grouping so if this was my Airgun I would probably go with Lead Pellets as long as I had some on hand, but if all you have around is Steel BB’s than at least you can keep on shooting which is what it’s really about at the end of the day.
Type: Non-blowback CO2 BB and Pellet Pistol. Manufacturer: Distributed by Gamo. Model:P-430. Materials: Mostly plastic. Weight: .94 pounds (427 grams). Total Length: 8 inches (203mm). Barrel: 4.75 inches (121mm) metal non-rifled. Propulsion: CO2 x 1. Action: Semi auto non-blowback, DOA trigger. Ammunition Type: .4.5mm steel BB’s and .177 caliber pellets. Ammunition Capacity: 16 round drop out plastic stick magazine. FPS: Claimed 495.
Trigger Pull: The Gamo P-430 CO2 Dual Ammo BB Pellet Pistol is typical of a double action tiger in that it is a longer trigger pull that requires more effort to pull. The Gamo P-430 trigger is I would say good for a DOA trigger as it is not overly heavy and does allow for fairly quick rapid fire shooting. The trigger pull not only cocks the hammer, it also rotates the rotary magazine on either end of the stick magazine so there is a lot going on here but it still is not overly heavy which is nice.
Accuracy: I have yet to shoot the Gamo P-430 CO2 Dual Ammo BB Pellet Pistol or performed my standard Field Test shooting Video so I can not comment at this time on the performance other than what is claimed in terms of fps. Which if accurate will be one of the more powerful CO2 BB/Pellet guns, but we will see when I do my Field Test Shooting video. Accuracy is not claimed so hopefully the accuracy out of the box is as good as the claimed fps…
Build Quality: The Gamo P-430 CO2 Dual Ammo BB Pellet Pistol is a pretty much all plastic Airgun with only a few metal parts I can make out. The trigger is metal along with the inner barrel and the area where the CO2 goes in. Because of the plastic build, it is fairly light weight which can actually be good in a fall as the mass is low resulting in less damage if you were to drop it on a hard surface. Scratches will also be less noticeable on a plastic Airgun over a metal Airgun as the material on a plastic Airgun is all black rather than a painted surface that will show blemishes a lot more. The simplicity of the design means you should get a lot of shots from the Gamo P-430 CO2 Dual Ammo BB Pellet Pistol before encountering any problems.
Realism: The Gamo P-430 CO2 Dual Ammo BB Pellet Pistol is not a replica of a specific real steel gun in production but it does share a lot of cosmetic characteristics as a Sig Sauer Pistol such as the M17 and P226. There are few external mechanical working parts on the Gamo P-430 other than the trigger, safety and magazine release and as mentioned already the Gamo P-430 CO2 Dual Ammo BB Pellet Pistol is rather light weigth which takes away from the realism. The barrel is slightly recessed and the CO2 tab is hidden in the grip which helps in terms of realism.
Pros:
Claimed high velocity of 495 fps.
Expect lots of shots per CO2 as compared to a blowback Airgun.
Simple design means it will have less to go wrong over time.
Picatinny rail for add on accessories.
Can use either 4.5mm Steel BB’s or .177 caliber pellets.
Cross bolt safety to prevent accidental shots.
Has a Sig Sauer like look to it which is a good thing.
Double ended stick magazine works well and does not add too much friction to the trigger pull.
Well hidden CO2 Screw, no tools required.
Fit and warning instructions on Airgun is embossed and color matched so it is very subtle.
Cons:
Mostly all plastic Build.
No white dot sights so will be harder to see on darker backgrounds, also not adjustable.
Light weight with no blowback action so not as good realism and a cheaper feel to it.
Trigger is a bit long but not crazy heavy.
Comments:
I personally prefer blowback Airguns that have a more solid weight and feel to them, but again there is a lot more that can go wrong and parts tend to wear out over usage a lot quicker than a more simple design like in the case of the Gamo P-430 CO2 Dual Ammo BB Pellet Pistol. Price is also going to be a lot less when looking at the Gamo P-430 as the plastic build is a lot cheaper to produce. On the other hand these non-blowback CO2 airguns do tend to have a much higher velocity and also generally you will also get more shots per CO2 than a similar CO2 Blowback Pistol so you have to give to get, it really depends what features you want more and in this case you also get a more cost effective Air Pistol with plenty of shooting enjoyment.
In this Update Preview Video I take a look at three CO2 Air Pistols from ASG, Gamo and Barra. All shoot 4.5mm steel BB’s and one can also shoot .177 caliber pellets. two of them have blowback action. Two are also styled after the popular 1911 Semi Auto Pistol. The ASG 1911 has a unique magazine and chambering system that is the first I have seen of this in a Blowback Airgun. It offers with blowback operation along higher fps and a nice light semi auto trigger, which is a combination not offered in many Airguns.
Airguns are generally cheaper to buy and for sure cheaper to shoot. Airguns can cost as little as $50-100 to buy while real guns in similar models will cost many time more. Cost of ammo is so much less expensive than Real Gun ammo by a mile!
Difficulty to Obtain:
Airguns in most countries do not require any licensing or registration. Generally there are more available options in Airgun choices than Real Gun choices as restrictions often prohibit many Real Guns to be obtained.
Places to Shoot:
Unless you live in a super remote locations and your laws allow you to shoot Real Guns in those locations, then in most cases you can shoot an Airgun almost anywhere within reason. You can even shoot certain Airgun models in your basement. Airsoft is a great option for indoor shooting as the plastic ammo does not carry very much energy so with minimal effort you can make a backstop that will trap the ammo very well.
Trigger Time:
Because ammo is much less expensive and places you can shoot are easier to find, you can get a lot more Trigger Time under your belt which will also improve your shotgun with Real Guns and after all it’s just fun to shoot guns even if they are Airguns.
Safety:
I am not talking about safety in terms of protection. I am talking about safety as in if you do something stupid and your Gun goes off accidentally. If you accidentally fire your Airgun indoors, the bullet will not travel through floors or walls and potentially harm or kill someone on the other side. If you do manage to shoot yourself with an Airgun, the consequence are much less severe than shooting yourself with a Real Gun. That said, always treat an Airgun as if it was a Real Loaded Gun, as server injury and even death can occur even with an Airgun.
Ware Games and Training Situations:
There is no way you can use a standard Real Gun to shoot at people, unless extensively altered with special parts that make the Real Gun unusable to shoot live ammo. With Airguns you have the choice of using an Airsoft or Paintball gun that are both designed specifically for this purpose.
Pest Control:
If you have the need for pest control in an urban area where you do not want a stray bullet to travel too far or penetrate buildings if a shot where to go awry, then an Airgun designed for accuracy and power may be perfect for the job. Accuracy with target and hunting Airguns is on par if not better than many Real Guns and are have powerful enough to kill a pest humanely without having too much power for the job and having to worry as much about your background.
Prop Guns:
As mentioned already, Airguns can look a lot like Real Guns, so they are perfect to be used as a stand-in or Prop Gun when you need to simulate the look and function of a Real Gun. Again they are easier and cheaper to obtain and if something does go wrong, the consequences are much less severe.
Social Stigma:
Unfortunately Real Guns and perhaps any gun these days are looked upon with a social stigma as being the cause of the Crime rather than a tool used in a Crime. And so people blame Guns for these crimes rather than the people committing these crimes. If a person is motivated enough to do something bad, they are going to do it either way and will use whatever means is available to them to commit these Crimes. Including other means like: Knives, Blunt Objects, Poisons, Vehicles, Explosives… Sad but true! Airguns are not used in homicides or mass shootings as they are completely underpowered for a crime like this. They can however be used in crimes as a show of threat, as they do look a lot like real guns, generally people that use Airguns for real crimes, if challenged will give up immediately as they are completely outgunned. Don’t bring an Airgun to a Real Gun fight, you have better chance with a knife!
In this Comparison Video I show several models of Glock Replica Airguns distributed under the Umarex/Glock license. Umarex has brought to market several Glock Replica Airguns to date including BB, Pellet, Airsoft and even Paintball versions in a variety of models. I showcase only a few of these models in this video but it is a good selection to give most people an idea of what is available from our Replica Airguns website in terms of Glock Pistols.
The Umarex Glock 17 Gen 5 CO2 Blowback Pellet Pistol is a looker for sure replicating the look of a Glock 17 Gen 5 which includes Umarex Glock licensing, lots of metal parts and solid blowback action. That’s all great but does it shoot good? In this Filed Test Shooting video for the Umarex Glock 17 Gen 5 CO2 Blowback Pellet Pistol I put it through its paces using my Chronograph to find out the real world velocity and I also place 10 shots on a paper target to see what kind of accuracy we can get from 30 feet away.
Starting with my power or velocity test I put 5 rounds through my Chronograph using lead pellets that where just over 7 gran. I was all using a brand new CO2 and the temperature being around 21 degrees Celsius or 70 degrees Fahrenheit, so not too hot or cold. Full disclaimer, I was having some feeding problems with the magazine at first but it did seem to sort itself out near the end of this review… All that said, I was able to get an average of 320 fps with my slowest shoot hitting 309 fps and my fastest shot hitting 327 fps, so pretty consistent overall.
I then moved on to my accuracy portion of the Field Test for the Umarex Glock 17 Gen 5 CO2 Blowback Pellet Pistol Luckily the pellet feeding and trigger seemed to work better for me during this portion of the test but the trigger pull was very unpredictable being super hard with some shots and rather easy for others. This is not ideal for getting a good accuracy result, but I did the best I could and surprisingly got around a 3 inch grouping with a very uncooperative trigger. My grouping did hit the target a little bit to the left but was well centered up and down.
I am not a fan of belt fed magazines over all even though Sig Sauer does seem to be able to pull them off better than anyone. Maybe Umarex needs to do a little bit more work here to get better trigger pull consistency and an overall lighter trigger pull. Maybe the Umarex Glock 17 Gen 5 CO2 Blowback Pellet Pistol needs a bit more break in time as it did seem to perform better near the end of my Field Test Review. I would also like to try adding some silicone lubrication ot the magazine as friction seems to be the enemy of belt fed magazines… I am not sure if the Umarex Glock 17 Gen 5 CO2 Blowback Pellet Pistol is a big recommendation for me or not, but it is a really decent CO2 Airgun in many ways. If you're willing to take a bit of a chance that the trigger will improve over time and perhaps a bit of lube will improve things then checkout the Umarex Glock 17 Gen 5 CO2 Blowback Pellet Pistol in our Canada and US online Replica Airguns Stores.
Type: Blowback CO2 Pellet Pistol. Manufacturer: Distributed by Umarex. Model:Glock 17 Gen 5. Materials: Metal & Polymer. Weight: 1.6 pounds (725 grams). Barrel: 4.5 inches metal non-rifled. Propulsion: CO2 x 1. Action: Semi auto blowback, DOA trigger. Ammunition Type: .177 caliber pellets. Ammunition Capacity: 21 round drop out full size metal magazine. FPS: Claimed 370.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Umarex Glock 17 Gen 5 CO2 Blowback Pellet Pistol is what I would describe as closer to a DOA (Double Action Only) trigger. The blowback action does retract the internal hammer/striker which does relieve some of the trigger pull but the trigger is also used to rotate the belt magazine which gives the trigger a kind of friction feel especially right at the end of the pull where the rotation occurs. That said it is not a terrible trigger like some other belt fed Airguns but it is certainly nutlike a standard SAO type Glock trigger.
Accuracy: At this point I have not shot the Umarex Glock 17 Gen 5 CO2 Blowback Pellet Pistol so I can only quote what Umarex is saying in terms of FP2 which is 370. That sounds a bit high for a pellet Airgun but they may be claiming this velocity using a light weight pellets perhaps made out of an alloy rather than lead? I guess we will find out the real world fps using lead pellets and also how accurate it will be when I do my Full Field Test Shooting Video.
Build Quality: The Umarex Glock 17 Gen 5 CO2 Blowback Pellet Pistol like most of the Umarex Glocks is very well made. I am thinking that Glock to allow Umarex to license Glock Pistols hammy have a quality control as part of this license agreement? Either way the Umarex Glock 17 Gen 5 CO2 Blowback Pellet Pistol is a solid and well built Airgun all around with quality material and very good fit and finish.
Realism: The Umarex Glock 17 Gen 5 CO2 Blowback Pellet Pistol in terms of realism as compared to a real steel Glock 19 Gen 5 for sure hits the mark in most categories. It is a bit lighter and you can not field strip it easily, there is also the not so much recessed barrel that is a bit of a giveaway but in terms of most other attributes the Umarex Glock 17 Gen 5 replicates a real Glock… Including the basic looks and feel, the metal slide and polymer frame, the full size drop out metal magazine, the blowback action and most of the working parts including the slide catch release, magazine release and trigger safety.
Pros:
Good weight and feel to it, build quality and fit and finish seem very good.
Really nice looking and full featured replica of the original Glock 17 Gen 5.
Fully Glock licensed via Umarex.
Easy to see white dot sights front and back.
Working trigger safety.
Accessory rail for adding a laser or tactical light.
Full size drop out metal magazine that holds the CO2 and .177 caliber pellets.
Nice high 21 round capacity.
Slide spring feels nice and heavy provide a decent blowback recoil effect.
Safety built into the serial number plate area keeps it well hidden.
Can see through ejection port when magazine is out.
Warning instruction are nice and discreet under trigger guard.
370 claimed fps is good for a CO2 blowback pellet pistol.
Cons:
Barrel is not really all that recessed.
No way to easily field strip it.
Don’t like the clam shell packaging.
Trigger is a bit on the heavy side.
Comments:
I think many of us having been waiting for a pellet shooting version of the Glock from Umarex. I am a bit surprised they went with a belt fed version as belt fed magazines tend to be a bit on the heavy trigger pull side. Yes the Umarex Glock 17 Gen 5 CO2 Blowback Pellet Pistol has a stronger trigger pull as compared to a 4.5mm BB or 6mm Airsoft version of the same Umarex gun, as most of these Umarex based Glocks utilize a SAO trigger which is more comparable to a real steel Glock. On the plus side the Pellet version should be a bit more accurate, but we will see how this pans out when I do my comprehensive Field Test Shooting Video for the Umarex Glock 17 Gen 5 CO2 Blowback Pellet Pistol.
Type: Paintball Shotgun. Manufacturer:Umarex - T4E. Model:Umarex T4E HDB. Materials: Metal & Polymer. Weight: 5.52 pounds (2.5 kg). Barrel: 18.5 inches (470.5mm) Metal smooth bore. Power Source: 1x12 gram CO2. Action: Semi Auto DOA with Internal Magazine. Ammo Type: .68 Caliber Paintball or Rubber Ball. Ammo Capacity: 16 Rounds. FPS: 220 claimed
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on Umarex T4E HDB .68 Caliber Paintball Shotgun is basically a Double Action Only Trigger as there is no blowback or way in which to preload a hammer or striker system. So basically your finger does all the work so the trigger pull is I would say about medium length and about medium pull. It does works just fine for fairly rapid follow up shooting. Each pull of the trigger also extends a rear breach-like tube that seals off the CO2 from the internal magazine or there would be a lot of CO2 leakage.
Accuracy: Normally I do not get the chance to perform the Field Test before making my Table Tope Video Review but with the Umarex T4E HDB .68 Caliber Paintball Shotgun, I did it the other way around so I do have performance metrics I can share with you, at least summarized. I suggest watching my Full Field Test Shooting Video Review for the Umarex T4E HDB .68 Caliber Paintball Shotgun for a the full breakdown. In summary, the Umarex T4E HDB .68 Caliber Paintball Shotgun shot a bit low on the target but had a decent grouping of I would say around 4-6 inches which is really good for a Paintball Gun. In terms of power my Chronograph results shooting 5 rounds produced an average of 176fps but the temperature was not super warm so in warmer conditions you can expect this to go up a bit, I would say 200fps is realistic.
Build Quality: The build quality of the Umarex T4E HDB .68 Caliber Paintball Shotgun is really good for the lower price of this unit compared to other higher priced T4E products, you will get a pretty much all plastic outer shell. That said there is still a fair amount of metal in this PaintBall Shotgun including the barrel, internal magazine, sights, trigger, sling mounts and some internal parts. All in all the Umarex T4E HDB .68 Caliber Paintball Shotgun has a good weight and feel to it with nice fit and finish.
Realism: The Umarex T4E HDB .68 Caliber Paintball Shotgun as far as I know is not an exact replica of any specific Shotgun but it does look like what you would expect to see from a Pistol Grip Tactical Styled Shotgun. In terms of mechanical working parts everything does what it supposed to do and works as expected.
Accuracy was really good, probably my tightest grouping so far to date with a Paintball Gun shooting at 30 feet away.
Lots of mounting option for accessories like a tac light, laser or other sighting option with it’s top and side picatinny rail and M-LOK setup.
Quick CO2 pierce system so you can leave a CO2 in it ready to go any time with no worries about CO2 leaking out over time.
Simple to use Cross Bolt Safety.
Nice high capacity super easy to load 16 round magazine.
Ambidextrous sling mountain points.
Low cost for what you get compared to other Umarex/T4E products.
Build quality feels pretty good considering it is a much lower cost than other T4E rifles/shotguns.
Looks very intimidating.
Cons:
Mostly plastic external build.
Sights are not adjustable.
Will not get lots of shots per single CO2.
No rear stock so will not be as accurate using a non rested shooting posting.
Comments:
The Umarex T4E HDB .68 Caliber Paintball Shotgun is a well built and decent performing Paintball Shotgun and for the price you do get a lot of gun for your money. In some ways it even outperforms the HDX in my books including lower price, ease to load, quicker follow shots being semi auto, more compact size and even accuracy was better with the Umarex T4E HDB .68 Caliber Paintball Shotgun. So if you’re on a budget, don’t feel like you are compromising at all here, you are getting a really good Paintball Shotgun solution!
In this Field Test Shooting Video I test out the Umarex T4E HDB .68 Caliber Paintball Shotgun to see what the actual fps is and what kind of accuracy we can get out of these .68 Caliber Rubber balls at 30 feet down range. I have not done a Table Top Video just yet for the Umarex T4E HDB .68 Caliber Paintball Shotgun so stay posted for that upcoming video so stay posted for that, in the meantime you can watch my Preview Videos where I do show it up and close and go over some main specifications.
Starting with the velocity portion of this video I used .68 caliber rubber balls which are not super heavy and not made out of a very hard rubber as you can squish them with your fingers fairly easily. I put 5 rounds through my chronograph after loading a pair of 12 gram CO2 cartriges into the CO2 chamber. My results averaged 176fps which may seem slower than expected but they did hit my target pretty hard pulling the paper in with them. Each round was fairly consistent ranging from 167 to 182 fps trailing off a bit after each shot which is expected.
Moving on to the accuracy portion for the Umarex T4E HDB .68 Caliber Paintball Shotgun, I proceeded to shoot around 10 rounds into my fresh paper target setup 30 feet down range. My target is basically an 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper and my goal was ot get all my shots onto the paper which I easily managed. I was impressed with the grouping from the Umarex T4E HDB .68 Caliber Paintball Shotgun as it performed better than most Paintball guns using rubber balls. The shot placement was a bit lower than I was aiming but all the rounds where within I would say 4-5 inches of each other with no real outliers in the grouping.
All in all the Umarex T4E HDB .68 Caliber Paintball Shotgun performed better than I was expecting, I bit more fps would be nice but the rubber balls do hit the paper with a fair amount of energy, I would for sure not want to get hit by one at close range with light clothing on. The accuracy again was really good for a a paintball rifle and this being one of the lower cost Umarex T4E rifle/shotgun based products it performed as good if not better than much higher priced versions. If you’re looking for a fun Paintball Rifle that won’t break the bank and has a good feature set then pick one up for us!
In this Preview Review Video I take a look at 4 newer products now in our Replica Airguns Online Store. One is a 4.5mm Steel BB Revolver, two are 6mm Airsoft Pistols and one is a .68 caliber Paintball Shotgun.
The first item I take look at in this video is the Umarex HK30 AEG Airsoft Pistol, this product is pretty entry level with analyst all plastic build and is very light to hold. It does however shoot in both semi and full auto since it is an AEG Airsfto Pistol (not many of them out there). The fps is rather low at a claimed fps at just under 200, the Umarex HK30 AEG Airsoft Pistol also comes with two 16 round remove; plastic magazines. Who knows, maybe it will be fun?
Next I take a look at the ASG Dan Wesson 2.5 inch 4.5mm Steel BB Gold Revolver. This is a CO2 powered shell loading BB revolver very much like similar ones I have reviewed in the past but in Gold finish. Will the gold finishes make it perform better, well I guess we better find out!
I then take a look at a “Glock Like” CO2 Blowback Airsoft Pistol for KJWorks called the KP13. It has a full size drop out metal magazine that holds the CO2 along with 24 rounds of 6mm Airsoft BB’s. The KJWorks KP-13 has a metal slide, metal magazine and polymer frame with a velocity over 360fps using the included barrel extension.
Last but perhaps the most interesting for me is the Umarex T4E HDB which is a lower cost Paintball/Rubber Ball Shotgun which could possibly be used for home protection? The T4E HDB is a mostly plastic constructed rifle with decent weight to it and uses an internal spring fed 16 round magazine. You will find all kinds of mounting points for accessories and for a sling on the Umarex T4E HDB and again at much lower cost than similar T4E rifle based Paintball/Rubber ball Airguns.
Starting with what the actual velocity of the KWC 24/7 TAC Non-Blowback CO2 Pellet Pistol. I made sure to keep the Sea Can and Airgun nice and warm before making this test and I also placed a brand new 12 gram CO2 cartridge in it and went with lead pellets I am guesstimating where around 7 grain so not super heavy or super light, definitely not high velocity alloy pellets. I was a bit shocked that my average fps was no where near the claimed 360 fps. My 5 shot average came to 259 fps with a couple shots even shooting under 200 fps which I through out. Is that good enough for shorter range plinking? I would say so but but way off the claimed 360 fps. Maybe the manufacturers claim was using high velocity light weight alloy pellets?
Next as with all my Field Test Shooting Videos for the KWC 24/7 TAC Non-Blowback CO2 Pellet Pistol I performed my accuracy portion of the test and reloaded the 16 round magazine which is actually a dual 8 round rotary magazine you manually switch sides to unload all rounds. My first 8 shots for the most part where decently centered perhaps a bit to the right but the grouping was rather spread out close to a around 5 inches maybe even a bit more. I then rotated the magazine to the other side of fully loaded pellets and this time I had several malfunctions/jams where rounds did not rotate properly therefore getting squished rather than going down the barrel. I have a feeling this is a problem with this specific magazine as I had the same problem during my Velocity test. I even switched to pointed pellets for the accrual test from flat head pellets but it did not seem to help. The best I could do on this day with this gun was to get around a 5-6 inch grouping which is not very good for a pellet shooter at 30 feet out
As I mentioned in the video I only test the guns, I don’t make them and as with any product out there it is possible I got a lemon since it seems to me like only one side of the rotary magazine was giving me the problems with jamming pellets. That said even the side that was more consistent did not shoot a very tight grouping for me. If it was my money to spend and I wanted a 24/7 styled Replica Airgun I would probably go with the blowback CO2 BB version since I had a lot better performance from that pistol with the addition of blowback action and a much lighter single action trigger.
In this Field Test Shooting Review of the KWC PM Makarov Non-Blowback CO2 Pellet Pistol I find out what the actual Velocity is and how accurately I can shoot it at a paper target setup 30 feet down range. If you have not already watched my Table Top Review for the KWC PM Makarov Non-Blowback CO2 Pellet Pistol then make sure to do so to see some nice closeup video of it and all the details and specifications laid out for everyone.
Starting with what the actual velocity of the KWC PM Makarov Non-Blowback CO2 Pellet Pistol. I made sure to keep it nice and warm before making this test and I also placed a brand new 12 gram CO2 cartridge in it and went with lead pellets I am guesstimating where around 7 grain so not super heavy or super light, definitely not a high velocity pellets. I was a bit shocked that my average fps was no where near the claimed 340 fps. My 5 shot average came to 263 fps with the highest being 272 fps and the lowest being 256 fps. Is that good enough for shorter range plinking? For sure but far off the called 340 fps. Maybe the manufacturers claim was using high velocity super light weigth pellets?
Next I performed my accuracy portion of the test and reloaded the 12 round magazine which is actually a dual 6 round rotary magazine you manually switch sides to unload all rounds. My first 6 shots I pointed the KWC PM Makarov Non-Blowback CO2 Pellet Pistol right at the bulls eye and found out it shoot a bit on the low side so only two rounds actually made it on the paper. I then switched to the other 6 round rotary magazine and aimed a bit higher, this time I was able to get fairly well centered on the target and produce about a 3 inch grouping. So in other words no awards are going to be handed out for this pistol in terms of accuracy or power. By the way I was using my standard shooting stance which is with my hands stabilized on a sand bag up front and sitting on a stool in the back.
The KWC PM Makarov Non-Blowback CO2 Pellet Pistol is not listed as any sort of target pistol so I was not expecting world class performance but I was expecting it to shoot a little bit better than your average blowback CO2 BB shooter and it really didn’t at the end of the day. If you’re specifically looking for a pellet shooting Makarov then this will be your Airgun since I am pretty sure it is the only one out there at this time but personally I would go with one of the CO2 Blowback BB versions since they shoot a bit harder and are maybe even more accurate not to mention you also get that blowback recoil with a nice light single action trigger.
Type: Pellet Air Pistol. Distributer:KWC. Model: KWC 24/7 TAC NBB Pellet. Materials: Metal and polymer build. Weight: 1.76 pounds (799 grams). Barrel: Rifled steel. Propulsion: CO2 x1. Action: Semi auto non-blowback, double action only. Ammunition Type: .177 caliber pellets. Ammunition Capacity: 16 rounds (2x8). FPS: 360-370.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the KWC 24/7 TAC Non-Blowback CO2 Pellet Pistol is a bit on the medium to heavy side so it’s not going to make for the best action shooter as it is a double action only shooter when compared to a single action only trigger or a single and double action trigger. As with most double action triggers it is a bit longer and slightly heavy but not unusable, just be prepared to get a little bit of a finger workout.
Accuracy: I have not shot the KWC 24/7 TAC Non-Blowback CO2 Pellet Pistol just yet but will be doing so probably next week so stay posted for my Full Field Test Shooting Video for the KWC 24/7 TAC Non-Blowback CO2 Pellet Pistol. I expect it to perform well in terms of accuracy and power since there is no blowback operation to have to compensate for. Having a rifled barrel should also help with accuracy! We will see shortly.
Build Quality: The KWC 24/7 TAC Non-Blowback CO2 Pellet Pistol is built as expected just like all the other KWC Airguns. KWC has been making Airguns for a while not just for themselves but for other companies like Umarex, Gletcher, ASG, Crosman and even Sig Sauer and so quality control and durability have to stand up to these manufacturers standards. You will find metal on this gun where it matter. The slide, the full size drop out metal magazine and of course lots of internal parts. The frame, magazine release, trigger and safety are all plastic. I do like the feel of the rubberized grips for sure! Fit and finish is good overall and the fact that this is a fairly simple Airgun design with no blowback action or even a moving slide, so less moving parts means there is less chance for something to go wrong so it should last a while even with a fair amount of use.
Realism: The KWC 24/7 TAC Non-Blowback CO2 Pellet Pistol shares it’s looks with the Taurus 24/7 but is not an exact replica. The trigger guard is a bit different and so is the placement of the controls and even the slide and frame are not exact but very similar. In terms of size, weight and vernal overall design for sure the KWC 24/7 TAC Non-Blowback CO2 Pellet Pistol looks a lot like a Real Steel Taurus 24/7 at first glance.
Good weight and solid feeling gun. Lots of metal where you need it in the slide, magazine and other internals.
All metal full size drop out magazine holds CO2 and 16 pellets.
Decent looking replica (but not bang on) of a Taurus 24/7.
Not a lot of writing on the gun, very clean looking (Non Ranger version).
Recessed barrel helps with look of realism.
Fiber Optic front and back sights for easy sight acquisition.
Rifled barrel will help with accuracy.
Non-blowback operation with increased fps and CO2 efficiency.
Rail on top of slide and frame for lots of accessory add on options.
Double action trigger is long but not overly heavy so should be OK for action shooting.
Cons:
No blowback, slide is fixed and does not move but can be removed with a tool for internal access and cleaning.
No single action shooting so may not be the most accurate for slowed down shooting.
Sights are not adjustable but you can add an adjustable red dot to it using the rail setup.
Hard to tell when out of ammo, have to listen to the sound or count shots.
Comments:
It is nice to see more full size drop out metal magazine Replica Pellet Pistols coming out in the Airgun market just liek the KWC Makarov PM I just reviewed. Generally speaking most are going to be non-blowback but there are a few blowback options. That said a Non-blowback CO2 Pellet Pistol like the KWC 24/7 TAC Non-Blowback CO2 Pellet Pistol will typically give you a high velocity and more shots per CO2 and can even be a little bit better in the accuracy department since there is virtually no recoil from them. The KWC 24/7 TAC Non-Blowback CO2 Pellet Pistol is a nice little Taurus 24/7 looking Airgun that has a nice modern look and feel to it. Hopefully it performs well for me during my Field Test Shooting Video I will be making soon for it.
My Vimeo Videos for the KWC 24/7 TAC Non-Blowback CO2 Pellet Pistol:
Type: Pellet Air Pistol. Distributer:KWC. Model: PM Makarov Pellet. Materials: Metal and polymer build. Weight: 1.7 pounds (754 grams). Barrel: Rifled steel. Propulsion: CO2 x1. Action: Semi auto non-blowback, double action only. Ammunition Type: .177 caliber pellets. Ammunition Capacity: 12 rounds (2x6). FPS: 344-370.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the KWC PM Makarov Non-Blowback CO2 Pellet Pistol is not going to make for the best action shooter out there as it is a double action only shooter when compared to a single action only trigger or a single and double action trigger. That said it works fairly well as long as you make sure to fully release it after each shot, short releases may result in the hammer not going back all the way and a misfire. As with most double action triggers it is a bit long and slightly heavy but not unusable, just be prepared to get a little bit of a finger workout.
Accuracy: I have not shot the KWC PM Makarov Non-Blowback CO2 Pellet Pistol just yet but will be doing so shortly so stay posted for my Full Field Test Shooting Video for the KWC PM Makarov Non-Blowback CO2 Pellet Pistol. I expect it to do fairly well in terms of accuracy and power since there is no blowback, it is a pellet shooter after all and the barrel is rifled. We will see shortly…
Build Quality: The KWC PM Makarov Non-Blowback CO2 Pellet Pistol is built just like all the other KWC Airguns, it’s not going to be the best quality but it is decent and KWC has been making Airguns for a while not just for themselves but for other companies like Umarex, Gletcher, ASG, Crosman and even Sig Sauer. You will find metal on this gun where it matter. The slide, the full size drop out metal magazine and of course lots of internal parts. The frame, trigger, fake hammer and safety are all plastic. Fit and finish is good overall and the fact that this is a fairly simple Airgun design with no blowback, so less moving parts means there is less chance for something to go wrong so it should last a while even with lots of use.
Realism: The KWC PM Makarov Non-Blowback CO2 Pellet Pistol really does look and feel like a real steel Makarov PM semi auto pistol with the exception of the ejection port which is not cut out. everything is really believable even though not all the parts work like the slide, slide catch release and fake hammer. On a real Makarov PM the frame would also be metal adding to the overall weight but the KWC PM Makarov Non-Blowback CO2 Pellet Pistol comes in at 1.7 pounds which is actually very close to the weight of a non-loaded real steel Makarov PM which weighs around 1.6 pounds but will be a lot heavier fully loaded.
Good weight and solid feeling gun. Lots of metal where you need it in the slide, magazine and other internals.
All metal full size drop out magazine holds CO2 and 12 pellets.
Decent looking replica of a Makarov PM.
Not a lot of writing on the gun, very clean looking (Non Ranger version).
Recessed barrel helps with look of realism.
Rifled barrel will help with accuracy.
Non-blowback operation with increased fps and CO2 efficiency.
Working safety in same position as real steel version.
Double action trigger is a bit long but not overly heavy so should be decent for action shooting.
Cons:
No blowback, slide is fixed and does not move either.
Hammer moves but does not cock back for single action shooting and is made out of plastic.
Sights are not adjustable and are all black so shooting at darker objects will be a bit more challenging.
Hard to tell when out of ammo, have to listen to the sound or count shots.
Comments:
It is nice to see more full size drop out metal magazine Replica Pellet Pistols coming out in the Airgun market. Generally speaking most are going to be non-blowback but there are a few blowback options. That said a Non-blowback CO2 Pellet Pistol like the KWC PM Makarov Non-Blowback CO2 Pellet Pistol will typically give you a high velocity and more shots per CO2 and can even be a little bit better in the accuracy department since there is virtually no recoil from them. The KWC PM Makarov Non-Blowback CO2 Pellet Pistol is a nice little Replica Airgun that looks the part, feels the part and hopefully turns out to be a fun and accurate Pellet Plinker at the end of the day.
My Vimeo Videos for the KWC PM Makarov Non-Blowback CO2 Pellet Pistol:
In this Field Test Shooting Video I test out the Umarex T4E HDX .68 Paintball Shotgun to find out what the actual fps is and if .68 Caliber Rubber Balls shot out of this Paintball gun are even going to be somewhat accurate at 30 feet out? If you have not already watched my Table Top Video where I go over the details and specifications with some closer up video showing you around the Umarex T4E HDX .68 Paintball Shotgun then make sure to watch it here…
Starting with the velocity portion of this video I used .68 caliber rubber balls which are not super heavy and not made out of a very hard rubber as you can squish them with your fingers fairly easily. I put 5 rounds through my chronograph after loading a pair of 12 gram CO2 cartriges into the CO2 chamber. My results averaged 206 fps which may seem slower than expected but they did hit my target pretty hard and actually knocked the cardboard backing right off of it. Each round was fairly consistent ranging from 203 to 210 fps.
Moving on to the accuracy portion of this test I proceeded to shoot around 10 rounds into my fresh paper target setup 30 feet down range. My target is basically an 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper and my goal was ot get all my shots onto the paper which I managed successfully. I would say most of the rounds all hit within about 5-6 inches of each other which for a Paintball Gun is very good! Keep in mind I was shooting using a seated position with the Umarex T4E HDX .68 Paintball Shotgun rested up front on a sand bag.
All in all the Umarex T4E HDX .68 Paintball Shotgun performed really well shooting consistent velocities and also getting all the rounds on an 8.5 x 11 inch target easily at 30 feet away which means if you where shooting at a persons body area you would easily hit it every shot making this a decent close quarters shooter which is what it really would be used for at the end of the day. Could you use it for less lethal home defense? I guess so especially if you can get your hands on pepper balls but I am not sure if regular rubber or paintballs balls would stop someone? Just seeing this impressive shotgun may in fact be more of a deterrent then being shot by it, but if it get’s the job done then why not.
Type: Pellet Pistol. Distributer:Umarex. Model:Stainless Ruger Mark IV. Materials: Metal and polymer build. Weight: 1.56 pounds (708 grams). Barrel: 5.3 inches (135mm). Total Length: 11 inches (279mm). Propulsion: Spring Piston. Action: SAO Break Barrel. Ammunition Type: .177 caliber pellets. Ammunition Capacity: 1 round. FPS: 320.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Stainless Ruger Mark IV Break Barrel .177 Cal Pellet Pistolis not too bad, I feel it is a around 6-7 pounds or so without measuring. In comparison to a real steel 22LR semi auto SAO trigger pistol, the trigger is much heavier but most of these 22LR pistols of this nature have what I would consider to be near perfect triggers. Over time once you get use to the pressure and release point accuracy with this pistol it is for sure possible.
Accuracy: I have tested out the all black version of this pistol which will perform exactly the same or should I say is expected to perform the same since they are virtually the exact same Pellet Pistol but in different finishes. You can watch my Field Test Shooting Video for the all black version but in case you don’t make it there I will fill you in on the basic results… In terms of velocity I averaged 312 fps using 7 grain lead pellets and got around a 2 inch 7 rounds grouping but expect with a bit more trigger time to get closer to 1 inch.
Build Quality: The Stainless Ruger Mark IV Break Barrel .177 Cal Pellet Pistolis a low cost target plinker that also doubles as a licensed Replica for that coolness factor so you won’t get an all metal super top quality build here. That said metal and plastics are well used and for sure details in the fit and finish have been improved over the Buck Mark URX version where I found the barrel felt a bit sloppy and the trigger was plastic. The Umarex Ruger Mark IV Break Barrel .177 Cal Pellet Pistol has a much tighter barrel fit when closed and the trigger is now metal! Maybe Umarex watched my video back in the day and took some notes?
Realism: The Umarex Ruger Mark IV Break Barrel .177 Cal Pellet Pistol most resembles the Mark IV Hunter edition and is pretty much bang on in terms of being a replica other than the tell tail hinge just under the barrel required for a spring piston design, there really is no way to get around this so I’m not going to criticize this minor difference. The real steel version is almost 3 pounds and so the pellet shooting version is a bit under weight so it would have been to have had more metal perhaps in the barrel and lower frame. Again since the pellet shooting version is a springer you will not have any working bolts or slide catches or a built in magazine.
Pros:
It's a decent Ruger Mark IV Replica!
Feels well built overall.
Expect it to have really good accuracy like the Umarex Browning Buck Mark URX since they share similar mechanical design.
Barrel locks into place much better than the Umarex Browning Buck Mark URX did.
Fully adjustable rear sight with fiber optic front sight.
Auto locking safety, just don’t forget to unlock before each shot
Actual metal trigger in this version.
Nice and compact, not too heavy.
Full Ruger licensed via Umarex.
Fairly low price tag.
Cons:
No built in rail for a sight system like the Umarex Browning Buck Mark URX.
Would have liked a metal trigger and maybe a slightly lighter trigger pull to match the real Buck Mark's very light trigger pull.
A bit more metal would have been nice.
Significantly more expensive than the black version which is the same exact gun in a different color.
Comments: The Stainless Ruger Mark IV Break Barrel .177 Cal Pellet Pistol is a decent looking replica and a decent pellet shooting target pistol and if you own the real steel version in 22LR you may just want to get your hands on one of these Break Barrel Replica Pellet shooters. The only real question is do you get the Stainless version with simulated wood grips or the all black version? If you like the look of the stainless version and don’t care about money whatsoever, then pickup that one up since it is a Limited Edition version that will only go up in value over time. If you are on a budget and don’t mind the look of the all black versions or maybe even prefer it then by all means grab one since at the end of the day they will both perform exactly the same.
My Vimeo Table Top Review Videos for the Umarex Stainless Ruger Mark IV Break Barrel .177 Cal Pellet Pistol:
This time I have a tiny Mystery Box to unpack and show you guys, this time there are only two pistols, one is a Spring Piston Single Shot .177 Caliber Pellet Pistol and the other is a 6mm Airsoft Blowback BB Pistol, both are Licensed Replicas for Umarex. If you want to find out more about each Air Pistol then make sure to watch this Mystery Box Unboxing Preview Video!
This will be my only video this week as I am in what is called Peak Week in preparation for the Vancouver Fall Calssic Fitness show I am competing in this upcoming weekend. Peak Week really takes a lot out of me and is rather time consuming with the physical activity I am doing and daily blog styled videos I am posting for my other channel www.GetFitOver40.com.
If you are interested in what I do fitness wise then checkout that channel and follow me along this week as I hope to kick some but competing against dudes half my age.
Type: Paintball Shotgun. Manufacturer:Umarex - T4E. Model:HDX .68 Paintball Shotgun. Materials: Metal & Polymer. Weight: 6.8 pounds (3.100 kg). Barrel: 16.2 inches (411.5mm) Metal smooth bore. Power Source: 2x12 gram CO2. Action: Pump Action with Internal Magazine. Ammo Type: .68 Caliber Paintball or Rubber Ball. Ammo Capacity: 16 Rounds. FPS: 250-360?
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on Umarex T4E HDX .68 Paintball Shotgun is a single action only trigger that requires the Pump Action to engage the trigger. Without working the pump the trigger is in the rear portion and does not operate until the Shotgun is pumped, then it pops forward and becomes active. At that point I would say it is fairy short and light, maybe with a little bit of friction but not bad overall. There is also a cross-bolt safety right behind the trigger making it easy to engage and disengage the safety.
Accuracy: So far I have not had the opportunity to test the Umarex T4E HDX .68 Paintball Shotgun but plan a full Field Test Shooting Video shortly. As with most Paintball Airguns they are not going to be super accurate even at 30 feet away. Generally speaking most tests I have done with Paintball guns using rubber balls perform about the same with most of the rubber balls hitting my paper sheet target (8x11) but some even missing completely. In terms of power, on the box Umarex claims 250 fps but I have seen higher velocity specifications on websites including our own so I guess we will find out for sure when I perform my Field Test Shooting Video for the Umarex T4E HDX .68 Paintball Shotgun,
Build Quality: The build quality of the Umarex T4E HDX .68 Paintball Shotgun is very good since this Paintball Shotgun is made for military and law enforcement training use. It has a very good weight and feel to it and has metal parts where you would expect them including the receiver. If you picked this item up along with a real steel Shotgun it would be hard to tell or feel the difference at first inspection.
Realism: The Umarex T4E HDX .68 Paintball Shotgun as far as I know is not an exact replica of any specific Shotgun but it does look like what you would expect to see from a Tactical Styled Pump Action Shotgun. In terms of mechanical working parts everything does what it supposed to do and works as expected.
Expected fairly high fps power of 350+ with .68 caliber paintballs/rubber balls, a bit too high for your average paintball field but perhaps powerful enough to discourage an extruder?
Lots of mounting option for accessories like a tac light, laser or other sighting option with its upper and lower picatinny rail setup.
Quick CO2 pierce system so you can leave a CO2 in it ready to go any time with no worries about CO2 leaking out.
Simple to use Cross Bolt Safety.
Nice high capacity 16 round internal magazine.
Dual CO2 offers more shots per CO2 change.
Build quality feels really good, very solid, with lots of weight to it.
Very intimidating looking, just that alone may scare off an intruder.
Cons:
Need a tool to load rounds.
Will not get lots of shots per dual CO2, around 70 or so but not bad.
A bit on the large and bulky side.
Comments:
I am not sure exactly what one would use this Paintball Rifle for but there are a few options. You could use it on the field but with everyone else using high capacity rapid fire Paintball Guns you might be “Out Gunned” to say the least unless of course everyone else was limited in some way to their ammo capacity and rate of fire. Again the Umarex T4E HDX .68 Paintball Shotgun could be used as a non lethal home defense option when combined with the right ammunition type like say some pepper balls? The look of this Shotgun is probably enough to make an intruder get the heck out but I would not count on it. No matter what you plan to use it for it is an awesome Paintball Airgun for sure but just be aware if is not going to be the cheapest option at around $450 Canadian.
I have another Huge Mystery Box to open and share with everyone, this one was even larger and heavier than the last one! You are going to have to watch the video to get all the details on what is actually inside but I can say there are 4 AEG Airsoft Rifles from a new to us company called Arcturus in both AR and AK versions and 2 CO2 Non Blowback Replica Pellet Pistols from KWC.
I do have a some more videos to make from the last Mystery Box Preview being a Specna Arms AEG PDW AR Airsoft Rifle and a Paintball Pump Shotgun that I still need to make both Table Top and Field Test Shooting Video for.
