In this Field Test Shooting Video I put the ASG Action Army T-11 Spring Powered Bolt Action Airsoft Gun through it’s paces by first testing out the velocity placing several rounds through my Chronograph, and then I setup a paper target downrange and place 10 rounds into it to see how tight of a grouping I can get. If you have not already watched my Table Top Video for this Airsoft Sniper Pistol/Rifle then make sure to do so for more details, specifications and close up video.
Starting off with my real world velocity test for the ASG Action Army T-11 Spring Powered Bolt Action Airsoft Gun, I decided to use .28 gram Airsoft BB’s for this entire Field test Shooting video so I was expecting to get somewhere between 20-25% slower fps velocity as compared to the standard tested .20 gram Airsoft BB’s. After placing around 6 shots through my Chronograph I averaged 328 fps which ended up being 18% slower than the claimed 400 fps made by ASG. I would image if I had used .20 gram Airsoft BB’s I may have even exceeded 400 fps.
Moving on to the accuracy portion of my Indoor Field Test here in the Replica Airguns Sea Can, as always I placed a fresh paper target 30 feet downrange and proceeded to shoot 10 rounds into it from a rested and seated shooting position to allow for best possible results with as little human factor added in. I was using a 4x optical scope since the ASG Action Army T-11 Spring Powered Bolt Action Airsoft Gun does not come with any type of sighting system included so I did have to sight it in initially. I did manage to get a nice 1.5 inch grouping fairly close to the bullseye but I did notice that if I angled the barrel down a bit, BB’s would roll out of the barrel which made me wonder if the hop-up was set high enough to engage a BB.
So I did my second test with the hop-up set in the middle range and this time BB’s did not fall out of the barrel when angled down. After the hop-up adjustment I did notice I was shooting a bit higher which is expected with more hop-up adjustment so if you are experiencing BB’s falling out of the barrel then make sure to adjust your hop-up a bit tighter.
All in all the ASG Action Army T-11 Spring Powered Bolt Action Airsoft Gun performed very well for me especially once I got the hop-up figured out. And I do think it makes for a really nice compact Sniper Rifle if bulkiness is a factor for you, if not then checkout the Rifle version of this gun with the more traditional but-stock and longer barrel.
Type: Airsoft Rifle. Distributer:ASG. Model:Action Army T-11. Materials: Metal and polymer build. Weight: 3.9/4.5 pounds. Barrel: 11.8 inches, non-rifled. Total Length: 34.7/43.3 inches Propulsion: Spring Action: Bolt action repeater. Ammunition Type: .6mm plastic Airsoft BB’s. Ammunition Capacity: 50 round magazine. FPS: 400-430. Type: Pistol and Rifle versions.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on ASG Action Army T-11 Spring Powered Bolt Action Airsoft Gun is light, short and crisp. There is virtually no take-up and the release point has no creep to it. I would say it is not too light but for sure one of the lighter trigger s I have tested on a Airsoft rifle.
Accuracy: I have not performed my Field Test Shooting Video for the ASG Action Army T-11 Spring Powered Bolt Action Airsoft Gun so stay posted for that. ASG claims around 400-430 fps velocity depending on the version which is kind of weird since both have the exact same barrel length internally and I would assume both use the same mechanical part throughout? I don’t have the rifle version to compare to but I will for sure test the velocity using my Chronograph for the pistol version when I do my Field Test Shooting Review along with accuracy performance.
Build Quality: The ASG Action Army T-11 Spring Powered Bolt Action Airsoft Gun is well built for sure, it feels really solid in the hadn't and has good overall weigth to it for it’s size. You will find lots of metal parts where they need to be as in the inner and outer barrel, receiver, bolt, trigger, magazine release and I am sure most mechanical internal parts. Fit and finish is also very good.
Realism: The ASG Action Army T-11 Spring Powered Bolt Action Airsoft Gun is not a replace of any gun I know of but does have tab least the pistol version does look like a sawn off shotgun more than a sniper rifle. The gun overall all is very modern and ergonomic looking but in terms of being a replica of any specific real steel gun in production I don’t know of any it would resemble?
Pros:
Top and bottom rails for lots of accessory add on options.
Can swap over to a rifle version by adding on an interchangeable but-stock.
Mock magazine allows for storage and transport of tools plus extras.
Safety switch is in a great location for right handed shooters.
Comes with included hand stop.
Solid construction with lots of metal parts where they are important.
Ability to add side rails.
Great option if you are looking for a more compact sniper rifle.
Comes in Pistol and Rifle versions.
Cons:
Has an orange tip.
Does not come with sights, will need to add some sort of optical or red dot sight.
Does not come with speed loader, would have been nice.
Comments: I am looking forward to performing my Indoor Field Test Shooting Video for the ASG Action Army T-11 Spring Powered Bolt Action Airsoft Gun. I won’t be able to test it out perhaps as far range as I would like to since I will be shooting it in the Replica Airguns Indoor Shooting range which allows me to test at 30 feet. That should give us a good overall idea on at least what it may be capable of since if we can get a tight group at 30 feet we should also be able to get a tight group at longer ranges with proper hop-up and BB selection. I like the option of being able to choose either the Pistol or Rifle version and both should perform about the same. Having the Pistol version will allow for a much more compact Sniper Rifle option much better suited for shooting in a variety of situations.
My Vimeo Videos for the ASG Action Army T-11 Spring Powered Bolt Action Airsoft Gun:
Make sure to watch my Table Top Video Review where I go into more detail about the specifications and details along with some nice close up video of the Umarex Fusion 2 CO2 .177 Caliber Bolt Action Pellet Rifle.
In this Vimeo Video Field Test Review I test out the Umarex Fusion 2 CO2 .177 Caliber Bolt Action Pellet Rifle in the indoor Replica Airguns Shooting Range to see how accurate it is and what kind fo velocity we can expect from it.
Starting with the velocity test I averaged out 8 rounds through my chronograph using 8.18 grain lead pellets using the dual 12 gram CO2 setup and I was able to average 445 fps which is not bad as these are mid grain weight pellets, lighter weight pellets would for sure get closer to the 490 fps claimed by Umarex. The temperate was about average room temp so not overly cold or warm.
Moving on to the accuracy test I placed all 9 rounds from the rotary magazine into a fresh paper target setup 30 feet away. I use a reseted seated position in the back with the Umarex Fusion 2 CO2 .177 Caliber Bolt Action Pellet Rifle resting on a sand bag up front and I was using the 4 power scope for this test which I setup earlier. My final result was for sure an under one half inch grouping, I did feel like I pulled one shot a little bit but I am sure this Airgun can get quarter inch groupings at 30 feet and I would expect half inch groupings at 50 feet so perfect for mid range small pest shooting.
Umarex does adversities this Air rifle as being very quiet but in Canada we are not allowed to have any type of suppressor even on airguns so I believe this Canada version has been disabled in that regard but the Umarex Fusion 2 CO2 .177 Caliber Bolt Action Pellet Rifle is fairly quiet for sure with its long barrel and slightly lower fps than the US version. Overall the Umarex Fusion 2 CO2 .177 Caliber Bolt Action Pellet Rifle is a lot of bang for the buck with the added 4x scope, included magazines that hold 9 rounds each and the ability to use either a dual 12 gram or single 88 gram CO2 setup. It also looks really cool and performs just as good!
Type: Pellet Rifle. Distributer:Umarex. Model:Fusion 2. Materials: Metal and polymer build. Weight: 6.5pounds (2948 grams). Barrel: 22.5 inches, rifled. Total Length: 40.3 inches Propulsion: 12 gram CO2 x2 or 88 gram CO2 x1 Action: Bolt action repeater. Ammunition Type: .177 caliber pellets. Ammunition Capacity: 9 round rotary magazine x2. FPS: 490.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on Umarex Fusion 2 CO2 .177 Caliber Bolt Action Pellet Rifle feels pretty good, it is fairly short and light having a claimed 3.5 pound release which is believable. You will need to obviously work the bolt for each shot that precooks the internal hammer/striker allowing for the short and light trigger.
Accuracy: I have not performed my Field Test Shooting Video for the Umarex Fusion 2 CO2 .177 Caliber Bolt Action Pellet Rifle so stay posted for that. Umarex has claimed a velocity of around 490 FPS for the Canada version I will be testing, the US version has a claimed velocity of up to 700 for those in the US purchasing this Rifle. I am sure the included 4x32 optical scope once setup will help in the accuracy department when I test this CO2 Air Rifle out on a paper target setup 30 feet down range.
Build Quality: The Umarex Fusion 2 CO2 .177 Caliber Bolt Action Pellet Rifle is a fairly low cost target pellet Rifle when you consider it comes with a decent optical scope along with two 9 round magazines but even so the build quality seems very solid coming in at 6.5 pounds. The stock is plastic of course but there is lots of metal where you want it to be as in the bolt, trigger, safety and most other mechanical parts.
Realism: The Umarex Fusion 2 CO2 .177 Caliber Bolt Action Pellet Rifle is not a replace of any gun I know of but does sport a very modern ergonomic look with its pistol grip and molded full stock. I like the built in picatinny rail which even though it does not offer any type of open sight configuration will allow for a variety of scope mounting options for near or far shooting.
Pros:
Low cost for a full featured Air Rifle with included scope.
Nice ergonomic modern looking design.
Ability to use either 12 gram or 88 gram CO2 cartridges.
Comes with 4x32 optical scope and all mounting hardware needed.
Come with two 9 round rotary magazines.
May be very quiet if the SilencAir technology is not disabled here in Canada?
Single action 3.5 pound trigger fells good.
Safety is large and easy to use.
M-LOK slots for mounting additional hardware.
Cons:
No iron sight option if you would prefer that.
Limited to under 500 fps (Canada version).
Not sure about the functionality of the SilencAir technology in Canada?
Comments: I am looking forward to performing my Indoor Field Test Shooting Video for the Umarex Fusion 2 CO2 .177 Caliber Bolt Action Pellet Rifle to see if it performs as good as it looks. I’ll probably use the duel 12 gram configuration for this test since I don’t plan on shooting 300 rounds with it for my testing. We should also find out if the SilencAir technology has been disabled or not with my Canada version but even so, a 500 fps Air Refile is not going to be all that loud either way at the end of the day. There are not a lot of Bolt Action multi shot pellet Air Rifles out there especially in this price range so I am really hoping it hits a home run when I test it so stay posted for that video…
My Vimeo Videos for the Umarex Fusion 2 CO2 .177 Caliber Bolt Action Pellet Rifle:
In this Preview Unboxing Video I do an Unboxing and take a quick look at three Bolt Action Rifles, two spring powered Airsoft Rifles from ASG and a dual CO2 powered Pellet Rifle from Umarex.
In this Replica Airguns Vimeo Field Test Shooting Video I put the KWC / Umarex Mod. 92 A1 andElite Force 1911 TAC CO2 Blowback Airsoft Pistols through my Indoor Sea Can Shooting Test. Fist I find out what the real world velocity is by placing 5 rounds through my Chronograph and average out the FPS. I then shoot 10 rounds on a paper target for 30 feet back using a semi rested shooting position, sand bag up front and seated in the back.
Starting with my velocity test for both CO2 Blowback Airsoft Pistols I made sure to use a brand new CO2 along with .25 gram Airsoft BB’s so a bit heavier than what was used for the official stats. Both Umarex Airsoft Pistols shot really similar velocities with the Umarex Beretta Mod. 92 A1 averaging 364 FPS and the Umarex Elite Force 1911 TAC averaging 365 FPS. If I had been using .20 gram Airsoft BB’s I am sure these numbers would have been closer to the claimed 400 or so FPS.
Moving on to the accuracy test again I performed this test which each Umarex CO2 Blowback Airsoft Pistol. The Umarex Beretta Mod. 92 A1 performed a little bit better than the 1911 with all 10 shots grouping within 1.5 inches and very well centered on the target. The Umarex Elite Force 1911 TAC did have a slightly wider grouping closer to 2 inches and was a lilt bit high on the target but center nicely left to right. Of course the full auto mode on the Umarex Beretta Mod. 92 A1 did not produce anything even close to a tight group but it is always fun shooting in full auto :)
All in all both of these KWC / Umarex CO2 Blowback Airsoft Pistols performed well for me in terms of meeting their expectations for velocity and accuracy. We have them in our online Replica Airguns Stores in either KWC Unlicensed or Umarex Licensed versions so take your pick!
Type: BB Air pistol. Distributer: Crosman. Model:MAKO. Materials: Metal and polymer build. Weight: 1.71 pounds (775 grams). Barrel: 6 inches, non-rifled. Total Length: 8.6 inches Propulsion: CO2 x1. Action: Semi auto blowback, double action only. Ammunition Type: 4.5mm Steel BB's. Ammunition Capacity: 20 rounds. FPS: 425.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Crosman MAKO Blowback CO2 BB Pistol is a little on the heavy side since it is double action only and it is also longer again being double action only. That said it is fairly smooth and not super heavy which shoudl allow for decent action shooting. It would have been cane if the hammer could be engaged for single action shooting but the design of the Crosman MAKO Blowback CO2 BB Pistol does not allow for this and therefore the hammer is just for show in this case.
Accuracy: I have performed my Field Test Shooting Video for the Crosman MAKO Blowback CO2 BB Pistol which can be found here. I won’t get into too much detail but overall you can expect velocity to be in the 400 fps range with a brand new CO2 and accuracy was decent form 30 feet away but could be a bit tighter. I was surprised at how snappy the blowback action was for a light weight slide with a light spring in it.
Build Quality: The Crosman MAKO Blowback CO2 BB Pistol feels solid enough in the hand and the materials used I am sure are on par with most Airguns out there but the gun may come across as being on the cheaper side as it lacks some of the more full features of more realistic functioning blowback Airguns. Just don’t let that make you think it is not well made as it is well made and may even be more reliable over time..
Realism: The Crosman MAKO Blowback CO2 BB Pistol looks the part of a beretta M92 at first glance but when you get a little closer you can really tell it is an Airgun at heart which is not a bad thing since that’s exactly what it is. You will find working parts like the magazine release and slide catch release and the slide does function since it is a blowback Airguns but the Crosman MAKO Blowback CO2 BB Pistol does have that funny inner barrel that pops out of the front every time you pull the trigger and parts like the slide safety are moulded into the slide and the hammer is just for show.
Pros:
Fairly inexpensive.
High FPS rating for a blowback BB pistol.
Easy to see Fiber Optic front and rear sights.
Multi tone color scheme looks good.
Has a pleasing tactic look to it.
CO2 tab is nicely hidden inside grip under magazine but plate.
Double action trigger pull is long but not too firm.
Picatinny rail for adding accessories.
Notched grips for a firm hold (best for larger hands)
Has a working side catch release that locks back after the last shot.
Has a surprising decent blowback action to it.
Cons:
Slide action feels clanky.
Hammer is just for show, does not do anything, no single action shooting ability.
Grips are large and will be to bog for smaller hands.
Comments: All in all the Crosman MAKO Blowback CO2 BB Pistol is a fun inexpensive CO2 Blowback BB Pistol that surprised me a bit when I actual got to shoot it. I originally though ti would feel kind of cheap to shoot but the snappy and firm blowback action and higher fps than usually found on blowback Airguns was surprising! The fiber optic sights making lining up target super easy and for a double action only shooter the trigger is not too bad so if you're a Beretta and Crosman fan then perhaps this is the pistol for you.
My Vimeo Video for the Crosman MAKO Blowback CO2 BB Pistol:
In this Field Test Review Video I test out the performance of the Crosman MAKO Blowback CO2 BB Pistol to see what the real world velocity and accuracy is for this Crosman Blowback BB Pistol. Crosman States 425 fps which is fairly high for a Blowback Airgun so we’ll see if I can get close to it!
Starting with my Velocity Test, I place 5 rounds through my Chronograph using a brand new CO2 with Daisy Zinc coated 5.1 grain Steel BB’s and averaged 390 fps withy the fastest shot hitting 403 fps and the slowest shot going down to 384 fps. It was not super warm in the sea can so I imagine with a bit warmer temperature this number would have been a little bit higher, maybe just up and over 400 which is still impressive for a blowback BB Pistol.
Moving on to my accuracy test, I placed 11 shots (meant to shoot 10) on a fresh paper target 30 feet down range and was able to get all shots within about a 3 inch grouping slightly low and to the left of the bullseye but not far off. I was shooting from a seated position with my hands resting on a sand bag for stability but of course some human factor is involved here.
Overall the Crosman MAKO Blowback CO2 BB Pistol performed decent for a fairly low cost and basic Blowback Airgun. The Blowback action is crisp with a long but not super heavy trigger. I like the fiber optic sights that make lining targets up super easy on virtually any background you are shooting on. This Airgun does have a large grip so keep that in mind if you have smaller hands but other than that it is a really fun Airguns to shoot!
Type: BB Air pistol. Distributer:Umarex. Model:Smith & Wesson M&P9 M2.0. Materials: Metal and polymer build. Weight: 1.45 pounds (658 grams). Barrel: 3.6 inches, non-rifled. Total Length: 7.5 inches Propulsion: CO2 x1. Action: Semi auto blowback, single/double action. Ammunition Type: 4.5mm Steel BB's. Ammunition Capacity: 18 rounds. FPS: 375.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Umarex S&W M&P 9 M2.0 Blowback CO2 BB Pistol is about medium weight and is on the longer side to allow for the internal mechanism that pushes a BB for the magazine into the breach of the gun with each pull of the trigger. This does add a bit of additional resistance especially when the magazine is full of BB’s. As the magazine empties the spring resistance becomes less and makes the friction on the trigger less noticeable. When the slide blows back this does cock the internal hammer/striker allowing for less trigger pull then if the hammer is not actuated but I would say the trigger feels more like a double action trigger than a single action trigger even though most shots will be fired in single action.
Accuracy: I have not performed my Field Test Shooting Video for the Umarex S&W M&P 9 M2.0 Blowback CO2 BB Pistol so stay posted for that. Umarex has claimed an velocity of around 375 FPS adn this Airgun shoudl be abel to achieve that with it’s partial blowback more effect use of CO2. In terms of accuracy well I guess we will find out when I make my shooting review…
Build Quality: The Umarex S&W M&P 9 M2.0 Blowback CO2 BB Pistol build quality is fairly decent , fit and finish looks good with not too much slide wiggle and the materials used are both metal and plastic or polymer that look to be good quality.
Realism: The Umarex S&W M&P 9 M2.0 Blowback CO2 BB Pistol in terms of looking like the real steel version of its counterpart is very close for sure, would be hard to tell without further investigation. Umarex has done a great job of making this Blowback Airguns look believable by covering the CO2 screw, recessing the barrel and even working the manual safety into the right side slide catch release. In terms of operation the Umarex S&W M&P 9 M2.0 Blowback CO2 BB Pistol functions as you would expect other than it can not be easily filed striped and the blowback operation does not cycle back as much as a full blowback gun would.
Pros:
Very accurate replica of the S&W M&P 9 M2.0.
Fairly accurate weight and feel to it.
Metal and plastic parts where you find them on the real steel version, fit and finish is good.
Working trigger and manual safety and working slide catch and release.
Full size dropout metal magazine that holds BB's and CO2.
Warning instructions are discreet under the trigger guard.
Recessed barrel and hidden CO2 screw for more realistic look
Fully Smith & Wesson licensed via Umarex.
Rail for add on accessories.
White dot sights for easy target acquisition.
Comes with three sizes of interchangeable grips S/M/L.
Higher fps and more shots per CO2 than full blowback versions.
Cons:
Not full blowback but uses partial blowback.
Manual safety worked into right side slide catch release (Maybe good, maybe bad).
Sight are not adjustable.
Trigger is more like a double action trigger.
Comments: Overall the Umarex S&W M&P 9 M2.0 Blowback CO2 BB Pistol makes for a nice replica Blowback Airgun version of the S&W M&P 9 M2.0. There are some compromises with this version mainly the partial blowback operation that does make the trigger a bit heavier and longer than a true single action trigger would be, the slide does not cycle as fully as expected either and y9ou can not easily field strip this version. That said the shorter blowback action and the way the BB is pushed forward into the breach before each shot means that the Umarex S&W M&P 9 M2.0 Blowback CO2 BB Pistol will have a high FPS and will also get more shots per CO2. So you decide what may be more important to you at the end of the day? True realism or better performance?
My Vimeo Videos for the Umarex Smith & Wesson M&P9 M2.0 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol:
UPDATE: All Umarex Glock 17 Gen 4 and Glock 19 Gen 3 GBB Airsoft Pistols now ship with the Shorter Barrels!!
In this Field Test Shooting Video I test out the Umarex Glock 17 Gen 4 GBB Airsoft Pistol in the Replica Airguns Indoor Sean Airgun Shooting range. This product now comes with the longer sticking out barrel to increase the FPS for import into Canada to get it up and over the 360 FPS requirement using a .20 gram Airsoft BB. In my previous video I test out the Umarex Glock 19 Gen 3 GBB Airsoft Pistol but swapped out the longer barrel for the shorter barrel to see how much the sorter barrel reduces velocity and also if there is an impact on accuracy? Make sure to watch that video to get the scoop on the shorter barrel with both the Umarex Glock 17 dam Glock 19 GBB Airsoft Pistols
For the velocity portion of this test I placed several .25 gram Airsoft BB’s through my Chronograph and was please to get a very consistent 355 average FPS reading which is very close to the claimed 360 FPS when using .20 gram Airsoft BB’s so if I had been using a lighter BB I would have for sure seen velocity up and over the 360 FPS.
In terms of accuracy the Umarex Glock 17 Gen 4 GBB Airsoft Pistol also performed really well, maybe not as well as the short barrel Glock 19 Gen 3 I tested just last week that seemed to group just a little bit tighter and was a little bit more well vented on the target. Both the Glock 17 and Glock 19 shot a bit low but I am sure a slight hop-up tweak could rectify that. I did however manage to get around a 2 - 2.5 inch 10 shot grouping.
So in summary both the Umarex Glock 17 Gen 4 and Glock 19 Gen 3 GBB Airsoft Pistols at least for now come with the longer barrels only and so you options are to either cut down the existing barrel or buy a shorter barrel and replace it, that is unless you like the look of the long sticking out barrel ;) You will get a velocity drop of around 75 FPS with the shorter barrel installed but I would say accuracy should be about the same at the end of the day.
UPDATE: All Umarex Glock 17 Gen 4 and Glock 19 Gen 3 GBB Airsoft Pistols now ship with the Shorter Barrels!!
In this Field Test Shooting Video I test out the Umarex Glock 19 Gen 3 GBB Airsoft Pistol in the Replica Airguns Indoor Sean Airgun Shooting range. This product now comes with the longer sticking out barrel to increase the FPS for import into Canada to get it up and over the 360 FPS cut off using a .20 gram Airsoft BB. I wanted to see how much of a difference the shorter barrel would make so I will be comparing the short barrel with the long barrel to find out the FPS and accuracy differences. In the Video I only shoot the Umarex Glock 19 Gen 3 GBB Airsoft Pistol with the short barrel but in my next video I Shot the Umarex Glock 17 Gen 4 GBB Airsoft Pistol with its included long barrel for comparison.
For the velocity portion of this test I placed 5 .25 gram Airsoft BB’s through my Chronograph and was please to get a very consistent 276 average FPS reading with the slowest shot hitting 274 FPS and the fastest shot hitting 278 FPS so really close. Keep in mind I was using .25 gram Airsoft BB’s rather than .20 gram Airsoft BB’s so I would imagine the Umarex Glock 19 Gen 3 GBB Airsoft Pistol even using the shorter barrel should hit closer to 300 FPS with the lighter Airsoft BB’s.
In terms of accuracy the Umarex Glock 19 Gen 3 GBB Airsoft Pistol also performed really well, I did not make any adjustments to the gun after installing the shorter barrel not even to the hopup. I was pleased to see a fairly well centered 10 shot grouping mostly within a 2 inch grouping with perhaps one flyer extending that group to about 2.5 inches. All shots where well centered left to right but just a light bit under the target, a quick hopup adjustment should rectify that.
My next Vimeo Video will be focusing on the Umarex Glock 17 Gen 4 GBB Airsoft Pistol with its included long barrel to see what kind of velocity gains we get for it and if the longer barrel helps with accuracy at all so look for that video early next week!
In this SHOT Show Las Vegas 2020 Interview Video Scott takes us through a range of new products from Air Venturi.
Scott and I talk about the Air Venturi TR5 and how it came about to fill the hole the Baikal MP-61 left behind. We also talk a look at some new Air Rifles, a pumper called the Butterfly with a super cool linkage based system that makes pumping a lot easier. A PCP side lever cocking Air Rifle that I’m not even sure has a name yet but will be available in .177 .22 and .25 caliber pellet for around $299 US.
The only Air Venturi replica we looked at is a new Springfield Armory under lever Spring Piston Air rifle modeled after the M1A. Last up Scott went showed us how the Bada Bang targeting system is shaping up and looks to be almost ready for production.
We had a lot of great new Airguns that I reviewed this year at Replica Airguns. Some of them really stood out to me and so I made a video showing my Favorite Replica Airgun Picks of 2019. Of course there where many other Airguns that could has just as easily made this video but I had to draw the line somewhere and pick the ones that in my opinion where the best of 2019. Make sure to watch my Vimeo video where I go into some more details on why I liked each Airgun.
Below is a list of the top Replica Airgun Picks of 2019:
In a way I have already Field Tested the Air Venturi TR5 .177 Caliber Pellet Rifle, well at least in the Baikal version. The Air Venturi version is pretty much a knock of of the Baikal IZH MP-61 which not only look a lot alike but also performed very similarly for me, checkout my Baikal YouTube Video Review for comparison. All that said we can not get Baikal products here in North America anymore so it’s great that Air Venturi has recreated a very similar product for us to have in Canada and the US.
Moving on to the Field Test Review for the Air Venturi TR5 .177 Caliber Pellet Rifle, I first placed 5 shots through my Chronograph to see if the Air Venturi TR5 .177 Caliber Pellet Rifle did in fact shoot around 500 fps and in fact I was able to get all 5 shots up and over 500 fps averaging around 513 fps. Still within our Non-regulated firearm laws here in Canada since we where still under the 4.2 foot pound energy limit using 6.9 grain pellets.
As mentioned before when I shot the Baikal IZH MP-61 I was able to get very similar results but I did have an optical scope on the Baikal IZH MP-61 as compared to the Air Venturi TR5 .177 Caliber Pellet Rifle where I just used the open sights. In my opinion the Air Venturi TR5 .177 Caliber Pellet Rifle is good value for your money offering a unique design with excellent performance and getting as much power out of a pellet rifle as you can get here in Canada without requiring a firearms license.
Pick one up in our Canada or US Online Replica Airguns stores!
I made a similar video about how to hold your airgun a while back but sometimes they get a bit buried in all the video I make. I feel it's really important how you grip your gun even if it's only an airgun with very little kick or recoil. Proper pistol grip is something you should use no matter what so that you can carry it forward to what ever gun you are shooting.
More kick or recoil means a firmer grip is required to hold the gun so when shooting a powder burner with lots of kick grip becomes even more important.
In this video I go over the proper two handed grip to use when holding a pistol, which hand to hold lose and which had to grip tight, how to overlap your fingers and thumbs.
This year at SHOT Show 2018 I had the please of again interviewing Dani Navickas from Sig Sauer. Dani Showed me several new pistols and a new break barrel rifle Sig Sauer is offering this year. The Sig ASP20 Break Barrel rifle will come in both .177 and .22 caliber pellet shooting versions. The ASP20 has a lighter than most cocking effort of only 33 pounds using their proprietary GlideLite system, along with an adjustable ASP MatchLite trigger.
Another Target pellet airgun from Sig Sauer this year is the .177 caliber pellet shooting Super Target, styled after the Sig Sauer P210 firearm. The Sig Super Target is a single pump pneumatic single shot pistol designed for 10 meeter shooting with adjustable sights and a crips short light trigger.
Sig like several other companies has rebranded their own version of the KWC 1911 CO2 Blowback BB pistols. The Sig Sauer licensed BB 1911 is based on Sigs We the People line to celebrate the American people and their Constitution.
Another new Blowback Pellet firing Sig Sauer Air Pistol was also introduced at SHOT Show, the Sig Sauer X-Five. The X-Five uses their 20 round belt fed magazine and also has Sig's Cam Lever CO2 loading mechanism. You will also find a rear adjustable sight on the Sig Sauer X-Five Pellet Pistol.
Last but not least and perhaps one of the most interesting new products coming out later this year from Sig Sauer is the P320MHS APS which is another new rotary magazine Blowback Pellet Pistol. What's a bit different with the new Sig P320MHS is that it has a full size drop out magazine that holds the CO2 and belt fed pellet magazine. The P320MHS can also be fully field striped, has an open ejection port and is styled after Sig's real Steal M17 firearm.
Type: Break barrel pellet rifle. Manufacturer: Umarex USA. Model:Ruger Explorer. Materials: Metal and polymer parts. Weight: 4.45 pounds (2.5 kg). Barrel: 12 inches, metal rifled. Propulsion: Spring piston. Action: Single shot. Ammunition Type: .177 caliber pellets. Ammunition Capacity: 1. FPS: 495.
Trigger Pull: I found the Ruger Explorer Youth Break Barrel Pellet Rifle to have a fairly light trigger, there is some initial take up with a smooth almost undetectable break or release point, I found that as I shot the Ruger Explorer Youth Break Barrel Pellet Rifle the trigger seemed to be breaking in a bit which made it a bit hard to figure exactly when the trigger was going to release but I feel over time and once the Ruger Explorer Youth Break Barrel Pellet Rifle is broken in the trigger will become more predictable.
Accuracy: Since I have already made a shooting or field test video for the Ruger Explorer Youth Break Barrel Pellet Rifle, I can comment on its performance n this review! With 6 grain lead pellets (on the lighter side), I was able to get a 5 shot Chronograph average velocity of 485 fps. Using heavier 7-8 grain pellets the velocity slowed down a bit to around 400 fps. In terms of accuracy the Ruger Explorer Youth Break Barrel Pellet Rifle performed well getting about a 1 inch 10 shot grouping on my paper target setup 30 feet down range. I know the Ruger Explorer Youth Break Barrel Pellet Rifle can do better than this once the trigger settles down a bit since some shots went off unexpectedly.
Build Quality: The Ruger Explorer Youth Break Barrel Pellet Rifle is not an expensive air rifle and is more or less an entry level spring piston pellet shooter. That said it is built fairly well with a metal receiver, barrel and trigger setup. The modern looking stock is polymer and the steel barrel is coated in a synthetic soft plastic to help with long term durability. The real fiber optic sight is plastic so you will have to be careful with it as it does protrude a bit from the air rifle.
Realism: Since the Ruger Explorer Youth Break Barrel Pellet Rifle is not a replica realism is not really a factor here but it does look like a gun so treat it as if it was a real gun since most people will not know the difference. Always transport and store any airgun safely and discreetly.
Pros:
Really great looking air rifle with a modern look to it.
Finish is very durable with its polymer stock and plastic/rubber coated barrel.
Fully adjustable fiber optic sights are easy to sight in and use.
Receiver is notched for ring mounts so you can add an optical sight or red dot to it.
Trigger is fairly light, just need some break in time with it.
Cocking effort is fairly easy at 16.5 pounds.
Great size gun for all ages.
Power and accuracy were good for an entry level air rifle.
Cons:
I did find the trigger break/release point to be a bit unpredictable but I feel this is a break-in issue and will become more consistent over time.
You have to remember to push that safety in with ever shot.
Comments: The Ruger Explorer Youth Break Barrel Pellet Rifle is marketed as a Youth air rifle but in reality it would be great fun for all ages. I am a fairly large person at 6 feet tall and I had no problem dealing with the slightly shorter configuration. The trigger guard is nice and open and allows for large fingers which is not always the case with airguns designed for smaller individuals. The overall quality you get with the Ruger Explorer Youth Break Barrel Pellet Rifle for the lower entry level price tag is very good and in terms of performance I feel you for sure get your monies worth with the Ruger Explorer Youth Break Barrel Pellet Rifle.
I don't do a lot of Springer (Spring Piston) Air Rifle shooting tests or even reviews for that matter. Mainly for a couple of reasons: Number 1, my content is mostly focused around Replica style Airguns and Number 2, it's kind of hard to test out the longer range airguns in my 30 foot airgun range. That said I felt the Ruger Explorer Youth Break Barrel Pellet Rifle would be a really great airgun to review since it is both affordable and even though it is targeted for the youth market, it really does make a great shooter for all ages.
I have not done a Table Top Review for the Ruger Explorer Youth Break Barrel Pellet Rifle but plan to shortly so stay posted for more detailed info on the Ruger Explorer Youth Break Barrel Pellet Rifle down the road in that review.
So how'd we do during my Field Test Shooting Video for the Ruger Explorer Youth Break Barrel Pellet Rifle? Not bad I would say! Using about 6 grain rather light weight .177 caliber lead pellets I was able to get really close to the 500 fps claimed fps mark coming in just under at a 5 shot testing average of 485 fps. I did put a couple heavier grain pellets through my Chrony Chronograph and got closer to the 400 fps mark, still not bad for this lighter sprung spring piston air rifle.
In terms of accuracy, shooting at my paper target setup 30 feet down range in my Sea Can Airgun Range, I shot about a 1 inch 10 shot grouping. I was finding the trigger break-in to be a bit unpredictable during this testing which led to some premature shots going off so I do feel once the Ruger Explorer Youth Break Barrel Pellet Rifle is broken in and me getting use to the trigger break, I should be able to improve on this result.
Overall the Ruger Explorer Youth Break Barrel Pellet Rifle is a really nice entry level airgun perfect for all ages and not just the youth market. It looks really cool, is easy to cock and has a very resilient finish. Oh ya it shoots pretty good to!
I was a bit surprised by the Umarex DX-17 Spring Powered BB Pistol, it actually shot a lot better than I was expecting it to perform. I did have to aim rather low since the Umarex DX-17 BB Pistol likes to shoot on the high side but if you are shooting at closer in ranges then you won't have to adjust your aim point so high.
Getting into my performance testing for the Umarex DX-17 Spring Powered BB Pistol, I placed 5 shots through my Chrony Chronograph and averaged 210 fps which again was very close to the Umarex claimed 200 fps, even a little bit higher! he DX-17 is a single shot repeater but because of the BB reservoir you can quickly reload follow up shots by simply point the Umarex DX-17 Spring Powered BB Pistol a little upward while pulling the slide back and pushing it forward to active the spring piston and load a BB at the same time.
As I mentioned the Umarex DX-17 Spring Powered BB Pistol shot on the high side, at 30 feet it's a good 8-9 inches high but I have a feeling that this is about as high as the BB's will rise since they are not going that fast and gravity will start bringing them back down. At about 10-15 feet out from a target the Umarex DX-17 Spring Powered BB Pistol seemed to shoot about 3-4 inches high so not nearly as bad and this can be adjusted pretty easy by simply aiming a bit under the target you are shooting at. In terms of a 10 shot grouping theUmarex DX-17 Spring Powered BB Pistol got about a 4 inch grouping which I have to say kind of surprised me as I was expecting a much larger spread.
So for about $20 you kind of get what you pay for but I really think with the Umarex DX-17 Spring Powered BB Pistol you perhaps get a little more! It has a really good trigger, seemed to be built pretty tuff, shot exactly right on the claimed fps mark and was even able to keep a reasonable grouping. And to keep costs down even more you never need to buy CO2 so that's another bonus.
