It's been a great year for Replica Airguns and I wanted to share with everyone some of my favorites that I reviewed this year. In this Vimeo Video I show some of my top Replica Airgun picks for 2016 and talk a little bit about each one and what I like about it.
Here is a list of the Replica Airguns in this lineup:
This has got to be one of the most asked questions when people are trying to decide on which CO2 BB Pistol they want to buy. The reality is that most non blowback CO2 BB pistols will generally shoot just over 400 fps and most blowback BB pistols will shoot around 350 fps. Some may shoot a little faster and some may shoot a little slower.
My question is this… What difference will it make if you are shooting a BB at 350 fps versus say 450 fps? I honesty think that some people believe that if they purchase a CO2 BB pistol that shoots a whopping 499 fps, then they have acquired a deadly weapon with crazy stopping power.
The truth of the matter is that even a 500 fps BB gun is still not suitable for even small pest control or hunting, you would only be causing the animal to suffer if you shot it with such a lower powered airgun. So using an air pistol for any kind of personal protection on human sized targets is completely out off the question.
Let’s talk about what CO2 BB pistols are really used for. Shooting at pop cans, shooting paper targets, perhaps setting up some army men and picking them off one by one. stuff like that. So does it really matter if the BB is going 350 fps versus 450 fps? It’s still going to go clean though a pop can even filled with water, paper is no match for a BB traveling even under 300 fps, and Army men stand no chance when head shot by a steel BB the size of a canon ball to them.
When is power really going to be important in a CO2 BB Pistol? Perhaps if you plan to shoot out at longer ranges but in this case Steel BB’s are not really meant to shoot out at long ranges as most BB pistols do not have rifled barrels meant for long range accuracy. I have found Steel BB guns to be very accurate up to 30 feet or so, even grouping within in a half inch with some CO2 BB pistols, but further out than that and the BB’s start to wander.
Normally higher velocity is what you want when you plan on using your airgun for hunting or pest control but again a CO2 BB pistol simply is not the tool for this job.
One comment I hear a lot from people is that they would prefer more power over blowback action and that they feel that blowback action robs the gun of too much power. Yes blowback does sacrifice some power since it uses a little bit of the CO2 to operate the slide but the benefits of blowback in my opinion are worth the 50 or so fps loss in power. Blowback operation adds realism to the CO2 BB gun simulating recoil, allowing true single action trigger operation and many CO2 BB Pistols will even lock the slide back on the last shot so you know you are out of ammo and can practice your magazine drop and reloading.
One of the most common types of question I get on my Replica Airguns YouTube channel has to be something like… Why is my Airgun not working? Most of the time the amount of info about the problem is limited to something like… “It was working yesterday but now it’s not working anymore” or something like “when I pull the trigger nothing happens”. My personal favorite is… “I took my gun apart and now it doesn’t work!”
I just made a similar video for Blank Guns and as I said in that video, trying to trouble shoot a mechanical or technical problem over the internet is very difficult, this goes for cars, guns, computers or what have you…
In this Why is My CO2 Airgun Not Working video I will however cover some of the more common and obvious problems I have seen relating to why a CO2 Airgun may not be working properly. I really don’t get a lot of questions about Spring Piston or Pump Airguns so I will be focusing on CO2 Airguns in this video. There will be a lot of crossover with CO2 Airsoft guns so this video may be helpful for some of you Airsofters out there
First let’s get the super obvious stuff out of the way!
Did you put a new CO2 cartridge in it and is it pierced all the way?
Did you load BB’s or Pellets into the Airguns magazine and is the magazine in the gun correctly?
Is the safety off?
If the gun is a blowback semi auto single action Airgun then did you pull the slide back prior to the first shot?
CO2 Related Problems:
Not all CO2 cartridges are created equal, they often have slightly different shaped nubs on them and some brands will work better than others in different Airguns. If the shape of the CO2 nub does not fit properly into the valve area then it may not pierce or it could pierce but then not allow you to tighten it all the way losing all the CO2 in the process. If the CO2 is coming form the airguns handle to CO2 Valve area then this is an indication that your problem is related to the area where the CO2 enters the airgun.
There is a seal where the CO2 cartridge buts up to the valve, this seal can be damaged or even deformed from usage or even leaving your CO2 in the gun for too long. The outside CO2 Valve seal can also take the shape of a specific CO2 nub so when you use a different brand CO2 the seal may not properly make concat with the new CO2 type you are using, again causing leaking or even the total loss of all your CO2. Watch my YouTube video on “How to Fix Leaking CO2 in an Airgun”.
CO2 Valve Related Problems:
Again, make sure that Outside CO2 Valve Seal is in good condition and any leaking is not being caused by this problem, if you have checked the Out Side Seal and everything is OK with it then perhaps there is a problem with the CO2 valve?
One indication that your CO2 Valve might be the culprit is the total loss of all your CO2 when you try to insert and tighten a new CO2 Cartridge. Usually all the CO2 will exit the barrel, not the handle or valve area. What may be happening is the valve is stuck open or the internal seal is broken or deformed. If this is the case you will have to remove the valve and have a look inside, this is a lot easier on CO2 airguns that have the CO2 valve in the magazine, if the CO2 valve is in the actual Airguns then a lot more disassembly may be required and I would recommend an Airgun technician take care of this for you.
If the gavel is in the magazine then you will have to unscrew it, you may require a special tool for this? Once the valve is out of the magazine take a look inside and examine the internal seal, also look for any bits of metal shavings as they can disrupt the action of the valve causing leaking. Give the inside of the valve a good clean and then lubricate it with some silence spray. hopefully that fixes your problem!
BB’s getting Stuck in the Blowback Gas Tube:
I have actually made a dedicated video for this problem so I will put a link to it in the description of this video. The main reason people may have this problem is because we all like to rack that slide on our full blowback Airguns, but if you have a fully loaded magazine then each time you reach that slide without shooting the gun, you are inadvertently trying to load another BB into the breach area, the breach is only designed to hold one BB at a time so after a few racks of the slide the newly loaded have no place to go but into the Gas Tube where they can get stuck and cause having to the operation of your Full Blowback CO2 Airgun.
BB’s Rolling Out of the Barrel of Your CO2 Airgun:
This is not actually a fault of the gun but happens because of the way the gun is designed. This situation can happen with certain CO2 Airguns when the gun user pulls the trigger really slowly while the gun is point slightly in a downward position. What is actually happening is the first part of the trigger is made to draw a BB from the magazine into the breach of the gun. If the barrel of the gun does not have a rubber hop-up stopper in it then the BB is free to roll down the barrel and out of the gun. How do you fix this problem? Be more committed to your trigger pull and or shoot at a target that is not so low. Perhaps place your targets slightly higher than the gun so the barrel is not pointing down, especially if you like to take your time with the trigger :)
A Little Maintenance Can Go a Long Way!
Sometimes a good cleans is all you need to do to get things working as they should, again I have already made video Tutorial Showing “How to Clean Airguns and Blank Guns”.
What about stuff like My Airgun is jammed or my trigger is stuck or some random part fell out of my gun?
There is only so much I can cover in this video, most other problems are going to get a bit more complicated to fix and I suggest if your Airgun is not working and the suggestions I have made in this video do not solve your problem, then consider taking your gun into a gun tech.
Power Sources Covered in this review: CO2 - Spring Piston - Variable Pump -HPA (High Pressure Air)
Pro’s:
CO2 Airguns allow for fast repeat shooting, great for action shooters, generally CO2 Airguns will supply a medium power range. No need to pump or cock your CO2 powered weapon in-between shots and a CO2 power source can allow for a very realistic action of the gun you are shooting.
Spring Piston Airguns are best suited of single shot situations, they can provide low to high power output depending on the spring used. Spring Piston Airguns are very low cost to operate since you only need to buy the Pellets or BB’s. Spring Piston Airguns are not greatly effected by outside temperatures.
Variable Pump Airguns allow you to decide how much power your gun will have and can offer very high power output depending on the Airgun. Variable Pump Airguns are very low cost to operate since you only need to buy the Pellets or BB’s. Variable Pump Airguns are not greatly effected by outside temperatures. Variable Pump Airguns generally have very low recoil and vibration.
HPA (High Pressure Air) Airguns generally do not require pumping or cocking in-between shots and some even come in semi automatic or bolt action. HPA Airguns can have very high power output and even be used on larger game using large caliber ammunition. HPA Air Rifles have lower recoil and low vibration. HPA Airguns can be charged ahead off time so they are ready for use when you need them.
Con’s:
CO2 Airguns require the additional cost to buy the CO2 as they do not function without it. CO2 Airguns have a limited power output and lose power as you shoot and use up the CO2. CO2 Airguns are effected by hot and cold temperatures and will have less power in colder temperatures and may not even work in super cold environments.
Spring Piston Airguns require cocking before each shot. Spring Piston Airguns can have a lot of recoil and vibration, so much so that special optics must be considered when buying an optical sight. The action of the spring recoil can effect accuracy, especially if you are not use to the vibration and recoil or have spent some time practicing using a Spring Piston Airgun.
Variable Pump Airguns will require multiple pumps to achieved maximum power output which can take some time in-between shots. So you are going to have to work for each shot.
HPA (High Pressure Air) Airguns require the use of a manual pump to fill their built in air tank to maximum pressure and it does take a lot of time to manual fill an HPA tank. Alternatively you can have the air tank filled at a shop or buy a pressurization system similar to a scuba tank out paintball setup, the cost of this setup can be very high but will save you the castle of manually pumping air in to your HPA Airgun. HPA Airguns are generally a little more bulky then other Airgun systems since they have to accommodate fairly large air pressure tanks.
This is not to say that a “Real Gun” is not as good as an Airgun or better in other ways, in this video I’m just pointing out how an Airgun in some cases can actually be better suited than a Real Gun.
Availability: What I mean by this, is that in many countries Real Guns can be very hard to acquire and often require safety course and applications before one can purchase a Real Gun. I have no problem with this but it is a reality that must be considered. Having an Airgun versus not having a gun at all makes it a better option for people that live in countries that have strict gun laws. Here in Canada we are allowed Real Guns, even pistols but we do have restriction on our pistols and so I can only get certain guns in an Airgun version. As a collector this is better than not having the gun at all.
Price to Buy: Generally speaking you can pickup an enter level Airgun for much less money than a real gun.
Cost to Shoot: Real gun ammo prices have been steadily increasing to the point that a day out shooting can cost several hundred dollars just on the ammunition alone.
Comparison of Price:
50 rounds of 9mm ammo will cost around $18.00
6000 rounds of 4.5mm Steel BB will cost about $18.00
CO2 is a bit less than $1 per 12 gram Cylinder which can yield up to 100 shots each.
To shoot 100 rounds of 9mm will cost close to $40 versus 100 shots of 4.5mm steel BB at around $1.
For this reason alone an Airgun can make a lot of sense even for Real Gun owners looking to get more cost effective practice time.
Access to Shooting Locations: Depending on where you live you will have to consider your local laws and where you are allowed to shoot both types of guns but typically you can shoot an Airgun safely just about anywhere as long as you implement some backstop safety precautions. Here in Canada we can only shoot a pistol at designated gun ranges, where as Airguns have a lot more allowances to shot them as long as you are not braking any city bylaws.
Training Guns: Even if you plan to eventually step up to a Real Gun at some point, an airgun is a great option to first learn proper gun handling skills since if you where to make a mistake, the consequences are much less severe. Airguns are also a lot less intimidating than a real gun since they are much quieter and have less recoil, you don’t even need to wear ear protection with most Airguns which means an instructor can communicate to his pupil on the range a lot easier.
Prop Guns: Since Replica Airguns look so much like real guns these day, they can often be used as a safer substitute for use in Movie, TV or other Photo and Video productions. Using a Real Gun on set generally requires a certified “Gun Wrangler” be on hand as Real Guns must be transported, stored and handled using very strict regulations. Airguns generally do not need to follow the same rigid regulations that Real Guns are bound to.
Tactical Training with Live Targets: Obviously shooting a real gun at a live target would not fair well for anyone involved, so that is completely out of the question. Airsoft Airguns are however perfect for Tactical Training and other weapons based simulations. All that is required for safety when using Airsoft guns is the use of eye protection and generally some heavy clothing.
I am sure there are some more areas in which Airguns may have the advantage over a Real Gun but these are the main ones that I could think of.
I get asked on a daily bases form many of my Vimeo Viewers about how and if there is a way to get rid of the White lettering on Airguns, Typically people are wanting to remove the intrusive Warning instructions from Airguns like the Cybergun Tanfoglio Witness 1911, the Cybergun/Swiss Arms GSG 92/P92 and many other CO2 Replica Airguns that have lettering or branding that you may want to get rid of.
In this Instructional Tutorial Video I show you how can at least tone down the white lettering and even completely remove it on some Airguns without damaging the Airguns finish underneath the white lettering. You will have to use some patience and perhaps repeat this method a few times but the end result is worth the effort.
The magical product I use to remove the white lettering on many popular Airguns is a product from Birchwood Casey called the Presto Gun Blue Pen. This product is actually designed to touch up real steel gun in areas where the blueing has worn off, lucky for us the Birchwood Casey Presto Gun Blue Pen also works well to remove the ugly white lettering from Airguns.
It has been a while since I picked out some of my favorite guns, after all my favorite gun picks change on a daily basis since there are so many awesome guns out there to pick from.
This Vimeo video is a little different since I pick out my favorites from a bunch of mostly replica gun categories including Steel BB, Pellet, Airsoft, Revolvers and Blank Pistols.
You may notice most of my picks happen to be blowback guns but to me airguns are all about being as realistic as possible and having blowback operation to me help to simulate the realism that much more. The exception in this video is in the pellet gun category since I decided on a pellet gun that was more about function and purpose over being any type of real replica.
Hopefully you take the time to watch my entire Vimeo video since I also bring out some close runner ups but here is a list of my top picks on this day, tomorrow it could be a completely different list of guns ;)
In this Field Test Shooting video I test out both the Daisy Powerline 5501 and Daisy Powerline 5502 CO2 Blowback BB pistols to determine what the real work velocity is and also how well they performs in terms of accuracy. To test velocities for both Airguns I use a my Chrony Chronograph and do my best to get 5 good readings which I then average out. I always use a brand new 12 gram CO2 cartridge and generally use 5.1 grain Zink Coated Steel BB's for my entire Field Testing. For my accuracy test, I set myself up 30 feet back using a semi rested position, to do this I place a sand bag up front to rest my hands and gun on and then stand securely in the back while I place 10 rounds on a paper target. There will obviously be some humane factor involved since I am not perfect but I can usually get a good idea on how accurate a given gun is using this method.
During my Velocity or FPS Chronograph testing, I managed to get 4 good readings out of 15 shots with the Daisy Powerline 5501 scoring an average of 367fps. Amazingly my first 5 shots with the Daisy Powerline 5502 all ready perfectly on my Chronograph even though they where moving a good 50fps faster, go figure? My average velocity for this 5 shot sting of shots was 417fps.
For my accuracy testing I was expecting both guns to perform about the same since mechanically they arevirtually the same other than a longer barrel on the 5502. The Daisy Powerline 5501 however seemed to struggle with consistency, it did group well left to right and up and down on the target but the spread was about 5 inches and it should of gotten closer to 2-3 inches in my books for a blowback pistol like this. The Daisy Powerline 5502 did perform better in terms of accuracy getting closer to a 2-3 inch grouping so overall I have to give the Powerline 5502 the advantage in both velocity and accuracy.
Another noteworthy point to mention is how much quieter the Daisy Powerline 5502 is in person! I am assuming the longer barrel along with the compensator perhaps muffling the sound a bit plays a roll in this. Both Daisy Powerline CO2 Blowback BB Pistols have a nice solid blowback action simulating some recoil and the triggers on both are fairly decent being that they simulate more of a double action feel with their long medium weight pull.
I do like the look of the more simplified Daisy Powerline 5501 with it's chrome frame but the performance and accessory option of the Powerline 5502 are a definite benefit for this model.
In this Field Test Shooting video I test out the KJWorks KP-11 Hi-Capa 1911 CO2 Blowback Airsoft Pistol to determine what the real work velocity is and also how well it performs in terms of accuracy. To test velocity I use a my Chrony Chronograph and do my best to get 5 good readings which I then average out. I always use a brand new 12 gram CO2 cartridge and generally use .20 gram plastic Airsoft BB's for my entire Field Testing. To test accuracy I set myself up 30 feet back using a semi rested position, to do this I place a sand bag to rest my hand and gun on and then stand securely in the back while I place 10 rounds on a paper target. There is obviously some humane factor involved but I can usually get a good idea on how accurate a given gun is.
During the Velocity or Feet Per Second Chronograph testing, I did manage to get 5 good readings, not all in a row but all within the first 10 or so shots. The KJWorks KP-11 Hi-Capa 1911 CO2 Blowback Airsoft Pistol shot hard and averaged 420fps again using .20 gram Airsoft BB's.
For my accuracy testing, all 10 shots placed within about 3 inches and they where fairly well centered left to right but did shoot a little bit high, this could be corrected using the hop-up adjustment to bring the Airsoft BB's down just a little.
I was rather surprised at how loud the KJWorks KP-11 Hi-Capa 1911 CO2 Blowback Airsoft Pistol is, it is by far one of the loudest CO2 Pistols I have shot to date other than the Umarex Desert Eagle Pellet Pistol. The KJWorks KP-11 Hi-Capa 1911 CO2 Blowback Airsoft Pistol also has a lot of blowback kick which makes it a lot of fun to shoot. Don't expect a lot of shots per CO2 since it uses a lot of CO2 per shot but in my books it is worth it for the added blowback recoil.
The KJWorks KP-11 Hi-Capa 1911 CO2 Blowback Airsoft Pistol may shoot a little bit hot for indoor Airsoft close quarters games but if you plan to use it outdoors at longer ranges it would definitely send Airsoft BB's out to further away targets. You could also pickup a Green Gas Magazine to lower the FPS about 50fps or so which would calm the KJWorks KP-11 down enough for indoor shooting.
Type: Airsoft Gas Blowback Pistol.
Manufacturer: Cybergun - VFC.
Model: FN Herstal FNX45 Tactical
Materials: Metal and Polymer.
Weight: 2.09 pounds (950 grams).
Barrel: 4 inches, metal non-rifled.
Propulsion: GBB - Green Gas or Propane.
Action: Semi auto, single & double action with full blowback.
Ammunition Type: 6mm plastic Airsoft BB's.
Ammunition Capacity: 25 round full size drop out metal magazine.
FPS: 366+ with extended barrel.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the VFC FN Herstal FNX45 Tactical GBB Airsoft Pistol is surprisingly light in single action mode, there is also minimal takeup. When shooting in double action the trigger pull length is much longer and heavier and has a bit of a stickiness too it but since this is a blowback pistol most of your shooting will be in single action mode where the trigger feels great!
Accuracy: I haven't done a dedicated Field Test Shooting Video yet for the VFC FN Herstal FNX45 Tactical GBB Airsoft Pistol but I did get the chance to play around with it when I did my I.C.U. 2.0 HD Action Camera review. In terms of power and accuracy it feels pretty good and you can expect to get decent power and accuracy out of it, we will have to wait and see how it performs on paper targets and when tested on the Chrony.
Build Quality: The VFC FN Herstal FNX45 Tactical GBB Airsoft Pistol is well made overall, I have found pretty much all the VFC airguns I have gotten my hands on seem to be well made and very realistic. you will find metal parts where they would be on the real Steel version of this pistol and same goes for plastic parts like the frame in this case. The finish seems to be holding up nicely too for me.
Realism: VFC really seams to pay a lot of attention to every detail of their Airsoft guns and the VFC FN Herstal FNX45 Tactical GBB Airsoft Pistol is no exception. All the mechanical working parts on this Airsoft version work as they would on the real .45 ACP FN Herstal FNX45, even the extractor is a separate part not moulded into the slide like you would find on most Airsoft pistols. You also get Interchangeable Back Straps to accommodate different hand sizes and of course it's fully FN licensed!
Purchase it from:The Replica Airguns Store
Pros:
Excellent reproduction of the real steel FN Herstal FNX45 in looks and operation.
Very Crisp Firm full blowback operation.
Excellent fit and finish.
Everything is Ambidextrous so great for lefties too.
High Rise sighs suitable for the addition of a moc suppressor.
Comes with two interchangeable internal barrel lengths.
Fully field strip-able.
Fully FN Herstal Licensed.
Cons:
Comes with a red tip.
Magazine is kind of shiny
My serial number plate fell off while shooting it so make sure yours is on tight.
Comments:
Like I have mentioned throughout this review, VFC not only makes super realistic Airsoft guns, they also make a really high quality product. The VFC FN Herstal FNX45 Tactical GBB Airsoft Pistol is another example of this and offers everything you would hope to expect in an Airsoft Replica! The only down side is the orange tip but that can be sorted out easy enough after you get it. It's definitely not a small gun so keep that in mind when deciding on buying it, overall the VFC FN Herstal FNX45 Tactical GBB Airsoft Pistol is a really nice Airsoft gun at a reasonable price point.
My Vimeo Video Review for the VFC FN Herstal FNX45 Tactical GBB Airsoft Pistol:
Type: Blowback Airsoft Pistol.
Manufacturer:KJWORKS.
Model:KP-11 M1911 Hi-Capa
Materials: Metal slide with Polymer frame.
Weight: 2 pounds (930 grams).
Barrel: Metalnon-rifled smooth bore.
Propulsion: 12 gram CO2.
Action: Blowback, Single action only.
Ammunition Type: 6mm plastic Airsoft BB's.
Ammunition Capacity: 28 rounds.
FPS: 360+ fps.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the KJWorks KP-11 1911 is very good since it is modeled after a real steel 1911 which makes it short and crisp with a nice light trigger pull. There is a very slight take-up at the very beginning of the pull but once your get past this the release is crisp and predictable. Since it is not a double action trigger you will need to either rack the slide for your first shot or pull the hammer back if you have already chambered a round.
Accuracy: I have not done my actual Field Test Shooting video review for the KJWorks KP-11 M1911 Airsoft Pistol so I do not have any definitive feedback for you but based on my experiences shooting other KJWorks 1911 styled Airsoft CO2 Pistols I expect it to have great blowback action recoil, a nice trigger and good overall FPS and accuracy. In terms of reliability, KJWorks pistols are solid in this department.
Build Quality: As expected, the KJWorks KP-11 Hi-Capa 1911 CO2 Blowback Airsoft Pistol build quality is exactly like all the other KJWorks Airsoft guns I've tested so far, Build quality for the price point is top notch with tolerances between the moving parts like the slide and frame are extremely tight showing excellent workmanship and machining from KJWorks. The finish is always a step above other similar styled Airsoft and BB guns, youn really don't have to worry about the finish coming of as easy.
Realism: The KJWorks CO2 KP-11 Hi-Capa 1911 Blowback Airsoft Pistol copies the real steel very popular even today Colt 1911 45 caliber pistol, it can be field stripped very similarly to a real 1911 Semi Auto pistol and all parts function virtually the same including a working safety, grip safety, slide catch-release, magazine release and hammer. This Hi-Capa version has a more tactical look with a wider frame for what would be a double stack hi capacity styled magazine.
Available in the:Replica Airguns Store
Pros:
Has really good weight but not too heavy since it has a polymer frame..
Expect to have typical KJWorks crisp and firm full blowback operation.
Excellent fit and finish. I like the mat textured finish which looks to bed super durable.
Nice bright white dot sights, really easy to see.
I like the look of the tactical hammer and trigger.
Nice high capacity magazine with a little extra zing for the CO2 Mag.
Fully field strip-able.
Cons:
Is not really setup up for left handers with no real ambidextrous components.
CO2 magazine is long to accommodate the 12 gram CO2.
Grips may be a bit thick for smaller hands.
Comments:
I love 1911 pistols and enjoy shooting them, there is something about how they feel in the hand that is different form most other pistols. They always feel so solid. The KJWorks Airsoft versions capture that feeling exactly and again the little bit more you may pay for a KJWorks 1911 over some other lesser quality Full blowback 1911's is worth the cost in my books. This Hi-Capa 1911 version with it's tactical look and finish would make a great game player for sure!
My Vimeo Table Top Review of the KJWorks KP-11 Hi-Capa 1911 CO2 Blowback Airsoft Pistol:
First off I want to point out that both of these guns I have already reviewed in slightly different cosmetic versions. The Umarex Beretta M92 A1 Desert Storm is essentially the same gun as the Umarex Beretta Mod. 92 A1 Blowback CO2 BB Pistol but with a distressed aged look and the Commemorative Desert Storm licensing on it. Similarly the Daisy Powerline Tactical 5502 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol is based on the chrome framed Daisy Powerline 5501 but the Daisy Powerline 5502 comes with a sight rail and compensator.
Check out my other reviews for the Daisy Powerline 5501 and Umarex Mod. 92 A1.
In this video I show you around both the Umarex Beretta M92 A1 Desert Storm and Daisy Powerline Tactical 5502 CO2 Blowback BB Pistol and compare them to their significant similar versions. I talk a bit about specifications but this is a preview video so I don't go into full details. I hope to add some follow up reviews especially a comparison shooting video between the Daisy Powerline Tactical 5502 and Daisy Powerline 5501 since there is a barrel length difference that may give the Powerline 5502 an FPS performance advantage.
I will leave you now with some specifications for both guns.
12 gram CO2 with Blowback
4.5mm Steel BB's
18 shot magazine
Smooth Bore Barrel
Single & Double Action
Semi & Full Auto Selectable
310 fps
2.4 Pounds
Buy Umarex Beretta Desert Storm Blowback CO2 BB Pistol in Canada
Buy Umarex Beretta Desert Storm Blowback CO2 BB Pistol in the US
12 gram CO2 with Blowback
4.5mm Steel BB's
15 shot magazine
Smooth Bore Barrel
Single Action Only
Semi Auto
480 fps
1.66 Pounds
Buy Daisy Powerline 5502 Tactical CO2 Blowback BB Pistol in Canada
Buy Daisy Powerline 5502 Tactical CO2 Blowback BB Pistol in the US
I already did a Table Top Preview Video of the Mantis MantisX Firearms Training System so make sure to either watch my Vimeo video or read my Written Post to find out more detailed info about what the MantisX is and what and who can use it.
In short the MatisX is a Firearms Training System uses motion sensing technology to monitor how you hold your pistol before, during and after you shoot it, the Mantis MantisX Firearms Training System can determine areas that you may need to work on, like your Grip, Trigger Pull, Hesitation, Anticipation and many other common shooting mistakes.
In this Field Test Review for the Mantis MantisX Firearms Training System I setup my MantisX and take it through my first trial shots with it, you will see I am learning how to use it as I go but by the time I finished shooting the video I had a pretty good idea on how it all worked.
Two main areas the Mantis MantisX Firearms Training System directed me to correct where my pistol grip as I was potentially tightening up as I pulled the trigger and also my trigger pull was a bit uneaven, On my second round of shooting I made some corrections in this area and it did give me a much tighter shot grouping so the Mantis MantisX Firearms Training System at least for me did improve my shooting to some degree.
I plan to use the MantisX some mroe and find out other posible areas I can improve upon but overal I feel the Mantis MantisX Firearms Training System will help improve most people shooting skills or at least hlep them to figure out where they are going wrong.
**Make sure to use Coupon Code "ReplicaAirguns" to get free shipping! http://mantisx.com**
First off I want to thank Mantis for sending me this MantisX for review!
By the way, use Coupon Code "ReplicaAirguns" to get free shipping!
This time is not currently in the Replica Airguns Store for sale but it looked really cool so I could not pass up this opportunity to try it out and perhaps we even cary it down the road.
What is the Mantis MantisX Firearms Training System?
MantisX is a revolutionary patent-pending handgun attachment that helps firearms enthusiasts and professionals train more efficiently. While attached to a handgun, it analyzes every shot and generates actionable data you can use to improve your shooting mechanics.
What’s in the box?
You get the Mantis MantisX Sensor that works with most handguns with a rail system.
You get the charging cable.
You get a very high quality Pelican Water proof case to store your Mantis MantisX.
You get the instructions.
How does the Mantis MantisX Training System Work?
First you Connect MantisX to any Picatinny-enabled handgun, just like you would any other firearm attachment.
Then install the MantisX smartphone application, turn on MantisX, and pair the device with a phone via Bluetooth. Available for both Android and iOS.
All that’s left is to collect the data and evaluate shooting performance, identify areas of improvement, and track progress over time.
What Exactly does the Mantis MantisX Training System Do?
Analyzation:MantisX detects each shot you make, analyzes the movement of the firearm during the trigger pull, and assigns a score to each shot that signifies deviation from the aiming position.
Coaching: Based on the movement patterns of the firearm, MantisX identifies areas of improvement and provides coaching that will improve your mechanics, your score, and your precision.
Tracking: MantisX keeps track of all your shooting sessions and generates useful reports that will help you identify your shooting trends, gauge your progress, and set adequate improvement goals.
Who is the Mantis MantisX Training System Made For?
Individuals: With MantisX, practice anytime and anywhere. Analyze each shot you make, keep tabs on your performance overtime, and hone your shooting mechanics by following our data-driven suggestions. Can be used with virtually any gun that has a rail system, even airguns like Airsoft and BB pistols
Instructors: As an instructor, manage your students more efficiently with MantisX, spending more time on actually coaching rather than watching people shoot. MantisX also provides hard data for students to see.
Agencies: Agencies help their cadets and employees gain and maintain excellent marksmanship skills necessary for military and law enforcement service. MantisX also assists in training for qualification exams.
Next I am going to play around with the Mantis MantisX Training System and see who it works, I am not sure if I will have the chance to use it with my “real guns” but I kind of wanted to focus more on who it works with Airguns related products anyways.
Use Coupon Code "ReplicaAirguns" to get free shipping!
Recently I picked up my new Chrony Beta Shooting Chronograph to replace my F-1 that has not been working so well for me in past videos... I wanted to get outside and give it a try shooting a few of the airguns that I was not able to test out properly. Now I know that under my patio deck, the lighting is not optimal even on sunny days and because of this I have never expected to get perfectly consistent fps recording but as many of you know, my old Chrony F-1 was pretty much not working at all near the end there.
I have ordered a light kit which will help out a lot especially when summer is over and the sky becomes more overcast. But for now I decided to test my Chrony Beta Chronograph under my deck roof as I have been testing all along and see if I can get better results with this newer Beta version.
So makes sure to watch my Vimeo video testing of my Chrony Beta Shooting Chronograph shooting a selection of airguns.
Video number three in my Summer Full Auto Fun Video Series! In this outside shooting test I take out my Cybergun KWC Desert Eagle .50AE CO2 Airsoft Pistol and shoot it in full auto mode again at some water filled pop cans and clay pigeons setup about 25 feet down range.
Since I pretty much took my Cybergun KWC Desert Eagle .50AE CO2 Airsoft Pistol right out of the box and started shooting I did not have the chance to set the hop-up or even figure out exactly where it was shooting and as I found out it was shooting rather high and the .20 gram BB's may have been a bit light since they seemed to spray all over. Either way I did manage to hit a few targets after eating up all the CO2 and shooting off two full mags of Airsoft Ammo...
Here is my second instalment for this summers Full Auto Fun Videos. in this Full Auto Fun Video I shoot my KWC M712 Broomhandle CO2 BB Pistol at some more water filled Pop Cans and Clay Pigeons in Full Auto mode of course :)
Make sure to watch my other KWC M712 Broomhandle CO2 BB and Airsoft Pistol videos and keep in mind we sell both the 4.5mm Steel BB version and 6mm Airsoft Version in our Canada Replica Airgun Store.
Last summer I made some "Full Auto Fun" videos and well... I had a lot of fun making them and of course shooting the full auto airguns. So I got to thinking I should make some more Full Auto Fun videos again this summer, at least for some of the new Full Auto guns I have not made these videos for yet.
So to kick it off, I brought out my Umarex Beretta Mod. 92 A1 CO2 BB Pistol and shot up some clay pigeons and water filled cans in Full Auto Mode of course :)
Make sure to watch my Vimeo video for this Comparison Review as I go into a lot of detail about the similarities and difference with each of these CO2 Blowback Pellet Guns.
Here are some of the main Similarities when comparing the Sig Sauer P250 & P226 - Umarex PX4 Storm - Gamo P25 & MP9:
All of these CO2 blowback pellet guns are made for each company in Japan (I am assuming from the same factory?)
All of the listed Pellet Airguns shoot .177 caliber pellets (Can be Alloy or Lead)
They all have double sided rotary stick magazines that hold 8 rounds on each end for a total of 16 shots per magazine.
All of the Airguns use 12 gram CO2.
All compared pellet guns have Blowback operation.
All of these pellet pistols have single and double action triggers except for the Gamo MP9 which is single action only and needs to be charged on the first shot.
They all have rifled barrels.
Here is where we find some key differences between these CO2 Blowback Pellet Pistols:
The FPS Velocity for each Airgun:
Gamo P-25 - 450 BPA Platinums.
Gamo MP9 - 450 BPA Platinums.
Umarex PX4 Storm - 380.
Sig Sauer P250 - 400 with 5.25 grain.
Sig Sauer P226 - 400 with 5.25 grain.
The weight of Each Pellet Gun:
Gamo P-25 - 1.7 pounds.
Gamo MP9 - 3 pounds.
Umarex PX4 Storm - 1.6 pounds.
Sig Sauer P250 - 1.45 pounds.
Sig Sauer P226 - 2.35 pounds.
The Barrel Length for each Air Pistol:
Gamo P-25 - 4.5 inches.
Gamo MP9 - 6.5 inches.
Umarex PX4 Storm - 4.5 inches.
Sig Sauer P250 - 4.75 inches.
Sig Sauer P226 - 4.75 inches.
The Main Build Materials for each Pellet Pistol:
Gamo P-25 - Metal slide with plastic frame.
Gamo MP9 - Plastic outer shell with lots of internal metal parts.
Umarex PX4 Storm - Metal slide with plastic frame.
Sig Sauer P250 - Metal slide with plastic frame.
Sig Sauer P226 - Metal slide and frame.
Is the Ejection Port Cut Out?
Gamo P-25 - Yes.
Gamo MP9 - No.
Umarex PX4 Storm - Yes.
Sig Sauer P250 - No.
Sig Sauer P226 - No.
Is it a Replica of a Real Steel Gun?
Gamo P-25 - No.
Gamo MP9 - Yes.
Umarex PX4 Storm - Yes.
Sig Sauer P250 - Yes.
Sig Sauer P226 - Yes.
Type: Air Pistol.
Manufacturer: Sig Sauer ASP
Model: Sig Sauer ASP P250.
Materials: Metal and plastic build.
Weight: 1.45 pounds (658 Grams).
Barrel: 4.75 inches - Rifled steel.
Propulsion: 12 gram CO2.
Action: Blowback single and double action.
Ammunition Type: .177 caliber pellets.
Ammunition Capacity: 16 round double sided rotary stick magazine.
Max FPS: Claimed 500 but really more like 400.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Sig Sauer ASP P250 CO2 Blowback .177 Caliber Pellet Pistol is a lot better than I thought it was going to be. The blowback operation does place the hammer in the cocked position for single action type shooting but the the trigger is still required to index or advance the next pellet to line up with the barrel. Because of this, trigger pull is full length even in single action mode but you can barely feel any added friction from the indexing of the rotary magazine. All of this makes for a slightly longer trigger pull but one that is light weight with a fairly nice and easy release. For some reason the Sig Sauer P226 trigger does feel a little smoother with a slightly easier release.
Accuracy: I have not done my official Field Test Shooting Video with the Sig Sauer ASP P250 CO2 Blowback .177 Caliber Pellet Pistol and I am not sure when I am going to get the chance to do so since I am waiting on a replacement Chronograph for my velocity portion of my testing. That said I can say that Sig has already done some of the work for me and conducted their own "real world" velocity testing for their ASP line of CO2 Pellet Guns. Sig tested both a standard 8.18 grain lead pellet and a high velocity 5.25 grain alloy pellet shooting an 8 shot string with each to find out average fps performance for both pellet types. The 8.18 grain lead pellet average 353 fps while the 5.25 grain alloy pellet average 399 fps. In terms of accuracy, I was able to get just under a 2 inch 16 shot well centered grouping on two separate 30 foot back tests which is pretty decent. I did notice that when shooting a 16 shot string, the first and last shot velocity will vary a fair amount as the CO2 cools the gun and lowers the fps. I would recommend taking your time in-between reloads to let the Sig Sauer ASP P250 CO2 Blowback .177 Caliber Pellet Pistol warm back up.
Build Quality: The Sig Sauer ASP P250 CO2 Blowback .177 Caliber Pellet Pistol is a bit on the lighter side coming in around 1.5 pounds since it does incorporate both metal and plastic construction. You will find the Sig Sauer P250 has a metal slide and plastic frames similar to the real steel version. Weighing it at 1.45 pounds, the P250 is lighter then a standard Sig Sauer P250. Sig claims that their entire APS line of pellet guns is life tested for 15,000 shots so you know this gun is going to last and provide years of shooting fun. The fit and finish seem really good, so far no real paint or finish problems and all mechanically everything is operating as it should.
Realism: The Sig Sauer ASP P250 CO2 Blowback .177 Caliber Pellet Pistol is a very close replica of the real steel Sig Sauer P250. I really like the fact that the safety also works as a working decoker just as it would on the real Sig P250. Other similar working parts are the magazine release and the hammer that stays back for true single action shooting. The slide catch release and take down leaver are purely for show but they are not moulded in parts so they look good and realistic. One slight disappointment for me is when a gun does not have a cut out ejection port, that is the case with both the Sig Sauer ASP P226 and P250 but it does not take away from the shooting fun in any way.
Buy Sig Airguns in the:Replica Airguns Store
Pros:
Good overall replica of the real steel Sig Sauer P250.
Designed by Sig and made in Japan, fully Sig Sauer licensed.
Nice heavy blowback operation.
It might feel a bit light weight at first but out of the two Sig Sauer ASP pellet pistols this one seems to shoot a bit better.
Got respectable accuracy and seemed to shoot pretty hard.
Safety works as the de-cocker same as the real Sig Sauer P250.
White dot sights and accessory rail.
Great feel to the trigger not heavy or sticky in any way.
Cons:
Shots tended to slow down a bit near the end of a 16 shot strong as the gun cooled down.
Sight are non adjustable.
Ejection port is not cut out.
Comments:
What I really like about the Sig Sauer ASP P250 CO2 Blowback .177 Caliber Pellet Pistol is that like all the other APS Airgun from Sig, it is a product that Sig has decided to invest a lot of their time and effort to develop rather then simply grab an existing Airgun product from a manufacturer and slap their license on it. Sigs product ingenuity is what will help to improve the airgun industry overall. Getting back to the Sig Sauer ASP P250 CO2 Blowback .177 Caliber Pellet Pistol, it may feel a bit light weight at first but the heavy blowback will rock you unexpectedly! I found in terms of comparison to the Sig Sauer ASP P226, the P250 was more accurate and well centered on target for me as well. If you're a Sig Sauer P250 owner you are for sure going to want to pick yourself up one of these ASP CO2 Blowback Airgun versions so you can get some extra practice time in for pennies per shot and the ability to shoot in a lot more locations..
My Vimeo Table Top Review of the Sig Sauer ASP P250 CO2 Blowback .177 Caliber Pellet Pistol:
