Replica airguns

[sixshootertexan]

I have the Walther PPK, Umarex S.A. 177 Glock, and Sig P226 X-Five. I got my eye on the new Colt Peacemaker.

[Minuteman]

I have the Walther PPK, Umarex S.A. 177 Glock, and Sig P226 X-Five. I got my eye on the new Colt Peacemaker.

The Sig 226 is on my short list. How do you rate it?

[sixshootertexan]

I like it. Feels just like my real P229. It actually weights 2oz's more than my P229. Can be fired both single and double action. Has as good recoil to it.

[Minuteman]

I like it. Feels just like my real P229. It actually weights 2oz's more than my P229. Can be fired both single and double action. Has as good recoil to it.

I read somewhere that the finish wears off easily. How has yours held up?

[sixshootertexan]

I've had it for over a year and put about 1000 rounds through it and it still looks good. I keep it in a old camera bag I have so it's not just laying around getting banged up. I'm sure if I had a holster for it to practice drawing it would wear quickly.

[sixshootertexan]

WOW it fits right in my P229 holster. Snaps right in just like it was made for it.

[Minuteman]

I've had it for over a year and put about 1000 rounds through it and it still looks good. I keep it in a old camera bag I have so it's not just laying around getting banged up. I'm sure if I had a holster for it to practice drawing it would wear quickly.

Thanks for the info. I've watched the video reviews that dude up in Canada does. Replica Airguns. He does some pretty thorough reviews. He seemed to really like the 226.

[Minuteman]

WOW it fits right in my P229 holster. Snaps right in just like it was made for it.

Wow, sure looks like the real thing.

[haertig]

I have never gotten into the replica airgun thing.  Personally, I like air guns because they are airguns, not because they imitate (in looks only, from far away) some firearm or another.  I think I have been turned off by the few replicas I have held.  Parts that are supposed to move on the original firearms just sit there, molded into the replica.  They just look and feel so fake, like a toy.  And every replica trigger I have fired, ugh, horrible ... totally horrible.  It's like designers have mandated that replicas have the worst triggers possible.

Also, I have a lot of firearms so I don't necessarily want a replica of something I already have that's the original.  I  reload everything so ammo is not a problem.  But I like air guns too.  My last two trips to the range I took nothing but air guns.  They don't look anything like a firearm.  They look like airguns.  Which is fine with me.  Firearms and air guns are both great.  One doesn't need to try to imitate the other, IMHO.

[bubba zanetti]

I have never gotten into the replica airgun thing.  Personally, I like air guns because they are airguns, not because they imitate (in looks only, from far away) some firearm or another.  I think I have been turned off by the few replicas I have held.  Parts that are supposed to move on the original firearms just sit there, molded into the replica.  They just look and feel so fake, like a toy.  And every replica trigger I have fired, ugh, horrible ... totally horrible.  It's like designers have mandated that replicas have the worst triggers possible.

Also, I have a lot of firearms so I don't necessarily want a replica of something I already have that's the original.  I  reload everything so ammo is not a problem.  But I like air guns too.  My last two trips to the range I took nothing but air guns.  They don't look anything like a firearm.  They look like airguns.  Which is fine with me.  Firearms and air guns are both great.  One doesn't need to try to imitate the other, IMHO.

I hear ya on the cheap ones. Horrible triggers, cheap feel and ironically lacking in the realistic department.

However, the more realistic ones are great trainers, especially for children or people who have very little firearms experience. It allows them to become familiar with the concepts of how a semi-automatic handgun works and safe handling techniques without the threat of serious injury or possibly worse. Also, its low threat to the new shooter and gets them comfortable more quickly when its time to upgrade and begin training on the PB version.

I think Umarex has heard your complaint about the cheap and lacking realism part and I can say it takes a fair amount to impress me with a BB gun version of a PB. The M712 I got for Christmas REALLY impressed me. Its build is all metal, its weight and feel are like my PM Broomhandel and having fired many sub-machine guns and machine pistols they got pretty close to the experience. The only difference is the BB gun version of the M712 doesn't climb much when firing and the smooth bore barrel does effect accuracy. My favorite thing about the M712 is if you want to hit cans on full auto at 20-25 feet you have to shoot in short controlled bursts...just like a real sub-machine gun or machine pistol. My oldest son was just emptying the clip every time he was shooting it and hit nothing. When I was firing I was getting the cans. He asked "How are you doing that"? I said "Short Controlled Bursts Son, here let me show you" And the training begins 

BZ

[Minuteman]

Well, beggars can't be choosers. As I stated before, I like replicas because that's the only way I can get my hands on firearms that I cannot otherwise afford living on a fixed income. I can't go to a gun shop and plop down hundreds of dollars for a nice 1911 or a Sig. Heck, I can't even afford the ammo. So before you start looking down your nose at something, you might want to ask yourself what you would do if a replica was all you could afford. It's better than nothing. I swear I am probably the poorest airgunner on the forums. I'd love to be able to buy a nice PCP or a high end gas ram, but that just isn't going to happen. So I shoot junk. Better than nothing.

[sixshootertexan]

More and more firearm instructors are using these and their airsoft versions for training because they are so close to the real ones at a fraction of the cost.

[Allen Rice]

A word to the wise (someone had to say it):
I have a Beretta 92FS air pistol that is virtually identical to its 9mm big brother.  This gun is a work of art and a joy to own and shoot - I love this gun.  But I treat it with the same respect that I would a real fire arm.  I exercise safety measures and precautions as required by law and as dictated by common sense.  Because it looks so realistic, I am especially careful to avoid displaying the gun to an open public in fear that it might be mistaken for the real thing (which it most certainly would).  On the other hand, I am proud to show and share it in private with trusted friends.  It is a great conversation piece and an accurate shooter and something that I will pass on to my son someday.  Although replica air guns are far less deadly than fire arm counterparts, if misused they can get you just as dead.  As for me, I see more replicas in my future.

AR

[haertig]

So before you start looking down your nose at something, you might want to ask yourself what you would do if a replica was all you could afford.

I'm not looking down my nose at anything.  I'm sorry if you got that impression.  I was just stating my preference for "an air gun that is an airgun".  The replicas I have held, admittedly inexpensive ones, have failed in the airgun part of things.  They were terrible airguns (the specific ones I have shot - the cheap ones - I cannot comment on others).  I was only commenting on my lack of desire for something that shoots poorly that is trying, usually unsuccessfully, to look like something else.  It has nothing to do with the expense of the thing.  I have a cheap Beeman P17 and cheap Crosman 1377.  They both shoot exceptionally well IMHO.  But they're not trying to replicate the look of something else.  They look like themselves.  I'm into function over aesthetics, not aesthetics over function.  Regardless of price point.  I said nothing about price, nor did I look down my nose trying to imply somebody was poor or anything like that.  I'm sorry you took it that way, but that's not what I said.

[Minuteman]

So before you start looking down your nose at something, you might want to ask yourself what you would do if a replica was all you could afford.

I'm not looking down my nose at anything.  I'm sorry if you got that impression.  I was just stating my preference for "an air gun that is an airgun".  The replicas I have held, admittedly inexpensive ones, have failed in the airgun part of things.  They were terrible airguns (the specific ones I have shot - the cheap ones - I cannot comment on others).  I was only commenting on my lack of desire for something that shoots poorly that is trying, usually unsuccessfully, to look like something else.  It has nothing to do with the expense of the thing.  I have a cheap Beeman P17 and cheap Crosman 1377.  They both shoot exceptionally well IMHO.  But they're not trying to replicate the look of something else.  They look like themselves.  I'm into function over aesthetics, not aesthetics over function.  Regardless of price point.  I said nothing about price, nor did I look down my nose trying to imply somebody was poor or anything like that.  I'm sorry you took it that way, but that's not what I said.

Sorry, man. It's just a sensitive subject for me. I'm used to earning my money, now I have to take full time care of my terminally ill wife and I can't work a full time job. My kids help out, but it's not the same.

I can see where you drew your conclusions about replicas now that my eyes aren't crossed! Replicas are getting better, with full metal and working levers etc. The Sig 226 field strips just like the real steel, as do some of the better 1911s. Check out Replica Airguns on Youtube. You might be pleasantly surprised.

I too have a P17, and a couple 2240s, as well as some gas rams. They all shoot well, and I plan to keep them. I'm just trying to recapture the fun of being a kid with a 'cool' gun. It's all good.

Peace to you.

[Minuteman]

A word to the wise (someone had to say it):
I have a Beretta 92FS air pistol that is virtually identical to its 9mm big brother.  This gun is a work of art and a joy to own and shoot - I love this gun.  But I treat it with the same respect that I would a real fire arm.  I exercise safety measures and precautions as required by law and as dictated by common sense.  Because it looks so realistic, I am especially careful to avoid displaying the gun to an open public in fear that it might be mistaken for the real thing (which it most certainly would).  On the other hand, I am proud to show and share it in private with trusted friends.  It is a great conversation piece and an accurate shooter and something that I will pass on to my son someday.  Although replica air guns are far less deadly than fire arm counterparts, if misused they can get you just as dead.  As for me, I see more replicas in my future.

AR

You bring up some good points that should be followed even with air soft. Never point it in the wrong direction and practice safe shooting. As for displaying a gun, I agree. My Smith MP 40 has a recessed barrel, and in the right light you cannot tell it from a PB. Definitely never point it at a cop!

[AHMSA]

I agree it's very important we airgunners should be very careful with the way we transport, store, and use our airguns.  Especially with the things that went on and that we've seen in the media in the last few months.  None of us would want to loose the privilege of owning and shooting airguns.

[45Bravo]

Sig is starting to produce pellet firing co2 and PCP guns built on the AR-15 design.
They used a belt fed magazine.

Available in .177, 22, and .25

http://www.airgundepot.com/shot-show-2015-sig-airguns-stoeger-airguns-article.html

[Minuteman]

Sig is starting to produce pellet firing co2 and PCP guns built on the AR-15 design.
They used a belt fed magazine.

Available in .177, 22, and .25

http://www.airgundepot.com/shot-show-2015-sig-airguns-stoeger-airguns-article.html

Wow, those are cool. But, I am already cringing about the price tags. I imagine them to be high. I hope I'm wrong, but time will tell.

[bubba zanetti]

I have been praying for that type of replica for sometime now...the only thing to add to the wish list is select fire, internally suppressed, run on HPA and accurate!

BZ