Monthly Archives: December 2019

2019 Replica Air Pistol of the Year Part 2

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2019 Replica Air Pistol of the Year Part 2

Old idea, newer gun – Crosman Full Auto P1

By Dennis Adler

It looks like a Beretta 92FS with an unusual ambidextrous safety on the frame instead of the slide. It’s not wrong though, if you remember that the select-fire version built by Beretta as the 93R had this same look. It also had a folding forward grip, longer triggerguard and extended capacity magazine, but what aspects of the 93R Crosman has used for the P1 are well done. The fit and finish are very good, not as good as an Umarex Beretta 92A1, but nicely done.

Maybe in any other year I would have tested this gun, which is pretty nice, and never considered it a candidate for Replica Air Pistol of the Year but the Crosman has two things going for it, first the solid foundation upon which this “new” blowback action CO2 pistol is built, and secondly, the number of award worthy new models introduced in 2019. When you can’t even make a top 10 list, a newer version of an older design seems to carry more weight, especially when you take into account one of the newest blowback action models this year is based on a CO2 pistol design that has been around for over five years and a centerfire gun that has been around for 108 years! What is new? read more

2019 Replica Air Pistol of the Year Part 1

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2019 Replica Air Pistol of the Year Part 1

The Candidates

By Dennis Adler

This has been a year of surprises and disappointments for air pistol enthusiasts but the surprises have far outweighed the let downs in some areas, notably the conspicuous absence of any new revolvers from ASG, Umarex, or Bear River, all of which were expected to continue the successful runs that had begun with the Dan Wesson double action pellet cartridge loading models, the Colt Peacemakers, and Schofield. In fact, there are fewer models overall this year, as some have been discontinued or are not currently available, like the nickel 7-1/2 inch Peacemaker (more about that in 2020!) read more

S&W M&P40 vs. G17 Gen4 Part 2

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S&W M&P40 vs. G17 Gen4 Part 2

Authenticity, Velocity and Accuracy

By Dennis Adler

Over the past several years there have been small gains in velocity with blowback action models, and with the M&P40 and Glock 17 Gen4 we have examples of earlier and current CO2 designs. We should expect some differences in velocity, and accuracy as well. Despite the same basic internal designs, the evolution of the designs over several years should result in improved manufacturing combined with the different internal designs between the M&P and Glock Gen4. This is particularly true of the guide rod and recoil spring differences between the S&W and Glock, the latter copied as exactly as possible for an air pistol. This could give the G17 an advantage over the M&P40, at least that is the theory at work for this comparison. Let’s begin with how well the two guns fit holsters and their magazines in pouches made for the centerfire guns. read more