by Tom Gaylord
Writing as B.B. Pelletier
ASG X9 Classic.
This report covers:
- Strange things
- Patterned after the M9
- BB pistol
- Action
- Power
- Not from Pyramyd Air
- Summary
Strange things
Today I begin looking at the X9 Classic BB pistol from ASG. This CO2-powered pistol is unique in many ways. First, it was shipped with a box of plastic BBs that are called rubber on the box lid. Yes, this is a real steel BB pistol in every sense of the word, but it evolved from airsoft, and in this case it may not have left airsoft behind.
These are the first BB-sized airsoft balls I have seen. That’s a real steel BB and two 6mm airsoft BBs for comparison.
The next strange thing I noticed was a warning sticker on the bottom of the magazine that tells you to release the CO2 when you are finished shooting. The warning says this is to protect the o-ring seals, but I’ve not seen an o-ring that could not withstand constant pressurization. It will make the gun safer, though. They obviously mean this, so I will take them at their word — making this the first CO2 gun I’ve ever depressurized after shooting.
The warning sticker tells you to depressurize the gun after shooting. I will do it, but the sticker has to come off to press the button to remove the floorp[late and gain access Allen piercing screw.
Patterened after the M9
The X9 is quite obviously patterned after the U.S. military 9mm M9 pistol that is scheduled to be replaced starting in 2018 with the new Modular Handgun System that was awarded to Sig earlier this year. The M9 has been around since 1985 and is well-known to many current and former servicemen and women. And the Beretta 92F that is the basis of the M9 is known around the world to military, law enforcement and civilians alike. So the X9 has a large established audience who are very familiar with the platform.
BB pistol
The X9 is a true semiautomatic, with a blowback slide. The airgun is all metal, so the weight is there and the recoil simulation from the moving slide ought to be very realistic.
The gun is all black with a matte finish. Sights are a wide rear notch that’s fixed and a low front post that has a white bead in the center. The safety is located on the left rear of the slide and works like the one on the firearm. All the other controls work and the slide stays open after the last BB has been fired.
The pistol can be disassembled. I showed that to you in the 2017 SHOT Show report.
The X9 comes apart like the firearm.
The gun weighs 1 lb. 15 oz. without a CO2 cartridge installed. The grip is very wide because of the firearm’s double-stacked 9mm magazine. I prefer a 1911-sized grip, but shooters with larger hands probably prefer this.
Action
The X9 is both single action and double action. Those who forget the definitions for each type of operation won’t have to worry with this one. Since the slide blows back with each shot, it cocks the exposed hammer, so the usual way of shooting is to fire the first shot double action and then continue single action. I will measure each trigger pull for you in Part 2, but I can tell you now that the double action pull is very light and smooth.
Magazine
The drop-free removable magazine holds 16 steel BBs in a stack at the front. A spring-loaded follower pushes them up. The CO2 cartridge also fits in the mag and is pierced by an Allen screw on the bottom of the mag flooplate. But loading is not as straightforward as you think!
Loading
I had to read the manual (I know — but somebody has to do it) to discover how to load a CO2 cartridge into the mag. The magazine floorplate has to come off to access the piercing screw. Until that sticker is removed, you can’t depress the button that unlocks the floorplate, allowing it to slide off. Yes, it is fiddly. Here is a picture to show you what I’m talking about.
The floorplate has to be removed to gain access to the piercing screw.
I think this extra step will put off some buyers. Airgunners are not a patient lot, and anything that’s extra tends to frustrate them. Of course nothing prevents you from leaving the floorplate off while you shoot. Like those removable cocking aides some spring pistols have, I believe people will leave the floorplate off while they shoot.
Power
The manual tells me to expect velocities around 312 f.p.s. That’s slow for a modern BB pistol but it has advantages. First, there will be fewer violent BB rebounds — the bane of all steel BB guns. Next, the shot count should be greater, though the blowback may use some gas, too. Finally, the pistol should be quieter.
Not from Pyramyd Air
As of this time the X9 pistol is not stocked by Pyramyd AIR. I don’t know if they plan on picking it up or not.
Summary
That’s it for today. Let me know is there is anything particular you want me to look at on this pistol.
I have been around airguns and airsoft for a while.
And that’s the first plastic 4.5mm airsoft ammo I have seen too.
Can you weigh them, and when you do the velocity test, please chrono a string with them.
They did come with the gun after all, so it should be tested with them.
Since Gamo bought Daisy, these may be how gamo will start inflating their BB gun velocity claims.
45Bravo,
Yes, I can test them for you. This gun is from Action Sport Games — ASG. They are different than Gamo/Daisy.
B.B.
45Bravo, that is funny about max. velocity, even if Gamo doesn’t own them. Next thought, maybe killing a hog with a plastic bb LOL….Just kidding
Doc
Oh, does the gun have a hopup system, and if so, is it adjustable?
45Bravo,
None is mentioned.
B.B.
Fixed sights, blowback, heavy weight and low MV all means this will mainly be a practice piece for those who carry a Beretta 92/M9-type sidearm IMHO.
I don’t think plastic BBs will be useful for much of anything, maybe some indoors shooting but they’re stupid expensive- like 3-1/4 cents each for the ones I saw a couple months ago on the auction site we all know and many loathe.
If the seals fail because the gun was left charged between shooting sessions (something that I do w/all my CO2 guns, w/o ill effect to any of them), then it’s a fail to me right there.
The SHOT show version looks like it was rattle-canned w/aluminum paint!
Cobalt327,
SHOT Show pix were taken under extreme conditions. The lighting was off.
B.B.
BB,
I cannot say I am much interested in the pistol, but I am interested in the plastic BBs. I am looking forward to how they perform versus the steel BBs. Perhaps you can test how they perform in different airguns.
I am interested in the plastic bbs as well. I think it would be fun to plink casually without worrying about bbs and pellets disappearing into a wall or breaking a window.
I just googled then and found them available from several vendors in the UK, Portugal and Spain costing between about 4 dollars and 25 dollars per thousand, plus shipping to the US–however much that might be.
Here is a link to a video review, although I will have to wait until tomorrow to view it. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=%23&ved=0ahUKEwj-wu_ksOzSAhVH6iYKHZs7CqcQwqsBCCcwAA&usg=AFQjCNF1sHlk2z9QIx28jtvfnGP_UlkifA
I will likely wait until someone in the US picks them up. I imagine that will not be long.
That’s what I was wondering. Where they could be purchased at.
B.B.,
Strange indeed. For a simulator firearm it works well enough. The weight of my 92FS is 2# 12oz. and this one is 1# 15oz., so is there is something going on there. That is a lot of weight to shave off,.. somewhere.
Most interesting is the .177 air soft ammo. I would like to see you try these in something you have like a Crosman multi-pump, or something, that you have laying around just to see how they do. Nothing official,.. just see how/what they do.
Gun aside, the biggest news just might be the ammo and giving indoor/close range shooters another option. An option that won’t shoot back at you. 😉
Good Day all,…. Chris
Oh yea,… run some of the air soft through your bb gage if you still have it, just for comparison sakes.
Chris,
That’s a good idea, too.
B.B.
B.B.,
This is one odd duck.. Do you have a scale that can weigh these tiny plastic round balls? If this pistol is designed to shoot 5.1 grain steel BBs at 300+ fps., then how screaming fast will .020 grain (or so) plastic round balls exit the muzzle? I have always assumed that CO2 airsoft guns are “governored” for the lightweight ammo as they shoot hard, but at airsoft velocities nevertheless. But if this is tuned for 5.1 grains, shooting plastic might be very interesting.
Because you didn’t write that this is select fire, I am presuming it isn’t. That is a feature of at least two 92-based CO2 pistols, and probably a half dozen 92-based CO2 airsoft pistols, so why would someone buy this?
I am curious about this one, not to purchase, certainly, but your reports should prove interesting.
Michael
Michael,
No, it’s not select-fire. Nor is the M9 that it copies. Most Beretta 92 pistols are semiautomatic, only, and I think shooters want an airgun that replicates their firearm as closely as possible.
Since the select fire Beretta pistols are not grandfathered in, no private U.S. citizen can own one. They will now get past the NFA branch of BATF&E.
I do plan to test the plastic BBs for you next time.
B.B.
B.B.
Any idea where this pistol was actually made? I found that ActionSportGames was founded in April 2003 as a merger of the two largest Danish distributors of Airsoft Guns and accessories, Pedersen & Grobelnik A/S (founded 1992) and Vestergaard ApS (founded 1960). No mention of where they are manufactured. Also, I found it interesting the ActionSportGames web site does not show a price.
Ken
Ken,
The box says Taiwan.
B.B.
There is a gent with a youtube channel calling himself Mrrunerebel. He doe airgun videos. I think he’s from Norway? He has at least one video where he shoots the 4.5mm plastic bb’s. He chrongraphs them and shoots a target.
My Walther lever action co2 rifle which you had reviewed, also states in their instruction manual to not leave the rifle charged with co2 cartridges for the same reason, degradation of the seals. I don’t know if this is true or lawyer talk.
Fred,
I’ve seen that wording in manuals, but never on a sticker directly attached to the gun.
B.B.
Just thought of something.
I would like to try some of those plastic bb’s in my M22 blow back pistol and my Daisy 74’s. Heck come to think of it even in that Python I have and use the plastic clips I have that work in it for bb’s. The Python is a pellet shooter witha rifled barrel. It would be interesting to see how the plastic bb’s would perform in it.
You never know they just might be accurate within a reasonable distance.
Oh and forgot about my HPA converted Steel Storm. I would really like to try some in it.
For you airgunners out on the Left Coast!
The 2017 Pacific Airgun Expo will take place this coming weekend, near Sacramento, CA.
Here’s precise details:
Location – El Dorado County Fairgrounds, Placerville, CA.
Times – Saturday March 25, 9:00AM – 5:00PM, Sunday March 26, 9:00AM – 1:00PM
Entry Fee – $10.00. Under 12 years free.
Website with more information – pacificairgunexpo.com
RR,
Thanks for the reminder. This is the second time they are having it in Hangtown. Maybe I will find a treasure.
Don
Don,
Hangtown? No kidding? I used to go there on my way to Lake Tahoe as a kid.
B.B.
Guess I’ll be Dod from here on out?
Dod
Benji-Don,
🙂
Dod,
Now, who looks silly? 😉
B.B.
Benji-Don,
If you go, you will. Make sure to bring a wad.
For all you non airsoft guys interested in the plastic bb’s, I too wonder about them. But, My sons have some airsoft guns. I’m here to tell you, those plastic bb will ricochet (rebound) too. I’ve had several hit me. And those guns aren’t shooting fast either (300 fps). Just be careful with them.
Doc
Doc
I was wanting to try some for plinking. And yes I bet they will ricochet too. I know the air soft guns I had would.
And by no means would I ever think about shooting the airsoft guns or these .177 plastic bb’s at some one either. Or a a animal or pest for that fact.
And since we’re talking about them. I would like to try them in one of my smooth bore 760’s I have. Heck even the Benjamin Wildfire I have if they will load in the clips and stay in place.
I think the Umarex Beretta 92A1 CO2 BB pistol is a better choice than this ASG X9 pistol.
I saw a video of new Umarex CO2 pistols on display at IWA 2017. Umarex had a 2.5 inch Peacemaker on display there. B.B. do you know if that 2.5 inch Peacemaker will be coming to the U.S. anytime in the next year?
I left airsoft behind awhile ago, but a friend’s kid who is active with it got my old M4 with the electric motor working even after the batteries had been dead for years. He’s a real genius. He says he is also working on a “sentry gun” which will automatically hose down intruders, but the target discrimination software is proving to be a problem.
I thought you were supposed to leave the old CO2 canister in place with the remaining charge until you put in a new one in order to keep the seal tight.
mildot52, funny you should mention the M1A series. My M1 Garand was bought as a rack grade, and it had a poor trigger with no stages that I could detect. My gunsmith modified it to a match-grade trigger with two stages, worthy, he said, of an NRA High Master. It is good but no better than my Savage AccuTrigger. With that blade, the AccuTrigger feels like a two stage trigger to me.
Gunfun1, I’m no shotgunner, but I’ve heard that the trigger technique is fundamentally different in slapping rather than squeezing the trigger. You would definitely want resistance for that technique.
Matt61
Matt61
Shot gunning to me seems alot like the double action triggers we were talking about the other day. Like the 1077 and Wildfire has. What I mean by that is kind of a quick consistent pull of the trigger. Not that feel the first stage stop and add more pressure and the second stage breaks of the two stage trigger.
I guess you could call that slapping the trigger. I just never thought of it that way.
There seems to be multiple opinions about whether or not to leave a CO2 cartridge in CO2 rifles and pistols. I’ve read in just about all of my pistol user manuals that spent CO2 cartridges should never be left in the pistols. I think the user manual for one of my CO2 rifles says it’s OK to leave the 88/90 g CO2 in the rifle with pressure.
One argument that I read somewhere, maybe here, is that spent CO2 should not be left in the pistol or rifle because leaving the seal under constant contact pressure with the CO2 cartridge will over time deform the seal surface leaving the seal more prone to leakage especially with CO2 cartridges from other suppliers than the one the gun was stored with.
Cstoehr
I believe the seals will deform if left in the gun.
Basically if you take that 12 gram cartridge out. Would the head of the next one be close to the same as the one that was left in. I’m guessing that now days the cap dimensions are held better than the old bottle cap design. That’s my take on it anyway. But I myself shoot the cartridge till it’s done and take it out.
At ~ 2.3 grains, not for anything but close range. A wadded up flannel shirt will stop them from any range. Everyone’ll buy a bottle, then shoot a few, then that’ll be it- plastic BBs are more of a novelty than anything.
Cobalt327,
That’s my take, as well. But there is interest, so I will test them.
B.B.
Cobalt
You basically said why I would be interested in them.
I could then shoot my regular air guns down in my basement at a course I set up with hanging paper from the ceiling at different heights and locations. I would have old blankets hung from the ceiling along two walls that meet at the corners and touching the floor.
I use to do that at my old house down in the basement with airsoft pistols. So I would be very interested in getting me some of these plastic bb’s. It would be very cool to shoot the guns I mentioned in the above post at the downstairs shooting range I just mentioned.
Heck could even set up a mini feild target range in your basement and use your regular co2, pump gun or pcp. Of course a .177 springer would be not a good idea. That would be like what a dry fire does to springers.
But that’s why I’m very interested in getting some of those plastic bb’s.
GF1,
Glad you mentioned the air soft as a no-no in springers. If you had not, I was going to.
Chris U
Yep on the springers.
And you know what I’m going to mention something that people ain’t going to believe it’s old Gunfun1 saying it.
First I’ll say I’m one that would not shoot a pellet backwards out of my air guns. You know to get that hollow point effect when the pellet hits. Well that is if it would ever hit what your aiming at. But one thing we did as kids with our multi-pump 760’s is put about 6 or 7 bb’s in the gun and shoot at cans we would put up on a dirt hill. You know a little shot gun. Well now back to the plastic bb’s. I would like to try that in my 760 down stairs on paper target. Heck could even have it on a pull cord and have somebody pull the cord and make it go across the room and have a mini skeet shooting range.
I know, I know I’m out there sometimes. But I know I would have fun with it. And I would say all in all good practice.
Hi guys,
Here is my 2 cents on leaving a CO2 cylinder in and how it affects seals. Rick Willnecker resealed a Crosman 180 for me in Feburary 2006. It has been under pressure since and has yet to leak.
Bruce
Bruce
Same cartridge since 2006? If so now will be the test if you try another cartridge.
Bruce,
That has been my experience, as well.
B.B.
Gunfun1,
It has not been the same cartridge, but I don’t remember when it was last changed. However, my Crosman 2240 has been pressurized continually for the last 5 years using about 3 boxes of, 25 each, CO2 cartridges without any seal or other problems.
I will let you know the results when I put a new cartridge in the 180.
Bruce
Bruce
Yep interested to know about the 180.
And I wonder if maybe Crosman is using better material for their seals than some of the other companies. I have not had the seals go bad in Crosman Co2 guns but I sure have in other brands.
Anyway let me know how the 180 goes.
I’m not familiar with the 180’s design but I know that some co2 guns pressurize the entire chamber that houses the cartridge ( usually the grip on a handgun) and can be identified by an o-ring around the circumference of the retaining cap. That o-ring should not be unduly stressed by residual gas left in the gun. The designs that actually press the cap end of the cartridge against a sealing face ( not so much an o-ring ,but more of a thick pliable washer) should deform that surface sooner if the cartridge is left in contact with it during storage. I have had to replace those seals on guns that I shot very little then stored for 20 yrs, then tried to load with a new cartridge after exhausting old co2. Over tightening will speed this deformation even more. Some after market seal kits seem to have tougher materials for that particular seal to minimize the deformation,so maybe this company knows that it is using inferior materials and extra care is required.( Judging by the photo of the charging screw ,I’m assuming that it is of the latter design) Also it is possible,I guess, for a gun stored with plenty of gas in it to deform the valve face seal (or plastic top hat) if it is stored for long periods in a warm enough location.
Halfstep
That’s the way I see it too.
Did you have a good fishing trip?
GF1,
Best trip we’ve had in the 6 or 7 years we’ve been going. 7 guys fishing for 6 days cleaned over 500 crappie. Threw back a third that many. No rain until we took the boats out on the last day. I caught the biggest at 15 3/4 ” . and gasoline stayed at around $2.00 /gal the whole trip there and back. And best of all it’s no longer a dry county ,so just a quick trip to resupply when we ran out. 🙂
Halfstep
Now that’s how a fishing trip is suppose to go. Glad you had a good time.
🙂