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Umarex Legends MP40 BB Submachinegun: Part 1

Posted on September 21, 2017 by B.B. Pelletier ↓ 64 Comments

by Tom Gaylord
Writing as B.B. Pelletier

Umarex Legends MP40 BB submachinegun.

This report covers:

Texas airgun show
Description
Rate of fire
Select fire
Magazine
Sights
Open bolt
Blowback
Folding stock
Why this airgun?

Here is an airgun we have all been waiting for since the SHOT Show — the Umarex Legends MP40 BB Submachinegun. PAY ATTENTION! There are two versions of this airgun at this time. One is the weathered one that comes with a leather sling. and the other is a blued steel gun that apparently has no sling. I asked for the weathered one because of what this is — a battle-ready WW II replica. Beautiful bluing belongs on replicas of Colt Pythons, not on guns that have served in war! There is a price difference of $50 between the two offerings as this is published (the weathered version with the leather sling is more), but I would watch them because I think that’s will change from time to time.

Sig Sauer Spartan BB pistol: Part 3

Posted on September 6, 2017 by B.B. Pelletier ↓ 47 Comments

by Tom Gaylord
Writing as B.B. Pelletier

Sig Sauer Spartan BB pistol offers a lot of pistol at a budget price.

Part 1
Part 2

This report covers:

The test
H&N Smart Shot
Hornady Black Diamond BBs
The trigger
Air Venturi Zinc-Plated BBs
Overall evaluation

It’s accuracy day for the the Sig Spartan BB pistol, and I have to tell you I am excited. The trigger on this pistol, while heavy, breaks so crisply that I am expecting good things.

The test

I shot from 5 meters, seated and resting my shooting arm on a UTG Monopod. The Spartan’s sights are fixed but they are wide enough for good accuracy and the front post is sharp. There was no problem seeing the sights on the target for a 6 o’clock hold.

H&N Smart Shot

I tried the H&N Smart Shot lead BBs first. I did that because the Spartan only got 40 good shots on a CO2 cartridge in Part 2 and I wanted the pistol to be as powerful as possible with this heavier BB.

Sig Sauer Spartan BB pistol: Part 2

Posted on August 24, 2017 by B.B. Pelletier ↓ 96 Comments

by Tom Gaylord
Writing as B.B. Pelletier

Sig Sauer Spartan BB pistol offers a lot of pistol at a budget price.

Part 1

This report covers:

Install the CO2 cartridge
Velocity with Daisy BBs
Recoil
Air Venturi Copper-Plated BBs
H&N Smart Shot lead BBs
Trigger pull
Shot count
Evaluation so far

Today we look at the velocity of the Sig Spartan BB pistol. The specs rate it at 410 f.p.s. Today we find out. I will also comment on things like the blowback and the trigger. Let’s get started.

Install the CO2 cartridge

The first step is to put a fresh CO2 cartridge in the gun. It goes into the grip, of course. Lift off the left grip panel and then pull the mainspring housing from the back of the grip. That is the lower flat part of the grip that’s has a coarse raised pattern in the metal for a better grip. In the 1911 firearm, it houses the mainspring, but on this BB pistol it’s the lever that pierces the CO2 cartridge.

Sig Sauer Spartan BB pistol: Part 1

Posted on August 15, 2017 by B.B. Pelletier ↓ 33 Comments

by Tom Gaylord
Writing as B.B. Pelletier

Sig Sauer Spartan BB pistol offers a lot of pistol at a budget price.

This report covers:

Sig firearms
The airgun
Manual safety
Full blowback
Grips
Finish
Sights
Trigger
Magazine
Light rail
Evaluation

Today we begin looking at Sig Sauer’s latest BB pistol, the Spartan. It’s a faithful copy of their Spartan 1911 firearm, which has upgraded features that put it ahead of many production 1911s. And it’s made in Japan.

Sig firearms

I will say this about Sig firearms — when they decide to make something they don’t cut corners. I never had much contact with them in the past, but since they have started making airguns I have been giving their firearms a look, as well. I am a died-in-the-wool conservative when it comes to firearms. Don’t try to sell me on a process like metal injection molding (MIM) unless it performs better than machining in some way other than just the cost to manufacture.

Hakim airgun trainer at 25 yards

Posted on August 14, 2017 by B.B. Pelletier ↓ 20 Comments

by Tom Gaylord
Writing as B.B. Pelletier

Hakim air rifle trainer. Anschütz made 2800 of these for the Egyptian army in 1954/55. This one has custom-made wood.

A history of airguns

This report covers:

The test
Sight in
RWS Superpoints
Eley Wasps
The experience

Today’s blog arose from the suggestions of several readers. In the end it was Siraniko who pushed me over the line, and, when you see what happened, I think you’ll be glad that he did.

The test

The question is — how well does the Hakim air rifle shoot at extended distances? In the past I have always tested it at 10 meters. Today we will see what it can do at 25 yards. The rifle was rested directly on a sandbag and I used the open sights that came with the gun. My bionic eyes don’t see the rear notch very clearly anymore, and now you will see if that affects my accuracy.

Poor man’s Garand — the Hakim

Posted on August 4, 2017 by B.B. Pelletier ↓ 92 Comments

by Tom Gaylord
Writing as B.B. Pelletier

Hakim
Egyptian Hakim was a “make-do” battle rifle, designed around cheap ammo.

A history of airguns

This report covers:

History
Development
Innovation
Cartridges thrown forward
Hakim action
Accuracy
However…
Why is the Hakim the “poor man’s Garand”?
Corrosive ammo
The airgun
Summary

You have read about Hakims in this blog many times already, but all of them were air rifles. Today is different. Today we look at the firearm that inspired the pellet rifle trainer — the 8mm Egyptian Hakim!

History

At the end of WWII, the Egyptians found themselves in possession of tens of millions, if not hundreds of millions, of rounds of 7.92 X 57mm Mauser ammunition — the 8mm Mauser round. The Germans had stockpiled it in Egypt, thinking they would be there for a long time. When they left, there were storehouses of munitions left behind that the Egyptians inherited.

Gletcher Stechkin APS BB pistol: Part 4

Posted on August 1, 2017 by B.B. Pelletier ↓ 15 Comments

by Tom Gaylord
Writing as B.B. Pelletier

Gletcher’s Stechkin blowback BB pistol.

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

This report covers:

Hornady Black Diamond
H&N Smart Shot
Daisy Match Grade shot
Shot uniformity and dimensions
Summary

Before we begin I want to alert you to the Friday blog. It’s going to be most unusual and unanticipated. It will be an historical report, but one I don’t think make of you will expect.

Today I will test the Gletcher Stechkin APS BB pistol all the ways you readers asked me to after the last test. This pistol has created a lot of interest because of its grouping ability that differs widely with the BBs used.

I shot the same way as in the last test — hand rested on the UTG Monopod. I was seated and the distance was 5 meters.