What are your thoughts on replicas?

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Awhile back, I ordered a Sig Sauer P320 pellet only with blowback, mainly to get my wife interested in shooting with me a little more often. It gets approximately 2-30rd magazines out of one CO2. Less than 20ft gives fairly good accuracy and opens up from there.

I then ordered the Sig Sauer M17 pellet only with blowback for me. I really like the field strip feature and it helps in actual maintenance and when I did the mods to improve accuracy. It now does about a 1" group of 20 at approximately 20yds. Like most others, I'm not a big fan that the CO2 limits the rate of fire, but when I'm close to the end of the cartridge, it really doesn't matter.

One of the next projects to take on will be getting the P320 to tighten up and see how much the accuracy improves.

I also have a Walther Nighthawk from back when Crosman was selling them. It's a CP99 copy without blowback and has an 8 shot rotary magazine. I haven't done anything to it, but shoot it. I did find that the lead free pellets really gives it a zip, but in the end, it's still a 3.6fpe pistol.

As far as replicas go, I like them, shoot them, and even own a couple. I get more enjoyment out of some more than others. I look at it as a getaway from the usual guns that I shoot. Also, when introducing new people to the sport, they get to see just what all is available and might give them ideas as to what they would like should they choose to join in on the fun.
 
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I have a Tangfolio 1911 and only use it for draw, double tap, repeat.



It works great for that purpose, good training since it's actually pretty accurate at the 15 yards I train with a decent blow back to make it feel good



I use a silouette sight and see target that gives me great instant feedback,.....lots of fun.
 
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I have a Tangfolio 1911 and only use it for draw, double tap, repeat.



It works great for that purpose, good training since it's actually pretty accurate at the 15 yards I train with a decent blow back to make it feel good



I use a silouette sight and see target that gives me great instant feedback,.....lots of fun.
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Very similar to my own experience with the Springfield Armory Mil Spec 1911. 

I just got the CZ75 and shot it for the first time this morning. I like that one, too, but overall prefer the 1911. 
 
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The only replica I have is this Schofield, a very good copy of the post-civil war pistol. It uses 2 kinds of cartridges, one for BBs, and one for pellets. So once you've loaded all 6, you are good to go. The CO2 cartridge goes in once you remove the grip panel. This panel also has a thing to tighten-up and activate the CO2. This grip is plastic, but it really looks like wood. A white grip is also available. I bought this only because it can shoot pellets. IMO, shooting BBs indoors is begging for trouble. The main drawback for me is the fixed sights. This was fine in the Indian Wars from horseback, but no so good for high scores at 10 yards. Mine shoots a bit high and right. If you get a 45 out of 50 with this gun, you have to be very happy, where as this score would be considered poor with my Crosman Custom Shop pistol. This gun is so handsome, it is worth the $129. just to display it. I think of it as a beautiful "plinker".
 
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I've been a huge fan of this great youtube channel, Forgotten Weapons, for years now. For anybody that doesn't know it, the channel is mostly about real steel powder-burner guns that are being auctioned. The presenter, Ian McCollum, is an engineer that is extremely knowledgeable about gun designs. He normally goes over the history of the gun's development and any associated ammunition specs, then exhaustively goes through every feature of the gun from soup to nuts (usually showing every step of disassembly in order to explain how all the mechanisms work). Sometimes, he even fires the gun in the range. He's also done lots of modern guns, as well as much larger weapons like artillery, grenade launchers, cannons, rocket launchers, etc. Anyways, I really love his videos.

I'm not even interested in ever owning any real guns for myself (I just don't want that danger in my house, ever). However, once I discovered replica airguns, I was instantly addicted, and I've quickly bought up almost all of the replicas I could: Umarex Colt Peacemaker, Barra Schofield, Crosman Remington, Gletcher Nagant, Webley Mark VI, Umarex Luger P08 (blowback), Umarex broom handle Mauser, Umarex P38, Umarex PPK/S, Baikal Makarov (blowback version), Umarex MP40, Umarex lever action rifle, Diana Mauser K98 PCP, Sig Sauer MCX, a couple Barretas, a couple Dan Wessons, a Chiappa Rhino. Yeah, I went a little nuts during the lockdown. When possible, I get the versions that fire pellets (and hopefully a rifled barrel), in full metal, with blowback, that can be field stripped. There are a few others that I'm looking to get at some point, but right now, my wife would kill me.

I guess I'm more of a collector, but I do shoot them fairly regularly. I also own a couple decent PCP rifles, so I know how accurately they can shoot, but I still get a kick out of the replicas. Obviously, they're not nearly as accurate as the PCPs (except for the Diana Mauser PCP obviously), but I still think they're lots of fun to own and shoot. I'll never own a real gun (well, possibly, a muzzle loader replica for giggles), so these replicas are the only way that I can scratch my weird itch to collect these weapons without the danger (or often higher costs) of the real thing. I also like to tinker, and these are not that expensive, so I feel ok to tinker with them.
 
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rabinabo, if you are safe and responsible with air guns I don't see why you can't be responsible with firearms. Simply store the guns unloaded and keep the ammo in a different location. I've been handling firearms and ammunition for forty years and I've never had any problems.

I've seen some of Ian McCollum's shows too and he is very good. You have a very impressive collection of replicas and I'm glad you are enjoying them. I have an Ummarex blow back 1911 and its a lot of fun to shoot.
 
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Moog, as it is, my wife is also uncomfortable about all these airguns :) It's still my firm belief that having a real gun in one's home is an unnecessary risk, no matter what precautions one might take. If I lived in a rural area, then maybe my risk-benefit analysis would have a different outcome.

The Colt has to be my favorite, because of watching so many westerns, although the Webley Mark VI and Nagant are both really great to shoot and look so awesome. The Chiappa Rhino is something else, incredibly unique and made by the maker of the real steel version. The Baikal Makarov was difficult to find a seller that would ship to the US, but it's also made by a maker of real Makarovs, even using the same steel as the real thing on many parts and feels like it.
 
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I am not a fan. I bought a Crosman Vigilante back when they first came out, and sold it as quickly as I could as it was horrible to use, went through so much gas and had the accuracy of a b=vent barrel sawed off shotgun. I recently got a Springfield Armory XDE. Again it is horrible. The blow back uses WAY too much gas, The Magazine jams all the time, accuracy is actually almost passable (2 inches at 20 feet) but the gun is just not fun to shoot. Yes it looks nice and is kinda fun to Field strip, but at the end of the day, it is expensive to shoot (I get two 18 shot mags per CO2). This one will most likely be sold as well. I'm not knocking anyone that likes replicas as I get it, but for me, they are too much money for substandard performance.
 
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There are good replicas out there, some so-so ones, and some real stinkers. Pretty much all of the Umarex Legends guns are top-tier for realism and fun, as are most offerings by KWC. None of them are powerful or accurate enough for hunting or serious target shooting, but that's not their intent. They're designed to put the smile on your face on a rainy day when you can only shoot indoors or out in the backyard and want to knock down some soda cans. Some are even realistic enough to use as training guns in place of the real things, especially when presentations from the holster and such are taking place. If you screw up the draw would you rather shoot yourself in the leg with a BB or a hot 9mm round?

Since the COVID situation began I've been accumulating a lot of replica airguns, both for indoors fun as well as to reduce the amount of money spent on live ammunition for my actual firearms. Ten BBs for a penny is a lot cheaper than even a .22LR round, which is around $.12 a shot these days.
 
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Since the COVID situation began I've been accumulating a lot of replica airguns, both for indoors fun as well as to reduce the amount of money spent on live ammunition for my actual firearms. Ten BBs for a penny is a lot cheaper than even a .22LR round, which is around $.12 a shot these days.
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DSK, I think you and I are going to be friends. ;-)
 
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Well let's see... so far I've "accumulated" about a dozen replica airguns. I have no plans to stop as I'm in full sickness mode and there's still a bunch more I plan to get as my wallet cools down. Like a lot of people I stopped shooting airguns entirely once I became old enough to play with the powder-burners, but the current high cost of shooting real firearms combined with the convenience of being able to go plinking without even leaving the house has me terribly addicted now.
 
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The only replica I have is this Schofield..... I bought this only because it can shoot pellets. IMO, shooting BBs indoors is begging for trouble.
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I agree that shooting BBs indoors can be problematic, but it depends on where your shooting area is and what kind of backstop you can make. My solution was to shoot into a large 40-gallon tote filled with all-purpose sand and positioned in my garage. I have it tipped over and sitting on a dolly with wheels, so I can move it around and store it out of the way with the lid on when I'm done. I tape butcher paper across the front which helps keep BBs and sand alike inside, and I tape the targets to the paper or else set up cans on a cardboard box directly in front of it. Even when shooting my full-auto BB guns I rarely get any ricochets, which don't travel more than a few feet. Sand is great for stopping BBs, plus it's relatively easy to sift through it with a magnet to collect used BBs for disposal.

Obviously if you're only able to shoot inside the living area where lamp shades and fish tanks reside you're probably not going to be able to unleash a BB machine gun, or anything firing steel BBs for that matter.
 
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Well let's see... so far I've "accumulated" about a dozen replica airguns. I have no plans to stop as I'm in full sickness mode and there's still a bunch more I plan to get as my wallet cools down. Like a lot of people I stopped shooting airguns entirely once I became old enough to play with the powder-burners, but the current high cost of shooting real firearms combined with the convenience of being able to go plinking without even leaving the house has me terribly addicted now.
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It sounds like you're one ahead of me, but then I only started with the addiction about May of this year. I do have the upcoming Umarex Legends M3 on order, but I'd be willing to bet money you do too, am I right? ;-)

What's your favorite? So far mine is the Umarex/Springfield Armory 1911 Mil-Spec, which lacks only a flat mainspring housing and about 5 ounces of weight being perfect. Every time I shoot it I'm amazed at how much it is like one of my 1911s with a Ciener .22LR conversion on it. The new Umarex M29 would tie it for first place if it had a better SA trigger and a shorter barrel (6" or 4"); even as it is, it's a contender for my 3rd or 4th favorite air pistol. 

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I've heard of the M3 but I'm not in a huge hurry to get it when it comes out. I already have the Legends M1A1 and MP40, plus the Crosman SBR. I also have a KWC UZI, which while not my favorite to own is probably my favorite to actually shoot.

My pistols are pretty varied, but I have several of the KWC 1911s. I think your Mil-Spec is also a KWC although it's sold through Air Venturi. Of my pistols I think the favorite is still my Crosman 357 to be honest. I've had it since I was 12 and I like it enough to have rebuilt it twice now. It's also my most accurate air pistol. The others are a hoot to shoot, especially the super-realistic models like the 1911s, the M29 and the 92A1, but none are really that accurate and all shoot either way high, low or to the left which annoys me. Every time I get one out and charge it up I have to remember which direction the sights are off. Of all of these, the only one I regret buying is the SIG M17 replica. It looks super-realistic, but it is a jam-o-matic and sometimes even vents fresh Co2 cartridges which really pees me off.

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