Umarex's Colt 1911 Air Pistol

Everyone who has been born since the last century, and who has even a passing interest in firearms, will recognize the Colt 1911 pistol. It is a classic that has been copied so many times that I'm not sure there is an accurate count as to the number of variations on this gun. And if you enjoy shooting airguns, you now have a very good copy that is powered by CO2 that allows you to practice inside the house or in your yard with a realistic copy of the firearm version.

Umarex has been putting out quite a few firearm copies lately, and they serve a purpose for the shooting enthusiast. Just imagine, in the dead of winter, with snow on the ground, you can practice your drawing and shooting disciplines with a very close copy of the firearm this gun copies from the comfort of your own home.

With an 8-shot revolver-style magazine, the Model 1911 will copy the shot count of the original firearm. All the safety and magazine buttons are present, though they do different things. The slide release on the CO2 gun actually opens the slide for the magazine to be released. The magazine release pops off the right-side pistol grip, allowing one to insert a new CO2 cartridge.

In the kit that I received to review, there was a mock suppressor included, as well as a Walther reddot sight. Batteries are included for the sight, and the mock suppressor screws on like a real one, giving a military/special forces look to the ensemble.



The velocity readings on the gun I tested were in the mid 300's, though the manual states that pellets will approach the low 400's. With lighter pellets and a warmer day, I see no reason to disbelieve this claim. I was shooting outside in cooler weather with mid-weight .177 caliber pellets.

The reddot sight was useful. I prefer open sights on pistols, but this one came installed, and it worked just fine. This gun isn't meant for target shooting, but for quick plinking and practice. Accuracy is reasonable for such activities, but I wouldn't use the gun for anything but practice. It is a little low in power for pest control and small game hunting, so refrain from using it for those purposes.



So all you Colt 1911 fans out there....here's a good copy you can shoot indoors with minimal fuss to stay in good shooting condition for the competition season, or for practicing self-defense scenarios. And for the rest of us....well, it's just plain fun to shoot!

Hunting Season is Here!

This past Saturday marked the opening day of squirrel season here in Kentucky. I took one of my air guns out into the woods for a trial run as it has so far been untested on live game. The gun in question is a custom-built gun that is derived from the TF-78, a fine and accurate CO2 gun. However, this particular gun has been converted into a PCP, with a high-pressure reservoir added to accommodate the 3000 psi I wanted as a power source. With this conversion, (safely done by a good machinist) I derive over 4 times the power available from the CO2 version. It pushes heavy Kodiak pellets at a rate that results in 32 fpe.

The barrel on this gun is the original Chinese barrel, which is a testament to the accuracy the Chinese are building into this model of air gun. As you can see from the pictures below, I had no problem connecting with the quarry I was pursuing. Head and neck shots on the two squirrels you see were easily achieved once I settled myself down from the "first shot of the season" jitters that seem to plague me every year.

The groundhog, which is big game for small-caliber airguns, was an added bonus. The landowner had asked me to get rid of it at every opportunity as it was digging up under the woodpile and edge of the barn.



A word of caution to air gun hunters. Each year brings changes and new rules to the existing game laws, and it is your responsibility to check and see if you are hunting with a legal weapon. For instance, this year Kentucky passed a law forbidding the use of .177 caliber air guns for small game hunting. I am asking for a review of this law, but for the 2007-2008 hunting season, it is a done deal. Thankfully, I have several .22 caliber air guns to choose from, but I was sorely disappointed that I couldn't use my Beeman R-9 and R-7 this season. So glance through your state's game laws and ensure you are okay.

Now if you are looking for an early-season squirrel rifle that is recoiless and very accurate, I couldn't mention a better gun to you than the TF-78 in .22 caliber. Even on CO2, there is plenty of power for small game such as squirrels and rabbits. And if you are interested in a PCP conversion, I can steer you towards a good machinist who will turn an already great gun into a real powerhouse. And he will do it safely, which is of utmost importance when dealing with high pressure air guns.

Enjoy this hunting season and let us know how you are doing with some of the fine products you get from Compasseco.