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For those of you who are looking to develop your shooting skills and drills with pistols between visits to CTP we have another UK Legal suggestion in the form of the ASG SP-01 Shadow CO2, 4.5mm BB Pistol. This is another very accurate CZUB licenced replica pistol from the same ASG stable as their Shadow 2 pistol reviewed below. Like the Shadow 2 the SP-01 is of full metal construction and is fitted with an extended ambidextrous safety and rubber grips as per the real steel version. The extended safety is easier to operate due to its larger size than the standard item fitted to the Shadow 2 (The extended safety is available as an option on the centre fire Shadow 2, so ASG is offering both pistols in their standard configurations as they come from CZUB). The back strap of the SP-01 is not as scalloped as the Shadow 2 but it still has an excellent fit to my hand, the stippling on front and back of the hand grip is also not as extensive as the Shadow 2. The trigger guard on the SP-01 is a more rounded item with the magazine release catch being a standard non-adjustable type which is not as raised as the custom item on the shadow 2. The base of the lower front receiver has a picatinney rail with x 3 grooves to lock accessory torches and laser sighting aids in place if desired. The front sight is identical to the shadow 2 fibre optic item but the rear iron sight is a nonadjustable type. The pistol is finished in satin black and with the black rubber grips has a more tactical appearance than the Shadow 2.

Before test firing I field stripped the SP-01 as per the manual instructions, by first removing the magazine, aligning the slide and receiver marks on the rear left of the pistol and pushing out the slide release lever from the right side of the pistol, then removing the barrel assembly and recoil spring. The recoil spring rod is plastic and can be difficult to refit, but I wanted to inspect the barrel assembly. On removal the outer barrel shroud exactly matches the real steel version down to the locking ridges in the top just forward of the barrel chamber. The inside of the slide has matching negative ridges cut into it, to provide a very positive barrel lock which is typical of the standard Browning tilting barrel system pioneered in the seminal 1911 design. This attention to detail by ASG is exceptional, to ensure the blowback on the pistol was as smooth as possible I applied a small amount of airgun grease on the locking grooves and outer barrel shroud. I also applied a small amount of silicon oil to the operating levers, springs and pins in the receiver and wiped of the excess. I additionally applied a small amount of grease to the slide and receiver rails due to the large contact surface area to further ensure smooth operation of the slide blowback action, again wiping of any excess.

Check lubrication done the pistol was reassembled and function checked, it should be noted that the safety can only be applied after the hammer has been cocked. If the pistol is put into half cock by pulling the trigger while holding the hammer then allowing it to move forward slightly before releasing the trigger the safety can also still be applied. If you refer to the manual for the real steel version of the SP-01 it is not recommended that the safety is applied in the half cock condition as damage can result to the pistol if the trigger is forced. I would assume that the same will apply to the ASG version of the SP-01 to avoid the risk of damage to your pistol.

Specification wise the SP-01 is slightly shorter than the shadow 2 and lighter, comparing the triggers they are virtually identical in DA/SA modes, i.e. very good, with the Shadow 2 just having the edge in SA mode but this may just be down to more use.

Specification

Length                                    210 mm

Weight                                    950 gms

Magazine capacity 17 BB’s / 4.5mm

Energy                                    1.6 joules

Velocity                                   95 ms / 312 fps

Comparison of the magazines from the SP-01 and the Shadow 2, found that the main body of each was identical with the only difference being the magazine floor plate, which had been moulded to match that of the parent centre fire pistol in each case. Again attention to detail is evident in both CO2 ASG pistols, operationally the magazines are interchangeable in both pistols. A check of the ASG website shows that spare magazines for both pistols may be ordered if desired under 2 different order code numbers.

Test firing

The SP-01 was test fired with Umarex Steel BB’s, ASG Plastic “Blaster” BB’s and Frangible Dust Devils at distance of 20ft straight out of the box without adjusting the hop up settings of the pistol.

Ammunition          Group MPI from POA

Steel BB’s           2.75”        1” low, 0.5” left

Plastic BB’s         2.375”       1.5” high, 0.5” left

Dust Devils BB’s  3.25”        Centre

The tightest group was obtained from the ASG plastic “blaster” BB’s, with a slightly larger group from the Steel BB’s. The plastic BB’s being lighter had a higher velocity and struck the target with a MPI (mean point of impact)above the point of aim, compared to the heavier Steel BB’s which had an MPI lower than the point of aim. However the Dust devils although having a central MPI at the point of aim they had the largest group size at 3.25” and additionally induced 4 stoppages one of which required the pistol to be stripped as a round was stuck in the barrel.

It should be noted that the SP-01 is not a target air pistol as it has a smooth bore barrel, nor is it suitable for pest control work. However the group size is more than acceptable for UK Legal sports training at shorter distances (Max 10 metres realistically) than centre fire pistols using reduced size targets.

I also noted that the blowback action on the SP-01 was very realistic and the slide locked back on the last round being discharged.

Conclusion

The SP-01 is a very accurate replica of its parent centre fire pistol, and with its CO2 blowback action closely matches its operation. It will make an excellent UK legal training aid especially when coupled with some creative targets and skills / drills. It currently retails for £194.95 at Vector Air.

www.vector-air.co.uk

Safety

As with any firearm follow all the normal firearms safety rules, BB’s will ricochet when striking a hard surface so eye protection should be considered mandatory for all persons present while the Air Pistol is being used. The firer is responsible for the safe use of the air pistol.

The Law

The ASG SP-01 Shadow CO2 Air pistol is classed as a firearm in UK Law, as such age limits as well as regulations relating to its sale, purchase, storage, carriage and use apply. (Note the regulations differ slightly in Scotland compared to England and Wales). There are a large number of potential offences that can be committed if misused in any way, most of which have serious personal consequences if found guilty in a court of law. Remember ignorance of the Law is not a defence. A handy up to date PDF Air weapon safety leaflet is available from the UK GOV web page outlining your responsibilities.

There are also a large number of Airgun clubs around the country which can provide training as well as a safe range facility to practice, as well as the National shooting organisations should you require further advice. If still confused your local Police Firearms Licencing Office will be able to assist

I was recently in the market for a drop leg / low ride holster for range work / dry practice, that was compatible with as large a number of semi-automatic pistols as possible. The pistols would not be fitted with an illuminator or optic. As such the requirement for Tactical duty levels of retention was not necessary, as long as the holster would retain the pistol while moving around the range I was happy. As I was on a budget the price point was a consideration also.

A search of the internet followed and a few options were identified with a quick search. The Safariland GLS 578 holster (which is able to accommodate 225 different pistols) , the Blackhawk Ominivore Multifit holster (which is able to fit more than 150 pistols) and the Warrior Assault Systems Drop leg Holster in Multicam. Both the Safariland and Blackhawk holsters will accept optics on pistols. The Blackhawk has 3 variants, x 2 for use with a torch, x1 for use without a torch, the pistols which will fit, all require at least an accessory rail on the receiver. As I wished to have a low drop belt loop or leg drop mounting for the holster, additional belt loops and leg drop plates would also be required for the Blackhawk and Safariland holsters which pushes the cost for the holsters up to at least the £100 mark. CTP have both of these holsters in our equipment store and both are good options for students who will be shooting a variety of pistols during a course. The Safariland 578 GLS having the edge as a torch or lock fixture must be fitted on the pistol to use the Blackhawk Omnivore.

While only able to accommodate iron sighted pistols without an optic the Warrior Assault Systems holster is currently (23/11/2023) on offer from UK Tactical for £39.95 reduced from £47.95 in drop leg configuration. As I already have the Warrior Low Profile Direct Action Mk1 Shooters Belt, this is the holster that I chose to purchase as both items are compatible with each other. An order was placed, and the holster arrived a few days later.

The holster comes with a fully height adjustable Velcro leg drop webbing strap which is reasonably rigid giving the holster a good amount of support. The holster itself has a stiff construction so does not collapse when compressed, a nice feature which allows pistols to be easily holstered. The x 2 adjustable leg straps have a rubberised friction material on the rear to help reduce movement of the holster on the leg when moving. This can be problematic when running as drop leg holsters tend to end up on the front of your leg so anything that helps reduce this is beneficial. The front of the holster also has a magazine pouch, which is a nice addition. I have tried 2 pistols in the holster, as expected it swallowed my training Blue Glock 17 with no issue as well as the ASG CZ Shadow 2. The Thumb break security /retention strap is adjustable and the holster comes with a plastic Velcro adjustment tool which makes adjustment very easy, the tool may be stored on the holster safely if frequent adjustment is required due to swapping pistol types on the range. The bottom of the holster is enclosed with fabric but the fit may be altered using a Velcro tab.

Overall the build quality of the holster is very good, as I have come to expect from Warrior Assault Systems. In use the holster is easy to draw from, once the thumb break is opened by pushing down with the thumb, and the pistol will remain in the holster while walking even if the thumb break is open. If using this holster operationally I would fit a pistol lanyard as an additional safety / retention precaution. As the holster does not feature a front sight track the elongated fibre optic sight of the Shadow 2 did occasionally catch slightly on the holster material when holstering, but this was not a major issue just something to be aware of. The Glock 17 did not snag as the front sight is sloped on the front and back.

Overall the Warrior Assault Systems Leg Drop Holster is a good universal pistol holster, with some well thought out adjustment features and is available at a very good price point if you are on a budget.

The holster is available from UK Tactical at the web page below.

www.uktactical.com

One of the most essential accessories for the safe carriage of a pistol is a holster. In its most elementary form the holster should allow the pistol to be carried hands free, while protecting the trigger, and offer some degree of retention to prevent the pistol from falling out of the holster while moving. Up until the early 90’s the majority of holsters available on the market were manufactured from leather or ballistic nylon / Cordura, these were available in a variety of configurations, IWB, OWB, Belt Loop, mid / low ride belt drop, shoulder holster etc. With the better types being moulded specifically to the pistol to be carried. Retention was primarily provided by a close fit and a standard thumb break. In the UK, Price Western Leather were and still are a premium supplier of these types of holster.

The Kydex and moulded thermo-plastic holster revolution then began in earnest including innovations in pistol retention systems, followed by illuminator and then red dot compatible variants. The majority of these holsters were moulded to specific pistols and as such offered excellent fit to that pistol but were seldom able to accommodate a different pistol. Not a problem if you are issued with one pistol for duty work in the Police or Military, but if you have multiple different pistols this can become problematic and normally requires a separate holster for each pistol, especially if you wish to retain the advanced retention capabilities of the modern duty holsters. There are a few holsters now available from Safariland and Blackhawk that go some way to address this issue

The main manufacturers have nearly all introduced modular mounting systems which allow a holster to be transferred easily from a belt loop to a leg drop plate, molle plate or paddle, so this can offset some of the cost involved in having multiple holster position setups.

If pistol retention is your key requirement, I would recommend looking at the Safariland line of retention holsters these feature combinations of their ALS, SLS and SLS Sentry Guard systems giving pistol retention levels 1-4. Having used the 6360 ALS / SLS / Sentry Guard holster for my duty Glock 17 for many years, it gave great retention at level IV but was also one of the fastest and smoothest holsters to draw from once you were familiar with the operation of the retention features.

As the choice of holsters available is now vast, I have added links to a selection of holster suppliers below, it is worth having a good look through what is available on the market before making any decisions. If you are using the holster for duty, the factors to consider are the level of retention required for the role, your body type, the environment you will be working in, Overt/Covert, vehicles, static or dynamic movement, back up / primary firearm, other equipment to be carried etc.

Holsters are a personal choice so if you can try out the various types available before purchase this will save unnecessary expenditure. CTP has a broad selection of holster types and mounting systems available for trial which will assist in making a selection if you wish to purchase your own holster.

Once you have selected your holster, practice your draw!

Holster supplier/ manufacturer links

Price Western equipment for security professionals (pwluk.com)

Holsters | UK Tactical

Safariland UK

Blackhawk | Holsters & Tactical Gear

Gun Holsters | IMI Defense - Gun Holsters & AR15 Accessories Online Shop

Uncle Mike's | Holsters, Bags, & Cases (unclemikes.com)

Pistol Holsters UK (military1st.co.uk)

Kydex Customs | Holsters | High-End Equipment Manufacturers (kydexcustomsuk.com)

https://www.fobusholster.com/

Having recently trialled the Gen 4 Glock 17, 4.5mm BB CO2 blowback Air Pistol from UMAREX, it was now the turn of the ASG Shadow 2, 4.5mm BB C02 blowback Air Pistol. The air pistol comes in a very nice packaging box marked with its serial number, and has a 1:1 picture of the pistol on the front. The box contains the pistol, 1 x magazine, instruction booklet, large hex key for the magazine CO2 gas cartridge fitment and an additional small hex key which appears to be for adjustment of the rear iron sight although no mention of this is made in the manual. On examining the pistol after removal from the packaging, it is of full metal alloy construction and as far as I can tell having just shot the Real Steel version only 2 weeks ago in the CZ Republic, an exact copy of the original, and I do mean exact. 

I operated the slide without the magazine fitted, and was reassured to find that the air pistol controls worked exactly as per the original with the slide recoil spring being very close in strength. The air pistol is able to be field stripped, again exactly as per the original to allow cleaning and adjustment of the air pistol hop up settings to change the trajectory of the BB’s being fired (full instructions are in the manual). Once the slide / receiver marks are aligned at the rear of the slide on the left side, the slide release/lock lever may be pushed out from the right side of the receiver. On examination of the running grooves on the receiver and slide I found that the fit and finish was excellent with everything well lubricated straight out of the box. Reassembly was the opposite of stripping and following function checks operated correctly. As per the Umarex Gen 4 Glock 17 the pistol features a form factor accurate magazine containing the propellant CO2 cartridge as well as the spring loaded BB feed mechanism. To avoid the threads seizing on the CO2 Cartridge retaining screw I added a small amount of grease which smoothed the threads out when tightening.

To load the pistol, the magazine is loaded with the CO2 cartridge and BB’s following the manuals instructions, the BB’s are a little fiddly to insert but otherwise no problems were experienced. The magazine is then inserted into the pistol grip locking positively in place, and the slide pulled firmly to the rear and released. The slide will move forward under the action of the slide recoil spring, closing the breech. This loads a BB into the chamber of the pistol, the hammer is also placed into full cock at the same time in single action mode, the safety may then be applied if required. A check of the trigger confirmed it was non-operational. At this point the pistol may be put into Double action mode by placing the safety to fire, and controlling the hammer with the thumb while pulling the trigger and allowing the hammer to reach the half cock position, if fired from this condition all follow up shots are in single action mode. As far as I can tell without carrying out a trigger weight check the DA / SA trigger weights are identical to the real steel pistol and as a result are very good. Once all shots are discharged the slide auto locks back prompting a reload. (Purchase of an additional spare magazine is required if you wish to practice a reload drill correctly).

To unload, remove the magazine, push down on the adjustable three position magazine catch on the left side of the pistol grip behind the trigger, the magazine will drop free. Inspect the chamber for BB’s, if clear allow the slide to go forward under its own action by either pulling it to the rear and releasing, or by using the slide lock lever on the left side of the pistol above the trigger. Point the Air pistol in a safe direction and ease springs by pulling the trigger, the hammer will then operate.

The Iron Sights are adjustable and identical to the original giving a nice sight picture when aiming.

Test firing

Time for a test fire of the pistol which I carried out indoors on a 20 ft long range (full safety measures in place, eye protection is mandatory) using Umarex 4.5 mm steel BB’s and 4.5 mm Dust Devil frangible BB’s with the following results.

Shadow 2 4.5mm Steel BB’s / 5 round 3.25” group

Shadow 2 4.5mm Dust Devil Frangible BB’s / 12 round 3.5” group

I then carried out a comparison shoot using a Webley Tempest single shot air pistol as well as the Glock 17 Gen 4 from Umarex with the following results.

Webley Tempest .177 pellet/15 round 2.25” group

Webley Tempest .177 pellet/11 round 2.125” group

Glock 17 Gen 4 4.5mm Steel BB’s / 13 round 3.25” group

Glock 17 Gen 4 4.5mm Dust Devil Frangible BB’s / 10 round 5.25” group

As expected the Webley Tempest gave the smallest group size due to its rifled barrel and higher power, the Shadow 2 and Glock 17 gave comparable results to each other when firing steel BB’s with a group size approximately 50 % larger than the Webley Tempest. This was also the case with the Shadow 2 when firing the Dust Devils, however the Glock 17’s group size was twice as large as the Webley Tempest at a 5.25”, when firing the frangible BB’s. All Air Pistols were fired out of the box without any adjustment. For the purposes of shooting drill training, firing multiple shots, the group sizes obtained from the Shadow 2 and Glock 17 Gen 4 were as good as can be expected from air pistols which do not feature a rifled barrel and more than adequate for the training to be carried out. With a creative use of multiple reactive targets and a bit of movement some very dynamic skills and drills can be practiced.

The operation of the Shadow 2 in blowback was identical to the original, only missing the recoil, which is to be expected from this type of air pistol compared to its centre fire parent. However this is a plus when trying to analyse any faults in your basic shooting skills as recoil can mask trigger release snatches, and follow through issues which are common with novice pistol shooters. The Air Pistol list weight comes in at 1230 g which is only 100 g lighter than the parent centre fire pistol so additional realism here as well. The benefits of being able to practice operational drills which are essentially identical to the original pistol, while shooting, as well as in dry practice, cannot be over stated.

I was extremely impressed with the build quality of this licenced copy of the Shadow 2, the attention to detail by ASG shows that they have obviously worked extremely closely with CZ UB to produce this air pistol. I have no hesitation in recommending the ASG Shadow 2 as a viable UK Legal training tool for those wishing to maintain their centre fire pistol shooting skills using an external hammer fired air pistol.

The ASG technical specification of the Air Pistol is listed below.

Length 215 mm

Weight 1230 g (with Magazine fitted)

Calibre 4.5 mm / .177”

Mag capacity 17 BB’s

Energy 1.35 Joules / 0.9957 ft lbs

Velocity 87 ms / 285 fps

Pricing

The ASG Shadow 2 Pistol in 4.5mm CO2 Blow back Air Pistol form currently retails at a MSRP of £259.99 with the Umarex Glock Gen 4 in CO2 4.5mm BB blowback form coming in around an MSRP of £210.00. Deals are available if you shop around and are prepared to travel to collect your order as sales must be made in person from a registered RFD. Please note ASG and Umarex manufacture multiple versions of each pistol including in airsoft configuration so if you wish to purchase either pistol I would recommend consulting each manufacturer’s web page for the up to date item SKU codes to ensure you order the correct air pistol.

Safety

As with any firearm follow all the normal firearms safety rules, BB’s will ricochet when striking a hard surface so eye protection should be considered mandatory for all persons present while the Air Pistol is being used. The firer is responsible for the safe use of the air pistol.

The Law

The ASG Shadow 2 CO2 Air pistol is classed as a firearm in UK Law, as such age limits as well as regulations relating to its sale, purchase, storage, carriage and use apply. (Note the regulations differ slightly in Scotland compared to England and Wales). There are a large number of potential offences that can be committed if misused in any way, most of which have serious personal consequences if found guilty in a court of law. Remember ignorance of the Law is not a defence. A handy up to date PDF Air weapon safety leaflet is available from the UK GOV web page outlining your responsibilities.

There are also a large number of Airgun clubs around the country which can provide training as well as a safe range facility to practice, as well as the National shooting organisations should you require further advice. If still confused your local Police Firearms Licencing Office will be able to assist.

 When I was first Firearms trained in the Police way back in 1994 ( yes I am that old!) my force was only just transitioning from the Model 10 Smith & Wesson .38” revolver to the then still revolutionary Gen 1 Glock 17 Semi-Automatic pistol. The only realistic sighting option available at this time for duty deployment was conventional iron sights, as the pistol needed to be retained in a duty holster as a backup weapon to the primary carbine firearm. In our case the H & K MP5 A3, fitted with an Aim Point Red dot sight mounted on the H & K claw mount which still permitted the use of the standard Iron sights. The Aim Point on the MP5 was a major advance at that time from the iron sights as it allowed very accurate fire in all lighting conditions. As most Police Firearms deployments occur during the hours of darkness the advantages were obvious. Improvements in the pistol iron sights for low light were available in the form of the Tritium type and later coloured fibre optic types, but it was not practical to mount a red dot to the pistol at this time as the size of the available optics was prohibitively large and required some type of bridge mount. The Glock as yet did not have a Rail mount on the receiver below the muzzle of the weapon and even if possible there were no duty holsters available to take such a set up.

Fast forward to the late 2010’s and early 2020’s and things have changed considerably, as always the evolutionary pressure in the sports shooting world to achieve higher competition scores being a big driving force. The size & weight of reflex Red Dot sights has shrunk considerably enabling them to be mounted to pistols much more easily, and they are now robust enough to be fitted directly to the rear of the top slide. Additional improvements in battery life, auto adjust of the red dot brightness, auto off functions, a large choice of reticule patterns, & low platform heights have also been implemented by manufacturers who now offer a huge range of pistol optics.

As a result of this trend most of the major pistol manufacturers now offer an optics ready version of their duty pistols, as well as their pure sports models. So the machining work previously required to mount this new breed of sights to the top slide is no longer required. The Holster manufacturers also now produce a fairly large selection of optics and tactical illuminator duty retention holsters for the most popular duty pistols, (a quick look at the Safariland holster web page shows the multitude of options now available.)

On a previous refresher training course I tried sighting / shooting with a pistol red dot and found I was struggling to find the red dot in the sight window. Having to move the pistol around to pick up the aiming point, wasting valuable time. Frustrated and with limited training time available, I resorted back to the Glock 17 with fibre optic iron sights. 28 years of muscle memory presenting my pistol proving too difficult to break, in the range time available. However the potential advantages a red dot sight gives were obvious and I was determined to revisit the training. Especially as my eye sight is starting to suffer the effects of age and iron sights are now a little bit more difficult to use

Roll on to 2 weeks ago and I was back in the Czech Republic shooting the CZ Shadow 2 fitted with the Trijicon RMR red dot sight. (CZ UB offer the Shadow 2 with this sight as standard from the factory, as well as others). After spending most of the 1st day on the range getting used to the presentation of the pistol from the holster and acquiring the red dot sight picture, I started to see improvement. This was compounded over the next two days by further practice, shooting on the move, at multiple targets as well as at distance. The red dot sight enabled me to pick up distant targets (30m to 50m) in the form of round Hardox plates and deliver accurate shots easily. Once my eye was in, shooting on the move was not only more accurate but much easier.

CTP has additionally an STI 2011 with Trijicon SRO red dot and Laugo Alien fitted with the Laugo red dot, both of which I tried as well. The larger sight windows of both the STI & Alien made picking up the sight picture easier and the fact that the red dot on the Alien does not move when the weapon is fired takes the sighting stability to the next level, follow up shots being by far the easiest of the 3 pistols. The only down side being the recoil is a bit snappier due to the pistol’s operating characteristics.

I am now a total convert to pistol red dots for sporting use, and will be progressing my training early next year when I get back to the CZ Republic.

As far as Police and Military use is concerned, while it may take some time due to organisational conservativism and budget constraints, I believe it is only a matter of time before the majority of Police and Military units will switch over to red dot sights mounted to their pistols. An obvious first step for unit armourers and equipment procurement officers being the purchase of Optics Ready versions of the preferred duty weapons when replacing end of life kit. The red dot optics and optics ready duty holsters could then be purchased as funds permit and rolled out initially to the smaller number of specialist SF, VIP, CTSFO, & SFO team members before general release.

The issue of Pistol Red dots will require a conversion course, which could be incorporated into normal development training followed by an appropriate qualification shoot. From my progress I would anticipate that no more than 2-3 days shooting will be required to reach and substantially exceed the required standard.

CTP’s selection of red dot optics fitted pistols are available for trial during our courses, I have posted a few photos for your information. As you can see they are fitted on our competition pistols which have some additional sports enhancements such as extended Magazine/safety/slide release levers/ flared mag wells etc.

In conclusion if like me you have shot pistols exclusively with iron sights in the past it is well worth the effort to train with a red dot. As once your sight picture acquisition becomes automatic your shot delivery becomes smoother, faster and more accurate. Especially at distance on small targets, which would otherwise have been obscured by duty iron sights.

The attached photo reel shows some of the optics fitted pistols available at CTP, also included is a short video clip of "T" training for competition with an optics fitted open class STI 2011 pistol which demonstrates the speed of engagement which is possible with a red dot sight.

One of the main training issues with being a UK resident is that it is no longer possible to privately own a centre fire pistol on a section 1 firearms certificate on the UK mainland. Such pistols being classified as Section 5 prohibited items and essentially only available for use by the Police and Military in the course of their duties.

The only option available to UK sports shooters wishing to continue shooting pistols is to travel to a country outside the UK mainland such as the CZ Republic and shoot legally with authorised shooting course providers such as Czech Tactical Pursuits. While many of our clients are able to visit us several times a year and have developed their skills and drills significantly this is not always possible and even if it is, more frequent training will always bring improvement.

So what are your legal options in the UK between visits to CTP?

Inert solid Plastic/rubber Blue/Red Training Pistol Simulant

For presentation from the holster training the use of an inert plastic or rubberised blue or red weapon simulant of your preferred pistol may be satisfactory. Allowing the sight picture to be achieved subconsciously after a high number of repetitive presentations from the holster. Be aware that not all simulated pistols are moulded from the original pistols so the fit in your holster may not be exact, especially with the duty retention types. Also the sights are rarely replicated to a high enough standard out of the box for sight picture purposes, although with careful fettling it is sometimes possible to get close enough. I would therefore recommend that this type of training aid be purchased from a reputable source.

Shooting Skills (Air soft Pistols are not included)

Webley Tempest Single Shot Air Pistol

What about shooting skills training? In its simplest form a single shot air pistol such as the classic Webley Tempest is a good option using reduced size targets at the shorter ranges available to an air pistol. This will allow stance, grip, sight picture, trigger release and follow through to be practiced. With the added benefit that the pistol and ammunition are relatively cheap, accurate and faults in your technique are easier to self-diagnose, due to recoil not being an issue. The slight down side is that such a pistol will not exactly match the form factor of a conventional centre fire pistol and it is not possible to practice multiple round disciplines or reload drills using a magazine.

Umarex CP99 CO2 Cartridge, 8 shot Rotary Magazine Pellet Air Pistol, 4.5 mm /.177 calibre

Introduced over 20 years ago the UMAREX CP99 was one of the first air pistols to truly match the form factor of a modern drastic plastic centre fire pistol. It was modelled after the Walther P99, the pistol of choice for Bond during the Pierce Brosnan 007 era in the mid 90's. This pistol is a CO2 cartridge powered pistol of the 8 round rotary magazine type with a detachable magazine containing the CO2 cartridge. The quality, feel and operation of the pistol controls exactly matching the original. (Which should not be surprising as Umarex is a division of Walther). Like all CO2 air pistols of this type the trigger pull is relatively heavy as the trigger indexes the rotary magazine between shots and has a small rotary magazine capacity of 8 pellets.

Umarex Glock 17, Gen 5 CO2 Cartridge, 21 shot Pellet Air Pistol, 4.5 mm / .177 calibre

Recent developments by airgun manufacturers such as Umarex and ASG who produce form factor accurate licenced copies of very popular pistols such as the Glock 17 and CZUB Shadow 2 (a favourite of IPSC competition shooters worldwide) have become available in recent years.

As we hold the Glock 17 in our fleet of firearms, some months ago I acquired for testing the Umarex Gen 5 Glock 17, 4.5 mm pellet CO2 air pistol. This model features a detachable magazine containing the CO2 cartridge propellant source and a 21 pellet capacity rotary nylon chain which acts as the actual magazine. It is also possible to purchase spare magazines and a full spares kit for the pistol.

The pistol features a realistic blowback action of the slide when fired. Unfortunately this blowback action does not cycle the nylon chain pellet magazine, this task is carried out by the trigger which as a result is heavier than that of the 8 pellet metal rotary magazine of the CP99 due to the frictional drag forces of the nylon chain inside the body of the magazine. Lubrication of the magazine with silicone has improved the trigger pull but it remains heavier than the original Glock 17 even when fitted with the New York Police 8.5 Pound trigger. Accurate shots are possible with care but as always heavy triggers on pistols degrade accuracy. It may be possible for Umarex to address this trigger pull issue in the future for this magazine system.

However the pistol may be dry fired in single action mode with the magazine removed, by racking the slide. At which point the trigger is much closer to the original in weight and feel. On the plus side the large magazine capacity means multiple shot drills can be practiced relatively easily and Magazine reload drills are realistic apart from the fact that the slide will not hold open once the last pellet is fired.

Umarex Glock 17, Gen 4 CO2 Cartridge, 18 shot BB Air Pistol, 4.5 mm / .177 calibre

I now have on test the Umarex Gen 4 Glock 17 in 4.5 mm / .177” BB CO2 air pistol configuration. The pistol features x 2 detachable back straps for the grip, a detachable magazine holding the CO2 cartridge and also incorporates an 18 BB capacity spring loaded feed mechanism. The magazine is constructed of metal and more accurately replicates the weight and appearance of the original Glock item when fully loaded. In operation the pistol exactly mimics the original in that to load the pistol the magazine must be inserted into the grip and the slide racked to load the first BB and cock the internal hammer which operates the gas valve in the pistol. The trigger operation is then single action, with the slide cycling in blowback operation discharging a BB and feeding the next for each following single action trigger pull.

The pistol trigger weight and break point is very close to the original and produces acceptable groups for a BB air pistol. Once the last BB has been fired the slide locks open, giving a realistic prompt for a magazine reload.

In form factor it matches exactly the GLOCK 17 Gen 4. The pistol is also field strippable using the same slide release tabs as the original allowing internal adjustment of the weapon as well as cleaning and lubrication.

Conclusions

All of the above training aids will improve your skills and drills. Depending on what you wish to develop at any one time will dictate which training aid is the most applicable. For instance I almost exclusively use a Blue inert Pistol simulant for holster presentation practice as this can be done at home in front of the mirror with no safety issues to any member of the household.

If basic shooting skills require development the single shot Webley Air Pistol is a very good tool due to its inherent accuracy. Multiple shot training is best done with a high quality CO2 Cartridge licenced copy of your preferred pistol, my preference from the Air pistols listed above would be the blowback BB type as represented by the Umarex Gen 4 Glock 17 as this most closely replicates the trigger pull and operation of the original allowing for very realistic reload training, if additional magazines are purchased.

Some training mantras and Tips which are useful to use

· PRACTICE MAKES PERMANENT: Practice your skills and drills as often as possible, ideally daily, even if it is only for 10 minutes. It takes at least a 1000 repetitions to start to become consciously competent, with the ultimate aim of becoming unconsciously competent, an everyday example would be a toddler learning to walk

· SIMPLE TO COMPLEX: When developing a skill or drill build it up from simple to complex adding a new component once the prior one has been mastered.

· SLOW IS SMOOTH, SMOOTH IS FAST: When developing a skill or drill, start slowly and gradually develop your speed as your skills improve. This will reinforce the correct technique and speed will come naturally. Remember you also need to test yourself to failure at intervals to assess your development.

· AIM SMALL, MISS SMALL: By using smaller targets than normal it is possible to rapidly tighten your groups and improve your accuracy.

· VISUALISE: If it is not possible to practice your skills and drills physically, research has shown that by visualising the drill or skill in your mind you can achieve nearly as much benefit. A classic example is World Cup downhill ski racers, who can be seen visualising the turns in the course using “ski hands” with their eyes closed, before entering the starting gate.

· STRESS INNOCULATION: Very useful for Competitive shooting and CQB for those that carry a pistol professionally such as the Police & Military. Many ways this can be achieved, some obvious examples are friendly competition against a partner or yourself using a shot timer to finish a course of fire. Or use a shot timer / turning targets to run a time limited discipline. Its amazing how much mental pressure, this sort of training can induce, which causes technique to break down and errors in drills. The good news is that continued exposure rapidly reduces the stress experienced and improvement follows. Be warned this can also lead to an increased addiction to sports shooting as well.

Perhaps the ultimate form of stress inoculation for operators going into harms way is scenario based Force on Force Training. Using specialist FX training replicas of duty firearms, which are able to discharge a paint ball/rubber ball type round. This makes training as realistic as you can get. The fact that the paint balls/rubber balls can cause some pain, even when using protective equipment, increases the realism/stress experienced and also rapidly improves the use of cover. Although only available to the Police and Military, a civilian version might be achieved using Airsoft Pistols.

The Law & Safety

All of the air pistols mentioned above are classed as Firearms in the UK and as such there are safety, muzzle energy, age limits, use, purchase/sales and storage regulations which apply. The latest update having been in July 0f 2023. Rather than replicate these here I would strongly recommend that the UK GOV website be consulted for the up to date information in this matter which is available in a handy pdf leaflet which includes the legal definition of an Air Pistol.

Provided you are an eligible adult an Air Pistol may be owned without a firearms licence in England & Wales. (Please note that Scotland has slightly different regulations than England & Wales). There are a large number of Air weapon clubs, as well as Home Office gun clubs in the UK which also have an air weapons section. Allowing the use of a dedicated or temporary range facility for safe practice and are a useful source of safety training and information. The main UK shooting organisations such as BASC & NRA are also a good source of information.

If you still find yourself confused by the regulations I would recommend consulting your local Police Force Firearms Licencing Office where an FLO will be able to give you guidance.

Please ensure you are fully aware of your legal obligations and the relevant firearms safety rules before purchasing an Air Pistol. As they are classed as firearms, there are a large number of potential offences which may be committed involving their misuse. Most will have serious consequences for you if found guilty in a court of Law, remember ignorance of the Law is not a defence in court.

NOTE: Airsoft weapons, i.e. pistols or carbines with a muzzle energy of less than one Joule are not classified as Firearms, but will be classified as Imitation Firearms under UK legislation. As such there are legal requirements which must be fulfilled if you wish to sell / purchase and use such an item. Please consult the UK GOV website for detailed information. 

Two of the top end 9mm PCC (pistol calibre carbines) are SIG MPX and DAVINCI. In fairness the JP gmr15 also belongs in that mix. Base price is about £2k for the Sig and £2.7k for the DAVINCI, plus stock upgrades and red dots etc. They are basically IPSC and Steel Challenge game guns. We can have semi-auto anything in Czech but the U.K. I guess you are looking at a Marlin under lever or 22lr.

9mm PCC sounds a good idea - cheap ammunition and steel target friendly however most 9mm carbines are still direct blowback and hamstrung by heavy bolts (CMMG rotating bolt, H & K MP5 roller locking, KRISS Vector and a few others spring to mind as exceptions). But to get the same or less recoil than a bog standard £800 AR15 in 223, you are going to spend a lot of money. Flat and fast shooting are all that matters for IPSC games and it does make a big difference.

SIG MPX (still my favourite) does it by a gas piston arrangement- and I think this is an excellent design and very versatile- one of my barrels is 6.5” plus suppressor, another 16” with compensator the same system works well with either.

DAVINCI does it by direct blowback a magnetic buffer and short stroking the action. The rifle is lighter than the SIG and has a 2” shorter barrel so is more manoeuvrable. It still is not as soft shooting as the SIG but the DAVINCI side charging makes it about a second faster to load with a table top start. DAVINCI make the upper and lower receiver in house. I think the barrel is sourced from JP? All top quality components anyway.

Time to accessorise the UK Tactical Nexus SF Ballistic Helmet. As I mentioned in part 1 of this review the SRS rails on either side of the helmet enable the fitment of a large number of helmet mounted pieces of kit. You should always carefully consider adding anything to a helmet as this translates to extra weight which in turn increases the risk of neck injuries. So If you don't need it leave it off, your neck will thank you. That being said the mounting of external ear defenders is a zero net weight addition if you are going to be wearing them in any case.

I currently run 3M PELTOR Sport Tac active ear defenders a close relative of one of the Military standard communication compatible COMTAC ear defenders also manufactured by PELTOR. They produce an ARC rail adaptor kit for the COMTAC, this kit is also compatible with the Sport Tac, as the ear cup mounts are identical on both models. Other manufacturers also produce ARC rail mounts for their ear defence products, but I would stay away from the cheap Chinese clone models as I have seen reports that the build and operation are not up to the OEM kit. A quick check of the internet and I located a supplier in the UK at www.best4systems.co.uk, The adaptors are listed as "3M PELTOR OPS CORE HELMET ADAPTOR for XPI series" the PELTOR kit number is not shown but is P3ADG-F SV/2 (at £32.50 + VAT). As its been a while since I fitted new ear cup pads I also ordered the Hygiene kit, which for my Sport Tac's is kit number HY21 (at £6.00 + VAT).

The kits arrived the next day, so good customer service. I opted to fit the adaptors to the helmet before mounting the ear cups. This took a few minutes as the dove tails on the SRS rails and the adaptors were a tight fit, but with the use of a little bit of detergent as a lubricant and care aligning the adaptors they were successfully mounted. The attached photos show the correct orientation of the adaptor backing plate when fitted. The adaptors are ambidextrous in that they fit either side rail, however if you are running a boom microphone mount the adaptor with the longer boom mount leg on your weak side. As I shoot right handed this would be my left side, as this will avoid interference with your cheek weld when mounting a rifle to shoot.

To disassemble the Sport Tac's (COMTAC's) turn the ear cups 90 degrees and gently pull the clips out from the oval mounting posts on the ear cups. The connecting cable between the ear cups is easily removed by unfastening the rubber head band cover that contains the cable on the head band. Some models may have a leather head band cover, which may require careful cutting to release the cable.

Before fitting the ear cups I changed out the old ear pads and foam. On comparing the old and new pads considerable compression was visible on the old, emphasising the importance of swapping them out on a regular basis to maintain the seal effectiveness.

Fitting of the ear cups to the adaptors is the reverse of removal, I would recommend running the connecting cable before fitting. I tried externally under the helmet cover, before settling on running it internally under the head pads at the rear of the helmet as this gave a cleaner fit without the risk of the cable snagging when moving.

On trial fitting the helmet I got lucky with the rail location of the helmet ear cup adaptor mounts as they were exactly where I needed them. The adaptors have 2 positions, UP and DOWN, with a very positive lock between each (Note it is also possible to rotate the cup mounts forward and back if not required for use). In the UP position the ear cups are just clear of the ear and surrounding skin allowing air to circulate and normal conversation if resting in a hearing safe area. If you are running communications through your ear defenders the position of the cup would still allow clear coms. In the DOWN position the ear cups are held nice and snuggly against your head, providing a good seal but without being overly tight. While the comfort fit of using ear defenders with a head band under the NEXUS MACH III SF helmet is good, and a vast improvement to my previous duty PASGT Ballistic Helmet. The fitting of the Helmet adaptors takes the comfort rating to the next level up, and with the ability to cool the ears by lifting the cups to the UP position makes this accessory a must have for prolonged operational work.

The only down side to this Helmet comfort level is that you have a slight reduction in ballistic coverage when compared to the low and mid profile cut helmets such as the PASGT, MICH I, II and MACH I, II. This will come down to a personal choice when weighing risk against the benefits of increased situational awareness, comfort, and ease of use. Personally I perform to a much higher level when comfortable during a prolonged shoot or operation. Combined with the other benefits listed above this more than compensates for the slight reduction in ballistic coverage of the high cut NEXUS MACH III helmet.

The Ballistic protection available to Military, Police, and PMC operators has changed dramatically over the last 30 + years, driven by operational requirements and advances in Materials technology. If you are a serving Military/Police operator, you will (hopefully) be provided with a personal issue Ballistic Helmet suitable for your role. The PMC operator is in a different position however, if they are lucky suitable kit will be supplied, but this is not a given. So the purchase of personal kit, with a known service / maintenance  history is a sensible option. If Budget is no object a Gentex OPS CORE FAST Helmet or one of its derivatives manufactured from the latest wonder material UHMWPE (Ultra High Molecular Weight Poly Ethylene) may be the preferred choice, however at a retail price of $1,860.60 this is probably well beyond the means of most.

After many hours on the internet researching the various options I settled on the NEXUS MACH (Military Advanced Combat Helmet) III SF, olive green, high Cut ballistic Helmet, to accommodate a coms fit. Supplied by UK Tactical and manufactured in the UK by NEXUS defence a supplier to the MOD. This helmet retails at £299.95 and was purchased with the Warrior Assault Systems helmet cover specific for this helmet, the helmet cover retails at £34.94 separately or as a helmet/cover package at £329.95. The helmet is manufactured from a ballistic aramid fibre bound in a thermoplastic resin matrix.

So what do you get for your money?

1. 

The ballistic protection offered by the helmet is rated at NIJ IIIA standard and will defeat 9mm - .357 and 44 Magnum rounds under NIJ lab test conditions and also achieves a V50 fragmentation rating up to 750 m/s; as tested with 1.1g, 22 Calibre, 17 grain Fragment. Simulated Projectile, according to STANAG 2920 and US MIL STD 662F. The UK Tactical website provides pdf copies of the laboratory test results for a full break down of the helmets rating. So please consult these to ensure that the helmet specification meets your needs if purchasing.

2. 

The Helmet is offered in 2 sizes Large 56-64 cm & Medium 54-59 cm coming in at 1.3Kg and 1.2kg respectively. My head size is 57cm so I opted for size Large to give me a little bit more room when fitting the helmet.

3. 

The helmet mounting system provided is the top of the line Team Wendy BOA four point harness which offers easy one handed adjustment on each strap as well as a very effective all round helmet fit with the BOA dial at the rear of the helmet which stabilises the helmet on the head very nicely. The internal surface of the helmet is fitted with 7 soft touch foam pads held in place with hook and loop discs, allowing easy replacement. (Different thickness/replacement pad kits are available from UK Tactical to further fine adjust the helmet fit priced at £24.95).

4. 

The helmet currently comes pre-fitted with exterior Velcro for the attachment of accessories such as IR illuminators and the W.A.S. Helmet cover. A retro fit velcro kit priced at £19.96 is available for previous helmet models which did not have this feature.

5. 

The helmet comes pre fitted with a standard NVG mount on the front of the helmet as well as the low profile Side Rail System (ARC) mounts on either side of the helmet for the attachment of goggle straps, hearing protection, tactical lights, IR lights & Video cameras. The system is rated as being snag free for static line, HALO and HAHO jumps by the supplier.

6. 

Helmet cover option:- I opted to purchase a helmet cover in Multi-cam, mainly to protect the helmet from surface damage. But it also allows the routing of NVG/coms cables as well as the mounting of other helmet accessories which attach with velcro. Cover size is specific to the helmet and is easily attached with the helmet /cover velcro.

Delivery by normal land post is included free in the purchase price, but I opted for courier delivery. UK tactical use DPD which is one of the best Courier delivery services available as they always deliver in the 1 hour time slot they notify in advance, and this delivery was no different. The helmet was well packed in several layers of foam and bubble wrap and no damage was found on unpacking. I would always recommend helmets be stored in padded helmet bags when not in use as non-obvious structural damage to the helmet can be caused when accidently dropped on hard surfaces. fitting of the Helmet cover only took a few minutes of adjustment to mount correctly.

I use external active ear defenders when shooting and the helmet easily accommodates this hearing protection without inflicting the almost obligatory helmet head squeeze that my duty PASGT ballistic helmet inflicted when used with the Peltor Comtac AED's during protracted Firearms Operations, comfort at last! I will however be mounting the ear cups to the helmet semi permanently using Peltor Helmet ARC rail accessory mounts in the near future.

Summary

Can you purchase a cheaper helmet?

Yes you can, but it will be to a lower specification. When you include all the built in features such as SRS rails, NVG mount, Team Wendy Harness, MACH III profile, weight v ballistic protection, helmet fit. The Price point for the NEXUS MACH III helmet is extremely competitive and represents excellent value for money and should be seriously considered by operators looking for a personal ballistic helmet for high threat environments.

UK Tactical are on the web at www.uktactical.com and did not sponsor this product review.