by Tom Gaylord
Writing as B.B. Pelletier
ASG’s CZ 75 Shadow 2 airsoft pistol.
This report covers:
- Different
- Batteries
- SHOT Show 2019
- Bashed Sig
- Bob Li
- Not stocked at Pyramyd Air
- The airsoft gun
- Caliber
- CO2 powered
- Hop Up
- My plans
- Summary
Different
Something a little different today. Many newer readers aren’t aware that years ago I wrote a lot about airsoft guns. I even rebuilt some guns with tighter barrels, stronger mainsprings and advanced meca boxes (airsoft term for the actions on automatic electric guns — AEG). In 2013 and 2014 I wrote a 3-part airsoft primer to bring interested readers up to speed.
Over the years I have tested various airsoft guns for you. I won’t link to them all, but back in 2007 I reviewed the UTG Shadow Ops Type 96 sniper rifle and even tested it for accuracy at 50 yards! If you want to see more of these reviews, type airsoft into the search box at the top right of this page and hit the Go button.
Batteries
I even wrote a two-part article for Pyramyd AIR on the basics of rechargeable batteries for AEG guns. Most shooters go to AEG for the thrill of full auto. See Battery basics for airsoft guns Part 1 and Battery basics for airsoft guns Part 2.
I don’t write about airsoft guns often because I really can’t go in both directions — airguns (pellet and BB guns) and airsoft (realistic airguns that shoot 6mm and sometimes 8mm plastic balls that the Asian manufacturers call BB bullets or just BBs). But when an airsoft gun of significance comes along, you bet I’m interested! We have one today — the ASG CZ 75 Shadow 2.
SHOT Show 2019
I was shown this pistol in the ASG booth at the 2019 SHOT Show. Before I talk more about the gun I need to get something off my chest. Why is it that there are dozens of scope manufacturers but I only report on Leapers each year? And why, out of more dozens of airsoft manufacturers, do I only ever talk about ASG? Thanks for asking — let me tell you why. I only report on these two companies because, out of all of them, these two are responsive. They answer questions. They know their products, They care about what they are doing! I respond to that. If they care, then I will, too.
I have stood in dozens of scope and airsoft booths are talked to countless drones who could care less about the products on display. They are just watching the clock so they can bug out at the earliest opportunity to get to the bar, the casino or wherever else the real world is for them.
Now, airguns are different. I have to visit their booths regardless of who’s there. The only airgun booths I pass by are those from the orient or other countries where they aren’t really selling airguns, they are just trolling for commercial buyers.
Bashed Sig
You may not remember this but I bashed Sig pretty hard when they brought out airguns the first year at the 2015 SHOT Show. That’s because nobody in the booth knew anything about the guns and I knew the person in charge of their airgun division was going to run them into the ground.
“The next stop was the SIG booth. There was some talk at the show about their new airguns, and I wanted to get a look for you.
Sadly, I could not find anyone in their booth who knew anything about the airguns they had on display. Yes, they have a couple of PCP and CO2 guns that are tactically styled after their firearms, but no one knew anything.
And they aren’t just selling airguns, either. I saw a host of action targets and accessories in the booth. It’s obvious that someone at SIG is interested in airguns — they just haven’t put the word out to the rest of their staff. Plus, there was no literature about their products.
I’ll watch for the SIG guns and products to arrive this year and review them for you when they do. Maybe by that time, I’ll find that person at SIG who can speak about the airguns.”
That was Sig airguns in 2015. So, imagine my surprise, several months later, when I got a phone call from a Sig rep wanting to talk about the airgun business. She cared; I could hear it in her voice! This was a person I could work with! She told me Sig recognized the problems and were taking steps to change — and, boy did they! Their turnaround was so dramatic that I became their head cheerleader. What I do is the media version of, “Fool me once…” Now, back to ASG.
Bob Li
You guys call me the Great Enabler. Well, Bob Li of ASG enables me! He knows all the right buttons to push because he is a real shooter. We speak the same language. So, when he told me this pistol was probably one I wanted to look into, I paid attention! Bob, by the way, is the guy who not only got me to test the ASG CZ75 SP-01 Shadow BB pistol, but also to purchase a CZ 75 SP-01 firearm to evaluate alongside the BB gun. Then Sig brought out the P365 and (hopfuly soon) a P365 BB pistol and a P320 M17 BB gun to go with my 9mm firearm. All of that arose from a single conversation with Bob Li. Stop it, Bob!
Not stocked at Pyramyd Air
You can look for this airsoft gun at Pyramyd AIR but you won’t find it. At $180 retail it’s hardly something they can sell. And now I have you talking! “One hundred eighty dollars for an airsoft gun!!!??? The thing better answer the phone, make good coffee and pay my mortgage, too!” I guess I even said some of that to Bob at the show. “Pick it up,” he challenged. I did and all resistance melted. Two pounds 11.6 ounces, unloaded. All metal on the outside — even the grips!
This one is called the black and blue model by CZ, because the thin grip plates are metal, too. The Shadow 2 was purpose-built for competition in the United States Practical Shooting Association (USPSA) Production Division. What that means to everyone who doesn’t compete it this is a fast-firing accurate pistol that’s designed to be as smooth as possible.
The 9mm Shadow 2 firearm doesn’t look much different, does it?
The airsoft gun
It’s completely realistic! The safety is ambidextrous and can be operated by the thumb of the shooting hand. The drop-free magazine release is extended and may swap to the other side of the frame. Disassembly is so easy — just align the mark on the slide with the one on the frame and press out the slide dismount (CZ’s term for the slide catch) and the slide with barrel and recoil spring comes off the front of the frame.
To disassemble line up the marks and push the slide catch out.
This pistol is double action and single action, though the movement of the metal slide in full blowback cocks the hammer, so after the first shot it’s all single action. And it’s two stage, so it’s perfect for target shooting. The single action trigger pull is unbelievably light. Among my handguns only my FWB P44 trigger is lighter.
The rear sight adjusts for both windage and elevation, just like the firearm. It’s a low-profile tactical sight that won’t grab anything coming out of the holster.
The rear sight adjusts both ways.
The forward underside of the frame has a single cross slot for a Weaver mount. This can be for a light or a laser sighting device.
Yes, there is an orange tip on the gun that many websites do not show. I could have PhotoShopped it out, as well, but it a legal requirement in the U.S. I caution you to never carry this gun in the open because it isn’t easy to tell it from a firearm.
See those labels in the first picture that give the power (1 joule) and the country of origin (Made In Taiwan)? Both are stickers that peel off, leaving smooth metal underneath. The ASG imprint and the caliber are both on permanently.
Caliber
This is a 6mm ball shooter. It uses 0.25-gram plastic balls and ASG was kind enough to send a big bottle of biodegradable BBs that I can play with.
CO2 powered
Knowing the weight of the BBs you know it must be powered by CO2. If it was any other kind of gas the BBs it shoots would have to be lighter.
Hop Up
Yes, of course it has adjustable hop up. The pistol must be disassembled to access the adjustment that’s located in the barrel group, but with this pistol that isn’t so bad. It goes quick and back together for testing. I will have to adjust it I’m sure, so you’ll hear all about it.
The Hop Up adjustment screw (arrow) is with the barrel group.
My plans
Airsoft guns can be surprisingly accurate. I have seen many that are. This one has the pedigree of a world-class competition pistol, so it’s starting at a good place. Let’s hope it delivers!
Summary
This test will be a pleasant change for me. It’s been almost three years since I tested an airsoft gun and longer since I tested one this advanced. Added to that, I have both the BB gun and the 9mm firearm to compare to. It’s gonna be a good one!
B.B.
I bought a few airsoft guns (all spring-powered pistols) in the past; but I either sold gave them away due to lack of accuracy. However, this one looks like it has some promise in that department. You have piqued my curiosity. =>
Take care & God bless,
dave
Dave,
I have had airsoft guns that grouped 5 in 1/2-inch at 10 meters. And they weren’t expensive. It has to do with a uniform and tight barrel.
B.B.
B.B.,
That’s awesome! I would love to know which ones they were, and if they were accurate from the factory, or required a bit of the ol’ B.B. magic. Perhaps you could do a report on them. Even though they’re airsoft and not hard airguns, all airgunners love an accurate airgun… all the more so if they are not expensive. =>
Thank you,
dave
Dave,
I’ll look around to see what data I have. Most of the guns have gone back.
B.B.
Thanks, B.B., I bought one of those “all metal” 1911 clones with adjustable sights; it cost $100, and was rated by airsoft users as “very accurate.” It was like 2″ at 30 feet; if I’d gotten the half inch at 10 meters like you did, I would have been one happy camper! =>
Dave,
I have had a Taurus PT 24/7 for years, and it is accurate. I find that the BAXS hop-up makes a big difference in accuracy.
/product/taurus-pt-24-7-spring-airsoft-pistol?m=1270
/product/taurus-pt-24-7-spring-airsoft-pistol-kit?m=3330
Michael
Michael, thank you; that looks pretty cool; I just have one stupid question: On the specs, under hop-up, it says “BAX – both ways;” what does that mean?
Hop-Up is backspin. BAXS is a proprietary type of hop-up.
Dave,
It means it adjusts both ways — up and down, left and right.
B.B.
Michael, B.B., thank you; just when I thought I only had a lot to learn about airguns, I see now that I also have much to learn about airsoft as well…*shrugs*…and that’s OK, because that’s why I read this blog: to learn things! Thanks again. =>
Dave,
I just now read five different definitions/explanations of BAXS on six different reasonably expert sites on airsoft. I got four different explanations. All agreed on two things, however.
Conventional hop-up has a partial obstruction at 6:00 and another at 12:00. This creates backspin, which causes a gyroscopic stability to the 6mm plastic “BB.” BAXS has the 6:00 partial obstruction plus one at about 11:00 and another at about 1:00. These upper ones are slightly adjustable to correct a hooking trajectory or slicing trajectory. Conventional hop-up is adjustable for the total amount of backspin but not any horizontal correction.
I am REASONABLY confident what I have written above is ALMOST accurate.
Michael
Wow, that is a pretty detailed explanation; thank you! =>
Michael,
I like the theory of the 11/1 concept/reality to adjust shot “hooking”. Just the solution that (I hope) I would/could come up to resolve the issue. 😉
Chris
B.B.,
Interesting. I like it when you review top of the line stuff. Looking forwards to seeing and learning more. I know zip about airsoft products.
Good Day to you and to all,………… Chris
Hi B.B.
I am not into airsoft at all. But you know what? That actually seems like a cool little gun!
Carel
Carel,
It is a very cool gun. And tomorrow will be another cool gun — one you are familiar with. 😉
B.B.
This one looks to have some possibilities. Can’t wait till tomorrow…..guess I’ll have to. Thanks Mr. Gaylord.
B.B.,
I remember not too long ago (for an old fogey like me, anyway) CO2 and Green Gas powered airsoft guns were the thing to get for home practice if one had the matching firearm. This was before the explosion of CO2 powered blowback BB and pellet-shooters.
If I am not mistaken, the absolutely best in quality (and realism) replicas are still Japanese airsoft gun replicas. They can sell for as much as the actual firearm.
Michael
I tryed some air soft guns some years back.
One was a sniper rifle and it was actually pretty accurate. I was plinking at aluminum cans out at 35 yards and hitting 2 liter soda bottles and gallon milk bottles at 50 yards. It had a different spring in it and I was using the heavier biodegradable air soft balls. At 35 yards the balls were going through one side of the can and denting the other side.
The other was a pistol and I shot it down in the basement at my other house. It was semi-auto. Had paper targets hanging from the ceiling by strings at different heights and distances. And had a blanket hanging from the ceiling down to the floor that caught the airsoft balls. Had fun shooting them for sure.
BB
I remember when airsoft amounted to nothing more than a couple of spring powered weird looking plastic guns for sale in the back of magazines for a few bucks. Now I think regular airguns have a long way to go to catch up to them as far as looks, functionality and diversity go.
Airguns remained in the target shooting, hunting and plinking category and Airsoft took over the action game play category and concentrated on realism. So much so that they are now required to have the dayglow tips on them to distinguish them from the real thing. The number of customized guns and parts available have exploded recently.
They will always have power limitations for shooting at humans in game play but modifications have slowly moved some of them into accurate target shooting and plinking. Most of those are restricted from war game play involving people shooting at each other. Too powerful. All in all they are much safer than bb or pellet guns.
Don’t think we will see a DSR-1 Pellet rifle for a long time.
Bob M
Just an added note to the above entry.
There is a trend developing to convert some airsoft to bb guns and even issuing both at the same time. Take the M1 Carbine and Mosin Nagant. Mostly CO2 powered ones. They simply replace the barrel and mag, although some get more complicated.
Battery powered Airsoft seem to be the most desirable for maintaining full auto fire over a longer period of time in games but as you can see they are coming out with some fine looking select fire CO2 bb guns today.
The above DSR-1 Sniper Rifle originally came out as a green gas (Propane and oil) but then powered up to a CO2 mag option. And some other single shot spring bolt action snipers like the Type 96 BB mentioned have a drop in CO2 container to replace the spring action for more power.
Hopefully one day we will be able to get anything we want.
Bob M
Bob,
If airsoft AEG replicas could just stop whining, I’d have purchased one long ago, but . . . fast forward to 2:11: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDmeheua22M
Michael
Michael,
13# loaded? That is considered “light”? All in all,… interesting. At 13#,…. them suckers must be built really solid.
Chris
Chris,
But it’s the WHINING of the AEG that really drives me crazy. :^) I could put up with the weight longer than I could put up with the whining.
Michael
Michael
I totally agree with you. Very unrealistic annoying sound. The green gas, CO2 and high powered spring models sound much better. I converted the CO2 Airsoft M1 Carbine into full auto and it sounds awesome when fired.
I was always exploring for ways to install a semi or full auto Airgun into one of those Airsoft light machine guns and actually did. I put a semi-auto PCP Wildfire ( Wi-Fi ) into a M249 SAW airsoft rifle. I originally had a CO2 1077 in there but the PCP Wi-Fi was a simple drop in after it was already converted.
Chris
There is a reason I called my RAI stocked Marauder “Heavy Metal”. My “Full Dress” version went beyond that to Sling or Bipod necessary !
Those Airsoft machine guns are all metal. The good ones anyway.
Airgun companies are finally offering wicked fun select fire rifles now so my itch to create a nice powerful military replica airgun is fading away … somewhat 🙂
Below is a pic of my M249 Wi-Fi PCP followed by my futuristic military Puncher Armour PCP.
The Armour
For some reason P/A cant post it in customer pics ?
The Armour
For some reason P/A cant post it in their customer pic section ?
Forgot to remind new readers to click on pictures to blow them up for a better view.
Bob,
And readers, for some pix after you click the picture right click on the new picture and select view image, then left click again and you will get an even closer look.
Mike
Wow Mike
I just bypassed left clicking on the picture and went directly to “Open in a new window” with a right click and then also had the option to really zoom in big time.
Bob,
It does not work with all images, but it is cool when it does.
Mike