by Tom Gaylord
Writing as B.B. Pelletier
ASG’s CZ 75 Shadow 2 airsoft pistol.
This report covers:
- The BB trap
- The goal
- Sight in and first group
- The test
- Target 2
- Shot count
- Target 3
- Adjusted the sights again for target 4
- Evaluation
- Summary
Today we look at the accuracy of the ASG CZ 75 Shadow 2 airsoft pistol I’m testing. This test was different for me because the first thing I had to do was construct a trap to stop and catch the 6mm plastic BBs. They bounce out of the regular steel pellet trap that I normally use, so something else had to be done.
The BB trap
I settled on an empty 20 lb. cat litter box. I cut a 5-inch by 5-inch hole in the front side so the BBs would pass through the paper target, then I taped the targets to the front of the box with the hole under the bull. These boxes are so tough that the BBs only dented the inside back. I left the targets taped to the box and just taped new targets over them, so they built up. That made a good front stop for the BBs, to keep them inside the box. As a result, only 4-5 BBs out of 50 or so escaped the box.
The goal
Shooting airsoft is different than pellets and BBs. You don’t typically shoot at bullseye targets the way I will in today’s test. You either shoot at people if you are skirmishing or you shoot at cardboard IPSC targets that have been scaled down for the sport that is now known as Action Air — the airsoft version of IPSC.
The Action Air IPSC target is scaled down from the firearm target.
My shooting for this test will be at 10 meters, which is 33 feet. Most Action Air targets are positioned less than 20 feet away (distances vary and are not rigidly controlled), and about half of them are closer than 15 feet. So, what I am doing today goes far beyond the level of accuracy needed to compete in a match. And, bear in mind, the pistol I’m testing is set up for the production class. That pretty much means you shoot it as it comes from the box, like I am today. There are custom guns that have thousands spent on them to make them shoot even better, but I think what you are about to see will surprise many of you.
Sight in and first group
I shot the first shot from 10 feet offhand and scored a 10, so the sights were pretty close. Sight-in was over.
I began the test using a center hold that action shooters would use instead of a 6-o’clock hold used by target shooters. So, when I backed up to 10 meters I continued with the center hold. A center hold (where the top of the front sight is even with the top of the rear sight and bisects the bullseye) is less precise because it’s easy to be off on elevation by a quarter-inch either way and not notice it. But for today it would do.
The test
I shot off a sandbag rest, holding the pistol in both hands with the bottom of the magazine resting against the bag. For sight in and for all groups until I say different I am shooting ASG 0.25-gram Open Blaster biodegradeable BBs.
The first target turned out to be one of the better groups of the day, with 10 shots in 2.073-inches. That sounds bad, but it looks good if you know anything about pistol shooting.
This is the first target I shot and the only target I measured. The hole in the 10 was the single sighter from 10 feet. The group below it is 10 shots in 2.073-inches at 10 meters with a center hold. As you can see, the impact is slightly low and left.
Target 2
I adjusted the rear sight up and right for the second group. And this time I shot at a Shoot-N-C bull. I photographed this target and all subsequent targets as they sat on the trap. The gas ran out around shot number 6 while shooting this target, allowing the BBs to drop.
This bull measures about 3-inches in diameter, so this group is about 2-3/4 to 3-inches across. First shots were high and then the gas ran out and they dropped lower.
Shot count
After this target I changed the CO2 cartridge. The next target was fired with a fresh one. Between the velocity test and today I had fired about 60 shots before getting to the end of the first cartridge, so that’s the shot count.
Target 3
At this point I put on my reading glasses to see the front sight with more clarity. The next group tells the story, however, I also switched BBs.
I’m still holding in the center of the target. But I switched to Tsunami BBs from Specialized Distribution. They are the only other 0.25-gram BB I currently have. This might actually be the best group of the day, as it appears to be 10 shots in less than 2 inches.
No measurements taken, but this group appears to be 10 shots in less than 2-inches. It helps to see the front sight clearly.
Adjusted the sights again for target 4
After this target I adjusted the rear sight even more to the right and up a number of clicks, because I wanted to use a 6-o’clock hold. That should give me greater precision. This one was shot with Tsunami BBs, too.
No measurements, but look how nicely centered the group is. The bull on this target is 3-inches in diameter, so this group is about 2-3/4-inches across.
A nicely centered group of 10 Tsunami BBs is about 2—3/4inches across.
Evaluation
Going into this test I thought the pistol would do well and it did, though I have seen smaller 10-meter groups from other airsoft guns. None has a better trigger, though.
The trigger is so nice I wish I had it on a firearm. The single action pull has a lot of travel but zero creep.
There were no failures to feed in either this test or in Part 2. This pistol has been 100 percent reliable thus far. If a fellow owned a Shadow II, he would want one of these to accompany it.
The blowback is unique. Because of how the CZ 75 Shadow II is designed, the line of the barrel is very close to the hand that holds the gun. So the recoil is quite low in the firearm. That carries over to the airsoft gun as well. You feel a pulse but no flipping of the hand, which is essential for fast followup shots.
Summary
So far I like this pistol, and I’m not finished testing it. I plan to get other 0.25-gram BBs and also to test it with other weight ammo. I know it’s not cheap, but good things seldom are. If a guy is looking for a practice pistol to go with his defense sidearm, this one would be a good choice.
BB
Looks like it’s a nice shooting gun. And what I mean is the design. I like how the slide is brought down to help with the blow back.
And who has the Action Air IPSC targets? I would like to get some. What I have been doing when I’m shooting 10 meter is saving the square pieces of cardboard that PA ships their pellets with. They make great target backers.
Gf1,
You’ll have to search online for who sells the targets. I’m sure they are stocked by plenty of places that deal with airsoft.
B.B.
GF1,
Page 45 of the manual that B.B. gave the link that gives the dimensions of the the target. Approximately 12 inches wide and 14.5 inches high.
Siraniko
Siraniko
Thanks I was wondering about that also.
BB
Kind of figured you was going to say that.
And was thinking about something. Maybe the hop up adjustment might tighten the groups up. Maybe?
And another thing. Wonder how many shots they fire in a run of the course. They are probably carrying multiple clips. So each clip will have a fresh cartridge. I’m guessing they do some dryfire’s first to get the cartridge pressurized before they do the run. Do you think that might tighten the groups up some too?
Yes, B.B., as Gunfun1 mentioned, I hope the hop up might tighten the accuracy when you try some different BBs; I believe you mentioned back in part 2 that the gun was shooting pretty straight with the bio BBs with which you started, but they make so many different BBs for these guns that perhaps you’ll hit one that makes this gun shoot even better…not that it’s bad; I can see it is good for it’s intended purpose; and it already shoots better than the airsoft gun I had, a Beretta 92 springer. =>
Dave,
Yes, this one is accurate right now, but it can be better. I will be checking the different BBs, and a few in different weights. Once I find the best I will look at the Hop Up if necessary.
B.B.
Dave
From what I have seen with the air soft guns I messed with the hop up should help.
And the different airsoft balls made a difference too. I ended up with a heavier gram (notice I said gram not grain) air soft ball that was the most accurate. And it was luckily biodegradable even.
Just like our pellet guns or firearms. You got to find the right ammo to make the gun work.
“Just like our pellet guns or firearms. You got to find the right ammo to make the gun work.”
That totally makes sense; each pellet gun and firearm is a law unto itself with regard to the ammo it likes; so there’s no reason to expect these airsoft guns to be any different. =>
Dave
Yes sir.
GF1,
The number of shots varies with the length of the match. They have short, medium and long matches and even then there are variations. If you are interested I suggest you check out the rulebook.
https://www.ipsc.org/pdf/RulesAir.pdf
B.B.
BB
Thank you much for the link. I will check it out later.
Right now I’m playing with my Sig MPX. And just to say it’s a very well built and smooth operating gun. And I love the 30 round belt fed mag that it uses. A nice bunch of continuous shots with out stopping and reloading. And the mag is way more durable than I thought it would be. And it’s light and accurate even with the factory flip up open sights and the cheap Winchester round nose pellets. And yep it’s got the regulated Air Venturi hpa bottle on it. Cool gun. Wish I would of got it sooner. Might not of got the Hatsan Bullmaster. You know how that goes though.
I thought when a gun had a very good trigger you will shoot group into one hole. what happened? (satire)
Mildot52,
Well, I had a couple very nice one-shot groups, but when I shot again they opened up. 😉
B.B.
hahah good one BB
I’m an old IHMSA and NRA Hunter Pistol shooter, that really enjoyed those matches. I also liked to shoot in bowling pin matches at the Paul Bunyan Club, where I was a member, near Puyallup, Washington. I have wondered if the rules they ran under were common, or what. Revolvers and semi autos would compete directly. I always used a four inch Smith and Wesson revolver in .38 special, and it was stainless with adjustable sights. Can’t remember the model number.
Here’s the way those matches ran. Pins were put on railroad ties, just shy of 25 yards. You were paired up with the shooter you were competing against. Shooter on the left, gets 5 pinPins MUST be knocked off the railroad ties. If you knock a pin over and it’s still on the tie, you keep shooting it till s, shooter on the right gets 5 pins. Each shooter gets 6 rounds/shots. Person on left starts and shoots left to right. Shooter on the right shoots right to left. it falls off the tie. If you knock your 5 pins off and have that sixth round left, you then can shoot your opponents last pin, and if it drops off the tie, you win with a score of 6, since your opponent can only get 4, since you took his sixth pin. There was a time limit, but I don’t remember what it was. I think maybe 30 seconds?
A few times, I had the knock over presenting the bottom/base of the pin. That’s significantly harder to hit, since it’s so small.
Why did I use a revolver? Ha! ‘Cause I’m cheap and don’t want to lose the brass. These matches were a riot, and I did win my class a few times, even shooting against semi autos.
Do these rules sound familiar, or is there no standardization?
Birdmove,
I’m not familiar with pin shooting, but the way you presented it, it sounds pretty informal.
B.B.
It was a whole lot of fun, and should be able to be adapted for airsoft certainly. Maybe not BB guns, due to the bounce back.