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I am a child of the 1970s. And it is a miracle that I survived the 1980s. When I was in middle school, all of my friends had pump action BB guns. I did not. My parents knew better than to trust me with one. That didn’t keep me from wanting one.

ARNSBERG, GERMANY (September 22, 2017) – UMAREX GmbH & Co. KG (UMAREX) headquartered in Germany receives the first worldwide license from the well-known Austrian weapons manufacturer, GLOCK, for the reproduction of its internationally recognized pistols.

The most modern of the Umarex 1911 air guns is this version of the Colt CQBP. Some Marines are fielding the .45 ACP version, and are most pleased with the modern take on the old John Moses Browning design. This one shoots BBs. It is a faithful reproduction of the .45’s aesthetics, with some notable differences in functionality.

Instead of jumping in like I normally would in a gun review, I’d like to begin this piece with the establishment of a basic premise. If you carry a 1911, you need to train with a 1911. This thought scares some away from the battle-tested single-action, but it doesn’t have to. Practice doesn’t have to be dangerous.  

The Octane air rifle was a well-respected entry into the break-barrel air gun market. It brought solid performance at a price that anyone could afford. Yet some felt like some ergonomic options were sacrificed to get the price down to its $259 price point.

Umarex and Colt have collaborated on a faithful recreation of an American classic: The Colt Commander. This BB gun version is a spot-on homage to the original. But before I break it down, I want to provide a bit of context.

BBs bounce off hard surfaces such as wood, rocks, and concrete. This is why it is so important to wear safety glasses and to have a proper backstop. Safety should always be the number one priority.

Many different targets can be for BB guns. Some are simple and common, while others are a lot of fun. I am going to list a few examples of targets that I have seen and some I have used.

Shooting guns and going hunting has always been part of my life, but it was not until my family and I went to an NRA Youth Day at our local gun club that we were talked into attending a local match. I fell in love and have been shooting competitively for four years now.

Most of the reviews that I write feature new products from firearms manufacturers. It is rare that I get to go back and spend quality time with the classics. Enough has been written about them that most of what I will say may seem redundant. But the Model 34 is a classic. And since this rifle is new to me, I’m going to assume it might be new to you, too.