TACTICAL PISTOL REVIEW: SIX OF THE BEST

Created on 19th May 2009

TIM FINLEY tries out six varieties of tactical-style pistols

CO2 PISTOLS are still completely legal despite the VCR bill and never has the airgun shooter had such a large choice of superb plinking tools. The top of the tree for these informal target pistols are the so-called tactical versions. These usually feature an optical sighting device and some form of muzzle brake-cum-moderator. This test covers six of these pistols featuring the most popular makes from the USA, Spain and Germany. The six contenders are: the Walther CP99-based Nighthawk from Umarex of Germany; Beretta's 92SF-based XX-Treme; Walther's CP88 tactical; the built-under-licence Colt 1911 tactical; the Crosman T4OPS from the USA; and lastly from Spain the PT80 tactical. All six run on 12g C02 capsules and have eight-shot rotary .177 calibre magazines. The fact that all six use eight-shot mags must be down to the design constraints of keeping the pistols an authentic size. In the restricted space available only an eight-shot magazine is really possible, although we can see three different types of magazine on the pistols featured. All models have been built to ensure no part of the pellets protrude from either face on the magazine, front or rear. Failure to adhere to this simple rule will result in the pistol jamming.

On test

Let's start with a rundown of the Nighthawk. This is one of only two of the four which are double-action only (i.e. the trigger-pull indexes the magazine and there is no facility to manually cock the hammer/action). The C02 bulb system is unique on the go-faster CP99 Nighthawk too. It uses a removable cartridge which drops out of the bottom of the grip by pushing down the catch on the rear underside of the trigger-guard. Spares of this bulb carrying system can be bought and these really speed up the recharging process. The pistol uses the standard Umarex alloy eight-shot magazine, which has to be loaded with the indexing teeth towards the shooter. (All four of the Umarex German-made guns in this test use this magazine. Two are supplied with each of the Umarex guns and additional sets of three can be bought.)

The Nighthawk's safety catch is on the right-hand side of the action and is of sliding bar-type. Push forward for safe and backwards for fire, revealing the red panel. The action catch is on the left above the trigger. Press down, and the front of the action springs forward. The loaded mag is inserted with the indexing teeth to the rear of the action. Once you've closed the action you are ready to fire. Over the chronograph it hit around the 2ft/lbs (or 350fps) mark with 7.9gn pellets. It is fitted with a wraparound Picatinny-style optical sight mount including Walther's version of the Top Point red dot sight (much the same as the one made by Umarex). The mod on the CP99-based gun has a male thread inside the front of the action and a female thread in the back of the mod. This allows the mod to fit up to the back of the action.

Second is the Crosman T4 OPS, the second double action-only pistol. It is based on the T4 Crosman but comes with a light and a red dot sight. This pistol has an extended muzzle brake fitted rather than a removable moderator as on the Umarex guns. The C02 bulb system is completely different to that of any other manufacturer. The cartridge is carried in a removable magazine, which is spring loaded on the bottom; this strong spring presses the bulb up to the seal before the lever is operated. It is not the same as the Nighthawk as the bulb is not pierced in the bulb carrier. Before inserting a bulb, set the manual safety catch to ‘safe' by pushing in the button just above the trigger from the left-hand side of the pistol. The piercing lever (the butt-strap of the pistol-grip) can be opened after first sliding it down to extend its reach. This exposes the spring catch for the C02 magazine; press this in and the metal magazine can be removed. A 12g C02 bulb can then be inserted: narrow neck to the open end and put back into the pistol. The lever is now closed back against the grip (take care not to pinch any extremities as you do this) and the magazine can be loaded. The mags take eight pellets; the indexing teeth at the centre represent the front, so the pellet heads must be at this end. This works completely differently to the Umarex alloy magazines.

Operating the steel catch on the left-hand side opens the breech. The filled magazine can be dropped into the slot, teeth to the barrel. The top slide can then be pulled back, as if you were charging a real semi-auto pistol. Just grip the grooved panels on either side of the top, slide the rear sight and pull until the breech locks shut. The safety can then be removed by pushing the button in from the right-hand side of the pistol. You are now ready to go. Over the chronograph the Crosman also produced 2ft/lb/350fps of energy with 7.9gn Crosman Premier pellets. The trigger-pull was 4.5kg (10lb) but it felt much lighter and was very readable. The 1" bodied sight has 11 brightness settings and the light was very good and well-made. It has a wrap-around Picatinny-type set-up like the Nighthawk.

The Spanish PT80 Tactical has a unique action which hinges from the front. This means that, in contrast to the other pistols on test, its barrel is fixed in relation to the barrel. The large moderator is not a moderator at all, as the barrel extends down the middle of it even although it can be screwed off. It comes with a 30mm-diameter red dot sight with 11 brightness settings (made by Gamo). The sight rail blocks off the post and notch sights and is of normal 11mm-wide type. The light is smaller than and not as powerful as the Crosman version, but still works at plinking ranges with its remote pressure switch. It has the word ‘tactical' detailed on each side. The barrel is 205mm long. As mentioned before it sticks out of the front of the action by 105mm but is covered by the pseudo moderator, which does screw off but makes the gun look a bit odd, hence the need for the false mod. It houses the C02 bulbs in the grip with a simple screw system for the bulb piercing. Over the chrono it gave 2.1ft/lb and 60 shots, due to the more efficient longer barrel. The safety catch is on the left-hand side of the action in front of the exposed steel hammer. Pulling it down into the S (safe) position blocks the hammer, stopping it striking the valve and releasing C02.

The Umarex-made Beretta XX-Treme is a very large pistol. It has the same four-way Picatinny sight rail as the Nighthawk with a different version of the red dot sight. It is a single and double action pistol. The mod/brake has a 10mm thread and extended rear end to close the gap and the barrel end has a barrel protrusion. The safety is at the rear of the action and has the normal S for safe and F for fire settings. Power-wise it gives 2.1ft/lbs. The bulb is in the grip hidden by the removable plastic grip side with a screw and lever system. The CP88 tactical is a version of the pistol I have owned for years and I wish this version had been available when I bought mine. The sight rail is very good as it can take either a wider Weaver or the more normal 11mm-wide sight clamps. It is fitted with an MDS sight, which has four red dot sizes and seven brightness settings. The shorter barrel on the CP88 gave it only 1.7ft/lb of power - still enough for plinking ranges. The moderator screws off and transforms the pistol over the standard version. The C02 bulb is in the grip with the cover on the left-hand side. It uses the same screw and lever system as on the XX-Treme and the Colt.

The Colt 1911 has the same sight rail, sight and moderator as the CP88. At 2.1ft/lbs it is more powerful and its additional safety system means it also has the better trigger. This grip safety has to be operated for the pistol to fire. It is disengaged by the normal Colt hand grip on the rear of the back strap, just under the hammer. It has another manual safety catch on the action's left-hand side. This extra safety device means the trigger let-off pressure can be taken down - and at 0.8kg for single action it's the lightest of all the triggers here.

Accuracy

Tests were all performed at 6yd with five shots.
Walther (CP99) Nighthawk 10.3mm
Crosman T4OPS 14.8mm
Gamo PT80 Tactical 10.1mm
Beretta (M92FS) XX-TREME 10.1mm
Walther CP88 Tactical S 8mm
Colt 1911 Tactical S 8mm

So what's the verdict?

Each gun has its pros and cons. The Nighthawk is compact and fast to recharge and reload. Crosman's pistol is double action-only and its smooth bored barrel means it is the least accurate of the six; it was, though, the most fun to shoot with its simple Co2 charging system. Its light was the best on the two and its sight was very good, too. The Gamo gave the greatest number of shots, had the largest 30mm sight and was the cheapest on test - and despite its price comes with a light as well. Beretta's XX-Treme is a real handful, for those wanting as realistic an experience as possible. The little CP88 should not be overlooked just because it was the first C02 pistol to hit our shores after they were made legal again: it really performs. The Colt has the best trigger by far and, I think, the best sight, the small dot of the MDS gives very precise aiming and its 1911 heritage must be a selling point.

If I had to pick just two they would be: for value and pure plinking pleasure the Crosman T4OPS, and for more serious use the Colt, due to its trigger, sight and accuracy.

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