March 29th, 2023

3:48 runtime

Lets be honest guns can be a lot of fun.

When used safely, guns can be a source of endless entertainment.

But what about those new shooters that might be hesitant to try it due to the noise and recoil?

springfield 1911 milspec air pistol review

Springfield Armory offers an air pistol replica of the classic 1911 Mil-Spec pistol. The air gun allows for fun plinking without all the noise and recoil.

A Classics Air Gun Sibling?

However, there are a few aesthetic differences.

The most noticeable is the white text on the outside of the pistol itself.

comparing the 1911 mil-spec with the replica air gun

The replica BB pistol (bottom) and the Mil-Spec .45 ACP are so similar that they are nearly identical, aside from a few aesthetic differences.

The hammers also have different texture patterns.

Atop the slide are three-dot fixed sights.

The pistols bore is smooth, as youd expect from a BB pistol.

ejection port of springfield 1911 mil-spec compared to replica air handgun

While similar, the BB replica pistol (left) ejection port is smaller than the enhanced ejection port of theMil-Spec .45 ACP.

The air gun has removable checkered grips, a manual safety and a removable magazine.

The magazine accepts one 12-gram CO2 cartridge that will last for roughly 65 total shots.

Velocity is in the 320 feet per second (fps) range.

author loading the 1911 air pistol

The replica Mil-Spec 1911 air pistol is a fully metal-constructed pistol chambered to shoot.177-cal. BB’s.

This air pistol is dimensionally very close to the 1911 Mil-Spec, meaning that all your holsters should fit.

Also, the grip angle, texture, iron sights, and controls are all the same.

That means this is the perfect tool to practice with, but doesnt cost nearly as much to shoot.

co2 cartridge in the magazine of the replica 1911 air gun

The air pistol is powered by standard 12-gram CO2 cartridges that are contained in the magazine.

Also, the familiar controls and reciprocating slide make it a great training tool.

However, this does not have be viewed just as a training tool for the .45 ACP pistol.

Its perfect for just having fun, too!

shooting the 1911 mil-spec 1911 air pistol on the range at targets

This air pistol has all the same controls as a Mil-Spec 1911, which can be a great training asset to build muscle memory.

This pistol is a great way to get outdoors and have some fun plinking on targets.

Hands-On with the 1911 Mil-Spec Air Pistol

The pistol itself feels great in the hands.

The magazines are where the individual 12-gram CO2 cartridges are affixed.

1911 mi-spec replica air pistol tested

A keen eye can spot the differences between this and the authentic centerfire 1911 Mil-Spec. However, the appearance differences are minor.

Each cartridge eases into the magazine and then is tightened in using an Allen key to properly seat it.

After that, you will be ready to feed the magazine into the pistol and get to shooting.

The pistol comes with one magazine, but spares are available on the Springfield Armory Store.

author testing the air pistol replica 1911 on the range

This Springfield air pistol can be great for an entry-level shooter who may not be comfortable yet with centerfire pistols.

During our time on the range, we shot a variety of targets, both paper and steel.

We were able to shoot some fairly tight groups on the paper targets at 10 yards.

We found that our groups were tighter when we had a fully charged CO2 cartridge, which makes sense.

1911 Mil-Spec CO2 Blowback .177 BB Air Pistol

As that cartridge started to lose some of the pressure, our groups tended to open up a bit.

So how does shooting it compare to the real 1911 Mil-Spec from Springfield Armory?

It is also not as loud.

1911 Mil-Spec CO2 Blowback .177 BB Magazine

Airgun Targets

Airgun Ammo

Airgun CO2 Cartridges

1911 Mil-Spec Series

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