Post by twodoctors on Feb 12, 2021 0:39:43 GMT
Here's a quick review of my new Umarex UX SA-10. I was recently qualified as a Club Coach and was looking for a decent "self-loading" replica pistol for training. The SA-10 fits the bill.
Here are some pictures of my SA-10:
I deliberately have not gone for a replica pistol. I'm not that fuss about how it looks, as long as it shoot straight from a fair distance and can be used for competition. What I was also looking for is something that I can use (as a club instructor) for training my club members with (due to UK Firearm Law, one can only handle pistol that is already registered on one's FAC ie I can't touch their pistol and they can't touch mine). The most realistic pistol out there in terms of mechanism is probably the Remington 1911. However being a BB shooter, the risk of ricochet is real and is not suitable for indoor range at my club. I needed a pellet shooter. This one fits the bill because it handles fairly close to a self-loading handgun, albeit without the slide lock open on last shot. It does expose the breech end of the barrel when unloaded, which forms part of the safety check for making a pistol safe. This is a big tick for me.
It is also supposed to be fairly accurate for a blowback CO2 gun.
Unlike some of the other Umarex and ASG pistols, this one has a magazine that slides out just like a real thing. With the CO2 integrated to the mag, the pistol is safe once the mag is out. Another big tick.
I should add that 1 CO2 cannister will last up to 96 shots-ish, even in this cold winter days (I now have 12 mags!)
So what is it like to shoot? It's great actually. Here are some 5m grouping I managed, weaver style of course (being a Gallery Rifle Shooter). Iron sights. Standard 17cm target. I know I can do a lot better with practice.
The sights is completely fixed, and I find that it is shooting to the left. I very very careful filed the rear sights and it is now shooting very straight.
Here's one I found. 10m red dot rested (for ammo testing). 12 shots. I was resting on a stepladder in an awkward stance, and it will probably shoot better in more relaxed position.
The biggest reason I want to give a big shout out about this pistol is the trigger. This is the most important part of my review, and something that is not really discussed in detailed in any of the other reviews I've seen so far. Everyone says it has a nice trigger. But what does that mean?
A good trigger should be fairly light (but not too light that will compromise safety), have a fairly short travel (especially for smaller hand like mine), and a clean 2nd stage / break. A crap spongy trigger with an spongy break will not help with accuracy.
Unfortunately for air pistol shooter, ALL semi-auto pistol will have a long pull. This is because the mag, be it an internal rotary mag like most of the pellet air pistol have, or a revolver in double action, will need to be indexed by the trigger pull. I have not seen a pellet pistol that doesn't have that. If you know of one, let me know.
This pistol is no different. A very long trigger pull to index the next round.
This is where the difference between this and my old Umarex Desert Eagle ends. After the indexing, there is a light "1st" stage that, once you get used to the trigger, you gently get yourself to the "wall". The 2nd stage or the "break" is fairly light, fairly snappy, and with no overtravel. For a £135 air pistol, I'm very pleased with it.
drive.google.com/file/d/1imc2xPrhCMRzOdHENOcoifQELYGjGIKw/view?usp=sharing
The trigger weight in SA is 3.5lb. Can be reduced down to 2.75lb with just simple lubrication.
Hopefully you can see the video demonstrating the indexing, 1st and 2nd stage.
Double action is heavy as expected. I don't see why one would contemplate shooting DA unless the comp you are shooting requires it. Just pull the slide for heaven sake!
drive.google.com/file/d/1kHlWkudBkYftM4LUvACUQLRLperNOvMf/view?usp=sharing
The trigger weight in DA is 8.2lb. It feels progressively heavy until the break, making it next to useless as it makes the pistol very snatch-prone. But why would you want to shoot it in DA? It's a semi-auto after all. Just pull the slide back for the first shot and off you go.
There is some early wear on the hammer. I have only dry fired it (quite!) a few times at this point. I've noticed the hammer has lost some of the paint already. Not going to affect the function, but might be important for someone out there.
There is a thread at the front for a moderator. However, it is apparently an odd thread size (14mm?). Also with the barrel being so close to the sights, once you stick something on it, you won't be able to use the iron sights. Not a big deal if you already are planning on getting a mount and put a red dot on. I normally shoot with scope, but a scope will look daft on this. I shoot iron sights with my 1911 normally, and am planning on doing the same with this. The only unfortunate thing is that the sights are not adjustable. Not even for windage. Again, seeing most YouTube review, there is no issue with windage anyway. Hopefully mine will be the same.
The final point I would like to make is that my gun I think is a year 2020 version (a guess based on the serial number!). In other reviews, the top slide is removable. Mine was a bit stiff to start with, but loosen up enough after about a 100 shots for me to take the slide off. Like other strippable pistols, it doesn't actually serve much purpose to be honest but each to their own.
I would highly recommend this pistol to anyone looking for an accurate pellet blowback with a proper magazine and a good trigger. A target shooter's choice.
Here are some pictures of my SA-10:
I deliberately have not gone for a replica pistol. I'm not that fuss about how it looks, as long as it shoot straight from a fair distance and can be used for competition. What I was also looking for is something that I can use (as a club instructor) for training my club members with (due to UK Firearm Law, one can only handle pistol that is already registered on one's FAC ie I can't touch their pistol and they can't touch mine). The most realistic pistol out there in terms of mechanism is probably the Remington 1911. However being a BB shooter, the risk of ricochet is real and is not suitable for indoor range at my club. I needed a pellet shooter. This one fits the bill because it handles fairly close to a self-loading handgun, albeit without the slide lock open on last shot. It does expose the breech end of the barrel when unloaded, which forms part of the safety check for making a pistol safe. This is a big tick for me.
It is also supposed to be fairly accurate for a blowback CO2 gun.
Unlike some of the other Umarex and ASG pistols, this one has a magazine that slides out just like a real thing. With the CO2 integrated to the mag, the pistol is safe once the mag is out. Another big tick.
I should add that 1 CO2 cannister will last up to 96 shots-ish, even in this cold winter days (I now have 12 mags!)
So what is it like to shoot? It's great actually. Here are some 5m grouping I managed, weaver style of course (being a Gallery Rifle Shooter). Iron sights. Standard 17cm target. I know I can do a lot better with practice.
The sights is completely fixed, and I find that it is shooting to the left. I very very careful filed the rear sights and it is now shooting very straight.
Here's one I found. 10m red dot rested (for ammo testing). 12 shots. I was resting on a stepladder in an awkward stance, and it will probably shoot better in more relaxed position.
The biggest reason I want to give a big shout out about this pistol is the trigger. This is the most important part of my review, and something that is not really discussed in detailed in any of the other reviews I've seen so far. Everyone says it has a nice trigger. But what does that mean?
A good trigger should be fairly light (but not too light that will compromise safety), have a fairly short travel (especially for smaller hand like mine), and a clean 2nd stage / break. A crap spongy trigger with an spongy break will not help with accuracy.
Unfortunately for air pistol shooter, ALL semi-auto pistol will have a long pull. This is because the mag, be it an internal rotary mag like most of the pellet air pistol have, or a revolver in double action, will need to be indexed by the trigger pull. I have not seen a pellet pistol that doesn't have that. If you know of one, let me know.
This pistol is no different. A very long trigger pull to index the next round.
This is where the difference between this and my old Umarex Desert Eagle ends. After the indexing, there is a light "1st" stage that, once you get used to the trigger, you gently get yourself to the "wall". The 2nd stage or the "break" is fairly light, fairly snappy, and with no overtravel. For a £135 air pistol, I'm very pleased with it.
drive.google.com/file/d/1imc2xPrhCMRzOdHENOcoifQELYGjGIKw/view?usp=sharing
The trigger weight in SA is 3.5lb. Can be reduced down to 2.75lb with just simple lubrication.
Hopefully you can see the video demonstrating the indexing, 1st and 2nd stage.
Double action is heavy as expected. I don't see why one would contemplate shooting DA unless the comp you are shooting requires it. Just pull the slide for heaven sake!
drive.google.com/file/d/1kHlWkudBkYftM4LUvACUQLRLperNOvMf/view?usp=sharing
The trigger weight in DA is 8.2lb. It feels progressively heavy until the break, making it next to useless as it makes the pistol very snatch-prone. But why would you want to shoot it in DA? It's a semi-auto after all. Just pull the slide back for the first shot and off you go.
There is some early wear on the hammer. I have only dry fired it (quite!) a few times at this point. I've noticed the hammer has lost some of the paint already. Not going to affect the function, but might be important for someone out there.
There is a thread at the front for a moderator. However, it is apparently an odd thread size (14mm?). Also with the barrel being so close to the sights, once you stick something on it, you won't be able to use the iron sights. Not a big deal if you already are planning on getting a mount and put a red dot on. I normally shoot with scope, but a scope will look daft on this. I shoot iron sights with my 1911 normally, and am planning on doing the same with this. The only unfortunate thing is that the sights are not adjustable. Not even for windage. Again, seeing most YouTube review, there is no issue with windage anyway. Hopefully mine will be the same.
The final point I would like to make is that my gun I think is a year 2020 version (a guess based on the serial number!). In other reviews, the top slide is removable. Mine was a bit stiff to start with, but loosen up enough after about a 100 shots for me to take the slide off. Like other strippable pistols, it doesn't actually serve much purpose to be honest but each to their own.
I would highly recommend this pistol to anyone looking for an accurate pellet blowback with a proper magazine and a good trigger. A target shooter's choice.
