VALUE FOR MONEY
The Duke Colt CO2 BB revolver pulls all the right levers for a huge number of people. It combines a high-quality reproduction of the legendary Colt Single Action Army, or “Peacemaker” revolver, with the branding association of THE all-American Cowboy hero, John Wayne.
With such a combination of all-time “greats” and a fair price, how could the Duke Colt CO2 BB Revolver fail to be great value for money? Relax, it doesn’t!
As HAM tester Doug Wall says, “It is a quality replica gun that is a pleasure to shoot.”
| HAM Test Rating | 92% |
|---|---|
| Value For Money | Very realistic looks and operation. |
| Firearm it Copies | Dan Wesson 715 in .357 Magnum. |
| Best BB Tested | ASG Blaster. |
| Street Price at Time of Test | $139.99. |
| Ammo Type | .177 caliber steel BBs. |
| Power Source | 1 x 12 Gram CO2 cartridge. |
| Useful Shots per Fill | About 90. |
BUY FROM PYRAMYD AIR
Duke Colt CO2 BB Revolver Weathered![]()
BUY FROM AIRGUN DEPOT
Colt Duke BB Revolver, Weathered
REALISM – LOOKS AND FEEL
Overall, the Duke Colt CO2 BB revolver is a very close copy of the original Colt Single Action Army – or Peacemaker – revolver. Appearance is very close to that of the firearm original, as is the size and weight.
The appearance is enhanced by the metal finish, which is weathered, or worn, as if from extensive use. This gives a close approximation to the patina found on many historic guns and makes the Duke Colt CO2 BB revolver look like it’s a veteran of hard – but not bad – cowboy use from a previous century. This revolver also carries the Colt logo for it’s an officially-licensed replica.
The looks also benefit from the CO2 piercing screw being recessed well out of sight in the underside of the pistol grip. And the safety – no doubt required for legal reasons, but not present on the original – is discretely hidden in the frame ahead of the trigger guard.
The balance and feel of the Duke is also very close to that of the original. The plastic grips look good and you can almost believe that they have the surface of well-used wood, although they lack the dings and scratches that would inevitably accompany the use that’s indicated by the metal finish.
On the downside, appearance is compromised by the large amount of screen printed text, primarily on the barrel – much of it legally-required stuff. It’s also compromised by the hammer not lying flat with the frame of the gun when un-cocked, as shown in the photo below. We’ll talk about this more in the “Realism – Trigger and Action” section, below.
And then there’s the John Wayne “Duke” branding itself. For many, this will undoubtedly be a big attraction for this revolver.
If you prefer to forsake the John Wayne association in the interest of realism, no problem. There are versions available that omit this branding.
ACCURACY AND POINT OF IMPACT
Good news! The Duke Colt CO2 BB revolver tested by HAM shot very close to “dead on”.
The point of impact on the target was very close to dead center, with just a few types of BB expressing a preference to impact slightly to the right. As the sights of this revolver – like that of the original firearm – are non-adjustable, that’s a very important point for practical shooting satisfaction.
Best accuracy was achieved using Hornady Black Diamond BBs, like the ones shown below being loaded into the “cartridges”.
(Just put a few BBs in a small tray and push the cartridges down on them for easy loading).
Accuracy of the Duke Colt CO2 BB revolver tested by HAM was certainly “minute of soda can” good. Yes, HAM has tested more accurate BB pistols, but overall the accuracy achieved by the test gun was very acceptable. Most buyers will be satisfied by the performance.
BUY FROM PYRAMYD AIR
Hornady Black Diamond Steel BBs, .177 Cal, 5.1 Grains, Anodized Finish, 1500ct![]()
BUY FROM AIRGUN DEPOT
Hornady Steel BBs
COMPARISON TO MAKERS CLAIMS
Most importantly, the manufacturer claims that the Duke Colt CO2 BB revolver is an authentic reproduction of the Colt Peacemaker/Single Action Army revolver. It sure is!
They also claim a maximum muzzle velocity of 410 fps and a maximum of 100 shots per CO2 cartridge.
HAM testing achieved a maximum muzzle velocity of 337 fps with Crosman Copperhead BBs. This is somewhat below the claim, but – as usual – the HAM testing was undertaken in a cool, 62 degrees Farenheit, range. Muzzle velocity would be significantly higher in warmer ambient temperatures.
HAM tester Doug Wall recorded 103 shots from one CO2 cartridge before the muzzle velocity dropped to 198 fps. That clearly meets the claims made for this gun.
CONSISTENCY
The Duke Colt CO2 BB revolver tested by HAM demonstrated good consistency in many aspects of design and use.
Muzzle velocity was just about identical with all the pellet types tested, as was muzzle velocity. Of course, muzzle velocity will fall with rapid fire. This is inevitable with any CO2-powered airgun. But the single action and gate-loading system of the Duke means that this effect is less pronounced than on many other BB pistols due to the naturally slower shooting cycle it requires.
On-target accuracy was also consistent. The Duke Colt CO2 BB revolver was not particular about the type of BB it fired. All the test groups were of a very similar size.
Trigger pull weight was also very consistent too.
Overall, the Duke Colt CO2 BB revolver is among the most consistent BB guns tested to date by HAM.
REALISM – TRIGGER AND ACTION
As a single action only revolver, the trigger pull of the Duke Colt CO2 BB revolver is not required to cock the action and rotate the cylinder. The shooter undertakes these functions by pulling back on the hammer.
Of course, this allows the trigger pull to be much lighter – and better – than that of a double action revolver. This generally makes shooting slower (at least for most of us), with a big benefit to accuracy.
Trigger pull weights on Colt Single Action Army firearms are typically in the 1.5 to 3 Lbs range (although they can be much lighter on “gunslinger specials”). That of the tested by HAM averaged just 1 Lb 8 Oz, a very nice, light pull weight that felt just right.
HAM tester Doug Wall summarized it very well in his testing notes. “Great trigger!”, he wrote.
Trigger pull of the Duke Colt CO2 BB revolver tested by HAM is wonderfully smooth, with almost no creep and a very crisp let-off. The short, single-stage pull is ideal and a close approximation to that of the firearm.
As with the original Colt Single Action Army, the tang of the hammer is perfectly positioned. Pulling the hammer back and down with the thumb produces a very satisfactory-feeling (and sounding) series of clicks as first the cylinder is rotated and then the trigger cocked. That “clack, clack, clack” action of cocking the hammer is a joy and a significant part of the attraction of the Duke Colt CO2 BB revolver.
Now, if we’re going to be extremely picky, this hammer action is not completely realistic. There are actually three clicks each time the hammer is cocked. The Single Action Army has four. And unlike the firearm original, the Duke Colt CO2 BB revolver has a hammer that does not sit flush with the frame when uncocked. It looks as if it’s at a “half cock” position, as you can see from the photograph below.
For the SAA expert and perfectionist, only three clicks and the set back hammer would undoubtedly be a black mark for the Duke Colt CO2 BB revolver. But for the rest of us, they’re very small deviations from realism that are unlikely to stop us from feeling just like John Wayne as we thumb back that hammer.
Another big benefit to realistic appearance and operation is that the Duke Colt CO2 BB revolver uses six, individual “cartridges”, each of which is loaded with a BB. These cartridges require to be loaded with a BB one at a time, with the BB at the rear (as shown above). They are then inserted individually into the cylinder through the flip-out loading gate. Just like the original!
After shooting, the individual cartridges are then extracted from the cylinder with the functioning ejector rod. Again just like the original. The cartridges are about the same size as those of a .357 Magnum firearm.
This makes the overall shooting experience of the Duke Colt CO2 BB revolver very much like that of the firearm original, as well as contributing to the high level of realism and engagement felt by the shooter.
SHOT COUNT
The Duke Colt CO2 BB revolver tested by HAM gave 103 shots at 62degrees F with a muzzle velocity of above 198 fps from one 12 gram CO2 cartridge. Of course, the single action nature of the gun requires no blowback and this gives good efficiency in CO2 usage.
MUZZLE VELOCITY
Muzzle velocity of the Duke Colt CO2 BB revolver tested by HAM was in the 332 – 337 fps range at 62 degrees F. As with any CO2-powered airgun Muzzle velocity would be significantly higher in warmer ambient temperatures.
| BBs | Average Muzzle Velocity | Average Muzzle Energy | Accuracy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crosman Copperhead 5.13 Grain | 337 FPS | 1.29 Ft/Lbs | OK. |
| Umarex Steel 5.29 Grain | 336 FPS | 1.32 Ft/Lbs | Good. |
| AEG Blaster 5.32 Grain | 332 FPS | 1.30 Ft/Lbs | Good. |
| Hornady Black Diamond 5.36 Grain | 332 FPS | 1.31 Ft/Lbs | Very Good. Best tested. |
| Daisy Avanti 5.44 Grain | 333 FPS | 1.43 Ft/Lbs | Very Good. |
APPEARANCE AND FINISH
As described above, the Duke Colt CO2 BB revolver has an outstanding level of finish and overall appearance.
If you really want to go the whole way with historical appearance, Air Venturi has a range of leather holsters and belts that match the gun.
Along with the Duke Colt CO2 BB revolver test gun, HAM also received a Western Justice tooled leather holster and gun belt. These complimented the revolver and the complete rig worked well. The Duke fitted well into the holster, the holster fitted the belt and the belt fitted the shooter!
BUY FROM PYRAMYD AIR
Western Justice Hand-Tooled Leather Holster, 6″, Mahogany, Right Hand![]()
Gun Belt, 37-44″ Waist, 20 Cartridge Loops, 2″ Width, Mahogany![]()
BUY FROM AIRGUN DEPOT
Western Justice Leather Holster
Western Justice Gun Belt
BUYING AND OWNING
HAM tester found the Duke Colt CO2 BB revolver very comfortable to shoot.
And there’s a big improvement on many of the other replica BB pistols that HAM has tested. The hex tool for tightening the CO2 cartridge of the Duke is cleverly incorporated into the removable grip side plate. So, no more lost hex wrenches and no unsightly external tightening key. Brilliant!
Loading BBs is very easy due to the separate cartridge design and feeding was good. Sets of six cartridges are available as an accessory product and the HAM team feels that it would be good to buy extras to enhance the shooting experience without continually reloading the same six cartridges.
There were no jams or misfeeds throughout the HAM tests of the Duke Colt CO2 BB revolver.
The operator’s manual supplied with the Duke is well-illustrated and explains how to operate the gun clearly in English, Spanish and French.
Warranty for the Duke Colt CO2 BB revolver has a 90-day warranty which is provided by Umarex USA. Although this is greater than the warranty period provided by some other manufacturers (ASG and SIG give just 60 days), Crosman provides 12 months warranty on its BB replica pistols and Gletcher gives a class-leading 18 months.
The Duke Colt CO2 BB revolver is available only from Pyramyd Air and Airgun Depot. But that’s not really a limitation as these are two of the most popular airgun stores on the Internet.
This is not a gun that is designed to be easily repaired by the user. Even Stephen Archer decided not to strip the Duke down after the test…
SAFETY FIRST. As with all BB-firing airguns, it’s necessary to wear shooting glasses when firing this airgun. Also do not shoot at hard surfaces or water. BBs tend to bounce off these surfaces and may hit you, or something other than what you intended. If in doubt, don’t pull the trigger! Due to the realistic appearance of this product, handle it as you would a firearm. Do not display it in public or in any place where it could be mistaken for a cartridge firearm.
TEST TARGETS
BUY FROM PYRAMYD AIR
Duke Colt CO2 BB Revolver Weathered![]()
BUY FROM AIRGUN DEPOT
Colt Duke BB Revolver, Weathered
This entire article including scoring, test targets etc is Copyright Hard Air Magazine and may NOT in part or in whole be reproduced in any electronic or printed medium without prior permission from the publisher.
The post Duke Colt CO2 BB Revolver Test Review appeared first on Hard Air Magazine.