Lancer Tactical LTX-3 CO2 Blowback Pistol

If you're seeking a practical sidearm for winter, the Lancer Tactical LTX-3 CO2 Blowback Pistol should be in your sights! A unique external design with internals based around CO2 blowback air pistols, the LTX-3 will never gas out in cold weather and is a great alternative to loading up on expensive CO2 magazines or running an AEP pistol with its inherently lower FPS. 

The action is known by Lancer as a "half-blowback" system, offering a shorter slide travel than a TM-based GBB pistol with an ultra-light polymer slide. The inherent benefit of this design is its high gas efficiency and impressive muzzle energy, providing over a hundred shots on a single 12g CO2 bulb and hitting out at a borderline spicy 340-360 FPS on 0.20g BBs. While it may make sacrifices when it comes to realism, if you want a sidearm with respectable FPS you can use in the frost of winter, the LTX-3 CO2 Blowback Pistol is the one!

Starting at the front, we can find mock rifling inside the tip of the outer barrel, providing a hint of realism at the dangerous end of the pistol. The barrel is unthreaded, so tracer units and suppressors are not compatible with the LTX-3. On top of the slide, we can find a set of light-enhancing iron sights with green inserts which draw in ambient light for fantastic visibility and rapid target acquisition. 

The rear of the slide features serrations on either side to ensure you can easily rack the LTX-3 in all weather conditions, with a mock extractor moulded into the right side, just to the rear of the ejection port/chamber. The flanks of the slide include Lancer Tactical trademarks discreetly engraved in, providing a professional look and avoiding telltale indicators that this is a replica and not the real deal. 

Moving down to the frame, we can find a 20mm Picatinny rail at the front, ready for a tactical flashlight or aiming laser. This is a full Picatinny rail, giving you more flexibility in what you mount than the usual single-slot pistol rail. Behind the rail on either side, we have a small section of texture designed as a finger index point, providing a safe place to index your finger between shots, well clear of the trigger. 

On the right side, we have a manual safety catch, taking the form of a sliding button which locks the trigger when pushed in, then slid forward. This is ideal for storage and transportation, though it might be a little challenging to release quickly when working under pressure. The trigger pull of the LTX-3 is rather heavy, similar to the double-action trigger pull of a revolver, so for skirmish purposes, you can probably get away with not using the manual safety catch. 

The trigger guard is a comfortable, curved design which allows for a high grip for better recoil control, with the magazine release placed in line with where the guard meets the grip on the left side. The mag release itself is between the Glock Gen.3 and Glock Gen.4 in size, offering an easily reached button with texture on its surface for optimal traction. 

The slide release is just above the grip on the left side, allowing you to release the slide after it locks back when the magazine runs dry. The slide locks at around 1/3 of its full travel length. While this isn't realistic, it's a great compromise, providing a useful indication that the magazine is empty while taking advantage of a more efficient air pistol-derived internal design. 

The grip itself is of a similar profile to the Glock Gen.3 grip, with textured panels on each side and finger ridges on the front to encourage a consistent grip. The backstrap also features squared texture to further enhance gripping qualities, with or without gloves. 

Beneath the backstrap, we can find the CO2 compartment, accessible by hinging the backstrap open from the bottom of the grip, with the magazine removed. With this done, insert your 12g unthreaded CO2 bulb with the outlet facing upwards, then close the backstrap. To pierce the CO2 bulb and get shooting, simply turn the piercing toggle inside the magazine well clockwise and tighten it down, slap your magazine in and align your sights!

In terms of performance, the LTX-3 is rather potent FPS-wise, hitting out at between 340 and 360 FPS on 0.20g BBs. It's fixed HOP-up means all this power won't go to waste, and you should get respectable range for a sidearm using 0.25g BBs. The trigger pull is quite heavy and not well-suited to rapid fire, but like a double-action revolver trigger or MK23 NBB trigger, if you pull carefully, you can find the wall and control your trigger pull to make sure your shots count. 

The main advantage of the LTX-3 over an AEP as a winter sidearm is its higher FPS, though with this velocity advantage comes an ear-ringing muzzle crack! The recoil isn't quite on par with a standard Airsoft GBB running CO2, but is enough to provide immersion and add some excitement to the firing experience without wasting gas and compromising winter performance. If you need a sidearm which won't quit when the ice is thick, the Lancer Tactical LTX-3 CO2 Blowback Pistol is the right tool for the job!

Features

• High-density polymer build
• Half-blowback action - Similar to blowback Air pistols
• CO2 Powered - Ideal for winter, no cooldown effect to worry about
• 20mm Picatinny frame rail - Ready for a tactical flashlight or aiming laser
• Light-enhancing iron sights - Great visibility in any ambient lighting conditions
• Finger-ridged pistol grip - Similar profile to Glock Gen.3 pistols
• Textured finger index points on either side - Ideal for resting the trigger finger between shots
• Manual safety catch - On the right side, push forward to lock the trigger
• Slide locks back when empty - Indicates the magazine is dry, release the slide with the catch on the left side
• Textured magazine release button - On the left side of the grip 
• CO2 Compartment inside the grip - Hinge open the rear of the grip to insert your 12g CO2 Bulb
• CO2 Piercer inside the magazine well - With a CO2 bulb installed, turn the toggle clockwise to pierce
• Fixed HOP-up - Ideal for 0.25g, 0.23g or 0.20g BBs
• Compatible with NUPROL Legion and AMOMAX Perfit Universal Holsters

Package Includes

• Lancer Tactical LTX-3 CO2 Blowback Pistol
  • 15rnd Magazine