Umarex T4E Shotgun Review: By An NRA Protection In the Home Instructor

It's hard to find an air gun you can rely on. The Umarex T4E HDS is a decent choice if you're looking to shoot .68 caliber paintballs or rubber balls.

FYI, prices and ratings are accurate as of time of writing.

An air shotgun is a real thing. I saw the T4E shotgun at SHOT Show and had to get one to test so I could give my honest feedback on this unique approach to home defense.

The name is a bit misleading. This air gun does not load buckshot in the chamber and push it out with air pressure. It's more like a very serious paintball gun. Here are some thoughts and photos.

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Umarex T4E - .68 Caliber Home Defense Paintball Shotgun

HIGHLIGHT:

Shoots .68 caliber rubber balls, pepper balls and paintballs.

DESIGN & OPERATION:

What we’re talking about here is a double-barrel, side-by-side design. The loading system is break-action, powered by a standard CO2 cartridge. My clients love it because it can fire either marker rounds or pepper balls, which makes it ideal for a whole array of applications.

SIZE & PRACTICALITY:

Look, for a home-defense option, the Umarex T4E is a solid choice. But if you want something to carry as a CCW non-lethal option, the Byrna pistol may be the better choice.

NON-LETHAL EFFECT:

Anyone who has "played" paintball knows how much it will get your attention when it hits, especially if all you wear is a T-shirt. If you are unlucky enough to experience pepper spray, we share the same training nightmares. These projectiles are non-lethal but very convincing on the receiving end.

LEGAL CLASSIFICATION:

What gives this Umarex the 'shotgun' distinction is its double-barrel design and its ability to fire multiple projectiles with a single trigger pull. But not being a firearm, it's legal in most jurisdictions and does not qualify as a machine gun or destructive device.

AMMO OPTIONS:

The T4E HDS can fire the .68 caliber paint marker balls, the pepper balls, or a nasty thing called the Powerball. The Powerball is a rubber-coated steel ball that delivers massive energy on impact.

ACCESSORY MOUNTING:

Another thing I love about this air shotgun is that you can mount a flashlight or laser on it. It makes it feel like a real shotgun, and it sure does look like one.

INDOOR TESTING:

If the Umarex sounds like the new Byrna, it is like the Byrna. Unlike a CCW pistol, the Umarex fires multiple rounds and works like a double-barreled, sawed-off shotgun with a pistol grip. I had to try this thing out in the most controlled conditions, so I shot the paintballs in my shop at a cardboard box.

OUTDOOR TESTING:

The paintballs splattered as expected but also broke the box from impact.

With that confidence and thinking of safety, I went outside and used an old paint can as a target for the Powerballs, also called riot balls by some folks. The Powerballs will smash the paint can in half and sometimes blast through the can. If the Powerballs are used for the sake of the poor recipient, give them about ten feet or so if you can. If the bad guy does not stop advancing on a thing that looks like a sawed-off 12 gauge, I guess they get what they deserve.

PEPPER BALL EFFECT:

I did not practice the pepper balls because I did not want to do that again, up close anyway. I shot at a tree in the park behind my house. The clump of pepper dust should cover an area of about 10 feet in diameter. With this ammunition using a cloud of dust and not a liquid, I am confident everyone within 10 feet will get a serious dose of the nasty stuff.

WHO IT'S FOR:

So who's it actually for? Well, it really depends on your needs and skills when you think about it. What I can tell you is that this T4E is a solid choice for beginners. It has a comfortable, user-friendly design, which makes it a lot of fun to use. It really is a very popular air shotgun among beginners and the younger crowd. And my clients love it - I guess because it looks and feels like a real shotgun.

Get it from Amazon now: $129.95 & FREE Returns