The magazine, appearing to be as long as the real M17’s 20 round ammunition feeding device, likewise holds 20 pellets as well as the CO2 cylinder. The pellets go into the “Rapid Pellet Magazine,” a component of the magazine. It fits in front of the cast magazine unit. There is a “cam lever loading port” (which is covered by patent) on the left side of the device in which to load a C02 cylinder. Remember to close that cam smartly to get the cylinder locked in for use.

The M17 ASP looks and feels like the service pistol. The frame is polymer and the slide is metal. The action is a blow-back – the slide reciprocates some. The gun even field strips somewhat like the original. That take down lever serves a purpose.

Not so much the slide stop levers; there’s no slide stop notch in the slide and it doesn’t hold open.

The magazine unit hold the CO2 propellant cartridge in the left side with a cam-lever to seat it. Below, the "Rapid Pellet Magazine" is separate, fits into the front of the magazine body -- putting both propellant and projectile into the same device.

Like the original, the M17 ASP has fixed three-dot sights, the optical mounting plate cover, a dust cover accessory rail, M1913, and weighs in at just over two pounds. It’s a solid-feeling gun. The MSRP is just under $140, but you can get it on sale if you hurry.

The manual, while short, is uncomplicated and to the point. It shows loading, aiming and field stripping for clearing a mis-fed pellet and for cleaning.

As I don’t have the M17– nor do I have a P320 – comparisons would be out of line. I can say it’s a solid feeling analog and that it would do for purposes of practicing trigger control and holster drills. It also looks good and seems to be very well made.

While the factory video about the gun mentions fitting a ROMEO red dot sight to the M17 ASP, the direction book doesn’t mention mounting optics. It would be handy for a training analog to be set up closely to the real thing, so having the ability to put an optic on the ASP version to match your duty rig is a good thing.

The sights are like the sights on the firearm. Note the optic slot cover plate, safety and slide stop levers (which are on both sides of the M17 ASP), the take down lever and magazine release.

Massad Ayoob points out in his recent blog that air guns are a good value – for gift giving and for getting trigger press practice in locales where it’s lawful to do so without the accompanying noise and air pollution (if shooting indoors) of real gun fire.