Description
Double Eagle M56B Pump Action Shotgun
The Double Eagle M56B is a compact, spring-powered pump-action airsoft shotgun based on the Benelli M3 Super 90 layout. This is the stockless, pistol-grip version of Double Eagle’s M56 series, which makes it short, handy and easy to carry as a sidearm or close-quarters weapon.
Double Eagle is a long-established maker of affordable airsoft replicas, and its spring-powered pump shotguns have introduced a great many players to airsoft shotguns. They need no battery and no gas, so there is nothing to charge or refill: you load, pump and fire, which keeps a day’s play simple and the running costs very low. The M56B’s short, stockless form gives it a distinctive look and makes it especially at home in buildings and vehicles.
How it works
The shotgun is spring powered. Working the pump compresses the spring and readies the next shot, and pulling the trigger releases it. As a tri-shot design, it sends three BBs out together on each shot through three inner barrels, giving a small spread at short range that makes close-quarters targets easier to hit than with a single BB.
A UK retailer lists the M56B as feeding from a shell that holds approximately 30 BBs, with one shell loaded in the receiver at a time through a loading door. One shell and a speed loader are listed as included, and spare shells are inexpensive and well worth carrying.
Build and handling
Retailer details describe a polymer receiver with rubberised pump and pistol grip, alloy trim on the outer barrel and mock magazine tube, built-in iron sights and front and rear sling points. There is no stock, so you hold it with the pistol grip and pump, either at full arm’s length or tucked in close, and a single-point sling makes it easy to let it hang while you use your hands.
The listed weight is approximately 1.1kg and the length approximately 64.5cm, so it is compact enough to carry alongside a main rifle. A trigger lock safety is fitted. The compact layout and three-BB spread make it a strong choice for clearing rooms and corners at short range.
Key features
- Compact stockless M3 Super 90-style shotgun
- Spring powered pump action
- Tri-shot: three BBs per shot
- Shell holds approximately 30 BBs
- Rubberised pump and pistol grip
- Alloy outer barrel and mock magazine tube
- Built-in iron sights
- Front and rear sling points
- Trigger lock safety
What’s in the box
- Double Eagle M56B shotgun
- Shell (listed as one shell by a UK retailer)
- Speed loader (listed by a UK retailer)
Compatibility
The shotgun takes 6mm BBs. A 0.20g BB is the usual recommendation for spring shotguns of this type, and seamless, good-quality BBs matter more than usual in a multi-shot design, because one damaged BB can upset all three barrels. Spare shells should be ones listed for the Double Eagle M56/M58 tri-shot series; shells from other makers’ shotguns are not guaranteed to fit.
Care and maintenance
Keep the shells or magazine and the loading area free from grit and mud, and wipe the shotgun over after each game. Run a cleaning rod through the barrels occasionally, and use only clean, high-quality seamless BBs, as a single damaged BB can jam a multi-shot system.
Work the pump smoothly through its full stroke rather than slamming it, and store the shotgun uncocked so the spring is not left compressed. Keep it somewhere cool and dry between games.
Who is it for?
The M56B suits CQB players who want a short, punchy secondary, newer players looking for an affordable and reliable shotgun, and anyone who likes the look of a stockless pump gun.
Please note: BBs are not included unless stated. A spring shotgun needs no battery or gas. Always wear suitable eye protection, and full-face protection where your site requires it, when using or testing any airsoft replica.
