We recently picked up the Steambow line of Compact Crossbows and I have already made a Table Top Review for some of their products. So far I had not shot or tested any of the Steambow product line yet and so it was nice to get the chance to shoot a few different models over in the Archery Pavilion at SHOT Show and also talk with Tobias their product specialist. I did get the chance to drop by the Steambow Booth and talked with the Steambow team and founder about some of their new products coming out including a new Rubber Ball crossbow they are working on that should be coming out in the near future.
I had the pleasure of interviewing Mark from Umarex again at SHOT Show 2025 and Mark went over some of the new products from Umarex coming out this year. Make started of by showing me two new MOS (Modular Optic System) Gen 5 Glocks in a Glock 17 and Glock 19 versions. Both come with Umarex based red dot sights but you can change them up for something different if you choose to down the road. We then took a look at the new Umarex AER16 AR AEG Rifle in 4.5mm Steel BB rather than 6mm Airsoft similar to the Barra e400 that came out last year. In a nutshell it is a battery/spring operated 4.5mm Steel BB Full Auto AR Replica. Mark then showed us some A&L AK based AEG Airsoft Rifles they are now distributing that feature Full steel body construction with high-quality real laminated wood handguard and skeletal folding stocks. These are one to one in terms of size and weight adn very detailed. We then finished up the interview taking a look at the Legends Saddle Lever Action Shell Loading Rifle and the Umarex Smith & Wesson Competitor Shell Loading revolver.
I spoke with Jacob from Barra and he went over a lot of new products adn updated products Barra is introducing this year. We discussed some new PCP Air Rifles with Canada import options, Jacob went over some new updates to their 1866 Muti-pump BB and Pellet Lever Action Rifle, and he went over Barra’s Gen 2 400e AEG BB rifle which include a higher capacity magazine, an increased velocity and unproved internal tolerances for smoother BB flow. Lastly Barra is introducing high grade 4.5mm BB’s that a re procession ground to be more uniform for improved accuracy and better BB feeding. Great for full auto guns.
I’m back from SHOT Show 2025 Las Vegas and finished transferring and uploading all the video from all the cameras we shot it all on. We had a great time, we met a lot of great folks at the booths and it’s now time to put it all together and make some videos for everyone so I can share the experience!
I always like to put out a “Teaser Video” with some quick clips of the entire experience including some of the travels, a bit of the resort we stayed at, shots of Vegas and of course lots of the SHOT Show 2025 experience along with the booths we visited. Enjoy this quick preview and stay posted for my upcoming Interview Videos shortly…
Type: Multi-Ammo Pistol. Distributer:Alies Airguns. Model:GEM. Materials: Mostly metal with some plastic build. Weight: Barrel dependent. Total Length: Barrel dependent 3.5 inches (89mm) with BB and Airsoft Barrels. Barrel: Barrel dependent 2 inches (51mm) with BB and Airsoft Barrels Propulsion: 8 or 12 gram CO2 (12 Gram CO2 required adaptor sold separately). Action: Break Barrel / Single shot. Ammunition Type: 4.5mm Steel BB's / 6mm Airsoft BB’s (Can also purchase .117 Pellet, .50 & .43 cal Paintball, 9mm Arrow Barrels) Ammunition Capacity: 1 round. FPS: up to 400 using 4.5mm Steel BB’s.
Trigger Pull: The Alias GEM Multi Ammo Mini CO2 Airgun is a true single action only pistol that requires the pulling back of the hammer for each shot. This does give it a very nice trigger action that is short to medium in length with an easy release. The makeup is about medium for a single action trigger with a bit of an unpredictable release as there is no point in time that you feel it breaking on you. This can be good or bad depending on how you like your triggers as it is hard to tel when ti will actually release but the smoothness makes it a good trigger overall in my opinion
Accuracy: I have not shot the Alias GEM Multi Ammo Mini CO2 Airgun at all so far as it requires 8 gram CO2 and so I am waiting on the 12 gram adaptor for it before I can even give it a quick try. I will be making a full Field test Review for it swapping between a bunch of barrel options to see how each barrel adn ammo type performs in terms of power adn accuracy so stay posted for that video down the road a bit.
Build Quality: Build quality for the Alias GEM Multi Ammo Mini CO2 Airgun is very good with an almost all metal build other than the front and back sights, the trigger, the safety adn the barrel release. I kind of wish these parts were also metal as the rest of the Airgun is so pristine! The weight of this pistol feels very dense as it is so small yet has a good weight. The fir and finishes is all very good with the chrome finish on most parts and even the inclusion of what I believe are real gem stones on each side of the grips. The mechanical parts are also smooth and precise.
Realism: As far as I know the Alias GEM Multi Ammo Mini CO2 Airgun is not a replica of any production real steel gun that I am aware of. It looks to me like some sort of futuristic compact laser pistol? In terms of gun shape and what we are use to in terms of what a gun is it checks most of the boxes but it is it’s own design for sure.
Pros:
Super compact design, probably the smallest Airgun available.
Multiple quick change barrel and ammo options.
Mostly all metal build, very high quality materials.
Nice smooth and light SAO trigger.
Able to also use 12 gram CO2 with optional adapter.
Comes in different colors (red or black).
Decent velocity up to 400 fps depending on ammo type.
Eye-catching chrome and gemstone detailing make it a collector's piece.
Cons:
Uses 8 grams CO2 standard, harder to get and more expensive.
Only a single shot, not an action shooter.
On the pricy side at over $300 Canadian.
Comments:
I have to say that the Alias GEM Multi Ammo Mini CO2 Airgun is not going to be for everyone as the price point is up there a bit for such a simple single action gun. That said it is super unique and the quality adn design is top notch. It may in fact be the smallest CO2 Airgun on the market adn you can literally put it in your front pocket easily. That combined with all the barrel and ammo options makes it super flexible if you plan on shooting a variety of different ammo types. Like I said in the video you may even be able to get away with buying it as a gift for your wife or girlfriend since it technically can be defined as being jewelry with the imbedded Gem stones in the grips. That may be a bit of a stretch unless she is also an Airgun fan.
This video was made right at the end of December 2024 but I am posting it in the new year so we will call it a late December video… That makes two Mystery Box Videos for December 2024 which means a lot of new products on my plate to review this new year. Hopefully I can get a bunch of them done before I head out to SHOT Show this year in a couple of weeks as I will have a lot of videos and interviews to post for SHOT Show as is always the case when I get back.
At least in this unboxing videos I can give you an idea of some of the new products we have in the Replica Airgun online Stores usually in both the Canada and the US Replica Airgun Stores. In this Unboxing Video I received 5 new products to show you. A Less Lethal Pistol and Spring Piston BB Pistol from Umarex, a Carbine Airsoft Rifle from KJWorks, a Multi-barrel super compact Airgun from Alias Airguns out of Canada, and Bug Exterminator from a company called Skell Inc. Here are some of the basics for each of them:
Type: CO2 Air Pistol. Manufacturer:Alias Airguns. Model: Gem. Caliber: Multi Barrel Comes with 4.5mm Steel BB adn 6mm Airsoft. Power Source: Single 8g CO2 Cartridge or 12 gram with adaptor. Magazine Capacity: Single shot. Buy the .50 Caliber Paintball Barrel Set: AA1002. Buy the Rocket Barrel Set: AA1003. Buy the 12 Gram CO2 Adaptor: AA1004.
Type: Spring Air BB Pistol. Manufacturer:Umarex. Model: DSX 45. Ammo Type:4.5mm Steel BBs. Power Source: Spring Air. Magazine Capacity: 13 Rounds (Rapid Load) with 200 Round Reservoir.
Type: Pump Action Bug Exterminator. Manufacturer: Skell Inc. Model: Bug-A-Salt 3.0. Ammo Type: table Salt. Power Source: Spring Air. Magazine Capacity: a bunch.
you need to cock the bow in order for the trigger to be engaged. The trigger mechanism basically just pushes the bow string up and over the lip of the rail releasing the bow, so there is a bit of friction and I would guess it is about 8-10 pounds maybe a bit less. There is no actual safety on the Steambow AR-6 Stinger II Tactical so you will have to practice appropriate finger control so as to not accidentally fire a bolt unintentionally.
Accuracy: I have not recorded my Field Test Shooting Video for the Steambow AR-6 Stinger II Tactical and so I am not sure what to expect. I have shot a similar bow, the Bear X Desire XL Crossbow so it should perform a lot like that one but without the auto loading bolt system. If you want, you can check that Field Test Shooting Video out here, I expect the Steambow AR-6 Stinger II Tactical to have perhaps slightly less power over the Bear X Desire XL as it is rated to have a 55 pound draw as compared to the 60 pounds of the Bear X Desire XL. In terms of accuracy I do not expect anything similar to a pellet or even BB rifles or pistol but I hope to get somewhere near a 6-8 inch grouping with the 6 bolts loaded in the internal magazine.
Build Quality: The Steambow AR-6 Stinger II Tactical is overall well made but does consist of a lot of plastic or polymer, that said it feels sturdy enough when holding it in the hand. The bow itself is fiberglass and the only real metal I can confirm is the cocking rail, mostly everything else other than the nuts, bolts, safety are some sort of plastic. Fit and finish is good. I am hoping the auto bolt loading system will perform well and be consistent but we will find out when I make my Field Test Shooting Video for it soon.
Realism: The Steambow AR-6 Stinger II Tactical is not a Replica pistol or rifle, it is a target bow that one could perhaps use of small game if you become proficient with shooting it. I do think this is a crossover product in terms of interest with people that are also interested in Airguns or target shooting. The other benefit is that it has a lot more power than a non regulated Airgun as the it uses nice heavy 142 grain bolts traveling at near 200 fps which gives an energy rating of around 12 foot pounds, the speed may be less than an Airgun but the energy is a lot higher. If raw power is what you are interested in, then this is your best option for something still compact and quiet if you do not have a firearms license or want to avoid that hassle and the legalities around regulated firearms.
Pros:
Light weight and compact.
More power than an airgun yet still quiet to shoot so can use discreetly just about anywhere with a good back stop setup.
Auto loading system for quick follow up shots.
Easy to draw the bow using the stock for leverage.
Top and bottom Picatinny rail mounting options for sights and accessories.
Fiber optic mid sight setup.
Ambidextrous bolt safety easy to engage and disengage.
6 bolts included to fully load the internal magazines.
180 fps (10ft/lbs).
Comes with standard fore grip.
5 portion AR compatible adjustable rear but stock.
Cons:
Fairly expensive.
Sights are not adjustable, mid sight is not as easy to sight in.
Will need a good backstop or will lose lots of bolts.
Takes a little bit of time to set it up but not too hard, just follow the steps in the manual.
Comments:
The Steambow AR-6 Stinger II Tactical is an interesting product, the autoloading system with built in 6 round magazines turns this from a simple target bow into a bit of an action shooter once you get the reloading down. As a potential pest control solution it for sure has the power as long as you can harness it by practicing to the point where you can get those 142 grain bolts on target and make a humane shot at the ranges you plan on using it for. Having quick follow up shots I feel is necessary just in case the first shot does not quite get the job done. If you don’t need external 10 round magazines or the upgraded accessories found on the Steambow M10 Tactical and want something a little more affordable than check the AR-6 Stinger out as it is very versatile as a compact Recurve Crossbow.
I have only tested out another similar Crossbow setup one other time so this is not my normal Field Test Review. Like last time when I made my Bear X Desire XL Crossbow Field Test Video, in this Field Test Video I record my Chronograph velocity for the CenterPoint Hornet Recurve Compact Crossbow at the same time as I shoot at the target so I did not have to make two separate video segments and basically did it all in one go. I did have a bit of a brain fart and forgot I needed to setup two separate cameras, one on the Chronograph and one on the Target, as I generally only need one camera at a time for my usually two segment Field Test Videos. So getting to the point, I did not have dedicated camera on the target while shooting and in hind sight it would have been better to have the camera on the Target rather than the Chronograph as my camera glasses generally record the Chronograph readings for me too. I do walk up to the Target at the end of the video so we do get to see exactly where all the bolts landed, so I can show you the final result at the end of the day.
In terns of velocity, CenterPoint claims a velocity of 191 fps. I was able to get consistently just over 180 fps so pretty close. My Chrono readings using the included 147 grain 6.5 inch aluminum bolts ranged from 180 to 182 fps so very consistent. This gave an overall Foot Pound energy of 10.61 foot pounds so velocity and foot pound energy were just a little bit under the claimed rating! This is enough for small pests for sure, it really comes down to accuracy at this point as you will want to get either a head or shoulder area shot for a humane kill, and I am not sure if this bow is up of the job? You will have to see how accurate it will be for you and make that decision for yourself..
In terms of accuracy I found the CenterPoint Hornet Recurve Compact Crossbow to be fairly accuracy on the windage side (left and right), basically with all the bolts only being about 2 inches apart side to side. Where it did not perform as well was in elevation with the bolts ranging about 8 inches top to bottom. I am not sure why this was the case as the velocity is very consistent and generally less consistent velocities account for elevation changes. All the bolts hit the target using the included red dot with no pre adjustments but it did shoot just a bit to the right and maybe overall a bit low. This can easily be corrected using the red dot windage and elevation adjustments.
Interestingly the CenterPoint Hornet Recurve Compact Crossbow has a higher claimed velocity over the Bear X Desire XL Crossbow I tested a while back, yet the Bear X Desire XL Crossbow actually shot a bit faster hitting 190+ fps, not a huge difference but an interesting observation. The CenterPoint Hornet Recurve Compact Crossbow does come with a red dot but both have Picatinny Rails so Red Dots will fit on both Crossbows no problem. I am going to address the elephant in the room, if you compare both of these Crossbows they are virtually the same with the exception of the branding and distribution of them. So I would say get either one, the Bear X Desire XL Crossbow is actually less money as it does not come with an included Red Dot but at least right now it is out of stock so your only option may the the CenterPoint Hornet Recurve Compact Crossbow, both are a lot of fun and pack a lot more punch than your standard non regulated Air Rifle.
Type: Pellet Rifle. Manufacturer: Beeman Model: Black Panther Dual Caliber. Materials: Metal and Synthetic Plastic. Weight: 7.2pounds (2.3kg). Total Length: 44 inches (111.8cm). Barrel: 16.75 inches (42.5cm). Propulsion: Spring Piston. Action: Single Action Single Shot. AmmunitionType: .177 & .22 Caliber Pellets. AmmunitionCapacity: 1. MaxFPS: 495 Claimed.
Trigger Pull: The trigger on the Beeman Black Panther Dual Caliber Break Barrel Pellet Rifle is single action only requiring you to break the barrel and compress the internal spring piston before you can shoot it. This will also engage the safety which you have to disengage for each shot manually as an added security measure. The actual trigger pull is I would say a medium pull with an easy first stage then a more firm second stage. I am pretty sure the Black Panther uses the Sportsman tigger setup which does have some adjustment for trigger pull as far as I am aware of. Once I get a chance to shoot the Beeman Black Panther Dual Caliber Break Barrel Pellet Rifle I will be able to tell you more about how the trigger feels.
Accuracy: I have not performed any shooting tests with the Beeman Black Panther Dual Caliber Break Barrel Pellet Rifle so far, I will be making a Video Review next in the next few weeks “weather permitting” as I want to get outdoors for this test to be able to shoot the Black Panther at longer ranges. I expect the Beeman Black Panther Dual Caliber Break Barrel Pellet Rifle to perform well in the accuracy department using the 4x32 optical scope. In terms of power the spring does seem to take a bit of effort so I am hoping for a decent fps in both .177 caliber and .22 caliber!
Build Quality: The Beeman Black Panther Dual Caliber Break Barrel Pellet Rifle is made in China but looks to be fairly well made. It is mostly metal including the front and rear sights with a synthetic plastic stock and feels good to hold resting the cushioned rubber butt-pad to your shoulder. The stock and trigger guard are a one piece design, that said the trigger guard is fairly thick so it should stand up to some abuse.
Realism: The Beeman Black Panther Dual Caliber Break Barrel Pellet Rifle is not a copy of any real steel gun in production but does have that overall rifle shape to it so it looks like a gun but most people will be able to immediately see that it is a Pellet Rifle and that is exactly what it is since it is not trying to be a Replica Airgun or copy of any real steel rifle in production.
Pros:
All Weather durable ambidextrous synthetic stock.
All metal front and rear fiver optic sights.
Can shoot both .177 and .22 caliber pellets for multi purpose shooting.
Sportsman trigger (adjustable) with automatic safety system.
Comes with included 4x32 scope and mounts.
Very solid build at 9.92 pounds.
Nice cushioned rubber butt-plate looks good and adds to shooting comfort.
Has a scope-stop so your scope will stay nicely in place.
Cons:
Hard to tell if the claimed 495 fps is for .177 or .22 caliber lead or alloy pellets?
Hard to find this exact gun for info, not even on Beeman’s own website.
Made in China.
Comments: The Beeman Black Panther Dual Caliber Break Barrel Pellet Rifle is designed to be a more affordable Break Barrel Spring Piston Pellet Rifle with metal where it counts and a synthetic stock for durability and resiliency to weather conditions. You do have the option of shooting either .177 caliber pellets for a faster flatter trajectory or if you use the .22 caliber barrel, you benefit from perhaps a bit more downrange energy and less effect from windy conditions. You can also choose between shooting with the open fully adjustable metal sights or install the 4x32 scope for longer range shooting. You for sure get a versatile Spring Piston Air Rifle with the Beeman Black Panther Dual Caliber Break Barrel Pellet Rifle at the end of the day.
Type:Arrow Rifle. Manufacturer: Umarex Model:AirSaber Elite X2. Materials: Metal and Polymer. Weight: 8.7 pounds (3.9kg). Air Tank: 4000 PSI - 240cc. Barrel: Double barrel system. Propulsion: PCP (Compressed Air). Action: Side cocking - Single action trigger. Ammunition Type: 350 grain Arrows. Ammunition Capacity: 2. Max FPS: 450 Claimed.
Trigger Pull: The trigger on the Umarex AirSaber Elite X2 Double Barrel PCP Arrow Rifle is single action only requiring you to engage the side cocking latch system before you can shoot it. You will also be required to manually select the barrel using the side mounted cross bolt between shots. The trigger feels pretty light in general since it is a single action only trigger but it does have a fair amount take-up and creep before releasing.
Accuracy: I have not performed any shooting tests with the Umarex AirSaber Elite X2 Double Barrel PCP Arrow Rifle as of yet and I am not sure if I will since this product does require a high powered crossbow type backstop which I do not have at this time. I want to make sure I have a safe shooting environment before unleashing 169 foot pounds of energy downrange. I would imagine since the Umarex AirSaber Elite X2 Double Barrel PCP Arrow Rifle is designed more for mid to large game hunting that it will be accurate out to mid and long ranges, of course you will need to practice at the ranges you will be shooting at to know how the arrow will fly and how much elevation you will need to to adjust for.
Build Quality: The Umarex AirSaber Elite X2 Double Barrel PCP Arrow Rifle is really well built and solid coming in at 8.7 pounds. For it’s size it is not heavy since it ustilizes a combination of metal, aluminum and polymer. All the mechanical parts feel high quality and reactive.
Realism: The Umarex AirSaber Elite X2 Double Barrel PCP Arrow Rifle is not a replica of any real steel gun in production since it is a hunting rifle through and through. It is rifle shaped of course since that is what we have gown accustomed to using and so why change the main design. If you have used a rifle before then you will have no problem using the Umarex AirSaber Elite X2 Double Barrel PCP Arrow Rifle as it is more of a rifle and less of a bow or crossbow to use. It just happens to shoot arrow rather than bullet.
Pros:
Canada non PAL Airgun with enough power to hunt medium to larger game!
Overall price point is good, nothing like this to compare to.
Arrows are propelled from the front, so no archers paradox when aiming.
Arrows come with field tip arrows but can be unscrewed and replaced with broad tip arrow heads for hunting.
Easy to use cross bolt safety on trigger.
Pistol grip allows for easy hold and control.
Fit and finish is excellent.
PCP for more power and consistency than CO2.
Picatinny rails on top for scope, sides and bottom for other accessories.
Rubber butt-plate for added comfort.
Improved easy to use side cocking system.
Double barrel allows for quick follow up shot.
Higher PSI for high power with same amount of shots as older single barrel AirSaber.
Cons:
Need a pump or other compressed air-fill system.
Will require a proper backstop system to practice safety with.
Arrows are not cheap so make sure of your shots.
Comments: The Umarex AirSaber Elite X2 Double Barrel PCP Arrow Rifle is a really unique product that allows virtually anyone to be able to hunt even larger game without a firearms license in Canada. It is not really a riffle or a crossbow, it is it’s own creation that takes the best of a rifle and the best from archery combining both into an easy to learn and use way to be able to hunt proficiently and perhaps even in areas rifles are not allowed to go. For the extra $100 or so I would recommend the Umarex AirSaber Elite X2 Double Barrel version over the original single version barrel but both will get the job done at the end of the day since usually your first shot is your only shot.
In this Field Test Shooting Video I go outside for a bit of a change and test out the Beeman Longhorn II 10611 .177 .22 Break Barrel Pellet Rifle Combo to see what the real world velocity is and what kind of accuracy I can expect shooting at much further out ranges than my Sea Can Airgun Range offers me. If you want to know more about specifications and details for this Break Barrel Spring Piston Air Riffle make sure to watch my Table Top Video for information along with more closeup video.
Starting with the velocity for the Beeman Longhorn II 10611 .177 .22 Break Barrel Pellet Rifle Combo, Beeman claims up to 495 fps but does not say weather thesis for the .22 or .177 caliber barrel? I placed 5 rounds through my Chronograph using the .22 Caliber barrel option and was able to average 432 fps using 14.3 grain lead pellets which gave me an energy of 5.93 foot pounds. I would say it is safe to say that you can hit close to the claimed velocity of 495 fps with .22 Caliber lead pellets but would need to be using a bit light grain pellets closer to around 10 or 11 grain. I did not test .177 caliber pellets but they are even lighter and will have an even higher velocity most likely be over 500 fps.
While I was testing velocity to make things more efficient I also placed my shots on a paper target setup around what I estimate to be around 80 feet down range. Now I admit I am not the best long range shooter especially with Spring Piston Air Rifles but I was able to get around a 4 inch grouping at this distance with two shots on top of each other and the other three where more sporadic but I’m pretty sure the spreed was mostly because of my shooting skills with a rifle like this. I was using the provided Beeman 4x30 optical scope for this test rather than the open sights. My pellet choice was .22 Caliber Crosman Premier Hollow Point 14.3 grain lead Pellets.
What I like about the Beeman Longhorn II 10611 .177 .22 Break Barrel Pellet Rifle Combo is for sure the smooth trigger, the ability to change barrel to either .177 Caliber or .22 Caliber and I like the feel of the stock with its modern look and pistol grip for a comfortable hold. I was not a fan of the 4x30 scope as it seemed a bit fuzzy to me, maybe the optics where off on mine as the other Beeman 4x30 scope that came with the 1042 I tested was super crisp? Lastly I have to say the break barrel on this spring piston does take some arm strength so if you are smaller or not as strong then you may have difficulty cocking the Beeman Longhorn II 10611 .177 .22 Break Barrel Pellet Rifle Combo. All in all it’s a good overall springer with lots of features for a relatively low cost.
In this Field Test Shooting Video I get outside for a change and test out the Beeman 1042 .22 Caliber Break Barrel Pellet Rifle to see what the actual velocity is and what kind of accuracy I can expect shooting at much further ranges than my Sea Can Airgun Range can offer. If you want to know more about specifications and details for this Break Barrel Air Riffle make sure to watch my Table Top Video for information along with more closeup video.
Starting with the velocity for the Beeman 1042 .22 Caliber Break Barrel Pellet Rifle, Beeman claims up to 475 fps but based on how light the spring feels when cocking this Airgun I was not expecting to get that high of fps. I placed 5 rounds through my Chronograph and was able to average 361 fps using 14.3 grain lead pellets which gave me an energy of 4.14 foot pounds. This isn’t bad in terms of energy but I would not suggest this Air Rifle for pest control because of the lower fps unless you are shooting really small pests at closer ranges.
While I was testing velocity to speed things up I also placed the same rounds on my paper target setup around I would say 80 feet down range (Best guess). Keep in mind I am not the best long range shooter especially with Spring Piston Air Rifles but I was able to get around a 3 inch 5 shot grouping at this distance with three of the shoots all within about 1 inch of each other so not bad for me. I was using the provided Beeman 4x30 optical scope which was nice and crips. My pellet choice was .22 Caliber Crosman Premier Hollow Point 14.3 grain lead Pellets.
What I like about the Beeman 1042 .22 Caliber Break Barrel Pellet Rifle is the easy to cock break barrel, the optical scope, the nice wood finish and its overall performance. I did feel the trigger was a bit heavy and it would be nice to have just a bit more power but that would come at a harder to cock break barrel. If you want an easy shooting and overall good looking lower cost Spring Piston Pellet Rifle in .22 caliber then I would recommend the Beeman 1042 .22 Caliber Break Barrel Pellet Rifle for sure!
Type:Pellet Rifle. Manufacturer: Beeman Model:1042. Materials: Metal and Wood. Weight: 8.7 pounds (3.9kg). Barrel: 16 inches (40.6mm). Propulsion: Spring Piston. Action: Single Action Single Shot. Ammunition Type: .22 Caliber Pellets. Ammunition Capacity: 1. Max FPS: 475 Claimed.
Trigger Pull: The trigger on the Beeman 1042 .22 Caliber Break Barrel Pellet Rifle is single action only requiring you to break the barrel and compress the internal spring piston before you can shoot it. This will also engage the safety which you have to disengage for each shot manually as an added safety measure. The actual trigger pull is fairly short and light. There is about 2mm of take-up and then a crisp short release with virtually no creep. The trigger is not adjustable but it feels nice as is.
Accuracy: I have not performed any shooting tests with the Beeman 1042 .22 Caliber Break Barrel Pellet Rifle as of yet, I hope to make that Video Review next week “weather permitting” as I want to get outdoors for this test to be able to shoot it at longer ranges. I expect the Beeman 1042 .22 Caliber Break Barrel Pellet Rifle to perform well in the accuracy department using the 4x32 optical scope. In terms of power I did notice that the spring does seem ot be fairly light weight so I am wondering I fi will get close to the claimed 475 fps using .22 caliber lead pellets.
Build Quality: The Beeman 1042 .22 Caliber Break Barrel Pellet Rifle is a China made Air Rifle but looks to be well made. It is mostly metal with a European hardwood stock and feels good to hold resting the rubber butt-pad to your shoulder. I would have lied to have seen the trigger guard being made out of metal rather than plastic.
Realism: The Beeman 1042 .22 Caliber Break Barrel Pellet Rifle is not a copy of any real steel gun in production but does have that overall rifle shape to it so yet it looks like a gun but most people will be able to immediately see that it is a Pellet Rifle and that is exactly what it is since it is not trying to be anything other than that.
Pros:
Nice European hardwood ambidextrous stock.
Ported Muzzle Break is looks goos and may enhance performance a bit.
.22 caliber with close to 500fps so as much energy as you can get without a firearms license in Canada.
Sport trigger with autumn safety system.
Comes with included 4x32 scope and mounts.
Very solid build at 8.7 pounds.
Nice rubber butt-plate looks good and adds to shooting comfort.
Has a scope stop so your scope will stay nicely in place.
Cons:
Does not come with included iron sights.
Really hard to find this exact gun for info, not even on Beeman’s website.
Made in China.
Comments: The Beeman 1042 .22 Caliber Break Barrel Pellet Rifle is a very affordable Break Barrel Spring Piston Pellet Rifle with a really nice European hardwood ambidextrous stock. I like that it has that clean look with no iron sights but rather the included 4x32 optical scope which I am sure will really help with accuracy at further out distances. I hope my Field Test Shooting Video for the Beeman 1042 .22 Caliber Break Barrel Pellet Rifle will do it justice as a target rifle, I am not sure if this one will be any good for pest control as I have my concerns about the fps but will find this out shortly.
Type:Pellet Rifle. Manufacturer: Beeman Model:Longhorn II 10611. Materials: Metal and Polymer. Weight: 8.5 pounds (3.77kg). Barrel: 18 inches (45.7mm). Propulsion: Spring Piston. Action: Single Action Single Shot. Ammunition Type: .177 and .22 Caliber Pellets. Ammunition Capacity: 1. Max FPS: 495 Claimed.
Trigger Pull: The trigger on the Beeman Longhorn II 10611 .177 .22 Break Barrel Pellet Rifle is single action only requiring you to break the barrel and compress the internal spring piston before you can shoot it. This will also engage the safety which you have to disengage for each shot manually as an added safety measure. The actual trigger pull is pretty good overall. There is very little take-up but the creep is on the longer side but very smooth not requiring too much pressure. The release is also smooth but will take a bit of time to learn just exactly when it is going to release. There is an adjustment screw for the trigger but it is not advertised or explained in the manual exactly how this effects the trigger pull so a bit of trial and error may improve the trigger feel.
Accuracy: I have not performed any shooting tests with the Beeman Longhorn II 10611 .177 .22 Break Barrel Pellet Rifle so far, I hope to make that Video Review next week “weather permitting” as I want to get outdoors for this test to be able to shoot it at longer ranges. I expect the Beeman Longhorn II 10611 .177 .22 Break Barrel Pellet Rifle to perform well in the accuracy department especially with the 4x32 optical scope installed. In terms of power I did notice that the spring does seem ot be fairly strong so I am hoping to get close to the claimed 495 fps even using .22 caliber heavier grain pellets.
Build Quality: The Beeman Longhorn II 10611 .177 .22 Break Barrel Pellet Rifle is a China made Air Rifle but looks to be well made. It is mostly metal other than the synthetic modern stock, even the iron fiber optic sights are full metal front and back. I am not a big fan of the stock texture patter but it does work to add extra grip.
Realism: The Beeman Longhorn II 10611 .177 .22 Break Barrel Pellet Rifle is not a copy of any real steel gun in production but does have that overall rifle shape to it so yet it looks like a gun but most people will be able to immediately see that it is a Pellet Rifle and that is exactly what it is since it is not trying to be anything other than that.
Pros:
Comes with two barrels for .177 and .22 caliber pellets.
Comes with included 4x32 scope and ring mounts.
Durable synthetic stock with modern look and pistol grip.
Can also shoot using included iron metal fiber optic adjustable sights.
Automatic trigger safety system.
Rated at 495 fps using .22 caliber pellets so top out at max Canada legal power without a firearms license.
Nice rubber butt-pad looks good and adds to shooting comfort.
Has a scope stop so your scope will stay nicely in place.
Really well priced for what you get which is two rifles one.
Cons:
Changing out barrels does require tools.
Not a big fan of the stock texturing pattern.
Made in China.
Comments: The Beeman Longhorn II 10611 .177 .22 Break Barrel Pellet Rifle is a very affordable Break Barrel Spring Piston Pellet Rifle that offers two Airguns in one with it’s interchangeable barrel system allowing you to shoot either .177 or .22 Caliber pellets. You also have the option of using the already installed Fiber Optic fully adjustable sights or you can install the included 4x32 Optical Scope for potential longer range shooting. The modern looking synthetic stock with it’s pistol grip and rubber butt-pad will make shouldering this Air Rifle super comfortable and I would imagine help with accuracy at the end of the day.
In this Preview Unboxing Video I take a look at three rifles, two are Airsoft Rifles and one is an Archery Rifle. Then First Airsoft Rifle form Tokyo Marui i s full Gas Blowback all metal build AR 15 of the highest quality and realism while the second Airsoft Rifle from Sig Sauer is an AEG but again a high quality product for sure. Lastly I take a look at Umarex’s lates Airsaber which now sports dual Arrow configuration for quick follow up shots. I do plan to make future more intensive table top and shooting videos for some if not all of thees Rifles but this video will at least wet your appetite a bit.
This was an unusual Field Test Review for me to do as I really don’t test out Bows or Crossbows all that much and I don’t have the best backstop setup for doing such reviews. So I spent some time making a backstop that was capable of stopping these just over 6 inch almost 10 gram or 150 grain bolts. It required some layers of foam and cardboard along with a blanket behind just in case, and even with this setup the bolts managed to lodge themselves right up to the Fletching (feather part of the arrow). Also make sure to watch my Table Top Video Review for the Bear X Desire XL Crossbow to see it up nice and close and get all the specifications and features.
I kind of wanted to change up this review just a bit and so I recorded my Chronograph Velocity at the same time as I did my Target or Accuracy Test to simplify things. I used 5 bolts in all and got what I felt was a good result using the Bear X Desire XL Crossbow.
In terns of velocity Bear X claims that the Bear X Desire XL Crossbow will shoot around 175 fps. I was able to get consistent 190+ fps readings using the 147 grain 6.5 inch aluminum bolts with my lowest fps being 192 and the highest being 194 so super consistent. This gave an overall Foot Pound energy of 12.4 foot pounds! This is enough for small pests for sure, it really comes down to accuracy at this point as you will want to get either a head or shoulder area shot for a humane kill.
I did do a pre test to make sure I was on target and duding this test I was able to get about a 5 inch 5 shot grouping. During my recored Accuracy Test this did open up a bit as one arrow went high and to the right so if I leave that arrow out of the test I did manage to get another 5 inch grouping with three of the arrows all within 1.5 inches of each otter. I figure with high quality arrows and some practice time using the Bear X Desire XL Crossbow, you should be able to use it for small pest control at least at closer in ranges.
All in all the Bear X Desire XL Crossbow surprised me with how powerful it really was and with the accuracy using standard default bolts. This is for sure not a toy and you would never want to accidentally shoot this at someone as it could cause a very serious injury or even death and I mean that since these arrow would for sure pierce several inches into the body. So if you’re looking for something with a bit more raw power than your standard non-regulated Airgun, then check out the Bear X Desire XL Crossbow over in both our Canada and US Online Replica Airguns Stores.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Bear X Desire XL Crossbow is medium to heavy, it is a single action only trigger as you need ot cock the bow in order for the trigger to be engaged. The safety is also engaged when you cock the bow requiring you to take the Bear X Desire XL Crossbow off safe before shooting as an added layer of safety.
Accuracy: I have not made my Field Test Shooting Video for the Bear X Desire XL Crossbow and so I have not sea what to expect for it. I have watched a few videos of other people reviewing it and it looks to perform fairly well but until I get a few bolts in a target downrange I can not say for certain the accuracy of the Bear X Desire XL Crossbow. I will have to figure out some sort of a usable back stop in order to make this Field Test Shooting Video but have some ideas already on material to use as my back stop. FPS is claimed ot be around 175 and I will be doing my best to Chronograph the Bear X Desire XL Crossbow so we can confirm that rating for ourselves…
Build Quality: The Bear X Desire XL Crossbow is actually made pretty decently, yes it is mostly plastic and light weight but feels sturdy enough to hold, the only real metal I can confirm is the cocking rail, mostly everything else other than the nuts and bolts that hold it together are some sort of plastic, the bow itself may be a composite material but I am not sure what exactly it is?
Realism: The Bear X Desire XL Crossbow is not a Replica as is what I usually review here on the channel. But I think their is a crossover in terms of interest for a product like this with people that are also interested in airguns. I know I like the Bear X Desire XL Crossbow and can see a place for it in my collection even if it’s not a replica product.
Pros:
Fairly inexpensive.
Super light weight.
Can shoot in a variety of situations.
Easy to draw the bow.
Safety is automatically engaged.
Picatinny rail already has iron fully adjustable rear sight but can mount a red dot if you like.
Fiber optic front sight.
3 bolts included.
175 fps (not sure of the ft/lbs)?
Comes with fore grip.
3 portion adjustable rear but stock.
Cons:
Will need a good backstop or will lose or damage a lots of bolts.
Takes a little bit of time to set it up but not too hard if you follow the instructions.
Comments:
The Bear X Desire XL Crossbow is an interesting product that once purchased and if you manage to not lose the bolts will cost virtually nothing to shoot since you can reuse the bolts all day long given you shoot them on target and that target does not damage the bolts. It may not offer the rapid fire action shooting of a replica semi auto CO2 Pistol but still challenges the shooter in terms of getting the best possible accuracy out of it and at the end of the day trigger time is trigger time! If you are looking for something a bit different than your CO2 Air Gun then maybe the Bear X Desire XL Crossbow will fill that requirement.
In this Preview Unboxing Vimeo Video I take a look at five very different products! A Spring Piston .177 Caliber Pellet Pistol, an Airsoft GBB Pistol, a Compact Crossbow, a full auto CO2 Blowback BB Pistol and a PPC .22 Caliber Pellet Rifle.
First up is the Umarex Ruger Mark IV Spring Piston Pellet Pistol which is a single shot replica pellet pistol that shoots .177 caliber pellets at up to 320 fps using a spring piston break barrel system. The Umarex Ruger Mark IV Spring Piston Pellet Pistol is a target plinker with fully adjustable fiber optic sights and should be a lot of fun to shoot!
Next I take a look at a Gas Blowback Airsoft Pistol from Action Army that closely resembles the Ruger Mark IV pistol with perhaps a more compact look. The Action Army AAP-01 GBB Airsoft Pistol is full blowback a full size drop out magazine and fiber optic sights. It also come with a threaded barrel and barrel extension for adding a longer barrel and much suppressor.
Next on my list of new items is the Bear X Desire XL Crossbow which is a 2.2 pound compact bolt shooting crossbow that sports a rail system with included adjustable iron sights that also allow for a red dot if you want to really customize it. The Bear X Desire XL Crossbow has a 60 pound draw and shoots arrows/bolts at up to 175 fps.
Another AR BB Rifle/Pistol from Crosman is the Crosman A4-P Full Auto CO2 BB Pistol which is essentially a pistol version of the AR Platform. If you like the Crosman DPMS SBR, R1, PDW then you will probably also like the Crosman AP-4. Like the others it uses dual CO2’s and shoots 4.5mm Steel BB;s in semi or full auto at 1400 rounds per minute until the 25 round magazine is empty.
Last included in this preview video is the Air Venturi Avenger Regulated PCP Pellet Rifle. I’m a bit uncertain about this one as I am pretty sure it is the non detuned PAL version that requires a firearms license here in Canada as it shoots at full velocity (.22 caliber pellet at 950 fps). If that’s the case then it will not be available in our Canada Replica Airguns Store but may be available in the US Replica Airguns Store. If it is the detuned version or a detuned version becomes available in Canada then I imagine we will at some point have it in the Canada replica Airguns Store. That said the Air Venturi Avenger Regulated PCP Pellet Rifle uses compressed air and shoots either .177. .22 or .25 caliber pellets using a latch system and rotary magazine.
In this Field Test Shooting Video I put the ASG Steyr Arms Scout Bolt Action Spring Airsoft Rifle through the regular Replica Airguns Indoor Field Test by first testing out the velocity and placing several rounds through my Chronograph to see what the actual fps is using both .20 gram and .40 gram Airsoft BB’s. Then I setup a fresh paper target 30 feet downrange and place 10 rounds into it to see how tight of a grouping I can get. If you have not already watched my Table Top Video for this Sniper Airsoft Riffle, then make sure to do so for more details, specifications and close up video.
Starting off with my real world velocity test for the ASG Steyr Arms Scout Bolt Action Spring Airsoft Rifle I decided to use both .20 and .40 gram Airsoft BB’s to see what a difference of double the weigth form the claimed for would actually be since for the most art this Airsoft Sniper Rifle is really meant to be using heavier Airsoft BB’ closer to the .40 gram weight. I was kind of expecting the heavier .40 gram BB’s to shoot almost half as fast since they where double the weight bu this was not the case! I shot 5 rounds with each weight Airsoft BB and with the .20 gram I averaged 479 which was actually faster than claimed, When I switched up to the .40 gram Airsoft BB’s I was surprised to get an average of 373 so only around 100 fps slower!
Moving on to the accuracy portion of my Indoor Field Test here in the Replica Airguns Sea Can, as always I placed a fresh paper target 30 feet downrange and proceeded to shoot 10 .40 gram Airsoft rounds into it from a rested and seated shooting position to allow for best possible results with as little human error added in. I was using a 4x optical scope since the ASG Steyr Arms Scout Bolt Action Spring Airsoft Rifle has a the added rail on top just fo this purpose and I would imaging most people are going to want to add a magnified scope to this Airsoft Sniper Rifle rather than use the built in pop iron sights that by the way are not adjustable. I know 30 feet is not the range one would be shooting this rifle at but it’s all I have for an indoor shooting range and it will give us an idea of what we can expect shooting further out… as in a nice tight group at 30 feet is going to mean better accuracy than a spread out grouping art 30 feet. I will say the ASG Steyr Arms Scout Bolt Action Spring Airsoft Rifle probably got one of the best groupings for an Airsoft Rifle that I have tested at 30 feet placing all 10 rounds within about an inch to an inch an a half.
I would like to take this Airsoft Sniper Rifle outside and see what it can do at much further out ranges again using nice and heavy Airsoft BB’s when it gets a bit warmer and stops raining so much :) But for now my Indoor Field Test performed about as good of a result as I can expect. The ASG Steyr Arms Scout Bolt Action Spring Airsoft Rifle is a really well made which paid off in two it performed for me. I don’t really see any need to upgrade this Airsoft Sniper Rifle other than adding an optical scope and perhaps investing in some high quality Airsoft Ammo.
Make sure to watch my Table Top Video Review where I go into more detail about the specifications and details along with some nice close up video of the Umarex Fusion 2 CO2 .177 Caliber Bolt Action Pellet Rifle.
In this Vimeo Video Field Test Review I test out the Umarex Fusion 2 CO2 .177 Caliber Bolt Action Pellet Rifle in the indoor Replica Airguns Shooting Range to see how accurate it is and what kind fo velocity we can expect from it.
Starting with the velocity test I averaged out 8 rounds through my chronograph using 8.18 grain lead pellets using the dual 12 gram CO2 setup and I was able to average 445 fps which is not bad as these are mid grain weight pellets, lighter weight pellets would for sure get closer to the 490 fps claimed by Umarex. The temperate was about average room temp so not overly cold or warm.
Moving on to the accuracy test I placed all 9 rounds from the rotary magazine into a fresh paper target setup 30 feet away. I use a reseted seated position in the back with the Umarex Fusion 2 CO2 .177 Caliber Bolt Action Pellet Rifle resting on a sand bag up front and I was using the 4 power scope for this test which I setup earlier. My final result was for sure an under one half inch grouping, I did feel like I pulled one shot a little bit but I am sure this Airgun can get quarter inch groupings at 30 feet and I would expect half inch groupings at 50 feet so perfect for mid range small pest shooting.
Umarex does adversities this Air rifle as being very quiet but in Canada we are not allowed to have any type of suppressor even on airguns so I believe this Canada version has been disabled in that regard but the Umarex Fusion 2 CO2 .177 Caliber Bolt Action Pellet Rifle is fairly quiet for sure with its long barrel and slightly lower fps than the US version. Overall the Umarex Fusion 2 CO2 .177 Caliber Bolt Action Pellet Rifle is a lot of bang for the buck with the added 4x scope, included magazines that hold 9 rounds each and the ability to use either a dual 12 gram or single 88 gram CO2 setup. It also looks really cool and performs just as good!
