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.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Steambow M10 Tactical Recurve Crossbow is a single action only trigger as 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 a metal bolt style safety just above where the trigger releases that is ambidextrous, push it forward for safe and back for fire.
Accuracy: I have not recorded my Field Test Shooting Video for the Steambow M10 Tactical Recurve Crossbow and so I am not sure what to expect so far. 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, I expect the Steambow M10 Tactical Recurve Crossbow to have a bit more power over the Bear X Desire XL as it is rated to have a 75 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 10 bolts.
Build Quality: The Steambow M10 Tactical Recurve Crossbow is well made but does consist of mostly plastic or polymer, that said it feels sturdy enough when holding it and is one of the heavier compact recurve Crossbow systems at 4 pounds. 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 and sling ring 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
Realism: The Steambow M10 Tactical Recurve Crossbow 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 it. I do think there is a crossover product in terms of interest with people that are also interested in Airguns. 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. 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 it.
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.
Comes with bow pre-strung and ready to mount.
Lots of Picatinny rail mounting options for sights and accessories.
Fiber optic front sight with two rear sight options (grove and peep).
Ambidextrous bolt safety easy to engage and disengage.
20 bolts included to fully load both 10 round magazines.
190-200 fps (11-12ft/lbs).
Comes with upgraded fore grip.
6 portion AR compatible adjustable rear but stock with cheek adjustment.
Cons:
Fairly expensive.
Sights are not adjustable.
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 M10 Tactical Recurve Crossbow is an interesting product, the autoloading system with 10 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. Having quick follow up shots is necessary just in case the first shot does not quite get the job done. The upgraded add on accessories you get with the Steambow M10 Tactical Recurve Crossbow really give it a quilty feel and it is nice you not only have a fully adjustable AR compactly rear stock with a cheek rest but you have the option of a peep or grove rear sight to line up the fiber optic front sight. The price is on the high side but if you want the most ultimate Compact Recurve Crossbow auto loading system with maximum ammo then this is for sure the product for you.
I did my unboxing vide for both the Steambow AR-6 Stinger II Tactical and M10 Tactical already which is generally a preview of the products I am unboxing but with these types of compact crossbows, they generally need a bit of setup before they are complete and ready to view and use.
For that reason I wanted to make a quick combined Preview Video for Steambow AR-6 Stinger II Tactical and M10 Tactical Crossbows so you can see what they look like all put together, and what the main differences are between the two of them. This way you can figure out which one might be the best choice if you are in the market for a product like this.
Let’s go over the main specifications and differences to determine what you get with each one:
Distributed by: Steambow GmbH Austria.
Materials: Mostly plastic with some metal parts.
Weight: M10 4 pounds / AR-6 2.6 pounds.
Lengt: M10 24.2 inches / AR-6 22 inches.
Width: M10 17.5 inches / 17.5 inches.
Magazine Capacity: M10 10 bolts per external magazine / AR-6 6 bolts per internal magazine.
Another Mystery Box to share with everyone but this time I peaked a bit so it’s not as much of a mystery for me, but it will be for you. I was glad I peaked as the items inside where not the usual assortment and it was good I was able to get a bit of pre-intel on them before I jumped into this unboxing, as there was a lot to discover about each of the three items in the Mystery Box. I hope they appeal to some of you, I think they are very interesting and after checking them out, some of you may decide to add one or two of them to your collection.
The first two items I looked at are from an Austrian based company called Steambow. They are both compact crossbows that offer a unique reloading system with built in Magazines that hold either 6 or 10 rounds depending on the version you buy. The Steambow AR-6 Stinger II Tactical is the less expensive yet still “kind of expensive” version with a built in 6 round magazine While the AR Series Steambow M10 Tactical has an upper that accepts 10 round magazines you can preload. The Steambow AR-6 Stinger II Tactical comes with a 55 pound pre-strung bow that produces around 10 foot pounds of energy, while the Steambow M10 Tactical come with a 75 pound pre-strung bow which should produce close to 12 or more foot pounds of energy. Both incorporate fiber optic slights, lots of rail mounting options, AR style rear stocks which shoulder mount easy and quick cocking to make the most of the automatic bolt loading systems.
Another Archery based item also in this months Mystery Box was the Umarex AirJavelin FishR PCP based arrow launcher designed for anglers. It is intended to work with a fishing real of your choice and comes with a single retrievable barbed arrow, so a lot like bow fishing but with a PCP propulsion system. The Umarex AirJavelin FishR has a built in 4500 psi tank that is regulated to 800 psi and the arrow is a whopping 1250 grain to cut through the water with ease. The entire system is salt water resistant so you can use it in both fresh and salt water conditions. There are both picatinny and M-LOK mounting options for sights and accessories.
Stay posted for my Table Top and Field Testing Video Reviews coming shortly…
Type:AEG Airsoft Rifles Manufacturer: G&G. Model:RK Beta AK Materials: Mostly metal/some plastic. Weight: 7.1 pounds (3.2 kg). Total Length: 28.5 inches (72.4 cm). Barrel: 9 inches (22.9 cm) barrel non-rifled. Propulsion: AEG. Action: Single action semi & full auto. Ammunition Type: 6mm plastic Airsoft BB’s. Ammunition Capacity: High cap 600 round magazine. FPS: 390 fps.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the G&G RK Beta AK AEG Airsoft Rifle is short and light as it is basically a simple electric on/off switch that completes a circuit and tells the motor to turn, which activates the cycling of the spring piston. For this reason there is no real creep or feel of a release. When you get to a preset point in the trigger, the motor circuit is closed allowing for either semi or full auto, depending on your selector switch position at the time.
Accuracy: I will be making a dedicated Field Test Shooting Video for the G&G RK Beta AK AEG Airsoft Rifle to find out what the actual velocity is in fps. I will also test what kind of accuracy I can get shooting a paper target in both semi and full auto from 30 feet away. For now I have no idea what to expect but as this is most certainly not a cheap Airsoft AEG Rifle, I am hoping for good results to justify the higher price point.
Build Quality: The build quality of the G&G RK Beta AK AEG Airsoft Rifle is very good, G&G Airsoft Rifles in general are well built. You are going to find metal in most of this AEG Airsoft Rifle including the receiver, dust cover, trigger guard, trigger, selector switch, barrel, front and rear sights and the magazine. The only plastic to be found will be in the pistol grip, rear stock and 3 of the picatinny rails. Fit and finish is very good but the stock and pistol grip material does seem to show scratches really easily.
Realism: The G&G RK Beta AK AEG Airsoft Rifle is a 1 to 1 scale Airsoft reproduction of the AK 47/74 in a compact modernized version. I don’t believe it is based on exactly one specific brand or type of AK 47 or AK 74, but is more or less a stylized version designed and built by G&G. The G&G RK Beta AK AEG Airsoft Rifle does have a lot of metal and weight to it adding to the realism and most of the mechanical parts work similar to a real steel version of an AK 47/74. G&G has added a bit of a bolt cycle motion with a motor that actuates it to some degree but this is not like the look and feel of a real internal bolt from an actual AK 47/74. Still a nice touch.
Pros:
Lots of metal in construction where you need it with good overall weight and feel.
6 rail attachment options up front for lots of mounting positions.
Left side option to attach an additional AK style sight mount.
Adjustable front sight for elevation.
Nice and compact for easy maneuverability.
Rear stock has lots of room for battery sizes and options.
Dust cover comes off for easy access to internals.
G&G high quality build.
Comes with sling mounting options.
Super easy hopup adjustment slider.
Nice high capacity 600 round metal magazine.
No orange tip.
Cons:
Rear sight is all but useless.
Stock and grip scratch really easily.
Priced on the higher side.
Comments:
The G&G RK Beta AK AEG Airsoft Rifle may be priced a bit on the high side for some people but it is a solid AEG Airsoft Rifle and it seems there are not as many AK options out there so it is nice to have an offering from G&G. I like the almost full metal construction and I find the modernized styling and compact size to be appealing and would make it a great option for CQB Airsoft games. I am not sure what is going on with the rear site, as it looks like it is a sight, but does not have the sight grove in it? Maybe I am missing something here but other than opting to put a red dot way up front, your only other option is to put an AK side rail and mount a sight on the rear just above the metal dust cover. I am hoping when I make my Field Test Shooting Video for the G&G RK Beta AK AEG Airsoft Rifle, it performs well for me to justify the higher price point.
My Vimeo Table Top Review for the G&G RK Beta AK AEG Airsoft Rifle:
Here we go with another unboxing video this month, and this is a big box, so no doubt the mystery items are going to be big too! As always with new products, I will be following up with dedicated Table Top and Field Test Videos for each of them so make sure to check down the road for those videos for a lot more information and actual performance results…
Don’t look below if you want to just watch the video and be surprises by what’s inside the mystery box but if you want a quick peak before hand then checkout the basic specs below for all three new items I will be reviewing soon.
Type:AEG Airsoft Rifles Manufacturer:Umarex. Model:Elite Force M4 CFRX Materials: Mostly plastic/some metal. Weight: 5.2 pounds (2360 grams). Total Length: 32.4-35.4 inches (820-900mm). Barrel: 16.1 inch (410mm) barrel non-rifled. Propulsion: AEG. Action: Single action semi & full auto. Ammunition Type: 6mm plastic Airsoft BB’s (Eye Trace compatible). Ammunition Capacity: Mid/High cap 340 round magazine. FPS: 370-400 fps.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Umarex Elite Force M4 CFRX Eye Trace AEG Airsoft Rifle is fairly short and light as it is basically a simple on and off switch as it is not mechanical but rather electrical. For this reason there is no real creep or feel of a release. When you get to a point in the trigger you close a circuit that activates the electric motor cycling the spring shooting in either semi or full auto depending on your selector switch position at the time.
Accuracy: At this time I have not made my Field Test Shooting Video or even shot the Umarex Elite Force M4 CFRX Eye Trace AEG Airsoft Rifle, I am planning to make a video for this rifle at the end of this week if all goes as planned. I do not have any of the “Eye Trace” Airsoft Ammo to show how this works and looks but I will be able to do my traditional accuracy and velocity testing here in the Replica Airguns Indoor Sea Can Airgun Range. When I do get access to some of the Eye Trace Airsoft Ammo I will make a short video most likely in a lower light situation to show how it looks.
Build Quality: The Umarex Elite Force M4 CFRX Eye Trace AEG Airsoft Rifle does have a lot of plastic in the build including the upper and lower receiver, hand guard, rear stock, front and rear sights, grips and flash hider but as expected there are metal part where they are required as in the inner and outer barrel, magazine, buffer tube, trigger, selector switch, magazine release, charging handle, dust cover and of course many internal parts. It does have a decent weight to it being a fairly long AR and so it feels solid enough. I would have liked to have seen metal sights and perhaps a metal receiver since it is not a cheap or inexpensive AEG Airsoft Rifle.
Realism: The Umarex Elite Force M4 CFRX Eye Trace AEG Airsoft Rifle is based on the M4/M16 platform of course in a modern version with all the tactical additions. It looks and feels the part for sure with lots of working parts including the safety, selector switch, charging handle, dust cover, adjustable rear stock, pop-up front and rear sights as you would expect. Most of the hardware should be interchangeable with a real steel AR if you want to personalize the look of it. The addition of the Tracer element will add to the realism when shooting it in low light situations, but so far I have not tested it as I do not have any Eye Trace Ammo on hand.
Pros:
Eye Trace System unique and great in low light situations.
Lots of accessory mounting options with Picatinny top rail and side adb bottom M-LOK.
Full adjustable Pop-up sights.
Pre-installed MOSFET for improved electronic performance.
Ver 2 Full Metal, fully upgradeable gearbox.
6 position adjustable AR compatible type rear stock.
I like the two tone black and tan finish.
Has the Elite Force Branding from Umarex.
Easy to get at adjustable Hop-up.
Cons:
Plastic receiver and orange tip.
Battery options limited due nunchuck compatible space.
Pop-up removable sights are plastic.
Comments:
Umarex introduced the “Eye Trace” line of Airsoft Rifles at SHOT Show this year and I have been somewhat eagerly awaiting getting my hands on one to try this new system out, but unfortunately we do not have any of the Eye Trace Airsoft Ammo to do that with. I am not sure if Umarex is low on supply or perhaps it was missed in the order? Either way I will be testing out the new Eye Trace Airsoft Ammo when I get my hands on some. in the future. Just to be clear on how this works, the Eye Trace Ammo is florescent and these New Eye Trace Airsoft Rifles have a blue light you can turn on or off that activated the florescent Airsoft Rounds illuminating them to look like tracer rounds coming out of your barrel. The new Eye Trace Airsoft Rifles work just like a standard AEG Airsoft Rifle when using normal Airsoft BB’s, so I can test the Umarex Elite Force M4 CFRX Eye Trace AEG Airsoft Rifle as I always do so stay posted for my Official Field Test Shooting Video for it coming out very soon.
My Vimeo Table Top Review for the Umarex Elite Force M4 CFRX Eye Trace AEG Airsoft Rifle:
Here is video four in my series of Full Auto Fun videos I make each summer where I pick a few Full Auto Airguns and record some fun outside shooting with them. In this years Full Auto Fun Video series I do a bit of a walk around on my property and shoot a bunch of water filled pop cans. Maybe this doesn’t sound super exciting but I do use some really creative camera angles to capture it all which makes it lot more interesting to watch for sure!
In this fourth Full Auto Fun video, I retest the Barra 400e 4.5mm BB AEG Full Auto BB Rifle in full auto this time, and try a bit of a different camera angle approach with my HoverAir Drone Camera switching it to follow mode as it doesn’t stop recording so easily in this mode. And as expected, it worked a lot better for me with this setup and continued recording the entire video. I also recoded using my Meta Glasses to get the first person view and like the other videos I placed my Insta360 X4 camera on the barrel again to get some cool up front gun angle shots. I think this setup works well and will probably use it for future Full Auto Fun Videos where I am running around the yard shooting stuff. Maybe there will be a couple more bonus guns in this years Full Auto Fun Series? No promises!
I try to make at least one series of Full Auto Fun video each summer where I pick a few Full Auto Airguns and record some fun outside shooting with them. In this years Full Auto Fun Video series I do a bit of a walk around on my property and shoot a bunch of water filled pop cans. Maybe this doesn’t sound super exciting but I do use some really creative camera angles to capture it all which makes it lot more interesting to watch for sure!
In this first Full Auto Fun video I start with the Barra 400e 4.5mm BB AEG Full Auto BB Rifle, but in the all the camera and audio setup confusion, I forgot to put it in Full Auto (getting old), so this is really not a Full Auto Fun Video, it was still fun and I hope you enjoy it anyway. The other videos in this Full Auto Fun Series are for sure in Full Auto and I will be taking out the Barra 400e and give it another go in Full Auto this time so stay posted for the true Full Auto Fun Video for the Barra 400e shortly!
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.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the CenterPoint Hornet Recurve Compact Crossbow is a single action only trigger as you need ot 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 it so there is a bit of friction and I would say it is about 10 pounds maybe a bit less. The safety is also engaged when you cock the bow requiring you to take the CenterPoint Hornet Recurve Compact Crossbow off safe before shooting as an added layer of safety.
Accuracy: I have not made my Field Test Shooting Video for the CenterPoint Hornet Recurve Compact Crossbow and so I am not sure what to expect from it. I have shot a similar bow, the Bear X Desire XL Crossbow so it should perform similar to that one if you want to check that Field Test Shooting Video out, but I expect the CenterPoint Hornet Recurve Compact Crossbow to have a little bit more power as it has a rated fps and draw weight a little bit higher than the Bear X Desire XL Crossbow, we will see?
Build Quality: The CenterPoint Hornet Recurve Compact Crossbow is actually made pretty decently, yes it is mostly plastic and light weight but feels sturdy enough to hold, the bow itself is fiberglass and 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 only part that does not feel up to par with the quality is the included red dot, it is fairly entry level but I am sure it will get the job done, and if it stops getting the job done at some point you can upgrade it then, or simply use the included rear iron sight which is fully adjustable.
Realism: The CenterPoint Hornet Recurve Compact Crossbow is not a Replica as is what I usually review here on the channel. But I think there is a crossover in terms of interest for a product like this with people that are also interested in Airguns. The other benefit is that it has a lot more power than a non regulated Airgun as the CenterPoint Hornet Recurve Compact Crossbow uses nice heavy 146 grain bolts traveling at almost 200 fps which gives an energy rating of around 12 foot pounds. So if raw power is what you are after, then this is your best option for something still compact if you do not have a firearms license.
Pros:
Fairly inexpensive.
Super light weight and compact.
More power than an Airgun yet still quiet to shoot so you can use discreetly just about anywhere with a good back stop setup.
Easy to draw the bow using the stock for leverage.
Safety is automatically engaged.
Picatinny rail already has iron fully adjustable rear sight and comes with a very basic red dot sight to get you started.
Fiber optic front sight.
3 bolts included.
191 fps (12ft/lbs).
Comes with fore grip.
5 portion adjustable rear but stock.
Cons:
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.
Careful not to wash you hadn't or thumb with the string (Ouchy).
Comments:
The CenterPoint Hornet Recurve Compact Crossbow is a nice crossover product that appeals to Airgun enthusiasts as it does not require a firearms license and can be used in a lot more locations than a standard gun. It also has decent power as compared to a non regulated Airgun hitting 12 foot pounds which is at least 4x more than most non regulated Airguns can achieve. In terms of pest control, it does have the power required for small pests but accuracy is not going to be as good as an Airgun so hitting the rather small sweet spot on a small pest is not going to be easy and you want to be humane about it, so make sure if you do plan on using this for some sort of pest control, that you practice your accuracy and are confident in your shot placement. Personally I would just enjoy shooting it as a target bow that literally cost you nothing after purchase as long as you don’t lose the bolts.
In this Field Test Shooting Video, I test out the Specna Arms Core SA-J73 AEG Airsoft Rifle in my Indoor Replica Airguns Sea Can Shotgun Range to see what the velocity/fps is and what the accuracy is like shooting .20 gram Airsoft BB’s through my Chronograph. I shoot in both semi and full auto at a paper target setup 30 feet down range. If you are more interested in information like details and specifications for the Specna Arms Core SA-J73 AEG Airsoft Rifle, then make sure to watch my Table Top Video I already made that also includes some nice close up video for you to check out…
First up I loaded up a mag of .20 gram Airsoft BB’s and proceeded to shoot 5 rounds through my Chronograph to get a baseline average. Specna Arms claims around 370-380 fps using the preinstalled internal spring setup. I averaged 382 fps with my slowest shot recording 379 fps and my fastest shot hitting 383 fps. All of them really close in terms of velocity and right on the mark of the claimed 370-380 fps using .20 gram Airsoft BB’s.
With the Velocity Test in the bag, I moved on to my Accuracy Test for the Specna Arms Core SA-J73 AEG Airsoft Rifle where I first shot 10 rounds in semi auto to see how tight of a grouping I could get, and then I also finished up the rest of the partially full magazine in full auto to see if that grouping opened up a bit with a lot more rounds and a bit of full auto rocking around. For my 10 shot semi auto grouping I did get around a 1 to 1.5 inch spread, and notably all 10 shots hit the bullseye with no sight adjustments out of the box. Unleashing the Specna Arms Core SA-J73 in full auto, the group did spread out just a little bit to around 3 inches or so, but again right on top of the bullseye for the most part. Very impressive results for sure!
Overall I am super impressed with the Specna Arms Core SA-J73 AEG Airsoft Rifle! At around $200 Canadian you get a well made decent quality AEG Airsoft Rifle that not only looks and feels really good, but performs as good if not better than some much more expensive AEG Airsoft Rifles out there. All you really need to get on top of this purchase would be a decent charger and battery setup along with some quality Airsoft BB’s and then you are ready to go. No need for any more upgrades at least not right away. So if you are looking for an affordable AK type AEG Airsoft Rifle with no real compromises to speak of, look no further than the Specna Arms Core SA-J73 AEG Airsoft Rifle. Not much else will be a better option in this price range.
In this Field test Shooting Video, I test out the Specna Arms Edge SA-X01 AEG Airsoft Rifle in my Indoor Replica Airguns Sea Can Shotgun Range to find out what the velocity is and what the accuracy is like shooting .20 gram Airsoft BB’s through my Chronograph. I also shoot in both semi and full auto at a paper target setup 30 feet away. If you are more interested in details and specifications for the Specna Arms Edge SA-X01 AEG Airsoft Rifle then make sure to watch my Table Top Video I have already made that also has some nice close up video for you to check out…
So first up I loaded up a mag full of .20 gram Airsoft BB’s and proceeded to shoot 5 rounds through my Chronograph. Specna Arms claims around 380 fps using the preinstalled spring setup, I averaged 348 with my slowest shot recording 344 fps and my fastest shot hitting 351 fps, so all of them pretty close in terms of velocity but a bit under the claimed 380 fps using .20 gram Airsoft BB’s
With the Velocity Test completed I moved on to my Accuracy Test for the Specna Arms Edge SA-X01 AEG Airsoft Rifle Field where I not only shot 10 rounds in semi auto to see how tight of a grouping I could get, I also finished up the 120 round magazine in full auto to see if that grouping opened up a bit with a lot more rounds and a bit of full auto shake. For my 10 shot grouping I did get around a 2 inch spread, I did notice the Specna Arms Edge SA-X01 AEG Airsoft Rifle shot really low and a bit to the right out of the box. I would say about 8 inches low and 3-4 inches to the right. There is some sight adjustment you can do so you should be able to dial in the sights to your personal preference. When I switched over to full auto which is always more enjoyable with AEG Airsoft Rifles, the grouping did open up a bit but not a lot more, maybe as much as 4 inches but I did put close to 100 rounds additionally into the target.
Overall I am impressed with the Specna Arms Edge SA-X01 AEG Airsoft Rifle, I would have liked to have seen it shoot a bit closer to the bullseye out of the box using the iron sights, but personally I would more than likely add a red dot sight anyway, and that will correct any sighting problems one may have with this Airlift Rifle. The FPS is I would say about perfect for most Airsoft shooting conditions and it can be used with the pre-installed spring either for CQB or out door games. I do like the 120 round magazines as there is no need to whined a spring half way through a magazine but you will need more magazines on hand or a good speed loader handy for an Airsoft Battle. Just keep in mind your battery options will be limited due to the battery area being rather small since this very compact AIrsoft Rifle does have limited space to put a battery.
Type: AEG Airsoft Rifles Manufacturer:Specna Arms. Model:Edge SA-X01 Materials: Mostly metal/aluminum. Weight: 5.52 pounds ( 2.50 kg). Total Length: 23.5-27 inches (597-686mm). Barrel: 10.63 inch (270) inner 6.03mm tight bore barrel non rifled. Propulsion: AEG. Action: Single action semi & full auto. Ammunition Type: .6mm plastic Airsoft BB’s. Ammunition Capacity: High cap 380 round magazines. FPS: 380 fps with installed spring, included M90 spring will be lower fps.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Specna Arms Edge SA-X01 AEG Airsoft Rifle is fairly shot and light, it is basically a simple off off switch as it is not mechanical but rather electric. For this reason there is no real creep or feel of a release. When you get to a point in the trigger you close a circuit that activates the electors motor cycling the spring.
Accuracy: At this time I have not made my Field Test Shooting Video or even shot the Specna Arms Edge SA-X01 AEG Airsoft Rifle, I am planning to make a video for this rifle next week if all goes well. I have reviewed other Specna Ames Core products in the past and made Field test Videos for them so perhaps check one of those videos out in the time being for a bit of a heads up of what you can expect from the Specna Arms Core SA-J73 AEG Airsoft Rifle.
Build Quality: Specna Arms Airsoft Rifles are made of good quality no matter if you go with the Core or Edge versions. You will still get a quality product with quality materials and metal parts where you need them. The Edge Series offers upgrades like more metal parts, improved gearboxes and electronics along with additional accessories but you pay a bit rmeo for the added quality and add ons.
Realism: The Specna Arms Edge SA-X01 AEG Airsoft Rifle is based on the AR15 or M16 platform of course in a very modern compact PDW styled. It looks and feels the part for sure with lots of working parts including the safety, selector switch, charging handle, dust cover, adjustable rear stock, pop-up front and rear sights as you would expect. Most of the hardware should be interchangeable with a real steel AR if you want to personalize the look of your Specna Arms Rifle.
Pros:
Very high quality product with quality components throughout (Already listed in Specifications).
4 positions rear stock.
ESA™ quick spring change system makes spring changes quick and easy.
Comes with two springs for potential indoor and outdoor usage.
Almost all metal build.
Removable fully adjustable pop-up sights.
No orange tips on our Canada Store versions.
Lots of rial mounting options using M-LOK System..
Comes with a fore grip and deans connector and two magazines.
Easy access to motor for any possible trouble shooting you any need to do.
I love the compact size. perfect for close closer quarters situations.
Cons:
Much higher cost than Core Series.
Magazine capacity is low but comes with two magazine.
You will need a very specific compact battery setup for this Specna Arms model.
Comments:
I for sure like the look of the Specna Arms Edge SA-X01 AEG Airsoft Rifle, but more than that you get a really great Compact PDW Airsoft Rifle at a reasonable price with a ton of quality components and a mostly all metal build. Specna Arms even includes an additional magazine in the box. You could go with one of their Core series of Airsoft Rifles in a similar PDW and save a bit of money but if you can afford the upgrade then I would go for this version as you will not need to upgrade it in the future and that alone will save you some money over time. I would suggest adding a couple Lipo batters and a good charger to your shopping cart and maybe even an couple more magazines.
My Vimeo Table Top Review for the Specna Arms Edge SA-X01 AEG Airsoft Rifle:
Type: AEG Airsoft Rifles Manufacturer:Specna Arms. Model:Core SA-J73 Materials: Fiberglass reenforced plastic and metal/aluminum. Weight: 5.7 pounds (2.59 kg). Total Length: 23.4 - 32.6 inches (594 - 828mm). Barrel: 15.7 inch (399mm) inner 6.03mm tight bore barrel non-rifled. Propulsion: AEG. Action: Single action semi & full auto. Ammunition Type: .6mm plastic Airsoft BB’s. Ammunition Capacity: High cap 430 round magazine. FPS: 370-380 fps with installed spring, included M90 spring will be lower fps.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Specna Arms Core SA-J73 AEG Airsoft Rifle is similar to a light single action trigger as essentially the trigger is non-mechanical, but rather it is more like an electrical on off switch. There is a little bit of take up with virtually no extra friction to let you know when the release is, with a bit of use you will figure out exactly when the trigger will release the action.
Accuracy: At this time I have not made my Field Test Shooting Video or even shot the Specna Arms Core SA-J73 AEG Airsoft Rifle, I am planning to make this video for next week if all goes well. I have reviewed other Specna Ames Core products in the past and made Field test Videos for them so perhaps check one of those videos out in the time being for a bit of a heads up of what you can expect from the Specna Arms Core SA-J73 AEG Airsoft Rifle.
Build Quality: One thing I can say, is no matter if you get the Core or Edge version of the Specna Arms AEG Air Rifles, you are getting extremely good value for your money, and neither one is going to have any low quality parts in it. Even the lower cost Core Series will have fiber glass reenforced plastic and metal parts along with a metal gearbox and virtually almost the same build as the more premium and higher priced Edge Series. You will get upgrades in the Edge Series like an aluminum receiver and buffer tube, a GATE X-ASR Mosfet, upgraded Gearboes, and an additional magazine.
Realism: The Specna Arms Core SA-J73 AEG Airsoft Rifle is based on the AK platform with a bit of a more modern look to it which includes a synthetic folding stock, a sight mounting system and a more modern magazine design. The Specna Arms Core SA-J73 AEG has lots of metal parts in it and has a good overall weight and feel to it which make is not too heavy or too light in my opinion. Our Canada version even come with a black flash hider rather than orange one which helps with realism.
Pros:
Very affordable price ($200 at time of video), yet very high quality product for what you pay.
Quality components throughout both the Core and Edge series.
Precision barrel internal 6.03mm diameter.
ESA™ quick spring change system makes spring changes quick and easy.
Comes with two springs for potential indoor and outdoor usage.
Plastic parts are fiberglass reenforced making them very durable.
Rear sight is adjustable on the fly for elevation.
No orange tips on our Canada Store versions.
Side mounting option for an optical or red dot sight system.
Metal V3 Gearboxes with metal gears and mostly all metal parts inside.
Decent amount of space for a battery.
Weight is about perfect, may actually too heavy with metal receiver?
Cons:
Plastic receiver.
Need to remove dust cover and use a screwdriver to adjust the hop-up.
No battery or charger included.
Comments:
The Specna Arms Core SA-J73 AEG Airsoft Rifle for right around $200 is not what I would expect for such a lower priced more entry level Airsoft Rifle. The build quality and components in this Airsoft Rifle are not budget by any means and when you hold it, it feels like a very high quality product. Sure you don’t get a battery or charger with it which you often find bundled with lower cost Airsoft Rifles, but generally these batteries and chargers are extremely entry level and will require upgrading almost immediately. So do yourself a favor and invest in a good battery setup if you do not already have one. If you’re in the market for an AK based AEG Airsoft Rifle and have a limited budget but still want a decent product, then I would recommend the Specna Arms Core SA-J73 AEG Airsoft Rifle for sure.
My Vimeo Table Top Review for the Specna Arms Core SA-C07-PDW AEG Airsoft Rifle:
Another box showed up at my door and this time I had no idea what was inside it, I asked the boys in the warehouse to surprise me and send some new product as I was low on review items, and in a couple of days later this tall somewhat large box showed up. In this Replica Airguns June Mystery Box Unboxing Video I open the box and take a look at what’s inside. I recommend you just watch the video and enjoy the suspense with me, but if you want to cheat and find out now, then look below at quick breakdown of each item…
Type:Blowback BB Pistol. Manufacturer: Made and Distributed by ASG. Model:CZ 75 SP-01 Shadow. Materials: Mostly all Metal. Weight: 2.37 pounds (1076 grams). Barrel: 4.5 inches (114mm) metal non-rifled. Total Length: 8.26 inch (210mm). Propulsion: 1 x Co2. Action: Semi auto blowback, single & double action trigger. Ammunition Type: 4.5mm steel BB's. Ammunition Capacity: 17 round drop out full size metal magazine. FPS: Claimed 312.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the ASG CZ 75 SP-01 Shadow Blowback CO2 BB Pistol is both single and double action, by either pulling the slide or hammer back you engage the single action trigger which is nice and short and light with a medium take-up. You will need to pull the slide back to load a BB into the breach area for your first shot or you will simply be shooting CO2 on that first shot. If you drop the hammer down once a BB is in the breach, you can shoot in double action which is much heavier but it is fairly smooth without any noticeable sticking points.
Accuracy: I have not shot the ASG CZ 75 SP-01 Shadow Blowback CO2 BB Pistol or made my Field Test Shooting Video for it, that will happen next week. So for now I can not comment on the true velocity or accuracy of this product. It is very well made so I expect it to perform like most Full Blowback CO2 BB pistols which means it should shoot around a 1-2 inch 10 shot grouping at 30 feet away, and I expect it to achieve a velocity close to the manufacturers claimed fps, so around 300 fps or just above. We will find out for sure next week!
Build Quality: TheASG CZ 75 SP-01 Shadow Blowback CO2 BB Pistol is distributed by ASG but I am not 100% sure who makes it for them. I feel it could be either KJWorks or KWA. In either case both companies make very high quality Airguns and that is present with the ASG CZ 75 SP-01 Shadow Blowback CO2 BB Pistol. Fit and finish are excellent and the entire gun is virtually all metal. It weighs in at almost 2.5 ponds and has a very solid feel to it.
Realism: The ASG CZ 75 SP-01 Shadow Blowback CO2 BB Pistol is a 1 to 1 copy of the real steel CZ 75 SP-01 Shadow and side by side it would be very hard to tell them apart. It features full blowback operation and can by fully field stripped. All the mechanical parts work like the real steel version adding to the realism of shooting this CO2 Blowback BB Pistol. Again it is almost all metal which not only helps it look the part, but also feel the part. It is a very realistic replica and to make it even more believable, ASG has provide the CZ licensing to add all the correct markings to this product.
Pros:
Single and double action trigger with a nice light short single action trigger.
Fit and finish is excellent, very little slide wiggle, all metal build.
This pistol is pretty heavy at just under 2.5 pounds!
Extremely close replica of the real steel CZ SP-01 Shadow in both looks and function.
Well priced for a quality Airgun.
Fiber optic front sight helps with quick target acquisition.
I like the stainless barrel, it won’t be as prone to scratches and wear marks.
Deep recessed barrel for added realism.
Full size 17 round metal magazine holds the CO2 and BB’s and adds additional weight.
Rail for adding accessories like a laser or tac light.
Most mechanical parts work just like the steel version and can be easily field stripped to access the hop-up.
Heavy slide spring with fast blowback action, great for action shooting.
Licensing all over this gun, true to the real steel version.
Cons:
Rear sight is not adjustable.
FPS is perhaps a bit low at 312?
May be a bit heavy for some people.
Comments:
I am pretty sure that the ASG CZ 75 SP-01 Shadow Blowback CO2 BB Pistol started out life as a 6mm Airsoft Pistol, and then this version was simply converted over to shoot 4.5mm Steel BB’s by more than likely swapping out the barrel, perhaps changing the nozzle and modifying the magazine to allow for 4.5mm BB’s over the 6mm Airsoft BB’s. And that is OK with me as I really like how Full Blowback Airsoft Pistols recreate that realistic shooting experience. The downside to all of this is a bit of a perforce hit since Full Blowback Airsoft Pistols use up a lot of CO2 to create that full heavy blowback experience. You also lose some power along the way. I am fine with that but some people may not be. Overall I really like the ASG CZ 75 SP-01 Shadow Blowback CO2 BB Pistol. It is high quality and looks awesome. Now I just need to find out how it shoots :)
This year at the KWA Booth I had the pleasure of running into John, and we went over a bunch of new items KWA had on display. John was even rocking a similar pair of Ray Ban Meta AI Glasses which made us look a little bit like twins…
In this KWA SHOT Show Interview John higgled the following products from KWA: The KWA ATP-Z and ATP-CT Optics Ready GBB AIrsoft Pistols which are convertible to SMG versions, along with a new prototype TAC-9 GBB Airsoft Rifle.
KWA AIrsoft products have always been one of favoriteAirsoft guns for their quality, looks and performance. They tend to offer a lot of Gas Blowback options which I really appreciate as a Replica AIrgun Collector.
It’s alwasy nice to have a chat with Bob at ASG, I have been interviewing him for years now and really missed not being at SHOT Show the last three years. As always, Bob really knows the ASG product line inside and out and took us through some of the new products and changes to the ASG lineup in 2024.
Some of the products include: The ASG CZ P-10 C CO2 Blowback Airsoft Pistol, the Steyr L9-A2 CO2/Gas Blowback Airsoft Pistol, the USW Gas Blowback Airsoft Pistol, the new Hybrid Airsoft line including the CO2 Blowback H-22 and the AEG H-15, the ICS Ape SE AEG Airsoft Rifle, and lastly the ICS Carnotaurus, Legacy, ACME High-Capa Pistol Series.
I am looking forward to get my hands-on many of these new ASG products and making reviews for everyone to checkout in the near future…
I’m pretty sure I have never made an Interview for Barra before in any of my past SHOT Show Videos, so I was really happy when I visited their booth and discovered a bunch of really great new products to talk about with GEO. Like many other Airgun companies, Barra does incorporate rebranded products from other manufacturer popular Airguns, but they also have some unique products I have never seen before. They are either working really closely with dedicated manufacturing companies or making these items in house. Either way it’s great to see new and interesting products.
Some of the products Geo went over with me in this SHOT Show 2024 Barra Interview where: The Barra CO2 1866 Lever Action Rifle, some Rifled Pellet Barrel Kits for the Schofield Revolver and 1866 Rifle, the 1858 CO2 BB Revolver, the 357 Shell Loading CO2 Revolver, the 400 AEG Airsoft Rifle and two new nameless Airguns they are still working on and perfecting, a full Blowback Competition Style BB/Airsoft Pistol and a compact AEG Airsoft Rifle.
It was great talking with the team over at the Barra Booth and I look forward to testing out their new items as they become available.
