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…
In this Field Test Shooting Video conducted in the Replica Airguns Sea Can indoor Shooting Range, I test the Umarex Markpoint Break Barrel .177 Cal Pellet Pistol’s power in velocity using my Chronograph along with the accuracy shooting at a Paper Target setup 30 feet away. If you are also interested in details, specifications and more close up video of the Umarex Markpoint Break Barrel .177 Cal Pellet Pistol, then make sure to watch my Table Top Video I already made for it here…
When I placed 6 pellets from the Umarex Markpoint Break Barrel .177 Cal Pellet Pistol through my Chronograph, I removed the fastest and slowest recorded shots, and got an average of 290 fps, there was a fairly big range in fps as some dieseling may have been occurring, since this Pellet Pistol had not been shot before and there may have been some oils in the barrel. Here are my recored velocities for all 6 shots: 213, 286, 308, 270, 304, 298. I was using lead flathead pellets that weighed 8.2 grain each. So you will for sure get much higher velocities using 5 grain alloy pellets, probably very close to the 400 claimed fps.
Moving on to my accuracy test, the Umarex Markpoint Break Barrel .177 Cal Pellet Pistol did pretty good. I was not sure how it would shoot for me as the trigger is pretty firm, which can cause the shooter to pull a shot or two. I was able to keep my shots pretty consistent with perhaps one shot getting a bit away from me. That said, out of the 10 shots I placed on the paper target setup 30 feet down range, I managed to get 9 of them all within about 2 inches of each other with the larger spread being elevation, windage was within about 3/4 of an inch, so consistent velocity may have played a roll here. I did use a semi rested shooting position with my hands resting on a sand bag up front, and sitting on a stool in the back to help stabile me as much as possible. I was happy that out of the box the aim point was pretty well centered just a bit to the right if anything.
All in all the Umarex Markpoint Break Barrel .177 Cal Pellet Pistol performed as much as I could have expected for a $50 Canadian low cost pellet shooter. I really wish an add on sight of some sort was possible, as there does not seem to be anyway of adjusting the sights on the Umarex Markpoint Break Barrel .177 Cal Pellet Pistol, so hopefully yours shoots well centered for you also. I do not recommend this Air Pistol for people with smaller hands as it is a bulky Airgun with very wide and large grips. The trigger also does take a bit of finger strength so not a gun for younger shooters perhaps. For the price it is a very unique Pellet Pistol with a very modern and futuristic look to it which may or may not appeal to everyone.
Type: Pellet Pistol. Manufacturer:Umarex Model:Markpoint. Materials: Mostly plastic with some metal. Weight: 1.79 pounds (812 grams). Barrel: 9.75 inch (24.8 cm) Rifled steel barrel. Total Length: 17 inches (43.2 cm). Power Source: Spring piston. Action: Break Barrel - Single Action Only. Ammo Type: .177 caliber pellets. Ammo Capacity: Single shot. FPS: 395 with alloy pellets, 300 with lead pellets.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on Umarex Markpoint Break Barrel .177 Cal Pellet Pistol is single action only and you will have to break the barrel and fully cock it to activate the trigger in order to shoot it. You will have to also insert a pellet for each shot when the barrel is in the open position. The trigger itself is a bit on the heavy side with a short takeup. It is not super heavy but I would not consider it light or even medium weight. There is a grip safety that needs to be pressed in at the back of the grip, or the trigger will not function. This is a nice additional safety feature.
Accuracy: So far I have not had the opportunity to test the Umarex Markpoint Break Barrel .177 Cal Pellet Pistol, but the plan is to get to my Field Test Shooting Video shortly and see how it performs in terms of power and accuracy. The Umarex Markpoint Break Barrel .177 Cal Pellet Pistol does have a nice long rifled steel barrel so it has the potential to be very accurate. My main concern is with the sights as they are none adjustable and if it is not well centered out of the box then the only way to adjust it will be by adjusting your aim point to correct any off center shots. There is also no way that I can see to mount a red to or scope of some sort. It looks like there is a rail system on the barrel but it is just cosmetic and there is no way to mount a picatinny accessory to it. I am not sure why Umarex simply did not make the rail a true picatinny rail?
Build Quality: For around a $50 Canadian pellet pistol that has the potential to be a pretty decent entry level target pistol, the Umarex Markpoint Break Barrel .177 Cal Pellet Pistol is pretty well made and feels very solid and mechanically tight. It is mostly plastic but does not feel cheap at all. It is a rather large pistol, especially the grips being fairly wide, so for people with small hands, it may be a bit hard to hold.
Realism: The Umarex Markpoint Break Barrel .177 Cal Pellet Pistol is not a copy or replica of any real steel pistol in production that I know of. To be honest Umarex was not trying that hard to make it look like a real steel pistol as it has it’s very own look to it that I would say is modern and kind of futuristic looking. It for sure has its own style to it, and you are either going to like it to not? I do like that Umarex added the ejection port and vented barrel which does add to the cool factor and makes it feel more like a real gun.
Pros:
Feels well built and solid.
Overall look is good, kind of futuristic if you like that sort of thing.
I like the red highlights, not typical on a real steel gun but looks good on this design.
Expect it to have good accuracy, hope the sights are on point?
Easy to cock spring piston system.
Sights are easy to line up .
Grip safety is a nice safety feature.
Fake ejection port is a nice touch, not something you would normally see on a target pistol like this.
Nice low price tag for some fun target shooting.
Cons:
Trigger is a bit heavy but in terms of length and break is OK.
Sights are not adjustable and no way to add a red dot or other sighting system.
Grip may be a bit wide for smaller handed shooters.
Comments:
For me I think the deciding factor on how I feel about the Umarex Markpoint Break Barrel .177 Cal Pellet Pistol is going to come down to how it performs as I have my reservations on how accurate it is going to be and if it shoots true out of the box. I really hope the sights are dialed in out of the box since there is no way to adjust them or add a red dot or other sighting system. The heavy trigger will take a bit of getting use to also but once adjusted to it I should be able to get some decent groupings. For the price, if it turns out to be a decent shooter and you like the look of it, then by all means it would make a great target plinker that you should be able to get proficient at shooting with. I will leave my final thoughts for the Field Test Shooting video on this one…
In this Indoor Field Test Shooting Video, I put the EMG SAI 2011 DS 4.3 CO2 Blowback Airsoft Pistol through my usual performance shooting test by first finding out what the velocity is by shooting 5 rounds through my Chronograph using a fresh CO2 along with .20 gram Airsoft BB’s. I follow this up with a 10 round accuracy test, again using .20 gram Airsoft BB’s and shooting at a paper target setup 30 feet down range, while seated on a stool in the back with my hands rested on a sand bag up front. This generally works pretty well and helps me get the most out the gun I am testing. If you are also interested in details and specifications than make sure to watch my Table Top Video I already made for the EMG SAI 2011 DS 4.3 CO2 Blowback Airsoft Pistol.
So how did the EMG SAI 2011 DS 4.3 CO2 Blowback Airsoft Pistol do in my testing? Not bad! Starting with the velocity fps test I shot 5 rounds through my chronograph with a brand new 12 gram CO2 cartridge and while EMG claims around 400 fps, I only averaged 321 fps with my fastest shot hitting 323 fps and my slowest shot hitting 318. So relatively close in terms of fps but not close to the 400 claimed fps. Totally fine for Airsoft games, perhaps in super hot temperatures, it can do better but in standard room temperatures this is what I got.
Next up I tested out the EMG SAI 2011 DS 4.3 CO2 Blowback Airsoft Pistol’s accuracy from 30 feet away and put 10 rounds down range as best as I was able to do with my slightly aging eyes. I was happy with the results with most of the rounds staying within about 2 inches of each other and just slightly to the right of the bullseye, but pretty much perfect in terms of elevation. There where a couple of rounds that came outside of the base 2 inch grouping, which increased the grouping to about 3 inches total.
I am a huge 1911 fan and so a 2011 design only tuns up the dial that much more. The EMG SAI 2011 DS 4.3 CO2 Blowback Airsoft Pistol performed without a glitch for me and I love the extra heft and snappy blowback action along with the crips light and short single action 1911 trigger. I was a bit surprised by the lower 323 fps velocity, but to be honest this is more than a capable velocity for a combat close range Airsoft Pistol. The EMG SAI 2011 DS 4.3 CO2 Blowback Airsoft Pistol is a real looker for sure, it just needs that eye soar of an orange tip removed to perfect its look. If you like the look and feel of a 1911/2011 in your hand, and if stainless steel is your color of choice, then I would say go for this one.
Type: GBB Airsoft Rifle Manufacturer:Umarex / KWA Model:HK 416 A4 Materials: Mostly all metal. Weight: 7.75 pounds (3.5 kg). Total Length: 31.1-34.4 inches (79-88cm). Barrel: 15.4 inches (39cm) non rifled. Propulsion: Gas Blowback. Action: Single action semi & full auto. Ammunition Type: .6mm plastic Airsoft BB’s. Ammunition Capacity:30 round magazines. FPS: 400 fps.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Umarex HK 416 A4 GBB Airsoft Rifle is typical of a single action only trigger found on the AR platform. It has a very slight take up with just a little bit of resistance part way, and then a predictable light break. The reset has a noticeable click to it and it is also very short allowing for very fast semi auto shooting. Of course you can always put it in full auto and let her rip, but you will have to restrain yourself since there are only 30 rounds in the magazine like you would find in a standard AR.
Accuracy: Like most of my Table Top Videos, they are made prior to shooting the gun I am reviewing, so we are all going to have to wait until I make my official Field Test Shooting Video for the Umarex HK 416 A4 GBB Airsoft Rifle. Where I will be testing out the velocity in fps using my Chronograph, and I will also shoot the Umarex HK 416 A4 in both semi auto and full auto to see how tight of groupings I can get at least at 30 feet away. I fully expect the Umarex HK 416 A4 GBB Airsoft Rifle to perform well as this is a very high quality product made by KWA.
Build Quality: The Build quality on the Umarex HK 416 A4 GBB Airsoft Rifle is outstanding with metal everywhere you would find it on a real steel AR. Of course the rear adjustable stock is plastic. Because of all the metal front to back, the Umarex HK 416 A4 is on the heavy side at 7.75 pounds, so packing it around all day may be a bit tiring but well worth the joy and pride when holding it. Fit and finish is also excellent, you will pay more for this GBB Airsoft Rifle but the material are nothing but quality.
Realism: The main thing you get from a GBB Airsoft Rifle over an AEG Airsoft Rifle, is not just quality components and build materials, but the user experience which is so much more realistic than shooting an AEG. The Umarex HK 416 A4 GBB Airsoft Rifle just feels so real in weight, how the controls all work, the full cycling of the bolt with a nice heavy and snappy blowback recoil on your shoulder. Even the way the buffer tube spring rings after each shot just makes this GBB Airsoft Rifle a joy to shot and experience. Sure it only holds 30 rounds per mag and shot consistency will vary depending on your shooting environment as all gas guns can be temperamental in colder weather. That said, a real AR does not hold 500 rounds in a mag and they can also be a bit finicky on the battle field.
Pros:
It’s GBB, love the realism of GBB Airsoft Rifles, it doesn’t get any more fun.
Tons of metal all over this rifle weighing in at almost 8 pounds.
Lots of accessory mounting options with the Precision CNC machined Quad Picatinny top side and bottom rails.
Full adjustable metal pop up sights.
H&K Lisence via Umarex.
6 position adjustable AR compatible rear stock.
Trigger feel is awesome, feels like a real steel AR trigger, you can’t even get close with an AEG.
Ambidextrous selector switches for left and right handers.
The threaded barrel can attach a silencer or other flash hidders.
All parts work just like the real steel version.
Can filed strip just like a real steel AR.
Cons:
Low magazine capacity as compared to an AEG.
Will be subject to cold weather conditions and cool down.
Very expensive to have and own such realism.
Comments:
The Umarex Umarex HK 416 A4 GBB Airsoft Rifle is for sure not going to be for everyone as it is with out a doubt a very expensive Gas Blowback Airsoft Rifle. It may not even be your best option out on the Airsoft Field, as more than likely you are going to get out gunned by everyone else using an AEG with their 500 round magazines and endless torrent of BB’s coming at you. If you just want the most realistic Airsoft Experience, than look no further than the Umarex HK 416 A4 GBB Airsoft Rifle, as it does not get more realistic than this and if you want to replicate your real steel AR perhaps for training and practice sessions, than there is no way you can beet the Umarex HK 416 A4. For those with deep wallets that want the ultimate and most realistic AR you can get, you can’t go wrong with the Umarex HK 416 A4 GBB Airsoft Rifle.
My Vimeo Table Top Review for the Umarex HK 416 A4 GBB 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.
In this Mystery Boxing Video I get to take a look at 4 new Airgun Products and give you my first impressions along with a few specifications about each of them but not in a lot of details as I have not had an opportunity to research any of them as this my first time seeing them.
First out of the Mystery box is a new Umarex T4E .43 Caliber CO2 Blowback Paintball Pistol with Walther licensing called the Umarex T4E PDP. I have reviewed similar styled T4E .43 caliber CO2 Blowback Pistols in the past and this one should perform and function similarly.
The next Airgun I pulled out out of the box was the EMG SAI 2011 DS 4.3 CO2 Blowback Airsoft Pistol, a really nice 1911 styled Airsoft Pistol with a stainless finish and gold barrel with a CO2 Magazine. This one looks and feels really nice.
Staying with the pistols that came in this Mystery Box, I got my first look at the Umarex Markpoint .177 Caliber Break Barrel Pellet Pistol that has a bit of a utilitarian look and feel to it. This one is the longer barrel version and has a claimed fps of 395 using alloy pellets so we will see what it can get with more traditional lead pellets when I make my Field Test Video for it down the road a bit.
The last item out of the Mystery Box was another Umarex product, a fun CO2 BB Rifle with H&K licensing called the HK416. This semi auto and 6 round Burst internal Blowback CO2 BB Rifle is a lot like the Steel Storm and Steel Strike from Umarex but a little bit larger I would say and with H&K Licensing so more of a true Replica Airgun.
I will be making full Table Top and Field Test Videos for all of these items shortly so keep an eye out for those videos but for now you can at least get an idea what these Airgun Products will offer.
Here is Bonus Video Five 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 Fifth Bonus Full Auto Fun Video I bring out a past Full Auto Fun Airgun that I just couldn’t resist takin out for some full auto fun once again. The WE AK74UN Gas Blowback Full Auto Airsoft Rifle has got to be one of the hardest blowback Airguns I have shot, I would say even a bit more blowback feel than the KWA Mini UZI! The WE AK74UN Gas Blowback Full Auto Airsoft Rifle also does a great job of keeping Airsoft BB’s on target even in full auto with all that recoil as you will see in this video as I dial it in part way through my walk about. Unfortunately we do not sell anything like this anymore at least in Airsoft, the closest thing to it is the Crosman AK1 Blowback CO2 Full Auto BB Rifle which is still a lot of fun with a bit less recoil but a higher rate of fire.
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.
What you can expect from this Field test Shooting Video for the Barra 1866 Junior Dual Ammo Pump Cowboy Rifle are two things for sure. I test out the velocity with both 4.5mm Steel BB’s and .177 caliber lead pellets, I also chuck both of these rounds downrange to see if one may be more accurate than the other and how close I can get a 5 shot grouping for each ammunition type. If you are looking for details and specifications and perhaps some more close up video of the Barra 1866 Junior Dual Ammo Pump Cowboy Rifle then you may want to watch my Table Top Video for it here.
If you have watched any of my hundreds of Field Test Videos, then you already know I start off shooting 5 or so rounds through my Chronograph to see what the average velocity is going to be. In this Field Test I shoot 3 rounds of each ammo type, 3 BB’s and 3 pellets since it is a pump Airgun and they tend to be more consistent than a CO2 Airgun. Barra claims around 350 fps, I am not sure if this is for BB’s or Pellets or both? As it turns out (spoiler alert), both ammo types performed about the same in both the velocity and accuracy portion of my testing. For BB’s, my chronograph testing got 303, 316 and 316 for an average of 312 fps. For pellets my chronograph results were 309, 309, 314 for an average of 311, so only 1 fps off between the two. Keep in mind the BB’s weigh around 5.1 grain while the pellets I was using were around 7 grain, so the pellets will be carrying more energy downrange and hit a bit harder. By the way they are also harder to load so I would suggest just shooting the steel BB’s in this one since you can keep the fun times flowing better...
Next up for my accuracy test of the Barra 1866 Junior Dual Ammo Pump Cowboy Rifle, I again shot both ammo types, but 5 rounds of each and just like the velocity test they matched each other almost exactly. Both the steel BB’s and lead pellets I was using shot really well centered left to right, maybe just a hair to the left and both shot just about an inch or so high on the bullseye I was aiming at 30 feet away. The 5 BB’s grouped nicely for me at about an inch while the pellets did get a slightly tighter 3/4 inch grouping for me in this test. I was using a semi rested shooting position sitting on a stool in the back with the rifle rested on a sand bag up front.
The Barra 1866 Junior Dual Ammo Pump Cowboy Rifle really surprised me in how it performed, It’s not going to be the most powerful BB/pellet cowboy rifle out there but compared to a Red Ryder it does have a bit more punch and in terms of accuracy I found it shot better for me than at least I can do with a Red Ryder type BB rifle. You also have the option of shooting BB’s or Pellets but I would recommend shooting BB’s since you have that 50 round hopper and the BB’s auto load when you pull the bolt back which is much easier than loading pellets with a pair of tweezers which is what I needed to do to get them in with my sausage fingers. One more thing to mention is I do not recommend pumping this air rifle more than 1 time, not only does the manual say not to, but there is little benefit in pumping it more times with only the risk to damaging the airgun. I pumped it 4 times and only got about 20 fps more out of it so just don’t do it. If you want a Cowboy style Air Rifle with a little more realism than say a Red Ryder but that shoots about the same then checkout the Barra 1866 Junior Dual Ammo Pump Cowboy Rifle.
Type: Lever/Pump Dual Ammo Rifle Manufacturer: Distributed by Barra. Model:Junior Dual Ammo Pump Cowboy Rifle. Materials: Mostly plastic, some metal. Weight: 4.1 pounds (1859 grams). Total Length: 36 inches (91.44mm). Barrel: 18 inches (45.7cm) metal rifled. Propulsion: Pump Compressed Air. Action: Lever/Pump Ammunition Type: .4.5mm steel BB’s & .177 Caliber Pellets. Ammunition Capacity: 50 BB’s in hopper, single shot Pellets. FPS: Claimed 350-400.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on Barra 1866 Junior Dual Ammo Pump Cowboy Rifle is respectable at about 5 pounds with a medium to short pull length. I would say it is perfect for novice shooters as it is not overly light so as not to go off easily by accident and not too heavy for youth shooters with less finger strength than adults. When you pull the bolt back to reload the ammo, the internal cocking mechanism is activated allowing for single action type shooting. You do need to activate the bolt with each shot.
Accuracy: My dedicated field test shooting video is planned for this week, so for now I have no idea what to expect in terms of velocity and accuracy from the Barra 1866 Junior Dual Ammo Pump Cowboy Rifle, other than it is claimed to shoot around 350 fps when using pellets. It does have an 18 inch rifles barrel which should contribute to helping a lot with accuracy, so I do have high expectations especially since it has a pretty good trigger and when looking down the sights they allow for a nice tight fix on the target. The rear stock is short but not so short that it feels cramped for an adult shooter which should also help when I perform my accuracy test.
Build Quality: The Barra 1866 Junior Dual Ammo Pump Cowboy Rifle is nothing special when it comes to materials being used in it. It is for the most plastic with the exception of the inner and outer barrel along with the rear sight and I would imagine some other internal parts. It does feel not so bad as it is a bit over 4 pounds and is smaller in nature so it feels solid enough in the hand. I wish the Pump/Lever was metal as it would of felt a bit more solid and would have added a bit more additional weight to the Barra 1866 Junior Dual Ammo Pump Cowboy Rifle. Fit and finish is good and overall the gun looks and feels good.
Realism: The Barra 1866 Junior Dual Ammo Pump Cowboy Rifle is essentially styled after the Old West Lever Action Cowboy Rifle, and it has everything we would expect other than loading shells which is available in other Lever Action Air Rifles if you don’t mind paying a premium for one. The lever is actually not a lever but more of a pump so the action and look of the lever is not exactly as you would expect from a true lever action rifle, but when it is locked in place it does look the part. The gold receiver and rifle band looks sharp and I feel matches up with the dark imitation wood stock nicely. One point to make is that the hammer is not the hammer but actually the safety and the bolt not only opens the breach area but also acts as the cocking mechanism for the internal hammer.
Pros:
Super easy to pump.
Fit and finish looks decent for a mostly plastic airgun.
In terms of realism it does look like a more compact lever action rifle for the most part
Can shoot either BB’s or Pellets.
Holds 50 BB’s in the hoper for quicker follow up shooting.
Metal octagon outer barrel adds addition weight to a mostly plastic gun.
Rear sight is metal and is also adjustable for elevation.
Trigger pull is pretty decent, not too light but is short and about 5 pounds.
Recessed barrel for added realism.
Made for kids but the shoulder pull length and sight placement works for adults too.
The gold receiver looks good and gives it a unique look.
Cons:
Mostly plastic build.
Manual says only one pump but I wonder why this is the case or perhaps just to deregulate it?
Pellets are hard to load especially if you have larger hands and fingers.
Comments:
The Barra 1866 Junior Dual Ammo Pump Cowboy Rifle is a competitor for products like the Red Ryder but it has a bit more realism in terms of looking more like a replica of a real steel Lever Action Cowboy Rifle. It also allows for shooting pellets and has an actual rifled barrel so hopefully this helps with accuracy. You can still kind of shoot it Lever Action Style when shooting BB’s but there is the addition of charging the bolt with each shot over and above working the Lever / Pump, so it will take a bit more time to get those follow up shots as compared to a Red Ryder BB Rifle. One other point to make is that the lever is actually not a lever but more of a pump since this is not spring powered but instead has an air reservoir which on this version only allows for one pump, but on the non-junior version you can pump it up to 10 times and get a claimed 800 fps out of it (US Version). I am going to try pumpkin the Barra 1866 Junior Dual Ammo Pump Cowboy Rifle up to three times to see if there is any difference in power but this could void your warranty if you damage the air reservoir by over pressuring it. So be good and only pump yours once as instructed in the manual.
In this velocity and accuracy Field Test Shooting Video of the EMG SAI BLU Blowback CO2 Airsoft Pistol, I test out what the velocity is in feet per second (FPS) using a brand new 12 gram CO2 loading up .20 gram plastic 6mm Airsoft BB’s by shooting 5 rounds through my trusted Chronograph. Salient Arms claims 375 to 390 fps which is on the higher side for many blowback Airsoft Pistols. I then setup a fresh paper target 30 feet down range here in the Replcia Airguns Sea Can, and shoot 10 rounds at it using a semi rested shooting position to find out how the EMG SAI BLU Blowback CO2 Airsoft Pistol shoots in terms of if it is anywhere near the bullseye out of the box and if it can get a decently tight grouping. If you have not already watched my Table Top Video Review for the EMG SAI BLU, then make sure to watch it for details, specifications and some nice close up 4k video.
First up in my Field Test of my velocity test of the EMG SAI BLU Blowback CO2 Airsoft Pistol, I shot my standard 5 rounds through the Chronograph and then averaged them out. The slowest shot was 392 fps while the fastest shot hit 399 fps, this averaged 395 fps which was slightly higher than the claimed maximum of 390! Temperature was maybe a bit under 20 degrees Celsius, I would say closer to 18 or 19 which is in the low to mid 60’s or so degrees Fahrenheit, so it is possible for the EMG SAI BLU Blowback CO2 Airsoft Pistol to hit even higher fps velocity in warmer temperatures.
I then set things up for the accuracy portion of this test and placed a fresh paper target 30 feet downrange, using a semi rested shooting position (hands rested on a sandbag up front and sitting on a stool in the back) I proceeded to place 10 rounds into the target with the EMG SAI BLU Airsoft Pistol. The EMG SAI BLU Blowback CO2 Airsoft Pistol did end up shooting fairly well centered on the target with some rounds even entering the bullseye for me. I found it shot just slightly to the right but not by much, in terms of elevation it averaged right in the center. The grouping for the 10 rounds was about 3 inches total but I feel the .20 gram BB’s where a bit of a light choice for this Airsoft Pistol as the velocity is higher than some and a heavier Airsoft BB’s would have probably gotten me better results.
I really enjoyed shooting the EMG SAI BLU Blowback CO2 Airsoft Pistol. Everything about it feels really good, the single action trigger is perfect, nice and short, light and crisp, the slide has such a snappy response to it with more blowback feel than I was expecting for a lighter slide. The overall feel and weight of the gun just feels good in the hand, not too heavy or light, the perfect weight to pack around as a dedicated sidearm for sure. It also has that Glock look and feel to it but with its own unique look so you won’t be just another dude with a Glock, not that that’s a bad thing but it does get a bit boring… The EMG SAI BLU Blowback CO2 Airsoft Pistol is a premium Airsoft Pistol so you will pay a bit more but you will get a really nice gun in terms of looks, originality and performance.
Type: GBB Airsoft Pistol. Manufacturer: Distributed by EMG. Model:SAI BLU. Materials: Metal and plastic. Weight: 1.3 pounds (570 grams). Total Length: 8.5 inches (216mm). Barrel: 4 inches (102mm) metal rifled. Propulsion: CO2 x1. Action: Semi auto Blowback, SAO trigger. Ammunition Type: 6mm Airsoft BB’s. Ammunition Capacity: 25. FPS: Claimed 375-390.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the EMG SAI BLU Blowback CO2 Airsoft Pistol like a Glock is single action only and it is very light and short, perhaps lighter and shorter than a Glock trigger in my opinion. The EMG SAI BLU does have a working trigger safety similar to a Glock and for storage there is also a serial number switch located just in front of the trigger guard where you would expect it to be.
Accuracy: I have not made my Field test Shooting Video or even tested out the EMG SAI BLU Blowback CO2 Airsoft Pistol so far so I can not comment on the performance other than the claimed velocity of (375-390 fps). My plan is to have this info available next week when I make my Field test Shooting Video so stay posted of that video coming up shortly…
Build Quality: The EMG SAI BLU Blowback CO2 Airsoft Pistol is very well made with quality materials throughout. You will find a machined aluminum slide with lightening cuts, aggressive slide serrations with SAI rollmarks, an injected moulded polymer frame and a full metal drop out magazine. The SAI brass color removable back-strap and magazine release are also made out of metal and the backstop can be swapped out for other sizes but you will have to acquire those on your own.
Realism: The EMG SAI BLU Blowback CO2 Airsoft Pistol is custom designed and built by Salient Arms to fill the void between M&P ergonomics and Glock reliability. So it is not an exact replica but it does share its looks to a certain degree with a Glock, but I am sure Salient Arms did there best to not cross any lines in terms of infringement on other product designs. In terms of realistic operation the EMG SAI BLU functions and operates as you would expect a real steel pistol like it is designed around to operate.
Pros:
Nice light and short single action trigger.
Fit and finish is excellent, with qaulity build materials.
Fairly light weight pistol, easy side arm to pack around ready when you need it.
Fiber optic front sight for quick and easy shot placements.
Frame integrated 20mm accessory rail is ideal for mounting weapon lights and other accessories.
Threaded, fluted SAI style outer barrel (EMG SAI licensed proprietary convex thread cap included)
SAI brass color removable backstrap and magazine release for added weight to enhance balance while shooting.
Full size metal magazine holds the CO2 and 25 Airsoft BB’s which adds additional weight and balance.
Most mechanical parts work just like a steel version of this style of modern semi auto pistol.
Unique individualized serial number laser-engraved on every model.
Very snappy and responsive slide action.
Machined aluminum slide with lightening cuts, aggressive slide serrations with SAI rollmarks.
Cons:
Mine did not come with the EMG SAI licensed proprietary convex thread barrel cap .
Will need to purchase additional back straps separately if required.
Price is a bit on the higher side.
Comments:
The EMG SAI BLU Blowback CO2 Airsoft Pistol is a really well designed and built pistol and may be an option for someone looking for a Glock but that maybe want’s to have a more unique pistol with many of the features and benefits a Glock offers. I’m not sure I like the brass/gold highlights but I would say it is not over the top. I am especially impressed with how smooth the slide cycle feels, how snappy the return is and the spring feels the perfect amount. I am expecting when I load a 12 gram CO2 and actually fire the EMG SAI BLU Blowback CO2 Airsoft Pistol, the blowback operation will be really good! You will pay a bit of a premium for this Airsoft Pistol but it does have premium build and materials in it so it will be worth the slightly higher cost.
In this shooting velocity and accuracy Field Test Video of the Umarex KWA HK USP Match GBB Airsoft Pistol, I test out what the velocity is in fps using propane gas along with .20 gram plastic 6mm Airsoft BB’s by placing 6 rounds through my Chronograph. Umarex claims 365 fps just above the 360 Canada minimum import regulation. I then setup a fresh paper target 30 feet down range in the Sea Can and shoot 10 rounds into it using a semi rested shooting position to find out if the Umarex KWA HK USP Match GBB Airsoft Pistol shoots near the bullseye on the target out of the box and if it can get a decently tight grouping. If you have not already watched my Table Top Video Review for the Umarex KWA HK USP Match GBB Airsoft Pistol, then make sure to do so for details, specifications and some nice close in 4k video.
First, my velocity test of the Umarex KWA HK USP Match GBB Airsoft Pistol, I shot 6 rounds through my Chronograph and then averaged them all out. The slowest shot was 354 fps while the fastest shot hit 378 fps, this averaged 362 fps which was really close to the Umarex claim of 365 fps. Temperature was maybe a bit under 20 degrees Celsius, I would say closer to 17 or 18 which is in the low 60’s or so degrees Fahrenheit, so I would expect a bit higher fps velocity in warmer temperatures, maybe as high as 380 or so…
As promised, I then placed a fresh paper target 30 feet downrange and using a semi rested shooting position (hands rested on a sandbag up front and sitting on a stool in the back - works for me). I proceeded to place 10 rounds into the target with the Umarex KWA HK USP Match GBB Airsoft Pistol, and was a bit surprised at what I saw when I went up to the target. I would say the grouping was around 6 inches which is not what I expected from this quality of Match Grade Airsoft Pistol. it should of easily broke 2 inches? The bulk of the shots did shoot within 2 inches and very close to the bullseye I might add, but 2 shots went high and 2 shots went low making the grouping a lot larger unfortunately. Perhaps a heavier Airsoft BB is what this Airgun needs as I think it has a lot more potential than it showed me here today.
You never know what to expect when making a Filed Test Shooting Video. Some low cost basic shooters end up performing really well and surprising me. In this case I was a bit underwhelmed by the Umarex KWA HK USP Match GBB Airsoft Pistol, at least in terms of the accuracy portion of the test. In terms of velocity it was bang on, and I love the way it shoots and feels, the blowback is steady and crips and the trigger feels really good. Again I am hoping the accuracy results were more about ammo choice as I can see it really wanted to place Airsoft BB’s near the bullseye and in that under 2 inch grouping, but it struggled perhaps with my light weight ammo choice. All around I think the Umarex KWA HK USP Match GBB Airsoft Pistol is a great option, you just need to work with it a little bit and find out what it likes to shoot.
Type: GBB Airsoft Pistol. Manufacturer: Distributed by Umarex - Manufactured by KWA. Model:HK USP Match Materials: Metal and plastic. Weight: 2.45 pounds (1120 grams). Total Length: 9.5 inches (242mm). Barrel: 4.5 inches (114mm) metal rifled. Propulsion: Green Gas. Action: Semi auto Blowback, SA DA trigger. Ammunition Type: 6mm Airsoft BB’s. Ammunition Capacity: 28. FPS: Claimed 365.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Umarex KWA HK USP Match GBB Airsoft Pistol is nice in both single and double action. Most of the time you will be shooting in single action as once the blowback action kicks in the slide cycle will pre-cock the hammer allowing for short light single action trigger pulls. You can de-cock this pistol dropping the hammer, at that point your next shot will be in double action until the blowback action again pre-cocks the hammer for you. Both single and double action on this pistol feel good with single action being shorter and lighter while the double action is still very usable.
Accuracy: I have yet to shoot the Umarex KWA HK USP Match GBB Airsoft Pistol or perform my standard Field Test shooting Video so I can not comment on the performance other than what Umarex claimes in terms of velocity (365 fps). I expect the Umarex KWA HK USP Match to perform well as it is a competition style pistol with fully adjustable sights. So even if it shoots bit off out of the box I can dial it in closer to the bulls eye with a simple turn of the sight adjustment screws. This Airsoft gun has a really nice weight and feel in the hand and is really well balance so that should help out with accuracy but we will find out soon enough…
Build Quality: The Umarex KWA HK USP Match GBB Airsoft Pistol is a quality product all around with Metal and Polymer construction. You will find a machined aluminum alloy slide, CNC machined aluminum compensator weight and an injection molded polymer frame. Fit and finishes is very good which is what I find with most KWA built products. Internally this product KWA utilizes the NS2 gas blowback system that provides excellent gas efficiency and performance.
Realism: The Umarex KWA HK USP Match GBB Airsoft Pistol is as close to the real steel version as you can get with an Airsoft Pistol replicating looks and function very closely. It has full blowback action with all the mechanical parts operating as they would on the real steel version. Metal parts and plastic parts are found in all the same places and you can fully field strip the Umarex KWA HK USP Match GBB Airsoft Pistol just like the .45 caliber version.
Pros:
Single and double action trigger with a nice light short single action trigger.
Fit and finish is excellent, top notch build materials.
This pistol is pretty heavy at almost 2.5 pounds!
Extremely close replica of the real steel HK USP Match in both looks and function.
Decently priced for a quality Airgun.
Fully adjustable match grade sights.
I like the look of the compensator extension and flared magwell.
Full ambidextrous controls.
Full size metal magazine holds the Gas and 28 Airsoft BB’s which adds additional weight and balance.
Most Mechanical parts work just like the real steel version and can be field stripped with a bit of work.
No need to field strip to adjust the hop-up as a tool is included for that.
Heavy slide spring with fast blowback action, great for action shooting.
Licensing all over this gun true to the real steel version.
Cons:
Has a painted on orange tip.
Not super easy to filed strip
May be a bit heavy and bulky for some people.
Comments:
The Umarex KWA HK USP Match GBB Airsoft Pistol is on the larger size and may not be for everyone but if you don’t mind a beefier Airsoft Pistol, you will get a lot from this one. It almost has a bit of that RoboCop look to it which I don’t mind. You also have a lot of control over this Airsoft Pistol with full ambidextrous controls, fully adjustable sights and both a single and double action trigger. And then there is the compensator, it does look cool but I am not really sure how much it is going to improve shooting this gun if any. For the price you do get a lot with the Umarex KWA HK USP Match GBB Airsoft Pistol.
I’ve got some new Airguns to show everyone today and all of them are Pistols of some sort or another. I show you three 4.5mm BB Pistols from ASG, a Cybergun 1911 NBB BB Pistol, an Airsoft Full Blowback Pistol from EMG and lastly from Umarex, an HK Full Blowback Airsoft Pistol. This is not a full review by any means, the video is mainly to let you know what is coming up in terms of Table Top and Field Test Videos and that we do have these products at least listed in our Replica Airgun Store.
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…
