You may have noticed a lack of Airgun Video Reviews last week? That is because I went on vacation with my buddy Steve to Oceanside California where we stayed at the WorldMark Oceanside Resort. We spent a full week in Oceanside visiting the surrounding beaches, Mission Beach in San Diego along with Laguna Beach and Newport Beach.

We had a really great time, I was able to capture a variety of video of some of our experiences using my Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, My DJI Neo AI and FPV Drone, and my Meta Glasses. I have put together a video to share Oceanside California and surrounding area in a mostly chronological order for your viewing enjoyment.

I am back to making Airgun Review Videos so stay posted for those videos coming shortly…

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Since I use all kinds of cameras for the making of my Replica Airguns Videos including the HoverAir X1 Flying Camera Drone, I though it would be a good idea to share my thoughts on the new DJI NEO Mini Drone which Is replacing my HoverAir X1 at least for now. This is not an unboxing first impression video with basic out of the box test videos. This video is going to go over how the DJI NEO actually performs comparing to the HoverAir X1 and other DJI dedicated Drones and FPV Drones.

I have used different drones to do everything the DJI Neo claims to do, but can the DJI NEO really do it all and if so can it do it all as good or good enough?

The short answer is yes it can do it all but will it meet your specific expectations?

I don’t claim to be a pro at any of the things the DJI Neo can do, but I have at least some experience using the HoverAir X1 for the past year which is a similar experience as what you get with the base model DJI NEO out of the box. 

I also have owned and flown standard DJI Drones with remote control setups for taking those cinematic flying around smooth shots. The DJI NEO out of the box can do limited distance and height using your DJI NEO with your phone in Manual Mode. You can also purchase the DJI NEO Fly More Kit that comes with the RC-N3 Controller and unlock almost limitless distance and even more features out of your DJI NEO.

I owned the first generation DJI Avata and flew it with the motion controller similar to what you can do with the DJI NEO when combined with the DJI Goggles 3 and RC Motion 3 Controller. That experience really got me more interested in experimenting with FPV drones.

I now own a bunch of FPV drones in various styles and sizes and use them with my DJI Goggles and Manual Controller to fly in full Manual Acro Mode for a true fps experience.

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DJI NEO Compared to the HoverAir X1.

• For the most part they both perform a lot of the same Selfie Camera shots like Follow, Droney, Circle, Rocket, Spotlight, Direction Track and some more specific to each unit.

• You can fly them without a controller or even your phone by simply turning them on, selecting your flying mode and pressing a button.

• They both can use your phone as a simple virtual controller to fly them around in manual mode and get some cool more cinematic shots.

• They both can use your phones built in Microphone to record audio while taking out the drones propeller noise.

• They are both well under 250 grams closer to 120 to 130 grams.

• They both have a one axis gimbal setup.

• The cameras in both are comparable. 2.7k 30fps for the HoverAir X1 and 4k 30fps for the DJI NEO.

• Both have full prop guards and are very crash resistant.

Where does each one shin in my opinion?

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HoverAir X1:

• Starting with the HoverAir X1 it came out first and so more of the bugs and settings have been worked out, and you have to give them credit for being first here as DJI did a lot of copying if we are being honest.

• The HoverAirX1 has more ability to change settings using the buttons on the drone without going into the phones software to do it.

• The HoverAir X1 is better at staying in place when inside and in lower light situations.

• The HoverAir X1 can record in portrait mode for social media content.

• The HoverAir X1 can use just about any external USB or BT Microphone for recording to get better audio than just by using you phones internal Microphone. The DJI NEO only gives you the option to use their DJI 2 Microphone which starts at $300 Canadian.

• The HoverAir X1 can be folded, making it much more portable.

• The HoverAir X1 at this time can track a little bit faster than the DJI NEO, but that can change with a softer update in the future.

• The HoverAir X1 does not restrict where you can fly as there is no Geo Fencing. The DJI NEO will not give you much of a problem here when in solo mode or when connected to the DJI Fly App without any controllers or Goggles, but when connected to addition DJI accessories, you will  have to factor in Geo Fencing limitations and work arounds which can be really annoying.

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DJI NEO:

• Moving on to the DJI NEO, the NEO has voice command as long as the DJI Fly App is open and your phone screen is on, very useful when wanting to change the drones distance and height in modes like Follow and Direction Tracking.

• The DJI software is a bit more intuitive and the Manual Mode allows for much smoother control of the DJI NEO and further distances and height. (60m)

• The DJI NEO records in 4k which is a bit better than the HoverAir X1 2.7k, but not by much. There is room for improvement with the NEO in terms of software updates but we will see what DJI does in terms of improving video quality and hopefully the ability to tweak the video settings.

• The DJI NEO has built in GPS which allows it to stay in position outside better and even go over water and steep drop-offs.

• The DJI NEO has an 18 minute battery run time versus the HoverAir X1 10 minute battery run time. (In real life it is more like 15 versus 8 minutes), so almost double per battery.

• The DJI NEO is much more than a one trick pony with its ability to be much more than a Flying Selfie Camera Drone. It can be a full fledged remote controlled drone or even a true FPV drone when adding the additional accessories to it.

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And that brings us to the point in this video where I talk about if the DJI NEO can really perform good enough to possibly replace your stand alone drone or even your FPV Drone? And again it depends on what your expectations are and what your end use in these modes is.

In terms of a stand alone drone, when the DJI is connected to the RC-N3 Controller, it can do much of the same tasks you would expect and get many of the same shots. Because of its size it will not be as good in stronger winds and it also does not have the power or speed of a larger dedicated Drone. Most of the DJI Drones also have higher quality cameras with larger sensors and 2 or even 3 axis gimbals with better stabilization. They also have much longer battery run times so you can go farther and longer with them. That said the DJI NEO may be good enough for a non-pro user to get the shots they are looking for.

The DJI NEO has been compared to the DJI Avata series and it does look a lot like a smaller version for sure. In terms of flying ink a DJI Avata, again it is smaller and less powerful so it will be slower and more prone to weather conditions. The camera systems on even the DJI Avata 1 is much better than the DJI NEO with full 4k 60fps ability and the DJI Avata 2 camera is even better than the Avata 1 camera.

As an FPV Drone you can strap on a set of DJI Goggles 3 and and instead of using the Motion Controller 3, you can connect to the RC Motion 3 Controller and get full manual mode FPV flying and hit speeds as high as 60km/h. You do have to be careful as the DJI NEO is not really a freestyle drone, if you push it too hard it will washout and go out of control potentially crashing, especially if you are close to the ground and it does not have time to recover. That said it is a lot of fun to fly if you fly within its limitations.

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Some tips when using the DJI NEO based on my experiences:

• Record in 4k for best quality except when in FPV Manual mode as the faster motion of FPV flying requires more frame rate speed to capture all of the motion without getting video jitter. Your feed in the DJI Goggles will look a lot better in 1080p 60fps as 1080p is the native resolution and 60fps is much smoother and allows for easier viewing while flying.

• Do not use the DJI NEO inside in low light, it simply does not work very well in low light inside and will most of the time just land.

• When using a remote like the RC-N3 or the Goggles 3, lower your video sharpness to (-2) for better looking video.

• To fly in restricted GEO Zones you will need to go online and make a license request on the DJI Fly-Safe website and then you will need to treansfer that request license to your drone using the DJI Fly App while connected to the DJI NEO with with an internet connect. A bit of a process but after a few times you get the hang of it. I was not able to unlock a Geo Zone on location while in the app even with an internet connection. Hopefully this gets fixed down the road.

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First off, Comica was kind enough to send the Comica BoomX-D PRO Wireless Microphone System for free to review. That said the opinions in this review are my own and I do a fairly thorough review testing out the audio of the Comica BoomX-D PRO’s to my Comica Vimo C similar Microphone system. I use a variety of setups including recording into my camera and smart phone via line in and USB in. I also test out the internal recording capability of the Comica BoomX-D PRO’s to see if three is any difference in sound and levels.

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One of the main reasons why I was interested in tech Comica BoomX-D PRO Wireless Microphone System is its ability to record directly to internal memory so you do not necessarily need a receiver as you can record direct to internal memory to one or both of the transmitters Microphones and then transfer the audio to you computer or smart phone later to sync with any video you may have recorded to go along with it.

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The Comica BoomX-D PRO Wireless Microphone System also comes with lapel Microphones that you can use instead of the built in Microphones on the actual transmitters which can make for a more discreet microphone setup and may improve audio just a little bit. The Comica Vimo C Wireless Microphone System I have been suing for the last two years and which has never let me down and fulfilled pretty much all my audio needs is a bit more compact setup than the Comica BoomX-D PRO Wireless Microphone System but Comica Vimo C’s do not have internal memory to record to our allow for using lapel microphones.

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In terms of audio quality, both systems sounds fairly similar, the Comica Vimo C Wireless Microphone System to me sounds like it may be a bit fuller in the bottom end just a little bit but not by much. Both systems have a solid connection between the transmitters and the receiver giving good range with a reliable connection  with no cutouts as long as you do not get really far away with objects in-between the transmitter and receiver. I suggest you watch my Full Review Video and decide for yourself how you feel about the audio quality of the Comica BoomX-D PRO Wireless Microphone System and if perhaps it may be the right setup for your audio recording needs. In my opinion they are a well priced system for what you get and are comparable to much higher pried units without compromising quality of build or sound.

Here are some of the key features of the Comica BoomX-D PRO Wireless Microphone System:

• 2.4G Digital Dual-channel Wireless microphone, Global Free Frequency.

• 48kHz/16bits Audio Recording, One-click Intelligent Denoise.

• Support On-board Recording with 16G Internal Memory（About 48 hour).

• Support Recording File's High-speed Transmission and Copy.

• Support Digital&Analog Output Mode, Universal for Camera, Phone and Computer.

• Safety Channel for Ultimate Flexibility in Post-production.

• Visual Power, Audio Dynamic Monitor and Other Display Function.

• M/S Switch, Real-time Audio Monitor, Mute and Volume Control.

• Internal and External MIC Two Input Modes.

• RF Technology, Auto Freq. Adjustment, Stable Transmission.

• Low Latency < 20ms, Working Range Up to 100m(Open Area).

• Designed with Multi-functional Belt Clip and Compact.

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This is not an Airgun related video, I was away for a week on vacation so I made a video of some of the vacation highlights, watch if you want to or wait for some more upcoming Airgun Videos…

My wife and I just came back from a wonderful trip to Whistler BC Canada where we stayed 5 nights, then we traveled a few hours to Birch Bay Washington US for 3 more nights.

We stayed in our WorldMark Timeshare which is always very enjoyable and invited up some good friends and relatives to come and join us for part of each trip. It was a lot of fun being able to spend some of our vacation time with good people!

It was a vacation first and foremost but I like to document my trips al least to some degree with video. So I am able to share parts of the vacation with everyone using my Meta Glasses, HoverAir X1 Selfie Drone, Insta360 X4 and GO2 cameras and even a drone shot of me playing around flying my mini Pavo Pico FPV Drone around the hotel in Whistler.

I hope you enjoy the video of our various walks, outings and just simpel hotel lounging around. If you are thinking of going for a vacation in Whistler or Birch Bay, this video may give you a bit of an idea of what you can expect.

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Type: Compact Recurve Crossbow.
Manufacturer: CenterPoint.
Model: CenterPoint Hornet.
Materials: Fiberglass, metal & plastic.
Weight: 2.25 pounds (1 kilograms).
Length: 22-24 inches.
Propulsion: Recurve Bow.
Action: Single action trigger.
Ammunition Type: Aluminum bolts (Comes with 3x 146 grain).
Ammunition Capacity: 1.
FPS: 191fps.
Draw weight: 80 pounds.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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).

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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.

• Buy the CenterPoint Hornet Recurve Compact Crossbow Kit in Canada

• Buy Compact Crossbows in the US

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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.

• Buy the Barra 1866 Junior Dual Ammo Pump Cowboy Rifle in Canada

• Buy the Barra 1866 Junior Dual Ammo Pump Cowboy Rifle in the US

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

• Buy the Barra 1866 Junior Dual Ammo Pump Cowboy Rifle in Canada

• Buy the Barra 1866 Junior Dual Ammo Pump Cowboy Rifle in the US

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I have been using camera glasses of some sort since the beginning with my www.ReplicaAirguns.com channel, starting off with actual ski type goggles that had a built in camera which was not ideal as they were super bulky. I did eventually get some camera glasses that where actual glasses and looked more or less like oversized sunglasses without the dark lenses but they where a big improvement over the ski goggles I was using. For the past 2-3 years I have been using my iVue Vista Camera Glasses for making these videos and they have worked pretty well for the most part but none of the camera glasses I have used in the past have any type of image stabilization which does make for some erratic video head movement.

So when I came across the Ray Ban Meta AI Smart Glasses, which I quickly learned and saw had some decent stabilization in them I thought maybe it's time to upgrade my camera glasses. The Ray Ban Meta AI Smart Glasses also do a lot more than typical Camera glasses. Not only do they have a stabilized 12mp camera with 1080p+ resolution, the Ray Ban Meta AI Smart Glasses has some very good audio for recording and hearing with a 5 mic setup and some actual usable in arm speakers. On top of the superior audio, the Ray Ban Meta's have "Hey Meta" which is like Siri or Google Assistant but it can also tap into Meta AI and do even more in terms of voice commands. You will even be able to look at something and ask Meta what you are looking at and Meta will tell you all about it.

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I do hope to use the Ray Ban Meta AI Smart Glasses for a lot more than when I do my Replica Airguns Shooting Videos, I hope to use them for more spontaneous video recording on my www.GetFitOver40.com channel since they are super easy to use and you always have them ready to record.

I did order the Sunglass version but regretted it almost immediately, and so I have ordered the transitions lens version so I can use my Ray Ban Meta's both inside and out. The other negative feature for me is that the video camera records in prorate mode only and for only up to 1 minute in length. I do think I can work with this limitation as the video quality is good enough to allow for zooming and cropping when need be, and I should be able to work around the 1 minute recording time limitation by recording more selectively and simply starting another 1 min video when I need for additional time.

In this Ray Ban Meta AI Smart Glasses video, watch me Unbox, Setup and record some initial videos. I also talk a bit about why I got them and what my initial thoughts are after checking them out.

This is not exclusive to Airguns since trends of Airguns are highly influenced by what type of Real Steel Pistols are popular to people. This is often based on what people see portrayed in movies and TV Series, and also promoted online. There is for sure an overlap in what is popular and it is hard to say what is influencing what? Is it the popularity of Pistols out in the real world that influences what we see being used in the movies and on TV? Or is it what we see in Movies and TV that influences our choices of pistols out in the real world? Perhaps it is a combination of both?

My list is based on my own personal experience and does not represent the entirety of types of Pistol designs available.

• Glock

• Sig Sauer

• 1911

• Beretta 92 / 84

• S&W M&P

• Makarov / Walther PPK

• 357 / 44 Magnum / Colt Single Action Army

• Desert Eagle

• UZI

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Cost:

Airguns are generally cheaper to buy and for sure cheaper to shoot. Airguns can cost as little as $50-100 to buy while real guns in similar models will cost many time more. Cost of ammo is so much less expensive than Real Gun ammo by a mile!

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Difficulty to Obtain:

Airguns in most countries do not require any licensing or registration. Generally there are more available options in Airgun choices than Real Gun choices as restrictions often prohibit many Real Guns to be obtained.

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Places to Shoot:

Unless you live in a super remote locations and your laws allow you to shoot Real Guns in those locations, then in most cases you can shoot an Airgun almost anywhere within reason. You can even shoot certain Airgun models in your basement. Airsoft is a great option for indoor shooting as the plastic ammo does not carry very much energy so with minimal effort you can make a backstop that will trap the ammo very well.

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Trigger Time:

Because ammo is much less expensive and places you can shoot are easier to find, you can get a lot more Trigger Time under your belt which will also improve your shotgun with Real Guns and after all it’s just fun to shoot guns even if they are Airguns.

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Safety:

I am not talking about safety in terms of protection. I am talking about safety as in if you do something stupid and your Gun goes off accidentally. If you accidentally fire your Airgun indoors, the bullet will not travel through floors or walls and potentially harm or kill someone on the other side. If you do manage to shoot yourself with an Airgun, the consequence are much less severe than shooting yourself with a Real Gun. That said, always treat an Airgun as if it was a Real Loaded Gun, as server injury and even death can occur even with an Airgun.

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Ware Games and Training Situations:

There is no way you can use a standard Real Gun to shoot at people, unless extensively altered with special parts that make the Real Gun unusable to shoot live ammo. With Airguns you have the choice of using an Airsoft or Paintball gun that are both designed specifically for this purpose.

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Pest Control:

If you have the need for pest control in an urban area where you do not want a stray bullet to travel too far or penetrate buildings if a shot where to go awry, then an Airgun designed for accuracy and power may be perfect for the job. Accuracy with target and hunting Airguns is on par if not better than many Real Guns and are have powerful enough to kill a pest humanely without having too much power for the job and having to worry as much about your background.

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Prop Guns:

As mentioned already, Airguns can look a lot like Real Guns, so they are perfect to be used as a stand-in or Prop Gun when you need to simulate the look and function of a Real Gun. Again they are easier and cheaper to obtain and if something does go wrong, the consequences are much less severe.

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Social Stigma:

Unfortunately Real Guns and perhaps any gun these days are looked upon with a social stigma as being the cause of the Crime rather than a tool used in a Crime. And so people blame Guns for these crimes rather than the people committing these crimes. If a person is motivated enough to do something bad, they are going to do it either way and will use whatever means is available to them to commit these Crimes. Including other means like: Knives, Blunt Objects, Poisons, Vehicles, Explosives… Sad but true! Airguns are not used in homicides or mass shootings as they are completely underpowered for a crime like this. They can however be used in crimes as a show of threat, as they do look a lot like real guns, generally people that use Airguns for real crimes, if challenged will give up immediately as they are completely outgunned. Don’t bring an Airgun to a Real Gun fight, you have better chance with a knife!

This video is primarily for my viewers over on the Replica Airguns channels as I have not posted anything about what's been going on with me the last month and a bit. My Airgun channel does not have very much personal content like my GetFitOver40 channel does, so I wanted to fill them in on where I have been and what's been going on.

In this video I talk about being in the hospital for a month because I was experiencing shortness of breath and a feeling of pressure in my diaphragm area which was later found out to be a heart problem.

Unknown to me I had been born with a Congenital Heart Defect where my Aortic Valve was defective which over time had cause the Aortic Root area to double in size (3cm normal to 6cm).

This defect caused my heart to work a lot harder then normal making it enlarge over time which is not good and reduces it's pumping ability. Before my operation my heart function was below 20%, a normal healthy heart is around 60%.

While in the hospital I had open heart surgery on my Aortic valve replacing it along with a section above it. I also had a Pacemaker/Defibrillator put in. There where a lot of concerns because my heart was also enlarged and not functioning that well, the doctor even said they may not be able to get me off of bypass which would then require an emergency heart transplant. The good news is the operation went well and no need for a new heart at least for now...

I was in the hospital for longer than normal because of my enlarged heart and because of all the stress to it. I was in and out of what's called Atrial Fibrillation. This is when the heart beats very irregularly and faster than normal. It can be short term or longer term and can sort itself out or require intervention to help get back to a Sinus Rhythm. At the time of this post I believe it has gone back to the normal Sinus Rhythm, so fingers crossed it stays this way.

As you can imagine, this has been a life changing event and means my lifestyle will be changing a bit. I will not be doing anything to overstress my heart but that does not mean no more fitness for me, just a different fitness approach. Perhaps a more scaled back approach but I am always up for a challenge and this is no different in terms of how I would approach any challenge in my life.

So if you are a Replica Airguns follower and want to follow my "Road to Recovery" you can do that over on my GetFitOver40 channels. Other than that I will be making regular Airgun Videos moving forward now that I am at home.

Different Types of Airgun Sights

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Sights for guns in general are the same for Airguns as is with real steel guns for the most part and can be mixed and matched with a couple of exceptions. Spring piston rifles for instance are an exception because of the unique vibration the spring makes and how it can damage a standard optical sight, so in this case you’re best to use an optical sight designed for a spring piston Airgun. In most other cases sights can be used on all types of guns.

In this Airgun Sights video I will go over the various types of sights that either come as part of the gun design or can be added afterwards using a rail or mounting system.

Types of Airgun Sights most commonly used.

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Iron Sight (Fixed or removable).

Iron Sight (Adjustable).

Iron Sight (White Dot, Fiber Optic).

Come in Post/Notch, Post/Aperture (Peep).

Common on Pistols and Rifles

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Laser Sight:

Generally added to a rail or can sometime be integrated into the design of the gun.

Common on both Pistols and Rifles.

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Red Dot and Holographic:

Generally not magnified.

Most common on Rifles but can be used on Pistols.

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Optical Magnified (Telescopic)

Come in a variety of magnifications for different shooting ranges.

Generally for Rifles but can be used on Pistols.

In this Replica Airguns Video I talk about the latest Canadian Temporary Handgun Ban What it Means for Airguns. I talk about what I think abut it and what it means for Replica Airguns now and in the future.

Canada puts in place temporary handgun import ban!

From: Global Affairs Canada

News release

August 05, 2022 - Toronto, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada

Canadians deserve to feel safe in their communities. That is why the Government of Canada has a comprehensive plan that gets firearms off our streets and more

resources into our communities. A central part of this is the recently introduced Bill C21. The bill addresses the alarming role of guns in gender based violence, gets tough on organized crime and most significantly introduces a national freeze on the sale,

transfer and ownership of handguns, anywhere in Canada.

The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the Honourable Marco Mendicino, Minister of Public Safety, today announced a temporary import ban on the importation of restricted handguns. This will help bring the ultimate impact of the national handgun freeze into force sooner. This temporary ban means that individuals and businesses will no longer be able to import handguns into Canada, subject to narrow exceptions that mirror those in Bill C-21. These restrictions will take effect on

August 19th, 2022, and will last until the national freeze comes into force. No single program or initiative can tackle the challenge of gun violence on its own. That is why Bill C-21 and the national freeze on handguns are two of the many elements in the Government’s comprehensive plan to keep Canadians safe. This begins at our borders, where we’ve added resources to fight smuggling and stop guns from coming into Canada. We’re also investing in prevention programs to tackle the root causes of gun crime and stop it before it starts. Finally, we banned assault-style weapons like AR15s, and will soon begin a buyback program to get these weapons of war out of our communities once and for all.

Quotes

“We know that one Canadian killed by gun violence is one too many. As a government, it is our duty to ensure that Canada remains one of the safest places to live in the world. The import ban announced today will help to keep guns stay off our streets as we work towards implementing Bill C-21, reducing gun violence in the immediate term.

- Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs

“My top priority as Minister is keeping Canadians safe in their communities. Today’s announcement is further proof that we are using all tools at our disposal to fight gun crime in this country. It is a key pillar of our plan to address it, along with investments in prevention, action at our borders, a ban on assault-style weapons and Bill C-21 –Canada’s most significant action on gun violence in a generation.”

- Marco Mendicino, Minister of Public Safety

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I know this is an Airgun channel but when I get something that I feel my audience would be interested I in, I generally share it with everyone. I know many Airgun enthusiasts are interested in Airguns for a few reasons like the lower cost to buy and operate, the fact that there are more situations where you can shoot an Airgun and perhaps availability of these guns in terms of purchasing them without a license and laws pertaining to overall size, barrel lengths, magazine capacities and the likes. My latest acquisition does tick some of these boxes for sure.

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My latest “Birthday” purchase was the GSG-16 which is a 22LR rimefire rifle made by www.GermanSportGuns.com and it is sort of an MP5 copy but this version is more like a Frankenstein version of an MP5 combined with an AR-15 in order to make H&K happy. Previous version of the GSG-16 (the GSG-5 and GSG-522) where too similar to the MP5 and so GSG had to make a third version less MP5-ish.

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That said the GSG-16 has all the same controls as the MP5 so for training purposes it would be very suitable. Personally I like what GSG did in order to bring the GSG-16 to market without legal ramifications from H&K. I like all the rails and the way it kind of looks a bit more like an AR-15 even if the controls are not the same.

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If you do like the MP5 look there are some kits out there for the GSG-16 to turn it back into more of an MP5 looking rifle but for me I don’t need to spend the extra money to be happy with the GSG-16.

No we do not have this item in our Replica Airguns Stores as we really only cater to guns that do not require any sort of lisenceing or permits. The closest thing you can buy I would say would be either the Umarex HK MP5-PDW CO2 BB Rifle, one of the MP5 Airsoft Rifles we have or even the Crosman MPW Blowback CO2 BB Rifle which is more AR based.

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This was an unusual Field Test Review for me to do as I really don’t test out Bows or Crossbows all that much and I don’t have the best backstop setup for doing such reviews. So I spent some time making a backstop that was capable of stopping these just over 6 inch almost 10 gram or 150 grain bolts. It required some layers of foam and cardboard along with a blanket behind just in case, and even with this setup the bolts managed to lodge themselves right up to the Fletching (feather part of the arrow). Also make sure to watch my Table Top Video Review for the Bear X Desire XL Crossbow to see it up nice and close and get all the specifications and features.

I kind of wanted to change up this review just a bit and so I recorded my Chronograph Velocity at the same time as I did my Target or Accuracy Test to simplify things. I used 5 bolts in all and got what I felt was a good result using the Bear X Desire XL Crossbow.

In terns of velocity Bear X claims that the Bear X Desire XL Crossbow will shoot around 175 fps. I was able to get consistent 190+ fps readings using the 147 grain 6.5 inch aluminum bolts with my lowest fps being 192 and the highest being 194 so super consistent. This gave an overall Foot Pound energy of 12.4 foot pounds! This is enough for small pests for sure, it really comes down to accuracy at this point as you will want to get either a head or shoulder area shot for a humane kill.

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I did do a pre test to make sure I was on target and duding this test I was able to get about a 5 inch 5 shot grouping. During my recored Accuracy Test this did open up a bit as one arrow went high and to the right so if I leave that arrow out of the test I did manage to get another 5 inch grouping with three of the arrows all within 1.5 inches of each otter. I figure with high quality arrows and some practice time using the Bear X Desire XL Crossbow, you should be able to use it for small pest control at least at closer in ranges.

All in all the Bear X Desire XL Crossbow surprised me with how powerful it really was and with the accuracy using standard default bolts. This is for sure not a toy and you would never want to accidentally shoot this at someone as it could cause a very serious injury or even death and I mean that since these arrow would for sure pierce several inches into the body. So if you’re looking for something with a bit more raw power than your standard non-regulated Airgun, then check out the Bear X Desire XL Crossbow over in both our Canada and US Online Replica Airguns Stores.

• Buy the Bear X Desire XL Crossbow in Canada

• Buy the Bear X Desire XL Crossbow in the US

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Type: Compact Crossbow.
Manufacturer: Bear X.
Model: Desire XL.
Materials: Metal & plastic.
Weight: 2.3 pounds (1 kilograms).
Length: 20-22 inches.
Propulsion: Bow.
Action: Single action trigger.
Ammunition Type: Aluminum bolts (Comes with 3).
Ammunition Capacity: 1.
FPS: 175fps.
Draw: 60 pounds

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Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Bear X Desire XL Crossbow is medium to heavy, it is a single action only trigger as you need ot cock the bow in order for the trigger to be engaged. The safety is also engaged when you cock the bow requiring you to take the Bear X Desire XL Crossbow off safe before shooting as an added layer of safety.

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Accuracy: I have not made my Field Test Shooting Video for the Bear X Desire XL Crossbow and so I have not sea what to expect for it. I have watched a few videos of other people reviewing it and it looks to perform fairly well but until I get a few bolts in a target downrange I can not say for certain the accuracy of the Bear X Desire XL Crossbow. I will have to figure out some sort of a usable back stop in order to make this Field Test Shooting Video but have some ideas already on material to use as my back stop. FPS is claimed ot be around 175 and I will be doing my best to Chronograph the Bear X Desire XL Crossbow so we can confirm that rating for ourselves…

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Build Quality: The Bear X Desire XL Crossbow is actually made pretty decently, yes it is mostly plastic and light weight but feels sturdy enough to hold, the only real metal I can confirm is the cocking rail, mostly everything else other than the nuts and bolts that hold it together are some sort of plastic, the bow itself may be a composite material but I am not sure what exactly it is?

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Realism: The Bear X Desire XL Crossbow is not a Replica as is what I usually review here on the channel. But I think their is a crossover in terms of interest for a product like this with people that are also interested in airguns. I know I like the Bear X Desire XL Crossbow and can see a place for it in my collection even if it’s not a replica product.

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Pros:

• Fairly inexpensive.

• Super light weight.

• Can shoot in a variety of situations.

• Easy to draw the bow.

• Safety is automatically engaged.

• Picatinny rail already has iron fully adjustable rear sight but can mount a red dot if you like.

• Fiber optic front sight.

• 3 bolts included.

• 175 fps (not sure of the ft/lbs)?

• Comes with fore grip.

• 3 portion adjustable rear but stock.

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Cons:

• Will need a good backstop or will lose or damage a lots of bolts.

• Takes a little bit of time to set it up but not too hard if you follow the instructions.

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Comments:

The Bear X Desire XL Crossbow is an interesting product that once purchased and if you manage to not lose the bolts will cost virtually nothing to shoot since you can reuse the bolts all day long given you shoot them on target and that target does not damage the bolts. It may not offer the rapid fire action shooting of a replica semi auto CO2 Pistol but still challenges the shooter in terms of getting the best possible accuracy out of it and at the end of the day trigger time is trigger time! If you are looking for something a bit different than your CO2 Air Gun then maybe the Bear X Desire XL Crossbow will fill that requirement.

• Buy the Bear X Desire XL Crossbow in Canada

• Buy the Bear X Desire XL Crossbow in the US

In this Preview Unboxing Vimeo Video I take a look at five very different products! A Spring Piston .177 Caliber Pellet Pistol, an Airsoft GBB Pistol, a Compact Crossbow, a full auto CO2 Blowback BB Pistol and a PPC .22 Caliber Pellet Rifle.

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First up is the Umarex Ruger Mark IV Spring Piston Pellet Pistol which is a single shot replica pellet pistol that shoots .177 caliber pellets at up to 320 fps using a spring piston break barrel system. The Umarex Ruger Mark IV Spring Piston Pellet Pistol is a target plinker with fully adjustable fiber optic sights and should be a lot of fun to shoot!

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Next I take a look at a Gas Blowback Airsoft Pistol from Action Army that closely resembles the Ruger Mark IV pistol with perhaps a more compact look. The Action Army AAP-01 GBB Airsoft Pistol is full blowback a full size drop out magazine and fiber optic sights. It also come with a threaded barrel and barrel extension for adding a longer barrel and much suppressor.

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Next on my list of new items is the Bear X Desire XL Crossbow which is a 2.2 pound compact bolt shooting crossbow that sports a rail system with included adjustable iron sights that also allow for a red dot if you want to really customize it. The Bear X Desire XL Crossbow has a 60 pound draw and shoots arrows/bolts at up to 175 fps.

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Another AR BB Rifle/Pistol from Crosman is the Crosman A4-P Full Auto CO2 BB Pistol which is essentially a pistol version of the AR Platform. If you like the Crosman DPMS SBR, R1, PDW then you will probably also like the Crosman AP-4. Like the others it uses dual CO2’s and shoots 4.5mm Steel BB;s in semi or full auto at 1400 rounds per minute until the 25 round magazine is empty.

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Last included in this preview video is the Air Venturi Avenger Regulated PCP Pellet Rifle. I’m a bit uncertain about this one as I am pretty sure it is the non detuned PAL version that requires a firearms license here in Canada as it shoots at full velocity (.22 caliber pellet at 950 fps). If that’s the case then it will not be available in our Canada Replica Airguns Store but may be available in the US Replica Airguns Store. If it is the detuned version or a detuned version becomes available in Canada then I imagine we will at some point have it in the Canada replica Airguns Store. That said the Air Venturi Avenger Regulated PCP Pellet Rifle uses compressed air and shoots either .177. .22 or .25 caliber pellets using a latch system and rotary magazine.

After about 4 years or so of not getting sick at all, I was almost starting to think I was impervious to viruses and colds and flues and then it finally happened… I got the Rona.

Now I am not 100% sure if it is the Rona since I have not been tested yet but all signs indicate it’s probably Omicron. I have ordered some antibody tests that I expect to come in shortly, I will be checking my blood for Covid-19 Antibodies once I know my body has had enough time to make them after getting sick this time.

In this video I talk about my symptoms and how I felt start to finish getting the Rona. I can say at least for me it was not big deal, the soar throat was probably the worst of it for me.

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Wow, an accessory review, not many of these :) Today I take a look at the Amomax Airsoft Airgun Holster product line since at some point you may want to put your gun in a holster or practice drawing your gun from a holster?

The good news is we just got in a decent amount of product for our Amomax Airsoft Airgun Holsters. Here is a bit of info about Amomax but of course make sure to watch the video as I take a good look at a few of the versions we sell in our Canada and US online Replica Airguns Stores.

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Amomax holsters are compatible with 4 different carrying platforms :paddle (standard), belt clip, MOLLE, and drop leg platforms. All the carrying platforms can be replaced by only one screw. Users can carry them in daily use, outdoor sports, normal shooting training and competition. Holster will stay firmly on a belt, leg and MOLLE system even in fast moving situations with a quick release Retention System button that keeps the gun locked in place until you are ready to draw. Holster body and carrying platform are connected with a tooth gear that allows for 360 degrees of rotation. User can easily adjust the carrying position to fit their needs.

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Amomax Holsters are currently available in the following versions:

• Glock 17/22/31

• 1911 (Fits most brands 1911’s)

• USP

• Sig P320

• Single and double Universal Magazine

• Buy Amomax Airsoft Airgun Holsters in Canada

• Buy Amomax Airsoft Airgun Holsters in the US

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As with most of the new tech I purchase or acquire that I will be using in my Videos for either my GetFitOver40 or ReplicaAirguns YouTube channels, I generally like to do some sort of a practical review for the item. In this case I take a look at the Synco G1 (A2) Wireless Microphone Set which is a pair of wireless transmitters that pair with a single dedicated receiver allowing me to quickly and easily capture good quality audio for my Videos.

For the past couple of years my go to microphone setup for my video was to use a generic lapel mic connected to my Samsung Galaxy Smartphone recording into an audio program. I would then send the audio file via dropbox to my computer where I would then line up the audio file with the video file in my video editing software to get a much higher quality and more clear voice recording versus what the camera mic would be able to capture.

This system has been working fairly well for me but required a somewhat cumbersome lapel cable and of course my bulky Smartphone in my pocket at all times but did allow me to be as far away from the camera as I wanted without any interference or loss of audio clarity.

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After playing around with the Synco G1 (A2) Wireless Microphone System I have determined I will most likely simply be clipping the transmitter onto my shirt without the lavaliere mic plugged in and transmitting the audio into either my Samsung Smartphone or my iPad where I can then again dropbox the audio file to wherever I plan on editing the video.

This video was kind of a test to see how everything sounded in terms of the lapel mic versus the built in mic. What settings to use and how distance effected the audio signal and quality. Unfortunately the lapel mic was a bit close to my voice causing some distortion to occur but you can still hear what I am saying no problem. In the future I would place the lapel mic a bit further away from my voice lower down on my shirt or simply use the built in mic as it was not as sensitive to this distortion and seemed to handle louder volume much better than the lapel mic.

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Here are some of the specifications for those that like that sort of info :)

Transmitter (TX )

• Wireless Transmission - Digital 2.4GHz

• RF Frequency Band - 2400-2483.5MHz

• Working Distance - 164ft/50m (LOS area) 98ft/30m (NLOS area)

• Latency - 12.5ms

• Mounting - Pocket Clip

• Audio Input - 1/8" / 3.5 mm TRS Mic Input

• Audio Input Level - 1V (0dBV)

• RF Output Power - ＜10mW

• Power Requirement - 3.3V-4.7V

• Battery Type - Built-in Lithium Battery

• Battery Charging Time - 1.5h

• Battery Life - 5h

• Dimensions - 52X42X16mm

• Material - Plastic

• Weight - 35g

Receiver (RX)

• Wireless Transmission - Digital 2.4GHz

• RF Frequency Band - 2400-2483.5MHz

• Approximate RF Sensitivity - -81dBm

• Working Distance - 164ft/50m (LOS area) 98ft/30m (NLOS area)

• Latency - 12.5ms

• Mounting - Pocket Clip

• Number of Audio Channels - 2

• Audio Output - 1/8” / 3.5 mm TRS Mic Output - 1/8“ / 3.5 mm TRS Headphone Output

• Gain - 0-4 Level (0 to 8dB)

• Audio Output Level - Line Out: 1V, Monitoring: 25-30mW

• Power Requirement - 3.3V-4.7V

• Battery Type - Built-in Lithium Battery, 400mAh

• Battery Charging Time - 1.5h

• Battery Life - 5h

• Dimensions - 52X42X16mm

• Material - Plastic

• Weight - 35g

Microphone

• Form Factor - Built-in/External Mic

• Sound Field - Mono

• Polar Pattern - Omnidirectional

• Frequency Response - 50Hz-20KHz

• Sensitivity - -40dB (±3 dB, re 1V/Pa at 1KHz)

• Max. Input SPL - 135dB SPL (at 1KHz)