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…
In this Field Test Shooting Video for the Barra 1866 Lever Action 22 Cal CO2 Pellet Rifle, I get to test out a Replica .22 Caliber CO2 Rifle which I don’t get the chance to do so very often and .22 caliber combined with a Replica in a an Airgun is very uncommon! Well today I got to test one out and it was a lot of fun, I would say it performed very well for me. As usual, my main goal is to find out what the real world velocity is in fps and also to see how accurate the Barra 1866 Lever Action 22 Cal CO2 Pellet Rifle is shooting at a paper target 30 feet away. Also make sure to checkout my Table Top Video for the Barra 1866 Lever Action 22 Cal CO2 Pellet Rifle for more details and specifications and close up video.
First in my to-do list was the velocity portion of my Field Test, and so I loaded up dual 12 gram CO2 cartridges into the Barra 1866 Lever Action 22 Cal CO2 Pellet Rifle along with 10 preloaded .22 caliber shells. By the way I was using Gamo 15.43 grain (1 gram) lead pellets and the temperature was just a bit below room temperature, so not 100% ideal for maximum velocity but still warm enough for my purposes. The Barra 1866 Lever Action 22 Cal CO2 Pellet Rifle shot an average 5 shot velocity of 390 fps with the fastest shot hitting 411 fps and the slowest performer hitting 370 fps. That works out to 5.78 average foot pounds of energy.
Next up, I first recovered the 5 ejected shells I used in the velocity test, and again reloaded them with some more pellets and then back into the Barra 1866 Lever Action 22 Cal CO2 Pellet Rifle for my accuracy test. Keep in mind with a lever action rifle, I have to remove the rifle from my shooting position each time to work the lever action and chamber a round. This does cause me to have to fully reset for each shot which does kind of break a shooting grove just a bit, but it did not seem to make much of a difference as my accuracy results where still very good. I did notice vertically the grouping was about 2 inches while side to side it was closer to 1 inch. I attribute this to the sighting system as it was hard for me to focus on the rear sight and make sure I had it perfectly level with the front sight for each shot, which would account for some variation in elevation. The Barra 1866 Lever Action 22 Cal CO2 Pellet Rifle was also shooting about 2 inches high from my aim point.
I have said this a bunch of times before, but I do really love shooting lever action rifles. Even a low cost Red Ryder BB Rifle brings a smile to my face. I also have a Henry Lever Action 22LR that I also really enjoy shooting when I get the chance. The Barra 1866 Lever Action 22 Cal CO2 Pellet Rifle is a really sweet looking rifle that performs as good as it looks thankfully! It’s also well priced for what you get in my opinion at just under $300 Canadian at the time of this video. If you want a fairly powerful Replica Air Rifle that hits hard and true and is super fun to shoot then get this one but make sure to get a bunch of extras shells cause they like to disappear on you pretty quickly. For now I still have all 10 of mine but they love to hide in the craziest places when they get ejected :)
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Barra 1866 Lever Action 22 Cal CO2 Pellet Rifle is light short and crips with just a little bit of take-up before it releases. You will have to first either work the lever action which also chambers a preloaded shell into the breach of the barrel, or you will have to pull the hammer back in order for the trigger to be active as a single action trigger.
Accuracy: At this time I have not made my Field Test Shooting Video or shot the Barra 1866 Lever Action 22 Cal CO2 Pellet Rifle. I am really looking forward to testing it out when I make my Filed Test Shooting Video Review for it hopefully soon! Barra claims is will shoot .22 caliber pellets up to 410 fps. I am not sure if this is for mid grain or light grain pellets but we will find out again when I make my shooting review video. The rear sight does have three positions of elevation so I should be able to find one that works here my Indoor Sea Can Airgun range where I setup paper targets at 30 feet away. I am hoping the Barra 1866 Lever Action 22 Cal CO2 Pellet Rifle shoots close to the bullseye out of the box as it does not have any windage adjustment to space of.
Build Quality: The Barra 1866 Lever Action 22 Cal CO2 Pellet Rifle seems to very well built and has a lot theft to it weighing in at 6.5 pounds so it feel very solid to hold and shoulder. It is mostly all metal which from what I can see, only the stock is plastic rather than actual wood. The faux wood does look very real and unless you get in close to it and notice none of the real wood imperfection, then you can figure out it is emotion wood. The fit and finish is all quality and I expect the Barra 1866 Lever Action 22 Cal CO2 Pellet Rifle to perform reliably.
Realism: The Barra 1866 Lever Action 22 Cal CO2 Pellet Rifle is based on the Winchester 1866 Lever Action Rifle and does look the part with all the expected working parts found on a lever action rifle. Barra has included a thumb safety behind the hammer along with a grip safety that requires the shooter to hold the lever tight to the stock or you will not be able to pull the trigger. Being a shell loading design that requires preloading pellets into the shells and then loading those shells into the rifle tub magazine also makes the experience feel very real. Barra has done a great job hiding the CO2 being the butt plate and the barrel open is about the diameter of a 45 caliber bullet.
Pros:
Not many rifles come in .22 Caliber. Should have a bit more down range power over .177 caliber.
Almost all metal construction with good weight and feel to it.
The Faux Wood stock looks very realistic, hard to tell it’s plastic!
Octagonal recessed barrel adds to realism.
White writing is mostly under the barrel so fairly discreet.
The gold receiver and but plate add to the look of quality.
Rear sight has three positions for different ranges and sighting types (standard low, peep mid, high distance).
Also have the option of mounting a red dot or magnified optical sight on the rear compact picatinny rail.
Dual 12 gram CO2 system is less expensive and reduces the cool down effect while allowing for lots of pellet reloads between heaving to change the CO2.
Has a secondary safety on the lever, it must be pressed into the stock to shoot, kind of like a grip safety.
Claimed 410 fps should be more than sufficient for mid range shooting.
Lever action rifles are just so much fun to shoot!
Cons:
Rear sight is not adjustable for windage.
More than likely going to lose some shells if you are shooting outside in the yard as they all eject into the grass or who knows where? Will probably need to buy some backup shells over time.
You will have to hold the lever snug to the stock or the trigger will not work.
Comments:
I was super excited this year at SHOT Show when I went to the Barra Booth and the Barra Team showed me their new Barra 1866 Lever Action 22 Cal CO2 Pellet Rifle. We also spoke about how the .22 caliber version shoudl be Canada friendly as it was under 500 fps. Here we now and I finally got my hands on one and it is nice to have a .22 Caliber Replica CO2 Lever Action Rifle available to us Airgun Collectors. Sure Umarex has their Legends CO2 Shell Loading BB Rifle but I like The Barra 1866 shooting pellets over BB’s. Price point for the Barra 1866 Lever Action 22 Cal CO2 Pellet Rifle is very reasonable for what you get as it is a lot of gun for the money. I am really looking forward to seeing how well it shoots and if it can get close to the claimed 400 fps.
My Vimeo Table Top Review for the Barra 1866 Lever Action 22 Cal CO2 Pellet Rifle:
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Another Unboxing Update Video taking a look at two Rifles and two Revolvers. A shell loading CO2 dual ammo 1875 single action Remington branded Revolver from Crosman, an 1858 single action CO2 BB Revolver from Barra, another Barra product kind of like a Red Ryder BB Riffle but in dual ammo version with a much different loading system called the Barra 1866, and lastly a Cybergun CO2 Airsoft MP40 with a very different magazine setup than I have seen before.
I don’t believe I have ever interviewed EKOL at SHOT Show in the past. I have dropped by their booth and taken a look at their product line and chatted but this year EKOL had some new and interesting products that I feel fit in nicely with Replica Airguns products and Replica Airgun enthusiasts.
In this EKOL SHOT Show 2024 Interview Omer from EKOL goes over three Airguns that are new for this year. The EKOL ES P92 which is a CO2 BB Blowback Beretta 92 Replica but rather than rebrand a KWC made version, EKOL makes their own in their own factory and it is very unique compared to other CO2 BB Blowback Beretta 92’s on the market.
Another product form EKOL based on the ES P92 Pistol is the EKOL ES P95B which I would call an SMG or submachine gun with a folding stock, but it only shoots in semi auto and is based off of EKOL’s ES 92 mechanically.
Lastly, Omer showed me one of their Replica Pellet Rifles, the EKOL AK which is a break barrel AK Replica Spring Piston Pellet Rifle that really looks a lot like an AK 47. EKOL also makes a very believable AR/M16 Break Barrel Pellet Rifle as well!
We have not carried much if any of the EKOL product line over the last few years so hopefully we can get some of these into our Online Replica Airguns Stores as they should even be legal for import into Canada.
I’m pretty sure I have never made an Interview for Barra before in any of my past SHOT Show Videos, so I was really happy when I visited their booth and discovered a bunch of really great new products to talk about with GEO. Like many other Airgun companies, Barra does incorporate rebranded products from other manufacturer popular Airguns, but they also have some unique products I have never seen before. They are either working really closely with dedicated manufacturing companies or making these items in house. Either way it’s great to see new and interesting products.
Some of the products Geo went over with me in this SHOT Show 2024 Barra Interview where: The Barra CO2 1866 Lever Action Rifle, some Rifled Pellet Barrel Kits for the Schofield Revolver and 1866 Rifle, the 1858 CO2 BB Revolver, the 357 Shell Loading CO2 Revolver, the 400 AEG Airsoft Rifle and two new nameless Airguns they are still working on and perfecting, a full Blowback Competition Style BB/Airsoft Pistol and a compact AEG Airsoft Rifle.
It was great talking with the team over at the Barra Booth and I look forward to testing out their new items as they become available.
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.
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.
In this Field Test Shooting Video I shoot my Crosman 2240 CO2 .22 Caliber Pellet Pistol here in the Replica Airguns Indoor Sea Can Shooting Range and find out just what we can expect in terms of power and accuracy. I do this by first placing 4-5 rounds through mu Chronograph and average them out to see what the fps velocity is. I then shoot 10 rounds at a paper target setup 30 feet away to see just how tight of a grouping I can get! If you are more interested in specifications and details along with some closer up video of the Crosman 2240 CO2 .22 Caliber Pellet Pistol then checkout my Table Top Video located here.
So on with the Filed Test Shooting Video I first placed 4 shots through my Chronograph using a fresh CO2 along with Crosman flathead wadcutter lead pellets that weigh around 15 grain each. The temperature here in the Replica Airguns Sea Can was around 20C or 70F so close to what is considered average room temperatures. My slowest shot through the Chronograph was 412 and my fastest shot was 419 averaging 415 fps. Crosman claims the 2240 CO2 .22 Caliber Pellet Pistol is capable of 460 fps, so we were close and this was with mid weight lead pellets so lighter pellets would for sure hit that claimed velocity.
Next up was the accuracy test where I proceeded to shoot 10 rounds into a fresh pepper target setup 30 feet down range. As always I was using a semi rested shooting position with my hands rested on a paper target up front and seated on a stool in the back which does help me with shot placement but there will still be some human factor to consider as in the one shot that I pulled pretty hard to the right of the main grouping. With that one stray removed from the grouping I was able to get around a 1.25 inch 10 shot grouping with several of the shots hitting right on top of each other. Not bad with open sights and my aging eye sight. I know most people could do better especially with an upgraded sighting system as the Crosman’s stock open sights are pretty basic. Right out of the box without any sight adjustments my grouping hit just a tad high and slightly to the left but the sights on the Crosman 2240 CO2 .22 Caliber Pellet Pistol are fully adjustable but kind finicky so it will take a bit to get this Pellet Pistol dialed in.
for well under a hundred dollars Canadian the Crosman 2240 CO2 .22 Caliber Pellet Pistol is great value and fully capable as a target or even small pest control Air Pistol. You will need to take some time dialing in the sights and getting used to it to get sub 1 inch 30-40 foot shots but it is totally possible. Crosman has been making versions if this Air Pistol for decades so you know it is going to be reliable and consistent and you can mod this gun in so many ways to get even better ease of use and improved performance out of it so if you don’t have a fairly compact target pellet pistol in your collection, than perhaps it is time to pick one up!
Type: Pellet Pistol. Manufacturer: Crosman Model: 2240. Materials: Mostly metal with some plastic. Weight: 1.81 pounds (821 grams). Barrel: 7.5 inches (190.5mm) - metal, rifled. Propulsion: Single 12 gram CO2. Action: Single Shot SAO. AmmunitionType: .22 Caliber Pellets. AmmunitionCapacity: 1. MaxFPS: 460.
TriggerPull: The Single action only trigger pull on the Crosman 2240 CO2 .22 Caliber Pellet Pistol is very good, super light with just a little bit of take-up, the release is very predictable, the actual weight of the trigger pull is only 3.88 pounds which allows for less shooter input equalling more accuracy. The trigger is a bit on the tin side but since it is so light weight it does not affect the shooter much. You can also get aftermarket parts galore for the Crosman 2240 CO2 .22 Caliber Pellet Pistol which include options fro alternative triggers.
Accuracy: I have shot a bunch of the Crosman Series bolt action pistols in this category, most being the pump version but really the only difference is going to be that it takes a bit longer to pump up the gun as compared to simply loading a pellet and the fact that CO2 will be effected by temperature and how much CO2 is let in the cartridge. Accuracy for either version is going to be very good and so I expect when I do my actual Field test Shooting Video for the Crosman 2240 CO2 .22 Caliber Pellet Pistol it will perform as just like the others - good!
BuildQuality: The build quality of the Crosman 2240 CO2 .22 Caliber Pellet Pistol is nothing extraordinary but it has passed the test of time as this design has been sued for several decades in Crosman Air Pistols and riles. The Crosman 2240 is mostly all metal with only the grips and the sights being made out of plastic but again these parts can be upgraded to wood and metal parts if you wish to. A sight upgrade would be recommended as they are a bit hard to adjust but once they are adjusted they will work just fine.
Realism: The Crosman 2240 CO2 .22 Caliber Pellet Pistol is not a replica of any real steel gun in production. It is not mean to be and is made for the sole purpose of target and possible small pest control along with some back yard shooting.
Pros:
Very inexpensive target pistol at well under $100 at this time.
Know to have very good accuracy!
CO2 allows for fairly quick follow-up shots as no pumping is required.
Mostly metal construction.
Fairly long rifled barrel.
Fully adjustable sights.
Really short and light single action trigger
Would be good for small pest control because of .22 caliber pellet and just under 500 fps along with excellent accuracy for shot placement ability at closer ranges.
Lots of mods and upgrades available for this gun from Crosman and other companies.
Grips feel good for both left and right handers.
Cons:
Trigger is a bit thin but Can be upgraded.
Sights are fully adjustable but a bit hard to adjust. Sights are also mainly plastic.
Does require CO2 to us since no pumping. Cold weather will effect velocity.
Comments: The Crosman 2240 CO2 .22 Caliber Pellet Pistol may not be the most impressive looking airgun on the market but it does have an amazing track record for being reliable and an accurate shooter. If you aren’t taken back by its appearance then go ahead and dress it up almost anyway you want to over time. Change the barrel, or trigger or breach or sights or grasp or all of the above. The Crosman 2240 CO2 .22 Caliber Pellet Pistol is by far one of the most upgradeable Air Pistols on the market and honestly as it comes out of the box it really does not need anything to have fun and nail everything you aim at.
I love making these Mystery Box Unboxing Videos as many of the items inside are actually real mysteries to me, some I may have an idea of but even these items are new to me so it’s fun to open them up and check them all out. In this October 2023 Mystery Box Video I checkout 9 items ranging from AEG Airsoft Rifles to Airsoft , BB and Pellet Pistols. There is even a new Steel BB product from Sig Sauer that is a compact rifle with a 3 round burst option when shooting.
30 feet is not really a long enough distance to test out a Spring Piston Break Barrel Air Rifle but it’s been pretty rainy outside as the weather here in British Columbia has progresses into full on rainy fall weather. So we will have to make do with the 30 foot limitation I have here in the Replica Airguns Sea Can Indoor Shooting Range. At least it is warm and the lighting is perfect :) In this Filed Test Shooting Video for the Beeman Black Panther Dual Caliber Break Barrel Pellet Rifle I test out the velocity in fps along with the accuracy at 30 feet away. For both of these tests I use 15.43 grain .22 caliber Gamo lead pellets. If you are more invested in details and specifications along with some closer up video then watch my Table Top Video for the Beeman Black Panther.
Beeman claims just under 500 fps for the Beeman Black Panther Dual Caliber Break Barrel Pellet Rifle but it is unclear if this is with .177 caliber or .22 caliber pellets and what kind of pellet are being used? Light weigth Alloy or standard Lead pellets. I decided to go with the .22 caliber barrel for all my testing but may try out the .177 caliber barrel in a future update Field Test Video. I placed 5 shots through my Chronograph using the 15.43 grain .22 caliber lead pellets and was able to get an average velocity of 422 fps. The slowest shot was 418 fps with the fastest shot hitting a max of 429 fps so all fairly close together. In terms of energy output, a pellet that weighs 15.43 grain travelling at 422 fps has a foot pound energy of 6.1.
I am not the best shot when it comes to sprig Piston Air Rifles, but I did my best here. I shot a total of 8 shots on the paper target and the main group was about 1 inch in diameter, this consisted of 6 pellets in that main group with 2 pellets that came out one shot a bit high and one shot a bit to the right. I was using the built in post and notch fiber optic sights rather than installing the 4x32 scope. After all the target was only 30 feet away. I am pretty sure one could easily get a .5 inch grouping at this range with perhaps a 1 inch grouping at distances closer to the 50-60 foot mark, which should make this a decent pest control option when using the .22 caliber ammo as I feel it would get the job done with a bit more authority.
The Beeman Black Panther Dual Caliber Break Barrel Pellet Rifle comes with two barres offering the ability to shoot using .177 caliber pellets or .22 caliber pellets with a quick barrel change. .177 caliber pellets could be used for smaller pest control but I would mainly use the .177 barrel for basic target practice as .177 caliber pellets are definitely cheaper than .22 caliber pellets. When you do require that slight additional stopping power, then go with the .22 caliber barrel for sure!
Type: Pellet Rifle. Manufacturer: Beeman Model: Black Panther Dual Caliber. Materials: Metal and Synthetic Plastic. Weight: 7.2pounds (2.3kg). Total Length: 44 inches (111.8cm). Barrel: 16.75 inches (42.5cm). Propulsion: Spring Piston. Action: Single Action Single Shot. AmmunitionType: .177 & .22 Caliber Pellets. AmmunitionCapacity: 1. MaxFPS: 495 Claimed.
Trigger Pull: The trigger on the Beeman Black Panther Dual Caliber Break Barrel Pellet Rifle is single action only requiring you to break the barrel and compress the internal spring piston before you can shoot it. This will also engage the safety which you have to disengage for each shot manually as an added security measure. The actual trigger pull is I would say a medium pull with an easy first stage then a more firm second stage. I am pretty sure the Black Panther uses the Sportsman tigger setup which does have some adjustment for trigger pull as far as I am aware of. Once I get a chance to shoot the Beeman Black Panther Dual Caliber Break Barrel Pellet Rifle I will be able to tell you more about how the trigger feels.
Accuracy: I have not performed any shooting tests with the Beeman Black Panther Dual Caliber Break Barrel Pellet Rifle so far, I will be making a Video Review next in the next few weeks “weather permitting” as I want to get outdoors for this test to be able to shoot the Black Panther at longer ranges. I expect the Beeman Black Panther Dual Caliber Break Barrel Pellet Rifle to perform well in the accuracy department using the 4x32 optical scope. In terms of power the spring does seem to take a bit of effort so I am hoping for a decent fps in both .177 caliber and .22 caliber!
Build Quality: The Beeman Black Panther Dual Caliber Break Barrel Pellet Rifle is made in China but looks to be fairly well made. It is mostly metal including the front and rear sights with a synthetic plastic stock and feels good to hold resting the cushioned rubber butt-pad to your shoulder. The stock and trigger guard are a one piece design, that said the trigger guard is fairly thick so it should stand up to some abuse.
Realism: The Beeman Black Panther Dual Caliber Break Barrel Pellet Rifle is not a copy of any real steel gun in production but does have that overall rifle shape to it so it looks like a gun but most people will be able to immediately see that it is a Pellet Rifle and that is exactly what it is since it is not trying to be a Replica Airgun or copy of any real steel rifle in production.
Pros:
All Weather durable ambidextrous synthetic stock.
All metal front and rear fiver optic sights.
Can shoot both .177 and .22 caliber pellets for multi purpose shooting.
Sportsman trigger (adjustable) with automatic safety system.
Comes with included 4x32 scope and mounts.
Very solid build at 9.92 pounds.
Nice cushioned rubber butt-plate looks good and adds to shooting comfort.
Has a scope-stop so your scope will stay nicely in place.
Cons:
Hard to tell if the claimed 495 fps is for .177 or .22 caliber lead or alloy pellets?
Hard to find this exact gun for info, not even on Beeman’s own website.
Made in China.
Comments: The Beeman Black Panther Dual Caliber Break Barrel Pellet Rifle is designed to be a more affordable Break Barrel Spring Piston Pellet Rifle with metal where it counts and a synthetic stock for durability and resiliency to weather conditions. You do have the option of shooting either .177 caliber pellets for a faster flatter trajectory or if you use the .22 caliber barrel, you benefit from perhaps a bit more downrange energy and less effect from windy conditions. You can also choose between shooting with the open fully adjustable metal sights or install the 4x32 scope for longer range shooting. You for sure get a versatile Spring Piston Air Rifle with the Beeman Black Panther Dual Caliber Break Barrel Pellet Rifle at the end of the day.
In this Replica Airguns Unboxing Video I take a look at 6 Airguns consisting of 2 Paintball Pistols, 3 Airsoft Rifles and one Pellet Rifle. This is not a full review in any way but is rather a preview of what i will be doing full Reviews for over the next several weeks.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
