Entries in Pellet,Non Airguns

HoverAir X1 ProMax with Beacon and Controllers - Initial Thoughts and Flights Beacon

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I am making this video for both my channels (GetFitOver40 & Replica Airguns) since I will be using the HoverAir X1 ProMax in my Video making process to capture video in a way that only an AI Drone can. I do like to share with my audiences some of the tech I use behind the scenes to make the videos a bit more interesting.

There is a ton to talk about and show when it comes to the HoverAir X1 ProMax which is why this video is a bit on the longer side. I really wanted to talk about what I like about this amazing flying video system, and of course show the super high quality video it takes.

The purpose of this video is not so much to go over all the specifications and details, or to compare it to other similar products, but rather to go over what I like about it, and why I decided to get one for myself. About a year ago I ordered the HoverAir X1 Pro when it was being crowdfunded, but I backed out of my order when the DJI Neo came out, mainly because the DJI Neo was first to market, and it can also fly in true FPV mode which really appealed to me. I am glad I got the Neo as it has been so much fun, and will be keeping it mainly for its FPV flying and versatility.

Why did I decide to get myself the HoverAir X1 ProMax? There is really nothing out there right now that can take as high quality video (8k) in such a small and portable package. I love the AI flying modes but it is also nice you can use the Beacon with the Joysticks to control it just like a regular Drone.

For me it was the ultra high video quality, the faster tracking speeds, and the ability to use it like a standard drone since all my other drones are more or less FPV drones. Oh yah, I also got a crazy deal on it over on Marketplace (About half price).

Categories: Review, Vimeo Video, Non Airguns Tags:

BUG-A-SALT 3.0 Salt Gun Table Top Review

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Type: Pump Spring Piston.
Manufacturer: BUG-A-SALT.
Model: BUG-A-SALT 3.0.
Materials: Metal and plastic.
Weight: 1.5 pounds (680 grams).
Total Length: 21.5 inches (54.6cm).
Barrel Length: 8 inches (20.3cm).
Barrel: Plastic non-rifled.
Propulsion: Spring.
Action: Pump SAO.
Effective Distance: 3 feet.
Ammunition Type: Standard table salt.
Ammunition Capacity: 80 round hopper.
FPS: NA.

Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the BUG-A-SALT 3.0 Salt Gun is a Single Action Only trigger that requires you to work the pump action to load salt and prepare the hammer to fire in Single Action. There is a little bit of takeup and then a medium trigger pull weight that is about right for a pest control tool like this, as you do not want a super light trigger that could go off unintentionally. When you work the action using the pump, the real sight also pops up not only so you can use it but also to indicate that the BUG-A-SALT 3.0 Salt Gun is loaded and ready to fire.

Accuracy: So far I have not fired or tested out the BUG-A-SALT 3.0 Salt Gun as it is not the time of year for bugs just yet, so that portion of my review is going to have to wait until at least spring time when the bugs and flies come out in full force. I will not be making my traditional Field Test Shooting Video where I shoot at a Paper target setup 30 feet away, or even testing out the velocity in fps as the BUG-A-SALT 3.0 Salt Gun is only rated to shoot up to 3 feet away and I’m not sure how a blast of salt would even be read by a Chronograph or if that information is even important for a fly exterminator like this. I will be making some sort of shooting video for the BUG-A-SALT 3.0 Salt Gun when I am able to find bugs to blast…

Build Quality: The BUG-A-SALT 3.0 Salt Gun is made out of mostly plastic with I assume some metal working parts internally. Even the internal barrel is plastic since you are only shooting salt. The BUG-A-SALT 3.0 Salt Gun does feel solid and the working parts like the pump action, trigger and safety feel durable enough. The salt hopper lid may be a bit flimsy and if that breaks I’m not sure how one would keep the salt in the hopper?

Realism: The BUG-A-SALT 3.0 Salt Gun is not a replica gun to speak of, it kind of looks like a pistol grip pump action shotgun but there is really no way I feel anyone would mistake the BUG-A-SALT 3.0 Salt Gun for a real gun, this is probably good since you may want to keep it out lying around in your house for when you may need to do some bug blasting.

Pros:

  • Very unique product, not a lot of competition in the market.

  • Makes eliminating flies and bugs a lot more fun, would be fun at get togethers or parties.

  • Fairly well built, feels solid and durable.

  • Low cost to operate, only requires table salt.

  • Can get up to 80 shots per loaded salt hopper.

  • Can shoot flies up to 3 feet away.

  • Easy to access cross bolt safety.

  • Auto pop-up rear sight lets you know it is loaded and ready to fire.

  • SAO Trigger is relatively decent.

  • No bug guts mess to cleanup.

Cons:

  • Not suitable for larger bugs with hard exoskeletons like wasps or larger. Really only meant for flies.

  • Not a toy as it could be assumed it is. So be careful around kids as an eye shot could be very painful and cause injury.

  • Price is a lot more than a fly swatter that also gets the job done.

Comments:

If you hate flies as much as I do and would like a more sportsman like way to eliminate them rather than your standard fly swatter that basically mushes the fly into a bloody mess on what ever surface you mash it into. Then perhaps something like the BUG-A-SALT 3.0 Salt Gun may be just perfect for you. I am hoping it works as good as the advertising says it does. Based on some of the reviews I have watched it seems ideal for flies but may not so good for larger insects with hard exoskeletons. You are going to pay a lot more for the BUG-A-SALT 3.0 Salt Gun than a dollar store fly swatter will cost you, but I can guarantee you will have a lot more fun using it and no need for the messy bug juice clean up after a kill shot.

Categories: Non Airguns, Review, Rifle, Single Shot, Spring Piston, Vimeo Video, Pump Tags: Bug-A-Salt

SHOT Show Las Vegas 2025 Replica Airguns Umarex Interview

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I had the pleasure of interviewing Mark from Umarex again at SHOT Show 2025 and Mark went over some of the new products from Umarex coming out this year. Make started of by showing me two new MOS (Modular Optic System) Gen 5 Glocks in a Glock 17 and Glock 19 versions. Both come with Umarex based red dot sights but you can change them up for something different if you choose to down the road. We then took a look at the new Umarex AER16 AR AEG Rifle in 4.5mm Steel BB rather than 6mm Airsoft similar to the Barra e400 that came out last year. In a nutshell it is a battery/spring operated 4.5mm Steel BB Full Auto AR Replica. Mark then showed us some A&L AK based AEG Airsoft Rifles they are now distributing that feature Full steel body construction with high-quality real laminated wood handguard and skeletal folding stocks. These are one to one in terms of size and weight adn very detailed. We then finished up the interview taking a look at the Legends Saddle Lever Action Shell Loading Rifle and the Umarex Smith & Wesson Competitor Shell Loading revolver.

Categories: 4.5mm / .177 cal, 6mm, AEG, Airgun News, Airsoft, Airsoft News, BB, Blowback, Break Barrel, CO2, Full Auto, GBB, Pellet, Pistol, Rifle, Semi Auto, Scope, Single Shot, Spring Piston, Vimeo Video Tags: Umarex, SHOT Show 2025, SHOT Show

SHOT Show Las Vegas 2025 Replica Airguns Barra Interview

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I spoke with Jacob from Barra and he went over a lot of new products adn updated products Barra is introducing this year. We discussed some new PCP Air Rifles with Canada import options, Jacob went over some new updates to their 1866 Muti-pump BB and Pellet Lever Action Rifle, and he went over Barra’s Gen 2 400e AEG BB rifle which include a higher capacity magazine, an increased velocity and unproved internal tolerances for smoother BB flow. Lastly Barra is introducing high grade 4.5mm BB’s that a re procession ground to be more uniform for improved accuracy and better BB feeding. Great for full auto guns.

Categories: 4.5mm / .177 cal, 6mm, .22 cal, AEG, Airgun News, Airsoft, Airsoft News, BB, Blowback, CO2, Bulk Air, Full Auto, Pellet, PCP, Pistol, Repeater, Rifle, Semi Auto, Scope, Revolver, Single Shot, Vimeo Video Tags: Barra, SHOT Show 2025, SHOT Show

SHOT Show Las Vegas 2025 Replica Airguns ASG Interview

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It was nice to run into ASG (Action Sports Games) right away and talk with Bob for ASG. Bob always has a great understanding of the ASG product line and each year I Interview him and find out all the news and updated product in the ASG lineup. This year Bob’s goes over the new ASG CZ P-10 C CO2 Blowback BB Pistol, the Action Army C1 Pro Bolt Action CO2 Airsoft Rifle, ASG’s new Frag Impact Sound Grenades, along with some new additions to the Shadow 2 Series of Airsoft Pistols. Was a great start to this years SHOT Show 2025!

Categories: 4.5mm / .177 cal, 6mm, AEG, Airgun News, Airsoft, Airsoft News, BB, Blowback, CO2, Full Auto, Gas, GBB, Pellet, Pistol, Repeater, Replica Airguns News, Revolver, Rifle, Semi Auto, Single Shot, Vimeo Video Tags: ASG, SHOT Show 2025, SHOT Show

SHOT Show Las Vegas 2025 Replica Airguns Teaser

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I’m back from SHOT Show 2025 Las Vegas and finished transferring and uploading all the video from all the cameras we shot it all on. We had a great time, we met a lot of great folks at the booths and it’s now time to put it all together and make some videos for everyone so I can share the experience!

I always like to put out a “Teaser Video” with some quick clips of the entire experience including some of the travels, a bit of the resort we stayed at, shots of Vegas and of course lots of the SHOT Show 2025 experience along with the booths we visited. Enjoy this quick preview and stay posted for my upcoming Interview Videos shortly…

Categories: AEG, Airgun News, Airsoft, Airsoft News, Arrow, BB, Blowback, Bulk Air, CO2, Break Barrel, Crossbow, Full Auto, Gas, GBB, Multi-pump, Paintball, PCP, Pellet, Pistol, Pump, Repeater, Replica Airguns News, Revolver, Rifle, Scope, Semi Auto, Single Shot, Spring Piston, Vimeo Video Tags: SHOT Show, SHOT Show 2025, Umarex, ASG, Crosman, Daisy, KWA, Steambow, Barra

Alias GEM Multi Ammo Mini CO2 Airgun Table Top Review

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Type: Multi-Ammo Pistol.
Distributer: Alies Airguns.
Model: GEM.
Materials: Mostly metal with some plastic build.
Weight: Barrel dependent.
Total Length: Barrel dependent 3.5 inches (89mm) with BB and Airsoft Barrels.
Barrel: Barrel dependent 2 inches (51mm) with BB and Airsoft Barrels
Propulsion: 8 or 12 gram CO2 (12 Gram CO2 required adaptor sold separately).
Action: Break Barrel / Single shot.
Ammunition Type: 4.5mm Steel BB's / 6mm Airsoft BB’s (Can also purchase .117 Pellet, .50 & .43 cal Paintball, 9mm Arrow Barrels)
Ammunition Capacity: 1 round.
FPS: up to 400 using 4.5mm Steel BB’s.

Trigger Pull: The Alias GEM Multi Ammo Mini CO2 Airgun is a true single action only pistol that requires the pulling back of the hammer for each shot. This does give it a very nice trigger action that is short to medium in length with an easy release. The makeup is about medium for a single action trigger with a bit of an unpredictable release as there is no point in time that you feel it breaking on you. This can be good or bad depending on how you like your triggers as it is hard to tel when ti will actually release but the smoothness makes it a good trigger overall in my opinion

Accuracy: I have not shot the Alias GEM Multi Ammo Mini CO2 Airgun at all so far as it requires 8 gram CO2 and so I am waiting on the 12 gram adaptor for it before I can even give it a quick try. I will be making a full Field test Review for it swapping between a bunch of barrel options to see how each barrel adn ammo type performs in terms of power adn accuracy so stay posted for that video down the road a bit.

Build Quality: Build quality for the Alias GEM Multi Ammo Mini CO2 Airgun is very good with an almost all metal build other than the front and back sights, the trigger, the safety adn the barrel release. I kind of wish these parts were also metal as the rest of the Airgun is so pristine! The weight of this pistol feels very dense as it is so small yet has a good weight. The fir and finishes is all very good with the chrome finish on most parts and even the inclusion of what I believe are real gem stones on each side of the grips. The mechanical parts are also smooth and precise.

Realism: As far as I know the Alias GEM Multi Ammo Mini CO2 Airgun is not a replica of any production real steel gun that I am aware of. It looks to me like some sort of futuristic compact laser pistol? In terms of gun shape and what we are use to in terms of what a gun is it checks most of the boxes but it is it’s own design for sure.

Pros:

  • Super compact design, probably the smallest Airgun available.

  • Multiple quick change barrel and ammo options.

  • Mostly all metal build, very high quality materials.

  • Nice smooth and light SAO trigger.

  • Able to also use 12 gram CO2 with optional adapter.

  • Comes in different colors (red or black).

  • Decent velocity up to 400 fps depending on ammo type.

  • Eye-catching chrome and gemstone detailing make it a collector's piece.

Cons:

  • Uses 8 grams CO2 standard, harder to get and more expensive.

  • Only a single shot, not an action shooter.

  • On the pricy side at over $300 Canadian.

Comments:

I have to say that the Alias GEM Multi Ammo Mini CO2 Airgun is not going to be for everyone as the price point is up there a bit for such a simple single action gun. That said it is super unique and the quality adn design is top notch. It may in fact be the smallest CO2 Airgun on the market adn you can literally put it in your front pocket easily. That combined with all the barrel and ammo options makes it super flexible if you plan on shooting a variety of different ammo types. Like I said in the video you may even be able to get away with buying it as a gift for your wife or girlfriend since it technically can be defined as being jewelry with the imbedded Gem stones in the grips. That may be a bit of a stretch unless she is also an Airgun fan.


Categories: .50 cal, .43 cal, 9mm, 6mm, 4.5mm / .177 cal, Airsoft, Arrow, BB, Break Barrel, CO2, Paintball, Pellet, Pistol, Review, Single Shot, Vimeo Video Tags: Alias Airguns, GEM

Mystery Box Unboxing Video Late December 2024

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This video was made right at the end of December 2024 but I am posting it in the new year so we will call it a late December video… That makes two Mystery Box Videos for December 2024 which means a lot of new products on my plate to review this new year. Hopefully I can get a bunch of them done before I head out to SHOT Show this year in a couple of weeks as I will have a lot of videos and interviews to post for SHOT Show as is always the case when I get back.

At least in this unboxing videos I can give you an idea of some of the new products we have in the Replica Airgun online Stores usually in both the Canada and the US Replica Airgun Stores. In this Unboxing Video I received 5 new products to show you. A Less Lethal Pistol and Spring Piston BB Pistol from Umarex, a Carbine Airsoft Rifle from KJWorks, a Multi-barrel super compact Airgun from Alias Airguns out of Canada, and Bug Exterminator from a company called Skell Inc. Here are some of the basics for each of them:

Umarex P2P HDP 50 Compact CO2 Paintball Gun

Type: Compact CO2 Training Rubber Ball Pistol.
Manufacturer: Umarex.
Model: P2P CO2 HDP Compact .50 Caliber Training Rubber Ball Pistol.
Caliber: .50 Caliber.
Ammo Type: .50 Caliber Powder Balls / Rubber Training Rounds.
Magazine Capacity: 4 Rounds.
Power Source: Single 8g CO2 Cartridge - 3 PCS INCLUDED.

Alias GEM Multi Ammo Mini CO2 Airgun

Type: CO2 Air Pistol.
Manufacturer: Alias Airguns.
Model: Gem.
Caliber: Multi Barrel Comes with 4.5mm Steel BB adn 6mm Airsoft.
Power Source: Single 8g CO2 Cartridge or 12 gram with adaptor.
Magazine Capacity: Single shot.
Buy the .50 Caliber Paintball Barrel Set: AA1002.
Buy the Rocket Barrel Set: AA1003.
Buy the 12 Gram CO2 Adaptor: AA1004.

Umarex DSX 45 Spring BB Pistol

Type: Spring Air BB Pistol.
Manufacturer: Umarex.
Model: DSX 45.
Ammo Type: 4.5mm Steel BBs.
Power Source: Spring Air.
Magazine Capacity: 13 Rounds (Rapid Load) with 200 Round Reservoir.

KJWorks MK1 Carbine Green Gas Airsoft Rifle

Type: Airsoft Rifle.
Manufacturer: KJ Works.
Model: MK-1 Carbine.
Power Source: Green Gas.
Action: Semi-Automatic.
Ammo Type: Airsoft BBs 6mm.
Ammo Capacity: 17 Rounds.

Bug-A-Salt 3.0 Insect Exterminator

Type: Pump Action Bug Exterminator.
Manufacturer: Skell Inc.
Model: Bug-A-Salt 3.0.
Ammo Type: table Salt.
Power Source: Spring Air.
Magazine Capacity: a bunch.

Categories: .50 cal, 6mm, 4.5mm / .177 cal, Accessory, Airsoft, Arrow, BB, CO2, Gas, Paintball, Pellet, Pistol, Pump, Repeater, Review, Rifle, Semi Auto, Spring Piston, Vimeo Video Tags: Umarex, Bug-A-Salt, KJWorks, GEM, Ruger MK1, DSX 45, T4E, T4E PDP, T4E HDP 50 Compact

Oceanside California Vacation Highlights

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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…

Categories: Vimeo Video, Non Airguns Tags:

Umarex Markpoint Break Barrel .177 Cal Pellet Pistol Field Test Review

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In this Field Test Shooting Video conducted in the Replica Airguns Sea Can indoor Shooting Range, I test the Umarex Markpoint Break Barrel .177 Cal Pellet Pistol’s power in velocity using my Chronograph along with the accuracy shooting at a Paper Target setup 30 feet away. If you are also interested in details, specifications and more close up video of the Umarex Markpoint Break Barrel .177 Cal Pellet Pistol, then make sure to watch my Table Top Video I already made for it here

When I placed 6 pellets from the Umarex Markpoint Break Barrel .177 Cal Pellet Pistol through my Chronograph, I removed the fastest and slowest recorded shots, and got an average of 290 fps, there was a fairly big range in fps as some dieseling may have been occurring, since this Pellet Pistol had not been shot before and there may have been some oils in the barrel. Here are my recored velocities for all 6 shots: 213, 286, 308, 270, 304, 298. I was using lead flathead pellets that weighed 8.2 grain each. So you will for sure get much higher velocities using 5 grain alloy pellets, probably very close to the 400 claimed fps.

Moving on to my accuracy test, the Umarex Markpoint Break Barrel .177 Cal Pellet Pistol did pretty good. I was not sure how it would shoot for me as the trigger is pretty firm, which can cause the shooter to pull a shot or two. I was able to keep my shots pretty consistent with perhaps one shot getting a bit away from me. That said, out of the 10 shots I placed on the paper target setup 30 feet down range, I managed to get 9 of them all within about 2 inches of each other with the larger spread being elevation, windage was within about 3/4 of an inch, so consistent velocity may have played a roll here. I did use a semi rested shooting position with my hands resting on a sand bag up front, and sitting on a stool in the back to help stabile me as much as possible. I was happy that out of the box the aim point was pretty well centered just a bit to the right if anything.

All in all the Umarex Markpoint Break Barrel .177 Cal Pellet Pistol performed as much as I could have expected for a $50 Canadian low cost pellet shooter. I really wish an add on sight of some sort was possible, as there does not seem to be anyway of adjusting the sights on the Umarex Markpoint Break Barrel .177 Cal Pellet Pistol, so hopefully yours shoots well centered for you also. I do not recommend this Air Pistol for people with smaller hands as it is a bulky Airgun with very wide and large grips. The trigger also does take a bit of finger strength so not a gun for younger shooters perhaps. For the price it is a very unique Pellet Pistol with a very modern and futuristic look to it which may or may not appeal to everyone.

Categories: 4.5mm / .177 cal, Field Test, Pellet, Pistol, Review, Single Shot, Spring Piston, Vimeo Video, Break Barrel Tags: Umarex, Markpoint

Barra 1866 Lever Action 22 Cal CO2 Pellet Rifle FIeld Test Review

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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 :)

Categories: .22 cal, CO2, Field Test, Pellet, Review, Rifle, Vimeo Video Tags: Barra, Barra 1866

Barra 1866 Lever Action 22 Cal CO2 Pellet Rifle Table Top Review

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Type: CO2 Pellet Rifle.
Manufacturer: Barra.
Model: Barra 1866 Lever Action.
Materials: Mostly plastic/some metal.
Weight: 6.5 pounds 2.9kg).
Total Length: 38.5 inches (90.7cm).
Barrel: 18.75 (47.6) barrel rifled.
Propulsion: Dual 12 gram CO2.
Action: Lever Action SAO.
Ammunition Type: .22 Caliber Pellets.
Ammunition Capacity: 30 round magazine.
FPS: 410 fps.

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:

Categories: .22 cal, CO2, Pellet, Review, Rifle, Vimeo Video Tags: Barra 1866, Barra

DJI NEO Do It All Mini Drone Full Review

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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.

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.

Categories: Review, Vimeo Video, Non Airguns Tags: DJI NEO, Drone

September 2024 Another Mystery Box Unboxing Video

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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.

Barra 1866 Lever Action 22 Cal CO2 Pellet Rifle

  • ManufacturerBarra Airguns

  • Caliber: 0.22

  • Powerplant: CO2

  • Action: Lever

  • Loudness: Level 2

  • Max Velocity: 450 fps and above

  • Shot Capacity: 10

  • Weight: 6.5 lbs

  • Barrel Length: 18 inches

  • Total Length: 38.5 inches

  • Stock: Faux Wood

  • Barrel: Smoothbore

  • Sound Suppression: No

  • Trigger: 3 lbs

  • Safety: Manual and Grip

  • Optic Mount: Picatinny mount

  • Recommended Use: Plinking

Umarex HK 416 A4 GBB Airsoft Rifle

  • Type: Airsoft Rifle

  • Manufacturer: Umarex / KWA (Licensed by H&K)

  • PropulsionGas Blowback

  • Caliber: 6mm plastic Airsoft BB's.

  • Muzzle Velocity: 400~ FPS (Measured with 0.20g BBs)

  • Magazine Capacity: 30~rds

  • Gas Type: Green Gas, Propane

  • Fire Modes: Semi / Full-Auto / Safety

  • Hopup: Yes, Adjustable

  • Inner Barrel: 390~mm

  • Length: 790mm - 875mm

  • Weight: 2900g

  • Package Includes: Gun, Magazine, Manual

G&G RK Beta AK AEG Airsoft Rifle

  • Type: Airsoft Rifle

  • Manufacturer:G&G Armament

  • Model: RK Beta

  • Materials: Metal and PlasticWeight:

  • Barrel: Smoothbore

  • Power Source: Electric (Battery)

  • Action: Semi-Automatic/Full-Automatic

  • Ammo Type: Airsoft BBs 6mm

  • Ammo Capacity: 600 Rounds

  • FPS:390

Categories: 6mm, .22 cal, AEG, Airsoft, Blowback, CO2, Full Auto, Gas, GBB, Pellet, Review, Rifle, Semi Auto, Vimeo Video Tags: Umarex, Barra, G&G, HK416, AK-47, RK Beta, Barra 1866

September 2024 Mystery Box Unboxing Video

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In this Mystery Boxing Video I get to take a look at 4 new Airgun Products and give you my first impressions along with a few specifications about each of them but not in a lot of details as I have not had an opportunity to research any of them as this my first time seeing them.

First out of the Mystery box is a new Umarex T4E .43 Caliber CO2 Blowback Paintball Pistol with Walther licensing called the Umarex T4E PDP. I have reviewed similar styled T4E .43 caliber CO2 Blowback Pistols in the past and this one should perform and function similarly.

The next Airgun I pulled out out of the box was the EMG SAI 2011 DS 4.3 CO2 Blowback Airsoft Pistol, a really nice 1911 styled Airsoft Pistol with a stainless finish and gold barrel with a CO2 Magazine. This one looks and feels really nice.

Staying with the pistols that came in this Mystery Box, I got my first look at the Umarex Markpoint .177 Caliber Break Barrel Pellet Pistol that has a bit of a utilitarian look and feel to it. This one is the longer barrel version and has a claimed fps of 395 using alloy pellets so we will see what it can get with more traditional lead pellets when I make my Field Test Video for it down the road a bit.

The last item out of the Mystery Box was another Umarex product, a fun CO2 BB Rifle with H&K licensing called the HK416. This semi auto and 6 round Burst internal Blowback CO2 BB Rifle is a lot like the Steel Storm and Steel Strike from Umarex but a little bit larger I would say and with H&K Licensing so more of a true Replica Airgun.

I will be making full Table Top and Field Test Videos for all of these items shortly so keep an eye out for those videos but for now you can at least get an idea what these Airgun Products will offer.

Umarex T4E PDP Compact Walther .43 Cal CO2 Blowback Paintball Gun

  • Type: Paintball gun

  • Model: T4E Walther PDP

  • Materials: Durable polymer and matte finish

  • Power Source: CO2

  • Weight: 690 g (1.52 lb)

  • Barrel: 4 in

  • Action: Semi-automatic, single-action, blowback

  • Ammo type: Paint, dust, and rubber .43 caliber ammo

EMG SAI 2011 DS 4.3 CO2 Blowback Airsoft Pistol

  • FPS Range: 380-430

  • Dimensions: 205mm x 150mm

  • Holster Compatibility: EMG SAI 2011 pistols feature a slightly wider frame and may not fit some TM/WE compatible 2011 holsters

  • Magazine: 30+1 rounds.

  • Gas Type: CO2

  • Firing Mode: Semi Automatic, Safety

  • System: Gas Blowback

  • Hopup: Yes, Adjustable

  • Package Includes: Gun, Magazine, and Manual

Umarex Markpoint Break Barrel .177 Cal Pellet Pistol

Caliber: .177 caliber that ensures accuracy and precision.

  • Stock Finish: Boasting a sleek black polymer finish, exuding a modern and tactical style.

  • Type: a lever cocking mechanism for swift and efficient operation.

  • FPS: With an impressive velocity of 425, delivers powerful and precise shots with every trigger pull.

  • Overall Length: Exhibiting a compact design with a total length of 10.8 inches, perfect for various shooting scenarios.

Umarex HK416 CO2 Blowback Burst BB Rifle

  • Type: BB Rifle

  • Manufacturer: Umarex

  • Model: Heckler & Koch HK416

  • Materials: Metal and Polymer

  • Weight: 6.2 lb (2817 g)

  • Power Source: 2x 12g CO2 cartridges

  • Action: Semi-auto and 6-shot burst

  • Ammo Type: 4.5mm Steel BBs

  • Ammo Capacity: 36 Rounds

  • FPS: up to 450

Categories: 4.5mm / .177 cal, .43 cal, 6mm, Airsoft, BB, Blowback, Break Barrel, CO2, Full Auto, Paintball, Pellet, Pistol, Review, Rifle, Semi Auto, Single Shot, Spring Piston, Vimeo Video Tags: Umarex, EMG, SAI 2011 DS 4.3, HK416, H&K 416, T4E PDP, Walther, Markpoint

Comica BoomX-D PRO Wireless Microphone Full Review

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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.

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.

  • 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.

Buy Airguns in Canada

Buy Airguns in the US

Categories: Review, Non Airguns Tags:

Airgun Safety 101

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Airguns are not toys and as so require proper storage, transportation and handling so as not to cause an accident that could be minor or even deadly.

No matter if you are handling an Airgun or a “Real Gun”, they should both be handled in the same manner even if the consequences from an accident with an Airgun may be less serious. Life long injuries like the loss of an eye are nothing to be taken lightly.

For the most part, what I talk about in this Airgun Safety 101 video can also be applied to a “Real Gun” although most countries will have stricter laws and guidelines in the storage, transportation and handling of “Real Guns” over an Airgun.




Storing Your Airgun:

In Canada an unregulated Airgun does not have any real specific safe storage guidelines but common sense should be used and I recommend that you at the bare minimum keep your Airgun in some sort of locked space whether it be a safe, cabinet or room that is locked all of the time.

You can also put a trigger lock on your Airgun if you do not have a lockable storage location for it.

You should also make sure to store your Airgun unloaded, at least when it comes to BB’s and or Pellets. If there is some unused CO2 in it, or it is charged with Compressed Air, but unloaded in terms of ammunition, that is OK, but again keep it in a safe location away from anyone that may be able to get their hands on it and hurt themselves or others.




Transporting Your Airgun:

Again, in Canada an unregulated Airgun does not have any real transportation guidelines but if you keep your Airgun out in the open and someone sees it, they will most certainly call the police and more than likely you may find yourself staring down the wrong end of a police firearm, at least until they sort it all out. This is very serious as unfortunately people have died as a result of handling their Airguns out in the open and underestimating what kind of police response that may entail.

For that reason alone, always keep your Airgun out of sight in a case or backpack or the trunk of your car. Never transport your Airgun loaded and it is best if you can lock it in a case or put a trigger lock on it for added safety when transporting it.



Shooting Your Airgun:

Shooting your Airgun is always the most enjoyable part of owning an Airgun, so don’t do something stupid and turn that experience into a nightmare. Treat your Airgun as if it is deadly at all times, never point it at anything you do not intend on shooting.

Keep your safety on until you are ready to shoot. Never put your finger on the trigger until you are ready to shoot it and only shoot it in a safe location with an appropriate background and backstop.

Think of the barrel of your Airgun as a light saber that if it crosses even your arm, it could cut it off. Even a BB to the arm is a serious matter. I had a friend that shot himself in the arm with a BB Gun and the BB lodged in the tendons of his wrist requiring an operation to remove it. He was a violin player so this could have ended his violin playing, but luckily he was OK.

When Your finger is not on the trigger it should be held across the trigger guard in a straight position to ensure no accidental misfires.

Wear eye protection, Steel BB’s will bounce back when they hit a hard surface and can come back with enough force to injure an eye easily. Generally Airguns do not require ear protection but some can be loud enough that you may want to wear some sort of ear protection as a precaution.

Only shoot with others that are responsible and take Gun Safety very seriously. Young people will need constant supervision and it is best to go through all of this first before even considering handing them an Airgun for the first time. Perhaps start them off with something like an Airsoft gun which will have less consequences if an accident were to take place.

Airguns are awesome in so many ways and allow for a similar shooting experience to a “Real Gun”. They can be used in more situations, with less overall cost and are a great way to learn proper gun handling and how to improve your shooting ability even if you are a “Real Gun” owner. Always be responsible with your Airgun not only for yourself but for others as it only takes a few idiots to ruin things for the rest of us. Don’t be that Idiot please!

Categories: Airsoft, BB, Blank Gun, Gun Law, Gun Safety, How To, Pistol, Pellet, Paintball, Real Gun, Vimeo Video Tags:

Whistler & Birch Bay Summer Holiday

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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.

Categories: Vimeo Video, Non Airguns Tags:

CenterPoint Hornet Recurve Compact Crossbow Kit Table Top Review

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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.

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.

Categories: Crossbow, Review, Single Shot, Vimeo Video, Non Airguns Tags: Center Point, Hornet, Recurve Compact Crossbow

Barra 1866 Junior Dual Ammo Pump Cowboy Rifle FIeld Test Review

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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.

Categories: 4.5mm / .177 cal, BB, Field Test, Multi-pump, Pellet, Review, Rifle, Single Shot, Vimeo Video Tags: Barra, Barra 1866