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It’s been a while since I made a Field Test Shooting Video, probably well before I went to SHOT Show. I have been working on my SHOT Show 2025 Videos but those Interview Videos are all done and now it’s time to get caught up on some Field Test Shooting Video I have been wanting to make. So today I was able to make my Field Test Review Video for the Umarex DSX 45 Spring BB Pistol and for some this is a pretty entry level BB Pistol many might overlook but if you are simply looking for a 1911 based BB Pistol that is super inexpensive to buy, and cheap to shoot, and you don’t need quick semi auto shooting. Then the Umarex DSX 45 Spring BB Pistol Field Test Review could be an option for you. Make sure to watch my Table Top Review Video for the Umarex DSX 45 Spring BB Pistol for Details, Specifications, Pros and Cons and some nice close up video.

In this video I test out both the velocity and accuracy and I guess to some degree the usability so lets get started with the Velocity or fps portion of the testing. I loaded up the Umarex DSX 45 Spring BB Pistol with a half full hopper of 4.5 mm Steel BB’s, so around 100 BB’s which is way more than I needed and I shot 5 rounds through my Chronograph hitting the following fps: 191, 193, 188, 195, 197 which averaged 193 fps. Umarex claims a velocity of up to 240 fps which I think is a bit high as temperature is not even a factor with a spring piston Airgun, so warmer conditions will not really make much of a difference here.

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I then placed a brand new paper target on my backstop 30 feet down range and proceeded to shoot 10 rounds into it using a semi rested shooting position. Hands rested on a sand bag up front and sitting on a stool in the back. This generally gives me pretty good stability while performing these tests, but there is always some human factor to take into consideration. I was not all that impressed with the grouping I got, the Umarex DSX 45 Spring BB Pistol likes to fling BB’s around a bit. You an see them curl so maybe some miscellaneous spin is being added in the barrel but it is not a consistent spin so the BB’s kind of spray all over the target that ended up giving me around a 8 inch grouping. Usually I can get around a 2 inch grouping with a BB Pistol that is generally what I would consider to be good accuracy.

I wish the Umarex DSX 45 Spring BB Pistol Field had hit closer to the 240 claimed fps and was also a bit more accurate as it would then be more usable at the 30 foot range I tested it at. I would suggest if you buy or own this BB Pistol, that you shoot it at targets closer in at 10-20 feet as the poor velocity and accuracy would be a lot less noticeable at these ranges and for that purpose it would be just fine. If you want a super low cost BB Pistol option that is also a decent looking 1911 Replica, and that you don’t need to go out and buy any CO2 to use it. Then take a look at one in our Replica Airguns Online Store. Heck, it’s only $19 US and $29 CAN right now!

• Buy the Umarex DSX 45 Spring BB Pistol in Canada

• buy the Umarex DSX 45 Spring BB Pistol in the US

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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.

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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.

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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…

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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?

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

• Buy the BUG-A-SALT 3.0 Salt Gun in Canada

• Buy the BUG-A-SALT 3.0 Salt Gun in the US

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.

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.

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!

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…

• Buy Airguns in Canada

• Buy Airguns in the US

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

• Buy the Alias GEM Multi Ammo Mini CO2 Airgun in Canada

• Buy the Alias GEM Multi Ammo Mini CO2 Airgun in the US

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Type: BB air pistol.
Distributer: Umarex.
Model: DSX 45.
Materials: Mostly plastic build.
Weight: 1.25 pounds (567 grams).
Total Length: 9.25 inches (235mm).
Barrel: 4.5 inches (114mm), non-rifled.
Propulsion: Spring.
Action: Repeater/Single shot.
Ammunition Type: 4.5mm Steel BB's.
Ammunition Capacity: 13 round spring fed with 200 round BB reservoir.
FPS: 240.

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Trigger Pull: The single action only trigger pull on the Umarex DSX 45 Spring BB Pistol is actually pretty decent. I would say it has a short to medium length with only a little bit of light take up and then an easy release that has no additional friction. You will have to cock the slide back for each shot which also cocks the hammer back allowing for a true single action trigger. The trigger its self is not like a traditional 1911 trigger in terms of looks but it does work well.

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Accuracy: I have briefly shot the Umarex DSX 45 Spring BB Pistol so I could make some initial comments about its performance as it is a very new product to me. I will be making a full Field Test Shooting Video down the road but for now I can say it performed a lot better than I was expecting. The claimed 240 fps seems believable to me as shots at 20 feet hit the target with very little delay and even at 30 feet the delay was acceptable. In terms of accuracy, out of the box, for the most part hit the target at both 20 adn 30 feet very close to where I was aiming which is what you are hopping for.

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Build Quality: Build quality for the Umarex DSX 45 Spring BB Pistol is also better than I would expect from a $29 Canadian almost all plastic BB Pistol. Everything felt nice and tight and fit and finish was good in general. There is even some metal where they could have gone with cheaper plastic, for example it has a metal trigger and slide catch release that is actually the safety. Of course the barrel and some other internal parts are going to be metal along with screws and such.

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Realism: The Umarex DSX 45 Spring BB Pistol is a fairly believable replica of a more modern 1911 45 caliber semi auto pistol. Other than it being mostly plastic and much lower in weight, at around 1.25 pounds, the Umarex DSX 45 Spring BB Pistol does look the part with a working slide (for cocking the spring), a full size drop out magazines, a recessed barrel and a lot of detail in the finishing of it. I find it to be a little bit wider than a real 1911 would be in the grips and even the main frame and slide by just a bit.

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Pros:

• Super low coast to buy and shoot, no CO2 required, just need 4.5mm Steel BB’s and away you go.

• Shoots pretty good, BB’s got to the target a lot faster than I was expecting them to and they shot where I was aiming in general.

• Decent looking Replica of a modern 1911 Semi Auto Pistol.

• Has a picatinny rail for adding accessories if you want to.

• Single Action Trigger is pretty decent, a bit of take up but medium light weight to it.

• Has a close to full size magazine that looks the part.

• Magazine has a 200 round hopper capacity with 13 rounds being loaded into the feeder at a time.

• Safety is worked into the slide catch release which adds to the realism in terms of looks.

• Recessed barrel for added realism.

• Actual working hammer you can de-cock if you want to for a bit of added safety.

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Cons:

• Almost all plastic other than some internal metal parts like the barrel and spring and some other stuff I am sure.

• Takes a bit of effort to cock it which is required for each shot.

• Sights are not adjustable and are all black with no white dots.

• A bit beefy for smaller handed shooters.

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Comments:

The Umarex DSX 45 Spring BB Pistol is a super inexpensive BB Pistol but don’t let that stop you from considering it to add to your collection. It has a lot going for it in my opinion. First off the price is super low to buy and to shoot, you only need a bunch of BB’s and you can shoot all day for a couple of bucks. It looks pretty believable as a 1911 Replica. The build quality and detail is a lot better than you should get for only $30 dollars here in Canada and when I quickly tried it out, it actually shot pretty hard for a spring BB Pistol and it seemed to hit the target right where I aimed even at 30 feet away. It even has a full size magazine that holds 200 rounds with a quick load 13 round spring feeding system to keep the fun going. Kind of a no brainer if you’re looking for a cheap and fun time.

• Buy the Umarex DSX 45 Spring BB Pistol in Canada

• Buy the Umarex DSX 45 Spring BB Pistol in the US

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:

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

I did my unboxing vide for both the Steambow AR-6 Stinger II Tactical and M10 Tactical already which is generally a preview of the products I am unboxing but with these types of compact crossbows, they generally need a bit of setup before they are complete and ready to view and use.

For that reason I wanted to make a quick combined Preview Video for Steambow AR-6 Stinger II Tactical and M10 Tactical Crossbows so you can see what they look like all put together, and what the main differences are between the two of them. This way you can figure out which one might be the best choice if you are in the market for a product like this.

Let’s go over the main specifications and differences to determine what you get with each one:

• Distributed by: Steambow GmbH Austria.

• Materials: Mostly plastic with some metal parts.

• Weight: M10 4 pounds / AR-6 2.6 pounds.

• Lengt: M10 24.2 inches / AR-6 22 inches.

• Width: M10 17.5 inches / 17.5 inches.

• Magazine Capacity: M10 10 bolts per external magazine / AR-6 6 bolts per internal magazine.

• Bow Tension: M10 75 pounds (12 foot pounds) / AR-6 55 pounds (10 foot pounds).

• Picatinny Rails: M10 top, sides, bottom / AR-6 top, bottom.

• Sights: M10 fiber optic front, peep or grove rear / AR-6 fiber optic mid.

• Rear stock: M10 AR type upgraded 6 position / AR-6 AR type 5 position.

• For-grip: M10 yes upgraded / AR-6 yes standard.

• Safety: M10 yes bolt / AR-6 no.

• Sling mount: M10 yes on receiver / AR-6 yes on stock.

• M10 extras: 20 bolts, 2 magazines, 2 rear sight options, pre-strung, more power.

• Price at time of this video: M10 $569 CAN / AR-6 $389 CAN.

Another Mystery Box to share with everyone but this time I peaked a bit so it’s not as much of a mystery for me, but it will be for you. I was glad I peaked as the items inside where not the usual assortment and it was good I was able to get a bit of pre-intel on them before I jumped into this unboxing, as there was a lot to discover about each of the three items in the Mystery Box. I hope they appeal to some of you, I think they are very interesting and after checking them out, some of you may decide to add one or two of them to your collection.

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The first two items I looked at are from an Austrian based company called Steambow. They are both compact crossbows that offer a unique reloading system with built in Magazines that hold either 6 or 10 rounds depending on the version you buy. The Steambow AR-6 Stinger II Tactical is the less expensive yet still “kind of expensive” version with a built in 6 round magazine While the AR Series Steambow M10 Tactical has an upper that accepts 10 round magazines you can preload. The Steambow AR-6 Stinger II Tactical comes with a 55 pound pre-strung bow that produces around 10 foot pounds of energy, while the Steambow M10 Tactical come with a 75 pound pre-strung bow which should produce close to 12 or more foot pounds of energy. Both incorporate fiber optic slights, lots of rail mounting options, AR style rear stocks which shoulder mount easy and quick cocking to make the most of the automatic bolt loading systems.

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Another Archery based item also in this months Mystery Box was the Umarex AirJavelin FishR PCP based arrow launcher designed for anglers. It is intended to work with a fishing real of your choice and comes with a single retrievable barbed arrow, so a lot like bow fishing but with a PCP propulsion system. The Umarex AirJavelin FishR has a built in 4500 psi tank that is regulated to 800 psi and the arrow is a whopping 1250 grain to cut through the water with ease. The entire system is salt water resistant so you can use it in both fresh and salt water conditions. There are both picatinny and M-LOK mounting options for sights and accessories.

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Stay posted for my Table Top and Field Testing Video Reviews coming shortly…

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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.

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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.

• Buy the Umarex Markpoint Break Barrel .177 Cal Pellet Pistol in Canada

• Buy the Umarex Markpoint Break Barrel .177 Cal Pellet Pistol in the US

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Type: Pellet Pistol.
Manufacturer: Umarex 
Model: Markpoint.
Materials: Mostly plastic with some metal.
Weight: 1.79 pounds (812 grams).
Barrel: 9.75 inch (24.8 cm) Rifled steel barrel.
Total Length: 17 inches (43.2 cm).
Power Source: Spring piston.
Action: Break Barrel - Single Action Only.
Ammo Type: .177 caliber pellets.
Ammo Capacity: Single shot.
FPS: 395 with alloy pellets, 300 with lead pellets.

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Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on Umarex Markpoint Break Barrel .177 Cal Pellet Pistol is single action only and you will have to break the barrel and fully cock it to activate the trigger in order to shoot it. You will have to also insert a pellet for each shot when the barrel is in the open position. The trigger itself is a bit on the heavy side with a short takeup. It is not super heavy but I would not consider it light or even medium weight. There is a grip safety that needs to be pressed in at the back of the grip, or the trigger will not function. This is a nice additional safety feature.

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Accuracy: So far I have not had the opportunity to test the Umarex Markpoint Break Barrel .177 Cal Pellet Pistol, but the plan is to get to my Field Test Shooting Video shortly and see how it performs in terms of power and accuracy. The Umarex Markpoint Break Barrel .177 Cal Pellet Pistol does have a nice long rifled steel barrel so it has the potential to be very accurate. My main concern is with the sights as they are none adjustable and if it is not well centered out of the box then the only way to adjust it will be by adjusting your aim point to correct any off center shots. There is also no way that I can see to mount a red to or scope of some sort. It looks like there is a rail system on the barrel but it is just cosmetic and there is no way to mount a picatinny accessory to it. I am not sure why Umarex simply did not make the rail a true picatinny rail?

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Build Quality: For around a $50 Canadian pellet pistol that has the potential to be a pretty decent entry level target pistol, the Umarex Markpoint Break Barrel .177 Cal Pellet Pistol is pretty well made and feels very solid and mechanically tight. It is mostly plastic but does not feel cheap at all. It is a rather large pistol, especially the grips being fairly wide, so for people with small hands, it may be a bit hard to hold.

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Realism: The Umarex Markpoint Break Barrel .177 Cal Pellet Pistol is not a copy or replica of any real steel pistol in production that I know of. To be honest Umarex was not trying that hard to make it look like a real steel pistol as it has it’s very own look to it that I would say is modern and kind of futuristic looking. It for sure has its own style to it, and you are either going to like it to not? I do like that Umarex added the ejection port and vented barrel which does add to the cool factor and makes it feel more like a real gun.

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Pros:

• Feels well built and solid.

• Overall look is good, kind of futuristic if you like that sort of thing.

• I like the red highlights, not typical on a real steel gun but looks good on this design.

• Expect it to have good accuracy, hope the sights are on point?

• Easy to cock spring piston system.

• Sights are easy to line up .

• Grip safety is a nice safety feature.

• Fake ejection port is a nice touch, not something you would normally see on a target pistol like this.

• Nice low price tag for some fun target shooting.

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Cons:

• Trigger is a bit heavy but in terms of length and break is OK.

• Sights are not adjustable and no way to add a red dot or other sighting system.

• Grip may be a bit wide for smaller handed shooters.

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Comments:

For me I think the deciding factor on how I feel about the Umarex Markpoint Break Barrel .177 Cal Pellet Pistol is going to come down to how it performs as I have my reservations on how accurate it is going to be and if it shoots true out of the box. I really hope the sights are dialed in out of the box since there is no way to adjust them or add a red dot or other sighting system. The heavy trigger will take a bit of getting use to also but once adjusted to it I should be able to get some decent groupings. For the price, if it turns out to be a decent shooter and you like the look of it, then by all means it would make a great target plinker that you should be able to get proficient at shooting with. I will leave my final thoughts for the Field Test Shooting video on this one…

• Buy the Umarex Markpoint Break Barrel .177 Cal Pellet Pistol in Canada

• Buy the Umarex Markpoint Break Barrel .177 Cal Pellet Pistol in the US

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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.

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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 :)

• Buy the Barra 1866 Lever Action 22 Cal CO2 Pellet Rifle in Canada

• Buy the Barra 1866 Lever Action 22 Cal CO2 Pellet Rifle in the US

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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:

• Buy the Barra 1866 Lever Action 22 Cal CO2 Pellet Rifle in Canada

• Buy the Barra 1866 Lever Action 22 Cal CO2 Pellet Rifle in the US

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.

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Barra 1866 Lever Action 22 Cal CO2 Pellet Rifle

• Manufacturer: Barra 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

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Umarex HK 416 A4 GBB Airsoft Rifle

• Type: Airsoft Rifle

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

• Propulsion: Gas 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

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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

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

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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

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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!

• Buy Airguns in Canada

• Buy Airguns in the US

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I have only tested out another similar Crossbow setup one other time so this is not my normal Field Test Review. Like last time when I made my Bear X Desire XL Crossbow Field Test Video, in this Field Test Video I record my Chronograph velocity for the CenterPoint Hornet Recurve Compact Crossbow at the same time as I shoot at the target so I did not have to make two separate video segments and basically did it all in one go. I did have a bit of a brain fart and forgot I needed to setup two separate cameras, one on the Chronograph and one on the Target, as I generally only need one camera at a time for my usually two segment Field Test Videos. So getting to the point, I did not have dedicated camera on the target while shooting and in hind sight it would have been better to have the camera on the Target rather than the Chronograph as my camera glasses generally record the Chronograph readings for me too. I do walk up to the Target at the end of the video so we do get to see exactly where all the bolts landed, so I can show you the final result at the end of the day.

In terns of velocity, CenterPoint claims a velocity of 191 fps. I was able to get consistently just over 180 fps so pretty close. My Chrono readings using the included 147 grain 6.5 inch aluminum bolts ranged from 180 to 182 fps so very consistent. This gave an overall Foot Pound energy of 10.61 foot pounds so velocity and foot pound energy were just a little bit under the claimed rating! This is enough for small pests for sure, it really comes down to accuracy at this point as you will want to get either a head or shoulder area shot for a humane kill, and I am not sure if this bow is up of the job? You will have to see how accurate it will be for you and make that decision for yourself..

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In terms of accuracy I found the CenterPoint Hornet Recurve Compact Crossbow to be fairly accuracy on the windage side (left and right), basically with all the bolts only being about 2 inches apart side to side. Where it did not perform as well was in elevation with the bolts ranging about 8 inches top to bottom. I am not sure why this was the case as the velocity is very consistent and generally less consistent velocities account for elevation changes. All the bolts hit the target using the included red dot with no pre adjustments but it did shoot just a bit to the right and maybe overall a bit low. This can easily be corrected using the red dot windage and elevation adjustments.

Interestingly the CenterPoint Hornet Recurve Compact Crossbow has a higher claimed velocity over the Bear X Desire XL Crossbow I tested a while back, yet the Bear X Desire XL Crossbow actually shot a bit faster hitting 190+ fps, not a huge difference but an interesting observation. The CenterPoint Hornet Recurve Compact Crossbow does come with a red dot but both have Picatinny Rails so Red Dots will fit on both Crossbows no problem. I am going to address the elephant in the room, if you compare both of these Crossbows they are virtually the same with the exception of the branding and distribution of them. So I would say get either one, the Bear X Desire XL Crossbow is actually less money as it does not come with an included Red Dot but at least right now it is out of stock so your only option may the the CenterPoint Hornet Recurve Compact Crossbow, both are a lot of fun and pack a lot more punch than your standard non regulated Air Rifle.

• Buy the CenterPoint Hornet Recurve Compact Crossbow Kit in Canada

• Buy Compact Crossbows in the US

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

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Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the CenterPoint Hornet Recurve Compact Crossbow is a single action only trigger as you need ot cock the bow in order for the trigger to be engaged. The trigger mechanism basically just pushes the bow string up and over the lip of the rail releasing it so there is a bit of friction and I would say it is about 10 pounds maybe a bit less. The safety is also engaged when you cock the bow requiring you to take the CenterPoint Hornet Recurve Compact Crossbow off safe before shooting as an added layer of safety.

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Accuracy: I have not made my Field Test Shooting Video for the CenterPoint Hornet Recurve Compact Crossbow and so I am not sure what to expect from it. I have shot a similar bow, the Bear X Desire XL Crossbow so it should perform similar to that one if you want to check that Field Test Shooting Video out, but I expect the CenterPoint Hornet Recurve Compact Crossbow to have a little bit more power as it has a rated fps and draw weight a little bit higher than the Bear X Desire XL Crossbow, we will see?

Build Quality: The CenterPoint Hornet Recurve Compact Crossbow is actually made pretty decently, yes it is mostly plastic and light weight but feels sturdy enough to hold, the bow itself is fiberglass and the only real metal I can confirm is the cocking rail, mostly everything else other than the nuts and bolts that hold it together are some sort of plastic, The only part that does not feel up to par with the quality is the included red dot, it is fairly entry level but I am sure it will get the job done, and if it stops getting the job done at some point you can upgrade it then, or simply use the included rear iron sight which is fully adjustable.

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Realism: The CenterPoint Hornet Recurve Compact Crossbow is not a Replica as is what I usually review here on the channel. But I think there is a crossover in terms of interest for a product like this with people that are also interested in Airguns. The other benefit is that it has a lot more power than a non regulated Airgun as the CenterPoint Hornet Recurve Compact Crossbow uses nice heavy 146 grain bolts traveling at almost 200 fps which gives an energy rating of around 12 foot pounds. So if raw power is what you are after, then this is your best option for something still compact if you do not have a firearms license.

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Pros:

• Fairly inexpensive.

• Super light weight and compact.

• More power than an Airgun yet still quiet to shoot so you can use discreetly just about anywhere with a good back stop setup.

• Easy to draw the bow using the stock for leverage.

• Safety is automatically engaged.

• Picatinny rail already has iron fully adjustable rear sight and comes with a very basic red dot sight to get you started.

• Fiber optic front sight.

• 3 bolts included.

• 191 fps (12ft/lbs).

• Comes with fore grip.

• 5 portion adjustable rear but stock.

Cons:

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

• Takes a little bit of time to set it up but not too hard, just follow the steps in the manual.

• Careful not to wash you hadn't or thumb with the string (Ouchy).

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Comments:

The CenterPoint Hornet Recurve Compact Crossbow is a nice crossover product that appeals to Airgun enthusiasts as it does not require a firearms license and can be used in a lot more locations than a standard gun. It also has decent power as compared to a non regulated Airgun hitting 12 foot pounds which is at least 4x more than most non regulated Airguns can achieve. In terms of pest control, it does have the power required for small pests but accuracy is not going to be as good as an Airgun so hitting the rather small sweet spot on a small pest is not going to be easy and you want to be humane about it, so make sure if you do plan on using this for some sort of pest control, that you practice your accuracy and are confident in your shot placement. Personally I would just enjoy shooting it as a target bow that literally cost you nothing after purchase as long as you don’t lose the bolts.

• Buy the CenterPoint Hornet Recurve Compact Crossbow Kit in Canada

• Buy Compact Crossbows in the US