Type: AEG Airsoft Rifles Manufacturer:Specna Arms. Model:Core SA-J73 Materials: Fiberglass reenforced plastic and metal/aluminum. Weight: 5.7 pounds (2.59 kg). Total Length: 23.4 - 32.6 inches (594 - 828mm). Barrel: 15.7 inch (399mm) inner 6.03mm tight bore barrel non-rifled. Propulsion: AEG. Action: Single action semi & full auto. Ammunition Type: .6mm plastic Airsoft BB’s. Ammunition Capacity: High cap 430 round magazine. FPS: 370-380 fps with installed spring, included M90 spring will be lower fps.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Specna Arms Core SA-J73 AEG Airsoft Rifle is similar to a light single action trigger as essentially the trigger is non-mechanical, but rather it is more like an electrical on off switch. There is a little bit of take up with virtually no extra friction to let you know when the release is, with a bit of use you will figure out exactly when the trigger will release the action.
Accuracy: At this time I have not made my Field Test Shooting Video or even shot the Specna Arms Core SA-J73 AEG Airsoft Rifle, I am planning to make this video for next week if all goes well. I have reviewed other Specna Ames Core products in the past and made Field test Videos for them so perhaps check one of those videos out in the time being for a bit of a heads up of what you can expect from the Specna Arms Core SA-J73 AEG Airsoft Rifle.
Build Quality: One thing I can say, is no matter if you get the Core or Edge version of the Specna Arms AEG Air Rifles, you are getting extremely good value for your money, and neither one is going to have any low quality parts in it. Even the lower cost Core Series will have fiber glass reenforced plastic and metal parts along with a metal gearbox and virtually almost the same build as the more premium and higher priced Edge Series. You will get upgrades in the Edge Series like an aluminum receiver and buffer tube, a GATE X-ASR Mosfet, upgraded Gearboes, and an additional magazine.
Realism: The Specna Arms Core SA-J73 AEG Airsoft Rifle is based on the AK platform with a bit of a more modern look to it which includes a synthetic folding stock, a sight mounting system and a more modern magazine design. The Specna Arms Core SA-J73 AEG has lots of metal parts in it and has a good overall weight and feel to it which make is not too heavy or too light in my opinion. Our Canada version even come with a black flash hider rather than orange one which helps with realism.
Pros:
Very affordable price ($200 at time of video), yet very high quality product for what you pay.
Quality components throughout both the Core and Edge series.
Precision barrel internal 6.03mm diameter.
ESA™ quick spring change system makes spring changes quick and easy.
Comes with two springs for potential indoor and outdoor usage.
Plastic parts are fiberglass reenforced making them very durable.
Rear sight is adjustable on the fly for elevation.
No orange tips on our Canada Store versions.
Side mounting option for an optical or red dot sight system.
Metal V3 Gearboxes with metal gears and mostly all metal parts inside.
Decent amount of space for a battery.
Weight is about perfect, may actually too heavy with metal receiver?
Cons:
Plastic receiver.
Need to remove dust cover and use a screwdriver to adjust the hop-up.
No battery or charger included.
Comments:
The Specna Arms Core SA-J73 AEG Airsoft Rifle for right around $200 is not what I would expect for such a lower priced more entry level Airsoft Rifle. The build quality and components in this Airsoft Rifle are not budget by any means and when you hold it, it feels like a very high quality product. Sure you don’t get a battery or charger with it which you often find bundled with lower cost Airsoft Rifles, but generally these batteries and chargers are extremely entry level and will require upgrading almost immediately. So do yourself a favor and invest in a good battery setup if you do not already have one. If you’re in the market for an AK based AEG Airsoft Rifle and have a limited budget but still want a decent product, then I would recommend the Specna Arms Core SA-J73 AEG Airsoft Rifle for sure.
My Vimeo Table Top Review for the Specna Arms Core SA-C07-PDW AEG Airsoft Rifle:
Another box showed up at my door and this time I had no idea what was inside it, I asked the boys in the warehouse to surprise me and send some new product as I was low on review items, and in a couple of days later this tall somewhat large box showed up. In this Replica Airguns June Mystery Box Unboxing Video I open the box and take a look at what’s inside. I recommend you just watch the video and enjoy the suspense with me, but if you want to cheat and find out now, then look below at quick breakdown of each item…
What you can expect from this Field test Shooting Video for the Barra 1866 Junior Dual Ammo Pump Cowboy Rifle are two things for sure. I test out the velocity with both 4.5mm Steel BB’s and .177 caliber lead pellets, I also chuck both of these rounds downrange to see if one may be more accurate than the other and how close I can get a 5 shot grouping for each ammunition type. If you are looking for details and specifications and perhaps some more close up video of the Barra 1866 Junior Dual Ammo Pump Cowboy Rifle then you may want to watch my Table Top Video for it here.
If you have watched any of my hundreds of Field Test Videos, then you already know I start off shooting 5 or so rounds through my Chronograph to see what the average velocity is going to be. In this Field Test I shoot 3 rounds of each ammo type, 3 BB’s and 3 pellets since it is a pump Airgun and they tend to be more consistent than a CO2 Airgun. Barra claims around 350 fps, I am not sure if this is for BB’s or Pellets or both? As it turns out (spoiler alert), both ammo types performed about the same in both the velocity and accuracy portion of my testing. For BB’s, my chronograph testing got 303, 316 and 316 for an average of 312 fps. For pellets my chronograph results were 309, 309, 314 for an average of 311, so only 1 fps off between the two. Keep in mind the BB’s weigh around 5.1 grain while the pellets I was using were around 7 grain, so the pellets will be carrying more energy downrange and hit a bit harder. By the way they are also harder to load so I would suggest just shooting the steel BB’s in this one since you can keep the fun times flowing better...
Next up for my accuracy test of the Barra 1866 Junior Dual Ammo Pump Cowboy Rifle, I again shot both ammo types, but 5 rounds of each and just like the velocity test they matched each other almost exactly. Both the steel BB’s and lead pellets I was using shot really well centered left to right, maybe just a hair to the left and both shot just about an inch or so high on the bullseye I was aiming at 30 feet away. The 5 BB’s grouped nicely for me at about an inch while the pellets did get a slightly tighter 3/4 inch grouping for me in this test. I was using a semi rested shooting position sitting on a stool in the back with the rifle rested on a sand bag up front.
The Barra 1866 Junior Dual Ammo Pump Cowboy Rifle really surprised me in how it performed, It’s not going to be the most powerful BB/pellet cowboy rifle out there but compared to a Red Ryder it does have a bit more punch and in terms of accuracy I found it shot better for me than at least I can do with a Red Ryder type BB rifle. You also have the option of shooting BB’s or Pellets but I would recommend shooting BB’s since you have that 50 round hopper and the BB’s auto load when you pull the bolt back which is much easier than loading pellets with a pair of tweezers which is what I needed to do to get them in with my sausage fingers. One more thing to mention is I do not recommend pumping this air rifle more than 1 time, not only does the manual say not to, but there is little benefit in pumping it more times with only the risk to damaging the airgun. I pumped it 4 times and only got about 20 fps more out of it so just don’t do it. If you want a Cowboy style Air Rifle with a little more realism than say a Red Ryder but that shoots about the same then checkout the Barra 1866 Junior Dual Ammo Pump Cowboy Rifle.
Type: Lever/Pump Dual Ammo Rifle Manufacturer: Distributed by Barra. Model:Junior Dual Ammo Pump Cowboy Rifle. Materials: Mostly plastic, some metal. Weight: 4.1 pounds (1859 grams). Total Length: 36 inches (91.44mm). Barrel: 18 inches (45.7cm) metal rifled. Propulsion: Pump Compressed Air. Action: Lever/Pump Ammunition Type: .4.5mm steel BB’s & .177 Caliber Pellets. Ammunition Capacity: 50 BB’s in hopper, single shot Pellets. FPS: Claimed 350-400.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on Barra 1866 Junior Dual Ammo Pump Cowboy Rifle is respectable at about 5 pounds with a medium to short pull length. I would say it is perfect for novice shooters as it is not overly light so as not to go off easily by accident and not too heavy for youth shooters with less finger strength than adults. When you pull the bolt back to reload the ammo, the internal cocking mechanism is activated allowing for single action type shooting. You do need to activate the bolt with each shot.
Accuracy: My dedicated field test shooting video is planned for this week, so for now I have no idea what to expect in terms of velocity and accuracy from the Barra 1866 Junior Dual Ammo Pump Cowboy Rifle, other than it is claimed to shoot around 350 fps when using pellets. It does have an 18 inch rifles barrel which should contribute to helping a lot with accuracy, so I do have high expectations especially since it has a pretty good trigger and when looking down the sights they allow for a nice tight fix on the target. The rear stock is short but not so short that it feels cramped for an adult shooter which should also help when I perform my accuracy test.
Build Quality: The Barra 1866 Junior Dual Ammo Pump Cowboy Rifle is nothing special when it comes to materials being used in it. It is for the most plastic with the exception of the inner and outer barrel along with the rear sight and I would imagine some other internal parts. It does feel not so bad as it is a bit over 4 pounds and is smaller in nature so it feels solid enough in the hand. I wish the Pump/Lever was metal as it would of felt a bit more solid and would have added a bit more additional weight to the Barra 1866 Junior Dual Ammo Pump Cowboy Rifle. Fit and finish is good and overall the gun looks and feels good.
Realism: The Barra 1866 Junior Dual Ammo Pump Cowboy Rifle is essentially styled after the Old West Lever Action Cowboy Rifle, and it has everything we would expect other than loading shells which is available in other Lever Action Air Rifles if you don’t mind paying a premium for one. The lever is actually not a lever but more of a pump so the action and look of the lever is not exactly as you would expect from a true lever action rifle, but when it is locked in place it does look the part. The gold receiver and rifle band looks sharp and I feel matches up with the dark imitation wood stock nicely. One point to make is that the hammer is not the hammer but actually the safety and the bolt not only opens the breach area but also acts as the cocking mechanism for the internal hammer.
Pros:
Super easy to pump.
Fit and finish looks decent for a mostly plastic airgun.
In terms of realism it does look like a more compact lever action rifle for the most part
Can shoot either BB’s or Pellets.
Holds 50 BB’s in the hoper for quicker follow up shooting.
Metal octagon outer barrel adds addition weight to a mostly plastic gun.
Rear sight is metal and is also adjustable for elevation.
Trigger pull is pretty decent, not too light but is short and about 5 pounds.
Recessed barrel for added realism.
Made for kids but the shoulder pull length and sight placement works for adults too.
The gold receiver looks good and gives it a unique look.
Cons:
Mostly plastic build.
Manual says only one pump but I wonder why this is the case or perhaps just to deregulate it?
Pellets are hard to load especially if you have larger hands and fingers.
Comments:
The Barra 1866 Junior Dual Ammo Pump Cowboy Rifle is a competitor for products like the Red Ryder but it has a bit more realism in terms of looking more like a replica of a real steel Lever Action Cowboy Rifle. It also allows for shooting pellets and has an actual rifled barrel so hopefully this helps with accuracy. You can still kind of shoot it Lever Action Style when shooting BB’s but there is the addition of charging the bolt with each shot over and above working the Lever / Pump, so it will take a bit more time to get those follow up shots as compared to a Red Ryder BB Rifle. One other point to make is that the lever is actually not a lever but more of a pump since this is not spring powered but instead has an air reservoir which on this version only allows for one pump, but on the non-junior version you can pump it up to 10 times and get a claimed 800 fps out of it (US Version). I am going to try pumpkin the Barra 1866 Junior Dual Ammo Pump Cowboy Rifle up to three times to see if there is any difference in power but this could void your warranty if you damage the air reservoir by over pressuring it. So be good and only pump yours once as instructed in the manual.
Another Unboxing Update Video taking a look at two Rifles and two Revolvers. A shell loading CO2 dual ammo 1875 single action Remington branded Revolver from Crosman, an 1858 single action CO2 BB Revolver from Barra, another Barra product kind of like a Red Ryder BB Riffle but in dual ammo version with a much different loading system called the Barra 1866, and lastly a Cybergun CO2 Airsoft MP40 with a very different magazine setup than I have seen before.
Many Canadians ask about options for what they perhaps could use for home defense since we are not allowed to really use any kind of a weapon to defend ourselves. A product classified as “Less Lethal” may be of interest to people living in Canada. I interviewed Byrna, just such a company that offers alternatives to standard “Lethal Interventions” for self protection and Josh from Byrna was kind enough to go over their pistol and rifle offerings specifically built to shoot paintball type ammunition for the purpose of stopping bad guys.
I am hoping this is a product we will be able to add to our online Replica Airgun Stores, as they do tick the boxes for import into Canada such as shooting well under 500 fps, yet having the ability to cause serious injury so as to allow them to be considered a non regulated firearm.
I don’t believe I have ever interviewed EKOL at SHOT Show in the past. I have dropped by their booth and taken a look at their product line and chatted but this year EKOL had some new and interesting products that I feel fit in nicely with Replica Airguns products and Replica Airgun enthusiasts.
In this EKOL SHOT Show 2024 Interview Omer from EKOL goes over three Airguns that are new for this year. The EKOL ES P92 which is a CO2 BB Blowback Beretta 92 Replica but rather than rebrand a KWC made version, EKOL makes their own in their own factory and it is very unique compared to other CO2 BB Blowback Beretta 92’s on the market.
Another product form EKOL based on the ES P92 Pistol is the EKOL ES P95B which I would call an SMG or submachine gun with a folding stock, but it only shoots in semi auto and is based off of EKOL’s ES 92 mechanically.
Lastly, Omer showed me one of their Replica Pellet Rifles, the EKOL AK which is a break barrel AK Replica Spring Piston Pellet Rifle that really looks a lot like an AK 47. EKOL also makes a very believable AR/M16 Break Barrel Pellet Rifle as well!
We have not carried much if any of the EKOL product line over the last few years so hopefully we can get some of these into our Online Replica Airguns Stores as they should even be legal for import into Canada.
This year at the KWA Booth I had the pleasure of running into John, and we went over a bunch of new items KWA had on display. John was even rocking a similar pair of Ray Ban Meta AI Glasses which made us look a little bit like twins…
In this KWA SHOT Show Interview John higgled the following products from KWA: The KWA ATP-Z and ATP-CT Optics Ready GBB AIrsoft Pistols which are convertible to SMG versions, along with a new prototype TAC-9 GBB Airsoft Rifle.
KWA AIrsoft products have always been one of favoriteAirsoft guns for their quality, looks and performance. They tend to offer a lot of Gas Blowback options which I really appreciate as a Replica AIrgun Collector.
It’s alwasy nice to have a chat with Bob at ASG, I have been interviewing him for years now and really missed not being at SHOT Show the last three years. As always, Bob really knows the ASG product line inside and out and took us through some of the new products and changes to the ASG lineup in 2024.
Some of the products include: The ASG CZ P-10 C CO2 Blowback Airsoft Pistol, the Steyr L9-A2 CO2/Gas Blowback Airsoft Pistol, the USW Gas Blowback Airsoft Pistol, the new Hybrid Airsoft line including the CO2 Blowback H-22 and the AEG H-15, the ICS Ape SE AEG Airsoft Rifle, and lastly the ICS Carnotaurus, Legacy, ACME High-Capa Pistol Series.
I am looking forward to get my hands-on many of these new ASG products and making reviews for everyone to checkout in the near future…
I’m pretty sure I have never made an Interview for Barra before in any of my past SHOT Show Videos, so I was really happy when I visited their booth and discovered a bunch of really great new products to talk about with GEO. Like many other Airgun companies, Barra does incorporate rebranded products from other manufacturer popular Airguns, but they also have some unique products I have never seen before. They are either working really closely with dedicated manufacturing companies or making these items in house. Either way it’s great to see new and interesting products.
Some of the products Geo went over with me in this SHOT Show 2024 Barra Interview where: The Barra CO2 1866 Lever Action Rifle, some Rifled Pellet Barrel Kits for the Schofield Revolver and 1866 Rifle, the 1858 CO2 BB Revolver, the 357 Shell Loading CO2 Revolver, the 400 AEG Airsoft Rifle and two new nameless Airguns they are still working on and perfecting, a full Blowback Competition Style BB/Airsoft Pistol and a compact AEG Airsoft Rifle.
It was great talking with the team over at the Barra Booth and I look forward to testing out their new items as they become available.
Kicking off my SHOT Show 2024 Interviews, I present my Umarex Interview with Mark Davis, you may remember Mark from past Umarex SHOT Show Interviews? This is a fairly long interview as Mark had a lot of product to show me including…
The new Marlin Lever Action BB Rifle, the Walther PDP CO2 BB Pistol, the BBX11 1911 Blowback CO2 BB Pistol, the MarkPoint Break Barrel .177 Caliber Pellet Pistol, the Trinity Hi-Cap 2011 Blowback Airsoft Pistol, the Gambler High Stakes Single Action Army CO2 Airsoft Revolver, the Glock 380 GBB Airsoft Pistol, the CQC Elite Force AEG Airsoft Rifle with i-Trace, and the Beretta PMX GBB Airsoft Rifle.
Yep, that’s a lot of products to go over in one Interview, and Mark did a great job! I am really looking forward to getting my hands on these new products from Umarex to review for everyone!
This was a really fun Field Test Shooting Video review. I don’t believe I have ever tested out a version of the P90 before and generally I don’t get a lot of Bullpups on my table so this was a bit of a treat shooting the Cybergun FN Herstal P90 NBB AEG Airsoft Rifle! If you have not already watched my Table Top Review for the Cybergun FN Herstal P9, then makes sure to do so for more details, specifications and close up video.
Starting with my Velocity FPS test, I placed several rounds through my Chronograph and once they evened out a bit, I averaged out my last 5 shots and was able to get a 427 fps velocity using .20 gram plastic Airsoft BB’s. Which is really close to the 436 fps claimed velocity made by Cybergun. I did notice that when I had a fully loaded magazine that I did get some occasional lower velocity shots perhaps because of too high of spring tension the magazine and this causing some loading issues? So do not load the magazine too much and cause the spring tension to overload it.
Moving on to my Accuracy test, I placed a fresh paper target 30 feet down range and first shot 10 rounds in semi auto followed by the rest of the magazine, so I would say around 45 shots in full auto. I was able to get around a 1.5 inch grouping shooting 10 rounds and that opened up just a bit when I unloaded the rest of the magazine in full auto tonight around a 2 inch grouping. Shot placement is kind of irrelevant as theCybergun FN Herstal P90 NBB AEG Airsoft Rifle does not come with any sighting system so you will need to add your own Red Dot or picatinny compatible sight to it and of course adjust it to your preferred shot placement.
I typically prefer compact AR type CQB Airsoft rifles for their small and light size and perhaps just a little because of the way they look. That said I really like the look of the Cybergun FN Herstal P90 NBB AEG Airsoft Rifle, and it checks all the boxes as a CQB AEG Airsoft choice. The Cybergun FN Herstal P90 not only looked the part but performed really good and I would say could be used not only for CQB but for just about any Airsoft battle situation, as it had a nice high fps and was able to place rounds accurately down rage in both semi and full auto. With the Cybergun FN Herstal P90 NBB AEG Airsoft Rifle you get a really great performer, looker and the price is right considering it comes with almost everything you need in the box, including the battery and charger. Just keep in mind you will have to add your own sighting system, but that’s not a deal breaker since most people often change their sights anyway.
Type: BB Rifle. Manufacturer: Sig Sauer ASP Model: Sig Sauer MCX Rattler Materials: Metal and Nylon Fiber build. Weight: 4.6 Pounds (2.1 kg). Barrel: 7 inch (17.8 cm) steel non-rifled. Propulsion: Single 12 gram CO2. Action: Semi auto and 3 round burst with internal blowback (single action only trigger). AmmunitionType: 4.5mm Steel BB’s. AmmunitionCapacity: 30 rounds spring fed. Velocity: Claimed of 325 fps.
TriggerPull: The trigger pull on the Sig Sauer MCX Rattler CO2 BB Rifle is a single action only trigger that requires initial activation of the charging handle, after the first shot the internal blowback action will do this automatically for each followup shot. The single action only trigger is fairly short with a light pull and predictable release, great for action shooting. You also have the option of shooting in true semi auto (one trigger pull and one shot) or selecting 3 round burst mode which allows for one pull of the trigger with 3 rounds in full auto.
Accuracy: I really don’t have much feedback to give here as I have only shot a single magazine so far with the Sig Sauer MCX Rattler CO2 BB Rifle in a very uncontrolled format as I was not so much testing it out but rather just having some initial fun to see what it was all about. I will of course be following up this Table Top Review with a Field Test Review shortly to find out what the actual velocity is and see how accurate it is in both semi auto and 3 round burst mode.
BuildQuality: The build quality for the Sig Sauer MCX Rattler CO2 BB Rifle is really good considering it is mostly all plastic on the outside. It does feel solid and well built when holding it in the hand. From what I can tell the metal parts would include the barrel, the charging handle, the main controls and also much of the internal components inside both the rifle and the magazine. I would have liked to have seen a metal flash hider and perhaps the pop-up Iron sights could have also been metal.
Realism: The Sig Sauer MCX Rattler CO2 BB Rifle is a 1 to 1 scale very realistic Replica of the real steel Sig Sauer Rattler normally chambered in 5.56 NATO. It would have been nice if the dust cover opened up when charging the Airgun for realism but most of the other controls work as expected, like the charging handle, selector switch, magazine release and I am not sure but maybe even the bolt release, I will know more when I make my Field Test Shooting video for the Sig Sauer MCX Rattler.
Pros:
Perfect size and weight for a fun BB semi / full auto shooter.
Fully adjustable pop up sights that are usable in both the down and up position,
Lots of accessory mounting options with the picatinny top rail and MLOCK in the sides and bottom.
Folding rear stock allows for a compact size and much easier transportation.
Ambidextrous selector switch.
Can shoot in both semi and 3 round burst modes.
Very solid AR15 type magazine that holds the 30 4.5mm steel BB’s and the single 12 gram CO2.
Reasonably priced at around $250 at the time of this video.
Sig Sauer licensing.
Cons:
Only uses a single CO2, two would have been better in a fast action shooter like this to maintain fps.
325 fps seems a bit low.
Lots of plastic but build quality does feel good.
Comments:
The Sig Sig Sauer MCX Rattler CO2 BB Rifle reminds me a lot of the Umarex Steel Storm and Steel Force which are both Compact AR type Semi and Burt mode 4.5mm CO2 Blowback Airguns. Where the Sig Sauer MCX Rattler CO2 BB Rifle shines, is in the quality and realism as compared the Umarex counterparts. I do like that both the Umarex Steel Storm and Steel Force use dual 12 gram CO2 cartridges which I feel allows them to have more consistent velocity and performance as compared to the single CO2 in the Sig Sauer MCX Rattler CO2 BB Rifle. My First impressions without really testing the Sig Sauer MCX Rattler are all pretty positive but it will really come down to how well it performs and so I will put my recommendations on hold until I actually test it out!
My Table Top Review of the Sig Sauer MCX Rattler CO2 BB Rifle:
I love making these Mystery Box Unboxing Videos as many of the items inside are actually real mysteries to me, some I may have an idea of but even these items are new to me so it’s fun to open them up and check them all out. In this October 2023 Mystery Box Video I checkout 9 items ranging from AEG Airsoft Rifles to Airsoft , BB and Pellet Pistols. There is even a new Steel BB product from Sig Sauer that is a compact rifle with a 3 round burst option when shooting.
30 feet is not really a long enough distance to test out a Spring Piston Break Barrel Air Rifle but it’s been pretty rainy outside as the weather here in British Columbia has progresses into full on rainy fall weather. So we will have to make do with the 30 foot limitation I have here in the Replica Airguns Sea Can Indoor Shooting Range. At least it is warm and the lighting is perfect :) In this Filed Test Shooting Video for the Beeman Black Panther Dual Caliber Break Barrel Pellet Rifle I test out the velocity in fps along with the accuracy at 30 feet away. For both of these tests I use 15.43 grain .22 caliber Gamo lead pellets. If you are more invested in details and specifications along with some closer up video then watch my Table Top Video for the Beeman Black Panther.
Beeman claims just under 500 fps for the Beeman Black Panther Dual Caliber Break Barrel Pellet Rifle but it is unclear if this is with .177 caliber or .22 caliber pellets and what kind of pellet are being used? Light weigth Alloy or standard Lead pellets. I decided to go with the .22 caliber barrel for all my testing but may try out the .177 caliber barrel in a future update Field Test Video. I placed 5 shots through my Chronograph using the 15.43 grain .22 caliber lead pellets and was able to get an average velocity of 422 fps. The slowest shot was 418 fps with the fastest shot hitting a max of 429 fps so all fairly close together. In terms of energy output, a pellet that weighs 15.43 grain travelling at 422 fps has a foot pound energy of 6.1.
I am not the best shot when it comes to sprig Piston Air Rifles, but I did my best here. I shot a total of 8 shots on the paper target and the main group was about 1 inch in diameter, this consisted of 6 pellets in that main group with 2 pellets that came out one shot a bit high and one shot a bit to the right. I was using the built in post and notch fiber optic sights rather than installing the 4x32 scope. After all the target was only 30 feet away. I am pretty sure one could easily get a .5 inch grouping at this range with perhaps a 1 inch grouping at distances closer to the 50-60 foot mark, which should make this a decent pest control option when using the .22 caliber ammo as I feel it would get the job done with a bit more authority.
The Beeman Black Panther Dual Caliber Break Barrel Pellet Rifle comes with two barres offering the ability to shoot using .177 caliber pellets or .22 caliber pellets with a quick barrel change. .177 caliber pellets could be used for smaller pest control but I would mainly use the .177 barrel for basic target practice as .177 caliber pellets are definitely cheaper than .22 caliber pellets. When you do require that slight additional stopping power, then go with the .22 caliber barrel for sure!
I don’t get to test out Bolt Action Airsoft Sniper type Rifles all that often but I do enjoy them for sure. I would like to test out the S&T Matrix KAR98K Bolt Action Airsoft Rifle using longer ranges than I can here in the Replica Airguns Indoor Sea Can Shooting Range but hopefully this Filed Test Review gives you an idea of what this Spring powered Bolt Action Airsoft Rifle can do. Make sure to watch my Table Top Review for the S&T Matrix KAR98K Bolt Action Airsoft Rifle for details, specifications and closer up video. In this video I mainly test out the velocity and accuracy at 30 feet away to see what the actual fps is and how tight of a 10 shot grouping I can get on a paper target.
Starting with the velocity test, I generally put 5 rounds through my Chronograph and then average them out for a real world rating. In this test I used standard .20 gram Airsoft BB’s for both the velocity and accuracy components of the video. I was very impressed with the consistency of the velocity with the slowest shot hitting 362 fps and the fastest shot hitting 363 fps averaging 362.5 fps and only having a 1 fps maximum difference between all shots. Pretty good right? Consistent velocity is very important for any sniper type rifle as if there is a large spread in velocity this can reduce elevation accuracy down range.
In terms of accuracy I was again very impressed with my results. For my target test I setup a fresh paper target 30 feet away and proceeded to shoot 10 rounds into it. I did have to reset for each shot as I had to manually work the bolt after each shot, this can affect accuracy but it did not seem to all that much. I was using a seated position in the back with my hands rested on a sand bag up front which does hep settle things down. Even with having to reset between each shot, I still managed to get close to a 1 inch 10 shot grouping, one shot did shoot just a bit high but that was probably me pulling it a bit. Out of the box with no sight adjustments the S&T Matrix KAR98K Bolt Action Airsoft Rifle shot almost dead center in the bullseye, it is fairly easy to adjust the elevation using the rear sight but there is no easy way to adjust for windage using the built in iron sights.
I know this is a Field Test Shooting Video and so it’s not really all about build or quality. That said I do love the quality and attention to detail the S&T Matrix KAR98K Bolt Action Airsoft Rifle has and the fact that it performs really well too is a big bonus. One last point I did not even mention in the Field Test Video is that Was able to load a lot more than 11 rounds into the magazine. I stoped at 19 as the spring was getting on the tight side, but may have been able to load more? If you’re looking for a sniper rifle with a history and that will stand out in a game then take a look at the S&T Matrix KAR98K Bolt Action Airsoft Rifle as an option.
In this Field Test Shooting Review Video I test out the Bear River Black Ops SR4 CQ AEG Airsoft Rifle (which I would consider to be a midrange AEG Airsoft Rifle) to see how it performs in the Replica Airguns Sea Can Indoor Shooting Range. As always this test is to see what the real world velocity is using .20 gram Airsoft BB’s and I also shoot 10 rounds in semi auto and then essentially a mag dump in full auto to see what kind of accuracy I can get from 30 feet away shooting in both shooting modes. If you want more info on details and specifications along with some closer up video of the Bear River Black Ops SR4 CQ AEG Airsoft Rifle then watch my Table Top Video Review here.
Starting with the velocity or fps portion of my review, my 5 shot average produced 320 fps that was very consistent shot to shot. My lowest velocity was 319 while my highest velocity was 322 so not a big spread at all. This may seem a bit low but keep in mind it is a CQ (Close Quarters) Compact AEG Rifle purpose built for that situation, It is not really made for outdoor shooting where longer range shooting may be required.
For my Accuracy test, I placed a paper target 30 feet down range and actually ended up having to make this portion of my Test Video twice as two of my cameras did not cooperate with me and I do like to get multiple camera angels to make the videos a bit more interesting. For my second test I was able to get around a 1 inch group shooting 10 shots in semi auto. I did find the Bear River Black Ops SR4 CQ AEG Airsoft Rifle shot rather high so I had to place my aim point at the bottom of the rings on the papper target. This resulted in mid point shots but it did shoot a bit to the right. I would invest in either a red dot or perhaps some more adjustable iron sights for this Airsfot Rifle. As always I was shooting using a semi rested position sitting on a stool in the back rested on a sand bag up front. When I switched the sector to smile mode (Full Auto) I essentially did a mag dump of my remaining 50-60 rounds resulting in the grouping opening up to around 3 inches but this is expected with all those rounds being added to the grouping. Recoil was not really a factor as AEG Rifles don’t really move around all that much.
Overal the Bear River Black Ops SR4 CQ AEG Airsoft Rifle performed well for me in this Field Test Review. the FPS may seem a bit low but at close range it is more than enough and you don’t have to worry about hurting anyone so you can keep your mind on the game at hand. Accuracy was also in line with a mid range AEG Airsoft Rifle, perhaps even a bit better than most. The Bear River Black Ops SR4 CQ AEG Airsoft Rifle does come with a basic battery and charger but along with a better sighting system I would also invest in upgraded batters and charger to really complete this purchase. With the quad rail setup you can really make this AR Airsoft AEG your own in terms of customization, all that can be added at any time.
Type: Pellet Rifle. Manufacturer: Beeman Model: Black Panther Dual Caliber. Materials: Metal and Synthetic Plastic. Weight: 7.2pounds (2.3kg). Total Length: 44 inches (111.8cm). Barrel: 16.75 inches (42.5cm). Propulsion: Spring Piston. Action: Single Action Single Shot. AmmunitionType: .177 & .22 Caliber Pellets. AmmunitionCapacity: 1. MaxFPS: 495 Claimed.
Trigger Pull: The trigger on the Beeman Black Panther Dual Caliber Break Barrel Pellet Rifle is single action only requiring you to break the barrel and compress the internal spring piston before you can shoot it. This will also engage the safety which you have to disengage for each shot manually as an added security measure. The actual trigger pull is I would say a medium pull with an easy first stage then a more firm second stage. I am pretty sure the Black Panther uses the Sportsman tigger setup which does have some adjustment for trigger pull as far as I am aware of. Once I get a chance to shoot the Beeman Black Panther Dual Caliber Break Barrel Pellet Rifle I will be able to tell you more about how the trigger feels.
Accuracy: I have not performed any shooting tests with the Beeman Black Panther Dual Caliber Break Barrel Pellet Rifle so far, I will be making a Video Review next in the next few weeks “weather permitting” as I want to get outdoors for this test to be able to shoot the Black Panther at longer ranges. I expect the Beeman Black Panther Dual Caliber Break Barrel Pellet Rifle to perform well in the accuracy department using the 4x32 optical scope. In terms of power the spring does seem to take a bit of effort so I am hoping for a decent fps in both .177 caliber and .22 caliber!
Build Quality: The Beeman Black Panther Dual Caliber Break Barrel Pellet Rifle is made in China but looks to be fairly well made. It is mostly metal including the front and rear sights with a synthetic plastic stock and feels good to hold resting the cushioned rubber butt-pad to your shoulder. The stock and trigger guard are a one piece design, that said the trigger guard is fairly thick so it should stand up to some abuse.
Realism: The Beeman Black Panther Dual Caliber Break Barrel Pellet Rifle is not a copy of any real steel gun in production but does have that overall rifle shape to it so it looks like a gun but most people will be able to immediately see that it is a Pellet Rifle and that is exactly what it is since it is not trying to be a Replica Airgun or copy of any real steel rifle in production.
Pros:
All Weather durable ambidextrous synthetic stock.
All metal front and rear fiver optic sights.
Can shoot both .177 and .22 caliber pellets for multi purpose shooting.
Sportsman trigger (adjustable) with automatic safety system.
Comes with included 4x32 scope and mounts.
Very solid build at 9.92 pounds.
Nice cushioned rubber butt-plate looks good and adds to shooting comfort.
Has a scope-stop so your scope will stay nicely in place.
Cons:
Hard to tell if the claimed 495 fps is for .177 or .22 caliber lead or alloy pellets?
Hard to find this exact gun for info, not even on Beeman’s own website.
Made in China.
Comments: The Beeman Black Panther Dual Caliber Break Barrel Pellet Rifle is designed to be a more affordable Break Barrel Spring Piston Pellet Rifle with metal where it counts and a synthetic stock for durability and resiliency to weather conditions. You do have the option of shooting either .177 caliber pellets for a faster flatter trajectory or if you use the .22 caliber barrel, you benefit from perhaps a bit more downrange energy and less effect from windy conditions. You can also choose between shooting with the open fully adjustable metal sights or install the 4x32 scope for longer range shooting. You for sure get a versatile Spring Piston Air Rifle with the Beeman Black Panther Dual Caliber Break Barrel Pellet Rifle at the end of the day.
Type: Airsoft Rifle. Manufacturer: Bear River. Model: Black Ops SR4 CQ Materials: Mostly Metal. Weight: 6.2 pounds (2.8 kilograms). Length: 24-27.5 inches (610-699mm) BarrelLength: 7.8 inches (198mm) inner 6.06mm non-rifled. Propulsion: AEG. Action: Semi & Full Auto SAO. AmmunitionType: 6mm Airsoft BB's. AmmunitionCapacity: Mid Cap 300 rounds. FPS: 370 using .20 gram Airsoft BB’s.
TriggerPull: The trigger pull on the Bear River Black Ops SR4 CQ AEG Airsoft Rifle like pretty much every other AEG Airsoft Rifle I have reviewed is a SAO with a light and short trigger, typical of most AEG Airsoft guns having basically a trigger that is an electrical on/off switch. The trigger pressure I would say is about medium for this type of trigger and about a 1/4 inch in length. It has a curved metal trigger and works as expected.
Accuracy: I have not Field Test Reviewed the Bear River Black Ops SR4 CQ AEG Airsoft Rifle so far but I can only hope it performs as well as the Bear River Black Ops SR4 CQ AEG Airsoft Rifle I reviewed already as it really surprised me for such a low cost entry level AEG Airsoft Rifle. Bear River claims around a 370fps using .20 gram Airsoft BB’s but they do recommend using .25 gram or heavier Plastic BB’s. We will find out when I do my actual Field Test Shooting Video for it. Similar with accuracy, we will have to wait till my shooting video to know how the Bear River Black Ops SR4 CQ AEG Airsoft Rifle performs on a paper target in the Replica Airguns Indoor Sea Can Shooting range.
Build Quality: Build quality for the Bear River Black Ops SR4 CQ AEG Airsoft Rifle is exceptional with nearly the entire Airsoft Rifle made out of some sort of metal including the receiver, hadn't guard, buffer tube, barrel, sights, trigger, charging handle, sights and all of the controls. Internally you will find a full metal Gen. 3 gearbox from SRC with with 8 mm metal bearing bushings, metal spring guide, upgraded metal piston head, cylinder, and cylinder head, and pre-shimmed all steel gears. The Hop-up is also metal and Bear River has installed a high torque long axle motor from SRC along with a metal hop-up.
Realism: The Bear River Black Ops SR4 CQ AEG Airsoft Rifle like so many other AEG AR type Airsoft Rifles is super realistic, with the Black Ops SR4 CQ it takes it to the next level with so much equality and metal everywhere. Because of this it is fairly heavy for such a compact AR Rilfe coming in at over 6 pounds which does make it feel super solid to hold.
Pros:
Super compact CQ style AR.
Comes with charger and 9.6 volt Ni-MH battery to get you started.
Lots of mounting points for accessories.
Iron sights have 4 aperture option peep sight options.
6 position rear stock for different shoulder pull lengths.
Adjustable metal hop-up under dust cover.
Semi and full auto selectable.
Almost all metal build with good weight and feel to it.
Black Ops branding looks good.
Great looking Compact AR Replica.
Cons:
No dedicated bolt release.
Will want to upgrade battery soon to get the most out of it.
Sights are non adjustable.
Comments:
The Bear River Black Ops SR4 CQ AEG Airsoft Rifle for the price is a real deal as far as I am concerned selling currently for just over $400 in the Canada Replica Airguns Store, and $299 in the US Store. Keep in mind that also includes the 9.6 volt battery and charger to get you started, (I would recommend an 11.1 volt LIPO battery for higher RPM and a more responsive trigger). I really like more compact Rifles as I just like the look and they are easier to maneuver on the field or indoors with less bulk to get in the way. For the price you get a lot with the Bear River Black Ops SR4 CQ AEG Airsoft Rifle so if you are on a bit of a budget but still want all the bells and whistles then go for it!
Type: Airsoft Rifle. Manufacturer: Specna Arms. Model: RRA SA-CO2 Materials: Metal and Plastic. Weight: 4.96 pounds (2.25 kilograms). Length: 27.5-31 inches (699-787mm) BarrelLength: 10.63 inches (270mm) inner 6.03mm tight bore non-rifled. Propulsion: AEG. Action: Semi & Full Auto SAO. AmmunitionType: 6mm Airsoft BB's. AmmunitionCapacity: Mid Cap 450 rounds. FPS: 410 using .20 gram Airsoft BB’s.
TriggerPull: Like almost every other AEG Airsoft Rifle I’ve reviewed in the past, the trigger pull on the Specna Arms RRA SA-CO2 AEG Airsoft Rifle is a SAO with a light and short trigger feel. Most AEG Airsoft Rifles basically have a trigger that is an electrical on/off switch. The trigger pressure is not super light but for sure not heavy and the pull length is about a half centimeter long (quarter inch or so) and when you get to the end it basically actives the electric motor which compresses the spring allowing for semi or full auto shooting depending on what you have selected. Keep in mind higher voltage batteries will wind faster and make the hesitation shorter from the time you pull the trigger till the spring releases and shoots a BB.
Accuracy: In most cases I make my Table Top Review Video for each gun I review first, so I will not be able to share my experience of how this Specna Arms RRA SA-CO2 AEG Airsoft Rifle performs as that experience has not happened yet. I am planning to make my Field Test Shooting Video in a couple of weeks so stay posted for that video. You can watch a similar Specna Arms Core AEG Airsoft rifle video I have made previously showcasing a Core versus Edge series. The Specna Arms RRA SA-CO2 AEG Airsoft Rifle should performs about the same as a similar Core AEG Airsoft Rifle from Specna Arms.
Build Quality: Generally speaking from my past hands on with Sepcna Arms products both in Core and Edge version, they have been good in terms of quality and build. The Core versions will be a step down from the Edge version but they have still proven to perform well and hav a good overall build with decent internals no matter which version you decide to go with. I will say I did experience a problem with my Specna Arms RRA SA-CO2 AEG Airsoft Rifle when I pulled the charging handle back I had a fairly major malfunction with it. I am fairly sure the spring got jammed and now the charging handle will not spring back into forward resting position. This should not affect my Field Test Shooting Video as the only real purpose of this type of charging system is to open the dust cover and allow access to the hop-up system. I can still do this but need to pull back the hop door manually. Getting back to build quality, you get a plastic reacievr, buffer tube, carry handle, fore grip, magazine, rear stock and pistol grip. Metal can be found in most of the controls, the barrel and of course the trigger.
Realism: Other than the Specna Arms RRA SA-CO2 AEG Airsoft Rifle having a fair amount of plastic components it is a very realistic copy of a similar styled AR type Rifle. It will be a bit lighter but feels decent to hold and you can add a bit of mass by swapping out the carry hand and fore grip with metal versions.
Pros:
More classic AR15 look to it if you prefer that.
Quality components throughout even in the lower priced Core series.
ESA™ quick spring change system makes spring changes quick and easy.
Comes with two springs for potential indoor and outdoor usage.
Plastic parts are fiberglass reenforced making them very durable.
Fully adjustable peep sight with two aperture positions.
No orange tips on our Canada Store versions.
6 position rear stock for varies shoulder pull lengths.
Metal V2 Gearboxes with metal gears and mostly all metal parts inside.
Easy access to motor for any possible trouble shooting you any need to do.
Cons:
Plastic receiver.
Charging handle had a major malfunction in my demo unit.
You will need a more compact and specific battery size/type with this style of AR AEG.
Comments:
It is unfortunate that my review version of the Specna Arms RRA SA-CO2 AEG Airsoft Rifle was defective, this can happen to any product ever high end Airguns. It does not happen very often thankfully and this would be the first time it has happened to me with a Specna Arms Product so don’t be too hard on them. Fortunately I should still be able to make my Field test Shooting Video and get that info out to everyone. As it stands I think the Specna Arms RRA SA-CO2 AEG Airsoft Rifle is well priced and good value (in 100% working condition of course). Personally I would look more at the Edge series as the quality is a for sure a big step up but not everyone has a big budget so get what works best for your needs and budget.
