This isn’t an airgun, but it will show up in a least some of my airgun videos, you just won’t usually see it. The DJI Neo 2 is my new AI camera drone that I’ll be using for outdoor shooting segments, walk-around tests, and any time I need moving shots without a camera operator.
Up until now I’ve been using the original DJI Neo and the HoverAir X1 Pro Max. The HoverAir still has slightly better pure video quality, and the original Neo had decent AI features, but together they meant more gear to carry and more batteries to manage. The Neo 2 is the first drone that can realistically replace both for what I do on this channel.
I picked up the Fly More Combo, which includes the Neo 2, the RC-N3 controller, three batteries, a charging hub, and the antenna/transmitter module pre-installed. With three packs I can get roughly 35–40 minutes of real-world flying, which is more than enough to cover a shooting session.
The biggest upgrade over the original Neo is the two-axis gimbal. Instead of cropping the image to keep the horizon level when the drone tilts in the wind, the camera physically moves side-to-side and up/down. Combine that with updated processing and you get up to 4K 60 fps (and even 100 fps in 4K), which is perfect for smoother tracking shots when I’m walking, moving between targets, or doing action-style footage.
The Neo 2 is also loaded with sensors and obstacle avoidance: fisheye cameras on multiple sides plus a front LiDARunit. It does a great job of seeing trees, branches and other obstacles and routing around them, which is exactly what I need when I’m focused on shooting and talking, not flying.
For control, I can either use the phone app for quick AI “follow me” and smart shots, or the RC-N3 for longer-range, more traditional drone flying and higher altitude shots. There’s also a very cool gesture control system (I call it “Jedi mode”) where I can move the drone up, down, left, right, closer or further just by using hand signals, no need to stop recording or dig through menus.
Bottom line: you probably won’t see the DJI Neo 2 in many of my videos, but you’ll definitely see what it captures. It lets me add smoother tracking shots, aerial views and more dynamic angles to my Replica Airguns content, all without needing a dedicated camera person. For a solo creator who films a lot outdoors, it’s a very handy tool to have in the bag.
I tested another Steambow model in this Field Test Shooting Video, the Steambow AR Series M10 Tactical Crossbow. Like my other Crossbow Field Test videos, I recorded the Chronograph velocity while I was shooting the target so there was no need for separate segments, everything was done in one go with four cameras rolling. I didn’t put a dedicated camera on the Chronograph because I wanted a camera on the target; my camera glasses generally pick up the chrono readings anyway. I only have so many cameras, but everything recorded as planned. If you want the full specs and a closer look at the M10, watch my dedicated Table Top video.
Steambow quotes about 190–200 fps for the AR Series M10. My six chrono readings were 189, 191, 189, 189, 190 and 191, which worked out to a 190 fps average. Using the included 142-grain, 6.5-inch aluminum bolts produced roughly 11.4 foot-pounds of energy, so both velocity and FPE were basically on target with Steambow’s numbers. That’s adequate for small pests, but humane shots always come down to accuracy, you’ll want head or shoulder placement, and I’m not ready to declare any compact crossbow a guaranteed solution for that. Test accuracy for yourself.
For accuracy I shot six rounds at a paper target 30 feet downrange from my usual seated in the back, hands rested up front shooting position. The first shot from the Steambow AR Series M10 Tactical Crossbow was a few inches low, so I adjusted my point of aim up and ended up with an impressive 1-inch, 4-shot group just left of center. One bolt missed the target entirely, could have been me or a bad bolt (I’ll blame the bolt on that one). Still, for a compact crossbow this was an excellent result, comparable to some pellet rifles.
Overall the Steambow AR Series M10 Tactical Crossbow performed really well. I like the cocking and bolt-feeding system, cocking is simple: shoulder the stock, press the release, then pull the front down using the foregrip for leverage. Even with the higher power of this model you don’t need a lot of strength, and with practice follow-up shots can be quick. I’d add a red dot to the rail to help dial in accuracy and buy a few extra bolts for target practice and hunting. The M10 is one of Steambow’s pricier offerings, but it also has the highest ammo capacity and the most customization options. If you want the ultimate compact crossbow setup, the ability to preload multiple bolts and have extra 10-shot magazines on hand makes the M10 the one to consider.
I’ve tested a few compact crossbows before, but nothing with a multi-bolt loading system like the Steambow setup I’m testing in this video. As with my other Crossbow Field Test videos, I recorded Chronograph velocity at the same time I was shooting the target so I didn’t need two separate segments, I did it all in one pass with lots of cameras rolling. I didn’t dedicate a camera to the Chronograph for this test because I wanted a camera focused on the target; my camera glasses usually capture the Chronograph readings for me. I only have so many cameras, but everything was captured fine. If you want to learn more about the specifications and details of the Steambow AR-6 Stinger II, then watch my dedicated Table Top Video located here.
Steambow lists 180 fps as the claimed velocity for the Steambow AR-6 Stinger II Tactical. I consistently measured right around 160 fps, pretty close to the claim. Using the included 142-grain, 6.5-inch aluminum bolts my chrono readings ranged from 159 to 164 fps, averaging 163 fps, which is very consistent. That produced about 8.4 foot-pounds of energy, so both velocity and FPE were a little under Steambow’s stated numbers. That’s enough for small pests, but humane shots depend on accuracy, you’ll want head or shoulder placement, and I’m not fully convinced this bow is always up to that task. You’ll need to judge its accuracy for your own use.
On elevation (up and down) the Steambow AR-6 Stinger II was fairly accurate. Where it struggled more was windage: I had to aim noticeably to the right to move bolts toward the bullseye. The sight is very basic (a single fiber-optic post just behind of the Picatinny rail), which likely contributed to the windage issue. Despite that, I managed a roughly 4-inch group at 30 feet, with one bolt behaving like a flyer.
Overall the Steambow AR-6 Stinger II performed well. I really like the cocking and bolt-feeding system — cocking is easy by shouldering the stock, pressing the release, then pulling the front of the bow down using the foregrip for leverage. You don’t need to be super strong to do it, and with practice you could get very quick at follow-up shots. I’d definitely add a red dot to the rail to help dial in accuracy, and I’d buy a few extra bolts for target and hunting. The AR-6 Stinger II is pricier than some basic models, but the ability to preload multiple bolts in the built-in clip and unleash six shots in seconds makes the extra cost worth it to me.
I recently started testing out the new DJI Osmo Nano, and while this camera may be marketed as an action/vlogging camera, I immediately saw how it could become a real asset for creating Replica Airguns review videos. On my channel, I’m always filming from multiple angles—close-ups of the guns, tabletop shots, and shooting demonstrations. The Nano’s small size and magnetic mounting system open up a lot of creative possibilities that larger cameras just can’t manage.
Why the Osmo Nano Fits Airgun Reviews
The DJI Osmo Nano is compact, lightweight, and extremely versatile. Thanks to its built-in magnets and the wide range of mounts that DJI includes in the box, I can attach it just about anywhere—on a target stand, a tripod, even a piece of metal in my indoor range. For my type of reviews, where I often want a stable angle on the gun while still moving around myself, this is a huge advantage.
Another big plus is that the Osmo Nano is not just flexible but also delivers great image quality. It records in 4K with 10-bit color and even offers a D-Log mode for those who want to fine-tune their footage in post-production. That’s a level of control you usually don’t get from such a small device.
Key Specs
Here are a few highlights worth noting:
Resolution & Color: Up to 4K recording, 10-bit color, and D-Log for advanced color correction.
Stabilization: Rock-solid electronic stabilization, so even handheld or mounted-to-moving-objects shots stay smooth.
Magnetic Design: Attach it quickly to mounts, gear, or almost any surface.
Lightweight Form Factor: Easy to carry, position, and experiment with new camera angles.
DJI Osmo Nano vs. Insta360 Go Ultra
A lot of people will naturally compare the Osmo Nano to the Insta360 Go Ultra since they’re both in the same category. But from my testing, DJI’s camera has some strong advantages:
Lower Price: The Osmo Nano is much more affordable.
Included Accessories: DJI packs in more mounts and options straight out of the box.
Color Flexibility: With 10-bit recording and D-Log, it offers a lot more room for dialing in your footage.
For someone like me who’s already juggling multiple cameras during a review, having a cost-effective and flexible option like this makes a lot of sense.
Final Thoughts
The DJI Osmo Nano may be tiny, but it’s built with creators in mind. For airgun reviews, it allows me to set up angles I wouldn’t normally capture, without having to invest in another full-sized camera or rig. Smooth footage, great color, and the freedom to mount it just about anywhere—it’s a perfect addition to my setup.
If you want to see it in action, check out my video where I share some first impressions and show real-world examples of what the Nano can do.
This is one camera I’ll definitely be adding into the mix for future Replica Airguns reviews.
I also got a few accessor items from a company called GEAR STOCK, Some CO2 in 12 and 88 gram along with some 6mm aluminum Airsoft BB’s. A very cool rechargeable red and green laser that comes in a nice hard shell case and it has a picatinny rail on the bottom she you can stack a second accessory under it.
Here are some links and specs for the Airguns I show off in this mystery box video:
Before I get into this Field Test Shooting Video for the Bug-A-Salt 3.0, make sure to watch my Table Top Video Review for it where I go into more details and specifications along with some nice close up video of it. In this Field Test Outdoor Shooting Video I test out the Bug-A-Salt 3.0 on some wrapping paper (Wrapping Tissue Paper) from various distances to see what damage the Bug-A-Salt 3.0 does to it. You do really need to get in pretty close to see significant damage, but if you where a small bug you would at bare minimum be stunned and immobilized waiting for that fatal kill shot.
I was hoping to go on a kind of Bug Safari Hunt out in the yard, so I did a dry run without my cameras running and I quickly found out that bugs in the wild are extremely elusive. They much prefer the comfort of your home which is of course the ideal location for using the Bug-A-Salt 3.0, but not great for shooting a video…
I was not able to record velocity or accuracy for that matter using the Bug-A-Salt 3.0 as it is more like a salt shotgun but as fate would have it, one very unlucky fly did land near by while I was recording, and it met its fate for the sake of this video. I also vaporized some butter cups (These are small yellow flowers that grow wild in the grass). All in all I was able to showcase the effectiveness of the Bug-A-Salt 3.0. My advice is to get in nice and close if you want a one shot kill, or you will have to take some follow up mercy shots.
I am making this video for both my channels (GetFitOver40 & Replica Airguns) since I will be using the HoverAir X1 ProMax in my Video making process to capture video in a way that only an AI Drone can. I do like to share with my audiences some of the tech I use behind the scenes to make the videos a bit more interesting.
There is a ton to talk about and show when it comes to the HoverAir X1 ProMax which is why this video is a bit on the longer side. I really wanted to talk about what I like about this amazing flying video system, and of course show the super high quality video it takes.
The purpose of this video is not so much to go over all the specifications and details, or to compare it to other similar products, but rather to go over what I like about it, and why I decided to get one for myself. About a year ago I ordered the HoverAir X1 Pro when it was being crowdfunded, but I backed out of my order when the DJI Neo came out, mainly because the DJI Neo was first to market, and it can also fly in true FPV mode which really appealed to me. I am glad I got the Neo as it has been so much fun, and will be keeping it mainly for its FPV flying and versatility.
Why did I decide to get myself the HoverAir X1 ProMax? There is really nothing out there right now that can take as high quality video (8k) in such a small and portable package. I love the AI flying modes but it is also nice you can use the Beacon with the Joysticks to control it just like a regular Drone.
For me it was the ultra high video quality, the faster tracking speeds, and the ability to use it like a standard drone since all my other drones are more or less FPV drones. Oh yah, I also got a crazy deal on it over on Marketplace (About half price).
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the BUG-A-SALT 3.0 Salt Gun is a Single Action Only trigger that requires you to work the pump action to load salt and prepare the hammer to fire in Single Action. There is a little bit of takeup and then a medium trigger pull weight that is about right for a pest control tool like this, as you do not want a super light trigger that could go off unintentionally. When you work the action using the pump, the real sight also pops up not only so you can use it but also to indicate that the BUG-A-SALT 3.0 Salt Gun is loaded and ready to fire.
Accuracy: So far I have not fired or tested out the BUG-A-SALT 3.0 Salt Gun as it is not the time of year for bugs just yet, so that portion of my review is going to have to wait until at least spring time when the bugs and flies come out in full force. I will not be making my traditional Field Test Shooting Video where I shoot at a Paper target setup 30 feet away, or even testing out the velocity in fps as the BUG-A-SALT 3.0 Salt Gun is only rated to shoot up to 3 feet away and I’m not sure how a blast of salt would even be read by a Chronograph or if that information is even important for a fly exterminator like this. I will be making some sort of shooting video for the BUG-A-SALT 3.0 Salt Gun when I am able to find bugs to blast…
Build Quality: The BUG-A-SALT 3.0 Salt Gun is made out of mostly plastic with I assume some metal working parts internally. Even the internal barrel is plastic since you are only shooting salt. The BUG-A-SALT 3.0 Salt Gun does feel solid and the working parts like the pump action, trigger and safety feel durable enough. The salt hopper lid may be a bit flimsy and if that breaks I’m not sure how one would keep the salt in the hopper?
Realism: The BUG-A-SALT 3.0 Salt Gun is not a replica gun to speak of, it kind of looks like a pistol grip pump action shotgun but there is really no way I feel anyone would mistake the BUG-A-SALT 3.0 Salt Gun for a real gun, this is probably good since you may want to keep it out lying around in your house for when you may need to do some bug blasting.
Pros:
Very unique product, not a lot of competition in the market.
Makes eliminating flies and bugs a lot more fun, would be fun at get togethers or parties.
Fairly well built, feels solid and durable.
Low cost to operate, only requires table salt.
Can get up to 80 shots per loaded salt hopper.
Can shoot flies up to 3 feet away.
Easy to access cross bolt safety.
Auto pop-up rear sight lets you know it is loaded and ready to fire.
SAO Trigger is relatively decent.
No bug guts mess to cleanup.
Cons:
Not suitable for larger bugs with hard exoskeletons like wasps or larger. Really only meant for flies.
Not a toy as it could be assumed it is. So be careful around kids as an eye shot could be very painful and cause injury.
Price is a lot more than a fly swatter that also gets the job done.
Comments:
If you hate flies as much as I do and would like a more sportsman like way to eliminate them rather than your standard fly swatter that basically mushes the fly into a bloody mess on what ever surface you mash it into. Then perhaps something like the BUG-A-SALT 3.0 Salt Gun may be just perfect for you. I am hoping it works as good as the advertising says it does. Based on some of the reviews I have watched it seems ideal for flies but may not so good for larger insects with hard exoskeletons. You are going to pay a lot more for the BUG-A-SALT 3.0 Salt Gun than a dollar store fly swatter will cost you, but I can guarantee you will have a lot more fun using it and no need for the messy bug juice clean up after a kill shot.
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…
Type: Multi-Ammo Pistol. Distributer:Alies Airguns. Model:GEM. Materials: Mostly metal with some plastic build. Weight: Barrel dependent. Total Length: Barrel dependent 3.5 inches (89mm) with BB and Airsoft Barrels. Barrel: Barrel dependent 2 inches (51mm) with BB and Airsoft Barrels Propulsion: 8 or 12 gram CO2 (12 Gram CO2 required adaptor sold separately). Action: Break Barrel / Single shot. Ammunition Type: 4.5mm Steel BB's / 6mm Airsoft BB’s (Can also purchase .117 Pellet, .50 & .43 cal Paintball, 9mm Arrow Barrels) Ammunition Capacity: 1 round. FPS: up to 400 using 4.5mm Steel BB’s.
Trigger Pull: The Alias GEM Multi Ammo Mini CO2 Airgun is a true single action only pistol that requires the pulling back of the hammer for each shot. This does give it a very nice trigger action that is short to medium in length with an easy release. The makeup is about medium for a single action trigger with a bit of an unpredictable release as there is no point in time that you feel it breaking on you. This can be good or bad depending on how you like your triggers as it is hard to tel when ti will actually release but the smoothness makes it a good trigger overall in my opinion
Accuracy: I have not shot the Alias GEM Multi Ammo Mini CO2 Airgun at all so far as it requires 8 gram CO2 and so I am waiting on the 12 gram adaptor for it before I can even give it a quick try. I will be making a full Field test Review for it swapping between a bunch of barrel options to see how each barrel adn ammo type performs in terms of power adn accuracy so stay posted for that video down the road a bit.
Build Quality: Build quality for the Alias GEM Multi Ammo Mini CO2 Airgun is very good with an almost all metal build other than the front and back sights, the trigger, the safety adn the barrel release. I kind of wish these parts were also metal as the rest of the Airgun is so pristine! The weight of this pistol feels very dense as it is so small yet has a good weight. The fir and finishes is all very good with the chrome finish on most parts and even the inclusion of what I believe are real gem stones on each side of the grips. The mechanical parts are also smooth and precise.
Realism: As far as I know the Alias GEM Multi Ammo Mini CO2 Airgun is not a replica of any production real steel gun that I am aware of. It looks to me like some sort of futuristic compact laser pistol? In terms of gun shape and what we are use to in terms of what a gun is it checks most of the boxes but it is it’s own design for sure.
Pros:
Super compact design, probably the smallest Airgun available.
Multiple quick change barrel and ammo options.
Mostly all metal build, very high quality materials.
Nice smooth and light SAO trigger.
Able to also use 12 gram CO2 with optional adapter.
Comes in different colors (red or black).
Decent velocity up to 400 fps depending on ammo type.
Eye-catching chrome and gemstone detailing make it a collector's piece.
Cons:
Uses 8 grams CO2 standard, harder to get and more expensive.
Only a single shot, not an action shooter.
On the pricy side at over $300 Canadian.
Comments:
I have to say that the Alias GEM Multi Ammo Mini CO2 Airgun is not going to be for everyone as the price point is up there a bit for such a simple single action gun. That said it is super unique and the quality adn design is top notch. It may in fact be the smallest CO2 Airgun on the market adn you can literally put it in your front pocket easily. That combined with all the barrel and ammo options makes it super flexible if you plan on shooting a variety of different ammo types. Like I said in the video you may even be able to get away with buying it as a gift for your wife or girlfriend since it technically can be defined as being jewelry with the imbedded Gem stones in the grips. That may be a bit of a stretch unless she is also an Airgun fan.
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:
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.
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.
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.
You may have noticed a lack of Airgun Video Reviews last week? That is because I went on vacation with my buddy Steve to Oceanside California where we stayed at the WorldMark Oceanside Resort. We spent a full week in Oceanside visiting the surrounding beaches, Mission Beach in San Diego along with Laguna Beach and Newport Beach.
We had a really great time, I was able to capture a variety of video of some of our experiences using my Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, My DJI Neo AI and FPV Drone, and my Meta Glasses. I have put together a video to share Oceanside California and surrounding area in a mostly chronological order for your viewing enjoyment.
I am back to making Airgun Review Videos so stay posted for those videos coming shortly…
In this Field Test Shooting Video conducted in the Replica Airguns Sea Can indoor Shooting Range, I test the Umarex Markpoint Break Barrel .177 Cal Pellet Pistol’s power in velocity using my Chronograph along with the accuracy shooting at a Paper Target setup 30 feet away. If you are also interested in details, specifications and more close up video of the Umarex Markpoint Break Barrel .177 Cal Pellet Pistol, then make sure to watch my Table Top Video I already made for it here…
When I placed 6 pellets from the Umarex Markpoint Break Barrel .177 Cal Pellet Pistol through my Chronograph, I removed the fastest and slowest recorded shots, and got an average of 290 fps, there was a fairly big range in fps as some dieseling may have been occurring, since this Pellet Pistol had not been shot before and there may have been some oils in the barrel. Here are my recored velocities for all 6 shots: 213, 286, 308, 270, 304, 298. I was using lead flathead pellets that weighed 8.2 grain each. So you will for sure get much higher velocities using 5 grain alloy pellets, probably very close to the 400 claimed fps.
Moving on to my accuracy test, the Umarex Markpoint Break Barrel .177 Cal Pellet Pistol did pretty good. I was not sure how it would shoot for me as the trigger is pretty firm, which can cause the shooter to pull a shot or two. I was able to keep my shots pretty consistent with perhaps one shot getting a bit away from me. That said, out of the 10 shots I placed on the paper target setup 30 feet down range, I managed to get 9 of them all within about 2 inches of each other with the larger spread being elevation, windage was within about 3/4 of an inch, so consistent velocity may have played a roll here. I did use a semi rested shooting position with my hands resting on a sand bag up front, and sitting on a stool in the back to help stabile me as much as possible. I was happy that out of the box the aim point was pretty well centered just a bit to the right if anything.
All in all the Umarex Markpoint Break Barrel .177 Cal Pellet Pistol performed as much as I could have expected for a $50 Canadian low cost pellet shooter. I really wish an add on sight of some sort was possible, as there does not seem to be anyway of adjusting the sights on the Umarex Markpoint Break Barrel .177 Cal Pellet Pistol, so hopefully yours shoots well centered for you also. I do not recommend this Air Pistol for people with smaller hands as it is a bulky Airgun with very wide and large grips. The trigger also does take a bit of finger strength so not a gun for younger shooters perhaps. For the price it is a very unique Pellet Pistol with a very modern and futuristic look to it which may or may not appeal to everyone.
In this Field Test Shooting Video for the Barra 1866 Lever Action 22 Cal CO2 Pellet Rifle, I get to test out a Replica .22 Caliber CO2 Rifle which I don’t get the chance to do so very often and .22 caliber combined with a Replica in a an Airgun is very uncommon! Well today I got to test one out and it was a lot of fun, I would say it performed very well for me. As usual, my main goal is to find out what the real world velocity is in fps and also to see how accurate the Barra 1866 Lever Action 22 Cal CO2 Pellet Rifle is shooting at a paper target 30 feet away. Also make sure to checkout my Table Top Video for the Barra 1866 Lever Action 22 Cal CO2 Pellet Rifle for more details and specifications and close up video.
First in my to-do list was the velocity portion of my Field Test, and so I loaded up dual 12 gram CO2 cartridges into the Barra 1866 Lever Action 22 Cal CO2 Pellet Rifle along with 10 preloaded .22 caliber shells. By the way I was using Gamo 15.43 grain (1 gram) lead pellets and the temperature was just a bit below room temperature, so not 100% ideal for maximum velocity but still warm enough for my purposes. The Barra 1866 Lever Action 22 Cal CO2 Pellet Rifle shot an average 5 shot velocity of 390 fps with the fastest shot hitting 411 fps and the slowest performer hitting 370 fps. That works out to 5.78 average foot pounds of energy.
Next up, I first recovered the 5 ejected shells I used in the velocity test, and again reloaded them with some more pellets and then back into the Barra 1866 Lever Action 22 Cal CO2 Pellet Rifle for my accuracy test. Keep in mind with a lever action rifle, I have to remove the rifle from my shooting position each time to work the lever action and chamber a round. This does cause me to have to fully reset for each shot which does kind of break a shooting grove just a bit, but it did not seem to make much of a difference as my accuracy results where still very good. I did notice vertically the grouping was about 2 inches while side to side it was closer to 1 inch. I attribute this to the sighting system as it was hard for me to focus on the rear sight and make sure I had it perfectly level with the front sight for each shot, which would account for some variation in elevation. The Barra 1866 Lever Action 22 Cal CO2 Pellet Rifle was also shooting about 2 inches high from my aim point.
I have said this a bunch of times before, but I do really love shooting lever action rifles. Even a low cost Red Ryder BB Rifle brings a smile to my face. I also have a Henry Lever Action 22LR that I also really enjoy shooting when I get the chance. The Barra 1866 Lever Action 22 Cal CO2 Pellet Rifle is a really sweet looking rifle that performs as good as it looks thankfully! It’s also well priced for what you get in my opinion at just under $300 Canadian at the time of this video. If you want a fairly powerful Replica Air Rifle that hits hard and true and is super fun to shoot then get this one but make sure to get a bunch of extras shells cause they like to disappear on you pretty quickly. For now I still have all 10 of mine but they love to hide in the craziest places when they get ejected :)
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the Barra 1866 Lever Action 22 Cal CO2 Pellet Rifle is light short and crips with just a little bit of take-up before it releases. You will have to first either work the lever action which also chambers a preloaded shell into the breach of the barrel, or you will have to pull the hammer back in order for the trigger to be active as a single action trigger.
Accuracy: At this time I have not made my Field Test Shooting Video or shot the Barra 1866 Lever Action 22 Cal CO2 Pellet Rifle. I am really looking forward to testing it out when I make my Filed Test Shooting Video Review for it hopefully soon! Barra claims is will shoot .22 caliber pellets up to 410 fps. I am not sure if this is for mid grain or light grain pellets but we will find out again when I make my shooting review video. The rear sight does have three positions of elevation so I should be able to find one that works here my Indoor Sea Can Airgun range where I setup paper targets at 30 feet away. I am hoping the Barra 1866 Lever Action 22 Cal CO2 Pellet Rifle shoots close to the bullseye out of the box as it does not have any windage adjustment to space of.
Build Quality: The Barra 1866 Lever Action 22 Cal CO2 Pellet Rifle seems to very well built and has a lot theft to it weighing in at 6.5 pounds so it feel very solid to hold and shoulder. It is mostly all metal which from what I can see, only the stock is plastic rather than actual wood. The faux wood does look very real and unless you get in close to it and notice none of the real wood imperfection, then you can figure out it is emotion wood. The fit and finish is all quality and I expect the Barra 1866 Lever Action 22 Cal CO2 Pellet Rifle to perform reliably.
Realism: The Barra 1866 Lever Action 22 Cal CO2 Pellet Rifle is based on the Winchester 1866 Lever Action Rifle and does look the part with all the expected working parts found on a lever action rifle. Barra has included a thumb safety behind the hammer along with a grip safety that requires the shooter to hold the lever tight to the stock or you will not be able to pull the trigger. Being a shell loading design that requires preloading pellets into the shells and then loading those shells into the rifle tub magazine also makes the experience feel very real. Barra has done a great job hiding the CO2 being the butt plate and the barrel open is about the diameter of a 45 caliber bullet.
Pros:
Not many rifles come in .22 Caliber. Should have a bit more down range power over .177 caliber.
Almost all metal construction with good weight and feel to it.
The Faux Wood stock looks very realistic, hard to tell it’s plastic!
Octagonal recessed barrel adds to realism.
White writing is mostly under the barrel so fairly discreet.
The gold receiver and but plate add to the look of quality.
Rear sight has three positions for different ranges and sighting types (standard low, peep mid, high distance).
Also have the option of mounting a red dot or magnified optical sight on the rear compact picatinny rail.
Dual 12 gram CO2 system is less expensive and reduces the cool down effect while allowing for lots of pellet reloads between heaving to change the CO2.
Has a secondary safety on the lever, it must be pressed into the stock to shoot, kind of like a grip safety.
Claimed 410 fps should be more than sufficient for mid range shooting.
Lever action rifles are just so much fun to shoot!
Cons:
Rear sight is not adjustable for windage.
More than likely going to lose some shells if you are shooting outside in the yard as they all eject into the grass or who knows where? Will probably need to buy some backup shells over time.
You will have to hold the lever snug to the stock or the trigger will not work.
Comments:
I was super excited this year at SHOT Show when I went to the Barra Booth and the Barra Team showed me their new Barra 1866 Lever Action 22 Cal CO2 Pellet Rifle. We also spoke about how the .22 caliber version shoudl be Canada friendly as it was under 500 fps. Here we now and I finally got my hands on one and it is nice to have a .22 Caliber Replica CO2 Lever Action Rifle available to us Airgun Collectors. Sure Umarex has their Legends CO2 Shell Loading BB Rifle but I like The Barra 1866 shooting pellets over BB’s. Price point for the Barra 1866 Lever Action 22 Cal CO2 Pellet Rifle is very reasonable for what you get as it is a lot of gun for the money. I am really looking forward to seeing how well it shoots and if it can get close to the claimed 400 fps.
My Vimeo Table Top Review for the Barra 1866 Lever Action 22 Cal CO2 Pellet Rifle:
Since I use all kinds of cameras for the making of my Replica Airguns Videos including the HoverAir X1 Flying Camera Drone, I though it would be a good idea to share my thoughts on the new DJI NEO Mini Drone which Is replacing my HoverAir X1 at least for now. This is not an unboxing first impression video with basic out of the box test videos. This video is going to go over how the DJI NEO actually performs comparing to the HoverAir X1 and other DJI dedicated Drones and FPV Drones.
I have used different drones to do everything the DJI Neo claims to do, but can the DJI NEO really do it all and if so can it do it all as good or good enough?
The short answer is yes it can do it all but will it meet your specific expectations?
I don’t claim to be a pro at any of the things the DJI Neo can do, but I have at least some experience using the HoverAir X1 for the past year which is a similar experience as what you get with the base model DJI NEO out of the box.
I also have owned and flown standard DJI Drones with remote control setups for taking those cinematic flying around smooth shots. The DJI NEO out of the box can do limited distance and height using your DJI NEO with your phone in Manual Mode. You can also purchase the DJI NEO Fly More Kit that comes with the RC-N3 Controller and unlock almost limitless distance and even more features out of your DJI NEO.
I owned the first generation DJI Avata and flew it with the motion controller similar to what you can do with the DJI NEO when combined with the DJI Goggles 3 and RC Motion 3 Controller. That experience really got me more interested in experimenting with FPV drones.
I now own a bunch of FPV drones in various styles and sizes and use them with my DJI Goggles and Manual Controller to fly in full Manual Acro Mode for a true fps experience.
DJI NEO Compared to the HoverAir X1.
For the most part they both perform a lot of the same Selfie Camera shots like Follow, Droney, Circle, Rocket, Spotlight, Direction Track and some more specific to each unit.
You can fly them without a controller or even your phone by simply turning them on, selecting your flying mode and pressing a button.
They both can use your phone as a simple virtual controller to fly them around in manual mode and get some cool more cinematic shots.
They both can use your phones built in Microphone to record audio while taking out the drones propeller noise.
They are both well under 250 grams closer to 120 to 130 grams.
They both have a one axis gimbal setup.
The cameras in both are comparable. 2.7k 30fps for the HoverAir X1 and 4k 30fps for the DJI NEO.
Both have full prop guards and are very crash resistant.
Where does each one shin in my opinion?
HoverAir X1:
Starting with the HoverAir X1 it came out first and so more of the bugs and settings have been worked out, and you have to give them credit for being first here as DJI did a lot of copying if we are being honest.
The HoverAirX1 has more ability to change settings using the buttons on the drone without going into the phones software to do it.
The HoverAir X1 is better at staying in place when inside and in lower light situations.
The HoverAir X1 can record in portrait mode for social media content.
The HoverAir X1 can use just about any external USB or BT Microphone for recording to get better audio than just by using you phones internal Microphone. The DJI NEO only gives you the option to use their DJI 2 Microphone which starts at $300 Canadian.
The HoverAir X1 can be folded, making it much more portable.
The HoverAir X1 at this time can track a little bit faster than the DJI NEO, but that can change with a softer update in the future.
The HoverAir X1 does not restrict where you can fly as there is no Geo Fencing. The DJI NEO will not give you much of a problem here when in solo mode or when connected to the DJI Fly App without any controllers or Goggles, but when connected to addition DJI accessories, you will have to factor in Geo Fencing limitations and work arounds which can be really annoying.
DJI NEO:
Moving on to the DJI NEO, the NEO has voice command as long as the DJI Fly App is open and your phone screen is on, very useful when wanting to change the drones distance and height in modes like Follow and Direction Tracking.
The DJI software is a bit more intuitive and the Manual Mode allows for much smoother control of the DJI NEO and further distances and height. (60m)
The DJI NEO records in 4k which is a bit better than the HoverAir X1 2.7k, but not by much. There is room for improvement with the NEO in terms of software updates but we will see what DJI does in terms of improving video quality and hopefully the ability to tweak the video settings.
The DJI NEO has built in GPS which allows it to stay in position outside better and even go over water and steep drop-offs.
The DJI NEO has an 18 minute battery run time versus the HoverAir X1 10 minute battery run time. (In real life it is more like 15 versus 8 minutes), so almost double per battery.
The DJI NEO is much more than a one trick pony with its ability to be much more than a Flying Selfie Camera Drone. It can be a full fledged remote controlled drone or even a true FPV drone when adding the additional accessories to it.
And that brings us to the point in this video where I talk about if the DJI NEO can really perform good enough to possibly replace your stand alone drone or even your FPV Drone? And again it depends on what your expectations are and what your end use in these modes is.
In terms of a stand alone drone, when the DJI is connected to the RC-N3 Controller, it can do much of the same tasks you would expect and get many of the same shots. Because of its size it will not be as good in stronger winds and it also does not have the power or speed of a larger dedicated Drone. Most of the DJI Drones also have higher quality cameras with larger sensors and 2 or even 3 axis gimbals with better stabilization. They also have much longer battery run times so you can go farther and longer with them. That said the DJI NEO may be good enough for a non-pro user to get the shots they are looking for.
The DJI NEO has been compared to the DJI Avata series and it does look a lot like a smaller version for sure. In terms of flying ink a DJI Avata, again it is smaller and less powerful so it will be slower and more prone to weather conditions. The camera systems on even the DJI Avata 1 is much better than the DJI NEO with full 4k 60fps ability and the DJI Avata 2 camera is even better than the Avata 1 camera.
As an FPV Drone you can strap on a set of DJI Goggles 3 and and instead of using the Motion Controller 3, you can connect to the RC Motion 3 Controller and get full manual mode FPV flying and hit speeds as high as 60km/h. You do have to be careful as the DJI NEO is not really a freestyle drone, if you push it too hard it will washout and go out of control potentially crashing, especially if you are close to the ground and it does not have time to recover. That said it is a lot of fun to fly if you fly within its limitations.
Some tips when using the DJI NEO based on my experiences:
Record in 4k for best quality except when in FPV Manual mode as the faster motion of FPV flying requires more frame rate speed to capture all of the motion without getting video jitter. Your feed in the DJI Goggles will look a lot better in 1080p 60fps as 1080p is the native resolution and 60fps is much smoother and allows for easier viewing while flying.
Do not use the DJI NEO inside in low light, it simply does not work very well in low light inside and will most of the time just land.
When using a remote like the RC-N3 or the Goggles 3, lower your video sharpness to (-2) for better looking video.
To fly in restricted GEO Zones you will need to go online and make a license request on the DJI Fly-Safe website and then you will need to treansfer that request license to your drone using the DJI Fly App while connected to the DJI NEO with with an internet connect. A bit of a process but after a few times you get the hang of it. I was not able to unlock a Geo Zone on location while in the app even with an internet connection. Hopefully this gets fixed down the road.
Here we go with another unboxing video this month, and this is a big box, so no doubt the mystery items are going to be big too! As always with new products, I will be following up with dedicated Table Top and Field Test Videos for each of them so make sure to check down the road for those videos for a lot more information and actual performance results…
Don’t look below if you want to just watch the video and be surprises by what’s inside the mystery box but if you want a quick peak before hand then checkout the basic specs below for all three new items I will be reviewing soon.
