We are back on the indoor range for another dedicated shooting assessment, shifting gears to focus entirely on the Barra 1866 Tactical Lever Action CO2 .22 Caliber Pellet Rifle. This is a .22 caliber lever-action pellet rifle that uses CO2 and features authentic shell-ejecting and shell-loading mechanisms. For this session, the focus turns squarely to downrange performance, tracking velocity consistency over the chronograph and a dedicated paper target test to evaluate its accuracy. if you haven’t already checked out my table top review for the Barra 1866 Tactical, you can do that here
Chronograph & Velocity Baseline
The Barra 1866 Tactical is powered by dual 12 gram CO2, and for this test, we started with brand new cartridges in slightly chilly conditions just under room temperature. To establish our velocity baseline, the rifle was run with fairly heavy grain (15.43 grain) Gamo Match Diablo .22 caliber pellets across a standard testing string.
Here is how the shot string registered over the sensor:
Shot 1: 321 FPS
Shot 2: 349 FPS
Shot 3: 353 FPS
Shot 4: 333 FPS
Shot 5: 337 FPS
Average of 339 FPS with 4 foot pounds of energy
The rifle turned in an overall performance generally hovering around the mid-300 FPS mark in these slightly cooler conditions. Previously, the non-tactical brass version achieved closer to 400 FPS, suggesting that warmer temperatures and lighter pellets might yield higher velocities.
Target Accuracy & Grouping Results
Moving to the paper target, the Barra 1866 Tactical Lever Action CO2 .22 Caliber Pellet Rifle was aimed using its factory open sights at a distance of 30 feet. While a pistol red dot was initially placed on the back, a dead battery meant sticking to the standard open sights. Aiming just below the bullseye, the sights centered perfectly left and right.
Cycling the lever and ejecting the shells proved to be an engaging experience. The shots struck a bit high on the target, but the rounds clustered decently once the proper zone was found. The pellets generally wanted to group about an inch and a half away from each other. Despite shooting slightly high, the rifle delivered noticeable impact energy and a solid "wallop" downrange even managing to make the target pop off the pellet backstop.
Shooting Impressions & Operational Notes
Running the Barra 1866 through a shooting sequence highlights a few distinct mechanical characteristics:
Shell Ejecting Mechanism: The shell-loading and ejecting action is highly enjoyable, adding a fun and realistic element to the shooting rhythm.
Lever Cocking Safety: A crucial operational note is that the lever must be pulled tightly to the stock to disengage the secondary safety. If the lever is not pulled tight against the stock, the rifle will not fire.
Sights: The open sights function well and center perfectly left and right, though they may shoot slightly high depending on the range.
Final Thoughts
The Barra 1866 .22 Caliber Tactical Lever Action Pellet Rifle proved to be a tremendously fun shooter. Delivering respectable velocities with heavy pellets and decent accuracy out of the box, it stands out as an engaging option for lever-action enthusiasts. For shooters seeking a realistic plinker, it remains a highly enjoyable choice.
In this table top review, we are taking a close look at the Barra 1866 Tactical CO2 Lever Action .22 Caliber Pellet Rifle. While the original classic version featured a gold receiver and faux wood stock, this updated model brings a modern tactical aesthetic to the classic Winchester 1866 platform. The biggest draw to the Tactical version is the black synthetic stock, the M-LOK handguard, and the multiple Picatinny rail options for adding modern accessories.
Key Specifications:
Model: Barra 1866 Tactical.
Type: Pellet Rifle.
Caliber: .22 caliber pellets.
Power Source: Dual 12-gram CO2 cartridges (housed in the rear buttstock).
Velocity: Claimed 450 FPS.
Action: Single-Action Lever Action Repeater.
Safety: Thumb safety behind the hammer and a secondary grip safety built into the lever.
Barrel: 18-inch rifled steel octagonal barrel.
Construction: Mostly all-metal construction with a black synthetic stock and handguard.
Weight: 6.5 lbs (2.9 kg).
Overall Length: 38.5 inches (90.7 cm).
Sights: Flip-up rear iron sight (featuring a peep notch and a lower notch).
Optics Rail: Removable short Picatinny rail over the receiver and a long continuous Picatinny rail on the handguard.
Magazine Capacity: 10-shot tube magazine (comes with 10 silver shells designed specifically for the .22 caliber version).
Handling & How It Works: Weighing in at 6.5 pounds and measuring 38.5 inches long, the Barra 1866 Tactical has an incredibly solid feel thanks to its heavy metal receiver and barrel. This is a single-action lever action repeater, meaning you must manually cycle the lever to cock the hammer and load a shell into the breach for every shot. To fire, you load the individual shells into the tube magazine, rack the paracord-wrapped lever downwards to chamber a round, ensure the lever is squeezed snug against the stock to disengage the secondary safety, and pull the metal trigger. When you rack the lever again, the empty shell ejects straight out the top of the action just like the real deal.
Pros:
Excellent heavy weight and realistic feel thanks to the nearly all-metal construction.
The sleek black synthetic stock and M-LOK handguard completely update the classic platform into a modern tactical rifle.
Very few replica rifles are available in .22 caliber, which offers fantastic downrange energy and impact.
Abundant mounting options: M-LOK slots and multiple Picatinny rails make it incredibly easy to add red dots, flashlights, lasers, or bipods.
The custom paracord-wrapped lever handle looks great and improves grip comfort during cycling.
Dual 12-gram CO2 system provides a very cost-effective power source with less cool-down effect than a single cartridge, allowing for extended shooting sessions.
Operating the lever and watching the empty casings eject vertically makes this gun incredibly rewarding and fun to shoot.
The claimed 450 fps gives you plenty of power for mid-range target shooting and small pest control.
Cons:
Because the empty shells eject vertically straight out of the top, you cannot easily mount a traditional magnified rifle scope directly over the receiver; an offset red dot or long eye-relief pistol scope mounted further forward is required.
You will inevitably lose some of the ejecting shells if you shoot outdoors in the grass, so picking up a spare set is highly recommended.
The lever must be held firmly snug against the stock while shooting, otherwise the built-in secondary safety will prevent the trigger from pulling.
If you are looking for a fun, realistic lever-action repeater that combines nostalgic shell-ejecting operation with modern tactical accessory compatibility, the Barra 1866 Tactical is a fantastic option. Stay tuned for the Field Test Shooting video coming up shortly.
Getting a mystery box from the Canadian Replica Airguns warehouse feels a lot like Christmas and we are getting closer to Christmas... Today's unboxing was a tall package, and while it contained some excellent accessories, including Gear Stock 6mm airsoft BBs, a UV-activated Airsoft tracer unit, and a LiPo safety bag—the real highlights were two very distinct lever-action rifles.
The first rifle out of the box is the Barra 1866 Tactical CO2 Edition. It takes the classic 1866 lever-action platform and gives it a highly modular, modernized upgrade.
Initial Thoughts & Basic Specs:
Ammunition & Power: This model is a .22 caliber pellet rifle that runs on a dual CO2 system housed in the back.
Realistic Operation: It features a fully functional shell-ejecting system and includes ten metallic shells.
Smooth Action: Operating the lever action on this rifle feels incredibly smooth.
Tactical Upgrades: The tactical design includes top and bottom Picatinny rails and an octagonal barrel.
Sighting: The rifle comes with a front sight and a versatile rear sight that functions as a notch or flips up into a peep sight.
The second rifle is the Daisy 499B Match Grade Champion, famously billed as the world's most accurate BB gun. It feels essentially like a highly enhanced Daisy Red Ryder on steroids.
Initial Thoughts & Basic Specs:
Premium Build: This is a full-sized rifle featuring a beautiful, fully wooden stock and forend. It is noticeably longer and more robust than a standard Red Ryder.
Action: The metal lever produces a heavy, satisfying clunk when cocked during a dry fire.
Competition Sights: Built for precision, it utilizes a front peep sight and a very small rear peep sight.
Extras: A heavy-duty shooting sling is included in the box.
Target Audience: While it is a fantastic platform for younger shooters, its larger size and premium quality make it highly suitable for older youths and adults.
I am incredibly excited to put both of these lever actions to the test. I will be producing full tabletop and field test shooting videos for both rifles very soon, so stay tuned.
Today I am testing out the Crosman 2240XL Special Edition here in the Sea Can indoor shooting range. It is getting a bit colder and raining outside, but the Sea Can is sitting at a comfortable 19 to 22 degrees Celsius, providing a great baseline environment for testing a fresh CO2 cartridge. If you haven't already, be sure to check out the dedicated Table Top Review for all the specifications and build details on this model. For this field test, our focus is entirely on performance: running it through the chronograph for real-world velocity and testing the downrange accuracy.
Chronograph & Velocity Performance For the velocity baseline, I used a brand new CO2 cartridge and loaded up some heavier .22 caliber Crosman Premier Hollow Points, which sit around the 14 to 15-grain mark. Crosman claims around 460 FPS on the box, but keep in mind that is typically achieved using the lightest possible ammunition.
Here is how the 5-shot string performed through the chronograph:
Shot 1: 329 FPS
Shot 2: 330 FPS
Shot 3: 337 FPS
Shot 4: 335 FPS
Shot 5: 335 FPS
The Crosman 2240XL Special Edition settled in nicely around a 333 FPS average. Because this is a bolt-action setup rather than a fast-firing semi-auto, the CO2 doesn't cool down too rapidly between shots, which helps keep the velocity remarkably consistent across the string.
Downrange Accuracy & Target Testing Moving over to the accuracy test, I set up a fresh paper target 30 feet downrange. For this setup, I decided to mount a bit of a monstrosity of a 4x optical magnification scope using the dovetail mounts, which I pulled right off another gun just for this test.
I took about 9 shots from a rested position on the table. The first two shots were close together, but the grouping eventually opened up to about 2 inches, including one major flyer that I definitely didn't feel like I pulled. Honestly, I wasn't super impressed with this particular grouping. The 2240 platform is famous for its accuracy, so this spread might be down to a few different factors: potential nicks on the pellets during loading, the cheap optical sight I attached, or just user error while trying to stabilize it.
Handling Notes & Optics Fitment One of the absolute highlights of the Crosman 2240XL Special Edition is the trigger. It has a very nice, light, and short pull with essentially zero break required. However, shooting a pistol with a magnified scope from a rested position proved to be awkward. Trying to pull a pistol-length platform close to your face for proper eye relief (using a rifle scope rather than a pistol scope) can make everything feel quite shaky.
If you plan on running a larger optic like this, I highly recommend adding a shoulder stock to help stabilize the gun. Alternatively, swapping the massive scope out for a compact red dot or sticking to standard pistol sights would make this much more comfortable to shoot in its stock pistol form.
Final Thoughts The Crosman 2240XL remains an incredibly highly modifiable platform, fitting right in with the various pumper and .177 caliber variants available on the market. While my grouping today wasn't the tightest, the potential of this gun is massive once you dial in the right optics, ammo, and perhaps a stock for better stability.
Welcome back to Replica Airguns. I get asked all the time about which airguns hit the hardest, but a lot of people focus on the wrong attributes. They often look strictly at velocity instead of the raw energy and blunt force required for different tasks.
In this guide, we are breaking down the four main types of airgun ammunition: Airsoft, steel BBs, lead pellets, and rubber balls. The goal is to show you exactly what each ammo type excels at and where they fall short so you can choose the right tool for your specific needs.
6mm Airsoft: Safe Training and Plinking
Airsoft guns fire 6mm round balls, which are generally made of plastic, though you can find copper or zinc-coated variants. Because these are some of the lightest projectiles, ranging from 0.20 to 0.45 grams, they have the lowest overall energy and often lower velocities.
Best For: Airsoft is ideal for force-on-force skirmishes (with proper eye protection) because the lightweight rounds sting but do not penetrate the skin.
Practical Uses: They are great for safe indoor garage shooting without the risk of breaking windows, or for humanely chasing nuisance crows or vermin out of your yard without causing them permanent harm.
Platform Tech: Heavier airsoft rounds utilize backspin, or "hop-up", to float straight through the air for better accuracy, and they are typically fired from highly realistic, full-blowback gas or CO2 replica pistols. Most rifle Airsoft guns are AEG’s using a battery and spring setup which allows for easy semi and full auto operation.
Worst For: These are entirely ineffective for pest control (extermination) or any scenario requiring deep penetration or high impact energy.
4.5mm Steel BBs: Fast-Action Shooting
Steel BBs are 4.5mm in diameter, which translates to a .177 caliber round ball. Weighing in at approximately 5.3 grains, they are much denser than Airsoft rounds.
Best For: Steel BBs are fantastic for fast-action plinking, breaking glass bottles, and tearing up pop cans.
Platform Features: These are often used in 1-to-1 replica blowback pistols with drop-out full size magazines, giving shooters an authentic firearm feel for tactical manipulation practice.
The Dangers: Steel does not deform upon impact, meaning these BBs are highly prone to dangerous ricochets if you shoot at hard surfaces indoors or up close.
Worst For: Steel BBs lack the blunt force for home defense and are unethical for pest control as trey are a bit under powered and generally not as accurate as similar pellet guns.
Lead Pellets (.177 and .22 Caliber): Precision and Pests
Unlike round BBs, pellets are designed to be fired through a rifled barrel. Common sizes include .177 caliber (4.5mm, weighing 5 to 10 grains) and the much heavier .22 caliber (5.5mm, weighing 12 to 16 grains).
Best For: The soft lead engages the spiral grooves in a rifled barrel, providing unmatched precision and accuracy.
Terminal Ballistics: Because lead is soft, it expands and flattens upon impact, transferring its heavy kinetic energy directly into the target.
Practical Uses: This improved energy transfer makes pellets the ethical choice for small pest control.
Worst For: Pellet platforms are rarely designed as rapid-fire action shooters; they typically utilize slower single-shot (bolt actions) or rotary magazines that can require a bit of trigger finger strength to shoot quickly.
Rubber Balls (.43, .50, and .68 Caliber): Less-Lethal Blunt Force
This category represents the heavy hitters, firing massive projectiles that range from soft sponge rubber to dense steel-core balls, dust balls, and pepper balls.
The Power Factor: A .68 caliber home defense marker can produce upwards of 20-50 Joules (or roughly 15-35 foot-pounds) of energy with dedicated home defense styled Rubber Ball Guns.
Best For: The .68 caliber and high-powered .50 caliber options are explicitly designed for less-lethal home defense.
How They Work: Instead of penetrating, these massive projectiles dump incredible raw energy and blunt force directly onto the target, effectively stopping threats through extreme pain.
Training Options: The smaller .43 caliber variants are frequently chambered in realistic blowback replica pistols, making them excellent for tactical and paintball-style force-on-force training.
At the end of the day, picking the right Airgun comes down to matching the ammunition mass and energy to your target. You can find all the gear discussed here, from Airsoft replicas to less-lethal launchers, at the Replica Airguns Canada and US stores. Make sure you are subscribed to our channels across Rumble, YouTube, Vimeo, Instagram, X and Facebook for more detailed reviews and field tests.
In this table top review, we are taking a close look at the Crosman 2240XL Special Edition, a .22 Caliber CO2 Pellet Pistol. While I haven't shot this exact model yet, I have shot the standard 2240 non-XL version, and they share a very similar firing mechanism. The biggest draw to the XL version is the factory-upgraded metal breech with an 11mm dovetail rail, and the threaded muzzle for added versatility.
Key Specifications:
Model: Crosman 2240XL Special Edition
Type: Pellet Pistol
Caliber: .22 caliber lead pellets
Power Source: 12-gram CO2 (1 cartridge)
Velocity: Up to 460 FPS
Action: Single-Shot Bolt Action
Safety: Cross-Bolt Safety
Barrel: Rifled Steel Barrel, Threaded muzzle (1/2" x 20 threads)
Stock/Grips: Plastic grips
Construction: Mostly metal (steel breech, barrel, loading chamber) with plastic grips
Weight: 1.8 lbs
Overall Length: 12.5 inches
Sights: None included
Optics Rail: 11mm Dovetail Rail
First Impressions & Build Quality: The 2240XL brings a much-needed factory upgrade to the legendary 2240 platform: a full steel breech. This alone is a huge addition, making the gun stand out and providing a much higher quality feel. The gun is almost entirely metal, including the barrel, CO2 loading chamber, bolt, and breech. The grips are plastic, which is fairly standard, but one of the best things about the Crosman 2240 platform is how highly customizable it is. There are countless aftermarket parts available, and you can even easily swap out the grips fro wood grips or for a Crosman shoulder stock to turn it into a backpacker-style carbine.
Weighing in at 1.8 pounds and measuring 12.5 inches long, The Crosman 2240XL Special Edition has a solid feel in the hand. The threaded barrel comes with a thread protector and gives you options for adding mock suppressors or other attachments.
How It Works: This is a single-action, bolt-action pellet pistol. To operate it, you must first cock the bolt and manually load a .22 caliber pellet into the chamber. Once the bolt is pushed forward and locked down, the trigger is engaged and ready to fire. Powered by a single 12-gram CO2 cartridge housed in the lower tube, it is capable of firing up to 460 FPS depending on the weight of the pellets used. Because it's a single-shot bolt action, you'll need to manually load a pellet for every shot, but you won't need to pump it since the CO2 provides the power.
Pros:
Upgraded steel breech from the factory provides a robust build and premium look.
Built-in 11mm dovetail rail makes adding a red dot or magnified optic easy.
Threaded muzzle (1/2" x 20 threads) with an included thread protector for attachments.
Solid CO2 power at up to 460 FPS.
Highly customizable platform with endless aftermarket parts available.
Excellent light single-action trigger with very little take-up.
Mostly metal construction ensures long-lasting durability.
Cons:
Does not come with any open sights, an optic is required out of the box.
Relies on CO2, meaning velocities will fluctuate as the gun cools down during rapid fire and potentially as CO2 volume lowers.
Standard plastic grips are somewhat basic.
Final Thoughts: The Crosman 2240XL Special Edition takes an already proven pistol and adds the features most shooters end up buying aftermarket anyway. Having the steel breech and dovetail rail right out of the box makes mounting an optic straightforward, and the threaded muzzle is a fantastic touch, even if it’s just mainly for looks. If you're looking for a powerful .22 caliber airgun for small pest control that can be modified to your exact liking, the 2240XL is a superb starting point.
Stay tuned for the Field Test Shooting video coming up down the road.
We are halfway through September, and another unannounced delivery just showed up at the door. This box was surprisingly compact but incredibly dense, hinting at a hefty amount of possible ammunition inside. Cracking it open revealed a massive 4,000-count bottle of BBs and an updated classic from Crosman.
The sheer weight of this package came from a bulk 4,000-round bottle of Gear Stock 4.5mm steel BBs. These specific rounds feature a copper coating, which looks great but comes with a few historical caveats.
Copper vs. Zinc: In my experience, copper-coated BBs can tarnish over time. Unlike zinc, which stays relatively clean, older copper coatings can oxidize and leave a dark, powdery residue on your hands and inside your airgun's barrel.
Quality Check: If you burn through your ammo quickly, the tarnishing won't be an issue. We will have to see if modern manufacturing has improved the coating durability on this Gear Stock batch, but I typically lean toward zinc-coated BBs for long-term storage and cleaner shooting.
The main event in this box is the Crosman 2240 XL. The 2240 platform has been a staple in the airgun community for decades, and the XL version finally addresses the most common pain points shooters had with the base model out of the box.
Core Specs: The 2240 XL is a CO2-powered, bolt-action, single-shot pistol chambered in .22 caliber. It weighs in at 1.8 pounds, features a rifled steel barrel, and utilizes a standard 12-gram CO2 cartridge.
The Metal Breech Upgrade: The standard 2240 and its multi-pump cousin, the 1322, utilize a plastic breech. Mounting an optic on those older models requires clamp-on barrel adapter rings, which can easily twist out of alignment. The 2240 XL ships with an upgraded all-metal breech featuring a milled 11mm dovetail rail, allowing for a rock-solid red dot or scope mount straight from the factory.
Threaded Muzzle: The front of the barrel has a threaded muzzle cap. You can unscrew the tip to attach 1/2" UNF aftermarket compensators or moderators, adding another layer of customization.
Because the 2240 XL features a dovetail rail instead of iron sights, it is built specifically for optics. This plays perfectly into the massive aftermarket support for Crosman’s 22xx and 13xx platforms.
I own a heavily modified "backpacker" setup on one of my personal Crosman .22s, featuring a skeletonized rear shoulder stock and a magnified scope. At sub-500 FPS, a .22 caliber pellet is highly effective for close-range pest control. When dealing with nuisance animals like crows attacking songbirds, an ultra-high-velocity pellet will often pass straight through the target, wasting its kinetic energy. A heavier .22 pellet moving at moderate speeds dumps its full energy upon impact, providing a much more immediate and humane dispatch.
The full tabletop and field test shooting videos for the Crosman 2240 XL are coming up next. Make sure you are subscribed on Rumble, Vimeo, X, Threads, or TikTok to catch the full performance breakdown when it goes live.
Hey everyone, Michael here from Replica Airguns. We’ve got another July unboxing video for you! If you're wondering why we have two in the same week, I recently realized I had a tiny mystery box video (featuring the ASG CZ P10C) all finished and ready to go, but I completely forgot to hit publish on it. Better late than never!
After getting a little low on review gear in the warehouse, I decided to bring in a new, medium-sized box of goodies to test out. Here’s a quick look at the highlights of what just landed.
First out of the box, we have some Gear Stock copper-coated steel BBs. I typically prefer using zinc-alloy BBs, but I haven't used this specific brand specifically. I’m eager to run these through a few tests to see how they perform and whether they may corrode long term leave any black residue in the barrel or on the gun.
Next up is the Umarex Prepare to Protect (P2P) Secure 68P, a .68 caliber less-lethal impact defense kit. Right off the bat, the packaging screams quality, it comes in a really nice, durable nylon soft case.
Inside, you get a great variety of ammunition to load into its 6 round metal magazine:
6 glass breaker impact rounds
6 powder practice rounds
6 rubber impact rounds
The pistol itself features a double-action trigger, runs on 12g CO2 (which they thoughtfully include in the kit), and fires at a velocity of around 350 FPS. It has a great weight and feel to it, and I'm looking forward to getting this on the chronograph.
Finally, we have something that’s just pure fun: the Daisy Woodland Trail Western Carbine 1999. It's a classic lever-action BB rifle but with a modern, outdoorsy twist.
Instead of the traditional wood look, this model features a really cool green stock with a matching trigger. It also brings some nice upgrades to the table, including a Picatinny rail for mounting a red dot or optical scope, a fiber optic front sight, and an adjustable rear sight for elevation. It holds a massive 650 BBs and shoots right around 350 FPS. I haven’t shot one of these green stock versions yet, and I already know it's going to be a blast for backyard plinking.
What's Next?
Stay tuned because dedicated tabletop and field test shooting videos for all of these products are coming up very soon! You know I love shooting these lever-action rifles, so expect a detailed breakdown once I get them out in the yard or here in the sea can Airgun range.
As always, you can find these items available in both our Canada and US stores. Thanks for watching, and don't forget to subscribe to the YouTube channel and follow us across our social media platforms so you don't miss the full reviews!
We made it to the Barra Booth here at SHOT Show 2026 and once again I caught up with Jacob to check out what’s new for 2026, lots of “modern western” energy this year, plus some serious PCP development and even a very functional slingshot.
New “cowboy” premium single-action revolver (PCP cartridge-powered): Unlike most revolvers in this category that run on CO2, this one uses refillable air cartridges (small pressure chambers) filled to ~2000 PSI. You load a pellet into the nose cone, charge multiple cartridges at once using a charging manifold (up to six at a time), then drop the loaded cartridges into the cylinder just like shells.
Caliber shown: .22
Hand pump fill estimate: roughly ~10 pumps (quick top-offs), with a tip to pump → degas → pump againfor more consistent cartridge pressure.
Frame/version: brass frame first, with other versions planned.
Positioning: premium / highest-quality cowboy-style item in their lineup; made in Italy.
Early price talk: roughly $400–$500 range (with cartridges), but still TBD.
1866 CO2 Lever Action – Tactical version (launching this year): Built off their popular CO2-powered 1866 lever action (two CO2 cartridges in the buttstock, shells load into the gun, lever cycles and ejects).
Updates: black stock, M-LOK fore-end, larger Picatinny section, and paracord wrap on the lever for comfort.
Calibers: .22 is the focus (with .177 also planned/available).
New slingshot (with internal grip magazine): A compact, foldable slingshot that stores ammo in the grip and feeds by gravity—engineered so it releases one steel shot at a time.
Uses flat bands (easy to swap/upgrade for strength/velocity).
Sighting: built-in sight plus fiber optic references for left/right-handed use and different ranges.
Replica-style break barrels (AK + M16 formats): Two new break-barrel rifles styled after an AK and an M16 with non-functional replica controls, but standard break-barrel operation.
Sights/optics: adjustable iron sights plus Picatinny rail for optics.
Calibers mentioned/planned: .177 / .22 / .25.
New PCP platform: “300Z” (pre-production prototype in hand): A more serious, modern tactical PCP design with:
Rotary magazine (prototype shown in .30 cal, 8 rounds)
Power testing target: up to ~80 ft-lb in .30 cal
Notes: barrel shroud look—not a suppressor; Canada discussion included licensing/detune possibilities.
Updated PCP: “270Z” (built off the 250Z, redesigned internals): A redesigned system meant to feel more like a traditional bolt action, with increased plenum volume (machined from a solid block of aluminum) targeting ~20% more power than the 250Z.
Features: adjustable cheek rest, M-LOK fore-end
Timing: Q2 target for the 270Z; Q3 target for the 300Z.
Jacob also emphasized an ongoing push toward higher workmanship, better materials, and improved performance, and it shows, especially in the new premium western revolver and the next-gen PCP lineup.
I just got back from SHOT Show 2026 in Las Vegas, and let me tell you, it was an action-packed trip! Over on our channels, we’ve just dropped a fast-paced highlight reel that captures the best moments of our week long stay.
The SHOT Show took place at the Venetian Convention Center, and you’ll see plenty of footage capturing the scale and energy of the event itself: busy show floors, massive booths, indoor and outdoor areas, and the overall atmosphere of one of the largest firearms and shooting-sports events in the world, with Airguns and related gear naturally woven throughout.
But it’s not just airguns, we’ve got slices of Vegas! You’ll catch us strolling Fremont Street, lounging poolside, and soaking up those iconic Vegas vibes between interviews. Whether you’re here for the Airguns or the atmosphere, this video’s got it all, music, cuts, the show floor, and a taste of Las Vegas. Check it out now and immerse yourself in the SHOT Show experience!
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:
In this Unboxing Video I checkout a mid sized mystery box and find some new products inside that I will be making future Table Top and Field Test Shooting Videos for. In this Unboxing Preview Video I mainly talk a look at each item mostly for the fist time and I go over some of the basics for each of them. IN my upcoming full review videos I will go way more into detail so make sure to watch those videos when they come out.
So what did I get in this months box of goodies? The first item I unpacked was the KJWorks 1911-TBC CO2 Blowback Airsoft Pistol. A firmly traditional 1911 with a single stack magazine configuration at least in terms of external size. I am pretty sure the actual Airsoft BB’s will stack side by side to some degre as it does hold 24 rounds. It also comes with a barrel extension and the ability to add a much suppresser to it to cover the barrel extension I would imagine. It is also available in an OD green receiver version.
The next item I grabbed from the box was the NcSTAR FlipDot Mod. 02 Flip-up Red Dot Sight specifically designed with a MOS compatible mounting plate for Glock Pistols like the new Umarex Glocks I checked out at this years SHOT Show. You can mount this compact Flip-up Red Dot sight directly to the slide of these new Glocks and it also comes with some adaptor plate option for attaching it to a Picatinny Rail.
The next item I took a look at was the Umarex Combat Zone Enforcer Airsoft Pistol. A low cost adn simplistic mostly plastic CO2 powered lightweight Airgun with an all metal 15 round stick magazine and a 400 fps claimed velocity. It’s not going to be the most exciting Airgun but there is very little to go wrong and being so light weight makes it super durable in the even of a drop or fall.
Last but perhaps the oust interesting item that came in this months mystery box was the G&G ARP9 3.0P AEG Airsoft Rifle. I kind of butchered the name but I do talk a pretty good look at it in they video. The G&G ARP9 3.0P is a compact AEG Rifle (at least with the stock folded out). It has a unique magazine where the Airsoft BB’s load into 4 separate channels, I am assuming this helps to get more ammo in the magazine (300 rounds) and make it smoother so hopefully less or no jamming. The G&G ARP9 3.0P feels solid in the hand and well made, it also has a claimed velocity of 370 fps which is perfect.
I look forward to making my full Table Top and Shooting Review videos of each of these items so make sure to check back if you are interested in any of them…
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.
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.
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:
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.
Another Unboxing Update Video taking a look at two Rifles and two Revolvers. A shell loading CO2 dual ammo 1875 single action Remington branded Revolver from Crosman, an 1858 single action CO2 BB Revolver from Barra, another Barra product kind of like a Red Ryder BB Riffle but in dual ammo version with a much different loading system called the Barra 1866, and lastly a Cybergun CO2 Airsoft MP40 with a very different magazine setup than I have seen before.
I don’t believe I have ever interviewed EKOL at SHOT Show in the past. I have dropped by their booth and taken a look at their product line and chatted but this year EKOL had some new and interesting products that I feel fit in nicely with Replica Airguns products and Replica Airgun enthusiasts.
In this EKOL SHOT Show 2024 Interview Omer from EKOL goes over three Airguns that are new for this year. The EKOL ES P92 which is a CO2 BB Blowback Beretta 92 Replica but rather than rebrand a KWC made version, EKOL makes their own in their own factory and it is very unique compared to other CO2 BB Blowback Beretta 92’s on the market.
Another product form EKOL based on the ES P92 Pistol is the EKOL ES P95B which I would call an SMG or submachine gun with a folding stock, but it only shoots in semi auto and is based off of EKOL’s ES 92 mechanically.
Lastly, Omer showed me one of their Replica Pellet Rifles, the EKOL AK which is a break barrel AK Replica Spring Piston Pellet Rifle that really looks a lot like an AK 47. EKOL also makes a very believable AR/M16 Break Barrel Pellet Rifle as well!
We have not carried much if any of the EKOL product line over the last few years so hopefully we can get some of these into our Online Replica Airguns Stores as they should even be legal for import into Canada.
I’m pretty sure I have never made an Interview for Barra before in any of my past SHOT Show Videos, so I was really happy when I visited their booth and discovered a bunch of really great new products to talk about with GEO. Like many other Airgun companies, Barra does incorporate rebranded products from other manufacturer popular Airguns, but they also have some unique products I have never seen before. They are either working really closely with dedicated manufacturing companies or making these items in house. Either way it’s great to see new and interesting products.
Some of the products Geo went over with me in this SHOT Show 2024 Barra Interview where: The Barra CO2 1866 Lever Action Rifle, some Rifled Pellet Barrel Kits for the Schofield Revolver and 1866 Rifle, the 1858 CO2 BB Revolver, the 357 Shell Loading CO2 Revolver, the 400 AEG Airsoft Rifle and two new nameless Airguns they are still working on and perfecting, a full Blowback Competition Style BB/Airsoft Pistol and a compact AEG Airsoft Rifle.
It was great talking with the team over at the Barra Booth and I look forward to testing out their new items as they become available.
