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.
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 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.
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…
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.
Here is video four in my series of Full Auto Fun videos I make each summer where I pick a few Full Auto Airguns and record some fun outside shooting with them. In this years Full Auto Fun Video series I do a bit of a walk around on my property and shoot a bunch of water filled pop cans. Maybe this doesn’t sound super exciting but I do use some really creative camera angles to capture it all which makes it lot more interesting to watch for sure!
In this fourth Full Auto Fun video, I retest the Barra 400e 4.5mm BB AEG Full Auto BB Rifle in full auto this time, and try a bit of a different camera angle approach with my HoverAir Drone Camera switching it to follow mode as it doesn’t stop recording so easily in this mode. And as expected, it worked a lot better for me with this setup and continued recording the entire video. I also recoded using my Meta Glasses to get the first person view and like the other videos I placed my Insta360 X4 camera on the barrel again to get some cool up front gun angle shots. I think this setup works well and will probably use it for future Full Auto Fun Videos where I am running around the yard shooting stuff. Maybe there will be a couple more bonus guns in this years Full Auto Fun Series? No promises!
I try to make at least one series of Full Auto Fun video each summer where I pick a few Full Auto Airguns and record some fun outside shooting with them. In this years Full Auto Fun Video series I do a bit of a walk around on my property and shoot a bunch of water filled pop cans. Maybe this doesn’t sound super exciting but I do use some really creative camera angles to capture it all which makes it lot more interesting to watch for sure!
In this first Full Auto Fun video I start with the Barra 400e 4.5mm BB AEG Full Auto BB Rifle, but in the all the camera and audio setup confusion, I forgot to put it in Full Auto (getting old), so this is really not a Full Auto Fun Video, it was still fun and I hope you enjoy it anyway. The other videos in this Full Auto Fun Series are for sure in Full Auto and I will be taking out the Barra 400e and give it another go in Full Auto this time so stay posted for the true Full Auto Fun Video for the Barra 400e shortly!
What you can expect from this Field test Shooting Video for the Barra 1866 Junior Dual Ammo Pump Cowboy Rifle are two things for sure. I test out the velocity with both 4.5mm Steel BB’s and .177 caliber lead pellets, I also chuck both of these rounds downrange to see if one may be more accurate than the other and how close I can get a 5 shot grouping for each ammunition type. If you are looking for details and specifications and perhaps some more close up video of the Barra 1866 Junior Dual Ammo Pump Cowboy Rifle then you may want to watch my Table Top Video for it here.
If you have watched any of my hundreds of Field Test Videos, then you already know I start off shooting 5 or so rounds through my Chronograph to see what the average velocity is going to be. In this Field Test I shoot 3 rounds of each ammo type, 3 BB’s and 3 pellets since it is a pump Airgun and they tend to be more consistent than a CO2 Airgun. Barra claims around 350 fps, I am not sure if this is for BB’s or Pellets or both? As it turns out (spoiler alert), both ammo types performed about the same in both the velocity and accuracy portion of my testing. For BB’s, my chronograph testing got 303, 316 and 316 for an average of 312 fps. For pellets my chronograph results were 309, 309, 314 for an average of 311, so only 1 fps off between the two. Keep in mind the BB’s weigh around 5.1 grain while the pellets I was using were around 7 grain, so the pellets will be carrying more energy downrange and hit a bit harder. By the way they are also harder to load so I would suggest just shooting the steel BB’s in this one since you can keep the fun times flowing better...
Next up for my accuracy test of the Barra 1866 Junior Dual Ammo Pump Cowboy Rifle, I again shot both ammo types, but 5 rounds of each and just like the velocity test they matched each other almost exactly. Both the steel BB’s and lead pellets I was using shot really well centered left to right, maybe just a hair to the left and both shot just about an inch or so high on the bullseye I was aiming at 30 feet away. The 5 BB’s grouped nicely for me at about an inch while the pellets did get a slightly tighter 3/4 inch grouping for me in this test. I was using a semi rested shooting position sitting on a stool in the back with the rifle rested on a sand bag up front.
The Barra 1866 Junior Dual Ammo Pump Cowboy Rifle really surprised me in how it performed, It’s not going to be the most powerful BB/pellet cowboy rifle out there but compared to a Red Ryder it does have a bit more punch and in terms of accuracy I found it shot better for me than at least I can do with a Red Ryder type BB rifle. You also have the option of shooting BB’s or Pellets but I would recommend shooting BB’s since you have that 50 round hopper and the BB’s auto load when you pull the bolt back which is much easier than loading pellets with a pair of tweezers which is what I needed to do to get them in with my sausage fingers. One more thing to mention is I do not recommend pumping this air rifle more than 1 time, not only does the manual say not to, but there is little benefit in pumping it more times with only the risk to damaging the airgun. I pumped it 4 times and only got about 20 fps more out of it so just don’t do it. If you want a Cowboy style Air Rifle with a little more realism than say a Red Ryder but that shoots about the same then checkout the Barra 1866 Junior Dual Ammo Pump Cowboy Rifle.
Type: Lever/Pump Dual Ammo Rifle Manufacturer: Distributed by Barra. Model:Junior Dual Ammo Pump Cowboy Rifle. Materials: Mostly plastic, some metal. Weight: 4.1 pounds (1859 grams). Total Length: 36 inches (91.44mm). Barrel: 18 inches (45.7cm) metal rifled. Propulsion: Pump Compressed Air. Action: Lever/Pump Ammunition Type: .4.5mm steel BB’s & .177 Caliber Pellets. Ammunition Capacity: 50 BB’s in hopper, single shot Pellets. FPS: Claimed 350-400.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on Barra 1866 Junior Dual Ammo Pump Cowboy Rifle is respectable at about 5 pounds with a medium to short pull length. I would say it is perfect for novice shooters as it is not overly light so as not to go off easily by accident and not too heavy for youth shooters with less finger strength than adults. When you pull the bolt back to reload the ammo, the internal cocking mechanism is activated allowing for single action type shooting. You do need to activate the bolt with each shot.
Accuracy: My dedicated field test shooting video is planned for this week, so for now I have no idea what to expect in terms of velocity and accuracy from the Barra 1866 Junior Dual Ammo Pump Cowboy Rifle, other than it is claimed to shoot around 350 fps when using pellets. It does have an 18 inch rifles barrel which should contribute to helping a lot with accuracy, so I do have high expectations especially since it has a pretty good trigger and when looking down the sights they allow for a nice tight fix on the target. The rear stock is short but not so short that it feels cramped for an adult shooter which should also help when I perform my accuracy test.
Build Quality: The Barra 1866 Junior Dual Ammo Pump Cowboy Rifle is nothing special when it comes to materials being used in it. It is for the most plastic with the exception of the inner and outer barrel along with the rear sight and I would imagine some other internal parts. It does feel not so bad as it is a bit over 4 pounds and is smaller in nature so it feels solid enough in the hand. I wish the Pump/Lever was metal as it would of felt a bit more solid and would have added a bit more additional weight to the Barra 1866 Junior Dual Ammo Pump Cowboy Rifle. Fit and finish is good and overall the gun looks and feels good.
Realism: The Barra 1866 Junior Dual Ammo Pump Cowboy Rifle is essentially styled after the Old West Lever Action Cowboy Rifle, and it has everything we would expect other than loading shells which is available in other Lever Action Air Rifles if you don’t mind paying a premium for one. The lever is actually not a lever but more of a pump so the action and look of the lever is not exactly as you would expect from a true lever action rifle, but when it is locked in place it does look the part. The gold receiver and rifle band looks sharp and I feel matches up with the dark imitation wood stock nicely. One point to make is that the hammer is not the hammer but actually the safety and the bolt not only opens the breach area but also acts as the cocking mechanism for the internal hammer.
Pros:
Super easy to pump.
Fit and finish looks decent for a mostly plastic airgun.
In terms of realism it does look like a more compact lever action rifle for the most part
Can shoot either BB’s or Pellets.
Holds 50 BB’s in the hoper for quicker follow up shooting.
Metal octagon outer barrel adds addition weight to a mostly plastic gun.
Rear sight is metal and is also adjustable for elevation.
Trigger pull is pretty decent, not too light but is short and about 5 pounds.
Recessed barrel for added realism.
Made for kids but the shoulder pull length and sight placement works for adults too.
The gold receiver looks good and gives it a unique look.
Cons:
Mostly plastic build.
Manual says only one pump but I wonder why this is the case or perhaps just to deregulate it?
Pellets are hard to load especially if you have larger hands and fingers.
Comments:
The Barra 1866 Junior Dual Ammo Pump Cowboy Rifle is a competitor for products like the Red Ryder but it has a bit more realism in terms of looking more like a replica of a real steel Lever Action Cowboy Rifle. It also allows for shooting pellets and has an actual rifled barrel so hopefully this helps with accuracy. You can still kind of shoot it Lever Action Style when shooting BB’s but there is the addition of charging the bolt with each shot over and above working the Lever / Pump, so it will take a bit more time to get those follow up shots as compared to a Red Ryder BB Rifle. One other point to make is that the lever is actually not a lever but more of a pump since this is not spring powered but instead has an air reservoir which on this version only allows for one pump, but on the non-junior version you can pump it up to 10 times and get a claimed 800 fps out of it (US Version). I am going to try pumpkin the Barra 1866 Junior Dual Ammo Pump Cowboy Rifle up to three times to see if there is any difference in power but this could void your warranty if you damage the air reservoir by over pressuring it. So be good and only pump yours once as instructed in the manual.
Another Unboxing Update Video taking a look at two Rifles and two Revolvers. A shell loading CO2 dual ammo 1875 single action Remington branded Revolver from Crosman, an 1858 single action CO2 BB Revolver from Barra, another Barra product kind of like a Red Ryder BB Riffle but in dual ammo version with a much different loading system called the Barra 1866, and lastly a Cybergun CO2 Airsoft MP40 with a very different magazine setup than I have seen before.
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.
I love making these Mystery Box Unboxing Videos as many of the items inside are actually real mysteries to me, some I may have an idea of but even these items are new to me so it’s fun to open them up and check them all out. In this October 2023 Mystery Box Video I checkout 9 items ranging from AEG Airsoft Rifles to Airsoft , BB and Pellet Pistols. There is even a new Steel BB product from Sig Sauer that is a compact rifle with a 3 round burst option when shooting.
Last week I individually tested out the Barra Black Ops M4 Viper MK5 and the Krytac LVOA-C AEG Airsoft Rifles here in the Replica Airguns Indoor Sea Can Shooting Range to see how well they would perform. I was very surprised at how closely they performed considering the Barra Black Ops is around a quarter of the cost of the Krytac LVOA-C.
My testing in the Indoor Sea Can is a bit limited in terms of range as I can only set a target to about 30 feet away given the limitations of my 40 foot Sea Cam. I really wanted to take both of these AEG Airsfot Rifles and test them out at much longer ranges to see if the much lower cost Barra Black Ops M4 Viper MK5 could compete with the Krytac LVOA-C Airsoft Rifle at 50 feet and 100 feet respectively. So that’s exactly what I did! I did use a bit heavier Airsoft BB’s (.28 gram) for the longer range outdoors and much windier shooting conditions but I do have to say it was a bit windy on my testing day which I am sure played a roll.
I did place a few pre-test shots downrange at my 100 foot target to get an idea of where I needed to place my aim point and this did help me a bit to get in the ball park but by no way was a bang on in terms of sighting in. Because of this I did have to make some on-the-fly adjustments as I tested but was able to get rounds on paper at 100 feet even with the wind gusts.
In this first video I test out the cheaper option Barra Black Ops M4 Viper MK5 AEG Airsoft Rifle on its own, my next video will be exclusively the Krytac LVOA-C AEG Airsoft Rifle in which I will wrap up with my conclusion of both AEG Airsoft Rifles. I think you will be surprised at the results but you will have to wait a bit to find out!
In this Field Test Shooting Review Video I try out the low cost BARRA Black Ops M4 Viper MK5 AEG Airsoft Rifle to see if you can actually get a decent performing AEG Airsoft Rifle for around $200 Canadian that comes with everything you need to get started including the battery, charger, cleaning rod and even a small bag of AIrsoft BB’s. As always I test the velocity and the accuracy so you can compare it to previous Field Test Videos I have made for similar AEG Airsoft guns, most being a lot more expensive. If you have not watched my Table Top Video Review then make sure to do so for specifications, details and more closeup video of the BARRA Black Ops M4 Viper MK5 AEG Airsoft Rifle.
Starting with the velocity, I ended up shooting 11 rounds through my Chronograph because I was a little bit in disbelief at all the duplicate fps shots I was getting (basically this means they where mostly all the same fps at 373) I did end up getting an 11 shot average of 373 fps with the slowest hitting 370 fsp and the fastest at 374, and again pretty much all the rest where right on 373 fps. I was using .20 gram Airsoft BB’s for this test which explains the lower than 420 fps claimed by the manufacturer using .12 gram BB’s. 373 fps, so 737 fps is right on point and very usable in most Airsoft game situations.
So with that really great velocity result in the books, I then moved on to my accuracy test. As always I setup a fresh paper target 30 feet downrange and shot in both semi and full auto to see what kind of groupings I could get from the BARRA Black Ops M4 Viper MK5 AEG Airsoft Rifle. I stayed with the .20 gram Airsoft BB’s and sat in a somewhat rested shooting position with a sandbag upfront and sitting on a stool in the back. My 10 shot semi-auto grouping was an impressive 1 inch, just a bit lower and to the right of the bullseye using the fiber optic non-adjustable sights. I would need to use the pop-up sights to adjust for windage and could have brought up the rounds a bit using hop-up, or one could put a red dot on the top rail for bang-on shot placement. In full Auto the grouping opened up to around 2 inches in right about the same location but this was easily over 100+ shots, so again an excellent result from the BARRA Black Ops M4 Viper MK5 AEG Airsoft Rifle!
Every once in a while you come across an underdog type Airgun that on paper and based on low cost you are not expecting to see amazing results from. The BARRA Black Ops M4 Viper MK5 AEG Airsoft Rifle is one such AEG Airsoft Rifle that overachieved my expectations by a lot, and I would say performed as well as any AEG Airsoft Rifle out there at even much higher price points. All of my testing was performed using the included 8.4 volt battery which worked well but I did find the rate of fire was a bit slower than if I was using a higher volt 11.1 volt battery. My advice if you do end up picking up the BARRA Black Ops M4 Viper MK5 AEG Airsoft Rifle and want a higher round per minute full auto, then at any time you can upgrade your battery and charger to a higher volt one. So what are you waiting for?
Type: Airsoft Rifle. Manufacturer: BARRA. Model: Black Ops M4 Viper MK5 Materials: Mostly plastic. Weight: 4.8 pounds (2.2 kilograms). Length: 29-32.5 inches (737-825.5mm) BarrelLength: 12 inches (305mm) inner 6.08mm non-rifled. Propulsion: AEG. Action: Semi & Full Auto SAO. AmmunitionType: 6mm Airsoft BB's. AmmunitionCapacity: Mid Cap 300 rounds. FPS: 420 with .12 gram Airsoft BB’s.
Trigger Pull: The trigger pull on the BARRA Black Ops M4 Viper MK5 AEG Airsoft Rifle is a SAO light and short trigger, typical of most AEG Airsoft guns having basically a trigger that is an electrical on/off switch. The trigger pressure I would say as about medium for this type of trigger and about a 1/4 inch in length. It has a curved metal trigger and works well in general.
Accuracy: I have not Field Test Reviewed the BARRA Black Ops M4 Viper MK5 AEG Airsoft Rifle, or tried it out yet as it is this is the first time I have seen this AEG. BARRA claims around a 420 fps using fairly light .12 gram Airsoft BB’s but I generally test using standard .20 gram Airsoft BB’s to keep my Field Test Shooting Reviews consistent. I would expect the velocity to be in the mid 300’s using .20 gram BB’s but we will find out when I do my actual Field Test Shooting Video for it. The same goes for accuracy, we will have to wait till my shooting video to know how the BARRA Black Ops M4 Viper MK5 AEG Airsoft Rifle performs on a paper target.
Build Quality: The BARRA Black Ops M4 Viper MK5 AEG Airsoft Rifle is pretty basic and made mostly out of plastic on the outside with the exception of some mechanical parts like the inner barrel, buffer tube, selector switch, trigger, magazine release, charging handle and a few other pins and screws. everything else is plastic including the magazine but the BARRA Black Ops M4 Viper MK5 AEG Airsoft Rifle does use standard AR type magazines so if you have some in metal you can use them. The plastic seems to be made of decent quality and the fit and finish is good overall.
Realism: Even though the BARRA Black Ops M4 Viper MK5 AEG Airsoft Rifle may not have much metal in the build, at least in terms of the receiver and forward grip, it does look the part of an AR, perhaps a bit lighter but not bad considering all the plastic on the outside. Almost all the mechanical parts work as expected except for the bolt release since it does not stay back when you pull the charging handle back for access to the hop-up. You will have to hold the charging handle back to adjust the hop-up but not a big deal.
Pros:
Very affordable on a tight budget.
Comes with charger and 8.4 volt Ni-MH battery.
Lots of mounting points for accessories.
Dual position sights, fiber optic when down, adjustable for windage when up.
6 position rear stock for different shoulder pull lengths.
Adjustable hop-up under dust cover.
Semi and full auto.
Finger groves on pistol grip for added comfort and they look cool.
Black Ops branding looks good.
Good looking AR-15 Replica.
Cons:
Mostly all Plastic build.
Need to hold back charging handle to access hop-up.
Sights only adjustable for windage.
Comments:
The BARRA Black Ops M4 Viper MK5 AEG Airsoft Rifle may not have a lot of metal going on but that will bring the price tag down a lot and on the plus side it does come with everything you need to get up and running including the battery, charger and even a small back of Airsoft BB’s that won’t last long ;) I also l like the dual position iron sights that when flat utilize fiber optics front and back and when in the popped up position give you the standard peep in the back which is adjustable for windage. If you want to add a red dot, optical sight or other accessories there are lots of mounting points on the forward grip for this. Another nice touch is you also do get a metal gearbox so internal mechanical longevity should be good. If you want to take the plunge and get started with Airsoft and see if it fits for you then the BARRA Black Ops M4 Viper MK5 AEG Airsoft Rifle is a great way to test the waters and see how you like it.
In this Field Test Shooting Video I test out the BARRA 400e Full Auto AEG 4.5mm BB Rifle to test out the velocity along with the accuracy and also get an idea on what the rate of fire is in Full Auto mode as on the box it claims 550 rounds per minute using what I would assume is a 7.4 volt battery. I wanted to test the BARRA 400e using an 11.1 volt battery but mine died on me. I will more than likely make a short video where I test out the 11.1 volt battery to see how this effects the rate of fire. If you want more information on specifications and details for the BARRA 400e then check my Table Table Video for it here.
Starting with testing out the Velocity for the BARRA 400e Full Auto AEG 4.5mm BB Rifle I shoot 6 rounds through my Chronograph to average out the fps and I was able to average 385 fps which is fairly close to the claimed 410 fps. Temperature does not effect an AEG as no CO2 is being used. Battery voltage also does not effect velocity as long as there is enough voltage to make the AEG motor pull the spring all the way back. Only trigger delay and rounds per minute are effected by battery voltage.
Moving on to my accuracy findings, I loaded up a full 50 round magazine and first unloaded 10 rounds fairly quickly into my paper target setup 30 feet down range shooting from a seated shooting position with the BARRA 400e resting on a sand bag up front. I was impressed to get close to a 1 inch 10 round grouping that placed just a little to the left and down from the bullseye right out of the box. I could easily center the sights as they are fully adjustable. I then switched the BARRA 400e Full Auto AEG 4.5mm BB Rifle to full auto and shot the remaining 40 or so rounds into the same paper target and even though the grouping opened up a little bit, it was not by much so accuracy in semi and full auto is very good with the BARRA 400e.
I have to say the rate of fire on the BARRA 400e Full Auto AEG 4.5mm BB Rifle using a 7.4 volt battery is rather slow even compared to other Airsoft AEG Full Auto Airguns but I still yet have to test it out using a brand new 11.1 volt Lithium battery so I do expect the rate of fire to improve a noticeable amount. Stay posted for that update video. Even with the slower rate of fire from the BARRA 400e this gun is awesome, it is really accurate and the velocity stays super consistent since CO2 cool down is not a factor. The mostly all metal construction and overall quality is very good and the fact that this is really the first commercial AEG 4.5mm Steel BB Rifle makes that alone a great reason to pick one up.
