Barra Cowboy Series pellet and BB multi-pump pneumatic.
This report covers:
- The test
- RWS R10 Match Pistol
- H&N Match Light
- The trigger
- Loading
- Sights
- JSB Exact RS
- Air Arms Falcon
- Crosman Premier 7.9-grain dome
- Ten-shot group
- Summary
Today we look at the accuracy potential of the Barra Cowboy Series 1866 BB and pellet rifle when shooting pellets.
The test
I shot five shot groups with five different pellets. The distance was 10 meters and the rifle was rested on a sandbag for every shot. I decided to pump the rifle five times for each shot because when I looked at Part 2 that seemed to be the most efficient number. If there was one pellet that stood out, I would shoot a second target with ten shots.
RWS R10 Match Pistol
First to be tried were five RWS R10 Match Pistol pellets. They made a group at 10 meters that measures 0.56-inches between centers. It’s too far to the left, so after seeing it I adjusted the rear sight a little bit to the right.
The Barra Cowboy 1866 put five RWS R10 pellets into a 0.56-inch group at 10 meters.
H&N Match Light
H&N Match Light wadcutters were next to be tried. The Barra put five of them into a 0.69-inch group at 10 meters. This group is also left of the aim point, though not as much as the R10 group. After seeing it I adjusted the rear sight notch much farther to the right.
The Barra Cowboy put five pellets into a 0.69-inch group at 10 meters.
The trigger
The Barra Cowboy trigger is heavy but crisp. It breaks very cleanly every time. I did put the safety on once my mistake while pumping, because it’s easy to push that false hammer forward.
Loading
I tried to load the rifle by holding the muzzle down and the receiver tilted to the left, but my fingers are just too large to do it that way. So I used the tweezers once more. Even then loading wasn’t easy.
Sights
As noted, the rear sight is adjustable by loosening a Phillips screw and sliding the notch to either side as required. It also adjusts for elevation via a notched ramp. But the rifle was shooting a little high already and it was adjusted as low as it will go.
I will note that the rear sight screw was tight when I loosened it the first time, and I am glad I had the Vessel screwdrivers to do the job. There was no slippage and after the first loosening I can use any Phillips driver in the future.
Loosen the rear sight notch and slide in the direction you want the group to go.
JSB Exact RS
The third pellet I tried was the JSB Exact RS dome. Five went into a 0.836-inch group at 10 meters. Note that this group is centered much better than the first two, so I did not adjust the sight any more.
The Barra Cowboy put five JSB RS pellets into a 0.836-inch group at ten meters.
Air Arms Falcon
Next I shot the Air Arms Falcon dome. Five of them went into 0.812-inches at 10 meters. It looks larger than the RS group to me, but that’s just an illusion
Five Falcon pellets went into 0.812-inches at 10 meters.
Crosman Premier 7.9-grain dome
The last different pellet I tried was the 7.9-grain Crosman Premier dome. They shot a little higher on the paper than the other pellets. Five of them went into 1.079-inches at 10 meters. It is the largest group of the test.
The Barra put five Crosman Premier Lights into a 1.079-inch group at 10 meters.
Ten-shot group
The difference in accuracy between the pellets was not overwhelming, but the RWS R 10 Match Pistol pellet was a clear winner. So I shot a second group of 10 shots with it. At least the rifle is now sighted in.
Ten shots made a group measuring 0.917-inches between centers at 10 meters.
Ten RWS R 10 Match Pistol pellets made a 0.917-inch group at 10 meters.
Summary
What is my evaluation? Well, remember this is also a BB gun, so we still have that test coming.
I think the Barra Cowboy Series 1866 pellet rifle is a good value for the price. It’s reasonably accurate, the trigger is good and, as we learned in Part 2, it is quite easy to pump. The only downside I see is a difficulty loading pellets.
There is no way to mount a scope in this rifle but I don’t see that as a minus. Not every air rifle needs a scope and if you are okay with that, this could be one to consider.