Barra Cowboy Series pellet and BB multi-pump pneumatic.
This report covers:
- Daisy BBs
- Velocity per pump stroke
- Stable
- Faster?
- Pellets are faster
- Trigger pull
- Summary
Today we look at the velocity of the Barra Cowboy Series 1866 BB and pellet rifle when shooting steel BBs. Because this rifle has a magnetic BB feeder I said I would not test anything other than steel BBs. I remember how difficult it is to load with lead pellets and I can only imagine that lead BBs would be worse.
Daisy BBs
I thought about which BBs to shoot and in the end I realized they are all very similar when it comes to velocity. So I chose the iconic Daisy BB for today’s test.
I will say that it has been almost a month since I last played with the Barra and I forgot how sleek it looks and handles. I also forgot how easily it pumps! I measured it again today and pump number eight was the hardest at 15 lbs. In Part 2 it was pump number nine. Now let’s see what that gives you.
Velocity per pump stroke
For this test I loaded BBs into the internal magazine to see how well they fed. I expected they would be good with that rare earth magnet on the tip of the bolt probe.
Pump strokes………Velocity………pump effort lbs.
2…………………………….420…………………11
3…………………………….512…………………09
4…………………………….541…………………12
5…………………………….589…………………11
6…………………………….625…………………14
7…………………………….639…………………14
8…………………………….672…………………15
9…………………………….716…………………14
10…………………………..724…………………14
Stable
I looked at Part 2 and saw that the pump effort is remarkable similar to what we see today. This pump gun is quite stable!
Test two — repeatability
Next I tested the rifle on five pumps of air. I shot a string of ten BBs on five pumps each and got an average 601 f.p.s. velocity. The low was 596 and the high was 607 f.p.s. That’s a difference of 11 f.p.s. for ten shots on five pumps of air. Let’s look at the entire string.
Shot………Velocity
1……………….603
2……………….597
3……………….599
4……………….607
5……………….596
6……………….607
7……………….603
8……………….596
9……………….605
10……………..601
Faster?
One thing jumped out from this string right away — the rifle was faster on every shot in this string than it had been in the first test on the same five pumps. The slowest shot in this string (596 f.p.s.) was seven f.p.s. faster than the first 5-pump shot I made in the first test (589 f.p.s.). Why?
I think that as the rifle was used the sealing of the pump head became increasingly better. Perhaps the oil on the pump head was just spread around on the inside of the pump tube? I don’t know, but that’s the only explanation I can think of.
That got me wondering whether I should rerun the first test again, to see whether the rifle had speeded up. What I did was fire two shots on 10 pumps each, to compare to the first 10-pump shot that went out at 724 f.p.s. The two 10-pump shots I fired this time went out at an identical 725 f.p.s. velocity. That proves that the Barra is consistent. Maybe the BB that was fired on that first 5-pump shot was a trifle smaller and allowed a little more air to slip past in the bore?
Pellets are faster
The Barra description on the Pyramyd AIR website says the rifle shoots at up 800 f.p.s. But the fastest shot we see today is 725 f.p.s. However if we look at the Part 2 velocity test of pellets we see the 5.25-grain Sig Match Ballistic Alloy pellet going out at a maximum of 797 f.p.s. That’s awfully close to 800 f.ps. and I think Barra has met their specification. Therefore it is faster with pellets than with BBs.
Trigger pull
I tested the trigger pull again today, like I did in Part 2 that was documented on September 11. Back then stage one of the trigger measured 3 pounds 8 ounces. And stage two broke at 6 pounds 8 ounces. Today the trigger takes 2 pounds 15 ounces for stage one and it breaks at 6 pounds even. In both cases it’s a little lighter today. That looks to me like it is breaking in. I said it was crisp in the Part 2 report and I’ll say it again today. It feels very much like a military trigger that breaks cleanly, though at greater weight than sporting triggers. I like military triggers so the Barra’s trigger really appeals to me.
Summary
This Barra Cowboy Series 1866 BB and pellet rifle is turning out to be a surprisingly nice pellet and BB rifle. It is sleek and smooth, it pumps very easily and we see okay accuracy in the Part 3 test with pellets. Next up will be the accuracy test with BBs. If you find this rifle interesting I don’t think you’ll be dissatisfied, because there’s a lot to like here.
Looks like 2 pumps would be sufficient for BB work.
Hi everybody,
this rifle looks pretty cool. I like this “Winchester” look 🙂
In other news, I couldn’t resist buying an old Diana 27. For me, the HW30S is virtually flawless while the Diana Twenty-One is a bit of a mixed bag (they don’t have anything this size in the “Performance Line”).
So, for one thing, I’m curious to see what Diana in their prime could do with a lightweight rifle.
I also know this is BB’s favourite airgun. If it’s good enough for the Godfather(tm), it’s good enough for me 🙂
Provided that I get it to work, is anyone interested in a guest blog?
The one I’m getting doesn’t have a scope rail, so I’ll have to really concentrate and do as well as I can with the open sights for accuracy testing.
Stephan
Stephan,
Is anyone interested in a guest blog about your Diana 27? There is a guy right here who might be; i will ask him.
Yes, he is interested in a guest blog! 🙂
BB
CptKlotz,
ME TOO ! 🙂
Yes, I would like to read your genuine thoughts on your new old Diana 27, including where you bought it, previous owner history, what it was used for before, etc…
And please, as many photos as you can. 🙂
Is yours in Tom Gaylord (B.B. Pelletier)’s favourite calibre, ie is it in 5,5mm (.22″)?
hihihi,
nope, this one is in .177 which I honestly prefer since I won’t have to buy new pellets 🙂
It’s supposed to be in good working order… if that’s true, you’ll get a review.
Time to practice my benchrest shooting with open sights and lay down a “baseline” score with the HW30S I suppose 🙂
Stephan
CptKlotz,
thanks. Your Diana 27 must have been extremely cheap for the purchase of new pellets to be so significant. 🙂
Yes, bench resting should help show how airguns compare but, and I already know that you’re quite capable, I also hope to read your thoughts on offhand plinking with it. Please. 🙂
Given that the HW30S is extremely fun to shoot off-hand, I will, of course, compare them 🙂
Make that 3 guys interested in your Diana 27, and in as much detail as you can provide. That a rifle on my own wish list too, but I am looking for the Winchester-branded version.
Ok, you got it… provided that the 27 shoots without issues.
I’ve been trying to get a baseline score with the HW30S with open sights on a rest.
So far, I would say it’s going ok, given that I’m not going to get the accuracy I would get with a scope.
Gratz Stephan! I just bought a pre ’65 Diana 25 .177 myself. I got in a hurry with the auction and I missed that it did not have a dovetail for a scope. It is not the desirable ball bearing trigger version either but man, it still shoots pretty nice.
“Provided that I get it to work, is anyone interested in a guest blog?”
Stephan, sorry to be ‘late to the party,’ but count me in as interested; thank you! 🙂
I have to admit that speed wise, it is where I would like to see a bb gun. Would it stand up to me? That is another question entirely. I can be pretty rough on stuff. Will it outshoot my 99? We shall see. This would most definitely appeal to the inner cowboy.
P.S. Pellets are faster section. Last sentence. Therefore, it is faster with pellets that (than) with BBs.
RR,
Fixed it. Thanks,
BB
BB,
I wonder if using a pellet pen would would make it easy to load pellets into this Barra?
Regards,
Will
Will,
Not really. The Barra needs pellets loaded in sideways.
BB
Nice looker and evidently a good shooter; we’ve come a ways since Red Ryder days.
Off-topic, yet in a way not. This woulda made a helluva pcp pump; with a little imagination the designers might have come up with a companion pcp cannon to toss shells across the Channel, maybe really big pellets.
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/68548#comments
Hi BB,
I have enjoyed your post on this but I have a question. If this is not rifled , would it be fair to call it a musket instead of as a rifle?
Waldorf1,
Of course this one is rifled but if it were not it could be called a musket.
BB
Is the inner functioning like a Daisy Powerline airgun with pull open valve?
All,
Off topic question:
I just bought an older Blue Streak. I was really impressed with how good the condition was and the price was right. Unfortunately, I didn’t notice that where the rear sight is fitted, the solder joint between the barrel and pump tube has separated.
Is it fixable or should I just learn to live with it? (Has it been reduced to the category of parts gun?)
Thank you.
Bill
Bill,
I have heard that Tim MacMurray can resolder those barrels. It’s not an easy job. For sure you don’t want to give that rifle to the average gunsmith.
BB
BB,
Thank you very much.
Bill
B.B.,
I commented on Pt. 1 but I didn’t see it commented on. It’s on loading the gun. Here is the comment: BB
I don’t know if it will work for that rifle, but on my Daisy and Crosman pumpers that also shoot bbs, I have a little trick that makes it much easier for me. I first cock the bolt back, then move the bolt forward just enough that the tip “blocks” the bb port
Doc
Doc,
Tried that. Didn’t work for me.
BB
B.B.
Darn, I was hoping it would as this rifle is shaping up to be a good buy. Oh well, thanks for letting me know.
Doc
B.B.
Just looking at the rifle, the pictures at least, got me thinking. This is always dangerous!
Does anybody make a lever action PCP? Why not? Most/many PcP shooters are benchresters.
But otherwise, I would think it would make a Tony the tiger “GREAT” airgun platform. Your thoughts please???
-Yogi
Yogi,
Here is a couple
https://www.pyramydair.com/product/seneca-eagle-claw-lever-action-pcp-air-rifle?m=4952
https://www.pyramydair.com/product/hatsan-vectis-lever-action-pcp-air-rifle?m=4787
Mike
Yup,
I forgot about the Seneca. 4 years ago, I was in Korea and asked Seneca if I could get a factory tour. They never got back to me. Them bums…
-Y
The Seneca aspen has an integral pump arm, not quite a lever “action” but the pump arm is a lever. Sorry it’s late.