Author Topic: Barra 1866 Can it Be Improved? (Read 5269 times))

CENTURION · « **on:** January 30, 2021, 02:18:04 PM »

Definitely a low budget gun, mine functions fine, cocks, pumps ect. great, it just wont hit a can at 35ft., just spits pellets basically in a shotgun pattern. The rifling in the barrel looks good and it has plenty of power, I'm starting to suspect that plastic barrel cap is a hair off and deflecting the pellets? I like the concept of this gun, and it would be nice to have a higher quality version of it done. It seems as if it should do a least what a Daisy 901 on open sights can do. I was hoping for it to be a decent indoor pellet plinker, but I think it is more of a conversational piece, they sure look nice

Rabbit\Squirrel Killer · « **Reply #1 on:** January 30, 2021, 02:23:19 PM »

Quote from: CENTURION on January 30, 2021, 02:18:04 PM

Definitely a low budget gun, mine functions fine, cocks, pumps ect. great, it just wont hit a can at 35ft., just spits pellets basically in a shotgun pattern. The rifling in the barrel looks good and it has plenty of power, I'm starting to suspect that plastic barrel cap is a hair off and deflecting the pellets? I like the concept of this gun, and it would be nice to have a higher quality version of it done. It seems as if it should do a least what a Daisy 901 on open sights can do. I was hoping for it to be a decent indoor pellet plinker, but I think it is more of a conversational piece, they sure look nice

I have not tried to improve it but mine is a bit of scatter gun too. I am glad I got it "Cheap".

CENTURION · « **Reply #2 on:** January 30, 2021, 03:13:11 PM »

Quote from: Rabbit\Squirrel Killer on January 30, 2021, 02:23:19 PM

Quote from: CENTURION on January 30, 2021, 02:18:04 PM
Definitely a low budget gun, mine functions fine, cocks, pumps ect. great, it just wont hit a can at 35ft., just spits pellets basically in a shotgun pattern. The rifling in the barrel looks good and it has plenty of power, I'm starting to suspect that plastic barrel cap is a hair off and deflecting the pellets? I like the concept of this gun, and it would be nice to have a higher quality version of it done. It seems as if it should do a least what a Daisy 901 on open sights can do. I was hoping for it to be a decent indoor pellet plinker, but I think it is more of a conversational piece, they sure look nice

I have not tried to improve it but mine is a bit of scatter gun too. I am glad I got it "Cheap".

I am going to tinker with it, I think it has accuracy in it, something is off a little. It seems most accurate at max pumps, and it is probably "pellet picky", with that rifled barrel it should do at least what my vintage smoothebore Crosman 760's do. I know sights mounted to sheet metal barrel shrouds always have inherent problems, some manufactures do better than others. I have about 100 shots through it, sometimes it just takes a few hundred to settle in. If I can get this accuracy issue corrected it will be nice, it pumps easy, look nice,has good power and is cheap. I'm also starting to think a barrel spacer similar to the one I use on my Crosman 1077 may help. When I get 5 consistent shots then they start flying off something is moving.

Longbob · « **Reply #3 on:** January 30, 2021, 04:59:03 PM »

Geo Schoonmaker did a review of the Barra at his website and made a post pertaining to putting a peep sight and a new front sight on it. Says he was getting .98 groups at 25 yards.

https://www.airgununiverse.net/wp/barra-cowboy-series-1866/
https://www.airgununiverse.net/wp/installing-peeps-on-the-barra-1866/

mst3kpimp · « **Reply #4 on:** January 30, 2021, 06:07:19 PM »

am i to take it the octagonal barrel is a shroud with a straw barrel inside? if so you need to eliminate any play.

CENTURION · « **Reply #5 on:** January 30, 2021, 06:42:34 PM »

I got it to consistently get 1.5 in. at 35 ft. sometimes better by using JSB Exact Diablo's 7.33 gr. I had a stock of CHP's, but this gun will just not shoot those accurately. The barrel is in tight, no interference on the cap either. I found the elevation ramp on the front sight is finicky on its settings also, it is either way too high or low to the top of the front blade, it works best if you peer through the round gap in the front blade. I was surprised how bad the gun shot those CHP's.

Longbob · « **Reply #6 on:** January 30, 2021, 09:43:49 PM »

Quote from: CENTURION on January 30, 2021, 06:42:34 PM

I got it to consistently get 1.5 in. at 35 ft. sometimes better by using JSB Exact Diablo's 7.33 gr. I had a stock of CHP's, but this gun will just not shoot those accurately. The barrel is in tight, no interference on the cap either. I found the elevation ramp on the front sight is finicky on its settings also, it is either way too high or low to the top of the front blade, it works best if you peer through the round gap in the front blade. I was surprised how bad the gun shot those CHP's.

Repost:
Geo Schoonmaker did a review of the Barra at his website and made a post pertaining to putting a peep sight and a new front sight on his Barra 1866. Says he is getting .98 groups at 25 yards.

https://www.airgununiverse.net/wp/barra-cowboy-series-1866/
https://www.airgununiverse.net/wp/installing-peeps-on-the-barra-1866/

If it was me? I'd check those two links out and get the peep sight he has or a similar sight.

a1rgunz · « **Reply #7 on:** January 30, 2021, 11:05:27 PM »

Since the barrel is secure and the rifling looks good, have you cleaned your barrel? These are often very oily out of the box, not good at all for accuracy. The pumps have a lot of excess lubrication, so a second cleaning might be necessary after having done some more shooting. If you notice one or two pellets groups better than others, better sights will probably tighten those groups up further for you.

If you have a chronograph, check to see how consistent your velocity is. If you don't have one, check your group shape. If it is taller than it is wide, you might have some pump issues causing inconsistent velocities.

The shiny buttplate can be hard to keep secure against your shoulder depending on what you are wearing. This greatly adds to the challenge of getting good groups with this rifle.

Quite frankly, I can't shoot worth a darn through the stock iron sights. The absolute best I could manage shooting from a rest was 1.2" at 25 yards, with most of my groups being 1.5". After replacing both the front and rear sight, my groups consistently tightened down to this:

I also power tuned the rifle, making it a pretty deadly squirrel hunting rig out to 30 yards. A couple other pellets you might want to try are the RWS Superdomes and Daisy wadcutters. Both of those have yielded consistent accuracy in these and many other cheap multipumps.

CENTURION · « **Reply #8 on:** January 31, 2021, 08:37:15 AM »

The pellets did the trick, gun is good and clean now. I did not plan on shooting BB's from this gun, but it does however shoot them laser straight and rocket fast similar to mt Hahn Super BB Repeaters. The slippery but plate was also a definite factor, it will slip ever so slightly and throw off shots, I put some rubber type tape on mine to stop this. I hear you on the peep sight, I have one on my Benjamin 397 and can hit anything. All-in-all I like this bargain gun.

Back_Roads · « **Reply #9 on:** January 31, 2021, 09:59:26 AM »

I added a tang sight , and a GEO mini LDC with round front sight and barrel support.

CENTURION · « **Reply #10 on:** January 31, 2021, 12:49:31 PM »

Quote from: Back_Roads on January 31, 2021, 09:59:26 AM

I added a tang sight , and a GEO mini LDC with round front sight and barrel support.

Pretty nice. I tried experimenting with more pellets, the Crosman 7.4 gr. pointed and destroyers, they both hit spot on, and seem to fit less snug in the barrel. This gun is definitely one of the favorites for my indoor line-up. Once the weather warms up it will be interesting to see what it can do at longer distances.

Longbob · « **Reply #11 on:** January 31, 2021, 01:03:39 PM »

Quote from: CENTURION on January 31, 2021, 08:37:15 AM

The slippery but plate was also a definite factor, it will slip ever so slightly and throw off shots, I put some rubber type tape on mine to stop this.

My Crosman 1322 Backpacker is doing that too. Rubber type tape is the answer?

I ordered some heat foam tape from Amazon for my Winchester 1977 to stop the CLACK sound when pumping. Would that do it for the buttplate on the Backpacker? Or, can you recommend a particular brand of rubber type tape to use ?

CENTURION · « **Reply #12 on:** January 31, 2021, 02:59:03 PM »

Quote from: Longbob on January 31, 2021, 01:03:39 PM

Quote from: CENTURION on January 31, 2021, 08:37:15 AM
The slippery but plate was also a definite factor, it will slip ever so slightly and throw off shots, I put some rubber type tape on mine to stop this.

My Crosman 1322 Backpacker is doing that too. Rubber type tape is the answer?

I ordered some heat foam tape from Amazon for my Winchester 1977 to stop the CLACK sound when pumping. Would that do it for the buttplate on the Backpacker? Or, can you recommend a particular brand of rubber type tape to use ?

I tried the Gorilla tape and it was OK, I put a piece of the hard portion Velcro on today and that sticks great, no more slipping on my clothes. The funniest little things can throw your shots off.

avator · « **Reply #13 on:** January 31, 2021, 03:01:57 PM »

I had total reverse shoulder replacement.... wonder if I could use magnet tape.... lol

Longbob · « **Reply #14 on:** January 31, 2021, 03:07:55 PM »

Quote from: CENTURION on January 31, 2021, 02:59:03 PM

Quote from: Longbob on January 31, 2021, 01:03:39 PM
Quote from: CENTURION on January 31, 2021, 08:37:15 AM
The slippery but plate was also a definite factor, it will slip ever so slightly and throw off shots, I put some rubber type tape on mine to stop this.

My Crosman 1322 Backpacker is doing that too. Rubber type tape is the answer?

I ordered some heat foam tape from Amazon for my Winchester 1977 to stop the CLACK sound when pumping. Would that do it for the buttplate on the Backpacker? Or, can you recommend a particular brand of rubber type tape to use ?

I tried the Gorilla tape and it was OK, I put a piece of the hard portion Velcro on today and that sticks great, no more slipping on my clothes. The funniest little things can throw your shots off.

Outstanding. I have Gorilla tape. And, hard portion velcro too. No need to go to the dollar store. Which is good. Modding my new Winchester 1977XS last night gave me a hellacious back ache that hasn't gone away yet.

Granted, trying out different pellets in it hasn't helped my back any. ATM, its sighted in for Daisy wadcutters & Crosman 10.5's. Same POI for both pellets w/ 3 pumps for the Daisy's and 5 pumps for the Crosman's at 10 yards. Both pellets are giving 0.5 inch groups.

I'm kinda leaning towards the Daisy's for today. They'll make great sparrow killers.

CENTURION · « **Reply #15 on:** January 31, 2021, 04:45:26 PM »

These easy pumping guns make for great indoor shooters I was eyeing the 1977 as well, I have accurate smaller German springers, but sometimes they can induce a headache if you shoot them too much. Been shooting the Beeman P-17's with cheapo Gammo green dot sights, I've gotten to the point with them, I can pick off anything I can see within 35 ft., these pistols are way more accurate than they have a right to be. Sometimes the easy shooters are best, I like the laser sights to take the strain off the eyes as well. I must have shot that 1866 100 times yesterday, but it pumps so easy I had no aches or pains

Rabbit\Squirrel Killer · « **Reply #16 on:** January 31, 2021, 07:10:04 PM »

I have not really put any effort into getting mine to shoot better. I bought it because I liked the looks and since it didn't shoot great have done more admiring than shooting on this one. I may clean the barrel and try a few different pellets. At $59 my expectations were not high or hard to meet, LOL.

CENTURION · « **Reply #17 on:** January 31, 2021, 07:20:07 PM »

They are worth the time, get some good quality 7.4 gr. pellets, clean the barrel up and you may be surprised. I initially thought mine was going to be wall art.

avator · « **Reply #18 on:** January 31, 2021, 07:48:49 PM »

Every time I pump this gun I am afraid I'm gonna break that skimpy pump arm off.
Again. it looks great hanging on the wall..... way better than a picture of most mother in laws.
It's a shiny new toy on steroids.

lizzie · « **Reply #19 on:** January 31, 2021, 07:59:00 PM »

Moving thread to the general air gun gate

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Barra 1866 Can it Be Improved?

Author Topic: Barra 1866 Can it Be Improved? (Read 5269 times))