Barra 1100z PCP Air Rifle Test Review .22 Caliber

VALUE FOR MONEY

Before we start this review, we need to talk price. At the time of writing, the Barra 1100z is selling for a Street Price of $250.00. Yes, that’s just $250.00 for a magazine-fed, shrouded, side-lever action PCP air rifle!

That’s an outstanding combination of features that’s unmatched by any other air rifle on the market at this price, so far as the HAM Team is aware.

And given that the Barra 1100z tested by HAM performed well in most respects, it’s clear that this is an easy HAM Gold Award winner for price, value and quality!

BUY FROM PYRAMYD AIR
Barra 1100z PCP Rifle 0.22
UTG 3-12×44 AO SWAT Accushot Rifle Scope, EZ-TAP, Illuminated Mil-Dot Reticle, 1/4 MOA, 30mm Tube, See-Thru Weaver Rings

SPEED AND ACCURACY

The Barra 1100z tested by HAM in .22 caliber produced a maximum Muzzle Velocity of 1,031 FPS with 10.03 Grain H&N Field Target Trophy Green pellets.

As is typical, the highest Muzzle Energy was achieved with the heaviest weight pellets traveling slowest. This was the 25.39 Grain JSB Jumbo Monsters, which produced 25.83 Ft/Lbs Muzzle Energy. These also produced the best accuracy.

At 25 Yards, accuracy was very respectable, as you can see from this test target. That one high shot was more likely me than the gun, but it’s not called as a flier.

One type of slug was included in HAM testing – the Daystate Howlers. We have had generally good luck in shooting these slugs with a variety of air rifles. However – as you can see from the target at the foot of this review – they did not shoot accurately in the Barra 1100Z.

Note the significantly lower Muzzle Energy produced by the Howler slugs, when compared to pellets of a similar weight. This is an effect that HAM has noticed before.

Clearly the frictional resistance of a slug is much greater than for a pellet, due to the considerably greater area of contact with the barrel. That increases the amount of energy required to push the slug down the barrel, resulting in less energy remaining in the projectile when it leaves the gun.

TRIGGER AND COCKING EFFORT

The Barra 1100z has an unusual trigger. It’s actually a single-stage unit. However, the trigger blade is pivoted. This provides the impression of a two-stage trigger, although it’s not actually one.

Although this sounds “hokey”, it actually works quite well. Those familiar with QB78-type CO2 guns will find that this is the same trigger as the AR2078/9/A models, so it’s been around for a long time and works quite well.

Although not mentioned in the owner’s manual or website, this trigger is easily adjustable for pull weight, sear engagement and over-travel. We’ll cover this in a follow-on article to this review.

The manual safety is of the rotating type. It’s that lever in the front of the trigger guard. In the safe position, the safety projects back into the trigger guard as an immediate reminder to the shooter. In this position, an internal plunger blocks the trigger sear from operation.

The sidelever action feels solid and predictable. It works well and the vertical grip is well-placed for the shooter’s grasp.

Is this the smoothest, most sophisticated sidelever action the HAM Team has ever tested? No. But, it’s perfectly usable and – given the remarkably low price of the Barra 1100z – it’s definitely very acceptable!

COMPARISON TO MAKERS CLAIMS

The manufacturer makes some very specific performance claims for the Barra 1100z in .22 caliber. Specifically they call for a Muzzle Velocity of 975 FPS with 14.3 Grain pellets for a Muzzle Energy of 30 Ft/Lbs and 925FPS with 18.52 Grain pellets for 35 Ft/Lbs.

Confusingly, these claims are somewhat different from data previously supplied to HAM by Barra. These show 14.3 Grain pellets producing 914 FPS for a Muzzle Energy of 28 Ft/Lbs.

So why the difference? Almost certainly it relates to differences in the setting of the hammer spring tension. Relatively small differences in the number of turns “in” of the hammer spring adjustment screw can make significant differences to the performance.

It has to be said that the Barra 1100z tested by HAM produced figures well below these claims.

In “as received” condition, the Barra 1100z tested by HAM achieved an average of 855 FPS with 14.3 Grain Crosman Premier Hollow Point pellets, for a Muzzle Energy of 23.26 Ft/Lbs.

The maximum Muzzle Energy achieved in HAM testing was 25.83 Ft/Lbs with 25.39 Grain JSB Jumbo Monsters. This is a long way from the manufacturer’s claims of “Muzzle Energy exceeding 36 Ft/Lbs in .22 caliber”.

However, it’s fair to say that Barra’s specs do not say that this would be possible with the gun in “as received” specification.

CONSISTENCY

Let’s start the consistency section with trigger performance. The Barra 1100z tested by HAM gave absolutely outstanding consistency of trigger pull.

The average pull weight of 1 Lb 11.1 Oz varied by at most one Ounce in HAM testing. That would be remarkable performance for any air rifle. For a $250 PCP, it’s nothing short of incredible!!!

The Barra 1100z is an unregulated PCP. Once the norm, since the appearance of the Umarex Gauntlet in 2017, this has has become rapidly less common, even on value-priced air rifles.

Being unregulated, there’s no “plateau” of relatively consistent Muzzle Velocity, as there is with a regulated gun. Instead, the FPS rises, then falls as the HPA pressure in the gun falls. This is shown in the following graph.

HAM’s standard for “consistent” Muzzle Velocity is +/- 20 FPS – in other words an Extreme Spread of 40 FPS. As the graph shows, the Barra 1100z tested by HAM provided 29 “consistent” shots with that Extreme Spread of 40 FPS – they were from shot 6 to shot 35.

However, as most airgunners do not own a chronograph, our test protocol for unregulated PCPs is to fill them to full pressure, then make our shooting tests. That’s exactly what most owners will do, after all.

Because of this, the Standard Deviations produced when testing the Barra 1100z averaged the high figure of 15.70 FPS. That would translate into some vertical stringing on the target at long ranges.

There’s no doubt that this Standard Deviation (consistency of Muzzle Velocity) would be much improved by filling to about 2,500 PSI, rather than the full 3,000 PSI.

Based on the “Shootdown Curve” shown above, the HAM Team’s advice would be to fill the Barra 1100z to about 2,600 PSI and re-fill back to that figure after about 20 shots. The result would be much improved – ie lower – Standard Deviations and long-range accuracy.

NOISE LEVEL

The Barra 1100z is fitted with a fully-shrouded barrel. This controlled the report to a very low level that’s definitely backyard-friendly.

The overall noise level is about as low as for our class-leader, the Benjamin Marauder. HAM Tester Doug Rogers noticed the noise of the hammer spring more than that from the muzzle. That’s pretty quiet!

Should you need yet-quieter shooting, the muzzle is provided with 1/2-Inch x 20 UNF threads. Normally these are covered by the included thread protector – shown removed below. This allows the fitment of a dedicated, airgun-only silencer where legal.

SIGHTS AND SCOPE

The Barra 1100z is fitted with a split Picatinny scope rail, in a fashion common to many PCP air rifles. This rail is machined into the top of the solid steel breech and it’s long enough to accept most riflescopes.

As can be seen in this photograph, the magazine projects only a small amount above the top of the Picatinny rail – about 1/4-Inch. This allows Medium scope rings to be used, keeping the scope’s eye line quite low above the barrel.

For this review, the HAM Team installed a Leapers UTG 3-12×44 SWAT scope. This fitted happily using the bundled rings and complemented the rifle well.

SHOOTABILITY

For a PCP at such a low price, the Barra 1100z has many good shootability features.

True – at an all-up weight of 9 Lbs 4 Oz including the scope (7 Lbs 8 Oz bare) – this is not a light weight gun. However this weight makes the gun balance well in the hand and is a distinct benefit for offhand shooting.

The whole gun feels solid and reliable, benefits that give confidence to the user.

The 10-shot rotary magazine has an useful “shots remaining” counter window in the side. It also worked well in use. Two magazines are supplied with the gun, along with two single-shot trays.

Magazine loading proved somewhat divisive for the HAM Team. Doug Rogers didn’t much like the loading method, while Stephen Archer thought it simple and easy!

However both the long-necked HAM testers appreciated the adjustable comb that’s standard on the Barra 1100z. This allows simple adjustment with a pair of clamping screws, but is solid in use. It allows a comfortable, repeatable cheek weld to be attained by the shooter – a great practical aid to consistent shooting accuracy.

The substantial rubber buttpad is useful and practical. The “flared base” design of the stock’s forend, combined with the gripping grooves in its upper part make off-hand shooting comfortable. It’s clear that this stock has been designed by someone who knows how to shoot!

HAM also applauds the Barra 1100z for having the pressure gauge in the underside of the stock! This is a safe, convenient location for viewing and eliminates the – to us, frightening – need to “look down the barrel” to check the pressure, as is the case with many PCPs having the pressure gauge in the end of the HPA tube.

Another excellent safety feature of the Barra 1100z is that it has a de-gassing capability. Somewhat unusually, this comprises a degassing tool that – when rotated by the supplied 2mm Allen (hex) key – depresses the one-way valve in the fill assembly.

This works well, so long as you don’t loose the rather small de-gassing tool!

APPEARANCE AND FINISH

“Impressive for the price” is how HAM Tester Doug Rogers described the finish of the Barra 1100z. The machining quality of the metal parts is high and they have good-quality surface finishes.

This is an air rifle with very few non-metal parts, the stock, magazine and tube cap are the obvious exceptions. Many people will like it for that!

Molding quality of the plastic parts is good. True, there are pronounced mold lines around the synthetic stock, however it feels solid and substantial, without the “hollow” impression that synthetic stocks often give.

As is seen in the photograph above, HAM fitted a Leapers UTG Rubber Armored Bipod to the short Picatinny rail under the stock.

Naturally, appearance is a subjective matter. The HAM Team’s verdict is that the Barra 1100z is a workmanlike-looking air rifle. We don’t think it will win any beauty pageant awards, but it’s definitely not ugly and the looks have grown on us with time…

For a $25.00 premium the Barra 1100z is available with a black/gray camo-pattern stock. This is an interesting option that gives a choice of appearance for your purchase.

BUYING AND OWNING

As a relatively new air rifle in the market, the Barra 1100z is not yet widely distributed. However it is readily available online from Pyramyd Air: that’s important for many HAM readers!

But here’s something that’s really going to drive demand for the Barra 1100z among the army of airgun tinkerers out there…

Barra Airguns sells a comprehensive range of spare parts for the 1100z!

Yes – unlike almost all “mainstream” airgun manufacturers (except Velocity Outdoor), Barra is making parts readily available for the 1100z. For many airgun owners, this is a HUGE DEAL and will be a major reason leading them to buy this air rifle. HAM will be covering this further in a future post…

The owner’s manual is in English only. It’s a rather a terse presentation, however the basics are covered, together with an introduction to tuning using the hammer spring adjuster that’s incorporated in the rear cap of the HPA tube.

As already mentioned, the de-gassing capability is something that will be welcomed by many owners.

Warranty is 12 months and is fulfilled in the USA by Barra Airguns from its Arkansas facility. This is below the 3- or 5-year standard offered by multiple manufacturers.

One thing we didn’t like was the tube end cap. This is retained in place by the O ring that’s seen around the fill nozzle in the photograph above. While that’s a fine idea. the HAM testers found it almost impossible to pull off!

Some experimentation with a slightly smaller-diameter O ring is going to be in order to achieve a result that holds the tube cap in place yet is easy to remove when wanted…

TEST TARGETS

BUY FROM PYRAMYD AIR
Barra 1100z PCP Rifle 0.22
UTG 3-12×44 AO SWAT Accushot Rifle Scope, EZ-TAP, Illuminated Mil-Dot Reticle, 1/4 MOA, 30mm Tube, See-Thru Weaver Rings

This entire article including scoring, test targets etc is Copyright Hard Air Magazine and may NOT in part or in whole be reproduced in any electronic or printed medium without prior permission from the publisher.