Check out this Barracuda I am testing for Innovairtech

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Z

zebra

Member
Sep 29, 2015
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New York
A new toy arrived today. Innovairtech asked me to test one of their guns to tell them what I think. This is "The Barracuda":




It is a .357 pistol carbine type air gun that uses their pre-charged air cartridges. The barrel is 10.5" and the whole gun is 35" long.

I have to say that this thing looks awesome. For people who prefer their air guns to look more like firearms and those that like that tactical takedown style rifle, I can't think of many other big bore PCP guns that would be match this thing in the looks department. 

It uses stanard AR 15 furniture and I was pleased to see a Hogue grip as I prefer them over those cheap A2 grips. The rest of the frame is a solid aluminum chassis type design. The lower bipod rail, grip frame and AR stock adapter all looks to be machined from one solid piece for the lower receiver. The barrel attaches to a separate upper receiver (also like an AR15). I believe this allows for easy caliber switching.





Here is a close set up of the air cartridges:





The top of the cartridge is actually a quick disconnect fitting. I haven't measured but it looks to be either 1/4" or 3/8" so most of us would need an additional thread reducer to use it with a fill adapter on a tank used for other air guns. I would probably buy a bunch of T fittings and quick disconnect female fittings to make an adapter to fill them all at the same time and with equal pressure. 

They included a bag of bullets in the box. This is what they look like next to some of the ammo from my other guns:




On the left is the .357 cast bullets for the Barracuda. Next to the 357 bullet is one of my 58 gr 25 cal cast bullets which is the largest projectile I have ever used with my Cricket. Next to that is a 22 cal JSB Ultrashock which is 25gr and on the right is a JSB 15.9 gr. 

The 357 bullets made me think about some of the accidents people posted about with the Edgun pistol carbines. I am making a mental note to avoid shooting my own finger with one of these things. If the 25 cal pellets are shattering bones, I can only imagine what one of these things would do to a finger.

And one more pic from the other side (of the gun... I'm not dead):





With all that metal, it's not lightweight but as it's a short-barrel gun, it feels well balanced. The feel is similar to Sig or AR rifles in weight (unloaded) and balance. With a smart choice of hunting scope, I can't imagine that the weight would be an issue for off-hand shooting for even the weakest hunters among us.

I think it's smart of Innovairtech to seek feedback from potential customers and not just current fans who would just create an echo chamber. 
 
"Topcat"Nice are those cartridges a one shot deal? I don't know about the oversized bolt handle but it looks nice. Can't wait to read more
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Yes they are (one shot). It is designed to be just like a firearm in how it operates except that the bullets are filled with air instead of powder.

The idea is that you can take as many shots out with you as you need. It makes sense in the context of other big bore air guns which get 2-10 shots per fill usually. If you can afford the cartridges, you could take 30 or 50 shots with you, which is a lot for a 357 air rifle. The new Evanix 9mm pistol carbine gets 4-6 shots per fill (if you don't buy a second air cylinder). 

The bolt handle unscrews (it is shipped without it) so people can choose their own if they like. I have a feeling that the oversized one will be an advantage when cocking a short gun like this. The cocking effort is forward, not back like most bolt-action guns. 
 
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I've seen belts for them so people can wear the extra cartridges like they do with shotgun shells. It wouldn't be too bad carrying a bunch like that with the rest in a backpack. You probably wouldn't carry that many in the woods but I would probably keep extras in the car if I was out for the day with it. 

You pretty much have to go out somewhere to use this thing. I wouldn't use any big bore in my backyard so one way or another, I would have to carry some form of air with me. If not extra cartridges, it would be a small scba tank unless it was a pure hunting trip.
 
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One thing I've seen in their previous videos is the spent air cartridges ejecting like a firearm with some force, ending up on the ground. Seems a poor bit of planning to be dropping the air cartridges in the dirt. It would also seem that filling the cartridges to exactly the same pressure will be a challenge. This concept was tried sometime back and didn't catch on then. I do see the worth of this idea for a hunting gun, though even as a dedicated airhead it leads me to ask-"why not just grab a firearm?" In any csae, I look forward to your review!
John
 
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I haven't fired it yet but it's a short barrel 357 with no shroud. It will be too loud and powerful for a backyard so I need to go to the range to shoot it. That would be the same for any big bore air gun (even if it came shrouded). 

Also, I need to get a thread reducer to be able to fill it as it won't connect to a standard 1/8" quick disconnect as it comes. 

The question about the advantages over a firearm is a fair one. It applies to any big bore air gun for me. I love my air guns because I can use them every day at home as they are quiet and not powerful enough to go through my backstop and accidentally kill a child a mile away. I guess some people will see a point in big bore air guns and others won't. 

There are a few advantages to big bore air guns over firearms though. The Barracuda is a short barrel rifle. You can go as short as you want with air guns without running into legal troubles like with firearms. You can get an LDC for an air gun without needing a special license and in some states, like mine, civilians can't get a license for a firearms moderator at all.

The ammo will be cheaper than 357 firearm bullets. 

If noise and power aren't an issue, there will be some scenarios where people can legally use an air gun in places where firearms are prohibited.

That's all I can think of off the top of my head. 
 
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Btw, to fill every cartridge to exactly the same pressure, all you would need is a few extra T fittings so you could fill them at the same time, if you use a tank. You could also add a regulator to your fill adapter.

it wouldn't be an issue for people who fill from hand pumps or compressors although I would still want to fill them all at the same time to make the process less hassle.
 
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In a way it puts airguns that much closer to firearms. I think thats a poor idea. Also those cartages being much thicker then a standard firearm round shows that the whole idea is flawed. I get it has to be like that because of the held pressure unlike powder that has no pressure until fired, where the firearm is designed to contain the forces of the explosion. Airgun design needs to move in a technical direction of its own when it comes to the power source. Not looking at a cartage based system. I mean I get it, but whats the point but to in a way act more like a firearm power plant. 
 
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