If you’re not familiar with KalibrGun products, let me introduce you to their popular Cricket bullpup Pre-Charged Pneumatics. Available in .177, .22, .25 and .35 calibers, this European designed and manufactured airgun utilizes a CZ hammer forged barrel coupled with an ambidextrous thumbhole straight-line stock to make a compact, accurate and elegant shooter. KalibrGun Valdy EU s.r.o. is located in Prague, Czech Republic and has been making quality airguns for around 7 years now. Offering only PCP bullpup and pistol designs, they have carved out their niche in the airgunning world. Combining a very efficient valve system in their compact and light weight package with their 17.5 inch CZ made 12-groove barrel, you can expect superb accuracy from the Cricket. Two stock materials are offered: a beautiful oil-finished wood and a synthetic model. My sample was stocked in wood, and the clean ergonomic lines
Magazine stored in clever built in holder
were inviting as well as utilitarian by incorporating 4-fold out magazine holders held closed by magnets to prevent accidental opening.
The pistol grip is hand-filling with roll-marked or pressed checkering for added purchase. The forearm is wide, but because of the shape which allows the fingertips to wrap around, it is very comfortable. A thin, slightly contoured and ribbed black rubber buttpad separated by a tasteful white spacer caps off the butt of this bullpup. Mated to this attractive stock is a black anodized aluminum receiver and 280cc non-removable air reservoir with a built in manometer that reaches up to 350 bar. A rotating collar on the air reservoir exposes the fill port where a brass male probe, included with the gun, is inserted. Also included with the Cricket are two rotary magazines. In .177 and .22 the mags hold a generous 14 rounds and are deep enough to accommodate Predator Polymags or other hunting tipped pellets. In .25 they hold 12 rounds and in .35 they hold 9 shots.
Rounds move from the magazine into the breech via a very smooth slide lever, and they are sent on their way by squeezing the wide smooth-faced, non-adjustable aluminum trigger blade. There is no manual safety of any kind on the Cricket I tested, but I understand a rotary type safety has been incorporated in the newest models. The Cricket can be de-cocked easily whenever the need arises.
The front 10.75 inches of the barrel are shrouded, and do an excellent job of moderating the sound. When shooting silhouettes or other metal targets, the sound of the pellet hitting will generally be more noticeable than the sound of the discharge.
The Cricket is sold without optics, but provides 8.75 inches of picatinny rail for mounting your own optic. I mounted a Sun Optics USA 5-30x56mm Illuminated Reticle (green and red) to my sample Cricket using Burris 30 mm aluminum rings and will let you know how it performs in the next installment.
Weight of the Cricket in walnut is 7.75 pounds and the optic I chose added almost 32 ounces. Overall length is 27.375 inches. In .22 this Cricket should be capable of 900+ foot pounds with lead pellets, equating to approximate 30 foot pounds of energy. The Cricket comes with a one year warranty and can be serviced by my friends at www.airgunsofarizona.com. The Wood stocked version runs approximately $1540.00 without optics and the Synthetic model comes in approximately $1365.00 without optics. Stay tuned to this blog for further review.