AtlasAirguns
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I've had the time to test out the Sidewinder pretty extensively as documented in the below videos but I wanted to say a few things that I've noticed for the .22 model.
The first is that the size and weight difference between this platform and it's big brother, the Rattler, is dramatic. Shouldering the Sidewinder and shooting it off hand is much, much easier. In size it reminds me of a BRK Ghost.
There are some major differences between the Sidewinder and the Ghost, and so not surprisingly usually consumers are not debating between one or the other: they both have different purposes. So what is the purpose of the Sidewinder, you might ask? The Sidewinder is built to be an efficient, powerful hunting and plinking platform. I don't see this gun as a competitive gun, meaning you won't be taking it to EBR and showing off your 3lb trigger when the shooter next to you has a trigger in the ounces. Yes, the platform has the power and the accuracy to go to 100 yards easy, but it is built to do so with hunting in mind.
Speaking of the trigger, that is the most common criticism I've seen from people checking it out. Duly noted, but the 3lb trigger is also a safety check on the hammerless semi-auto and full-auto design. It's easy to get spoiled by a lot of the great triggers out there, but I believe the 3lb trigger is just right with a platform designed to be both powerful and semi/full auto.
Another thing I should mention is my thoughts on the magazine. Being made out of titanium, their quality is top notch. They have to be quality too, because they are fired through under pressure! Now using the magazine is one of the things you will have to get used to with this gun. Inserting it into the rifle is not the easiest thing to do when you first start using the rifle. After several magazines you start to become accustomed to it: a bit of push in and push down in the right combo. Oh, and there is a little magazine release knob you have to manipulate too. The first time I inserted a magazine I took it back out and kept practicing with it until I got it down. After that it was a breeze.
Accuracy wise you can check the videos below, but I have had a pretty good experience with the gun. The main way I find the best speed for the pellet I am shooting is dialing the rifle to about 820fps and then clicking it up about 3 clicks at a time until I see the groups shrink up on paper. That is just my technique but it seemed to work well.
The first is that the size and weight difference between this platform and it's big brother, the Rattler, is dramatic. Shouldering the Sidewinder and shooting it off hand is much, much easier. In size it reminds me of a BRK Ghost.
There are some major differences between the Sidewinder and the Ghost, and so not surprisingly usually consumers are not debating between one or the other: they both have different purposes. So what is the purpose of the Sidewinder, you might ask? The Sidewinder is built to be an efficient, powerful hunting and plinking platform. I don't see this gun as a competitive gun, meaning you won't be taking it to EBR and showing off your 3lb trigger when the shooter next to you has a trigger in the ounces. Yes, the platform has the power and the accuracy to go to 100 yards easy, but it is built to do so with hunting in mind.
Speaking of the trigger, that is the most common criticism I've seen from people checking it out. Duly noted, but the 3lb trigger is also a safety check on the hammerless semi-auto and full-auto design. It's easy to get spoiled by a lot of the great triggers out there, but I believe the 3lb trigger is just right with a platform designed to be both powerful and semi/full auto.
Another thing I should mention is my thoughts on the magazine. Being made out of titanium, their quality is top notch. They have to be quality too, because they are fired through under pressure! Now using the magazine is one of the things you will have to get used to with this gun. Inserting it into the rifle is not the easiest thing to do when you first start using the rifle. After several magazines you start to become accustomed to it: a bit of push in and push down in the right combo. Oh, and there is a little magazine release knob you have to manipulate too. The first time I inserted a magazine I took it back out and kept practicing with it until I got it down. After that it was a breeze.
Accuracy wise you can check the videos below, but I have had a pretty good experience with the gun. The main way I find the best speed for the pellet I am shooting is dialing the rifle to about 820fps and then clicking it up about 3 clicks at a time until I see the groups shrink up on paper. That is just my technique but it seemed to work well.
