Kalibergun fans! - What's your take on these?

[rangur1]

Sorry for cheap title , was the best I thought up before work. I've grown quite interested in recent Kalibergun and AGT offerings. AGT is for another time. Currently my interest is between the Argus 60 and the Cricket 2 tactical. I am keying in specifically on the 30 cal versions of these guns. Now I know both are rock solid performers. Based on personal choice the cricket 2 may appear more stylish with a bigger shot count. The argus has the tube design , square shroud to reduce report , and to my preference , easier mag design. Granted , these are small differences , But for ballpark 1800 bucks , One can be picky if they choose. So , do you prefer either to the other? and why? thanks.

 

[Brent]

I have a kct2 in 22 , you are right it's a rock solid gun. I'm still putting it through the paces but so far it's showing great promise with half inch groups and sub half inch groups at 20, 30,and 40 yards. Zero tuning on my part although Charlie Frear did do a great job on it before he sent it to me. It is heavy at close to ten lbs fully dressed out but I use a single point sling to carry and sticks to shoot off of so the weight isn't an issue for me. The weight also is a plus if your shooting from bench. The selector lever behind mag allows for if you cock the gun but don't shoot you can slide selector back one notch to prevent a double load when you can't remember if there is one in the pipe. There is also a cocked indicator at the rear to show its been cocked. 

 

[MikeVV]

I've got an Argus 45 in .22, and a Cricket II, bullpup, also in .22.

Different guns mechanically. Not sure why, but I actually prefer shooting the Argus a little better. Some of the trigger mechanism is the same in both. I like the wider trigger blade better in the Cricket II over the thin blade width of the Argus. Don't know why they put a thin blade in the Argus, it's odd feeling. The Argus is slightly heavier, even though shorter !

Nothing wrong with either gun. Both solid performers, both well designed internally. Both needed a bit of trigger adjustment, but not too far off. I do like the Cricket II's magazine better, with no moving parts, though the theatrics that you need to do with the separate lever to lock the magazine in place is pretty odd.

If I were locked into just one, it would probably be the Argus 45, but just by a proverbial hair.

Buy...both !

Mike



P.s. - Sorry, I should have mentioned that the Tactical and the Bullpup are very much the same gun, mechanically. So my comments about the bullpup will be the same or very close in the Tactical. You can see this if you go to the Kalibrgun's web site. 

Mike

 

[N2 Shooter]

My vote is for the Argus, it's a very beautiful gun!

Unfortunately, I had to send my Argus 60 .30cal back to Krale for a refund, because it wouldn't hit the max velocity. It was only putting out 690fps with 44.75gr JSB Exacts. When I received it, the hammer spring adjustment was screwed in until it was almost bottomed out, so I don't know if that was an error from the Krale or what exactly. Bottoming out completely got it to 830fps, but that's a ways from 915fps. I also got almost 40 shots per fill, when the gun was rated for only 20, so I know something wasn't right. A few things I noticed about the Argus that should be considered before purchase. FYI, I got my Argus from Krale for $1395 and $59 shipping with a $60 import tax, so I saved quite a bit.

• As spiffy as the new magazine system is, every round is off center in the magazine because of the spring tension. This isn't a problem with JSB Exacts, but it was an issue when shooting the JSB Hades. The Hades have a small ridge on the lip that would catch in the magazine. This wasn't an issue with the FX Hybrid slugs.
• The Argus (and probably all Kalibr guns) have a thin pin probe instead of a shaft like my .357 Benjamin Bulldogs. I bent the probe using Hades when they caught on the lip of the magazine. This was my first airgun with a pin probe, and I'm not a fan at all.
• The single sling point on the Argus is not wide enough to accommodate a 1.25" standard sling. The gun is heavy scoped, and if you are a hunter like I am, you are going to have to decide on your sling strategy. I was going to use a pic rail adapter to sling in a front low ready because I don't like Safari Slings as they wrap around the barrel or the air tube. 
• I am not really a fan of front bottle guns, and that is the reason I went with the Argus over the Cricket II Tactical. But what needs to be considered in hindsight is for the price you pay for either of those guns, you are getting less tweaking capability and a fair amount less power capability compared to the FX Maverick Sniper which cost the same price through stateside dealers. I just don't like the skeletal design of the FX Maverick in the least, but they are getting 116fpe where the Argus only get's 90fpe. If I long for more power, I can just go and grab my Bulldog, but those guns aren't sub MOA like the Kalibr guns. Everyone and their little brother has an FX, and I like being different!

Maybe I pick up another Argus .30cal when they come out with the full carbon fiber stock, as that seems to have a better thought out sling system. I'd love to have the Argus 45 if it was offered in .30cal, but sadly, only the FX Maverick compact fits the bill for a stubby powerhouse. 

My search continues....