Xisico QB78 Review

Overall Rating

Ease of use; consistent accuracy; easy to load and shoot; VERY fun!

Sights: They are nonadjustable for windage - get a scope!

Wow!
Let me repeat this:
Wow!
The QB78 is a wonderful airgun, and a joy to shoot. I purchased mine because of its low cost - and was utterly surprised at the quality of the weapon. I spent a bit extra - more later - by ordering a "Top 10% Tested Airgun" from Archer Airguns.
When the gun arrived I was so pleased to see the dark "walnut" finish on a hand-crafted stock - it was a beautiful sight! - and somehow I knew I had a quality product, and I was right.
Now: The standard sights that come with the rifle are LOUSY. No adjustment for windage and hard to adjust for anything else. BUT! The gun - being practically recoiless - is perfect for a scope. I put a pretty cheap scope on mine (a BSA .22 special: 4/32) and it works wonders. The scope rail is more precision tooled than my Henry .22 Lever Action Repeater.
Because there is no recoil, the scope rarely needs adjusting (but, of course, temperature and barometric pressure do require some minor refinements).
As I understand it, the designer of the Crosman 160 was hired by the Chinese to improve the gun. And he did. I have the .22 model and it is vastly superior to anything I have ever owned by Crosman (which isn't saying much).
Now: If you are a user, or want to be, of this gun, I recommend going to the ARCHER AIRGUNS site ( http://www.archerairguns.com/). They have many parts, as well as some refinements (I bought a muzzel brake and an excellent shoulder strap from them). They also provide for about $15 a test of the gun you purchase, including a target showing the shot pattern of YOUR gun, as well as other data.
For some more money, they will send you a weapon rated as in the top 10% of their current inventory. I paid about $35 bucks for this service and was rewarded by the #1 gun, as tested, out of a shipment of 100 QB78's.
Included was a target that showed the actual shot pattern of the gun (.66 inch at 10 meters) as well as all sorts of info: FPS: 550; Foot Pounds 9;Trigger pull 2 lbs; etc.
Archer's is a family run organization, and VERY user friendly. HEY! They actually respond to e-mails!
To conclude: YES, the Chinese can make excellent weapons, and at a very low price. The designer(s) of this gun have made the choice of power such that one gets 50 good, hard shots, at about 550 FPS (In .22 caliber). As such, it does not have the power to hunt any but the smallest animals - instead it is a plinker - and maybe the best I have ever owned.
Look - when I hunt I use my Sheridan .22 - which requires 7-8 pumps with 200 LBS of effort, which will easily take out a crow - but why pump that much for plinking?
With the QB78 I can target shoot with an absolute minimum of effort.
Since I am a lazy bum, I LOVE my QB78.
James Underwood

Members' Comments onJames Underwood's Review

• tyzzzo on 8th Feb 2007

  Hi james i agree the QB78 is a superb rifle, just apart from the plastic barrel strap [i hate plastic on guns]
  Archers do a metal replacement i have emailed them but with no responce, erm dont think much of the service i've emailed them 3 times with no reply, i own the AR2078 they are the same rifle with a different stock, i realy would like to replace the plastic barrel clip, do you know of anyone else that sells them i live in the United Kingdom..
  
  tj.

• James Underwood on 9th Feb 2007

  I'm sorry, but I can't help you with that - maybe someone else can. I don't believe Archer (in New York State) does business outside of the USA.
  I'll check into it for you, however. The gun is worth whatever you put into it.
  James.