EDgun Matador R3 versus Kalibr Cricket, my comparison….
Hi guys,
Warning for those who don’t like images:
This is going to be a thread with lots of graphics….. 😉
As promised, I’ll try to share with you my personal opinion and findings while comparing these beauties:
As some of you may know, I have two Matador Std R3s and I have one Cricket (with access to another one). All are cal.22……
My wait for my Matadors should be well documented on this very forum…..
The Crickets were a part of a group buy masterminded from Europe somewhere. The Crickets were shipped in parts to Norway and reassembled by my good blueprinting friend Egon Olsen. In the process he had to remove a “restrictor” screw that had been put into the guns before shipment. Most probably because of Power limitation rules at origin….
The Crickets arrived with no documents whatsoever. No instructions, – no nothing. I don’t think this is standard procedure though…..
The Cricket weighs less than the R3, – and is approx 5 cm shorter. Not a lot, – but overall it makes the Cricket even easier to handle than the already tiny R3….
The side by side comparison was done from my modest little shooting table at my summerhouse:
– and the shooting range is here, – with my target set up at 46mts:
Why 46 mts ? Simply because I could not pull my shooting stand further back right now. A huge tree has fallen during winter, and all the branches have taken up my space… 👿
First problem: How to fill the f…. Cricket ?
The fillprobe nut is so tiny that a standard foster coupling gasket will not seal. The entire probe is small, – and you fear you may break it while trying to tighten it:
The above (sorry for the image quality) is a comparison between ED’s, Cricket’s and Falcon’s fill probes. You can probably see what I mean….
As I could not make a standard Fostergasket fit, Egon had to make special gaskets that we fitted into the Foster coupling itself. Not an ideal solution, – and I have no clue how long it will last…….. 🙄
On the fill probe: Matador 1, Cricket 0 points.
Air filling:
I honestly dont like any of the solutions that these two manufacturers have chosen………..
The Cricket people have come up with the worst. To expose the hole for the fillprobe, – you have to slide forward the tip of the reservoir. But that stupid tip is retained by a spring, – and slides back with a smack once you let go:
If you’re not careful when taking the fillprobe back out, the tip will spring back and ruin the fill probe O-rings faster than I can say my name….
While filling, the “tip” rests on the previously mentioned small nut. And there’s not a lot clearance. So a bigger nut (for those with lathe skills), – is not going to help you much. A thicker nut might…….
In short: A very stupid filling system, – BUT once you know how to operate it and care is taken, – at least it covers the hole when filling is over.
The Matador does not come with anything to cover the filling hole at all:
I use tape right now, – but a plug of some sort would be good….. 😉
My preferred system would be that of Falcon:
The tip of the reservoir has been turned into a curled “collar” that you rotate to expose the hole. Simple, easy and effective. And few moving parts that may break or go astray……….
Now, I have no idea how much air I can fill into the Cricket, – and the gun gauge certainly does not help much:
I trust the gauge on my fillkit, – and 3000 psi is roughly on the border between green and yellow…….
Points for airfill procedure: Matador 1, Cricket 0. In my opinion….. 😉
Cheers from Trygve 😀
To be continued……….. 😀
(if you so desire…… 😳 )
All Replies
😉 mark i own no R3 ed guns ,,why,,cos ther not worth the mark up in my book end of..
the R3 single shot ,hit n miss on the accurcey and qaulity, poor cnc work ,
made with stone age metal,,instead of space age aliminume like other top brand gun makers are using,,
have clipping issue,s breeches that look like thayv been hand carved with a hammer and chisel,,rusty bolts,,do you wont me to go on…???
and thay cost more then my air ranger or a styer or a wolverine and so on ,,and i can buy the BETTER BULLPUP FROM NETHERLANDS FOR
1275 EURO,S SO YOUR RIGHT MARK I OWN NO EDGUNS THANK GOD,
BUT IM BUYING A CRICKET 😉 IM HAPPY I DIDENT SEND JOOST MY DEPOSIT FOR A R3 ,,THER AS BAD AS THE BSA R10 😆 😆 😆 😉
if one of my daystates or air arms stop or break i pick up the phone and call the factory ,,thay fix my gun if needed whilest i tour ther factory,,,
EDGUNS WHAT A WAIST OF MONEY 😉
ATB adam b
Adam1977,How many Edguns do you own?Zoco these results don`t
match up to your initial testing Cricket vs. Edgun strings.I think Ed
makes one of the better regs. out there.
Hi Trygve,
Before you fill your bottle try to lower it to 120 bar and then connect it to your R3.
If the reg is your problem then the string will be flat.
Eitherway; When you fly from Oslo to London, make a stop at Amsterdam.
I’ll pick you up and make you a cup of coffee. (no charge)
Together we will take a look at your R3, I’m sure we’ll figure it out.
🙂
Seller and maker have been VERY helpfull for me in the past,
I’ve been treated with a service I’ve rarely seen.
Regards,
Robert
I see it happening since the Cricket has arrived. Now, we do not have long term studies of the durability of the Cricket and long term reliabilty but they are creating a Buzz right now. I have one. I sold my edgun right before the cricket came out 3 months ago. So far positive repsonses on the consistency of the cricket.
To Adam’s point, ed needs to correct situations such as Zoco’s edgun. Short and long term better for business.
Competition will force Ed either way to step up. I am sure he realizes this.
The days of 400% mark-up by private sellers of Edguns I think are gone.
Just my humble opinion,
JR
😉 zoco your finding out very good info here for us people on the TAG..
I think your a asset to the forum ,this is the best thread iv ever read and i know what bullpup im buying this summer 😉
I think ed should contact you and swop r3,s with you for a brand new gun!!! THIS WOULD SHOW GOOD CUSTERMER SERVICE,
AND MORE IMPORTENT FOR ED IT WOULD SHOW THAT HE CARES ABOUT SOMONE PAYING A LOT OF MONEY FOR A GUN THAT HAS HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS FROM THE START,,
THE POOR BREECH ALONE WAS ENOUGH TO GET A NEW GUN IN MY BOOKS..BUT NOW THIS BAD REGULATER IS TOO MUCH FOR ENYONE TO BE PUTTING UP WITH..
AND ED TBO WITH YOU IF I WAS YOU ID BE WELL ASHAMED THAT YOUR MAIN COMPETITER (KALIBER CRICKET) IS SHOWING TO BE A BETTER RELIBLE GUN,,,OK HE HAS A BETTER FACTORY AND MORE MONEY,,,
BUT THAT DONT STOP YOU HAVING A GOOD QAUILTY CONTROL BRANCH
THAT GOES OVER YOUR GUNS AND MAKES SURE THER PERFECT..
AND IF PROBLEMS ARISE LIKE ZOCO,S FROM THE START WITH NOTHING BUT PROBS,,THE ONLY ONE YOUR HURTING WITH THIS POOR SREVICE IS YOU BECOUSE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO STOP BUYING YOUR GUNS,, YOUR GUNS NEED TO GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOURD AND BE MADE WITH BETTER METALS AND BETTER CNC WORK AND GET A REAL REGULATER,,,,
THEN ASK PEOPLE FOR THE HARD EARNED CASH..COS FROM WHAT IM READING FROM AROUND THE WORLD AND SEEING HOW MENY PEOPLE ARE SELLING THER R3,S SHOW THER NOT HAPPY WITH WHAT YOUR SELLING… 🙄
ED SORT IT OUT MATE,, IF YOU CARNT MAKE IT BETTER ,GET A REAL GUN COMPANY TO MAKE THEM FOR YOU AND TAKE A CUT OUT OF IT 😉 AT LEAST PEOPLE WILL GET A GOOD GUN,,,
AND HAVE YOU GOT ENYTHING IN PLACE FOR WHEN YOUR ILL,OLD OR DIE,,WHO WILL GIVE THE EDGUN PEOPLE THER SERVICE THEN,,???
OR WILL YOUR GUN COMPANY DIE WITH YOU IF SO YOUR BEAT BEFORE YOU START
ATB ADAM.
Thist test shows that cricket has a way better regulator compared with the matador. I think Ed should do something with the matador regulator to get more consistent shotstring.
Has the R3 always had this swing in shot string or is this a recent problem. Either way its time to break it down and go through reg. #1 just to get it optimized with HST so you can enjoy the same consistency the rest of us who have gone in enjoy. #2 to inspect internals. Edgun fill probe has no dust cover and possible contaminants may have worked way into reg or moisture over time youve had it. . You’ll know once you get her open and a good time to lube regs internal orings so she works smoothly.
Merry X-mas OG !!! Hopefully you and Betsy are having a good time !!! 😉
And thanks for your input ! I need you here now !!!! 😳 😳 😳
AND Yes, – smart phones suck. I had to buy a new phone the other day as my old Ericsson K800i (6 years old) decided to pack it in. My daughters are laughing at me when I try to use the keyboard on my new Experia something. Those keys are not meant for sausages like mine………. 😥 😳 😳
😯 😯 😯 Look it up please, – Google is your friend !!! 😀
If you have a damaged/worn O ring in the reg, the gun will bleed off thru the very small port in the bottom of the air tube. The Matador will lose a full fill overnight.
Mine keeps their fills beautifully so apparently O-rings and leaks are not the issue….. 😕
I currently think that you have adjusted the HST screw so many times that you have lost all prospective of where you started and that you are just grasping at straws.
The win win for you adjusting the reg is: you will now fully understand the workings of your Matadors!
I’ll get there one of these days, – don’t worry !!! 😀
But it would be nice to understand what causes this inconsistency in R3 no 2844 first. None of my strings make any sense, – and nobody has been able to come up with a credible explanation….. 😥
And no, – oddly enough I have kept track of my HSP adjustments. I haven’t done too many. There’s still some ink left in my markerpen. That’s a good sign…… 😉
I think that Ed got it right!
I know that is what ED proclaims, – but judging from experience, – it seems theory and practise do not always match up. Kazzz couldn’t get his silencer off, I couldn’t get the allenscrew removed from my bolt, others complain about screws in general being too soft etc. etc.
And don’t tell me my present regulator problem is easy to understand…. 😕 🙄
ED’s intentions may all be good. The guns are fairly easy to service, – but there are still improvements to be made………. 😉
I’ve been scratching my head over the past few days…
I decided to do another test before starting on the dismantling route. I wanted to give both the Cricket and the R3 antother go with as equal conditions as my unscientific environment can offfer. I have not shot any of the guns for a few days, – they have been kept in the same room under same conditions all the time. Both with a fill of some 200 bars.
As my 146.2 cc AirHog bottle had now reached about 200 bars, I decided to shoot with the bottle connected. What may be called a “bulkfill” ensuring same reservoir pressure for each shot. Yes, there is a theoretical drop between shots but insignificant compared to shooting from the reservoir of the gun. My idea was to test if the strings kept stable when all others parameters were…… 😉
I shot 50 shots from each gun. Below is what happened:
Her Ladyship delivers strings more or less glued to the 860 mark (green today’s bulkfill, blue my last string from a few days back from a 200 bar fill.). She is as stable as it gets. Something one is entitled to expect from a near 2K gun….
But the R3 … 😯
The red string is my last from only a few days back, – the brown string from today’s bulkfill…..
What the fuck is going on here ???? 👿
Nowhere in these strings has pressure in the reservoir exceeded 200 bars. Why on earth is today’s string showing a first shot of some 945 fps, – and why does it drop as the string develops ???? Why is the string averaging some 30 fps higher than that from a few days back ….???? 🙄
This gun is all over the place and totally unpredictable from one day to the next. And it delivers shots between 945 and 895 fps in the same string, – even with the same reservoir pressure behind every shot…….. 😯
Sorry, – I don’t understand this……… 😳 😳 😳
Does anybody ???? 😉
Cheers
Trygve 😀
I agree! Is there anything that can be done to effectlively, efficiently improve power and consistently? ( asked the person who knows nothing about adjustments) 😯
28 ft lbs is okay if nothing is being over worked. I would be okay if the power was the same with the adjuster being baked out but it seems like that hammer spring may be struggling to get 28 ft lbs.
I know nothing like you guys on adjustments but I did review the hammer spring adjustment and compared to Sherrod’s picture . exact same.
I have only put 56 pellets thru her just playing around and quickly put a scope to zero .
I did ask what the power was showing when it was tested and topgun said 28 Ft/lbs which is a LITTLE different then the sell sheet which said 40Ft/Lbs
Today, suppose to get blizzard like snow…who knows but will not have a chance to test.
JR
I see you have toucheD the subjeCt page 3 sorry
A good thing can never be repeated too often my friend ! 😀
That said, his second adjustment option (stiffness of first stage pull) is not available on mine……….
Also this may be a good time to repeat that there are several videos on YouTube about Crickets and “stripdowns” of same for those interested. Go to this one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWcPrS7HJVU
and the others you can link to from there………..
There’s one detail in the above video which I find veery smart. There seems to be a “bleeding screw” for the air reservoir. Meaning that you may not have to go through time consuming boring efforts to completely empty it. I haven’t tried yet myself, – but it certainly looks good…… 😀
Back to some more shooting now ……
Cheers from Oslo 😀
Zoco I don’t know how well you touched the adjusting the trigger topic but I found this on the yellow not posted by me just a copy and paste . Maybe it might help a few out there
I see you have toucheD the subjeCt page 3 sorry
Zocoloco yours was one of the one’s I compared mine to. And I noticed you were getting about 40-50fps more than me and mine looks like its all the way in.
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That’s some funny shit Adam. I must be lucky cuz my Edgun has none of those issues you claim. I guess first hand and hands on knowledge of an Edgun trumps Internet trolling of a few with issues. Hope your Cricket is the holy grail because if it isn’t I know we will all be subjected to your temper tantrum. I’ll be watching :popcorn: :popcorn: