My new SDB-65 0.22 air rifle - a review

[Big Daddy]

Briha ji, the last line is the clincher

[brihacharan]

Briha ji, the last line is the clincher

BD - You got it right
Briha

[Basu]

Dear confused_soul,
Has kovibazar given you the replacement ??
or they are still buying time ??

Basu

[Confused_Soul]

Dear confused_soul,
Has kovibazar given you the replacement ??
or they are still buying time ??

Basu

No Dada, haven't received it yet but they (SDB) have dispatched a new gun from their factory. I just hope it shoots correctly this time and arrives in one piece

Around two weeks back, I got a call from the manufacturer. I'll post the full details later.

It seems someone from IFG had actually spoken to the SDB guy and insisted that I get a replacement...whoever it is you have my heartfelt thanks!!!

[Confused_Soul]

Ok, I received the gun about a month back but I didn't get the chance to open the package or test it till last week.

Here are some of the important points which I feel need improvement.

Accuracy: Much better than the last gun I received, still not 100% accurate. I guess it will improve with more shots and some practice on my part.

Finishing: Ok this one was unexpected, there was plain visible rust on the gun even though it came covered in oil.

Rifling: SAME PROBLEM ONCE AGAIN!!! There is a circular crack on the rifling, near the muzzle. I have attached a picture below, please check the magnified view.




I'd suggest New Buyers to check their guns very carefully after receiving. The rifling defect is kind of hard to see but its a major defect nonetheless. Last time when this happened, KoviBazaar said that the whole batch had this problem. After that the manufacturer also assured me that the new gun won't have this problem...but it happens again.

I'll report this to Kovi lets see what they say. I think I'll ask for a refund this time.

Just wanted to add this: I had the chance to fire a few shots from a cheap Hatsan last month (abroad), compared to the the Hatsan, this one feels like a joke even though the Hatsan was much cheaper than our SDB!! But since its India we are stuck with what ever we have..

[Confused_Soul]

@ Basu

Dada, I am not able to send/reply to any PMs (Account restrictions probably)

Please check the above message.

[Confused_Soul]

Update: Sent an Email to KoviBazaar (around 10 days back), informing them about the barrel defect. Tried to contact them by phone - no success, it never connects. Sent them more emails. Till now not a single response. Honestly, I didn't expect this kind of unprofessionalism from them.


I'll post a video review very soon.

[abhi11]

Bene da,

Hope the SDB is working awesome.

I have SDB Classic edition, which gives me almost 1 hole at 10 mts & perfect dead shots at 35 mts ( without scope) with almost "NO" vibration like usual springers.

My New SDB Apache will reach shortly , i hope ( Just need to finda PO in Noida uhgggggg)

[ganeshn]

Ok, I received the gun about a month back but I didn't get the chance to open the package or test it till last week.

Here are some of the important points which I feel need improvement.

Accuracy: Much better than the last gun I received, still not 100% accurate. I guess it will improve with more shots and some practice on my part.

Finishing: Ok this one was unexpected, there was plain visible rust on the gun even though it came covered in oil.

Rifling: SAME PROBLEM ONCE AGAIN!!! There is a circular crack on the rifling, near the muzzle. I have attached a picture below, please check the magnified view.




I'd suggest New Buyers to check their guns very carefully after receiving. The rifling defect is kind of hard to see but its a major defect nonetheless. Last time when this happened, KoviBazaar said that the whole batch had this problem. After that the manufacturer also assured me that the new gun won't have this problem...but it happens again.

I'll report this to Kovi lets see what they say. I think I'll ask for a refund this time.

Just wanted to add this: I had the chance to fire a few shots from a cheap Hatsan last month (abroad), compared to the the Hatsan, this one feels like a joke even though the Hatsan was much cheaper than our SDB!! But since its India we are stuck with what ever we have..

Its not a semi circular crack but a round hole from the top where the front post is mounted,actually looks so beacause of grazing angle, its elementary topology.

The hole is drilled past the centre of barrel, luckily care seems to have been taken so that screw does not protrude inside the barrel.

One way out is DIY barrel cut and the manufacturer drills just 2mm for mounting the front post in future makes.
You are right about Hatsan they are mighty impressive giving Europeans a run for the money(nothing more nothing less).

[brihacharan]

Congrats Bennedose!!!!!
Pl. take up the matter of the AR being dispatched loaded & cocked with SDB.....This is Very Serious!!!!
Briha

Added in 2 minutes 18 seconds:
Congrats Bennedose on your new acquisition!!!!!
pl. take up the matter of receiving the AR loaded & cocked....Its dangerous & unpardonable on the part of SDB.....
Briha

[Confused_Soul]

Ok, I received the gun about a month back but I didn't get the chance to open the package or test it till last week.

Here are some of the important points which I feel need improvement.

Accuracy: Much better than the last gun I received, still not 100% accurate. I guess it will improve with more shots and some practice on my part.

Finishing: Ok this one was unexpected, there was plain visible rust on the gun even though it came covered in oil.

Rifling: SAME PROBLEM ONCE AGAIN!!! There is a circular crack on the rifling, near the muzzle. I have attached a picture below, please check the magnified view.




I'd suggest New Buyers to check their guns very carefully after receiving. The rifling defect is kind of hard to see but its a major defect nonetheless. Last time when this happened, KoviBazaar said that the whole batch had this problem. After that the manufacturer also assured me that the new gun won't have this problem...but it happens again.

I'll report this to Kovi lets see what they say. I think I'll ask for a refund this time.

Just wanted to add this: I had the chance to fire a few shots from a cheap Hatsan last month (abroad), compared to the the Hatsan, this one feels like a joke even though the Hatsan was much cheaper than our SDB!! But since its India we are stuck with what ever we have..

Its not a semi circular crack but a round hole from the top where the front post is mounted,actually looks so beacause of grazing angle, its elementary topology.

The hole is drilled past the centre of barrel, luckily care seems to have been taken so that screw does not protrude inside the barrel.

One way out is DIY barrel cut and the manufacturer drills just 2mm for mounting the front post in future makes.
You are right about Hatsan they are mighty impressive giving Europeans a run for the money(nothing more nothing less).

Ganeshn ji, thanks for the explanation. The crack/hole doesn't seem to extend to the lower side of the barrel and covers a little bit more than 1/3 of circle (hope that makes sense). But I still think it is a crack (may be it happens during the drilling process from the top). I have checked with a stiff nylon line, the depression is less than an millimeter in thickness. Further you can check the picture of the earlier gun they sent me:



The crack made a full circle! If it were a hole theoretically that part of the barrel would fall off

My theory is that since that as it is the last part of the barrel through which the pellet must pass, this irregularity is causing the pellet to wobble and hence lose some accuracy.

__________________

KoviBazaar update, I did finally manage to contact them over FaceBook, they seem very reluctant to give me a refund stating that they would refund if only the gun doesn't have "additional damages or wear and tear "..not sure what they mean or if they are planning to pass the defective gun to an unsuspecting customer provided it looks "new". I have informed them about the rust, but they have gone silent again. Since there is no way to prove that I received the gun in rusted condition, I have decided not to pursue with the refund claim. Packing and posting a gun is a huge headache and my work schedule is also kind of super hectic

I had bought this gun with a lot of expectations after reading the raving reviews from Bennedose and some other members, but the gun simply failed to deliver. Received a lot of help from senior members (especially Basu Sir)..you guys have my heartfelt thanks.

Here is my suggestion to newbies: DON'T BUY THIS GUN. Manufacturing process is faulty and on closer inspection you can see the defects I have described above. Poor metallurgy, gun rusts easily. Stick to IHPs and Preciholes for now as SDB is far from perfection. About KoviBazaar after sales service, you can judge yourselves.

[GNV]

It seems it is not wise to buy air guns from online shops. If one is buying a Firearm from IOF depots he can not select one from a lot but accept whatever they issue him. It seems to me that buying airguns from online shops is also the same. One can not inspect the gun he is buying or select one from a lot like he could if he is buying from a dealer. I purchased a couple of Precihole ORIONs from Aimco a couple of years ago and both of them have excessive barrel drooping. They were from the earlier batches and Dr.Shirsit himself admitted that earlier batches suffered from barrel drooping and that they later changed the design to correct it. When I asked him he also informed me that the barrels of the earlier guns won't fit the current production receivers.So if I want a Precihole Airgun with minimum or no barrel drooping I'll have to retire my two ORIONs and purchase a new current model. For those who don't use a scope barrel drooping is not a problem.But for those who have to use a scope, excessive barrel drooping is a very big problem. If I was purchasing those guns from a dealer I would never have purchased them but waited for the perfected guns to arrive from the Precihole Sports. My experience with Precihole Nitro Piston purchased from kovibazaar is also somewhat similar. In India we pay a lot more than what a similar gun costs in USA but still we have to live with what we get. In India dealers don't like to see a product again once they sell it.

[ganeshn]

Ganeshn ji, thanks for the explanation. The crack/hole doesn't seem to extend to the lower side of the barrel and covers a little bit more than 1/3 of circle (hope that makes sense). But I still think it is a crack (may be it happens during the drilling process from the top). I have checked with a stiff nylon line, the depression is less than an millimeter in thickness. Further you can check the picture of the earlier gun they sent me:



The crack made a full circle! If it were a hole theoretically that part of the barrel would fall off

The barrel will not fall down and a stiff nylon does no good, pls do the measurements first.

In this case the post is drilled past the lower surface of the barrel hence the "full circular crack" at grazing angle, agree that its the boundary condition of the topology I referred earlier.

Many a times commonsense and science part ways.

Moreover its too much to expect from primitive tooling to achieve a crack and hole in two planes in one go.

If you want a solid proof then cut the barrel exactly through the center of the top hole(perpendicular to the barrel of course)where the post sits and inspect the two halves.

[Big Daddy]

Confused Soul,
This is really disheartening, especial when the replacement is as bad as the replaced. I do have respect for SDB based on the toy I got and I talk only for my toy. I do not know any one from the production house, but I know a couple of guys who know them and are in the knowhow. I am sure the replacement would have been checked (common sense dictates that). Wondering if the replacement got mixed up with one from the defective batch at whoever's end before it was shipped to you... Don't know. Do not give up hope. I'm sure this will be sorted out. I'm sure the production house will want to ensure your satisfaction, especial with better models in the pipeline. Let me also chip in within my circle. That's what this forum is all about. Comradeship.

BD

[Confused_Soul]

The barrel will not fall down and a stiff nylon does no good, pls do the measurements first.

In this case the post is drilled past the lower surface of the barrel hence the "full circular crack" at grazing angle, agree that its the boundary condition of the topology I referred earlier.

Many a times commonsense and science part ways.

Moreover its too much to expect from primitive tooling to achieve a crack and hole in two planes in one go.

If you want a solid proof then cut the barrel exactly through the center of the top hole(perpendicular to the barrel of course)where the post sits and inspect the two halves.

Makes sense Do you think it affects accuracy? So far (~100 shots) it makes 3 inch wide groups at 6-7 meters, hitting bulls eye in about 2/10 shots.

Confused Soul,
This is really disheartening, especial when the replacement is as bad as the replaced. I do have respect for SDB based on the toy I got and I talk only for my toy. I do not know any one from the production house, but I know a couple of guys who know them and are in the knowhow. I am sure the replacement would have been checked (common sense dictates that). Wondering if the replacement got mixed up with one from the defective batch at whoever's end before it was shipped to you... Don't know. Do not give up hope. I'm sure this will be sorted out. I'm sure the production house will want to ensure your satisfaction, especial with better models in the pipeline. Let me also chip in within my circle. That's what this forum is all about. Comradeship.

BD

BD, Thanks for the support Really appreciate it

Actually, I had a talk (over phone) with the manufacturer before the replacement was sent, I had told him specifically about the defects and he assured me that it won't happen again with the new gun. Anyway, I don't blame them as the defect is also kind of very hard to see and visible only at certain angles. Its not so obvious like the first gun, but I spotted it as I knew what to look for.

Anyway, IMO the feed back should go from customer --> Retailer (KoviBazaar) --> Supplier / Manufacturer (SDB). But in this case the middleman has become totally silent all of a sudden, though before ordering they had proudly mentioned that their guns are "guaranteed" against manufacturing defects. I have paid the ₹₹₹ to KoviBazaar (and not SDB), so if someone is committed to deliver a defect free gun to their customer, its them.