RAVEN R226 Non Railed Gas Blowback Pistol; Pre Two-Tone Blue

If you are fed up with modernity and want a modern classic as your next sidearm, look no further than the RAVEN R226 Non Railed. This pistol is patterned after what was once the standard issue sidearm of the US Navy SEALs and our very own UKSF/SAS, serving with distinction throughout the GWOT era including with Task Force Black.

If you are used to an EU series or Hi-capa, the R226 has some surprises in store. The trigger is a double action/single action example, meaning you can rack the slide and fire as you would with a 1911, EU series or Hi-capa, or you can rack the slide to chamber the first BB, hit the functional de-cocker and shoot straight from the draw with a slightly longer but safer double action trigger pull.

Following the first shot, the R226 will revert to single action for a lighter trigger pull more suited to rapid fire. This means you don't need a manual safety catch and can simply pull the pistol and shoot, with no levers or switches to slow you down. While this system has fallen out of fashion in recent years, it still has plenty to offer and some major advantages over standard single-action-only GBB pistols.

Starting at the front, we can see a glimpse of threading inside the inner barrel, meaning the R226 is ready to mount a tracer unit using a 12mm CW to 14mm CCW thread adapter. The iron sights are on the top of the slide, taking the form of fixed white dot combat sights designed for fast acquisition and strength.

The slide, outer barrel and frame of the R226 are all constructed from alloy, granting this pistol full metal construction for a realistic feel and weight along with immersive recoil when fired. The rear of the slide boasts deep, angled serrations to improve grip when cocking the slide and the area around the slide and frame rails is enlarged for extra strength; a feature derived from the real pistol which was renowned for its extreme reliability.

The frame is featureless at the front, marking this out as the earlier non-railed R226 and making it well-suited to old-school special forces loadouts, particularly the SAS, SBS and US Navy SEALs. The curved front face of the trigger guard includes a linear texture machined in, intended to provide improved handling and recoil control when the pistol is held in the "European grip". This grip technique sees the shooter position their weak hand trigger finger around the front of the trigger guard to provide "down-force" and keep the muzzle under control during rapid strings of fire.

The trigger itself is a curved design, matching the real pistol and allowing for more leverage when using the pistol's double-action trigger function. Double action means pulling the trigger both cocks the hammer and fires the shot, but to make use of this you will first need to cock the slide to chamber the first BB, then push down the de-cocker to drop the hammer safely.

The de-cocker is located on the left side of the pistol, at the front of the grip panel and very close to the shooter's thumb for fast access. Pushing the de-cocker when the pistol is cocked will lower the hammer and allow the pistol to be carried safely but ready for action at a moment's pause. The slide lock/release lever is just behind the de-cocker and is very easy to reach, even for those with smaller hands. Both the slide lock and de-cocker are constructed from steel, giving these high-wear components extra strength for a longer lifespan.

The magazine release is positioned just below the de-cocker and is textured for added grip but protected from accidental actuation by the grip panels themselves, allowing you to draw the R226 in a hurry with confidence that you won't accidentally drop the mag at a critical moment. While it is well protected, the mag release is extremely easy to reach from a firing grip thanks to the bevelled transition from the grip panels.

The adjustable HOP-up unit of the R226 is located on the bottom of the outer barrel and is accessible when the slide is removed and the pistol is in field-stripped condition. To achieve this, you will first need to remove the magazine, then cock the slide. Next up, pull the side slightly rearwards to align the disassembly lever on the left side with the semi-circular cutout on the slide. With this done, rotate the disassembly lever clockwise by 90°, after which the slide can be pushed off the frame to the front.

The gear HOP-up adjuster is on the bottom of the outer barrel and allows you to vary the amount of backspin applied to your BBs to tune for different ammo weights, looking for the flattest possible trajectory. Once you have completed your adjustment, place the slide back onto the frame from the front, pull it back to align the semi-circular cutout once again and rotate the disassembly lever back into place.

At the rear of the frame, we can find the hammer of the R226 which has a textured upper surface to allow it to be cocked manually for those movie standoff moments. The hammer actuates with each shot, adding to the realism of this already very realistic full-metal GBB pistol.

The grip panels feature "F226" markings on either side and crackle texture on each side and the rear, offering superb gripping qualities and a comfortable ergonomic grip shape which suits most hands. At the base of the grip, we are treated to a lanyard loop which can be used to mount a retention lanyard; an old-school feature but none-the-less useful to prevent your sidearm from getting lost in the woods during a long crawl, or hitting the concrete of the CQB site at full speed should it fall from your holster.

If you aren't up for a plastic-fantastic frame, hammerless design or silly speed holes in your slide, why not return to a simpler time with the RAVEN R226? Whether you are working on your UKSF or SEAL loadout, or you require an interesting sidearm which departs from the norm, the R226 Non Railed is the way to go!

Features

• Full metal construction - Hefty and realistic
• 6.03mm Tightbore inner barrel - Great accuracy potential
• 12mm CW Female threaded barrel - Add an adapter to mount a tracer or suppressor
• Double action/single action trigger - Functional de-cocker
• No manual safety - Recommended carry condition - Rack the slide, press the decocker
• Recurved trigger guard front face - Ideal for extra control using the "European grip"
• Textured grip panels - Comfortable and grippy, R226 recessed logo on each side
• White dot open iron sights - Nice and visible, easy to acquire quickly
• Non-railed frame - Old school 226, perfect for Task Force Black era UKSF/SAS loadout
• Gear adjustable HOP-up - On the bottom of the outer barrel, accessible with the slide removed
• Lanyard loop at the base of the grip - Old fashioned but very useful, add a Lanyard so it doesn't get lost!
• Compatible with RAVEN R226 Magazines and VORSK VP26X Magazines
• Railed version available here

Package Includes

• RAVEN R226 Non Railed Gas Blowback Pistol; Pre Two-Tone Blue
• 24rnd Green Gas Magazine
• User manual
• Spare nozzle
• RAVEN PVC Patch