Comparison Hatsan Gladius Long vs Ataman M2R Bullpup 6.35

The caliber of a rifle — that is, the diameter of the bore and, accordingly, the diameter of the ammunition for which it is designed.

The generally accepted standard for freely sold pneumatics in the post-Soviet space is the 4.5 mm caliber; rifles of a larger caliber (standard values — 5.5 mm and 6.35 mm) in most countries in this region are already equated with full-fledged weapons and are sold under the appropriate permits. However, airsoft models are an exception, primarily AEG electric drives(see "Type") — their standard caliber is 6 mm, larger values \u200b\u200bare also encountered, while such rifles do not require permits. This is due to the fact that airsoft guns are originally sports equipment, not weapons, they are not designed to cause damage to a particular target, but only to indicate hits on a person, and with a minimal risk of injury. For such an application, just light, but relatively large balls are well suited — an increase in caliber in this case reduces penetration and, accordingly, reduces the risk of injury.

The muzzle velocity provided by the rifle - that is, the speed of the bullet as it exits the barrel.

All other things being equal, a higher bullet speed provides greater range and accuracy, and also simplifies aiming at long distances: the bullet flies along a smoother trajectory and requires fewer adjustments in height, and the influence of side winds decreases with increasing speed. On the other hand, this indicator directly affects the price of the rifle; and in some countries, legal restrictions on the ownership of pneumatic weapons are also related to the muzzle velocity of the bullet.

As for specific values, in the weakest modern rifles the initial speed does not exceed 150 m/s, and in the most powerful it can be 300 - 350 m/s or even more(remember, the speed of sound is 330 m/s). In general, for recreational shooting at short distances, this parameter is not particularly important, and detailed recommendations for choosing pneumatics for more specific situations can be found in special sources. Let us only note that in AEG electric drives (see “Type”) the initial speed extremely rarely exceeds 150 m/s, but this is done solely for safety reasons: such “weapons” are intended for military-tactical games and initially involve shooting at people, and the high speed would be unsafe for players even with protective equipment.

It is also wor...th considering that this indicator is not strictly defined. In any type of pneumatic it depends on the weight of the bullet (the lighter the faster); therefore, in the characteristics it is usually customary to indicate a certain average velocity for standard ammunition (usually weighing 0.5 g, in AEG - 0.2 g). In addition, in multi-compression rifles the actual speed of the bullet is determined by the degree of inflation, in gas-cylinder rifles it is determined by the ambient temperature, and in PCP models it is possible to achieve higher speeds than declared by replacing the air with a special gas (for example, helium). Nevertheless, this characteristic makes it possible to evaluate the capabilities of the rifle and compare it with other models, including those that differ in type.

The type of cocking system provided in the design of the rifle.

The cocking system is responsible for placing the trigger mechanism on the combat cocking (in the position of readiness for firing), and with a multi-shot design, it is also responsible for sending the next bullet into the chamber. Such systems are usually divided according to the method of control. Variants found in modern times include but are not limited to barrel fracture, lever ( side or underbarrel), pump action, bolt action (including varieties such as biathlon and bolt action), and autococking. Here are the main features of each of these systems:

— Fracture of the trunk. In rifles with this type of cocking, the barrel is fixed on a rotary axis, and folds down with each reload. In this case, not only the trigger is cocked, but the chamber is also opened, allowing you to load the next bullet. This option is found exclusively in spring models — conventional and with a gas spring (see "Type"), it is with such rifles that a barrel break is best compatible. One of the key advantages of such systems is their low cost. In addition, breaks are very easy to use, do not require special skills and are suitable even for inexper...ienced shooters. So such pneumatics are extremely popular nowadays. At the same time, it is usually made single-shot (with very rare exceptions), constant folding and unfolding of the barrel can be quite tedious, and the barrel mount tends to become loose as it wears, which reduces accuracy and power.

— Autoplatoon. Systems that do not require the shooter to take any additional actions to cock the weapon; found in PCP pneumatics (see "Type"), gas models, as well as AEGs (the latter, by definition, are made only by auto-cocking). In accordance with the name, a platoon in such weapons is carried out automatically before each shot — usually, with sending the next bullet into the chamber (although there are also single-shot models where the bullet must be inserted manually). Anyway, auto-cocking is extremely simple and easy to use. In addition, on the basis of such mechanisms, even fully automatic weapons can be created (see "Automatic mode"), although most rifles with this feature still work in the single-fire format. Among the disadvantages of such systems, one can note the complexity of the design and rather high cost, as well as the fact that air / gas is additionally consumed for the operation of the auto-cocking. This reduces the number of shots per charge, and can also reduce the initial speed compared to similar models with manual reloading (however, the latter is predominantly characteristic of gas-balloon rifles).

— Underbarrel lever. Systems that use a lever under the barrel, which must be pressed down with each cock. Like the barrel fracture described above, this method is used mainly with spring-piston mechanisms and gas springs. It is more convenient and reliable, since the barrel of the rifle constantly remains motionless, there are no fasteners in its design that can loosen up and fail. On the other hand, the lever design is noticeably more complicated and more expensive than the tipping one, and therefore is quite rare.
Note that the inflation lever in multi-compression models (see "Type") is usually not responsible for cocking the weapon, so a different cocking method is indicated for such rifles (although there are exceptions). And in gas-balloon models there is a special kind of underbarrel lever — the so-called Henry brace, as in classic cowboy hard drives (in fact, such pneumatics usually just copies this weapon).

— Side lever. Systems using a lever on the side of the rifle — usually on the right. They are found mainly in models with a spring-piston mechanism or a gas spring. As in the case of the underbarrel lever, the main advantage of this method can be called the immobility of the barrel, which contributes to accuracy and reliability. On the other hand, such a cocking system is usually made for right-handers and can be uncomfortable when firing from the left shoulder; in addition, the side lever is somewhat more difficult to fit into the design than the underbarrel. Therefore, this option is not widely used.

— Shutter. Systems using a classic type bolt handle — sliding back and forth. This cocking does not provide air pumping, and therefore is used only in gas-balloon type rifles, PCP, and some multi-compression models (see "Type"). Pneumatics with shutters are mainly made multi-charged — this is the very idea of \u200b\u200bsuch systems (feeding the next bullet from the magazine); however, there are exceptions. In general, this is a fairly simple, practical and reliable method of cocking, however, nowadays, more specific types of shutters are increasingly being used — biathlon and bolt; they are listed separately in our catalog and described below.

— Biathlon shutter. A variety of bolts (see above), copied from small-caliber biathlon rifles. In such systems, as in traditional bolt mechanisms, the cocking handle is located on the side and moves back and forth. The key difference is that this handle is mounted on a swivel mount and, when reloading, does not slide along the guides, but swings on the axis. The biathlon bolt differs from the side lever of a similar design (see above) in its location (in the rear of the rifle), the shorter lever length, and also in that it does not provide air pumping. Many shooters find this shutter more convenient than the classic one — in particular, it has a very small operating force, so you can move the lever without looking up from the sight. And in some models, for cocking, you don’t even need to remove the “shooting” hand from the handle — just hook the lever with your index finger, pull it towards you with a slight movement of your wrist, and then, if necessary, move it forward with your thumb. The biathlon action is used almost exclusively in PCP rifles (see "Type").

— Bolt lock. A kind of bolt (see above), which, when reloading, not only moves back and forth, but also rotates around its axis — similar to how it happens in many classic firearms like the Mosin rifle or Remington 700. Actually, the similarity with a real weapon this is precisely one of the key advantages of such systems: they are appreciated by fans of traditional rifles, and can also be good simulators for developing basic shooting skills from more serious "bolt" weapons. Most pneumatics with such cocking systems are PCP or gas-balloon, only a few models use the multi-compression principle (see "Type").

— Pump mechanism. Systems that use a movable handguard for cocking — like pump-action shotguns, hence the name. The main convenience of such systems is that cocking can be carried out without removing the hands from the weapon. On the other hand, the constant movement of the forearm knocks down the sight and adversely affects accuracy, so this method of cocking is not very popular in air rifles.

And in models like AEG (see “Type”) and other airsoft weapons, the capacity is indicated for the standard magazine supplied in the kit; in this case, the magazine, as a rule, is removable, and if desired, it can be replaced with another one that differs in capacity. It is worth noting here that airsoft magazines are usually divided into “bunkers” (high capacity) and “mechanics” (low capacity). Mechanas typically hold up to 150 pellets, and some of these magazines have the same capacity as real weapons. This variety is appreciated by lovers of realism and experienced players. In “bunkers,” in turn, the capacity is already hundreds, and sometimes thousands, of bullets. They are convenient for beginners and undemanding airsoft players, but a serious drawback of such magazines is noise - the balls, hanging in the main compartment of the “bunker”, turn it into a rattle, making it difficult to move covertly.

The highest internal gas pressure that a PCP-type rifle cylinder can withstand without consequences (see "Type"). The maximum pressure in the cylinder does not fundamentally affect the characteristics of the rifle — models with the same value can differ significantly in muzzle energy, muzzle velocity, the number of shots at a gas station, etc. This parameter is indicated solely for safety purposes — in particular, so that the user does not “overdo it” when refueling: for example, in scuba cylinders used for this, the pressure can vary from 180 to 300 bar, while in most modern pneumatics the tanks are designed for 200 bar , and connecting more pressure is fraught with unpleasant consequences.

For comparison: the working pressure in a bicycle tyre is on average about 3-4 bar.

The type of sight the rifle is originally equipped with. Note that many models allow the installation of other sights — in addition to standard sights or to replace them. And the optics or collimator can initially be combined with a mechanical sight (front sight + rear sight), which in such cases plays the role of a spare. However, these features are not available in every rifle, so when choosing, it is best to focus on the type of complete sight.

Nowadays, in addition to the traditional sighting bar with a front sight, in air rifles you can find diopter, optical and collimator sights, and in some models regular sights are completely absent. Here are the features of each of these options:

— Aiming bar and front sight. Devices in the form of a front sight and a rear sight, which has the form of a horizontal bar with a slot; when aiming, you need to combine these devices so that the front sight is visible exactly in the middle of the slot and flush with its edges. Such sights are extremely popular in modern pneumatics: they are as simple as possible, inexpensive, compact and reliable, besides they do not depend on batteries and are quite resistant to shock and shock. In addition, the front sight with a bar is not as restrictive as an optic or a collimator, and is better suited for shooting at moving targets. The main dis...advantage of this option can be called the fact that effective aiming requires a certain skill — after all, you need to control not only the aiming itself at the target, but also the relative position of the front sight and the slot. On the other hand, this moment can turn out to be a virtue — in particular, when learning to shoot: having learned how to shoot effectively with such devices, the shooter will feel quite confident with other types of sights. It is also worth noting that the front sight does not give any magnification — this makes it difficult to shoot at small and/or distant targets; however, again, this feature is not always a clear disadvantage.

— Diopter sight. A kind of mechanical sighting devices (that is, front and rear sights), using the diopter principle of operation. The rear sight in such devices is a plate with a small hole through which the shooter looks at the front sight. Such a rear sight is easier to use than a traditional slotted rail, especially for beginners: even without special skills, the shooter subconsciously chooses the position of the eye in which the front sight will be in the centre of the hole (as it should be when aiming). In addition, the small aperture gives a slight zoom effect and enhances target definition, which is especially important at longer distances. On the other hand, diopters noticeably limit the view, are poorly suited for low-light conditions and are easily clogged with various contaminants. Therefore, this type of sight is used extremely rarely in pneumatics — mainly in powerful long-range rifles, mainly for sports purposes.

— Optical sight. Traditional optical sights in the form of a "spyglass" with a reticle applied in the field of view of the shooter. Initially created for high-precision long-range shooting, mainly at fixed targets; in the same role are used for pneumatics. However not every air rifle with optics is a powerful long-range weapon — there are also relatively “weak” models. But even such pneumatics can be a good training tool for high-precision shooting: a small distance in this case can be compensated for by a small target size. On the other hand, optics significantly affect the price of the rifle and require careful handling. Of its features, it is also worth noting that such sights necessarily have a certain magnification; due to this, they allow you to better consider small targets at the same time limit the field of view. It should also be borne in mind that optics are not well suited for offhand shooting and require careful insertion: the eye must be exactly on the optical axis of the sight, otherwise the aiming point may not coincide with the point of impact.

— Collimator sight. The working part of a collimator sight is a glass window onto which a luminous aiming mark is projected using a special optical system — a dot, crosshairs, a circle with a dot, etc. Sights of this type usually do not have magnification and are intended for shooting at short distances, including on moving targets and offhand. So in application, the collimator is similar to the front sight with the whole; and its key advantage lies in ease of use: no need to combine the front sight and the slot, just find the aiming mark in the window and aim it at the target. At the same time, unlike optics, it is not necessary to keep the eye strictly opposite the centre of the sight: the parallax effect (see "Adjusting parallax") in collimators is very weak, if not absent at all. The main disadvantage of this type of sights is that they require batteries to operate; in addition, collimators are noticeably more expensive than traditional mechanical sights, and also require more careful handling (although they are still less delicate than optics).
It's worth noting that these attachments are especially popular with airsoft guns like most AEGs (see "Type"): collimators are great for fast-paced fights.

— Is absent. The absence of any sighting devices in the original delivery set — there are only mounts for installing such devices. See below for more details on the different types of fasteners; here we note that such equipment does not allow the use of a rifle “out of the box”, however, it makes it possible to choose a sight for it at your discretion, without relying on the choice of the manufacturer. This is especially true if you plan to use optics — nowadays a wide variety of such sights are produced, for different tasks and usage scenarios. Actually, most air rifles without a scope are designed just for the installation of optics, although the possibility of using collimators is often also allowed; and in airsoft pneumatics, removable front sights with rear sights are also used.
It is worth noting that spring-piston rifles and models with a gas piston have a specific double recoil, which not every sight is able to transfer — even if it can be used with powerful firearms. So when looking for optics or a collimator for such pneumatics, you should be especially careful — for it you need to choose sights that were originally designed for such rifles.

The ability to adjust the location of the emphasis under the cheek, located on the butt. Usually, we are talking about at least height adjustment, and in advanced models it may also be possible to move the stop back and forth. Anyway, this feature allows you to adjust the position of the cheek to the physique and personal preferences of a particular shooter, thus providing the most comfortable tab — and this convenience, in turn, has a positive effect on accuracy. At the same time, the ability to adjust the cheekpiece significantly increases the price of the rifle, and therefore it is found mainly in top-class models.

The presence of a retainer for additional (spare) magazines in the design of the rifle. Such a latch usually has the form of a nest (or several nests) on the bed or butt, where, in fact, the magazines are inserted. This is much more convenient than keeping a spare ammunition in your pocket or bag: magazines for pneumatics are usually small in size, and it can be difficult to “catch” them among other contents throughout the entire volume of the pocket / bag. The latch also allows you to keep the ammunition in a strictly defined place at the shooter's hand.

The presence in the design of the rifle sling swivels — special loops or staples (usually metal) on which the weapon belt is attached. There are usually two such loops — in the front and back of the weapon. In this case, most often the swivels are installed on the underside of the butt and forearm; this design is universal, it allows both right-handed and left-handed people to use the belt with the same comfort. There are also models with a lateral location of the front swivel — usually on the left side of the forearm, under the right-handed hold; however, nowadays in such rifles it is often possible to rearrange the swivel to the other side. So if the pneumatic is bought for a left-hander and it is planned to equip it with a belt, it will not hurt to clarify the features of the sling swivels separately, however, most likely, their design will not create inconvenience.