Comparison Umarex NXG APX vs Crosman Classic

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.

The type of barrel fitted to the rifle.

This parameter is indicated by the type of the inner surface of the barrel, the options may be as follows:

— Rifled. Barrel, on the inner surface of which spiral grooves are applied. This is the most popular variant among modern air rifles — in fact, the term "rifle" itself comes from the screw rifling in the barrel. Thanks to internal rifling, the bullet emitted from the weapon twists around the longitudinal axis, which ensures a stable trajectory and improves shooting accuracy. The disadvantages of this type of barrel can only be attributed to poor suitability for working with balls: there are relatively few rifled rifles compatible with these types of ammunition, while it is best to use special balls made of lead or other soft material with them (traditional steel balls wear out a lot rifling). However, this point cannot be called a serious drawback.

— Smooth. Barrel with a smooth inner surface, without rifling. One of the main practical advantages of this design is "omnivory": smooth barrels can be used for both bullets and balls (although the specific type of ammunition used depends on the model of the rifle). In addition, a flat surface is noticeably easier and cheaper to manufacture than a grooved one. The main disadvantage of such a weapon is its rather low accuracy, since the projectiles fired from it are not stabilized due t...o rotation. Smoothbore rifles are designed primarily for recreational shooting at short distances; it is also worth noting that such barrels were originally used in airsoft drives, in particular, AEGs (see "Type").

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 working length of the rifle barrel is from the chamber where the bullet is loaded to the muzzle. The shortest barrels found nowadays have a length of just over 200 mm(and in some AEGs even less than this value); the longest reach 500 – 600 mm.

There is a stereotype that the muzzle velocity directly depends on the length of the barrel. In firearms, this is true — but not in pneumatics. Firstly, in such rifles, the initial velocity depends on a number of other indicators — pressure, the quality of the barrel treatment, the efficiency of the valves, etc. on the first 20 – 25 cm of the barrel, then the gas pressure drops noticeably. The exception is PCP rifles, in which the longer barrel really makes it easier to achieve high speeds. However, again, so many additional factors affect the final result that models with the same barrel length can differ markedly in initial speed.

The second common stereotype is that a longer barrel improves accuracy and accuracy. This is true in the context that a longer barrel allows for a greater distance between the front and rear sights, making it easier to aim carefully. Technical accuracy does not depend on the length, but on the quality of the barrel processing.

Summing up all of the above, we can say that the length of the barrel for an air rifle is more of a reference than a really significant paramete...r, and when choosing, it is better to focus on more "close to life" characteristics — first of all, directly claimed muzzle velocity.