Comparison Crosman 1911BBb vs Gamo MP-9

Model of the combat pistol/revolver from which the product was copied.

Replicas of military weapons are very popular among air pistols; here you can find, in particular, models imitating Beretta M84, Colt M1911, IWI Mini Uzi, Jericho 941, various models of weapons from Smith & Wesson, as well as Makarov (PM), Tokarev (TT) and Stechkin (APS) pistols. Devices chambered for a blank cartridge (see “Type”) are also often copied from firearms, but in Flaubert’s revolvers the situation is different - most of them have a certain “average revolver” shape and design that is not related to a specific model of military weapon.

Copying such weapons from real firearms/revolvers has both aesthetic and very practical meaning. On the one hand, such models are popular among gun fans who, due to legal restrictions, cannot acquire a full-fledged short-barreled firearm. On the other hand, a pneumatic or starting copy often reproduces all the controls of the original, which allows them to be used effectively when training shooters. In addition, when designing “real” pistols, a lot of attention is paid to ergonomics and user friendliness. As a result, it also happens tha...t a copy of a real-life model also turns out to be preferable from the point of view of general convenience.

Regarding starting pistols, it is also worth noting that their caliber does not always correspond to the caliber of the combat prototype. A typical example is the Desert Eagle: the original pistols come in calibers ranging from .357 Magnum to .50 AE, while replicas of this pistol typically use the traditional 9mm blank cartridge. In this case, this is more of an advantage than a disadvantage: 9 mm flash-noise cartridges are ubiquitous, while similar ammunition in larger calibers is not easy to find.

Muzzle velocity — that is, the speed of the bullet at the exit from the barrel — provided by the pistol / revolver. Note that for some weapons, the actual muzzle velocity may vary; for more on this, see "Type", and here we note that for such models, the characteristics usually indicate the average value for perfect conditions.

In general, the greater the speed of the bullet, the more long-range the weapon and the higher its penetrating ability. Thus, in some countries this indicator is the basis for legal restrictions on the sale of pneumatics (usually, bona fide sellers have the relevant information). And for airsoft weapons, this moment is important for safety reasons: too high a ball speed increases the likelihood of injury. However, airsoft guns usually give out less than 100 m / s. By the standards of classical pneumatics, this is very little: most short-barreled pneumatics fall in the range of 100 – 125 m / s, in some models the initial speed can reach 125 – 150 m / s and even more.

In "flobers" speeds are higher: an indicator up to 175 m / s is considered relatively low, up to 200 m / s — average, and some long-barreled models give out more than 200 m / s. However, note that we are talking about the speeds claim...ed by the manufacturer, while the actual performance will greatly depend on the characteristics of the cartridge (load, composition, build quality). Therefore, the actual initial speeds in such weapons may differ markedly from those claimed.

The type of barrel fitted to the pistol.

Smooth-bore pneumatics in our time is much more common than rifled ; Flaubert revolvers with smooth and rifled barrels on the market are approximately equal; and models for a blank cartridge are equipped exclusively with muffled barrels. Here are the features of each option.

— Smooth. Trunks having a smooth, rifling-free inner surface. The main advantage of this option can be called ease of production and, as a result, low cost. In addition, in the case of pneumatics, the smooth barrel is "omnivorous", with it you can use both bullets and balls (although most often such pistols are compatible with only one type of ammunition). We also note that the airsoft "weapon" in principle is made only with a smoothbore; and the absence of rifling greatly simplifies cleaning, which is especially important for models chambered in Flaubert. On the other hand, in smooth barrels, the bullet is not stabilized by rotation, and the dispersion of such weapons is noticeably greater than that of rifled ones. This does not play a special role in recreational shooting at short distances, however, this type of barrel is not suitable for high-precision weapons.

- Rifled. Barrels with spiral grooves on the inner surface. Due to the rifling, the bullet spins around the longitudinal axis while m...oving along the barrel - this provides additional stabilization and reduces the weapon's own dispersion. Actually, higher accuracy is the main advantage of rifled models over smoothbore ones; and "serious" sports pistols for high-precision shooting are equipped only with this type of barrel. The disadvantages of this option include, first of all, the higher cost than that of smooth ones, as well as the additional difficulty in cleaning - it can be difficult to thoroughly clean the rifling. In addition, in the case of pneumatics, rifled weapons are designed mainly for bullets and are poorly suited for cheaper balls: in most cases their use is not allowed at all, and where allowed, it is desirable to use special soft lead balls. This is due to the fact that the hard metal from which most balls are made wears the rifling a lot; and the promotion of such a charge turns out to be uneven and does not stabilize it, but, on the contrary, leads it away.

- Silenced. A variant found exclusively in pistols chambered in blanks. In such devices, a special plug is installed that blocks the bore and completely eliminates the possibility of firing any projectile (be it a bullet or shot). We emphasize that an attempt to fire from such a “weapon” with a non-blank cartridge (even with a rubber bullet) will most likely lead to a rupture of the barrel and serious injuries to the shooter and people around him.

The type of ammunition that the pistol/revolver is designed for.

Pneumatics can use balls or lead bullets, and some models are compatible with both varieties at once. In weapons chambered for Flaubert and a blank cartridge, the type of ammunition is already obvious from the name. Here is a more detailed description of each option:

— Balloons. Ordinary round balls; for traditional 4.5 mm pneumatics they are made of metal, for airsoft guns of 6 mm caliber they are made of plastic (although other materials are occasionally found). Actually, the airsoft "weapon" by definition uses only balls, it is not made for other types of charges. As for classical pneumatics, here the main advantage of this option can be called a low cost — balls are somewhere much cheaper than lead bullets. In addition, they have good penetrating power, and magazines and reloading systems for balls are extremely simple. On the other hand, such ammunition is less suitable for accurate long-range shooting. Firstly, balls are inferior to bullets in terms of ballistic characteristics; secondly, they are usually made of hard steel and are practically unsuitable for working with rifled barrels. On the other hand, for recreational shooting and simple training at a relatively short range, these points are not critical; so it is this type of ammunition that is most common in modern air pistols.

— Lead bullets. A bu...llet in this case is called a projectile of a directional shape, with a clearly defined front and rear. The specific form of such projectiles may be different, but they all have a number of common features. So, any bullet at the same initial speed flies further and hits more accurately than a ball. And the material is usually lead or another soft metal, which provides a number of advantages. Firstly, bullets work great with rifled barrels: the edges of the bullet clearly fit into the grooves on the inner surface (many bullets are even able to expand slightly at the time of the shot, for the tightest possible fit in the barrel), the projectile is effectively untwisted and stabilized, while the rifling is worn minimal. Secondly, bullets flatten out when they hit a more or less hard surface — this minimizes the risk of ricochets. At the same time, bullets are more expensive than balls, and in multi-shot models, they require a more complex design of magazines and reloading mechanisms. As a result, this type of ammunition is relatively rare in short-barreled pneumatics — mainly in professional long-range pistols, as well as in models where this is due to design features (in particular, bullets are better suited for spring-piston “breaks”).

— Balls / lead bullets. The ability to use both types of ammunition described above at once, to choose from. Note that such versatility can be implemented in different ways: some pistols / revolvers are indeed universal in terms of the type of ammunition (unless each variety needs its own magazine), others are produced in two separate versions — for bullets and for balls. This point should be clarified separately before buying. It is also worth considering that in "omnivorous" weapons with a rifled barrel, it is better to use bullets if possible, and balls should be considered as a fallback. This is due to the fact that the balls are poorly compatible with such weapons; see "Barrel" for details.

— Flaubert's cartridge. Small-caliber (4 mm) cartridge, which is actually a primer with a bullet, without a powder sample (or with a very small amount of gunpowder — in the form of a few grains). In fact, it is a firearm, however, in terms of ballistic characteristics, a weapon chambered in Flaubert is comparable to pneumatics, due to which in many countries it is officially equated to pneumatic and sold without special permits (however, this point needs to be specified separately). Note that the vast majority of weapons chambered for this cartridge are revolvers; pistols are rare and have a specific design (for more details, see "Form Factor").

— Blank cartridge. A cartridge with a case, a primer and a powder charge, similar in design to a full-fledged firearm, except that it does not contain a bullet. Instead, the case mouth is crimped in the form of an "asterisk" or covered with a plug made of an easily destructible material like plastic. Note that such cartridges can be used not only in specialized “weapons” (see “Type”), but also in most traumatic and combat pistols of the corresponding caliber; however, blank pistols usually do not require special permits, and anyone can practice basic skills with them (including working with recoil and reaction to a shot).

The capacity of the magazine provided with the pistol, or the drum installed in the revolver (see "Form factor"). For obvious reasons, it is indicated only for multiply charged models (see "Charging capacity").

Repeatingly charged air pistols / revolvers are conditionally divided into models with magazines up to 15 charges and more than 15 charges. The largest capacity here is airsoft AEGs (see "Type"), copying submachine guns — they are not uncommon in stores for 50 balls or more, and as additional accessories for many models, so-called "bunkers" are produced, where the number there are already hundreds of charges. As for traditional pneumatics, it is worth noting that if the pistol is designed for bullets and balls at the same time (see "Type of ammunition"), then the capacity when using different types of charge may vary — usually, it is higher for balls in such cases, and this figure and indicated in the characteristics as the main one.

As for the weapon chambered for Flaubert, in it the “classic of the genre” is a revolver with a drum for 9, less often for 8 rounds. A greater number of charges is not found — for this the drum would have to be made too bulky; a smaller number — about 5 – 6 rounds — can be found in individual revolvers, as well as models in the form factor of a pistol, where the dimensions of the case do not allow you to install a larger drum. In turn, pistols chamb...ered for blank cartridges usually more or less correspond in terms of magazine capacity to the firearm models from which they are copied; here you can find models that can hold from 5 to 30 charges.

The presence of a mount for an additional sight in the design of a pistol / revolver.

Such mounts are placed at the top of the weapon and are intended primarily for optical and collimator sights. The most popular type of fastening in short-barreled pneumatics is the Weaver / Picatinny rail: it has a T-shaped profile and characteristic transverse slots for rigid fixation of installed accessories. Formally, Weaver and Picatinny rails are different types of seats; however, most sights available on the civilian market are compatible with both variants at once, so these types of mounts are usually not separated.

The bulk of weapons with a scope mount are two types of pneumatic pistols: powerful long-range models for high-precision shooting, as well as copies of military weapons, mainly submachine guns (including those intended for airsoft). In Flaubert's revolvers, additional mounts are almost never used: it does not make much sense to install optics / collimators on such weapons due to the small effective range. And in pistols chambered for a blank cartridge, the sight rail can be provided solely as a decorative element that enhances the external resemblance to military weapons; such a “mount” can even be a dummy that does not correspond to standard sizes and is not suitable for placing sights (which, however, is not a drawback in this case).

The presence of an additional mount under the barrel of a pistol / revolver.

Such a mount usually takes the form of a characteristic bar with transverse slots (Weaver / Picatinny standard or similar). It is designed to install various optional accessories; the classic variants of such accessories are the underbarrel flashlight and the laser designator.

Note that nowadays you can find both pneumatic weapons with underbarrel mounts, and pistols chambered for a blank cartridge (see "Type") with this feature. Moreover, in the second case, the mount plays a predominantly decorative role, giving the “weapon” a resemblance to a combat prototype; however, it can also have quite a practical meaning. For example, by installing an underbarrel flashlight on a starting pistol, you can train basic skills (moving, aiming, reaction to a shot) for actions in low light conditions. However if you are planning such an application, before buying, it's ok to make sure that the selected pistol provides for exactly the standard mount, and not an external imitation, unsuitable for installing a “body kit”.

The overall length of the weapon is usually from the muzzle to the part protruding farthest back (usually the bottom of the handle). This parameter not only allows you to evaluate the overall compactness of the pistol, but can also be useful for selecting accessories for it — for example, a holster, case or carrying bag.

The material from which the body of the gun is made.

The main materials found nowadays are metal and plastic. At the same time, the division into metal and plastic cases is actually relevant only for pneumatics; models for "flobert" and for a blank cartridge (see "Type") are almost all made of metal. As for the features of each of the materials, they are as follows:

— Metal. The key advantages of metal are strength, reliability and similarity to materials used in firearms. Such cases weigh much more than plastic ones, but this moment is also often referred to as an advantage — it further enhances the resemblance to combat pistols / revolvers, creates a sense of solidity and allows you to effectively practice skills in working with weapons. The main disadvantage of metal is its rather high cost. In addition, note that the composition of this material may be different: in particular, in low-cost models, a lighter and cheaper, but less durable silumin or other similar alloy can be used instead of steel.
Separately, it should be said that in some modern firearms (in particular, Glock) only the casing-bolt is made of metal, and the frame and handle are made of plastic. For air pistols and starting pistols made of similar materials, our catalog also lists metal as the body material in order to emphasize the similarity with combat prototypes.

— Plastic. Material used mainly...in low-cost models of pneumatics. In this case, it means a body made entirely of plastic — including a casing-shutter, if available in the design. The main advantage of this material in this case is its low cost — this determined the specifics of its application. On the other hand, plastic is noticeably inferior to metal in terms of strength and reliability, and the small weight of such cases is considered by many to be a disadvantage — the weapon is perceived as a "toy". However there are also advanced varieties of plastic — durable, heat-resistant, suitable even for military weapons; however, in pneumatics, such materials are used in rather expensive copies of real pistols, where a plastic frame is combined with a metal casing-bolt — and such cases are already considered metal (see above).