Comparison ASG CZ SP-01 Shadow vs ASG Scorpion Vz61

Type describes the general principle of operation of a pistol/revolver. Among the pneumatic models in our time, you can find gas, multi -compression, compression, PCP and spring guns(piston and gas), as well as electric models (AEG). A separate category is a weapon with a firearm principle of operation - models chambered for Flaubert, as well as starting pistols. Here is a more detailed description of each of these types:

- Gas balloon. The most common variety of short-barreled pneumatics in our time. As an energy source in such pistols, gas from special cylinders is used - most often in the form of standard replaceable cartridges for 12 g of carbon dioxide. The only exceptions are some airsoft models with a caliber of 6 mm - they can use the so-called green gas, which is filled into a tank in the magazine (or handle); and some airsoft guns allow both power options at once. However, in any case, gas-cylinder models have a number of advantages, which ensured their popularity. Firstly, they are easy to use and require a minimum of effort - no need to bother with pumping or cocking the mechanism, it is enough to change cartridges in time. Secondly, this power allows you to use the Blow-back system for...maximum resemblance to military weapons (see below). Thirdly, all such pistols are made multi-shot. Fourthly, only this type of power is suitable for creating pneumatics in the form factor of revolvers. The disadvantages of gas-balloon systems include the need to buy not only bullets, but also gas, as well as a decrease in efficiency in cold weather; however, these points in most cases are not critical.

— Spring-piston. A mechanism based on the use of a spring-loaded piston moving in a special cylinder. Such a piston, when cocking the weapon, moves back and is fixed by a stopper, and when the trigger is pressed, it is released and moves forward, pushing air into the barrel. Before each shot, you need to manually cock the weapon, and in most of these models, you also need to load the next bullet. This is not very convenient, especially in cases where it is supposed to shoot a lot. In addition, the spring-piston mechanism gives a noticeable return - and quite specific, different from firearms; and for cocking in most pistols of this type, a barrel fracture is used, which also has its drawbacks (for more details, see "Cocking System"). On the other hand, spring-piston models also have noticeable advantages. First of all, it is the simplicity of design, which results in reliability, low cost and extensive tuning options. The second point is the good repeatability of shots, since with each cocking a standard portion of air enters the piston. And the “breaking” pistols are also equipped with rather long barrels, which allows you to increase the length of the sighting line and increase the accuracy of aiming.

- With gas spring. A variation of the spring-piston mechanism described above, in which a sealed cylinder with a special gas plays the role of a spring. Inside such a cylinder, its own piston moves, when the weapon is cocked, the gas is compressed, when fired, it expands, pushing the main piston. Such pneumatics work noticeably quieter and softer than spring-piston models, the recoil is not so pronounced, and the gas spring itself practically does not lose its properties as it wears out and can be stored in a compressed state indefinitely. On the other hand, such mechanisms are quite expensive and cumbersome, and the advantages mentioned are not so often decisive. Therefore, in short-barreled pneumatics, gas springs are not widely used.

- PCP (pre-pumping). Pistols, in which the energy source is high-pressure air pumped into a special non-removable tank. The capacity of such a tank usually allows you to make about a few dozen shots on a single charge, and the pressure inside can reach 200 atmospheres or even more, which makes it possible to achieve a high muzzle velocity. At the same time, PCP pneumatics give good repeatability of shots (at least for most of the refueling, until a critical pressure drop), and it has practically no recoil. On the other hand, the tank inevitably turns out to be quite bulky, which inevitably affects the weight and dimensions of the entire structure; and the only option for its more or less comfortable placement - under the barrel - also significantly affects the balance (the center of gravity is shifted forward). In addition, the refueling procedure itself is quite complicated: you either need to pump air with a special pump (which is far from always supplied), or use additional equipment such as a compressor or a diving cylinder. As a result, PCP pistols are quite rare nowadays, and they are intended mainly for athletes.

- Multi-compression. As in the PCP models described above, the power source in these pistols is the built-in air reservoir. However, the charge in the tank is only enough for one shot, the air is pumped manually, with a built-in pump, and to achieve full pressure, you need to make several movements with the pump lever. As a lever, a swinging handguard or the upper part of the casing-bolt is most often used; at the same time, the tank does not have to be pumped to full each time, and by choosing one or another number of lever movements, you can adjust the initial speed of the bullet. Multi-compression models are relatively simple and inexpensive, they allow you to achieve high bullet speed, almost no recoil and do not require complex air filling procedures. One of the key drawbacks of this design is the need to pump before each shot, which can be quite tiring. The second nuance is the poor repeatability of shots: even with the same number of pump lever movements, the pressure in the tank may vary slightly from pumping to pumping. In addition, for comfortable use, the pump lever must be quite long, which accordingly affects the length of the entire gun; however, this moment can also be considered as a virtue: an increase in the length of the barrel has a positive effect on the accuracy of shooting, and often on the muzzle velocity of the bullet.

— Compression. A simplified analogue of the multi-compression mechanism described above: the design also has an air reservoir and a built-in pump, however, to fill the reservoir, it is enough to make just one movement with the pump lever. In terms of merits, such models combine the features of multi-compression and spring-piston pistols. On the one hand, they do not recoil and can be cocked for a long time; on the other hand, only one movement is enough to cock a weapon, and most often this procedure is also combined with reloading. The main disadvantage of this type of weapon is that in order to achieve good muzzle energy with just one inflation, a large reservoir and a long pump lever are needed. Because of this, such pistols have to be made very long and heavy, which creates inconvenience in use. As a result, this type of mechanism has not received much distribution.

- AEG (electrically driven). Pneumatics that use an electric motor drive as a power source. According to the design of the working mechanism, it is similar to the spring-piston mechanism - the basis of this mechanism is a cylinder and a spring-loaded piston. However, the piston in this case is not retracted manually, but with the help of the mentioned electric motor. Thus, the shooter does not need to make "excessive movements" associated with a platoon of weapons. In addition, this principle of operation makes it possible to provide for even a fully automatic firing mode - in fact, many short-barreled AEGs do not even copy traditional pistols, but submachine guns. Separately, it is worth noting that AEGs are not particularly common among traditional pneumatics, but they are very popular in airsoft pistols using 6 mm caliber plastic balls (for more details, see "Caliber").

- Under the patronage of Flaubert. A weapon that uses the Flaubert cartridge (caliber 4 mm). For more information about this cartridge, see "Type of ammunition", here we note that most often such models are made in the form of revolvers (see "Form factor"). In essence, they are small-caliber firearms; however, the muzzle energy, penetration and lethal force of such revolvers are so low that in many countries they are legally equated with pneumatics and are sold without special permits. It should be borne in mind that such weapons are more demanding to maintain than pneumatics, they require regular cleaning and lubrication (preferably after each use, since the percussion composition, which is the basis of the propellant charge in Flaubert's cartridges, interacts very aggressively with the metal of the barrel). However, for some users, this moment is more of a virtue - it enhances the resemblance to military weapons. But of the unambiguous shortcomings of such models, it is worth noting the high cost of ammunition: one Flaubert cartridge is much more expensive than a lead bullet and much more expensive than a ball.

- Under a blank cartridge. A type of weapon also known as "starter pistols". Strictly speaking, such pistols are no longer weapons, but special pyrotechnics. So, a blank (“light-noise”) cartridge does not have a bullet (for more details, see “Ammunition Type”) and, when fired, gives only a sound effect and a flash; and a plug is installed in the barrel of the pistol, so it is impossible to shoot a live or even traumatic cartridge from it. Nevertheless, starting pistols usually completely imitate the operation of automatic combat analogues - recoil, ejection of cartridges, slide delay, etc. Initially, such tools were widely used to signal a "start" in sports competitions - hence the name. However, in our time, the scope of their application is much wider: pistols under a blank cartridge are used when shooting a movie, for giving sound signals over long distances, when training service dogs, in training professional shooters (both for idling, and for accustoming to the sound of a shot and recoil ) etc.

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.

The working length of the barrel installed in the pistol / revolver is from the chamber to the muzzle. In airsoft models (primarily AEGs, see "Type"), the length of the inner barrel is indicated, along which the bullet directly moves. Three main points directly depend on this parameter: the initial velocity of the bullet, the length of the aiming line and the dimensions of the weapon.

In short-barreled (up to 20 – 25 cm) pneumatics and Flaubert's revolvers, a long barrel allows you to achieve higher initial speeds. However there is no rigid dependence here, and models with the same barrel sizes can differ markedly in initial speed (especially since the latter also depends on a number of parameters, primarily the principle of operation — see "Type"). However, long-barreled pistols are generally better for long-range shooting than short-barreled pistols. This is due to the second nuance — the length of the sighting line: a long barrel allows you to increase the distance between the front sight and the whole, thereby reducing errors in aiming. However, with regard to dimensions, the increase in the length of the barrel not only makes the weapon more cumbersome, but also worsens its balance, since the centre of gravity shifts forward because of this.

There are a couple more nuances associated with this indicator. So, in copies of combat pistols (see above), the barrel length is selected in accordance with the size of the weapon from which this model wa...s copied. And for products chambered for a blank cartridge (see "Type"), this parameter is not indicated at all, since there is virtually no full-fledged barrel in such pistols.

The nominal caliber of a pistol / revolver - that is, the diameter of the barrel bore installed in the weapon.

Note that the caliber in this case is closely related to the type of weapon (see above). Here are the most common options:

- 4 mm - the standard caliber of the Flaubert cartridge.
- 4.5 mm - the most common caliber of traditional pneumatics (not related to airsoft equipment). In many post-Soviet countries, this is the maximum caliber of pneumatic weapons that does not require special permits. Short-barreled pneumatics of larger calibers are almost never found in this region: they are, in fact, equated with firearms pistols, the possession of which is very limited - and those who have the right to such pistols usually prefer "firearms" for serious tasks (and pneumatics , if desired, are bought in a commonly available caliber 4.5 mm).
- 6 mm. The standard caliber for airsoft guns. Such models are actually not weapons, but sports equipment, they are not designed to cause damage, but rather to simulate hits in which the risk of injury is reduced to an absolute minimum (hence the name "airsoft" - that is, "soft pneumatics"). For such purposes, balls of relatively large caliber, but small mass, having a very low penetrating power, are optimally suited.
- 9 mm. A caliber found exclusively in pistols chambered in blanks. Such weapons are often made on the basis of combat pistols and using parts from them; so the optimal cartridge cas...e size for such weapons will be the same as in combat counterparts. And the most popular pistol caliber in our time is just 9 mm. Other calibers (such as .45 ACP) are also found in stun guns, but are extremely rare.

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 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 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 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).

The total weight of the weapon. As a rule, the "empty" weight is indicated in the characteristics, without consumables (bullets / cartridges, cartridges).

This parameter has two meanings. On the one hand, a heavy pistol / revolver is tedious to hold on weight for a long time; in addition, the increase in weight is often associated with an increase in the length of the barrel, due to which the center of gravity shifts forward - and this further increases the inconvenience. On the other hand, massiveness gives an additional resemblance to military weapons and an overall impression of solidity, and in models with blow-back (see above) it also reduces the perceived recoil. Therefore, many consider significant weight to be an advantage rather than a disadvantage.

Note that in models chambered for Flaubert and a blank cartridge, the weight more or less corresponds to military weapons of a similar model or size. In pneumatics, the dispersion can be quite large, especially since not every such pistol is copied from a combat one. It is worth noting here that PCP models are the most massive (see "Type"): due to the built-in tank, the weight of such pistols is usually 1 kg or more. Multi-compression pneumatics are a little lighter - here you can find weapons weighing up to 900 g and even up to 800 g. The maximum figure for AEGs is 900 - 1000 g..., and in the lightest models, the weight does not exceed 700 g. And among the spring-piston and gas-balloon models, almost any weight is found - from small ( less than 600 g) to significant (more than 1 kg).