Replica combat pistol
The model or brand 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 that imitate different models of weapons from
Beretta,
Colt,
CZ,
Glock,
Heckler & Koch,
Luger,
Smith & Wesson,
Sig Sauer,
Taurus,
Walther,
Makarov (PM). 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.
On the one hand, copies 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 launch copy often reproduces all the controls of the original. As a result, it often happens that a replica of a real-life model turns out to be even more convenient to use than the original.
Muzzle velocity
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.Cocking system
The cocking system provided in the weapon - that is, the method of transferring its mechanism to the position of readiness to fire.
This parameter is relevant mainly for classic pneumatics; here you can find pistols with
automatic cocking,
barrel fracture, as well as
bolt and
trigger systems. Almost all weapons chambered for Flaubert and blank cartridges (see "Type") are auto-cocked, as an exception, there are individual trigger models. And the features of various systems are as follows:
- Autoplatoon. Systems that provide for automatic cocking of weapons before each shot; in other words, with such a pistol, the shooter does not need to perform any additional actions to cock the weapon. The advantages of such systems are obvious - they make shooting as simple and convenient as possible. So it is this option that is most popular in modern short-barreled pneumatics; other cocking systems are used mainly where they are indispensable for structural reasons. However, it should be borne in mind that the features of the auto-cocking may be different, depending on the type and form factor of the weapon (see above for both). So, blow-back pistols (see below) and AEG-type models usually have auto-cocking in the full sense of the word - that is, for each shot, it is enough to press the trigger, and the trigger pull remains unchan
...ged and rather low. However, for the first shot in such pistols, it may be necessary to cock the hammer or even move the bolt. In revolvers, automatic winding usually means the so-called double-action mechanism, where the cocking of the trigger (and turning the drum) is carried out by the muscular strength of the shooter when the trigger is pressed. This format of work requires significant effort on the trigger, so most of these revolvers allow you to cock the trigger separately; there are also pistols without blow-back with this feature. And for compression and multi-compression models, auto-cocking is indicated if the pistol mechanism is cocked right during the inflation process; in such a weapon, you still cannot do without “extra movements” between shots.
- Shutter. Systems that provide for manual cocking before each shot using a bolt. They are found mainly in two types of air pistols. The first type is most PCP pneumatics. In such models, the shutter has the form of a separate handle or lever; in multi-shot models, due to its movement, the next charge from the magazine is fed into the barrel, in single-shot models, the chamber opens and closes, allowing you to load the weapon. Thanks to this format of operation, the number of parts that move in the weapon at the time of the shot is reduced to an absolute minimum, which in turn reduces shock - an important advantage, given that PCP pistols are used mainly in sports precision shooting. The second type of pistols with this cocking system are spring-piston models. At the same time, in classic pneumatics of 4.5 mm caliber, the role of the shutter is usually performed by a lever, such weapons are usually made single-shot and have an original design; and airsoft models of 6 mm caliber copy combat pistols and the platoon in them is carried out in a similar way - by moving the casing-bolt (bolt frame) back and forth.
- Fracture of the trunk. A cocking method found exclusively in spring-piston models (see "Type"). The barrel in such pistols is mounted on a swivel mount and turns down when cocked, due to which the weapon literally “breaks” in half (hence the name). In this case, the piston becomes cocked, and the chamber opens for reloading (such weapons are made only single-shot). Breakthrough models are simple, inexpensive, easy to handle and require a minimum of skill, making them suitable even for beginner shooters. On the other hand, it makes no sense to make such weapons multiply charged, and the barrel mount can become loose as it wears. It is also worth noting that the barrel in the “breaks” should be quite long - otherwise the cocking force would be too high for normal work with the weapon. This nuance can be both an advantage and a disadvantage, depending on the planned use of the pistol.
— Kurkovy. Systems in which the hammer must be manually cocked before each shot. Quite a rare option; found, in particular, in individual pistols, where auto-cocking was abandoned for the sake of reducing cost and / or simplifying the design, as well as some miniature revolvers, where the size of the weapon did not allow for a full-fledged double-action mechanism (auto-cocking).Magazine capacity
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.Sighting device
The type of sighting device provided in the design of the pistol / revolver.
The vast majority of short-barreled pneumatics, "floberts" and starting pistols are equipped with the simplest mechanical sights in the form of a front sight and a rear sight. In pneumatic weapons, models with
adjustable and
non-adjustable sights are approximately equal; in Flaubert's revolvers, the
possibility of adjustment is somewhat less common than
non-adjustable front and rear sights ; and in models for a blank cartridge, in principle, it makes no sense to provide adjustment. There are pistols / revolvers without sights at all.
Here are the general features of different types of scope:
— Unregulated. Front sight and rear sight, fixed motionless and without any additional settings. The advantages of this design are simplicity, low cost and reliability; in addition, such a sight is almost impossible to shoot down due to an accidental impact of the front sight or rear sight on a foreign object. The main disadvantage is the actual impossibility of adjustment, which does not allow adjusting the sights for a change in distance, side wind or deviations due to production errors. On the other hand, for recreational shooting at short distances, these moments are not decisive, and serious factory defects are extremely rare in fact. So i
...f maximum accuracy is not critical for you, a non-adjustable sight may be enough.
— Adjustable. Sights with the ability to adjust; however, the specific possibilities of such adjustment may be different. One of the most popular options is to adjust the rear sight in height, for zeroing weapons at a specific distance. For this, a micrometer screw is usually used. Another option is a rear sight with the ability to move horizontally, it is mainly designed to compensate for errors in the design of the weapon itself, which give a lateral displacement of the point of impact. The most advanced models — mostly high-precision sports pistols — allow you to adjust the rear sight on both axes. Anyway, an adjustable sight is more complicated and more expensive than an unregulated one, it may require additional adjustment by the user himself, but with such devices you can achieve maximum shooting accuracy.
Also note that on the market you can find pneumatics equipped with optical or collimator sights; they are also adjustable.
— Is absent. The absence of their own sights is an extremely rare option, found in two varieties of pneumatic and similar weapons. The first is some spring-piston and PCP pistols (see "Type") with long barrels and high muzzle velocity, designed for high-precision shooting. They have sight mounts (see below) or slots for such mounts, allowing the shooter to choose the sights to their taste. The second variety is revolvers (mainly chambered for Flaubert) of miniature size, originally not designed for aimed shooting in the classical sense of these words.Total length
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.
Weight
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).