The choice of pneumatics must be approached wisely. The first point of the programme is desirable to determine the purpose of the purchased "gun", so that it does not collect dust as unnecessary in the closet. Pneumatic weapons are taken for:

  • recreational target shooting;
  • obtaining skills in handling firearms;
  • airsoft;
  • small game hunting;
  • collectibles, etc.

Recreational target shooting

For "close combat" on targets or aluminium cans , air pistols on steel balls or lead bullets will do. The distance of aimed fire from them is usually up to 15-20 m. For the same purposes, a low-cost rifle with a broken barrel with a bullet velocity of about 150 m / s will do.

For shooting at longer distances (20-50 m or more), it is better to use more powerful rifles with a rifled barrel, so that the bullet flies more stable and is less influenced by external factors, for example, wind. For the sake of saving the low-cost, you can look in the direction of “breaks” on a twisted spring with full equipment - the optical sight attached to the rifle is guaranteed to be cheaper than buying it separately.

When reloading rifles with a broken barrel, the weapon appears to break in the middle, hence the name.

If the price of the issue is not a priority, but there is a strong desire to “put” a bullet in a five-kopeck coin at a firing distance of up to 50 m, gas-cylinder rifles and PCP guns will be the best choice. "Barrels" of the first type will require the purchase of consumables in the manner of CO₂ cylinders, and for PCP rifles, you will need to purchase a special pump to pump air into the tank.

Long -range aimed fire is best handled by geared PCP rifles. The reducer in their design compensates for the decrease in the speed of the bullet as the gas is consumed, which is done by supplying the same portions of air to the bullet, regardless of the pressure in the tank. Geared PCP pneumatics can provide higher speeds, power and repeatability of shots.

PCP Air Rifles (Preloaded)

Practical Shooting

Training shooting involves the use of pneumatic "guns", which are as similar as possible to combat prototypes, both externally and functionally. A striking example of this is pistols with the blowback system. This imitates the operation of the automation of a real combat pistol with a characteristic "bounce" of the upper part of the body back and the corresponding shaking of the weapon.

The Blowback system mimics the operation of a real combat pistol.

The Blowback system allows you to feel in your own skin the effects of partial recoil and the reproduction of a full reload cycle, which has a positive effect on the acquisition of skills and reflexes in handling firearms.

Air Pistols

Airsoft pneumatics

Airsoft pneumatics is a separate topic for conversation. The airsoft discipline itself (from the English strike - strike and ball - ball) is better known as airsoft (English airsoft) - this is a game using specially designed soft pneumatics that uses 6 mm plastic balls in business in order to minimize injury when it hits the player. The bullets do not have any content, and the weapons and means copy real combat prototypes. Games are played mainly on training grounds or closed areas. Their concept can be both similar to paintball (head-to-head matches), and have a scope for many kilometers of polygons with the use of armored vehicles, special tactical equipment and visual similarity to large-scale military exercises.

Sometimes airsoft games are indistinguishable from real military exercises.

Pneumatics for this type of leisure are often made in the guise of copies of the original firearm prototypes (down to the inscriptions and the smallest details), and sometimes they have no analogues at all. Depending on the appearance, airsoft "guns" are divided into:

  • pistols;
  • shotguns;
  • submachine guns and machine guns;
  • machine guns;
  • rifles;
  • grenade launchers.

According to the type of internal device, airsoft weapons are divided into three more subfamilies:

1. Spring (springs). The most low-cost option "guns". Due to the low pricing policy, more bolt-action rifles and shotguns with a pump-action type of platoon are popular among buyers. They only require the purchase of balls that are fired from, and various external accessories in the manner of an optical sight. They show unpretentiousness to external conditions, are not afraid of moisture, however, such devices will need to be cocked every time before a shot.

AEG Rifles

2. Electropneumatics AEG/AEP. The most common type of weapons for airsoft games from the middle price segment of pneumatics. Its key advantages over peers are: a longer resource (subject to high-quality parts) and excellent tuning suitability (moreover, weapons can be improved in stages, which does not hurt your pocket much). In electropneumatics, there is often an automatic firing mode. And most importantly - it can be used at a temperature of about 0 ° C. There are also models with an electric blowback, in which the movement of the shutter is tied to the shot. However, this feature is more of a decorative character, since there is no recoil - only the movement and clang of the shutter.

Electropneumatics is most in demand among airsoft players.

Of the minuses of electropneumatics, they note the fear of moisture (like all electronics) and the less sensitive shutter release of the basic models. In addition to purchasing ammunition for "guns" of this type, it is advisable to purchase a good rechargeable battery and charger. The price of electropneumatics depends on the design of the case (plastic or metal) and internal parts (advanced electronics, processors, improved parts that affect the compression and service life of the device, etc.). If the priority is to save the low-cost, it is recommended to look at the versions of airsoft guns in polymer cases.

3. Gas pneumatic (GBB / GNBB) or air (HPA / VVD). Expensive entourage barrels, similar to gunshot prototypes in terms of disassembly and internal arrangement. Particularly similar to military weapons are carbines, rifles, and the like. They often have a blowback system with snapping recoil, but they are more whimsical to external conditions (dust and temperature). Consumables for these "guns" are balls for shooting and gas cylinders or refillable air cylinders (HPA / VVD).

Gas pneumatics GBB - an elite division of airsoft guns.

Modern airsoft pneumatics are often equipped with the Hop-Up system, which has a positive effect on stabilizing the flight of the ball. By fine-tuning this system with the selection of the weight of bullets (from 0.12 g to 0.48 g), it is possible to achieve shots hitting an A4 sheet at a firing distance of 50 m or more, which is quite enough for airsoft games.

Small game hunting

For small game hunting, it is common to use powerful "breakthroughs" and repeating PCP rifles, especially in the Bullpup layout. The first option will come down to true hunting gurus, since broken-barrel shotguns are loud, have a specific recoil and are generally single-shot. PCP rifles are best taken with a magazine loading system, which allows you to quickly send the next bullet and make an adjustment to the shot. It is advisable to find out about permits for the use of such pneumatics for hunting in certain regions in advance.

BullPup Air Rifles

Collecting

Collectors usually "hunt" for replicas of various historical models of revolvers, rifles or pistols and futuristic models with unique engravings, precious metal finishes, etc. The purpose of such a purchase is more “for the soul” and a home stand to show off to friends, rather than the practical use of weapons.

Collecting weapons is a hobby for the rich.

accessory park

It is advisable to take pneumatics in a “set” with optics, a pump and tactical accessories in the kit. At least for the first time. Then the equipment for the barrel can be purchased separately, depending on the preferences of the shooter. Also, it would be useful to pay attention to pneumatics with installed mounting brackets, which provide the possibility of tuning.

Safety must also be a priority. Immediately you need to buy at least goggles to protect your eyes and a case for transporting your weapons, along with equipment and consumables. With this minimal set, feel free to start shooting.

Arrangement of the shooting range

Anywhere you can’t shoot with a pneumatic gun. Unless in a dense forest, where a stray bullet is guaranteed not to hit anyone. Therefore, an important point of the programme, if you wish, to acquire a pneumatic “gun” and use it on an ongoing basis is the arrangement of a shooting range.

A place for a shooting range can be found, for example, in the backyard of a country house or cottage. For firing from an air pistol or simple rifles, a distance of 5-10 m will be enough. The main thing is that no one runs behind or in front of the targets. Line control is reinforced by obstacles behind the target in the manner of a blank wall, bullet trap or embankment. For more powerful rifles, more distances are needed, and a place with a “clean” distance to the target, and the obligatory presence of a protective barrier (walls, boards, bullet catcher, etc.). Plus, follow the rules for the safe handling of pneumatic weapons - neglecting them can harm random passers-by and bring many unpleasant problems to the owner of the pneumatics.

An impromptu shooting gallery is easy to create with your own hands and on a personal plot.

Finally, it is worth noting that “out of the box” many pneumatic “guns” are specially set to minimum characteristics so as not to violate the law and can be safely sold to adults. However, through simple manipulations, the rifle can be modified to the required characteristics for bullet departure by adjusting the air supply, replacing springs, etc. Some stores will happily customize the rifle to the customer's wishes for an additional fee.