Caliber
Caliber is the general size of ammunition that determines compatibility with a specific weapon. For pneumatics, the caliber is determined only by the nominal size of the bullet/ball; in other types of weapons and pyrotechnics (“flauberts”, starting pistols, etc.), the length of the cartridge case can also be taken into account.
The main calibers used in modern pneumatics and other similar weapons are:
4 mm Flaubert,
4.5 mm,
5.5 mm, 6 mm,
6.35 mm. Larger calibers - 7.62 mm and
9 mm - are noticeably less common.
Before considering the features of the above options, it is worth clarifying one nuance. Quite a significant number of pneumatic bullets in our time have a caliber designation that differs from the nominal one by hundredths of a millimeter. This is especially noticeable for 4.5 mm: among such ammunition one can find, in particular, the markings
“4.46 mm”,
“4.48 mm”,
“4.49 mm”,
“4.51 mm”,
“4, 52 mm" and
"4.53 mm". Bullets of 5.5 mm caliber, in turn, can be designated
“5.51 mm” and
“5.52 mm”. These differences are
...fundamental mainly for professional shooters engaged in high-precision shooting from premium rifles: many such shooters determine the actual size of the barrel of their weapon with an accuracy of one hundredth of a millimeter and try to select bullets that best match this size. For simpler tasks - such as recreational and training shooting at close and medium distances - these differences can be ignored: for example, for similar purposes in a 4.5 mm rifle, you can use all options from 4.46 mm to 4.53 mm.
Now let's look at each of the main calibers in more detail.
— 4 mm (flaubert). Although Flaubert’s original cartridge had a caliber of 5.6 mm, it was the 4 mm version that became most widespread in the post-Soviet space. This is due to the fact that with such a caliber, such a cartridge has very low muzzle energy (comparable to charges fired from 4.5 mm caliber pneumatics) and almost zero lethal force - this, in particular, allows it to be used in shooting galleries and shooting ranges originally designed for pneumatics. As a result, in some countries, “Flaubert” is not considered a firearm at all, and weapons for it are sold either without special permits at all, or under simplified rules. However, the legal status of such cartridges may differ markedly from state to state; so even if you freely bought a “Flaubert” and its charges in one country, this does not mean that such cargo can be legally imported into another.
- 4.5 mm. The smallest of the calibers widely used in pneumatics, it is also the most popular. Among professionals and enthusiasts it is known as the “children’s” - as opposed to the “papal” 5.5 mm and the “grandfather’s” 6.35 mm. However, such a condescending name does not correspond to reality: a huge number of rifles and pistols are produced under 4.5 mm, including quite powerful and long-range ones. However, the lethal and stopping effect of such ammunition is indeed very weak. So for hunting purposes they are used only for small game such as birds and small rodents, and the main use of 4.5 mm pneumatics is recreational, training and sports shooting. On the other hand, for the same reasons, pneumatic weapons of this caliber are sold freely in many countries, without special permits.
- 5.5 mm. A caliber known among pneumatic fans as “papal.” It is found mainly in PCP type rifles (with pre-pumping), it allows you to achieve muzzle energy of up to 48 J, thanks to which it can even be used for hunting medium game like a hare or black grouse; and the aimed shooting range of such a bullet can reach 70 m. It is worth considering that although bullets of this caliber are sold freely in many countries, pneumatics themselves may already fall under the category of hunting weapons, available only with special permits.
- 6 mm. Standard caliber of plastic balls used in airsoft drives; For more details, see “Type - balls - plastic”.
- 6.35 mm. The caliber is known among fans of pneumatics as “grandfather’s”. Many believe that this particular caliber provides the optimal balance between the lethal and stopping effect of a bullet on the one hand and the weight of the weapon and air consumption on the other. A 6.35 mm bullet can be given a muzzle energy of 70 J or higher, due to which the effective firing range reaches about 70 - 80 m. Such ammunition is quite suitable for hunting medium and even large game: with a certain skill and the appropriate weapon with this caliber, you can “take "even roe deer or wild boar. In many countries, 6.35mm airguns are available only with special permission, although bullets can be sold freely.
- 7.62 mm. Quite a rare caliber in air guns; used mainly in PCP rifles. Allows you to achieve even greater muzzle energy than 6.35 mm, making it excellent for hunting medium and large game. However, effective shooting with such ammunition requires significant air consumption, which is why the weapon for it turns out to be heavy and expensive, and also has a small supply of shots at the gas station. It is because of this that this caliber is not popular.
- 9 mm. The 9 mm caliber is found in two types of ammunition. The first is classic pneumatic bullets, intended mainly for hunting medium and large game. Such bullets have an excellent lethal and stopping effect, but creating an effective weapon for them is associated with even greater difficulties than the 7.62 mm described above. Therefore, such ammunition is even rarer.
The second type of 9 mm ammunition is pyrotechnic charges in the form of blank cartridges for starting, gas and traumatic pistols. This cartridge has a full powder charge, but instead of a bullet, the cartridge case is closed with a plastic shell, which is destroyed when fired. Thanks to this, ammunition of this type reliably reproduces all aspects of shooting (sound, flash, recoil, operation of the pistol’s automatics), except for the actual flight of the bullet. For more information on the use of pyrotechnic cartridges, see “Type”.Bullet weight
The weight of one bullet or ball.
Both light and heavy shells have their advantages and disadvantages. So, a small weight allows you to achieve a high initial speed, but it is quickly lost due to air resistance. Conversely, a heavy bullet "starts" slower, but retains speed longer. However, in fact, such nuances are necessary mainly for professionals and enthusiastic enthusiasts — hunters, athletes, fans of high-precision shooting, etc. If bullets are bought for entertainment, initial training and other tasks that do not require special accuracy, you can not pay much attention.
As for specific weight values, they are directly related to the caliber. So, bullets of the most popular 4.5 mm caliber in our area with a weight
of up to 0.3 g and
0.3 – 04 g are considered very light,
0.4 – 0.5 g and
0.5 – 0.6 g are light,
0 ,6 – 0.7 g and
0.7 – 0.8 g — medium,
0.8 – 0.9 g and
0.9 – 1 g — heavy, and the most massive may
exceed 1 g in weight. In turn, balls of the same caliber rarely exceed 0.5 g in weight. For larger calibers, respectively, the numbers are larger: the weight of a 5.5 mm bullet can reach 2.5 g, 6.35 mm — 5 g, 9 mm — 10 g .
In package
The amount of ammunition in the package.
Due to their small size and low cost, bullets and balls for pneumatics are usually sold in large quantities: packages
up to 250 pcs inclusive are considered small,
250 – 500 pcs are considered medium, and in separate sets there are
more(up to 2000 pcs and more). However, this is true only for the most popular caliber 4.5 mm — charges of larger calibers are supplied in much smaller batches. In addition, the only exceptions are darts, which are usually sold in 10-12 pcs (for details, see "Type").
In turn, Flaubert's cartridges and pyrotechnic charges in the form of blank cartridges are also sold in relatively modest quantities — from 10 to 200 pcs in the first case and most often 50 pcs in the second.
Anyway, one large pack is usually cheaper than several small ones with the same number of charges. And it is convenient to take small batches of ammunition “for testing”.
