Muzzle velocity
The muzzle velocity provided by the rifle - that is, the speed of the bullet as it exits the barrel.
All other things being equal, a higher bullet speed provides greater range and accuracy, and also simplifies aiming at long distances: the bullet flies along a smoother trajectory and requires fewer adjustments in height, and the influence of side winds decreases with increasing speed. On the other hand, this indicator directly affects the price of the rifle; and in some countries, legal restrictions on the ownership of pneumatic weapons are also related to the muzzle velocity of the bullet.
As for specific values, in the weakest modern rifles the initial speed does not exceed
150 m/s, and in the most powerful it can be
300 - 350 m/s or even
more(remember, the speed of sound is 330 m/s). In general, for recreational shooting at short distances, this parameter is not particularly important, and detailed recommendations for choosing pneumatics for more specific situations can be found in special sources. Let us only note that in AEG electric drives (see “Type”) the initial speed extremely rarely exceeds 150 m/s, but this is done solely for safety reasons: such “weapons” are intended for military-tactical games and initially involve shooting at people, and the high speed would be unsafe for players even with protective equipment.
It is also wor
...th considering that this indicator is not strictly defined. In any type of pneumatic it depends on the weight of the bullet (the lighter the faster); therefore, in the characteristics it is usually customary to indicate a certain average velocity for standard ammunition (usually weighing 0.5 g, in AEG - 0.2 g). In addition, in multi-compression rifles the actual speed of the bullet is determined by the degree of inflation, in gas-cylinder rifles it is determined by the ambient temperature, and in PCP models it is possible to achieve higher speeds than declared by replacing the air with a special gas (for example, helium). Nevertheless, this characteristic makes it possible to evaluate the capabilities of the rifle and compare it with other models, including those that differ in type.Shots from one refueling
The number of shots that a PCP type rifle (see "Type") can fire on one full tank, and a gas-cylinder model — from one regular cartridge.
The larger this number, the less often you will have to be distracted by reloading a rifle or replacing a cartridge. On the other hand, an increase in the number of shots per charge has its downsides. So, in the case of PCP, for more shots on a charge, either a larger tank is needed (which affects weight, dimensions and cost), or a higher pressure in the tank (which can make refueling difficult and, again, affects cost). In LPG models using standard cartridges, more shots usually means less gas per shot and, as a result, less muzzle energy and muzzle velocity.
It is also worth noting that on the last shots of one refueling, the gas pressure and the effectiveness of the weapon are noticeably reduced; this effect is most pronounced on gas-ballooned rifles, least pronounced on PCP-models with air supply by a gearbox (see below). So the number of effective shots from one gas station will inevitably be less than the total number of shots.
Cheek adjustment
The ability to adjust the location of the emphasis under the cheek, located on the butt. Usually, we are talking about at least height adjustment, and in advanced models it may also be possible to move the stop back and forth. Anyway, this feature allows you to adjust the position of the cheek to the physique and personal preferences of a particular shooter, thus providing the most comfortable tab — and this convenience, in turn, has a positive effect on accuracy. At the same time, the ability to
adjust the cheekpiece significantly increases the price of the rifle, and therefore it is found mainly in top-class models.
Barrel length
The working length of the rifle barrel is from the chamber where the bullet is loaded to the muzzle. The shortest barrels found nowadays have a length
of just over 200 mm(and in some AEGs even
less than this value); the longest reach
500 – 600 mm.
There is a stereotype that the muzzle velocity directly depends on the length of the barrel. In firearms, this is true — but not in pneumatics. Firstly, in such rifles, the initial velocity depends on a number of other indicators — pressure, the quality of the barrel treatment, the efficiency of the valves, etc. on the first 20 – 25 cm of the barrel, then the gas pressure drops noticeably. The exception is PCP rifles, in which the longer barrel really makes it easier to achieve high speeds. However, again, so many additional factors affect the final result that models with the same barrel length can differ markedly in initial speed.
The second common stereotype is that a longer barrel improves accuracy and accuracy. This is true in the context that a longer barrel allows for a greater distance between the front and rear sights, making it easier to aim carefully. Technical accuracy does not depend on the length, but on the quality of the barrel processing.
Summing up all of the above, we can say that the length of the barrel for an air rifle is more of a reference than a really significant paramete
...r, and when choosing, it is better to focus on more "close to life" characteristics — first of all, directly claimed muzzle velocity.
