Comparison Crosman Titan vs Crosman Nitro Venom

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.

The muzzle energy provided by the rifle.

Muzzle energy is the kinetic energy of the bullet at the exit from the barrel. This energy, in turn, depends on two factors: the mass and the muzzle velocity of the bullet. Thus, this indicator directly describes the overall power of the rifle: higher muzzle energy allows you to effectively fire at longer distances and/or heavier ammunition. On the other hand, an increase in power accordingly affects the cost of weapons.

Note that muzzle energy can be grounds for legal restrictions on the purchase/use of pneumatics. So, in some countries in the post-Soviet space, the maximum value allowed for freely sold rifles is 7.5 J — a special permit will be required to purchase more powerful weapons. And most freely sold rifles in such regions have a power of the order of 3 – 5 J. Such legal restrictions should be clarified separately. Lower rates are found mainly among “soft” pneumatics for airsoft (airsoft), using 6 mm plastic balls. For such models, a value of more than 2 J is already considered very solid, and in games such rifles are used with a minimum distance limit — for example, 15 m or 20 m (so that a shot from too close a distance does not injure the player).

It is also worth saying that the claimed characteristics of air rifles may, at first glance, not correspond to physical calculations. For example, for a model for the same 7.5 J..., the initial speed of 250 m/s can be claimed in the characteristics; for a 4.5 mm bullet weighing 0.5 g (the average, most popular weight), this would correspond to an energy of as much as 15.6 J. However, there are no inconsistencies here: such characteristics mean that the muzzle velocity was measured for a lighter bullet (for example, 0 .2 g), which accelerates more strongly at the outlet of the barrel. Accordingly, with heavier ammunition, the speed will be lower; it can be determined using special formulas or online calculators.

The type of mount for mounting sights provided in the design of the rifle. Most often in such cases we are talking about an optical or collimator sight; and the most popular mounting options are Weaver/Picatinny rail and dovetail. Here are their features:

— "Dovetail". This type of mount has a cross-sectional view of an inverted trapezoid (expanding upwards); the clamp on the sight covers this trapezoid from two sides, and the transverse cutouts, unlike the Weaver / Picatinny rails, are not provided for in the design — fixing in place is carried out in other ways. Dovetail mounts were originally used in civilian hunting rifles, as well as in Soviet-style military weapons. Nowadays, due to their simplicity, low cost and versatility, they are extremely common in air rifles. In addition, we note that you can even install a Weaver / Picatinny rail on a dovetail (such rails are available separately) and use a sight with the appropriate type of mount.

— Weaver / Picatinny rail. Fastening in the form of a bar with a T-shaped profile and characteristic transverse slots — they serve to rigidly fix the installed accessories in one place. Technically, Weaver and Picatinny rails are different types of mounts, they differ in the size of the slots; these differences are such that the sights and other “body kit” for the Weaver rails easily get on the Picatinny rail, but the opposite option is far fro...m always possible. However, in the civilian market, most weapon accessories for such slats are made specifically for the weaver, so this nuance, most often, is not fundamental, and both types of slats are combined into one category.
In general, for a number of reasons, such straps are much less common in air rifles than the dovetail. At the same time, classic pneumatics are most often equipped with Weaver mounts, but in airsoft copies of real weapons, Picatinny rails (or compatible NATO STANAG 4694 rails, also known as RIS 22 mm) can also be used.

— Is absent. The absence of any standard mounts for the sight in the design of the rifle. Most often, this designation means that the rifle is equipped with a classic front sight with a whole and does not require the installation of additional sights. However, there is also a more specific option — pneumatics, in which original mounts are used to install optics or a collimator, which are not related to the standards described above. Such rifles can be supplied with or without scopes; there are even models with non-removable optics, although extremely rare.

The ability to adjust the features of the trigger triggering of the rifle — first of all, the idle (before triggering) stroke of the trigger and the force on the hook. This allows you to optimally adjust the characteristics of the weapon to the personal preferences of everyone: for example, it is usually difficult for beginners to shoot with a tight trigger, but for trained shooters, a too soft hook that “falls through” under the finger may be inconvenient.

The degree of magnification provided by the rifle's complete optical sight; for models with variable magnification, the entire adjustment range is indicated, for example 3 – 9x.

For sights of this type in general, see "Aiming Device". And several points depend on the degree of increase at once. On the one hand, a higher magnification allows you to better see small and/or distant targets and facilitates high-precision shooting; on the other hand, it limits the angle of view and significantly affects the cost of the sight, and sometimes also its dimensions and weight. And since air rifles are mostly not designed for long distances, the magnification of complete optics in them usually does not exceed 9x, and one of the most popular options is 4x. However, there are exceptions: in powerful high-end pneumatics, you can find sights with a maximum magnification of 24x and even higher.

Actually, the manufacturer most often selects the magnification of optics for the ballistic characteristics of the rifle. So, when choosing this parameter, it often turns out to be secondary, and it makes sense to focus primarily on the muzzle velocity of the bullet and the firing range for which the weapon is designed — usually, the capabilities of complete optics are quite enough for this. It is also worth mentioning the variable magnification sights mentioned at the beginning, which are quite common nowadays — they are somewhat more complicated and more expensive than fix...ed optics, but they allow you to adjust the magnification to the specifics of the situation.

The diameter of the mounts that the complete optical sight of the rifle is equipped with. For optics in general, see Sights. And the diameter of the mounts is the diameter of the rings in which the tube of the sight is fixed. These rings are mounted on brackets, with which the entire structure is attached to the rifle.

In the vast majority of cases, the diameter of the rings is a purely reference parameter that does not affect the choice. Before buying a rifle, this data may be needed if the "household" already has another optical sight, which may be used instead of the standard one. And even in such cases, usually, it is easier to use the "native" mounts of a spare sight than to install it in the rings from the complete optics.

Also note that the vast majority of pneumatics with optical sights use mounts of a standard diameter — 25.4 mm. Other values (for example, 19 mm) are extremely rare.

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.