What is the initial speed of the bullet. Muzzle velocity - factors of influence. Shooting at various distances

Bullets are different. Their type depends on the weapon for which they are made. There are shells for rifled, pneumatic. Accordingly, they look different. The size will be determined by the type and size of the weapon.

There are major live ammunition, large bullets or very small ones for pistols and revolvers.

However, the speed of the bullet will be determined not only by its size. Many other factors also influence it.

Factors affecting bullet speed

A number of reasons can slow down the muzzle velocity of a projectile when fired from a weapon. Let's consider the main ones.

1. Ambient temperature. The lower the air temperature, the more energy is spent on heating the powder and launching the projectile, that is, the initial launch speed decreases.
2. Powder moisture. The drier the gunpowder, the higher the value of the muzzle velocity will be, as the pressure in the barrel of the weapon will increase.
3. The shape and size of powder grains. The finer the dispersed particles of the powder charge, the faster they will burn. Therefore, the initial speed will increase
4. Gunpowder density. In order to load the product with gunpowder as correctly and safely as possible, special precise engineering calculations are required. Without them, an overdose in gunpowder is possible, which will lead to internal detonation of the weapon. Or, on the contrary, undercharging, which will lead to overheating of the weapon barrel. It is forbidden to independently reload the powder component in the weapon!
5. Weapon barrel length. The shorter the barrel, the less time the action of powder gases takes place, which reduces the speed of the bullet.
6. Product weight. The lighter the bullet in mass, the higher its muzzle velocity.

Each of these factors may vary slightly depending on the type of weapon. However, in general, it is these conditions that affect the initial and overall speed of the bullet when fired.

What is a chronograph?

A chronograph is a special device that allows you to track some indicators of the internal and external structure of the projectile and, based on the data obtained, draw a conclusion about its possible speed.

The device is designed in such a way that it can be used to easily check the declared technical characteristics of weapons in the store. In addition, it determines the initial and overall speed of the bullet.

Using the chronograph, you can view and evaluate the following indicators of weapons:

• cylindrical pressure (its level);
• spring fatigue or barrel lead;
• the device will show the mass of the cartridge;
• assess the quality;
• will show the wear of the piston cuff;
• temperature.

An electronic device through calculations and generalization will give a real result for all indicators. However, it also has its drawbacks.

Chronograph Disadvantages

The device has a certain weight and size, which makes it not always convenient to use in certain conditions (for example, in the field). Also, the disadvantage of this device can be attributed to the measurement error (electronic). It is not too significant, but still has a place to be.

The counter of the device is triggered and stops depending on the illumination of the area (room), which also forms a certain error in the readings.

Such a device will not reliably show the exact real bullet; for this, another measurement method should be used.

Shooting at various distances

This is a more accurate and realistic way to determine the speed of a bullet. This will require not only attentiveness, but also a computer with an installed ballistic calculator, which will provide complete information and the most accurate calculations.

The work goes according to the following scheme:

• upload to ballistic calculator the necessary data that we take from the manufacturer of the weapon and from the indicators obtained with our own hands (we shoot the weapon at 100 m to zero);
• enter the mass of the cartridge, the shooting distance;
• we measure and load the height of the sight above the barrel of the weapon;
• we take data from the manufacturer about the vertical and horizontal clicks in the optics;
• we enter the temperature and air pressure readings at the time of the study (the more accurate, the more real and better the result will be);
• height above sea level;
• bullet speed from the manufacturer.

The calculator will have graphs for shooting distances. There we indicate 200, 300, 500 and 700 meters. Longer distances are not immediately recommended. In the columns where 1MOA is requested, we write the following values ​​according to the order of the distances: 5.8; 8.7; 14.5; 20.3 centimeters.

The rest of the work is just a mouse click on the calculator. Follow the ballistic device navigator and as a result you will get an accurate and real indicator of what the speed of the bullet is.

Some values ​​​​of the speed of the cartridge of different calibers for the machine

As mentioned above, it is difficult to give an accurate assessment of such an indicator as speed. To a large extent, it is determined by the surrounding circumstances. However, approximate values ​​\u200b\u200bfor different-caliber bullets of the machine gun can be given.

Studies and calculations have shown that the value of the flight speed of a cartridge from an assault rifle will depend on its model and caliber, therefore, variations in the given data are possible. But these errors are small, and everyone can correct them for their weapons.

caliber 5.45X39

If shooting is done with a normal (ordinary) cartridge, then the averaged data on the speed of the bullet will show a result of approximately 870 m / s. If the distance is made approximately 500 meters, then the speed will decrease to 428 m / s.

This type of weapon has an elongated barrel, so the bullet speed is quite high.

AKS-74U caliber 5.45X39 and AK-101

If we talk about the speed of a fired bullet from the AKS-74U, then it will be approximately 740 m / s. Less than the previous one, because the barrel is shorter.

AK-101 caliber 5.56X45, on the contrary, will show a very good result in this indicator. Approximately 930 m / s, thanks to the long-barreled structure of the weapon. The American analogue of this weapon has an even longer barrel length; the same cartridges with the same value of the muzzle velocity are suitable for both types of machine guns.

AK-47 assault rifle

The projectiles of this weapon have a greater mass than all the followers of the AK, therefore they have a powerful penetrating power. However, they are inferior in speed to their colleagues, because it is only 740 m / s. Nevertheless, this is quite enough for this machine gun to be considered a formidable and serious military weapon.

muzzle energy of a bullet

In addition to speed, bullet energy is also a very important characteristic. To calculate the muzzle energy, it is worth remembering the usual school physics course. The simplest formula would be: (mass x speed) 2/2, (mass in kilograms, speed in meters per second).

Why is cartridge energy important? Because energy is the power of the bullet, its main combat performance. The greater the mass and the higher the speed, the higher the energy, respectively. This means that the weapon itself is more powerful and long-range.

In other words, this is the usual formula for calculating the kinetic energy of a body. Rifle bullets have the maximum muzzle energy. They balance the mass and muzzle velocity in such a way that the work is powerful and efficient.

For example, at a distance of about 100 meters, the depth of entry of a rifle bullet into fairly dense materials is from 0.6 to 350 cm. These are materials such as steel plate, wood, iron plate, a layer of soft clay, gravel or crushed stone, brickwork, earth or packed snow. These data are given on the basis of a study of the muzzle energy of the lungs by the mass of bullets.

Obviously, the value of the speed and muzzle energy of any projectile is very large and determines the power and range of the weapon.

Airguns

Not so long ago, a survey was conducted among owners of pneumatics on the topic: "What is the bullet speed of your pneumatic weapon?" Interestingly, the percentage spread in speeds is very variable.

So, for example, most of those who took part in the survey (20%) named a figure of 220-305 m/s. Since this is, in principle, a normal average indicator for pneumatics, the figure does not cause distrust.

However, almost 9% of respondents claim that their weapons have a bullet speed of 380 m/s or more. This figure casts doubt on its authenticity. Some kind of too powerful military weapon is obtained. Such a bullet speed value for pneumatics is rare, not every model can boast of such.

19% of the participants each admitted that their weapon hits at a bullet speed of 100-130 m/s and 130-180 m/s. For 11%, this figure tends to 350 m / s, which is quite serious. And, finally, 6% of the participants estimate the speed of the bullet in their pneumatic at 75-100 m/s.

The most common and easiest way to measure airgun speed is with chronometers. Most of these devices are designed specifically for pneumatics. Although the measurement error, however, the result will still remain quite reliable.

No matter how you measure the speed of a bullet from your weapon, the error will still not go anywhere, since the external environment will always be different in terms of its indicators.

These breathtaking photographs capture the moment a bullet exits a barrel at over 365 meters per second. The author of the project was the Finnish photographer Herra Kuulapaa, who has been perfecting the unusual high-speed shooting technique for the last 7 years. In addition to the beautiful visual effect, his work has a scientific background.

(Total 20 photos)

Post sponsor: Interior doors: You can buy from us interior doors with free delivery in St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region without leaving your home!

1. Seven years ago, a group of amateur photographers launched an initiative that later grew into a project that helps firearms manufacturers better understand the fire processes that occur at the moment of a shot. This allows companies to improve their products Pictured is a modified Austrian Glock.

2. “Sport shooting enthusiasts around the world are eager to find out what happens in milliseconds at the moment a bullet leaves the bore. Our new method allowed us to obtain detailed 3D images of a projectile fired from a firearm. You can see 3D images of the explosion and the powder gas flow,” says Kuulapaa.

3. In the photo: Bullets fly at a speed of 1,280 km / h

4. None of the moments depicted in the pictures can be seen with the naked eye, since the action takes place in hundredths of a second. But it's not easy beautiful pictures, with their help, weapons manufacturers receive information about the flow of gases and the distribution of temperature during a shot to improve their products.

5. The bullet leaves the barrel of the weapon when fired in milliseconds.

6. Many frames show an impressive flash when fired.

7. The photographer admits that he often accidentally damages his equipment and lenses, trying to capture the right moment.

8. Shot from the Smith & Wesson Model 500 (Smith & Wesson Model 500), the most powerful mass-produced revolver to date

9. The mass of the giant of the sky of cartridges is 2 kg 60 g. Smith and Wesson model 500 in the movie "Return of the Hero" with Schwarzenegger

10. In the collage: A sequence of shots showing a bullet fired from a rifle.

11. Shot with our 7.62x39mm cartridge from an American AR-15 rifle. It is considered the third most powerful automatic cartridge in the world.

12. "Our latest achievement is 3D shooting of a shot, where you can see a three-dimensional picture."

13. A cloud of gases when fired

14. The initial moment of a shot from an AR-15 rifle

15. A bullet flies out at a speed of 3,050 km / h, which is much faster than when fired from a pistol.

For a shooter, the initial velocity of a bullet (projectile) is perhaps the most important of all the quantities considered in internal ballistics.

Indeed, this quantity depends longest range shooting, direct shot range, i.e. the greatest range of direct fire at visible targets, at which the height of the trajectory of the bullet does not exceed the height of the target, the time of movement of the bullet (projectile) to the target, the impact of the projectile on the target and other indicators.

That is why it is necessary to pay attention to the very concept of the initial velocity, to the methods of its determination, to how the initial velocity changes when the parameters of internal ballistics change and when the firing conditions change.

When fired from small arms, a bullet, starting to move faster and faster along the bore under the action of powder gases, reaches its maximum speed a few centimeters from the muzzle.

Then, moving by inertia and meeting the resistance of the air, the bullet begins to lose its speed. Therefore, the speed of the bullet changes all the time. Given this circumstance, it is customary to fix the speed of a bullet only in some specific phases of its movement. Usually fix the speed of the bullet when it leaves the bore.

The speed of the bullet at the muzzle of the barrel at the moment it leaves the bore is called the muzzle velocity.

For the initial speed, the conditional speed is taken, which is slightly more than the muzzle and less than the maximum. It is measured by the distance that a bullet could cover in 1 second after leaving the bore if neither air resistance nor its gravity acted on it. Since the speed of a bullet at some distance from the muzzle differs little from the speed when it leaves the bore, in practical calculations it is usually considered that the most great speed the bullet has at the moment of departure from the bore, i.e. that the muzzle velocity of the bullet is the greatest (maximum) velocity.

The initial speed is determined empirically with subsequent calculations. The value of the initial velocity of the bullet is indicated in the firing tables and in the combat characteristics of the weapon.

So, when firing from a 7.62 mm magazine rifle of the Mosin system mod. 1891/30 the muzzle velocity of a light bullet is 865 m/s, and that of a heavy bullet is 800 m/s. When firing from a 5.6 mm TOZ-8 small-caliber rifle, the initial velocity of a bullet of various batches of cartridges varies between 280-350 m / s.

The value of the initial velocity is one of the most important characteristics of not only cartridges, but also the combat properties of weapons. However, it is impossible to judge the ballistic properties of a weapon by only one initial bullet velocity. With an increase in the initial speed, the range of the bullet, the range of a direct shot, the lethal and penetrating effect of the bullet increases, and the influence of external conditions for her flight.

The value of the muzzle velocity depends on the length of the barrel of the weapon; bullet mass; mass, temperature and humidity of the powder charge of the cartridge, the shape and size of the powder grains and the loading density.

The longer the barrel of a small arms weapon, the longer the powder gases act on the bullet and the higher the muzzle velocity of the bullet.

It is also necessary to consider the muzzle velocity of the bullet in combination with its mass. It is very important to know how much energy the bullet has, what work it can do.

It is known from physics that the energy of a moving body depends on its mass and speed. Therefore, the greater the mass of the bullet and the speed of its movement, the greater the kinetic energy of the bullet. With a constant barrel length and a constant mass of the powder charge, the initial velocity is greater, the smaller the mass of the bullet. An increase in the mass of the powder charge leads to an increase in the amount of powder gases, and, consequently, to an increase in the maximum pressure in the bore and an increase in the muzzle velocity. The greater the mass of the powder charge, the greater the maximum pressure and muzzle velocity of the bullet.

The length of the barrel and the mass of the powder charge increase when designing samples of small arms to the most rational sizes.

With an increase in the temperature of the powder charge, the burning rate of the powder increases, and therefore the maximum pressure and the initial speed of the bullet increase. As the charge temperature decreases, the initial speed decreases. An increase (decrease) in initial velocity causes an increase (decrease) in the range of the bullet. In this regard, when shooting, it is imperative to take into account range corrections for air and charge temperature (charge temperature is approximately equal to air temperature).

With an increase in the humidity of the powder charge, its burning rate and the initial speed of the bullet decrease.

The shape and size of the powder have a significant impact on the burning rate of the powder charge, and consequently, on the muzzle velocity of the bullet. They are selected accordingly when designing weapons.

Loading density is the ratio of the mass of the charge to the volume of the sleeve with the inserted pool (charge combustion chambers). With a very deep landing of the bullet, the loading density increases significantly, which can lead to a sharp pressure jump when fired and, as a result, to a rupture of the barrel, so such cartridges cannot be used for shooting. With a decrease (increase) in the loading density, the initial velocity of the bullet increases (decreases).

The penetrating effect of a bullet (tables 1 and 2) is characterized by its kinetic energy (manpower). The kinetic energy imparted to the bullet by the powder gases as it leaves the bore is called muzzle energy. Bullet energy is measured in joules.

Table 1
Penetrating action of a light bullet 7.62 mm sniper repeating rifle
Mosin system arr. 1891/30 (when shooting at distances up to 100 m)

RIFLE bullets have tremendous kinetic energy. So, the muzzle energy of a light bullet when firing from a rifle of the 1891/30 model. is equal to 3600 J. How great is the energy of the bullet, it can be seen from the following: in order to obtain such energy in such a short period of time (not by firing), a machine with a power of 3000 hp would be required. from.

From what has been said, it is clear how great practical value has a high initial velocity for firing and the muzzle energy of the bullet dependent on it. With an increase in the initial velocity of the bullet and its muzzle energy, the firing range increases; the trajectory of the bullet becomes more sloping; the influence of external conditions on the flight of a bullet is significantly reduced; bullet penetration increases.

At the same time, by the value of the initial velocity of the bullet (projectile) big influence causes bore wear. During operation, the barrel of the weapon undergoes significant wear. This is facilitated by a number of reasons of a mechanical, thermal, gas-dynamic and chemical nature.

First of all, the bullet, when passing through the bore, due to high friction forces, rounds off the corners of the rifling fields and abrades the inner walls of the bore. In addition, particles of powder gases moving at high speed hit with force the walls of the bore, causing the so-called hardening on their surface. This phenomenon consists in the fact that the surface of the bore is covered with a thin crust with fragility gradually developing in it. The elastic deformation of the barrel expansion occurring during the shot leads to the appearance of small cracks on the inner surface of the metal.

The formation of such cracks is facilitated by heat powder gases, which, due to their very short action, cause partial melting of the bore surface. Large stresses arise in the heated metal layer, which ultimately lead to the appearance and growth of these small cracks. The increased brittleness of the surface layer of the metal and the presence of cracks on it lead to the fact that the bullet, when passing through the bore, produces metal chips in the cracks. The wear of the barrel is also greatly facilitated by the soot remaining in the bore after the shot. It is the remains of the combustion of the primer composition and gunpowder, as well as metal scraped off from the bullet or smelted from it, pieces of the case mouth torn off by gases, etc.

The salts present in soot have the ability to absorb moisture from the air, dissolve in it and form solutions that, reacting with the metal, lead to its corrosion (rust), the appearance of a rash in the bore, and then shells. All these factors lead to a change, destruction of the surface of the bore, which entails an increase in its caliber, especially at the bullet entry, and, of course, a decrease in its overall strength. Therefore, the noted change in parameters during barrel wear leads to a decrease in the initial velocity of the bullet (projectile), as well as to a sharp deterioration in the weapon’s combat, i.e. to the loss of their ballistic qualities.

If during the time of Peter I the initial speed of the cannonball reached 200 meters per second, then modern artillery shells fly much faster. The flight speed of a modern projectile in the first second is usually 800-900 meters, and some projectiles fly even faster, at a speed of 1000 or more meters per second. This speed is so great that the projectile, when it flies, is not even visible. Therefore, a modern projectile travels at 40 times the speed of a courier train and 8 times the speed of an airplane.

table 2
Penetrating action of a bullet of a 5.6 mm TOZ-8 small-caliber rifle (when firing at a distance of up to 25 m)

However, here we are talking about ordinary passenger aircraft and artillery shells flying from average speed.

If we take for comparison, on the one hand, the “slowest” projectile, and on the other hand, a modern jet aircraft, then the difference will not be so great, and, moreover, not in favor of the projectile: jet aircraft fly at an average speed of about 900 kilometers per hour , that is, about 250 meters per second, and a very "slow" projectile, for example, a projectile of the 152-mm Msta 2 C19 self-propelled howitzer, with the smallest charge, flies only 238 meters in the first second.

It turns out that a jet aircraft will not only not lag behind such a projectile, but will also overtake it.

A passenger plane flies about 900 kilometers in an hour. How much will a projectile fly in an hour, flying several times faster than an airplane? It would seem that the projectile should fly about 4000 kilometers in an hour.

In fact, however, the entire flight of an artillery shell usually lasts less than a minute, the shell flies 15-20 kilometers, and only for some guns - more.

What is the matter here? What prevents a projectile from flying as long and as far as an airplane flies?

The plane flies for a long time because the propeller pulls or the jet engine pushes it forward all the time. The engine runs for several hours in a row - until there is enough fuel. Therefore, the plane can fly continuously for several hours in a row.

The projectile receives a push in the channel of the gun, and then it flies by itself, no force pushes it forward anymore. From the point of view of mechanics, a flying projectile will be a body moving by inertia. Such a body, the mechanic teaches, must obey very simple law: it must move in a straight line and uniformly, unless no other force is applied to it.

Does the projectile obey this law, does it move in a straight line?

Imagine that a kilometer away from us there is a target, for example, an enemy machine-gun point. Let's try to point the gun so that its barrel is pointed directly at the machine gun, then we'll fire a shot.

No matter how many times we shoot like this, we will never hit the target: every time the projectile will fall to the ground and burst, flying only 200-300 meters. If we continue the experiments, we will soon come to the following conclusion: in order to hit, you need to direct the barrel not at the target, but slightly above it.

It turns out that the projectile does not fly forward in a straight line: it descends in flight. What's the matter? Why does the projectile fly in a straight line? What is the force pulling the projectile down?

Artillery scientists of the late XVI and early XVII centuries have explained this phenomenon in this way: a projectile flying obliquely upwards loses its strength, like a person climbing a steep mountain. And when the projectile finally loses its strength, it will stop in the air for a moment, and then fall down like a stone. The path of the projectile in the air seemed to the artillerymen of the 16th century as shown in the figure.

Nowadays, all people who have studied physics, knowing the laws discovered by Galileo and Newton, will give a more correct answer: gravity acts on a flying projectile and makes it descend during the flight. After all, everyone knows that a thrown stone does not fly straight, but describes a curve and, having flown a short distance, falls to the ground. Ceteris paribus, the stone flies the farther, the stronger it is thrown, the greater the speed it received at the moment of the throw.

Let's put a tool in place of a person throwing a stone, and replace the stone with a projectile; like any flying body, the projectile will be attracted to the ground during the flight and, therefore, move away from the line along which it was thrown, this line is called in artillery the line of throw, and the angle between this line and the horizon of the gun is the throw angle.

If we assume that only the force of gravity acts on the projectile during its flight, then under the influence of this force in the first second of the flight the projectile will fall by approximately 5 meters (more precisely - by 4.9 meters), in the second - by almost 15 meters (more precisely - by 14.7 meters) and every next second the falling speed will increase by almost 10 meters per second (more precisely, by 9.8 meters per second). This is the law of free fall of bodies discovered by Galileo.

Therefore, the line of flight of the projectile - the trajectory - is not straight, but exactly the same as for a thrown stone, similar to an arc.

In addition, one may wonder: is there a relationship between the angle of throw and the distance that the projectile flies?

Let's try to fire the gun once with the barrel horizontal, another time with a throw angle of 3 degrees, and a third time with a throw angle of 6 degrees.

In the first second of the flight, the projectile must move down from the throwing line by 5 meters. And this means that if the barrel of the gun lies on the machine 1 meter high from the ground and is directed horizontally, then the projectile will have nowhere to fall, it will hit the ground before the first second of the flight expires. The calculation shows that after 6 tenths of a second the projectile will hit the ground.

A projectile thrown at a speed of 600-700 meters per second, with a horizontal position of the barrel, will fly only 300 meters before falling to the ground. Now let's make a shot at an angle of 3 degrees.

The line of throwing will no longer go horizontally, but at an angle of 3 degrees to the horizon.

According to our calculations, a projectile fired at a speed of 600 meters per second would have to rise to a height of 30 meters in a second, but gravity will take 5 meters away from it, and in fact the projectile will be at a height of 25 meters above the ground. After 2 seconds, the projectile, without gravity, would have already risen to a height of 60 meters, in fact, gravity will take another 15 meters in the second second of flight, and only 20 meters. By the end of the second second, the projectile will be at a height of 40 meters. If we continue the calculations, they will show that already at the fourth second the projectile will not only stop rising, but will begin to fall lower and lower. And by the end of the sixth second, having flown 3600 meters, the projectile will fall to the ground.

The calculations for firing at a 6-degree throw angle are similar to those we just did, but the calculations will take much longer: the projectile will fly for 12 seconds and fly 7200 meters.

Thus, we realized that the greater the angle of throw, the farther the projectile flies. But there is a limit to this increase in range: the projectile flies farthest if it is thrown at an angle of 45 degrees. If you further increase the angle of throw, the projectile will climb higher, but it will fall closer.

It goes without saying that the flight range will depend not only on the angle of throw, but also on the speed: the greater the initial velocity of the projectile, the further it will fall, all other things being equal.

For example, if you throw a projectile at an angle of 6 degrees with a speed of not 600, but 170 meters per second, then it will fly not 7200 meters, but only 570.

Consequently, the real highest muzzle velocity that can be achieved in a classic artillery gun cannot in principle exceed 2500–3000 m/s, and the actual firing range does not exceed several tens of kilometers. This is the peculiarity of artillery barrel systems (including small arms), realizing that humanity, in its pursuit of cosmic speeds and ranges, turned to the use of the jet propulsion principle.

At the same time, the legendaryly pedantic Germans did not even notice that they were contradicting themselves. Okay, we left for our classic “supermagnum” of the 350 series with a much larger compressor a speed of 380 m / s (also, by the way, pretty high). Let's attribute this to some "magic" properties of a gas spring, although - between us - in terms of effort, they do not differ from twisted counterparts. But after all, for the newest “super” “Diana Panther 350 N-TEC” (pictured) with a 29x120 mm compressor, 30 joules of energy and a much more powerful HPVD, the same 400 m / s were indicated as for the magnum.

That's how it turns out, are all calculators broken in Germany? ..

And the largest arms company in Europe, the Spanish El Gamo, did not hesitate at all and simply sharply raised (on the paper of advertising booklets) these characteristics for the entire model range. So, the good old "Hunter 440" for no reason suddenly "shot" at speeds of 386 m / s, although six months ago it again gave out a little inflated advertising 305 m / s. And the latest samples of 2017, according to company data the world's most powerful "supermagnums" "Hunter 1250 Grizzly IGT Mach1" and "G-MAGNUM 1250 IGT" (pictured) - and at all under 500 m/s!(cm. )

Clearly, “nothing personal, just business”, and yet such a pursuit of sales growth for such eminent manufacturers looks somehow undignified. Even the Turkish "Hatsan", all products of which are clearly more powerful than Dianov's counterparts, did not demonstrate marketing miracles in the "Catalogue 2017" and retained the previous characteristics for their samples. So did Krosman and Stoeger. What is happening, and how is it in reality?

• for "magnum", 20 joules: "half-grams" (0.55 g) - up to 280 m / s, "heavy" (0.68 g) - 240 m / s. "Hatsans" (25 J) - up to 300 m / s with light bullets (which is already undesirable) and 270 with heavy ones.
• for "supermagnum", 29-33 joules: "heavy", they are also the minimum allowable (0.68 g) - 290-310 m / s.

The same is true for PCP (Pre-Charge Pneumatics) pneumatics. Of course, by pushing an ultra-light bullet into the drum and pumping heartily, you can achieve speeds exceeding 400 meters per second, almost at the level of a smooth-bore firearm. However, in reality, PCP owners use the ammunition suitable for their weapons and optimize the pressure (the so-called “plateau”) or set the gearbox to, again, optimal performance. Depending on the caliber, the weapon gives out from 220 to about 320 m / s, and the more powerful it is, the lower the speed, and the bullets are heavier! In addition, the silencers installed on most modern PCP rifles, like those of a firearm, work correctly only at subsonic (up to 330 m/s) speeds.

Now let's see if the requirements declared for air rifles characteristics. Here are the results of the calculations.

1. Unlicensed pneumatics up to 7.5 joules, for which the base speed is about 170 m / s (it is also fixed by law).

"MR-512"

So, we substitute the known values ​​​​into the formula:

7.5 \u003d m * 170 2 / 2

And we carry out calculations familiar from school years:

m \u003d 2E / v 2, i.e. m \u003d 2 * 7.5 / 170 2

m = 0.00051 kg, or 0.51 grams.

That is, everything is correct, we are talking about the so-called. "half-gram" - a bullet just designed for rifles of low power. Here manufacturers / sellers are guided by the requirements of the law (based precisely on mathematical calculations) and, in order not to conflict with them, give objective indicators.

2. Magnum-class rifles, for which manufacturers declare a speed of 305 m / s. First, about the most common samples with a compressor of 25x100 mm and an energy of 20 joules.

20 = m * 305 2/2

m = 0.00043 kg, or 0.43 grams.

That is, the mass of the bullet is even less than in the previous version. It is already undesirable to use such light shells with 20-joule "magnums", it will turn out to be a kind of lightweight analogue of a devastating blank shot. Yes, and it’s difficult to find such bullets, basically they will be DS caps known from Soviet Tirovka “ovens”. But such “products” are intended mainly for 3-joule (!) Pistols and rifles.

4. Now let's move on to "supermagnums" with an energy of 30 joules. “Half-grams” of them are no longer shot, let me remind you that the standard is 10.5 grains (1 grain = 0.0648 grams), or 0.68 g.

We will take it as a basis.

V = square root of 2E/m (2*30 j/0.00068 kg)

V = 297 m/s

Table 4

By the way, the Gamo Hunter 1250, Hatsan 125/135 rifles are more powerful than their counterparts and give out about 33 joules, that is, about 310 m / s with normal bullets. And again, no advertising fabulous 380 ...

Pneumatics with pre-pumping (PCP), as mentioned at the beginning of the article, also operate at optimal subsonic speeds - up to 330 m / s. Another thing is that even in caliber 4.5 mm, the power of such rifles allows you to use super-heavy bullets for spring-piston pneumatics from 1 gram and take much more serious prey.

Indeed, all Hollow Points at short and medium distances allow you to confidently work on game intended for pneumatics. If you carefully examine the previous photo, you will notice that the manufacturer on the can label combined almost incompatible things: the silhouette of a crow, as well as the indications "16 J" and "0.57 g". That is, the "Terminator" can take a pretty serious bird from a 16-joule rifle with a light bullet.

Fortunately, owners of pneumatics, like smoothbore guns, are free to experiment with ammunition on their own. Unlike the owners of rifled weapons, who can be seriously punished for reloading (reloading cartridges). Here's a photo as an announcement:

This is five seconds made from standard (left) expansive hunting bullets, the story of which is currently being prepared. I do not want to be limited to a verbal description, so it was decided to put a number of experimental shootings as the basis. The experiments themselves still need to be thought out, thought over and carried out. I hope this is in the near future.

Choice of manufacturer of pneumatic bullets

You probably noticed that among the photographs presented in the review there was not a single one with such products familiar to most airgunners as Gamo, Bumblebee, Luman, Oztey, etc. But they are the ones who fill the store shelves. And they are very attractive.

You can talk about them for a long time, but it's better to see once ...

On the left - "Gamo", on the right - "Bumblebee".

Well, "insect" - okay. But with all due respect to the rifles and pistols of the Spanish company (“Gamo”), she clearly orders some brands of bullets under her own brand from distant third-party companies. Which is very strange, because it is the most famous and largest in Europe (!) Manufacturer of pneumatics and ammunition for it. It's not even about the flash, indicating poor-quality stamping and processing. The bullets may well turn out to be of the wrong caliber, in other words, they will not climb into the barrel or fail. Or be oval in cross section, which is very clearly visible on the "skirts". However, all these manufacturers have very decent models and batches of products.

Even the American company "Crosman", whose "Premier" 10.5 gr I have been using for a long time and massively, has noticeable instability in quality. Moreover, in a branded bank there may be crooked and dirty mutants, and in an ordinary pack - quite worthy samples. It seems that this most popular mass brand has a very widespread counterfeit, or rather, a crude fake. It is possible that the same applies to Gamo products. In short, be careful when buying.

That is, it is quite possible to simply shoot all of the above bullets. I am happy to provide both the Luman and the Bumblebee to the guests for shooting from the Hatsan. Beer cans and other traditional plink targets sooner or later fall or shatter to everyone's delight. Well, what else do you need on vacation?

In other cases, the savings are not justified. It is especially not recommended to use bullets of non-elite manufacturers for high-precision shooting "on paper" and hunting. Even more or less carefully made shells can differ greatly from each other in mass.

Weight, size and speed characteristics of bullets for pneumatics

Pneumatic rifles in terms of "power" differ from a firearm hundreds of times. The owners of the latter know how ballistic characteristics change when using bullets with a difference in weight of literally a gram or two. For pneumatics, respectively, speech goes already about hundredths of a gram, not to mention tenths.

Super-heavy 177-caliber bullets weighing from 1 gram are used exclusively for PCP rifles, most of which are one and a half to two times more powerful than any "super magnum" (pictured "H & N Piledriver" 1.36 g).

Although the owners of the PPP (including myself) are experimenting with similar ammunition, including home-made ones, like the “tandem” bullet shown in the photo-announcement of the future article, glued together from two “half-grams”.

And finally, about light bullets. They are categorically not recommended for any more or less powerful pneumatics. So-called "half-grams" (about 0.55 g) projectiles are desirable on 7.5-16 joule weapons and are acceptable on any rifle up to 18-20 joules. For Hatsan's "magnums" and any "supermagnums", 10.5-10.65 are a kind of standard grain(0.68-0.69 grams). Serious manufacturers, as a rule, indicate the optimal energy directly on the bank, for example, “16 J" or ">25J».

Anything that weighs less than half a gram is not a topic at all, with the exception of gas-cylinder pistols and rifles up to 3 joules. These are not only the notorious penny "caps" DS, known to many generations from the Tirovka "ovens" of the USSR (pictured), which are still produced today.

In terms of weight characteristics, their analogues are shells, known asPBA("performance ballistic alloy", or, loosely translated, "high ballistic performance"). More precisely, some of their types of 4.5 mm caliber are ultra-light (less than 0.3 grams) and do not contain lead bullets. For every fireman, I repeat once again: they are intended for gas-cylinder 3-joule CO2 pistols and similar long-barreled pneumatics. But it is for such shells that manufacturers and sellers, without really advertising it, give such enticing speed indicators in advertising articles and performance characteristics tables of serious rifles - 305 m / s for magnum and 360-380 m / s for "supermagnum" pneumatics."Gamo" produces such even with a platinum (!) Coating.

True, we must pay tribute that at least this company, citing sky-high speed indicators, honestly indicates that “1300 feet per second (fps) with PBA Platinum” are achieved. That is, a speed of 1300 feet per second (396 m / s!) Is only possible with the aforementioned ultra-light bullets. Most other manufacturers, especially in the budget segment, not to mention domestic sellers, are modestly silent about this.

Ultralight bullets - a nightmarish invention for inattentive and gullible novice airgunners - I devoted a lot of "kind" words in the final part of the article "". If you are the owner of any rifle with an energy of more than 16 joules, be extremely careful when buying them, the weight should not be less than half a gram. Otherwise, you will get an almost complete analogue of a “blank” shot that is destructive for serious rifles. Yes, and they fly, though fast, but very crooked. In addition, they are completely unsuitable for hunting purposes.

The same is true for pre-charged pneumatics (PCP). In Russian stores, it is mainly sold in calibers 4.5, 5.5, 6.35, 7.62 and 9 mm. True, the last two already belong to licensed hunting pneumatic weapons up to 25 J. In principle, by pushing an ultralight bullet into the drum and working with the pump from the heart, it is possible to achieve speeds exceeding 400 meters per second, almost at the level of a smoothbore firearm. However, in reality, PCP owners use the ammunition suitable for their weapons and optimize the pressure (the so-called “plateau”) or set the gearbox to, again, optimal performance. Depending on the caliber, the weapon gives out from 220 to about 320 m / s. Another thing is that even in caliber 4.5 mm, the power of such rifles allows you to use super-heavy bullets for spring-piston pneumatics and take much more serious prey.

Also take into account this point: the silencers installed on most modern PCP rifles, like those of a firearm, work correctly only at subsonic (up to 330 m/s) speeds.

In continuation of the topic of "super-duper-speeds" and other pampering, one could also talk about shooting with matches, nails and ear cotton buds (they are ideal in caliber and are used when cleaning rifles), but for one review of all of the above, I hope enough.

More “advanced” shooters know that each model and even a single rifle has its own optimal and safe ammunition for the device. They may well turn out to be light (!) bullets, only with a greater alloy hardness. In this case, the breakaway force is large enough to cause a "blank" shot phenomenon. But for a competent determination of the characteristics of specific bullets, it will be necessary, having driven their various models of the same weight category along the barrel, to evaluate this effort. At the same time, control shootings through a chronograph are mandatory to assess the change in speed (and hence energy) and accuracy, seeing if these indicators “float away” and stopping at some optimal ratio. In general, this would not hurt for any rifle, but not everyone has the appropriate equipment, and knowledge. Whether it is worth experimenting personally for you - decide for yourself.

And one more thing: do not trust advertising. All manufacturers and sellers in the performance characteristics of their spring-piston rifles indicate enticing speeds: "magnum" (18-25 joules) - 305 m / s, "supermagnum" - 360-380 m / s. Rreality looks completely different:

• for "magnum" (approx. 20 joules): "half-grams" (0.55 g) - up to 280 m / s, "heavy" (0.68 g) - 240 m / s. "Hatsans" (25 J) - up to 300 m / s with light bullets and 270 with heavy ones.
• for "supermagnum": (29-33 joules): "heavy" (0.68 g) - 290-310 m / s.

Light bullets cannot be used with "super magnums" - it turns out an analogue of a devastating blank shot. Details in the articles "" and "".

Now it's the turn of bows and crossbows

Well, we answered the question "who is more powerful?". Are you satisfied? Here I am no!

In fact, all those who set it are not interested in bare numbers, but in the practical use of these types of weapons, that is, striking ability.

And it is radically different for arrow throwers and rifles.

Features of air rifles

Again, let's start with pneumatics. There is no fundamental difference with a firearm, the main task is to transfer the maximum amount of energy to the target, causing lethal damage to internal organs. To do this, it is highly desirable to avoid a penetrating wound, in which the bullet takes some of this energy with it. And here lies the fundamental difference between the military and hunting approaches.

In the first case, the principles have been in force for a hundred years. humane methods warfare, in particular, prohibiting the use of expansive (explosive) bullets, and a penetrating wound, on the contrary, is welcome. Roughly speaking, the enemy should be given a chance. And to be completely honest, the costs of transportation, treatment, nursing and monetary allowance of the wounded are much higher than for the burial of the killed in the field. Moreover, the enemy’s mass of people is distracted from direct hostilities - you can’t leave a comrade. Such is the ugly homemade truth.

In hunting, the principle is just the opposite. There is also a kind of "humanity" here: since the "infirmary-medal-disability allowance" does not shine on the beast, then you need to get it quickly, if possible, avoiding unnecessary torment. Hence the use of various expansive ammunition, where the bullet in the body begins to open like a “flower”, or break up into segments. They fly worse than usual.

The photo is just a pneumatic expansive bullet.

The selection of ammunition is an eternal compromise between speed-flatness and stopping power.

This is especially true for pneumatics. She does not have thousands of joules of energy in reserve, capable of creating temporary pulsating cavities in her body, characteristic of firearms, due to hydrodynamic impact (pictured).

Therefore, the shooter requires special accuracy and accuracy.

Before us is the “supermagnum” “”, which produces 310 m / s in caliber 4.5 mm and 33 j of energy with a 0.68 gram bullet and is by far the most powerful serial spring-piston rifle.

Most biological targets designed for this power will be loosely pierced with a light, high-velocity bullet. The energy remaining in the flesh, especially when hit "in place", is quite enough for the production of a hazel grouse, up to a rabbit (see "" and ""). Only, for God's sake, do not confuse hazel grouse with black grouse, and even more so with capercaillie - these are completely different birds, a tiny musk deer and a huge elk are also from the same deer family.

However, from the usual 20-joule "magnum" - with an exact hit in the head.

The point here is this. When hunting, game often falls from a single “golden” pellet / buckshot. Sometimes the inlet is not immediately found, as if the animal died from a heart attack.

Bullets of caliber 4.5 mm in terms of weight and size approximately correspond to fractions from "00" to "000" (hare, fox, capercaillie). And if at the cut of the barrel a single pellet in terms of speed / energy noticeably exceeds the bullet, then with increasing distance this difference first levels out, and then changes sign (for the “supermagnum”, of course, earlier). This is the advantage of rifled weapons, which include almost all long-barreled pneumatics.

Another rifle, another approach. The Career Dragon Slayer is one of the most powerful PCP air rifles available.

A heavy 18-gram bullet of 50 caliber (12.7 mm) develops only 220 m / s, but it produces 430 joules. And all of them will go to the carcass of a deer, for which, in fact, such weapons and ammunition are intended.

These rifles also have disadvantages. In addition to the exorbitant price, these are small firing distances, low projectile speed and the associated ricochets of a round-headed bullet from any branch. But, again, when hit "in place", an acceptable stopping effect. Although when it comes to large animals, everything is not so rosy - see the final section of the article "". But since August 2016, such weapons can also be used to throw heavy hunting crossbow bolts (see "").

Enough detail about ammunition and their practical application It is also stated in the articles "" and "".

Features of the use of bows and crossbows

It is precisely the stopping action that all arrow throwers, both bows and crossbows, are deprived of. In terms of energy, they are ten times weaker than guns and rifles (see tables), and are mainly used just for animal hunting. In historical terms, there were, of course, exceptions to the monstrous tension force, cocked with the help of a gate and a partner. They fired heavy steel "bolts" and were intended to knock out armor-covered riders, preferably with the penetration of knightly armor. In a word, it is rather weapon, but a kind of medieval anti-tank guns.

In combat and hunting, completely different devices were massively used, and their damaging factors also looked different.

This is how crossbow and archery hunting is now taking place, where a mighty beast with a high pain threshold and a level of “life force” simply loses it, stitched through with an arrow with razor-sharp tip blades.

This happens due to the cutting of blood vessels, causing rapid blood loss. Obviously, it's not about sniper shot into the artery. In addition to the heart and liver, which are also very difficult to hit with an arrow gun, the main target is the lungs. The organ is quite solid, paired, that is, located on both sides of the body, moreover, it is densely permeated with a network of blood vessels.

Little by little, life flows out with blood. I have a suspicion that often the animal does not even understand what is happening to him, but simply runs off to the side and, feeling suddenly surging drowsiness, lies down to rest.

This is if you do not frighten him, jumping out of hiding with a triumphant cry. Then the beast "on adrenaline" is able to get away from the hunter for hundreds of meters, often with ends.

For this kind of hunting you will need a strong (at least 60 Lbs) compound bow

or crossbow with hunting shoulders:

- recursive - from 200 lbs;

- block - from 165 lbs (some unique designs give excellent performance even at 140 pounds).

With a bow, everything is very, very difficult, since it is much more difficult to shoot and hit from it than from a crossbow. Even more or less easy-to-learn "blockers" have a lot of nuances, and not everyone can devote the necessary time regular workouts, without which we cannot do without. And the 70-pound hunting "recurve" without sophisticated technology and developed special exercises Only a few will be able to simply stretch the corresponding muscle groups to a normal fit.

The technique of shooting from a crossbow almost does not differ from a rifle-rifle, adjusted for small shooting distances. In addition, there are a number of purely hunting devices that do not even have a bowstring as a class, but the speed indicators are inaccessible to conventional crossbows, and visually they are more reminiscent of a modern assault rifle (see "").

You can learn more about the nuances of choosing between a bow and a crossbow in the article "".

But there are also types of hunting where the arrow does not "sew", but, like a bullet, transfers its energy to the game - for example, hunting "by feather". For these purposes, completely different tips are used, the so-called "shockers".

Firstly, even a non-hunting bow is enough for this. In any case, the usual one (pictured) will do.

And secondly, such sprawling tips prevent the long-range flight of an arrow, and even get confused in branches and grass, and it is relatively easy to find it, including when you miss.

Subjective indicators of the power of bows, crossbows and pneumatics

If we are not talking about hunting, but about entertaining "shooting" for a bet, then I can say the following.

A spring-piston rifle of the Magnum class sews a half-inch board right through, some (apparently with defects) splits. "Supermagnum" is able to make holes in household rolled metal - mind you, with soft lead bullets. "Overclocked" rifles with modified ammunition make it elementary. A deaf fence made of corrugated board for such pneumatics is not an obstacle - keep this in mind.

A standard 95 lbs / 43 kgf block crossbow at a 30-meter distance already splits inch boards, as a rule. Moreover, the arrow also pierces not too thick (up to 10 centimeters) trees, however, while getting stuck in a split. Decking and similar materials do not notice at all, only losing plumage. In a hunting performance, fired from a crossbow with original shoulders of 80-100 kgf, it destroys everything that comes in its way, including the robust shoulder bone of a large animal.

A 40-pound recurve bow is much more loyal to various obstacles, mainly arrows. But the legal "blocker" at 60 Lbs hits a little worse than the forbidden powerful hunting crossbow.

Please consider all of the above information when choosing a shooting location (see "Where to shoot a bow and crossbow?"). Health, including mental and financial, is more expensive than entertainment.

In conclusion, I propose to watch a wonderful video just on the topic “an arrow against a bullet” that we have considered today. True, we are not talking about pneumatics here, but some of its models are quite comparable in terms of energy (“more powerful”) with the tested samples of firearms. And, as we have already seen, fundamentally “air” does not differ from it.

Read about the nuances of using powerful and large-caliber pneumatics in the articles "" and "". Very detailed analysis damaging factors"magnums" and "supermagnums" is carried out in the article "".

Let's stop at the average value - about 20 joules. We will also choose the classic bullet for “magnum” pneumatics - 0.68 grams (10.5 grains). The height of the sight is 35 mm, there is no wind, we “shoot” in complete calm.

We count on a ballistic calculator

We will enter these indicators into a graphical ballistic calculator and perform calculations for sighting distances (“far zero”) of 50, and then 40 meters.

Necessary explanation. For the extraction of the most desirable "pneumatic" trophies, such as a wild pigeon and even a duck, due to the low stopping effect of a light high-speed bullet, you have to shoot not in the body, but in the head and neck. Hence, it is desirable to deviate the trajectory from the aiming line by no more than 20-25 millimeters - remember the approximate dimensions of these birds.

Figure 1 (can and should be enlarged).

So. The lower scale is the firing distance up to 60 meters in 5-meter increments. The vertical one on the left is the excess / decrease in the flight path of the bullet relative to the aiming line, again in meters, that is, 0.035 is 35 millimeters. "Far zero", as expected, at 50 meters, "near" according to the results of the calculations turned out to be 7.5. Maximum excess at the peak of the trajectory - 45 mm.

Now the ballistic table. She will be useful to us too.

Table 1.

Here X, m is the distance in meters, Y, m is the excess of the trajectory relative to the aiming line in meters, V, mps is the speed of the bullet m / s. Well, and, for those who are interested, T, s is the flight time in seconds, E, J is the bullet energy in joules. We are only interested in elevation and speed.

Next chart.

Figure 2.

The trajectory, as we see, is much more flat (sloping), which pleases. “Far zero”, of course, at 40 meters, “near” - 9.5. The maximum excess at the peak of the trajectory is 22.5 millimeters- half as much as in the previous case.

Ballistic table again

Table 2.

Let's repeat the legend: X, m is the distance in meters, Y, m is the excess of the trajectory relative to the aiming line in meters, V, mps is the speed of the bullet m / s.

Novice hunter: there is reason for optimism

So what do we see in graphs and tables?

In the first case (“far zero” at 50 meters), the most optimal shooting distances will be from 2 to 14.5 meters and from 43 to 55 meters. In the gap between them (“a hole” as long as 29 meters!) You need to quickly determine the distance, then mentally calculate the corrections and shift the aiming point, and this is already the prerogative of advanced shooters, especially since the “target” is mobile and is not going to pose for you for a long time.

The second option (“far zero” at 40 meters) makes it possible to stupidly (or wisely?) hit “in the cross” at all traditional hunting distances “on the pen” - from 2.5 to 47 meters without any gaps, since the deviation does not go anywhere beyond the coveted 25 millimeters. Absolutely not thinking about the price of division of the reticle and other "non-Euclidean geometry".

It is clear that all this is “theoretical mechanics”, in reality the weather, the degree of the hunter’s curvature, the technical accuracy of the rifle as its main quality indicator will affect the shot. But in the case of shooting a rifle over long distances, all these factors will not go away either.

Will the calculated distance of 47 meters suit us as hunters and at the same time lovers of trouble-free shooting? Yes - for the vast majority of real situations. In the article "", we also carried out calculations, only for a 30-joule "supermagnum" - in this complex type of hunting, the optimal distance, again, did not exceed fifty meters. Moreover, with a "far zero" of 40 meters, the deviation generally amounted to a few millimeters.

Of course, they "hunt" both 70 and 100 meters, especially from PCP. But this is already a cool weapon and cool shooters, for an average and even more so beginner, the probability of a miss or, much worse, a wounded animal increases dramatically.

In addition, it is generally accepted that in order to guarantee the defeat of game the size of a duck, the speed of the bullet must be at least 200 meters per second. Look at the tables - the lower speed threshold (V, mps) just falls on 50-52 meters of distance, which even covers our wonderful distance of real trouble-free fire.

If we take into account the traditional “plink” distances (shooting at banks, etc.) of 20-30 meters - too lazy to go far for the fallen “targets”, then zeroing at 40 meters should be recognized as the best option not only for hunting, but and for recreation.

This, comrades, is my categorical IMHO (personal opinion)

P.S. For shooters who no longer like sniping at all. The answer to the question "Is the 4.5 mm caliber sufficient for hunting shooting at the body of game birds?" you will find in the articles

It all started back in 2015, when the Spaniards introduced a special modification of the Gamo Mach 1 model to the American market, of course, in 22 gauge (5.5 mm). She was named after one of the overseas hunters - TV host of the shooting show "Boss Hog" Brian Quaca (Brian Quaca), better known among the shooting public under the name Pig Man. The rifle was dubbed “Gamo Mach1 PigMan”.

For Gamo, this is not the first such case of promoting a new product; not so long ago, American airgunners caused a sensation, named after the educational hunting and shooting series of the same name. The new name gave rise to funny incidents: since “PigMan”, in particular, means a boar hunter, a number of publications hastened to announce “super-pneumatics” - the world's first spring-piston rifle designed for shooting billhounds (!!!). Well, God bless them...

Characteristics of the Gamo Mach1 PigMan air rifle

Behind the brand name of the new product "Mach1" the company itself puts the fusion of two technologies.

First, the use of a huge 33x100 compressor. Cylinders of this diameter (33 mm) were not previously used in serial rifles by any manufacturer. The recent development of rifles, as it were, intermediate between "magnums" (25x100) and "supermagnums" (29x120) rifles was also taken as a basis. These include the already mentioned "Gamo Bone Collector", designed for the American market, as well as the European "black series" - "Black Knight", "Black Fusion" and "Black Bull" - with a 29x100 compressor (see "").

Secondly, the Spaniards install in all rifles of this series a proprietary gas spring based on dry nitrogen IGT (Inert Gas Technology) with carefully selected characteristics.

The result is a weapon that has risen in speed / energy to the level of the classic "super magnums". And this is with a smaller compressor volume, smaller dimensions and better accuracy-accuracy rates. At the same time, its price is significantly lower than that of elite competitors - Diana 350, Gamo Hunter 1250 and even Benjamin Trail NP XL-1500, although, of course, it exceeds the cost of the Turkish Hatsan 125 and the Chinese Smersh R4 ".

According to the manufacturers, "Gamo Mach1 PigMan" in 177 caliber (4.5 mm) produces a speed of 1420 fps, or 433 meters per second! True, this is with a branded bullet "PBA Platinum Ammo" 0.28 grams (more details - ""). In the standard US caliber .22 (5.5 mm) - 1055 fps, or 322 m / s. This is a very serious indicator, but, as in the previous case, it is achieved with the ultralight "Gamo Raptor Platinum" 9.7 Grain (0.63 grams), which is not great for powerful pneumatics and resembles digging trenches with a child's scoop.

With slightly more serious, and also really normal for 22-gauge ammunition, according to the results of control shootings carried out by American weapons experts, the situation is as follows.

The performance is really quite good for a spring-piston rifle. Of course, it is far from the capabilities of PCP pneumatics, but for real hunting (not for billhooks) it is quite suitable. Including in terms of accuracy.

Shooting from the air rifle "Gamo Mach1 PigMan"

Below are the results of firing different bullets at 10 yards, 9.1 m (who does not know, this is practically the Olympic distance for pneumatics). Pictures can be enlarged, all the necessary data is there.

Gamo Raptor Platinum

Crosman Premier HP

H&N Field Target Trophy

H&N Baracuda Match

What else did the American shooters note?

Pros and Cons of the Gamo Mach1 PigMan Rifle

So what I didn't like:

1. The cocking of a rifle, more precisely, its too great an effort in all phases, which is generally characteristic of gas springs. True, this is when using it for sports purposes, when you have to make dozens of shots in a row. For hunting, everything is within the normal range.
2. The sight does not have the ability to focus. It is mainly needed at distances of less than 15 meters, that is, again, for sports. And here is a simple “duplex” reticle, instead of “mildot”, and I don’t really like it - I have exactly the same Gamo 3-9x40 IR WR sight. Although not particularly annoying, I just shift the aiming point semi-intuitively, based on experience.
3. Shooting accuracy. She was very dependent on bullets (although it’s not clear what is surprising here). The rifle is clearly not for sports, but in general it is quite a hunting device.

What we liked:

1. Factory adjustable trigger.

These screws regulate the two phases of the descent.

Here, a new Gamovsky CM "SAT" is used - Smooth Action Trigger (smooth trigger stroke). It has slightly changed in the direction of "sport" settings due to the selection of spring stiffness and the magnitude of the force on the sears. A very easy free play and a pronounced “step” with a small descent force are noted. The difference in effort with dozens of measurements was only 5 grams.

1. Speed ​​indicators. But we have already talked about them above.
2. Shot stability. Recorded maximum speed deviation of only 6 fps, less than 2 meters per second. An excellent indicator.
3. The weight of the rifle is just over 3 kg.
4. Noiseless shot. Thanks to the silencer, it is objectively much quieter than conventional pneumatics. Moreover, real speeds with normal bullets are subsonic even in 4.5 mm caliber, and the device works quite correctly.

In addition, Gamow's proprietary Wisper technology is used here - a thick-walled barrel is covered with a polymer casing, which, coupled with an integrated sound moderator (silencer), further reduces noise. This is especially true for pneumatics of this power. By the way, something similar in 2016 was put on stream by the Turkish Hatsan, releasing a new series. Among them there is even such a "monster" as a 45-joule 7.62 mm "Carnivore" ("Predator").

1. Price. 270-340 dollars depending on the store, promotions, discounts, etc.

In general, the opinion of American experts is very positive. But, I repeat once again, the rifles of the series "Mach1" is more of a hunting weapon than a sport weapon (see "").

European versions of the Gamo riflesmach1"

But what are we all about America and about America - how are things on our continent?

In 2016, Gamo pleased European fans of pneumatics with its novelties. Here, representatives of the Mach1 production line are the closest relatives of the 29x100 mm cylinders already familiar to us, only equipped with an IGT gas spring and a 33 mm compressor. Here they are - "Black Knight IGT Mach1", "Black Bull IGT Mach1" and "Black Fusion IGT Mach1":

They are produced, like the "Americans", in the 177th and 22nd calibers, they give out the same indicators. They differ only in the bed: in the "Pigmans" it is borrowed from the "tactical" line "SOCOM" (Special Operations Command), and the European representatives in terms of exterior are complete analogues of the "black series".

And in 2017, the company began production of the world's most powerful spring-piston rifles of the Mach1 series with a giant 33x120 mm compressor and 36 joules of energy (see).

Why bias? After the articles "Legend of the Dinosaur" (about "super magnums") and "" appeared on this site, I received several comments from, let's say, upset readers. Frustrated precisely by the fact that they are trying to "drive" them into some kind of niche. The airgunners (not hunters, of course) did not pay much attention to the fact that hunting firearms, depending on the type, are even more narrowly limited.

We now have the opportunity to get firsthand (February 2015) updates on the state of the art with hunting airguns in the US. So, the word to Jim Chapman (my translation).

“Due to the lower power, firing range and the strength of the sound of the shot Airguns opens up new hunting grounds for urban sportsmen. As an avid game and upland hunter, I have a number of traditional hunting grounds within a few hours drive of my home. But, using an air rifle, I can "harvest" small game and pests in a 20-minute walk from the threshold ... "

And it's all. There are still a couple of not even “niches”, but rather “pluses” (more on them below), but the main scope of pneumatics is still the valiant fun of city hunters. Moreover, both in the territorial and social sense of this definition.

As in our country, in the USA, the inhabitants of the village, to put it mildly, are not rich (on this, however, the similarity ends, the continuous differences begin). Therefore, among them there are few enthusiasts who (quote again) “will buy a spring-piston rifle for $400 or a PCP for $800 plus another $400 for a tank when you can get a real carbine for the same $400 in five minutes in the nearest store”.

Let's try to illustrate this statement. The photo shows the most popular spring-piston rifle "" in the USA (the Russian equivalent is "") costing from 200 to 270 dollars, depending on the version. Gives out about 310 m / s with "heavy" bullets of 0.69 grain with an energy of about 30 joules. Advertising indicator - 1300 fps, i.e. 400 m / s (details in the article ""). In the most common overseas caliber 22 (5.5 mm), the declared characteristics, again advertising, are 975 fps, or 300 m / s, the real ones are 250 m / s.

Under the 400-dollar "spring" Jim Chapman most likely meant "Gamo Hunter Extreme" (in Russia - "Gamo Hunter 1250"). In his home state, it costs about that much, well, maybe a little more. But in terms of popularity, the Bone Collector lags far behind, mainly because of the price.

For these unfortunate 400 bucks, you can buy, in my opinion, an ugly, but terribly “tactical” folding carbine “Kel-Tec SUB-2000” chambered for a “heavy” caliber 9 mm pistol cartridge.

In terms of energy, this work of an unknown designer is an order of magnitude superior to "Hunter Extreme". By the way, it was planned to bring the carbine to the Russian market, but the events of 2014 and the subsequent sanctions prevented it.

And now the high-end PCP Weihrauch HW 100 T rifle, one of the most sought after in the North American market. The price in the 22nd caliber (5.5 mm) is just about 800 USD, the speed (270 m/s) and energy (25-30 joules) are almost the same as those of the "Collector".

And finally, let's take a look at a firearm competitor of about the same caliber as the considered pneumatics: "Remington 700 SPS Varmint" .223 Rem, that is, an analogue of 5.56x45 NATO. The price in Arizona on April 26, 2016 is 614 USD.

This, who does not know, is one of the best and most accurate mass rifles. Specifically, with this version, the lightest bullets are used, from 40 and up to a maximum of 55 grain, which in any case is many times more than pneumatic "analogues". The speed is under 1000 m / s, and the energy (where would it be without it in the topic about "airs") - for 1000 joules.

By the way, for the same 600 bucks, any able-bodied American can buy a Russian "Saiga", that is, a "semi-automatic AKM", whose bullets (7.62x39) have a much greater stopping effect. And the owner of the appropriate license, which is not so difficult to obtain, will also buy a fully automatic rifle. Now imagine the mindset of the average farmer, preoccupied with credits, crises, and crop prospects.

What the American "collective farmers" are doing, practically ignoring the pneumatics. Moreover, on his land, the peasant has the right not only to shoot at targets or pests to his heart's content. He will still let the sheriff (local, elected by him) without a preliminary call, but some federal without accompaniment and advance coordination of the visit may well get 10-20 grams of fast-flying metal in the forehead. The landowner will be chided if bullets regularly fly into the neighboring plot without the written consent (!) of his owner. Charm, right?

The middle class, who live in pretty cottage settlements, will really have to go somewhere with a firearm - to a shooting range, to a shooting range, to hunting grounds (according to the season). Having bought a “air” for quite a status of $ 1,200, he will really save on transport and other expenses. And before that, the sea will get inaccessible pleasure, because there are no restrictions on the upper limit of the power of pneumatics.

Here they are, the promised "pluses" ... We open the "Hunting Rules in the State of Texas." It follows from them that pneumatic weapons should be designed for firing from the shoulder, the minimum caliber is 177 (4.5 mm), the minimum initial velocity of the bullet is 600 feet per second (183 m / s). That's all. Something similar, by the way, is written in relation to bows and crossbows. Fairy tale!

The so-called "pests" can be fired from everything that comes to hand. And those in most states include not only all kinds of rodents, crows, pigeons, etc., but also coyote raccoons, sometimes even wild boars. And this is without any licenses.

In addition, in the US there are a number of restrictions on the transportation of firearms from state to state, and also - what a horror! - to trade them via the Internet.

It is not surprising that the city's "white-collar workers", among which lawyers through one, having assessed the prospects for the fight against legal casuistry, unanimously inflamed with a passion for trouble-free and somewhere even free hunting. According to Chapman, who himself started with "springs", it was thanks to the middle class that there was an explosion in the production of expensive and powerful pre-pumped rifles (PCP). Including in Europe, which, although itself driven into the most severe limits of restrictions, happily rivets AirArms, Wairauhi and other Gamos for grateful Americans. Moreover, since August 2016, such weapons can also be used to throw heavy hunting crossbow bolts (see "").

And in 2018, in addition to the traditional exclusive American and South Korean creators of the heavy-duty so-called Big Bor pneumatics, mass manufacturers literally rushed into this niche:

The muzzle energy of such rifles is 400-500 joules. However, the German company "Umarex" killed everyone, releasing a real 1000-joule monster PCP-rifle "Hammer":

Optimism for Jim and his associates is also added by an increase in the number of states that have allowed real pneumatic hunting under licenses, by one or two annually. And this is against the backdrop of a rather noticeable offensive by local "common people" on the right to freely own weapons. Well, lawyers are not farmers for you ...

On my three magnums ("Diana 31", "Gamo Socom Carbine Luxe", "Hatsan Striker") and one "super" ("Hatsan mod 135"), the speeds were also quite consistent with them. Where did all these fantastic figures of 380-400-470 m/s m/s come from? The secret is in the use for advertising purposes of ultra-light, completely not designed for such power, but very fast bullets.

Pre-pumped pneumatics (PCP) are no exception. It is clear that by pushing an ultra-light bullet into the drum and working with the pump from the heart, it is possible to achieve speeds exceeding 400 meters per second, almost at the level of a smooth-bore firearm. However, PCP owners use the right ammunition for their weapon and optimize the pressure (the so-called "plateau") or set the gearbox to optimal performance again. Depending on the caliber, the weapon gives out from 220 to about 320 m / s, and the more powerful it is, the lower the speed, and the bullets are heavier! In addition, the silencers installed on most modern PCP rifles, like those of a firearm, work correctly only at subsonic (up to 330 m/s) speeds.

For hunting, the main thing is the stopping effect of the projectile. That is, with light high-speed bullets it’s not bad to break through the boards for a dispute, and the heavy one will get stuck in them, transferring all the destructive energy to the mass of the tree. The same is true of living flesh.

In principle, this could have ended - the truth was voiced, the culprits were named. But if you really want to get to the bottom of the issue, and most importantly, decide on the characteristics of your specific rifle and choose the best ammunition for it, then you should continue reading this article. It will be interesting - then I will give examples of calculating the real indicators of pneumatic weapons.

The formula for calculating the energy, speed and mass of a bullet

Now we will conduct a "session of exposing black advertising magic." To do this, we will resort to the help of the exact sciences - mathematics, physics, as well as more narrowly specialized ballistics (read the full version of this article and other specialized materials on the features of shooting and hunting with pneumatics on my website arbalet-airgun.ru).

We will rely on the energy ("power") indicators officially cited by rifle manufacturers, which, unlike high-speed ones, are quite objective. The fact is that the weapons legislation of most countries focuses specifically on them, and they don’t joke with such things. Secondly, if meters per second is perfectly imagined by most people, then with all sorts of different joules, not everything is so smooth. This is like for motorists: maximum speed in km / h (by the way, also always overestimated) is understandable to any "blonde", but there are already problems with Newton meters of torque.

There is a fundamental formula E = mv 2 /2, where "E" is energy, "m" is mass, and "v" is speed. That is, all these quantities are interconnected and depend on each other. Let's calculate the real performance of air rifles with different energy levels. Of the spring-piston 4.5 mm, we will focus on the license-free version up to 7.5 joules, the “magnums” - 20 and 25 joules, as well as the “super magnums” - 30 J. We will consider weapons with pre-pumping (PCP) already in three main calibers - 4.5 (.177), 5.5 (.22) and 6.35 (.25) mm; 37, 53 and 60 joules, respectively

So, what kind of bullets do airgun manufacturers have in mind when they give fantastic speed ratings for advertised rifles...