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The gun with the highest muzzle velocity. Initial bullet speed. Characteristics of the Gamo Mach1 PigMan air rifle

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

This is how it turns out, are all the calculators in Germany broken?..

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 brochures) these characteristics for the entire model range. So, the good old “Hunter 440”, for no apparent reason, suddenly “shot” at speeds of 386 m/s, although six months ago it again produced a slightly inflated advertised 305 m/s. And the newest 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 even under 500 m/s!(cm. )

It’s clear, “nothing personal, just business,” and yet such a pursuit of sales growth for such eminent manufacturers looks somehow undignified. Even the Turkish “Hatsan”, all of whose products are clearly more powerful than Dian’s analogues, did not demonstrate marketing miracles in the “2017 Catalog” and retained the same characteristics for their samples. So did Crosman and Stoeger. What is happening and how is everything really going?

for “magnum”, 20 joules: “half a gram” (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 permissible (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 working hard with the pump, you can achieve speeds exceeding 400 meters per second, almost at the level of a smooth-bore firearm. However, in reality, PCP owners use ammunition that is suitable specifically for their weapon and optimize the pressure (the so-called “plateau”) or set the gearbox to, again, optimal values. Depending on the caliber, the weapon produces from 220 to approximately 320 m/s, and the more powerful it is, the lower the speeds, and the heavier the bullets! In addition, the silencers installed on most modern PCP rifles, like those on firearms, work correctly only at subsonic (up to 330 m/s) speeds.

Now let's see whether the characteristics declared for air rifles meet these requirements. Here are the calculation results.

1. License-free 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 = m * 170 2 /2

And we spend our acquaintances school years calculations:

m = 2E/v 2, i.e. m = 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 a gram” - a bullet designed specifically for low-power rifles. Here, manufacturers/sellers are guided by legal requirements (based specifically on mathematical calculations) and, in order not to come into conflict with them, provide objective indicators.

2. Magnum class rifles, for which manufacturers declare a speed of 305 m/s. First, about the most common samples with a 25x100 mm compressor 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 no longer advisable to use such light projectiles with 20-joule magnums; the result will be a kind of lightweight analogue of a destructive blank shot. And it’s difficult to find such bullets; they will mostly be DS caps, known from Soviet shooting range “spirits.” It’s just that 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. They don’t shoot “half grams” anymore; let me remind you that the standard is 10.5 grains (1 grain = 0.0648 grams), or 0.68 g.

Let's 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 and Hatsan 125/135 rifles are more powerful than their colleagues and produce about 33 joules, that is, about 310 m/s speed with normal bullets. And again, no advertising-fabulous 380...

Pre-pumped pneumatics (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 4.5 mm caliber, 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 look closely at the previous photo, you will notice that the manufacturer has combined almost incompatible things on the can’s label: the silhouette of a crow, as well as the indications “16 J” and “0.57 g”. That is, with the “Terminator” you can take a fairly serious bird from a 16-joule rifle with a light bullet.

Fortunately, owners of pneumatic guns, like smoothbore shotguns, have the right to experiment with ammunition on their own. Unlike owners of rifled weapons, who can be seriously punished for reloading (reloading cartridges). As an announcement, here is this photo:

These are expansive hunting bullets made in five seconds from standard (on the left), a story about which is currently being prepared. I don't want to limit myself verbal description, therefore, it was decided to base it on a series of experimental shootings. The experiments themselves still need to be invented, thought through and carried out. I hope this is a matter of the near future.

Choosing a pneumatic bullet manufacturer

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

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

On the left is “Gamo”, on the right is “Bumblebee”.

Well, “insect” - okay. But with all due respect to the rifles and pistols of the Spanish company (Gamo), it clearly orders some brands of bullets under its own brand from distant third-party companies. Which is very strange, because it is the most famous and largest manufacturer of pneumatics and ammunition in Europe (!). It's not even a matter of flash, which indicates poor quality stamping and processing. The bullets may well turn out to be of the wrong caliber; in other words, they won’t fit into the barrel or will fall through. Or be oval in cross section, which is very clearly visible in 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 in large quantities, has noticeable instability in quality. Moreover, in a branded jar there may be crooked and dirty mutants, but in an ordinary pack there may be quite decent samples. It seems that this most popular mass brand has very widespread counterfeits, or more precisely, crude fakes. It is quite possible that the same applies to Gamo products. In short, be careful when purchasing.

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

In other cases, the savings are not justified. It is especially not recommended to use bullets from 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 velocity characteristics of pneumatic bullets

Air rifles differ in “power” from firearms hundreds of times. 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, accordingly, we are talking about hundredths of a gram, not to mention tenths.

Super-heavy bullets for the 177 caliber, 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” (in the photo “H&N Piledriver” 1.36 g).

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

And finally, about light bullets. They are categorically not recommended for any more or less powerful pneumatics. So-called "half-gram" (about 0.55 g) projectiles are desirable on weapons of 7.5-16 joules and are acceptable on any rifle up to 18-20 joules. For Khatsan “magnums” and any “supermagnums” a kind of standard is 10.5-10.65 grain(0.68-0.69 grams). Serious manufacturers, as a rule, indicate the optimal energy level directly on the can, 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 pistols and rifles up to 3 joules. These are not only the notorious penny DS “caps”, known to many generations from the Tirov “spirits” of the USSR (pictured), which are still produced today.

In terms of weight characteristics, their analogues are projectiles known asP.B.A.(“performance ballistic alloy”, or, loosely translated, “high ballistic characteristics”). 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. Just in case you are a firefighter, I will repeat once again: they are intended for gas-cylinder 3-joule CO2 pistols and similar long-barreled pneumatics. But it is precisely for such projectiles that manufacturers and sellers, without particularly advertising it, give such attractive 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 even produces these with 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 pellets. Most other manufacturers, especially in the budget segment, not to mention domestic sellers, are modestly silent about this.

I devoted a lot of “kind” words to ultra-light bullets - a nightmare invention for inattentive and gullible beginner airgunners - in the final part of the article “”. If you are the owner of any rifle with more than 16 joules of energy, be extremely careful when purchasing them, the weight should not be less than half a gram. Otherwise, you will get an almost complete analogue of a “blank” shot, which is destructive for serious rifles. And although they fly fast, they fly very crookedly. In addition, they are completely unsuitable for hunting purposes.

The same is true for pre-inflated 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 refer to licensed hunting pneumatic weapons up to 25 J. In principle, by pushing an ultra-light bullet into the drum and working hard with the pump, you can achieve speeds exceeding 400 meters per second, almost at the level of a smoothbore firearm. However, in reality, PCP owners use ammunition that is suitable specifically for their weapon and optimize the pressure (the so-called “plateau”) or set the gearbox to, again, optimal values. Depending on the caliber, the weapon produces from 220 to approximately 320 m/s. Another thing is that even in 4.5 mm caliber, the power of such rifles allows you to use super-heavy bullets for spring-piston pneumatics and take much more serious prey.

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

Continuing the theme of “super-duper-speeds” and other pampering, we could also talk about shooting with matches, nails and ear cotton swabs (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 higher alloy hardness. In this case, the breaking force is large enough to cause the phenomenon of a “idle” shot. But to correctly determine the characteristics of specific bullets, you will have to run various models of the same weight category down the barrel and evaluate this force. In this case, control shootings through a chronograph are required to assess changes in speed (and therefore energy) and accuracy, seeing if these indicators “float away”, and settling on some optimal ratio. In general, this would not hurt for any rifle, but not everyone has the appropriate equipment or knowledge. Whether it’s worth experimenting for you personally - decide for yourself.

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

for “magnum” (approx. 20 joules): “half a gram” (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 “supermagnums” - the result is an analogue of a destructive blank shot. Details in the articles "" and "".

Now it's the turn of bows and crossbows

Weapon	Projectile weight (g)	Speed m/s	Energy (J)
Recurve bow 70 lbs	23	75	65
Compound bow 70 lbs	23	106	130
Recurve crossbow 225 lbs*	25	100	125
Compound crossbow 185 lbs*	25	115	165

Well, we have answered the question “who is more powerful?” Are you satisfied? So I don’t!

In fact, all those asking him are not interested in bare numbers, but in the practical application of these types of weapons, that is, their lethality.

But 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 extremely desirable to avoid a through wound, in which the bullet takes away part of this energy. But here lies the fundamental difference between the military and hunting approaches.

In the first case, the principles have been in effect for a hundred years humane methods warfare, in particular prohibiting the use of expansive (explosive) bullets, and through wounds, on the contrary, are encouraged. Roughly speaking, the enemy must be given a chance. And to be completely honest, the costs of transporting, treating, nursing and paying a wounded person are much higher than burying a dead person in the field. Moreover, a lot of the enemy’s people are distracted from direct combat operations - you can’t abandon a comrade. This is the ugly homespun truth.

When hunting, the principle is exactly the opposite. There is also a kind of “humaneness” here: since the “infirmary-medal-disability benefit” is not given to the beast, it must be obtained quickly, if possible, avoiding unnecessary suffering. Hence the use of various expansive ammunition, where the bullet in the body begins to open up like a “flower” or disintegrate into segments. These fly worse than usual.

The photo shows 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 that, due to hydrodynamic impact, can create temporary pulsating cavities in her body, characteristic of firearms(on the picture).

Therefore, special precision and accuracy are required from the shooter.

Before us is the “supermagnum” “,” which produces 310 m/s in a 4.5 mm caliber 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 freely pierced with a lightweight, high-velocity pellet. The energy remaining in the flesh, especially when hit “locally”, is quite enough to catch a hazel grouse pigeon, even a rabbit (see “ ” and “ “). Just, for God’s sake, do not confuse hazel grouse with black grouse and especially wood grouse - these are completely different birds, the tiny musk deer and the huge elk are also from the same deer family.

However, from an ordinary 20-joule “magnum” - with an accurate hit to the head.

The point here is this. When hunting, game is often killed by a single “golden” pellet/buckshot. Sometimes the entrance hole cannot be found immediately, as if the animal died of a heart attack.

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

Different rifle, different approach. The Career Dragon Slayer is one of the most powerful pre-pumped (PCP) air rifles available.

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

Such rifles also have disadvantages. In addition to the exorbitant price, these are short shooting distances, low speed projectile and the associated ricochets of a round-headed bullet from any branch. But, again, if it hits “locally”, it has 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 “ “).

Ammunition and its practical use are also discussed in sufficient detail in the articles “” and ““.

Features of the use of bows and crossbows

It is precisely the stopping effect that all arrow throwers, bows, and crossbows lack. In terms of energy, they are tens of times weaker than shotguns and rifles (see tables), and are used mainly 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 armored riders, preferably with a penetration knight's armor. In a word, it is most likely not weapon, but peculiar medieval anti-tank guns.

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

This is exactly how crossbow and archery hunting takes place now, where a powerful beast with a high pain threshold and level of “ vitality” simply loses it, stitched right through by an arrow with razor-sharp tip blades.

This happens due to the cutting of blood vessels, causing rapid blood loss. Clearly, we are not talking about sniper shot into the artery. Apart from the heart and liver, which are also very difficult to hit with a arrow thrower, the main target is the lungs. The organ is quite solid, paired, that is, located on both sides of the body, and also densely penetrated by a network of blood vessels.

With the blood, life gradually flows out. I have a suspicion that often the animal does not even understand what is happening to it, but simply runs away to the side and, feeling a sudden surge of drowsiness, lies down to rest.

This is if you don’t scare him, jumping out of cover with a triumphant cry. Then the animal “on adrenaline” is able to get away from the hunter for hundreds of meters, often to no avail.

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

or a crossbow with hunting shoulders:

– recursive – from 200 lbs;

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

With a bow, everything is very, very difficult, since shooting and hitting with it is much more difficult than with a crossbow. Even more or less easy-to-learn “blockers” have a lot of nuances, and not everyone can devote the necessary time regular training, without which we cannot do here. And a 70-pound hunting “recurve” without refined technology and developed special exercises Only a few will be able to simply stretch the corresponding muscle groups to a normal position.

The technique of shooting from a crossbow is almost no different from a rifle-rifle, adjusted for short 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 unattainable for 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, “feather” hunting. For these purposes, completely different tips, so-called “shockers,” are used.

Firstly, even a non-hunting bow is strong enough to do this. In any case, a regular one (pictured) will do.

And secondly, such spreading tips prevent the long flight of the arrow, and they also get tangled in branches and grass, and it is relatively easy to find it, even if it misses.

Subjective indicators of the power of bows, crossbows and pneumatics

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

A magnum-class spring-piston rifle sews a half-inch board right through, and splits some (apparently with defects). “Supermagnum” is capable of making holes in commercial rolled metal - mind you, with soft lead bullets. “Overclocked” rifles with modified ammunition make this easy. A blank fence made of corrugated sheets is not an obstacle for such pneumatics - keep this in mind.

A standard 95 lbs/43 kgf compound crossbow at a 30-meter distance usually splits already one-inch boards. Moreover, the arrow also stabs not too thick (up to 10 centimeters) trees, although it gets stuck in a split. She doesn’t notice corrugated sheeting and similar materials at all, only losing her plumage. In its hunting version, fired from a crossbow with original arms of 80-100 kgf, it destroys everything that gets in its way, including the rather frail scapula of a large animal.

A 40-pound recurve bow is much more loyal to various obstacles, mainly arrows. But a legal “blocker” with 60 Lbs hits not much worse than a forbidden powerful hunting crossbow.

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

In conclusion, I suggest you watch a wonderful video on the topic “arrow versus bullet” that we discussed today. True, we are not talking about pneumatics here, but some of its models are quite comparable in energy (“more powerful”) to the tested firearms. And, as we have already seen, the “air” is not fundamentally different 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 settle on the average value - about 20 joules. We will also choose a classic bullet for magnum pneumatics - 0.68 grams (10.5 grains). The sight height is 35 mm, there is no wind, we “shoot” in complete calm.

Calculating on a ballistic calculator

Let's enter these indicators into a graphical ballistic calculator and perform calculations for shooting distances (“long zero”) of 50 and then 40 meters.

Necessary clarification. To obtain 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 of up to 60 meters in 5 meter increments. The vertical line on the left is the excess/decrease of the bullet’s flight path relative to the aiming line, again in meters, that is, 0.035 is 35 millimeters. “Far zero”, as expected, is at 50 meters, “near”, according to the calculation results, turned out to be 7.5. Maximum elevation at the peak of the trajectory - 45 mm.

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

Table 1.

Here X,m is the distance in meters, Y,m is the elevation of the trajectory relative to the aiming line in meters, V,mps is the bullet speed m/sec. Well, 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 excesses and speed.

Next chart.

Figure 2.

The trajectory, as we see, is much more flat (flat), which is pleasing. “Far zero”, of course, is at 40 meters, “near” - 9.5. The maximum elevation 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 bullet speed m/sec.

Novice hunter: there is reason for optimism

So, what do we see in the 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 interval between them (a “hole” as much as 29 meters long!) you need to quickly determine the distance, then mentally calculate the corrections and shift the aiming point, and this is 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 “cross” at all traditional hunting distances “along the feather” - from 2.5 to 47 meters without any breaks, since there is no deviation anywhere beyond the coveted 25 millimeters. Absolutely no thought about the cost of dividing the reticle and other “non-Euclidean geometry”.

It is clear that all this is “theoretical mechanics”; in reality, the shot will be influenced by the weather, the degree of the hunter’s curvature, and the technical accuracy of the rifle as its main qualitative indicator. But in the case of zeroing a rifle at 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, at a “distant zero” of 40 meters, the deviation was generally only a few millimeters.

Of course, they “hunt” at both 70 and 100 meters, especially from PCP. But this is already cool weapon and great shooters, for the average and especially the beginner the probability of a miss or, what is much worse, a wounded person increases sharply.

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

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

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

P.S. For shooters who no longer like sniping. 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 to the American market special modification the Gamo Mach 1 model, naturally, in 22 caliber (5.5 mm). She was named after one of the overseas hunters - TV host of the shooting show "Boss Hog" Brian Quaca, better known among the shooting public as Pig Man. The rifle was dubbed “Gamo Mach1 PigMan”.

This is not the first such case for Gamo to promote a new product; not so long ago, it caused a furore among American airgunners, 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 a “super-pneumatic” - the world’s first spring-piston rifle designed for shooting cleavers (!!!). Well, God bless them...

Characteristics of the Gamo Mach1 PigMan air rifle

The company itself puts the merger of two technologies behind the brand name of the new product “Mach1”.

Firstly, the use of a huge 33x100 compressor. Cylinders of this diameter (33 mm) have not previously been used by any manufacturer in production rifles. The basis is also taken from the recent development of rifles that seem to be intermediate between “magnums” (25x100) and “supermagnums” (29x120). These include the already mentioned “Gamo Bone Collector”, intended 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 a proprietary gas spring based on dried nitrogen IGT (Inert Gas Technology) with carefully selected characteristics in all rifles in this series.

The result was a weapon that reached the level of classic “supermagnums” in terms of speed/energy. And this is with a smaller compressor volume, smaller dimensions and better accuracy characteristics. At the same time, its price is significantly lower than that of its elite competitors - Diana 350, Gamo Hunter 1250 and even Benjamin Trail NP XL-1500, although, of course, it exceeds the cost of the Turkish Khatsan 125 and the Chinese Smersh P4 "

According to the manufacturers, the Gamo Mach1 PigMan in 177 caliber (4.5 mm) produces a speed of 1420 fps, or 433 meters per second! True, this is with the branded “PBA Platinum Ammo” bullet, 0.28 grams, which set the teeth on edge (for more details, see “”). In the US standard 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 ultra-light “Gamo Raptor Platinum” 9.7 Grain (0.63 grams), which is very unhealthy for powerful pneumatics and resembles digging trenches with a child’s shovel.

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

Bullet	Speed
H&N Field Target Trophy Green 10.03 Grain (0.65 g)	1039.02 FPS (317 m/s)
RWS Hobby 11.9 Grain (0.77 g)	910.60 FPS (278 m/s)
Crosman Premier HP 14.3 Grain (0.93 g)	829.45 FPS (253 m/s)
JSB Jumbo Exact 14.35 Grain (0.93 g)	799.53 FPS (244 m/s)
H&N Field Target Trophy 14.66 Grain (0.95 g)	813.49 FPS (248 m/s)
H&N Baracuda Match 21.14 Grain (1.37 g)	621.70 FPS (189 m/s)

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 cleavers) it is quite suitable. Including accuracy.

Shooting from an air rifle "Gamo Mach1 PigMan"

Below are the results of shooting with different bullets at 10 yards, 9.1 m (for those who don’t know, this is practically the Olympic distance for pneumatics). The 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 American shooters note?

Pros and cons of the Gamo Mach1 PigMan rifle

So, I didn't like it:

The cocking of the rifle, or more precisely, its too great force in all phases, generally characteristic of gas springs. True, this is when using it for sporting purposes, when you have to fire dozens of shots in a row. For hunting everything is within normal limits.
The sight does not have focusing capabilities. It is mainly needed at distances of less than 15 meters, that is, again for sports. But I don’t really like the simple “duplex” sighting reticle instead of “mildot” - I have exactly the same “Gamo 3-9x40 IR WR” sight. Although it’s not particularly annoying, I just shift the aiming point semi-intuitively, based on experience.
Shooting accuracy. She was very dependent on bullets (although it’s not clear why anyone should be surprised). The rifle is clearly not for sport, but overall it is quite a hunting device.

What I liked:

Factory trigger adjustments.

These screws regulate two phases of descent.

Here we use Gamow's new SM “SAT” - Smooth Action Trigger (smooth action of the trigger). Its settings have been slightly changed towards “sport” due to the selection of spring stiffness and the amount of force on the sears. There is a very slight free play and a pronounced “step” with a slight trigger pull. The difference in force across dozens of measurements was only 5 grams.

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

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

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

Overall opinion American experts very positive. But, I repeat once again, the rifles of the “Mach1" is more of a hunting weapon, rather than a sporting weapon (see " ").

European versions of Gamo riflesMach1"

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

In 2016, Gamo pleased European pneumatic enthusiasts with its new products. 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 177 and 22 calibers, and produce the same indicators. The only difference is the stock: 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 "The Legend of the Dinosaur" (about "supermagnums") and "" appeared on this site, I received several comments from, let's say, upset readers. They are upset precisely because they are trying to “drive” them into some kind of niche. Airgunners (not hunters, of course) did not pay much attention to the fact that hunting firearms, depending on the type, are limited to even narrower limits.

Now we have the opportunity to get first-hand, up-to-date (February 2015) information on how things are going with hunting air rifles in the United States. So, over to Jim Chapman (my translation).

“Due to their lower power, firing range and shot sound, air guns open up new hunting territories for urban sportsmen. As an avid game and bush game hunter, I have a number of traditional hunting areas within a few hours' drive of my home. But, using an air rifle, I can “harvest” small game and pests within a 20-minute walk from my doorstep...”

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

Like us, in the USA, rural residents, to put it mildly, are not rich (this, however, is where the similarities end; the differences begin). Therefore, among them there are few enthusiasts who (quote again) “they will buy a spring-piston rifle for 400 dollars or a PCP for 800 plus another 400 for a cylinder, when within five minutes in the nearest store you can buy a real carbine for the same 400 bucks”.

Let's try to illustrate this statement. In the photo, the most popular spring-piston rifle in the USA (Russian analogue - ““) costs from 200 to 270 dollars, depending on the version. Produces about 310 m/s with “heavy” 0.69 grain bullets 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 22 caliber (5.5 mm), the stated characteristics, again advertising, are 975 fps, or 300 m/s, the real ones are 250 m/s.

By the 400-dollar “spring”, Jim Chapman most likely meant “Gamo Hunter Extreme” (in Russia - “Gamo Hunter 1250”). In his home state it costs about the same, well, maybe a little more. But in terms of popularity, it lags far behind “Bone Collector,” mainly due to the price.

For these miserable 400 bucks you can buy, in my opinion, an ugly, but terribly “tactical” folding carbine “Kel-Tec SUB-2000” chambered for a “heavy” 9 mm caliber 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 pre-pumped rifle (PCP) “Weihrauch HW 100 T”, one of the most sought-after on the North American market. The price in 22 gauge (5.5 mm) is about 800 USD, the speed (270 m/s) and energy indicators (25-30 joules) are almost the same as those of the “Collector”.

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

This, who doesn’t know, is one of the best and most accurate mass-produced rifles. Specifically, with this version, the lightest bullets are used, from 40 to a maximum of 55 grain, which in any case is several times larger than pneumatic “analogs”. The speed is under 1000 m/s, and the energy (where would we be without it in the topic about “aircraft”) – for 1000 joules.

By the way, for the same 600 bucks, any capable American can buy a Russian “Saiga”, that is, a “semi-automatic AKM”, the bullets of which (7.62x39) have a much greater stopping effect. And the holder of the appropriate license, which is not so difficult to obtain, will also buy a fully automatic rifle. Now imagine the thinking of the average farmer, concerned about loans, crises and crop prospects.

This is what American “collective farmers” do, practically ignoring pneumatics. Moreover, on his land, a villager has the right not only to shoot at targets or pests to his heart’s content. He will still let in the sheriff (the local government elected by him) without a preliminary call, but some federal officer without an escort and prior approval of the visit may well get 10-20 grams of fast-flying metal in the forehead. The landowner will be scolded if bullets regularly fly into a neighboring plot without the written consent (!) of its owner. Lovely, right?

The middle class, living in nice cottage villages, you really have to go somewhere with a firearm - to a shooting range, to a shooting range, to hunting grounds (depending on the season). Having bought an “aircraft” for quite a status of $1,200, he will actually save on transportation and other costs. And the sea will receive previously inaccessible pleasure, because there are no restrictions on the upper limit of pneumatic power.

Here they are, the promised “advantages”... Let’s open the “Hunting Rules in the State of Texas”. It follows from them that the pneumatic weapon must be designed for firing from the shoulder, the minimum caliber is 177 (4.5 mm), the minimum initial bullet velocity is 600 feet per second (183 m/s). That's all. Something similar, by the way, is prescribed for bows and crossbows. Fairy tale!

You can shoot at the so-called “pests” with anything you can get your hands on. And in most states these include not only all kinds of rodents, crows, pigeons, etc., but also coyote raccoons, sometimes even wild boars. And this without any licenses.

In addition, in the United States there are a number of restrictions on the transport of firearms from state to state, and also - what a horror! - to sell it via the Internet.

It is not surprising that the city’s “white collar” workers, one of whom are lawyers, having appreciated the prospects of fighting legal casuistry, unanimously became inflamed with a passion for hassle-free and, in some cases, even free hunting. According to Chapman, who started out as a spring himself, it was the middle class that saw the explosive growth in the production of expensive and powerful pre-pumped (PCP) rifles. Including in Europe, which, although itself driven into the most severe limits of restrictions, happily rivets AirArms, Wairauhi and other Gamo for grateful Americans. Moreover, since August 2016, such weapons can also be used for throwing heavy hunting crossbow bolts (see “ “).

And in 2018, in addition to the traditional exclusive American and South Korean creators of 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 interrupted everyone by releasing a real 1000-joule monster PCP-rifle “Hammer”:

Jim and his associates are also optimistic about the increase in the number of states that allow real air 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...

starting speed bullets

Initial bullet speed - the speed of the bullet at the muzzle of the barrel.

The initial speed is taken to be a conditional speed, which is slightly greater than the muzzle and less than the maximum. It is determined experimentally with subsequent calculations. Muzzle velocity strongly depends on the length of the barrel: the longer the barrel, the longer the powder gases can act on the bullet, accelerating it. For pistol cartridges, the muzzle velocity is approximately 300-500 m/s, for intermediate and rifle cartridges 700-1000 m/s.

The magnitude of the muzzle velocity is indicated in the shooting tables and in the combat characteristics of the weapon.

As the initial speed increases, the bullet's flight range, direct shot range, bullet's lethal effect and bullet's penetrating effect increases, and the influence of external conditions on its flight decreases.

Even ordinary bullets that have an initial speed of more than 1000 m/s have a powerful high-explosive effect. This high-explosive action grows expansively as the initial velocity crosses the 1000 m/s limit.

The main factors influencing the muzzle velocity

bullet weight;
weight of the powder charge;
the shape and size of the grains of gunpowder (the rate of combustion of gunpowder).

Additional factors affecting muzzle velocity

barrel length;
temperature and humidity of the powder charge;
loading density;
frictional forces between the bullet and the bore;
ambient temperature.

Effect of barrel length

The longer the barrel, the longer the powder gases act on the bullet and the greater the initial velocity. With a constant barrel length and constant weight of a powder charge, the lower the bullet weight, the greater the initial speed.

Influence of powder charge characteristics

The shapes and sizes of gunpowder have a significant impact on the burning rate of the powder charge, and therefore on the initial speed of the bullet. They are selected accordingly when designing weapons.
As the humidity of the powder charge increases, its burning rate and the initial velocity of the bullet decrease.
As the temperature of the powder charge increases, the burning rate of the powder increases, and therefore the maximum pressure and initial velocity increase. As the charge temperature decreases, the initial speed decreases. An increase (decrease) in the initial speed causes an increase (decrease) in the range of the bullet. In this regard, it is necessary to take into account range corrections for air and charge temperatures (charge temperature is approximately equal to air temperature).
A change in the weight of the powder charge leads to a change in the amount of powder gases, and, consequently, to a change in the maximum pressure in the barrel bore and the initial velocity of the bullet. The greater the weight of the powder charge, the greater the maximum pressure and muzzle velocity.

The length of the barrel and the weight of the powder charge increase when designing the weapon to the most rational dimensions.

Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

See what “Initial bullet speed” is in other dictionaries:

muzzle velocity (bullets)- The speed of a bullet with which it leaves the barrel of a rifle. [Department of Linguistic Services of the Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee. Glossary of terms] EN muzzle velocity Speed of the bullet as it leaves the rifle barrel. [Department... ... Technical Translator's Guide

muzzle velocity- 3.5.2 initial bullet speed vp0 (projectile launch speed), m/s: The speed of the bullet when leaving the muzzle. Source … Dictionary-reference book of terms of normative and technical documentation

Bullets the speed of the bullet at the muzzle of the barrel. The initial speed is taken to be a conditional speed, which is slightly greater than the muzzle and less than the maximum. It is determined experimentally with subsequent calculations. Muzzle velocity is strong... ... Wikipedia

Initial projectile speed- INITIAL PROJECTILE SPEED, forward speed. movement of a projectile (bullet) fired from a weapon at the muzzle. cut. Its size, ch. arr., depends on the amount of charge, max. gunpowder pressure. gases, projectile weight, chamber and channel length, diameter... ... Military encyclopedia

- (Initial velocity) the speed of translational movement of the projectile (bullet) when leaving the muzzle. N.S. is one of the most important ballistic data of any firearm. An increase in initial speed helps to increase the range of the projectile, ... ... Marine Dictionary

The estimated speed of forward motion of a projectile (mine, bullet) at the muzzle of the barrel. Measured in m/s. Indicated in EdwART shooting tables. Smart Military maritime Dictionary, 2010 ... Marine Dictionary

In artillery, the estimated speed is valid. movement of a projectile (mine, bullet) at the muzzle of the barrel; one of the chapters ballistic characteristics that determine the range of a direct shot, the flight range of a projectile (mine, bullet) and its power or penetrating effect... ... Big Encyclopedic Polytechnic Dictionary

starting speed- in ballistics, the speed of a projectile (bullet) at the muzzle of a firearm. One of the main ballistic characteristics that determine the flight range of a projectile (bullet), its kinetic energy and penetrating ability... Forensic encyclopedia

starting speed- the estimated speed of translational movement of a projectile (mine, bullet) at the muzzle of the barrel. It is communicated to the projectile (mine, bullet) as it moves along the barrel and during the aftereffect period. N. s. One of the most important tactics technical characteristics… … Glossary of military terms

initial- 3.1 primary comprehensive school: A school organized as an independent institution, as well as as part of a basic or secondary comprehensive school (primary school duration is 4 years).

In this topic we will tell you about the ballistic data and bullet speed of the SVD sniper rifle, which is used by both the military and special services to perform various tactical tasks. We recommend that you read

SVD SNIPER RIFLE BULLET SPEED

The Dragunov sniper rifle, abbreviated as SVD, has a caliber of 7.62x54 mm, which is the same caliber and cartridge that was used in the Mosin sniper rifles. Before we announce what the SVD’s bullet speed is, let’s say that the SVD rifle is capable of firing 7.62x54 caliber cartridges different types bullets, so the weight of the bullet itself can vary from 9 grams to 14 grams, which, accordingly, affects the initial speed of the bullet and its ballistic data. Now about the speed, if we consider a cartridge for SVD with a bullet weighing around 9 grams, then the initial speed will be more than 900 meters per second, but if we consider a bullet with an average weight of 11.7 grams, then the initial speed of the SVD bullet will be 790 meters per second . We recommend that you read

SVD SNIPER RIFLE BULLET SPEED DEPENDING ON CONDITIONS

The above data is conditional and approximate, for each batch of cartridges, the type of bullets used, as well as depending on weather conditions, time of year, air temperature, altitude sea level, ballistic characteristics will change. So, if the air temperature is - 30 versus + 30, then this, of course, will not greatly affect the initial speed of the SVD bullet, but it will greatly affect the speed of the bullet at long distances, which means that the bullet will have a fairly different speed of one and the other the same cartridges and the same rifle when shooting at different air temperatures. As you already understood, different types of bullets have different initial speeds, but not only does the initial speed change, the ballistic coefficient also changes both up and down, respectively, a lighter bullet has a lower ballistic coefficient than a heavy bullet, which again will affect the speed of the SVD bullet at long distances. We recommend that you read

SVD BULLET SPEED AND ITS REDUCTION AT DIFFERENT DISTANCES

Whatever the speed of a bullet fired from an SVD rifle, no one can cancel the gravity of the earth, so, for example, at a distance of 500 meters, if a sniper is mistaken in the distance to the target by at least 30 meters, then the bullet will go higher or lower by sufficiently long distance and may not hit the target. More details about the reduction of the SVD bullet, about its ballistic characteristics look here.

In chapter Gold fund to the question what is the speed of the bullet? given by the author *** the best answer is The speed of a bullet depends on the type of weapon and for modern firearms varies on average from 300 to 1000 m/s.
There is one very simple method for measuring bullet speed:
A heavy piece of wood suspended by a thread (four, a thread from each end).
Method of measurement: you shoot at a piece of wood, look at how much it deviates, and count.
Vbullets = (2*sin((90*l)/(Pi*R)) * sqrt(g*R) * (m+M)) /m
Where:
l - how much the piece of wood deflects when hit by a bullet, m
Pi - 3.14159265356...
R - length of suspension thread, m - not less than a meter
g - free fall acceleration, 9.81 m/s2
m - bullet mass
M - mass of wood

Answer from 2 answers[guru]

Hello! Here is a selection of topics with answers to your question: what is the speed of a bullet?

Answer from Sig Fried[guru]
About 370 meters per second...

Answer from Paul[guru]
It depends on what barrel and what bullet...

Answer from User deleted[newbie]
x...you'll catch up!!

Answer from Yergey Terentyev[guru]
Of course, it depends on the weapon and the cartridge. I know for sure that the speed of a bullet (regular, with a lead core) fired from an SVD is 920-940 m.s.

Answer from 1 [guru]
various, well, somewhere around 400 km per hour

Answer from !! [active]
okolo 900 m.v secundu

Answer from User deleted[newbie]
If it (the bullet) is already thin, then it’s not high...

Answer from User deleted[guru]
if from Kalash = 750m/sec. From other weapons, sorry...

Answer from D.M.[guru]
The memoirs of a World War I pilot describe a time when he saw a bullet flying nearby in the air,
obviously on its way out. The speed of the plane at that time was about 50 km. at one o'clock.

Answer from Iuslan Ivanov[active]
For pistols, the bullet speed is within the speed of sound (340m/s), for effective use mufflers
AK-47=750 m.s
AK-74=900 m.s
SVD=840
PM=315

Answer from Sergio Noise[newbie]
This bullet speed is influenced by: the quality of the gunpowder (the smaller the particles, the better), humidity, ambient temperature... And a number of other factors.

Answer from Plovezz[active]
Don’t be afraid of the sound of a gunshot in war, you won’t hear your bullet...

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

(Total 20 photos)

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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 firing. This allows companies to improve their products. Pictured is a modified Austrian Glock.

2. “Shooting enthusiasts around the world are eager to know what happens in the milliseconds as a bullet leaves the bore. Our new method allowed us to obtain detailed 3D images of the projectile fired from a firearm. You can see three-dimensional images of the explosion and the flow of powder gas,” says Kuulapaa.

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

4. None of the moments depicted in the photographs 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 gun manufacturers gain information about gas flow and temperature distribution during a shot to improve their products.