Barrel length
The working length of the barrel installed in the pistol / revolver is from the chamber to the muzzle. In airsoft models (primarily AEGs, see "Type"), the length of the inner barrel is indicated, along which the bullet directly moves. Three main points directly depend on this parameter: the initial velocity of the bullet, the length of the aiming line and the dimensions of the weapon.
In short-barreled (up to 20 – 25 cm) pneumatics and Flaubert's revolvers, a long barrel allows you to achieve higher initial speeds. However there is no rigid dependence here, and models with the same barrel sizes can differ markedly in initial speed (especially since the latter also depends on a number of parameters, primarily the principle of operation — see "Type"). However, long-barreled pistols are generally better for long-range shooting than short-barreled pistols. This is due to the second nuance — the length of the sighting line: a long barrel allows you to increase the distance between the front sight and the whole, thereby reducing errors in aiming. However, with regard to dimensions, the increase in the length of the barrel not only makes the weapon more cumbersome, but also worsens its balance, since the centre of gravity shifts forward because of this.
There are a couple more nuances associated with this indicator. So, in copies of combat pistols (see above), the barrel length is selected in accordance with the size of the weapon from which this model wa...s copied. And for products chambered for a blank cartridge (see "Type"), this parameter is not indicated at all, since there is virtually no full-fledged barrel in such pistols.
Muzzle velocity
Muzzle velocity — that is, the speed of the bullet at the exit from the barrel — provided by the pistol / revolver. Note that for some weapons, the actual muzzle velocity may vary; for more on this, see "Type", and here we note that for such models, the characteristics usually indicate the average value for perfect conditions.
In general, the greater the speed of the bullet, the more long-range the weapon and the higher its penetrating ability. Thus, in some countries this indicator is the basis for legal restrictions on the sale of pneumatics (usually, bona fide sellers have the relevant information). And for airsoft weapons, this moment is important for safety reasons: too high a ball speed increases the likelihood of injury. However, airsoft guns usually give out
less than 100 m / s. By the standards of classical pneumatics, this is very little: most short-barreled pneumatics fall in the range of
100 – 125 m / s, in some models the initial speed can reach
125 – 150 m / s and even
more.
In "flobers" speeds are higher: an indicator
up to 175 m / s is considered relatively low,
up to 200 m / s — average, and some long-barreled models give out
more than 200 m / s. However, note that we are talking a
...bout the speeds claimed by the manufacturer, while the actual performance will greatly depend on the characteristics of the cartridge (load, composition, build quality). Therefore, the actual initial speeds in such weapons may differ markedly from those claimed.Shots from one refueling
The number of shots on one gas station that an air pistol or revolver is capable of producing. Specified for gas models and PCP (see "Type"); in the first case, the data is usually given for a standard 12-gram cartridge with carbon dioxide, in the second case, for a full filling of the built-in reservoir.
Note that this parameter is quite approximate, since the actual number of shots at a gas station may differ slightly from the claimed one. Nevertheless, according to the claimed number of shots at a gas station, it is quite possible to evaluate different models of pneumatics and compare them with each other. However it must also be taken into account that the last portions of gas / air pressure is noticeably reduced — and this reduces the initial velocity of the bullet and the firing range, and can also lead to problems in the operation of blow-back systems (see below). So if the number of shots from one gas station is important for you, you should proceed from the fact that the number of “effective” shots (with full bullet speed) will be somewhere 10-15% less than the maximum claimed.
Firing mode switch
The presence
of a firing mode switch in the design of a pneumatic (less often a starting) pistol (this function does not occur in weapons chambered for Flaubert).
This feature, by definition, means that the pistol has at least one additional firing mode, in addition to the traditional single shots. This can be a fully automatic mode (see below), a fixed length queue mode, and in some models both options at once. Such features in each case should be clarified separately.
Auto mode
The ability to operate the pistol in Full Auto mode — when the weapon fires continuously until the trigger is released or the magazine is empty (fixed burst mode — Burst — in this case, automatic shooting is not considered).
Automatic mode is found only among air pistols (in some AEGs and gas-balloon models) and in weapons chambered for a blank cartridge. At the same time, we note that such models with this function do not necessarily copy submachine guns: Full Auto mode can be provided even in pistols whose firearm prototypes shoot only single shots.
Weight
The total weight of the weapon. As a rule, the "empty" weight is indicated in the characteristics, without consumables (bullets / cartridges, cartridges).
This parameter has two meanings. On the one hand, a heavy pistol / revolver is tedious to hold on weight for a long time; in addition, the increase in weight is often associated with an increase in the length of the barrel, due to which the center of gravity shifts forward - and this further increases the inconvenience. On the other hand, massiveness gives an additional resemblance to military weapons and an overall impression of solidity, and in models with blow-back (see above) it also reduces the perceived recoil. Therefore, many consider significant weight to be an advantage rather than a disadvantage.
Note that in models chambered for Flaubert and a blank cartridge, the weight more or less corresponds to military weapons of a similar model or size. In pneumatics, the dispersion can be quite large, especially since not every such pistol is copied from a combat one. It is worth noting here that PCP models are the most massive (see "Type"): due to the built-in tank, the weight of such pistols is usually
1 kg or more. Multi-compression pneumatics are a little lighter - here you can find weapons weighing
up to 900 g and even
up to 800 g. The maximum figure for AEGs is
900 - 1000 g, and in the lightest models, the weight
does not exceed 700 g. And among the spring-piston and gas-balloon models, almost any weight is found - from small (
less than 600 g) to significant (more than 1 kg).