Probably, every person had to see a single-shot pneumatic gun at least several times in his life. They are used in inexpensive ranges, and in stores most models can be freely bought without a license and permission. So a little understanding of them will be useful to anyone who is at least a little interested in weapons.
Appointment
First of all, we will understand why a single-shot pistol with a critical barrel is needed at all.
Of course, its main purpose is to master the skills of handling weapons. Indeed, in fact, the principle of aiming remains the same for both combat pistols and pneumatics. Therefore, having learned to shoot well from the “air”, as it is affectionately called by fans of weapons, you can easily transfer this skill to rifled firearms. Of course, you will have to take certain amendments - after all, pneumatics does not give returns. But still, the ability to shoot well from it will be an important plus in the development of real weapons.
In addition, tipping single-shot pistols will be a good choice for a child or teenager. Thanks to his first weapon, he will be able to acquire a culture of handling him. Also on pneumatics, the basics of safe firing, storage and maintenance can be easily and easily explained. In addition, the first weapon, even if not quite real, donated at 8-12 years old, significantly disciplines, instills responsibility for its decisions and actions.
Finally, many people buy them just for fun - to shoot at empty cans or pre-printed targets during an outing. Well, a great hobby that allows you to get a useful skill, strengthen your hand and increase your self-esteem.
Therefore, we can confidently say that such an acquisition will definitely become a successful investment of money.
Device
It's nice that the circuit of a single-shot pistol is as simple as possible. Even simpler than with models using CO2 cans.
When breaking the barrel, a spring connected to a piston freely moving inside the cylinder is retracted to the extreme position. Here it is fixed with a hook connected to the trigger. If necessary, the spring can be in this position for any length of time. When the shooter pulls the trigger, it releases it. Unclenching, the spring pushes the piston at high speed, creating excessive air pressure in the barrel tube. Thanks to this, a shot is fired.
Main advantages
One of the main advantages is the amazing simplicity of the device of single-shot pistols with a broken barrel. On the one hand, this makes them much cheaper - the cheapest models can be purchased for a couple of thousand rubles, so everyone can afford it. On the other hand, the likelihood of damage is significantly reduced. This is especially true if the weapons will be used by adolescents and children who do not yet have an accurate understanding of the correct handling of complex mechanisms.
An important advantage is safety. Of course, the piston creates high pressure in the cylinder, but for a very short period of time - only a fraction of a second. When using carbon cans, the pressure in them reaches 30-35 atmospheres. If the container is made with a defect, undergoes overheating or is accidentally damaged, it may well explode. The consequences of this are not hard to imagine.
Finally, a simple mechanism and the ability to refuse a can of liquefied gas makes it possible to reduce the weight of the gun. This is an important parameter for people buying pneumatics to use for serious training. Holding the gun on your outstretched arm for just a minute, you can understand that every extra hundred grams can cause serious difficulties during operation.
Are there any flaws?
There are no significant shortcomings in critical pneumatics. Perhaps the only serious one can be called the need to charge weapons for each shot. That is, to conduct a series of shots to get the skill of quick and accurate shooting, it will not work with him. We'll have to break the gun, releasing the piston in the cylinder, then insert the bullet, close the gun and only then shoot.
Also, some users do not like that it is impossible to carry weapons loaded - the spring, being in a compressed position for a long time, loses its elasticity, which leads to a decrease in the speed of the shot. And the trigger itself wears out because of this, it becomes less reliable. However, this can not be called a serious minus. It is unlikely that someone may have a situation where they will have to shoot from the pneumatics offhand and there will be no time to charge it.
Now it will be useful to tell a little about some of the most interesting models of airguns.
Gun "Monte Cristo"
On the whole, Monte Cristo single-shot pistols cannot be called pneumatic fully. But they do not apply to gunshots.
In our country, these pistols appeared before the Revolution and the Civil War that followed.
They used a fairly new and unusual at that time ammunition - Flaubert's cartridge, invented in the late nineteenth century. In fact, the ammunition was an igniter capsule into which a round bullet was inserted. That is, the cartridge as such was not here. There was no cartridge case and powder charge, which makes some experts attribute the Monte Cristo pistols to pneumatic weapons.
When the pistol was loading, its barrel broke, thanks to which the trigger was cocked. When firing, the firing pin hit the capsule, causing the detonator to detonate. Despite the small amount of explosive, it turned out to be enough to create enough pressure in the capsule to fire a shot - since the caliber was very small, the mass of the bullet was just tiny, and no one made special demands on the cartridges. So, judging by the popularity of the pistol, reviews among wealthy citizens were very positive. Usually they were used to shoot rodents and self-defense. The weapon could not cause serious harm, but to inflict a sharp and rather severe pain - completely.
Gun Gamo P-900
A very successful pistol manufactured in Izhevsk. It can be a great choice for fun and initial shooting skills.
Despite the low cost, it accelerates a bullet to 120 meters per second - a very good indicator for its class. This is made possible by a rather long trunk. The maximum range of fire is 100 meters. True, the effective aiming distance is much less - no more than 10 meters.
The gun weighs only 1.3 kilograms - for experienced users this will be an important advantage, because they will not buy models that are too heavy so that the shooting does not turn into an endurance test.
It is important that the weapon is equipped with a fuse, eliminating the possibility of a shot. Many users, leaving reviews, separately highlight this item, realizing how important security is.
IZH-46 pistol
Another interesting domestic version, also developed and manufactured in Izhevsk - IZH-46.
It also has a long barrel, which allows you to accelerate the bullet to the same speed - 120 meters per second. And the weapon weighs exactly the same - only 1.3 kilograms.
But unlike the Gamo, it does not break - a special handle is located under the barrel, taking it away, the shooter not only opens the barrel to charge the bullet, but also cockes the spring. The battle range is about the same - a little over 100 meters, but aiming fire is problematic to conduct at a distance of over 10 meters.
Reading reviews, you can come across the opinion that the handle looks quite massive. But it is precisely thanks to it that high ergonomics and ease of shooting are ensured. Subsequently, on the basis of IZH-46, several more successful modifications were released that received an increased volume compressor, which made it possible to increase the power of the shot.
