At the beginning of 2020, Kalashnikov will begin producing a rifle for the Russian biathlon team

What do professionals usually base their choice of model on?

The barrel caliber may vary depending on the design. Thus, the value of 4.5 mm is aimed at training shooting for the pleasure of the user. It is these units that are most popular and have an affordable price. The 5.5 mm caliber is suitable even for hunting small game and birds.

If an air rifle is purchased for the purpose of hunting, then power becomes an important parameter, which, in turn, must have a high indicator. It should be understood that the cartridge must penetrate not only the fur/feather cover, but also penetrate into the muscle layers of the animal. The instructions for the weapon do not always provide this kind of information, but there you can also find such a value as the initial speed of the bullet when leaving the barrel.

Be sure to take into account the weight of the unit. The convenience of shooting and its final accuracy depend on this parameter. The lighter the rifle, the stronger the vibration when firing. But the large mass will quickly tire the shooter, especially if the weapon has to cover impressive distances. This suggests a conclusion: before purchasing, you should immediately decide in what conditions the product will be used. This will help you determine the most optimal weight for yourself. Accordingly, if the rifle will be used exclusively at the shooting range, then the mass does not play any role.

Another key factor is reloading technique. For hunting, it is better to purchase multi-chargers. So, in case of a miss, reloading will not take much time. Shotguns that reload by breaking the barrel are preferred among sports or recreational shooting enthusiasts.

Comparison table of technical characteristics

In today's TOP 5 we have collected the best models of air rifles of 2020.

Below is a detailed description of each model.

Hatsan Striker Alpha

Turkish pneumatics are distinguished by high power and at the same time affordable cost. Durable plastic was used in the manufacture of parts; rubber inserts can also be seen. The model is lightweight. Steel body. Effective shooting is ensured by a rail that allows the installation of powerful optics. A special groove applied to the barrel increases accuracy. Inside the barrel you can see special rifling. With their help, the bullet rotates when fired, which significantly increases its speed and accuracy. The automatic safety prevents accidental discharge. The butt pad is rubber. Thus, the level of vibration and the recoil effect are significantly reduced. The rear sight allows you to aim accurately. It is adjustable both horizontally and vertically. The rifle uses 4.5 mm bullets. The fiber optic thread system allows for excellent aiming even in low light conditions. Reloading occurs by breaking the barrel. A spring-piston mechanism is used to insert bullets.

It should be noted that only durable materials were used in the manufacture of the device. Thus, the model retains all its positive qualities even under unfavorable conditions. The unit will be useful when shooting both short and long distances. It will perform well both in hunting and in target practice. This manufacturer's copy has a long service life. Moreover, the rifle is convenient to transport over various distances. The bullet's flight speed and cost can safely be called excellent for pneumatics in this category. However, it is worth noting that the package does not include reinforced springs. They will need to be purchased separately. The weapon is also ineffective against large game.

Cost: from 5,190 to 7,990 rubles.

• Affordable price;
• High-quality assembly;
• Thoughtful design;
• Can be used in various areas of life;
• High quality materials;
• Excellent optics.

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• Lack of reinforced springs in the set;
• Not suitable for hunting big game.

Air rifle Hatsan Striker Alpha

Baikal MP-512

The model belongs to the budget category of domestic production. But despite the low cost, the weapon boasts excellent performance and ease of use. Although the device looks simple, this does not in any way affect its functionality. Consumers' opinions about the product are controversial, however, we can safely say that there are significantly fewer disadvantages than advantages. Some people complain about the plastic stock. But this minus is fully compensated by the high quality of the material. Also, in reviews you can often find complaints about the sight, the settings of which are periodically lost. The classic rifle is mainly intended for training and recreational shooting. Can also be used for hunting small animals.

The weapon has an adjustable optical sight. The safety button is located in front of the trigger, which increases the level of ease of use. The fuse is an optical type. Thus, during the erection of the rifle, the trigger is blocked, which avoids an unplanned shot. Reloading is carried out by breaking the barrel.

Cost: from 4,150 to 6,590 rubles.

• During cocking, complete safety is ensured;
• The stock has a high level of convenience;
• High cost for this price category;
• Pleasant external design;
• Attractive price.

• The butt is made of plastic;
• The sight settings are lost.

Air rifle Baikal MP-512

Crosman Fury NP

Initially, you may get the impression that this model will not be able to surprise you with anything and is unlikely to have more or less acceptable characteristics. However, you should not always trust your first impression. The rifle has a rifled barrel. It is designed for cartridges with a diameter of 4.5 mm. Functioning is carried out according to the spring-piston type. The main distinguishing feature is the use of a gas spring rather than a classic metal spring inside. This ensures bullet acceleration up to 365 meters per second. In this indicator, the model surpasses even the popular Makarov combat pistol. High-quality rubberized plastic serves as the material for the manufacture of the fore-end, butt and handle. That is why these parts of the rifle cope well with physical impacts. Moreover, there is a corrugated surface, so the unit will not slip in your hands. Reliable steel alloys were used to produce the remaining elements. The end of the barrel is equipped with a plastic muzzle, which increases shooting accuracy.

The fuse is manual and has the shape of a flag. This makes it look like an additional release hook. The latter, by the way, can be adjusted if necessary. The gas spring is equipped with a special piston. Both elements are manufactured using Nitro Piston technology. Plastic was also used to make devices that increase aiming accuracy. They are characterized by a high level of contrast, which allows them to be clearly seen even in poor lighting.

Cost: from 10,290 to 14,881 rubles.

• Acceptable weight;
• All internal elements are made of steel, which is characterized by increased resistance to various types of influences;
• Recoil is low due to the presence of a gas spring;
• Low noise;
• The design is easy to disassemble.

• To cock the hammer it is quite difficult to break;
• The mounting bolts need to be tightened in a timely manner;
• If necessary, it is very difficult to find spare parts.

Air rifle Crosman Fury NP

Umarex NXG APX

The German leading manufacturer is famous for its high-quality products. The model is classified as a multi-compression method of operation. It is inflated using the forend. The design is quite easy to use. No special skills required. All this together makes it accessible to both beginners and professionals. The main advantage of the unit is the absence of even minimal recoil during shooting. You can pump up the device no more than 10 times. At the same time, it is possible to discharge it in 1 shot. Another feature is the cartridges. So, either 4.5 mm bullets or explosive balls can be used. The maximum value of the projectile's initial flight speed reaches 175 m/s.

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A hopper is built into the body of the device, allowing you to store up to 150 balls. Placing is carried out using a bolt mechanism. This makes the rifle equally useful for both right- and left-handers. For the manufacture of the stock and butt, high-quality impact-resistant black polymer was used. This made it possible to reduce the weight of the model to 1.5 kg. The model is also equipped with a standard open sight.

Cost: from 5,750 to 6,990 rubles.

• Operation does not require special knowledge and skills;
• Lack of any return;
• Belongs to the multi-charge type;
• Thoughtful use of high quality materials;
• Relatively light weight.

• A simple sight.

Air rifle Umarex NXG APX

Kral Puncher Maxi 3 W 6.35

The model is a powerful modification of the PCP. The energy of compressed air allows for powerful shots. The volume of the corresponding tank is 280 cc. This is quite enough to fire 60 shots. The magazine will hold 10 rounds of 6.35 mm caliber. The set includes 2 magazines. The presence of a manual safety device is noted. Steel cartridges provide terrifying stopping power. The barrel is rifled, so good accuracy of the bullet is guaranteed. The butt is plastic. It features a convenient configuration and a cheek pad, which allows for better aiming. The back side of the butt is equipped with a butt plate. This significantly reduces the recoil force when firing. No sighting devices are observed. For a rifle, it is optimal to use an optical sight.

Cost: 27,500 rub.

• Reloading using the side lever;
• Excellent bullet speed;
• The release mechanism can be adjusted;
• The cheekrest can be adjusted.

• A full tank holds 60 shots;
• There are no sighting devices.

Air rifle Kral Puncher Maxi 3 W 6.35

Biathlon rifle manufacturers

The most famous foreign manufacturers of biathlon rifles:

• "Anschutz" (Germany);
• "Walter" (Germany);
• "Sako" (Finland);
• "Stayer Mannlicher" (Austria).

The most popular weapons in world biathlon are the Anschutz brand. When developing rifles, the designers of this company sought to fully satisfy the requirements of the athletes of the German national team. Main criteria: recoil force and ease of use. It was in the late 70s that she initiated the transfer of biathlon weapons to small caliber. This transition made biathlon a popular sport accessible to the masses of fans.

German gunsmiths set the basic standards for biathlon rifles:

• weight not less than 3.5 kg;
• caliber 5.6 mm;
• rimfire cartridges.

The response from domestic gunsmiths came very quickly. It was the Izhevsk Biathlon Bi-6 rifle, which fully complied with the new requirements. This weapon was an option for a deep modernization of ready-made Ural-type models.