Many people are those who ask us what are the differences between the air pistols and the CO2 guns, as in this post we are going to explain the main differences and the main models of them.
Let's start by explaining the different models of Compressed Air Guns: On the one hand we have the guns with the compressed air system with plunger.
One of the best known is undoubtedly the PR-45 de Gamo. This pistol has a single-shot firing system, that is to say, every time we want to shoot we must insert the pellet into the pistol. It should be noted that this type of pistol is in 4.5 calibre and only accepts lead pellets, preferably match type.
The power of these pistols does not exceed 7.5 Joules. It is designed for marksmanship, as it has a rifled barrel. It is one of the best pistols for beginners in the world of precision shooting. The PR-45 pistol is very handy, weighing only 780 grams and has a length of 27 cm. It also features an anti-vibration mechanism that makes shooting even more comfortable.
A very similar pistol is the AF-10 by Gamo, which in addition to the features of the PR-45, has an internal magazine for up to 10 round balls. Both pistols come with carrying case included.
Another firing system is the spring-loaded pistols. With this system we are going to explain the Cometa Indian pistol, one of the fastest on the market. It has a shooting speed of 150 m/s, and can be increased by using an alloy pellet such as the Gamo Raptor. It has an adjustable rear sight to be able to adjust it to each shooter. Comes complete with carrying case.
Another pistol with a spring trigger system is the Superchager pistol from Hatsan.
As the final model of air pistol, we have the Gas Piston pistols.
With this system we are going to show you the features of the Gamo P900 IGT.It is also a single-shot system with which you can shoot all types of lead pellets, except balls. This Gamo pistol has a power less than 7.5 Joules and is one of the lightest pistols in compressed air, with only 560 grams. This model of pistol can be purchased in Gunset, which is a pack consisting of the pistol, pellet gun, targets and pellets.
Another model of pistol with Gas Piston system is the Supertact Vortex pistol from Hatsan. This pistol can be fitted with a small detachable stock, which can be converted into a small carbine. The advantages of these pistols over CO2 pistols is that they do not require such extensive maintenance. It is enough to clean it when you finish shooting and do the usual maintenance, such as shooting cotton pellets to clean the barrel. They are also more precise, and for the most part, more powerful than CO2 guns.
One of the disadvantages compared to CO2 guns is that you have to load the pellet after each shot, so you can't fire them back-to-back.
We now move on to the CO2 guns, perhaps the most purchased by our customers due to their fast shooting. We explain them to you using the PT-85 by Gamo as an example.
The CO2 pistols have a multi-shot magazine with 8 shots at each end, which means that we have a magazine that can load pellets from both sides. When we run out of pellets in one end, we can quickly remove the magazine, turn it over and put the other end in to continue shooting.
It is also worth noting that this type of gun does not accept long pellets. The ideal pellets are match type pellets, such as the Gamo pistol cup. In this particular pistol only lead pellets can be fired. There are other models in which only steel BB's can be fired, such as the Beretta Elite II.
And finally there is another type of pistol, which allows you to shoot both lead pellets and steel BB's, such as the Gamo C-15.
One of the most popular features of CO2 pistols is the blowback. What is blowback? It is the recoil of the slide, simulating a fire when it lets the cartridge case out once it has been fired. The Sig Sauer P226 also has it. For those of you who don't like this system, there are other pistols that don't, such as the Glock 19.
The weight of these pistols is not usually very high, the weight of the PT-85 is about 790 grams, while the power, in most of them does not exceed 3 or 4 Joules. It should be noted that the shot is fired thanks to the small CO2 capsules that are inserted into the pistol.
The advantages of CO2 pistols over air pistols is that you can shoot much faster and more often. They also come with extra magazines in most of them. These guns tend to look more like firearms than airsoft guns.
But like everything else, they also have their cons. They have to be more thoroughly maintained, after a few CO2 capsules have been used, the valve should be cleaned with maintenance capsules. The barrel must also be maintained with the cleaning rods. And above all and very important, when you are going to stop shooting, remove the used CO2 capsule. If you don't remove it and it spends a long time inside, the valve can get damaged.
Now it's up to you to decide which one best suits your needs and which model you want to keep.
