Review of the Parabellum Luger rolling bolt air pistol

Another Akhtung! Quite recently we stopped at the German P38, today we are visiting another representative of historical Germany. So - Gletcher P08 Parabellum air pistol.

We present to our readers a version of the Luger combat pistol designed by the German gunsmith Georg Luger (1900). The manufacturer is the Gletcher company (USA), which produces pneumatic and airsoft replicas of military weapons. Nobody says anything bad about their product - and Gletcher does not skimp on praise: “new for the season”, “full correspondence of the characteristics of the legendary Luger pistol”, “exact copying of the bolt locking system with levers”, “Blowback function simulating recoil when fired”. Another “plus”: the cylinder pressure screw is hidden, which makes the resemblance to the original even greater.

Combat Luger pistol

History of the pistol

Initially, the pistol was produced in several versions, the most popular being the Model 93 pistol-carbine. The Parabellum had a good action, but was not very convenient to use. In this regard, its modifications were required. In 1899, Borchardt's colleague, the inventor Georg Luger, took up this issue. He invented a new Parabellum model with a comfortable handle located at a large angle to the barrel. This design was taken from the American Maxim-Silvemran pistol, created in 1896.

The new Parabellum was patented in 1899. In 1900 a large batch of pistols was produced. Subsequently, many modifications of the Parabellum were reproduced. All of them changed the external and internal characteristics of the pistol, leaving one thing unchanged - the general layout.

In 1902, a model was created that differed from the 1900 model in that the pistol had a shorter and thicker barrel, and larger cartridges were used.

In 1904, the barrel was increased by 4 cm. This model also had an ejector, a cartridge presence indicator, a groove for attaching the butt and a reversible sight. The German Navy began to widely use this model. It was at this time that the pistol acquired the name Parabellum.

In 1906, some design elements of the pistol, especially the bolt, underwent significant changes. Police officers and officers of the Russian army were armed with this model.

The 1908 modification lacked an automatic fuse.

Characteristics of the Gletcher P.08 (Blowback) air pistol

Air pistol Gletcher P.08 (Blowback) buy in the Popadiv10 online store. Air pistol Gletcher P.08 (Blowback) at a low price of RUB 13,990. You can pay for your order by mail upon receipt in any part of the Russian Federation. Before placing an order, be sure to check the price and contents of the product by phone (during business hours) or by e-mail and feedback system (at any time convenient for you).

The information on the product “Pneumatic pistol Gletcher P.08 (Blowback)” is for informational purposes only and is not a public offer as defined by the provisions of Article 437 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation; characteristics, appearance, color and equipment may be changed by the manufacturer without notice.

Technical characteristics of Gletcher Luger Parabellum

Description

American released two pneumatic variations of the parabellum, or Luger pistol - first the Gletcher P 08, then the Gletcher Parabellum.

The combat prototype first appeared in 1900 thanks to weapons designer Georg Luger, who, based on the first ever successful Borchardt self-loading pistol, was able to develop a compact weapon system with a comfortable grip and excellent shooting accuracy.

The Gletcher P08 pneumatic is named after the P08 model of 1908. The name “parabellum” was given to Luger’s brainchild by the head of a German manufacturing company, using part of the Latin aphorism “Si vis pacem, para bellum” (“If you want peace, prepare for war”).

Both Parabellum pneumatic modifications with the Gletcher logo are almost identical in appearance, have a “real” weight of about 900 grams and are equipped with an original mechanism for simulating bolt recoil. This system maximized the similarity to the prototype and the realism of the fire, but at the expense of reducing the starting speed of the bullets and increasing gas consumption.

The only obvious external difference between Glatcher's Parabellum models is the color of the plastic on the handle:

• brown (“wood-like”) - for P08;
• black - Parabellum.

More significant differences lie in the design of these pneumatics.

Design

Design features of Gletcher P08:

• bullets are fed into the barrel by pressing the trigger;
• the shutter travel when firing is semi-blowback;
• part-size store.

In contrast, Gletcher Parabellum:

• bullets are fed by the movement of the shutter;
• shutter travel - blowback;
• full size store.

Pay attention to another innovation introduced into the design of the second modification: when the bullets in the magazine run out, the parabellum moves to the shutter stop (SZ).

It also includes a convenient scheme for loading the magazine with bullets.

So the second option is more functional and closer to its combat counterpart - the Luger pistol.

Important: in order to start shooting from the Gletcher Parabellum, which is not in the 3rd position, you must jerk the bolt. However, you need to avoid a second twitch without firing, since there will be two bullets in the barrel, which threatens to break the pneumatic gun.

Performance characteristics

Parameters of the Gletcher Parabellum air pistol:

• power - 3 J;
• bullet departure speed - 100 m/s;
• caliber - 4.5 mm;
• charges - BB steel pellets;
• magazine capacity - 21;
• dimensions, cm - 22 x 140 x 3.5;
• canister capacity - 12 mm;
• trunk type - smooth.

In addition to the parabellum, the product package includes one magazine, a passport instruction in several languages ​​including Russian and a 6-sided key for replacing cartridges.

Design

The pistol has movable and functional structural elements, such as the bolt and its lock, safety, trigger and magazine release button.

To start shooting, you need to jerk the shutter. After this, one ammunition from the magazine will move into the barrel. Next you need to shoot. If you jerk the bolt twice without firing after the first time, another ball will be fed into the barrel, which can lead to damage to the weapon. When the cartridges run out, the shutter is delayed. To start shooting again, you need to load the magazine. To do this, you need to move the feeder behind the washer and put ammunition into the magazine through a special hole. When the magazine is loaded, it is necessary to pull the bolt back, thereby removing it into the delay. The Parabellum shutter travel is blowback.

It is worth noting that the magazine is thin, so the gas cylinder protrudes beyond its limits. Therefore, it is highly advisable to bleed the gas from the can with the magazine inserted. This is necessary so as not to burn your fingers.

Upgrade

You can improve the properties of Glacier Parabellum in the following ways:

• The first step is to disassemble the barrel and examine the lubricant with a glance; if necessary, replace it.
• After assembly, move the shutter, making sure the quality of its movement.
• Look through the bore and clean it if you see contamination.
• If the balls go to the side when shooting, unscrew the two screws holding the barrel and turn it slightly.
• Using a thin file, slightly bore the magazine receiving hole to make it easier to load.

Making more significant improvements is too difficult, and the scope for upgrades is very limited.

Advantages and disadvantages of the model

Parabellum has both pros and cons. Let's look at them in more detail:

List of advantages (continued)

The list of advantages of Gletcher does not limit this. does not hide the positive qualities of its product. In his interpretation, the glacier is not just an exact copy of Parabellum P08, but a “high-precision copy.” That is, the resemblance to the combat “progenitor” is only external – 100%. The advantages of a replica of its own production by Gletcher include the material from which the Luger P08 air pistol is made. Everything is metal (an alloy of aluminum and silicon): the body, the bolt, even the magazine are all metal.

Some owners note the convenient and even - in their opinion - puncture of the CO2 cylinder (cylinder weight - 12 grams), carried out using a hexagon and a key, which are included in the kit. The handle is comfortable (ergonomic) and fits well in the hand. But the need to remove the right pad (cheek plate) of the handle causes play over time, and the Luger P08 no longer feels so comfortable in the hand. (To eliminate the backlash, people came up with the idea of ​​pouring a mixture of epoxy resin and aluminum powder into the lining).

Equipment Glacier Parabellum

• Gletcher Parabellum comes in a cardboard box.
• Inside there is a design diagram of the previous weapon model.
• You can also read the warranty period on the box. It is 18 months.
• In addition to the gun, the kit includes instructions. It has been translated into several languages, including Russian. There is a very important note in the instructions, which states that it is necessary to carefully select ammunition manufacturers. Poor quality balls can get stuck in the Parabellum barrel.

Criticism (part two)

What else do Gletcher Luger owners criticize for? Oddly enough - for Blowback. One of the main distinguishing features of the replica, which most closely resembles it with the combat original, is an advantage for some P08 owners, and a disadvantage for others. It’s not surprising: there are so many people, so many opinions. “De gustibus non est disputandem”: “There is no arguing about tastes.” Yes, the imitation of recoil turned out to be cool, but it came at the expense of reducing the power of the device. That is why it has such a modest initial bullet speed. This also affected the reduction in gas reserves in the cylinder for the intended purpose: only enough for 50 shots.

Also, the front sight is not very comfortable (too thin in comparison with the sighting devices of other replicas)), the slot in the sighting bar is narrow, the sight is the same color as the body and barrel. It will take some getting used to. In general, the range of opinions is classic: 50 to 50. Even those who criticize the Gletcher P08 air pistols for certain shortcomings, for the most part note the good quality of the replica. The people are pleased with the results of the shooting. No, a rare “guest” gets into the “top ten”, but the “eights” and “nines” are the majority, and quite a lot.

As for packaging, the pneumatic version is sold in a box of a standard format and design from Gletcher - with the same standard equipment (a box with an explosion diagram, a hexagon for twisting the cylinder, a pistol and waste paper).

Gletcher Luger Parabellum disassembly

Step-by-step instructions for disassembling the Gletcher Luger Parabellum:

1. First you need to set the shutter on delay.
2. After this you need to remove the magazine.
3. Next, you need to move the shutter release lever down.
4. Remove the Parabellum from the shutter stop.
5. Remove the trigger cover.
6. Remove the bolt by sliding it forward.

To assemble the weapon, you need to do the same steps in reverse order. But it is important to remember that when attaching the mechanism cover, you need to move the bolt back, and to successfully install the barrel into the grooves of the frame, you need to slightly press the metal plate inside.

Disadvantages (according to users)

The manufacturer tries not to talk about the shortcomings of the “high-precision copy”. But they exist. Disadvantages appear as you gain experience working with pneumatics: practice is the criterion of truth. The list of shortcomings is a summary of user judgments based on personal experience. Experience and assessments are, of course, subjective.

So, what is it that airgun lovers don’t like about the Gletcher P08 Parabellum air pistol? Users complain about a very tight trigger (soft - only at idle), lack of shutter stop, cylinder consumption that does not correspond to the manufacturer’s statements, and poor-quality painting. (The paint, indeed, is almost Chinese, “economy class”, uneven, with foreign inclusions and air bubbles, partially peeling off). And the accuracy of the replica is not maximum: for example, the trigger cover is solid cast along with the frame, and therefore cannot be removed. Also, the locking flag is just a decorative element (does not work), and the fuse in operation differs from that on the combat original.

And the biggest displeasure among owners is the price. They believe that 6,490 rubles is an amount disproportionate to the quality of the replica. True, there is an opinion that this is a temporary phenomenon associated with the start of sales. And the manufacturer’s practice indicates high starting prices. As sales proceed, the price should stabilize and come in accordance with the quality and capabilities of potential buyers.

Pneumatic copies of Parabellum

Currently, three versions of the parabellum air pistol are available on the Russian pneumatic market, one from (P.08) and two from the American group - “Gletcher P08” and “Gletcher Parabellum”.

" P.08 " , released in the Legends series of legendary weapons. In appearance, the Umarex product most accurately copies the legendary pistol. In addition to the muzzle, the only evidence of belonging to the world of pneumatics is the stamped inscription in small font “cal. 4.5 mm (.177)" and the power limit icon "F". At the same time, this version of pneumatics is essentially a metal blank that conveys the shape of the famous pistol, into which a mechanism for firing metal balls is mounted. Only the magazine release button, trigger and safety are functional. However, the absence of simulating the movement of the shutter (blowback) increased the speed of the balls (stated - 125 m/s ) and the savings in CO2 consumption (from one magazine to 100-120 shots).

Both Parabellum “Gletcher” are equipped with a system for simulating shutter recoil, which naturally significantly increased the realism of shooting with a decrease in the speed of BB ejection (stated: P08 - 105 m/s ; Parabellum - 100 m/s ) and a higher consumption of carbon dioxide (from one cartridge P08 - 60-70 shots and Parabellum - 50-66). In contrast to the Umareks model, the fact that it belongs to the world of airgun pneumatics is indicated by the rather large logos of the Gletcher trademark on the left side of the bolt.

In appearance, they can be easily distinguished by the color of the plastic linings on the handles - on the P08 they are brown, and on the Parabellum they are black.

Despite the fact that both pistols are almost identical in appearance, they are significantly different in design.

P 08 – balls are fed into the barrel by pressing the trigger, the magazine is not full-size (“pencil”), the bolt stroke is shortened when firing (semi-blowback). A significant drawback is the lack of a shutter stop.

Parabellum - feeding balls into the barrel by moving the bolt, full-size magazine, full imitation of bolt recoil when firing, presence of a bolt stop, incomplete disassembly is similar to the combat counterpart.

Thus, the Gletcher Parabellum is the most functional pneumatic copy of the famous pistol available on the Russian market.