Abstract: A percussive machine comprises a housing (10) with a cylinder (11) therein, in which a reciprocating drive piston (40) via a gas cushion in a working chamber (44) repeatedly drives a hammer piston (15) to impact on the neck (17) of a tool (20) carried by the housing (10). At empty blows with the neck (17) out of reach, the hammer piston (15) is thrown forwardly and caught pneumatically in a braking chamber (47) at the bottom end (12) of the cylinder (11). The braking is combined with an elastic yielding of the bottom end (12) against the action of a recoil spring (23) in the housing (10). The pressure in the braking chamber (47) during such yielding is controlled by throttling apertures (48) in the cylinder (11) uncovered by the bottom end (12). The hammer piston (15) is thus checked to halt pneumatically by throttling avoiding a collision with the bottom end (12) and takes an inactive position below ports (46) in the cylinder wall through which the working chamber (44) is relieved and ventilated.