Air Rifles

Best Air Rifles/Guns

The aim of this article is to give you a glimpse of the most important things you need to know about an air rifle; the type of material the rifle is made of, the type of caliber a rifle uses, its shooting velocity, its ability to perform under extreme weather conditions, the power source or mechanism of the rifle, the accessories it holds, its use, its safety systems, among other issues.  If you are new to shooting, we will also help you know what to look out for when purchasing an air rifle.

Although not as powerful as tactical rifles, air rifles serve the same general purpose at a more affordable cost. They can be made of wood, synthetic, steel among other materials. The market today offers a wide range of brands for air rifles. This makes it hard for you to know the best air rifle to purchase. For that reason, see below to understand the type of air rifle you want before going out shopping.

Types of Air Rifles

There are three main types of air rifles that are further categorized according to their power plants. They are spring piston, CO2, and pneumatic, and just like many other products, they all come with their pros and cons.

Spring-powered- these are the most common high-powered and affordable guns, and they provide a high velocity and increased accuracy. These rifles compress air within the chamber for a more powerful shot. They use a really strong spring and air piston to propel a pellet or BB. Spring rifles come in three different designs:

  • Side Lever: the cocking lever is found on the right side of the air rifle and needs to be pulled back to cock the rifle.
  • Underlever: the cocking lever is located beneath the barrel and requires you to pull down the side lever in order to cock the rifle. This opens the breach in which the pellet is inserted.
  • Break Barrel: the barrel is hinged and needs to be pulled down to cock the spring.

Pneumatic (Pump) Air Rifles- they use compressed air to propel the round from the rifle. This kind of rifle is powered by a pumping level which pumps air into its chamber. After each shot, you need to manually pump the rifle about 5 to 10 times. It is affordable and versatile as it enables you to shoot pellets and BB.

CO2- powered – they use compressed gas or cartridges as their power source for every shot. They have reserves/gas cartridges (12 grams of compressed air in a metal container) that are refilled or changed out after so many shots. These rifles are affordable and easy to find.

Factors to Consider When Choosing Air Rifles

When looking for an air rifle, the following are some of the considerations you need to make

Durability- the intended use of your airgun determines the level of durability you need.  For basic plinking or target shooting models, weatherproofing and safety are important aspects to consider.

Precision and Power- this refers to the consistent velocity of your BB or pellet. It is important especially if you are looking to use your air gun in a competition or target shooting.  The velocity of an air gun depends on the means of propulsion used as well as the fps, while the power relates to the muzzle velocity and how fast the BB is being propelled. Heavy BB translates to more power on impact. This combined with high velocity translates to a more accurate air gun.

Propulsion methods- this refers to the type of powerplants used. They can be CO2, Pneumatic, or spring.

Scopes & Sights- they help to increase accuracy, especially if you are shooting at long range. The ideal scope should fit your air gun usage. Make sure to check the compatibility before purchasing either the air gun or the scope. Weatherproofing will be an added advantage as you can use the scope when using the air gun in harsh conditions.

Accessories- a standard air gun requires few accessories to operate. However, there are more serious target shooters will have several pieces of very necessary equipment. The basic accessories assist in your air gun’s accuracy and longevity.  Shooting glasses protect your eyes in the case of a recoil.

Ammunition- live ammunition is currently expensive and the price keeps on going higher.  There is however an alternative for airguns especially for hunters and marksmen who are not out to kill. The different types of ammunition vary in use and cost.

Why Air Rifles?

  • Affordable- air rifles are affordable hence you can improve your shooting skills without straining your pockets for expensive guns.
  • Ammo availability- airgun ammunition is abundant. The ammunition alternatives are even more due to the high price. Pellets for example are readily available and can be acquired by a simple click on the internet.
  • Easy maintenance- as there is no burning gunpowder to foul the barrels, air rifles require very low maintenance. Some will just need lubricating per the manufacturer’s instructions, wiping down the outside and proper storage to maintain their good condition.
  • Blowback- there is no recoil from CO2 and pre-charged pneumatic airguns. Depending on your expertise and preference, some CO2 models release a bit of gas to cycle the metal slide for realistic recoil or blowback action. Spring cocking models generate a recoil impulse after firing due to the powerful internal spring used to drive a piston that pushes a blast of air to launch the projectile.

Verdict

Remember choosing the wrong gun can lead to a number of events that may include inaccurate shots to accidents. If you have decided that an air rifle is what you want, remember the discussion above to guide you to acquire the best value for your money.

The best air rifles should help you save on costs both during purchase and on maintenance costs including accessories. The best features of air rifles featured above are just some of the many benefits you should be getting when you purchase the best air rifle.

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