What are the types of Air Guns? Air Gun Working Mechanisms
Air guns are classified into 5 different types; spring powered, gas piston, pre-charged pneumatic, variable pump, and CO2. Each gun type operates in its unique way and has its own set of unique features.
Before we look at each gun type in detail, let’s take a look at some of the commonly used terms that may sound new especially if you are new in the world of air guns. These terms should help you understand this post better. Let’s get started.
Barrel– This is the long pointy part at the front of the air gun where the pellet is fired from.
Breech– In a breech-loading air gun, the pellet is loaded directly into the back-end of the barrel.
Stock– This is the back-end of the air gun which is placed into your shoulder when you are firing the air gun.
Sear– A seer is a part of the trigger mechanism which contains the hammer back up till adequate pressure is put on the trigger, at which point the hammer is released.
Types of Air Guns
Spring Powered Air Guns
Spring-powered air guns are the most traditional of air guns. They have the simplest operation system which makes them easy to use and store in good order. Spring piston air guns come in different varieties, but the most common one is a break barrel.
In this gun type, there is a coiled spring and a piston inside the chamber. Whenever you cock the gun, the spring is compressed and decompressed when you pull the trigger. When a pellet is loaded it creates an air-tight seal. When the piston moves towards the pellet, it compresses the air.
The compressed air can’t escape as the pellet has formed a tight seal. When you pull the trigger, the piston moves forward and pressurizes the air to a point where it overcomes the pellet’s resistance. The pellet is then propelled forward out of the muzzle by the force from the pressurized air. Most hunters/shooters start their firearm collection with a spring-powered air rifle.
Pros
- Cheap to buy and maintain
- Replacement parts are readily available
- Great longevity. This gun can last for decades when taken good care of
- Self-contained. You don’t need to buy cartridges or pumping equipment
- Easy to service and modify the gun for better performance
- Accurate and consistent
Cons
- High recoil
- Requires a lot of practice to cock and shoot properly
- Gets weaker with time, but you can modify it to keep it up to the task
- Can’t be left cocked
- Piston movement causes a lot of noise
CO2 Powered Air Rifle
A CO2 air rifle uses a CO2 cartridge as its power source. There are different types of CO2 cartridges that you can use, but the most popular one is the 12g cartridge. Alternatively, you can store gas in the gun’s reservoir and use it as your source of power.
CO2 air guns work in a similar manner as the PCP guns. The spring gets compressed and when the trigger is pulled, it releases a small valve in the CO2 reservoir for a split second. The gas is then discharged down the barrel and propels the pellet on its way out.
Pros
- Easy to cock
- Great accuracy
- Very minimal recoil
- Convenient for repeated shooting
- Consistent power delivery
- Capable of providing fast rate-of-fire
Cons
- Less powerful
- Accuracy and power can be affected by temperature fluctuations
- The CO2 cartridges can be expensive if you shoot many times
Pre-Charged Pneumatic Air Rifle (PCP)
Pneumatic air rifles use high-pressurized air in the chamber to propel the pellet out of the barrel. The pressured air is compressed up to 3,000 or 4,000 psi using hand pumps or scuba tanks.
When the compressed air reaches the optimum pressure level, the air gun is ready for use. PCP air rifles offer numerous benefits to a wide range of serious shooters.
Pros
- Virtually recoil-free
- Minute cocking effort
- Highly effective with large caliber pellets
- High accuracy and very powerful
Cons
- More expensive
- Some strength is needed to pump the gun to the desired pressure is you are pumping it manually
- Not self-contained
Gas Piston Air Rifle
A gas piston ai rifle is also called a gas strut or gas ram. This gun-type works in a similar manner as a spring-piston air rifle, only that it has a gas-filled cylinder instead of a coiled spring.
The air inside the cylinder is already compressed and whenever you cock the gun, you apply more pressure to it. This pressurized air is put under tension until you release the trigger. When you release the trigger, the pellet is pushed out of the barrel by the propellant force of the pressurized air. Gas piston air rifles make the best rifles for plinking.
Pros
- Simple to use
- Fully self-contained
- Affordable price
- Gun parts are readily available on the market
- Easy to service and modify the gun for better performance
- Accurate, powerful, and highly consistent on a shot-to-shot basis
Cons
- More recoil compared with other gun-types
- Requires some practice to cock and shoot correctly
- Gets weaker with time
- Still requires cocking, but it’s a little simpler than in spring-piston air guns
Variable Pump Air Gun
A variable pump air gun comes with a piston and a pressure cylinder in the chamber. When you cock the air gun, the air between the piston and the cylinder gets compressed.
Since there is nowhere this air can go, it is directed into the cylinder. It stays in the cylinder until you shoot. When you pull the trigger, the pellet is forced outside the barrel by the force of compressed air.
Pros
- Fully self-contained. No CO2 cartridges or pumping equipment needed
- Compact and lightweight
- Virtually recoilless
- Variable power. You pump less and you have less power and vice versa
Cons
- Pumping can get tedious
- Requires practice to learn how to cock properly
- Time-consuming when pumping
Final Thoughts
An air gun is an excellent tool for hunting, plinking, target shooting, and skill development. Knowing what you need will help you choose correctly. We have outlined the pros and cons of each gun type, so it’s easier for you to narrow down your best gun type.