Air Rifles

What is an Air Rifle?

An air rifle is a type of rifle that uses compressed air or gas to propel a projectile rather than an explosive propellant. Air rifles can range in caliber from .177 to .50. These rifles shoot metal projectiles, such as pellets, slugs, or bbs, for multiple use cases, such as:

• Hunting: Hunting air rifles are typically .22 caliber and larger (.25 air rifles, .30 air rifles, and up to .50 caliber). We've created a resource for air rifle hunting that explores different types of game and air rifles you should use.
• Target shooting: The most popular type for target shooting is .177 caliber. These low-powered .177 air rifles are perfect for a full day of shooting entertainment.
• Pest control and small game: This requires a more powerful .177 caliber or .22 caliber air rifle, but we recommend sticking with a .22.
• Competition: Competition rifles generally fall in the .177-caliber category.

How Do Air Rifles Work?

Air rifles are versatile guns that use compressed air or gas to propel projectiles, offering a quieter and more economical alternative to traditional firearms.

At its core, an air rifle compresses air and then releases it rapidly behind a projectile. This compressed air pushes the projectile through the barrel and down the range. The firing process happens in milliseconds, with the air pushing the pellet at high speeds.

When the trigger is pulled, it opens a valve that releases the compressed air. The sudden burst of air accelerates the pellet, sending it down range. The consistency and power of the shot depend on the air pressure and the specific mechanisms of the air rifle.

Here are the basic types of air rifles:

• Pump: Single-stroke or multi-pump air rifles use an integrated pump to fill the air chamber that pushes the projectile through the barrel and out to the target.
• Spring Piston: A spring is compressed, and an air chamber fills when the gun is cocked. When the trigger is pulled, the spring pushes a piston that forces the air through the barrel, hurling the pellet toward the target.
• Gas Piston: A chamber of gas (often nitrogen) is compressed upon cocking rather than a spring, which is released with the trigger pull to push the piston.
• PCP: Pre-charged pneumatic air rifles have a bottle of compressed air (around 3000psi or more) that attaches to the trigger mechanism. A valve releases some compressed air funneled into the barrel to propel the projectile.
• CO2: Carbon dioxide is compressed into a cylinder loaded into the gun so the trigger can actuate a valve to release a small amount of CO2 to propel the projectile.