Whether you want to practice your shooting skills, hunt small game, or just plink with the family, an air rifle is an excellent choice. It’s quiet and economical, allowing you to avoid range fees and travel costs while still having the fun of shooting. With a wide range of calibers, power and features available, there’s an air gun for everyone.
Modern air guns differ from their early counterparts but the basic principles are similar. They store compressed air in a reservoir until the trigger is pulled, then the air releases behind the projectile and propels it down the barrel. After each shot the gun’s pressure decreases until it needs to be recharged to fire again.
In addition to the basic pneumatic designs, there are a number of other air rifles that use different methods of propelling the pellet. These include springers and pre-charged pneumatic (PCP) systems.
PCPs use onboard tanks to store compressed air at extreme pressures – 25 to 30 times greater than the pressure in your average lorry tyre. This is what enables these types of air rifles to shoot the more voluminous, cylindro-conoidal shaped “slug” pellets that resemble firearm bullets.
Most of the models reviewed in this article are purpose-built air rifles for small game hunting, target shooting, or improving marksmanship skills. They are also designed to be lightweight and compact for easy handling. The Hatsan Flashpup, for example, has an adjustable bullpup stock made from polymer that resists moisture, and the Side-Cocking lever makes cocking the gun much easier than traditional spring pistols. air guns