Air rifles fire pellets and BBs using pressurized air (or sometimes carbon dioxide) to propel them down the barrel and out the muzzle. They come in a variety of powerplants and each offers advantages to shooters depending on their needs.
There are four main categories of air rifles – break barrel, side-cocking, underlever and variable pump. The most popular are variable pump rifles that use a trigger to retract a piston and mechanically compress the air, which then fires a pellet. They are very economical and very accurate. They can be fine-tuned with adjustments to the hammer spring, striker and valve metering screw. Variable pump rifles can be used for casual plinking, target shooting, and pest control at distances up to 50 yards. Many field target competitors shoot them in ISSF competitions.
The pre-charged pneumatic, or PCP, category of air rifles use an external tank that can be filled from another high-pressure source. These are very efficient and are capable of delivering multiple shots per fill. They can be tuned with a regulator to match the rifle’s specifications, and most have a gauge so the shooter knows when it is time to refill.
Big bore PCP air rifles can generate enough muzzle energy to take small game animals like pigeons and squirrels and even coyotes if shot placement is correct. They can also be used to ring steel targets at up to 1,000 yards. Check out the PCP section of this website to learn more about these incredibly powerful and versatile rifles. Most states now allow hunters to use them for whitetails and other medium game if they meet minimum caliber and foot-pound requirements. Check out Pyramyd Air’s interactive map to find out if you can hunt with an air rifle in your state. air rifles