Buying An Air Rifle

Which system is most suitable for my needs?

To answer this one you'll need to fully understand what's involved in buying, using and maintaining the various types of air rifles on the market. Consequently, this part of making the right choice should be given as much time as it takes for you to learn about the pros and cons of air rifle ownership. Always think of an air rifle as a 'system' rather than a single item. Some are more 'systemised' than others - precharged guns for instance - but all air rifles need proper handling if you're to get the best out of them. Let's take a look at the main airgun systems and what it takes to manage them properly.

Spring-Piston Rifles

The performance of a modern spring rifle can be incredible. Spring guns are easily the most self-contained air rifles of all. Recent advances in spring-powered technology have pushed the spring-piston airgun right up there with recoilless guns as far as performance is concerned . These guns are highly recommended for hunting.

Precharged Air Rifles

With no recoil and affordable performance it's no wonder that precharged rifles have become so popular. These really are 'system' guns. These super accurate recoilless rifles need, in addition to the rifle itself, a supply of compressed air, a quality pressure gauge and connecting hose, and enough common sense to run the system safely and efficiently. Every airgun shooter is perfectly capable of coping with this type of air rifle. The operation of precharged guns becomes second nature in a matter of hours. On a purely practical note remember you will have to make regular trips to a diving equipment outlet to get your air-tank refilled. How often you need to do this obviously depends on how much shooting you do. Even the most dedicated hunters may need a main tank recharge only three times a year because their compression consumption is minimal. Most guns can be refilled ten times from a normal 3 Litre bottle giving you a total of between 700-1000 shots depending upon which rifle you choose. Field Target shooters or keen novices can empty a cylinder much quicker. An alternative to the air tank system for refilling your gun is the Logun stirrup pump which connects directly to the cylinder on your rifle. It takes approximately one stroke of the pump per shot to fill the reservoir. The fact that so many endure the hassle of running pre-charged airguns should indicate that what you get out, really is worth what you put in. The gentle manners of the pre-charged recoilless system are not likely to overload your scope. Their accuracy and consistent power makes them a favourite amongst hunters and an absolute must for target shooters. And, with the addition of a silencer, these guns can operate at a whisper, which is important if noise is a consideration.

The Gas Ram Rifle

These require even less by way of maintenance than spring-guns. Having a compressed air chamber instead of a coiled spring as a power source reduces wear and tear considerably. Gas ram rifles are blessed with low recoil and spring-gun simplicity. They also offer precharged precision - without bottles and gauges.

Multi-Pump and Single Stroke Rifles

If you're prepared to put in the effort, a pump up rifle can provide recoilless precision. Instead of compressing a main spring these guns are operated by manual strokes of a pump-lever fitted to the gun, which in turn fills an air chamber until the required power is obtained ( once maximum power has been obtained safety valves will prevent overloading). Effort varies according to the design of the rifle but compared with a spring gun of equal power, you'll be working quite a bit harder for each shot. Reward for your efforts comes by way of recoilless shooting and (usually) lighter weight. Silencers are incredibly effective on these rifles too and provided the internal seals are in good condition you can leave them primed for long periods without suffering power loss. On the other hand, a rapid second shot is not usually an option and the effort of rushing the priming process will accelerate your heart-rate and leave you less than steady in the aim. Back to the positive side once more, where pump-up owners remain free of the expense and hassle of buying, using and caring for the air-tank hose and gauge required by precharged airguns. These guns are normally inexpensive and are highly recommended as an introduction to airgun shooting.

Calibre

Air rifles are available in ; 177, .20, .22, and .25 calibres. Of these, .177 and .22 are by far the most popular and therefore the most easily obtained. This applies equally to the pellets with .177 and .22 variations far more numerous than .20 or .25. What difference does calibre make though? Well, apart from the .25, which is a large, slow and heavy pellet, which is only really effective at close range or high power, they are all capable of extremely good general performance. Target shooters will be advised to use .177 due to its lighter weight and correspondingly flatter trajectory. This makes estimating range less crucial, which experts and beginners alike will certainly appreciate. Hunters and informal target shooters can use whatever pellet suits their purpose although there are widely differing schools of thought on the perfect calibre for hunting. Some quote the impact-energy transfer of the .22 as the deciding factor, while others go for the superior penetration and pinpoint accuracy of the .177. Experience is your most reliable teacher but before you even think about pointing an air rifle at a living target you must develop genuine shooting skill. The required standard is extremely high and there's plenty to learn before you qualify on that level and no responsible shooter will hunt before he is able to achieve clean kills - every time.