About Airguns
Types of Airguns
About Pre-Charged Pneumatic Airguns (PCP's)
Uses of Airguns
Regulation of Airguns
Airgun Safety
Useful links to learn more about Airguns
Not Your Daddy's Pellet Gun
Airguns have grown up! The current generation of precision airguns
is powerful and accurate. No longer a mere "toy", airguns
have become a major force in the shooting sports because they offer
shooters the opportunity to enjoy their favorite sport with greater
safety and less disturbance. Air gunning can also be a relaxing hobby
enjoyed close to home or a rewarding competitive Olympic sport. Join
the thousands of avid shooters that have discovered the pleasure
of owning one of the new generations of adult precision airguns.
Types of Airguns
Although all airguns use "air-power" to eject pellets
out of their barrels, the technology used to do this can differ.
The three major types of airguns, as defined by their powerplant,
are: spring-piston, CO2 and pneumatic.
1. Spring-piston: The spring-piston is the type of airgun that most
people think of when they hear the word "airgun."
- It is cocked by breaking the barrel or by cocking a lever.
The cocking action moves a piston backward within the receiver
and compresses
a spring behind it. When the trigger is pressed, the piston
moves forward using the power of the spring behind it and pushes
a column
of air forward into the rear end of the pellet. The effect
of all this causes the pellet to rush out the barrel towards
the target
of you choice.
- Spring-piston airguns have several drawbacks. First of all,
they are difficult to shoot accurately because of spring/piston
vibration
while firing. Secondly, cocking does require some effort.
Matter of fact, some of these guns can only be operated by
strong adult
males.
2. CO2 Guns: CO2 guns are easier to shoot than the spring-piston and
are recoilless. They use compressed CO2 gas as powerplant. Their
main drawback is lack of consistency. Changes in temperature will
greatly affect a CO2 gun's point of impact. This lack of consistency
can be a big problem for hunters and plinkers that need to be certain
their pellet will hit where expected.
3. Pneumatic Airguns: Pneumatics use compressed air for power. There
are two main types of pneumatics: the pump-up and the pre-charged
pneumatic (PCP).
-
The pump-up compresses its own air using a multi-stroke or
single-stroke pumping procedure. The big drawback of a multi-stroke
is all the
time and effort needed to get a shot off, and when hunting,
a second shot is near impossible before your quarry runs
or flies away.
In addition, accuracy from a multi-stroke is just average.
The single-stroke
pump-up is considerably more consistent and accurate, but its
power is on the low side.
- PCP's provide the best of both worlds and this is the
type of airgun that Airhog carries. With a PCP, you get variable
power,
incredible accuracy, easy cocking, no recoil and lots of
shots from an air charge.
About Pre-Charged Pneumatic Airguns
Pre-charged pneumatics (PCP’s) use high-pressure air for power (approx.
3,000 psi) and are the class of airgun usually chosen for hunting and/or
Olympic competition. PCP’s store the compressed air in an attached reservoir
and are typically charged from high-pressure air cylinders, such as SCUBA,
or efficient hand pumps.
Most newcomers to airgunning mistakenly assume that PCP’s are a recent
invention. Surprisingly, that is not true. The first known pneumatic,
an experimental gun made for King Henry IV of France, was developed around
1600. In the late 1700’s, Holy Roman Emperors Joseph II and Leopold II
armed some of their troops with pneumatics against Turkey and France. And,
closer to home, Lewis & Clark carried a powerful big-bore pneumatic airgun
on their famous expedition in the northwest U.S.
What has changed, however, is how PCP’s are filled. In the past, pneumatic
airguns were charged using inefficient mechanical hand pumps that required a
large amount of manual effort. As a result, interest in this labor-intensive
form of shooting had been very limited for hundreds of years. With the
advent of scuba diving and the wide-spread availability of high-pressure air,
interest in PCP’s was renewed. The first of the new generation of PCP’s made
its debut in England about 25 years ago and since then, PCP’s have gone
mainstream in most of Europe.
Advantages of PCP’s:
The advantages of PCPs are countless; you get variable power, incredible
accuracy, easy cocking, no recoil and lots of shots from an air charge.
The accuracy and consistency of some PCP’s is astounding! Many top shooters
can routinely hit one-inch kill zones at 50 yards. Matter of fact, most
Olympic-level target shooters using airguns in competition use PCP’s due to
their superb accuracy and shooting ease.
Another advantage of PCP’s is the low cost of ammo; a tin of 500
high-quality pellets costs less than $15. PCP’s also tend to be quieter
than firearms and, in some jurisdictions, are legal to shoot in your
backyard or basement. Just be sure to check your state & local regulations.
PCP’s are also lighter in weight than the standard spring-piston airgun
and don’t need to be held in special ways. A spring gun with the same power
of a PCP often weighs 40-60% more than that PCP (i.e., 9-10 lbs. vs. 5-7 lbs.).
Lack of recoil also means telescopic sights can be used without the fear
associated with the typical jerky spring-piston airguns.
One thing is for sure, whether you need an accurate airgun to address a
vermin issue or you just want one to plink in the backyard, PCP’s are ideal.
Once shooters try them out, they discover for themselves the major advantages
of shooting these powerful precision airguns.
Velocity & Power:
Pellet speed alone has little to do with how well an air rifle will perform
for you. You’ll find that in the airgun world, more is not necessarily
better. A lot depends on your intended use. For example, tack-driving
Olympic air rifles typically shoot at only about 570 fps. In addition,
maximum velocity does not necessarily equate to maximum power, as heavier
projectiles traveling at lower velocities will produce more muzzle energy than
lighter projectiles at higher velocities. That’s why PCP power levels are
usually expressed in foot-pounds of energy instead of as rates of velocity.
As a rule of thumb, hunters should select an airgun with at least 10-12
ft. lbs. of muzzle energy if their intended quarry are small birds and ground
squirrels. Slightly larger game, such as woodchucks, require a minimum of
15 ft. lbs. of muzzle energy. To calculate foot-pounds, use the following
formula:
(V2 X W) / 450,240
where V is velocity expressed in feet per second and W is the pellet weight
expressed in grains.
Furthermore, other factors, such a gun’s barrel length and caliber also
affect a PCP’s velocity and power. That is why our spec tables depict
ranges rather than absolute velocity levels.
Caliber & Pellets:
Pneumatic airguns are most commonly found in four calibers: .177, .20, .22
and .25. The two most popular calibers are .177 and .22, as .20 and .25
pellets are much harder to find. For target shooting, .177 is the caliber
of choice as the pellets are generally lighter and will shoot flatter. For
hunting purposes, .22 caliber is the better choice as a .177 may
over-penetrate your quarry.
Airguns are notorious for performing better with one type of pellet over
another. Matter of fact, two different “same-model” guns may like different
types of pellets. As a result, we recommend you experiment with a variety of
high quality pellets to find the one that shoots best. We can recommend
certain brands to start with.
Uses of Airguns
Pest Control:
High-powered airguns can be used to control all kinds of vermin.
Just be sure to select an airgun with sufficient power. For best
results, Airhog recommends you use at least a 22 caliber particularly
if you want to control an infestation of rodents (rats, squirrels,
etc.) or larger birds (crows, etc.).
If pest control is your main goal, take a look at Falcon's
Sporter rifle and carbine product line. You'll get superb
accuracy without paying for all the bells and whistles. Pistols
are also OK;
but be sure you choose a 22 caliber with an 8" barrel (more
powerful and accurate). Hunting:
Pneumatic airguns are perfect for hunting small delicate game, such
as pigeon, squirrel and rabbit. Falcon rifles are quiet, lightweight
and extraordinarily accurate. In addition, their ammunition is
considerably cheaper and many suburban air gunners are able to
hunt on local farms where firearms may be prohibited because of
safety concerns.
If hunting is your goal, Airhog recommends you go with at least
a 22 caliber rifle or carbine. Carbines do weigh slightly less than
the 19 rifle; however you will sacrifice some power. The type
of stock you choose will also impact overall weight so keep that
in mind when selecting a hunting gun. Target Shooting:
Target shooting with airguns has been popular in Europe for quite
some time. And, in the U.S., the sport is gathering steam. Top
grade pneumatic air guns are now considered to be the world's
most accurate guns, bar none.
The NRA is actively promoting airgun shooting in America
and it has established 15 levels of marksmanship awards in their
25-ft
(10 meter)
airgun shooting programs. Air gun matches are popping up everywhere
at the local, state and national level. Airgun competition is also
an official Olympic event for both men and women.
If you are interested in an accurate target-shooting rifle, take
a look at Falcon's target rifles such as the TR and the TRL.
A 177 caliber is best for target shooting, as they are slightly more
accurate than a 22. Plinking:
If plinking is your hobby, pneumatic air guns are your answer. They
are quiet, safe and inexpensive to shoot. Ammunition is also considerably
cheaper than that of firearms and you can plink right at home - no
need to drive to distant firearm ranges. Low power and negligible
recoil makes airgun shooting pleasant and "flinch-free." No
earplugs needed.
Airgun Regulations
Airguns are not subject to regulation by the US Gun
Control Act of 1968 and most states do not restrict their ownership.
However,
it is always a good idea to check with your local police department
for local regulations just to make sure.
States with Regulations: New Jersey, Delaware, Massachusetts and
Michigan are four states that specifically regulate air rifles
and/or BB guns. In addition, the cities of New York, Philadelphia and Washington DC
also limit air gun usage. For more information, please contact the NRA or click on
the following links:
For more on New Jersey's Laws (See last sentence):
http://www.nraila.org/GunLaws/StateLaws.aspx?ST=NJ
For more on Massachusetts' Laws (See "Miscellaneous"):
http://www.nraila.org/GunLaws/StateLaws.aspx?ST=MA
For more on Delaware's laws (See "Note"):
http://www.nraila.org/GunLaws/StateLaws.aspx?ST=DE
For more on Michigan's Laws (See "Miscellaneous")
http://www.nraila.org/GunLaws/StateLaws.aspx?ST=MI
Transportation/Shipping of Airguns: Normally, you can ship or transport
airguns across state lines when traveling. However, be careful
if you want to ship internationally as some countries (such as
Britain) treat airguns in excess of 12 ft. lbs. of energy as firearms.
SAFETY
Most PCP’s don't pose nearly the same risk as firearms. With a maximum range of
about 300 yards, relatively low muzzle energy and light-weight ammunition, the
only safety precaution required is simple eye protection. (Compare this to the
lowliest .22 caliber rimfire that shoots potentially lethal bullets that carry
for well over a mile or can pass through a house wall.) Furthermore, airgun
ammunition (a pellet) poses no fire or explosive danger.
In addition, airguns are typically not a target for break-in and theft since
they have virtually no criminal value. (However, we do recommend you keep your
airguns locked up, especially if there are children in the home.)
LINKS
History of Airguns
http://www.airguns.net/history.html
http://www.beemans.net/400%20Years%20of%20Tradition.htm
Choosing your Airgun
http://www.beemans.net/best%20airguns.htm
Calibers and Pellet Selection
http://www.airguns.net/cal_pell.html
Field Use of an Airgun
http://www.airguns.net/fuoaa.html
How a PCP Airgun Regulator Works
http://www.airguns.net/reviews/regulators.html
Airgun Safety
http://www.beemans.net/Safety%20Record.htm
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