Air Rifle 101: Everything You Need to Know

Aaron Spuler is a firearms enthusiast and recreational shooter. Follow more or his work at The Weapon Blog

For some of us, the air rifle was the introduction into the sport of shooting. From there, it can get more complicated once you start to consider your options when shooting larger caliber firearms. But the air rifle is a good place to start and this guide will tell you everything you need to know.

What is an air rifle?

Simply, it is a rifle that uses pressurized air or other gases to propel projectiles pneumatically instead of a chemical reaction propulsion like firearms. When you use an air rifle, the common projectiles are pellets and BBs. Both are metallic and used for hunting, pest control, target practice, and competition shooting.

There are three main groups of how air rifles shoot that include spring-piston, pneumatic, and CO2. CO2 air rifles are the only ones to use disposable cartridges. The drawback is the pressure is regulated to what the cartridge can hold and not what the rifle can handle. The most common caliber is the .177 but can reach up to .50 for large game hunting. What you plan on using the air rifle for plays a factor for which caliber you need.

What makes them popular?
What makes air rifles popular is their ease of use and cost. Whether young or old, people can learn gun safety and practices using smaller caliber air rifles safely and inexpensively. Most major retailers carry air rifles and specialty online stores have more options. By design, air rifles are lighter and easier for transportation. In hunting situations, the quiet nature of the rifle makes it less likely to spook other animals after making your first shot.

Cost
As low as $25 and upwards to $700 is the price range for an air rifle. Inexpensive to start and plenty of room to grow within the sport. CO2 cartridges also play a role in the overall cost of owning an air rifle. Compared to firearm ammunition, air rifles cost a lot less to shoot. Also, it’s much easier to carry fifty pellets than fifty rounds of any common rifle ammunition. When you consider those two ammunitions priced one to the other, pellets will always be a fraction of the cost.

Dangers of air rifles
“You’ll shoot your eye out kid.” The quote made famous from the movie A Christmas Story holds true. Air guns may not have the stopping power of a traditional hunting rifle, but that doesn’t mean they can’t cause serious bodily damage. Something to keep in mind considering the danger of an air rifle is they are capable of shooting a .177 caliber alloy pellet at 1,200 fps. Their lightweight frame and small calibers gives off the appearance of a toy. They are far from it. As with any rifle, they must be treated with respect and care.

Why should you own one?
If competitive shooting is what you’re after, then an air rifle is a cost-effective method. Hunting small game or pest control can be done inexpensively. Teaching gun safety to children is easier with a rifle they can handle. Relatively inexpensive, reliable, and they are easy to find available in stores. Lightweight, less recoil, and easy to travel with. They make for a great addition to any gun collection.