Hunting With Air Rifles

Air rifles are a blast to shoot and can be the perfect first gun for the young hunter or a solid addition to any collection of hunting, target or training firearms. Today's high accuracy and powerful air rifles are allowing hunters to use them on small game like squirrels, predators and wild hogs as well as larger species like whitetail deer.

Most air rifles are designed to be used with pellets or BBs rather than buckshot or expanding ammunition, but some can also shoot expanding projectiles (such as a rubber band). Unlike traditional firearms, most air rifles do not require the owner to fill out a 4473 form to purchase them. This means that they can be bought at a local sporting goods store or online and be in the hands of a new shooter sooner.

There are several different powerplants used in air rifles that offer varying levels of performance. The most common type are the PCP, or pre-charged pneumatic, air rifles that utilize compressed air stored in a tank that needs to be refilled. These types of air rifles are the most popular choice among big game hunters as they provide enough power to take down deer and other large animals from reasonable distances.

Other powerplants include the gas-powered models that work on a principle similar to a revolver. They are available in break barrel, side-cocking and underlever varieties, but all have one thing in common: they need to be cocked before every shot to retract a spring that powers an internal piston to fire the pellet. These air rifles are typically more expensive, but they provide consistent power that does not diminish with time like a spring powered airgun. These models are often utilized in ISSF 10 meter air pistol and rifle shooting events and in the sport of Field Target shooting.