Air Guns – More Than Just a Daisy Red Ryder
When most people think of air guns they immediately picture Ralphie from A Christmas Story, or perhaps the BB gun they had as kids. But there’s a lot more to the world of air rifles than just the Daisy Red Ryder. And for those interested in learning about the sport, it’s not just a hobby; it can be an excellent way to hone your shooting skills while spending time outdoors in nature.
A lot of specialized airguns exist for more specific purposes, like big game hunting and target shooting. These are usually high-powered models capable of launching pellets at speeds above the speed of sound and require a bit more skill to use, but can be quite rewarding.
For those with a budget of up to $1,000 there are many excellent options for both PCPs and springers, including the FX Impact, Gamo Swarm, Hatsan PileDriver, and the Brocock Commander XR. The deciding factor will likely be if you prefer the simplicity of a springer or the precision of a PCP.
The most basic airguns use a piston and a spring to fire pellets down the barrel. When cocked the spring compresses and stores energy, and when the trigger is pulled it releases the piston to propel the pellet forward at high velocity. Some models use disposable cartridges or air tanks for a power source. When the cartridge or tank runs empty, it must be replaced with a fresh one for continued operation. air guns