Pellet Rifles

The principal advantages of using pellet guns for practice are: limited range (safer), limited report (sound), and lower ammunition cost. The cost of the rifle can range from very low to as much as you pay for any fine rifle.
They are often called: Adult Air Guns.

There are many choices, in power, power-plant, caliber , quality... Many popular pellet rifles today use the spring-air power-plant, they may include an air gun scope and mount. Many are advertised to fire a .177 caliber pellet at 1,000 fps. They typically cost $150-$300, but some cost much more.

That 1,000 fps. is only a little slower than a standard velocity load from the .22 long rifle . BUT! Most don't really reach that speed with standard pellets, and pellets loose velocity quickly because of their low mass.

For target practice and plinking the .177 is a no-brainer. If you also plan to do some hunting the .177 is still popular, but some choose the .20, .22, or even .25 caliber. Using the same gun you can gain a little more energy with larger calibers, but you will have less velocity, and the pellets cost a little more. Air rifle fans can make good arguments for the small advantages of each caliber.

For hunting, the air rifle is somewhat like a bow. They have a similar effective range, and most require considerable movement to cock them; somewhat like drawing a bow. NOTE: Don't keep a spring air gun cocked for more than a few minutes, and never dry fire them.

All pellet rifles are not the same. There are three popular power-plants, and many variations of each. Each type has some advantages, and some disadvantages.

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The spring air already mentioned, is the leader of the current revolution. Actually it is a very old system which has been popular in Europe for a very long time.

Most common are of the break barrel design, but some have a side, or under lever for cocking. They are usually accurate, quiet, fairly easy to cock, and relatively powerful for a pellet rifle. Spring air guns also tend to be big, bulky, some are larger, and heavier than many center-fire deer rifles.

A downside is their forward moving spring piston. This causes a strange forward recoil. It's not severe, but somewhat disturbing to most experienced firearm shooters; at first. NOTE: Over time this forward recoil can wreck 'ANY' scope not designed for air guns.

The pneumatic guns may vary even more in quality, accuracy, and capability. The pump-up air guns have been popular in our country for a long time. Some are single stroke and limited in power, but good for plinking and target shooting. The inexpensive multi-pump guns can sometimes reach 900 fps. in .177 caliber.

The more expensive pre-charged pneumatic guns are both powerful and accurate. They are often charged with compressed air from a scuba tank.

The most common negatives are the work and movement involved with the multi-pump models. Cost, complexity, and a limited number of shots per charge for the pre-charged models. The most powerful pneumatics also make considerable noise when fired. Their "pop!" can sound close to the report from a standard velocity .22 rimfire. Some offer a shrouded barrel which greatly reduces their noise.

The other air-gun is not really powered by air, but with CO2. Since the power actually comes from a cartridge of gas, these require little effort to cock/load, and are easy to shoot. They can come close to resembling a firearm in the way they are handled, look, and fire.

Most are relatively inexpensive guns, but they can be fairly accurate. The CO2 power is popular in pellet handguns because the power-plant can be small, and they can be repeaters.

An obvious drawback is you must buy both the CO2 and the pellets. They often shoot at 350 - 500 fps. too low powered for most hunting. Ordinary guns will shoot harder with a fresh CO2 cartridge and gradually softer as it is used up. Their noise level is typically more of a pop than most spring-air guns. Similar to the lower power models of pneumatic guns.

Pellet rifles are fun! Practical for target shooting and plinking. They can be great for limited small game or pest hunting. With an air gun you may get access to shoot or hunt in places where a firearm would not be allowed.

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