Air Rifles are generally more popular than air pistols. The development of early basic spring-air rifles in the 1910s has led to four or five different rifle types. Progress has been made in the propulsion systems that fire the pellet, management of the trigger system to allow a gentle release, and in the rifle stock to provide as steady a hold as possible.
There are four propulsion types: Pre-Charged Pneumatic, Spring, CO2, and Gas Ram.
Treble A Sports owns Spring Air Rifles, which can be loaned for use within the Club to members who do not yet have their own rifles.
If you have not yet bought a rifle, you should, if possible, find and join a club and see how the different rifles of this type are used. Club members will often talk and show how their rifle works, and let you try a few shots. This will allow you to decide which rifle type you prefer. It is a little better to try this first rather than go straight into a shop and regret it later.
Pre-Charged Pneumatic (PCP)
PCP rifles use a cylinder containing compressed air at 200/300 bar, which is usually mounted underneath the barrel, and have a “probe” which is inserted into the rifle’s air cylinder. This allows pressure from a dive tank, a compressor, or a special pump to recharge the rifle cylinder.
Pellets can be inserted singly or via a rotary magazine to fire the rifle.
This type generates little or no recoil, giving immediate accuracy.
Spring (Metal Coil)
This type of air rifle uses a metal spring system to compress the air and is always challenging (and rewarding) to fire because of the nature of the recoil. They have been made since the early 1900s, and many millions have been produced.
Recent examples can be excellent and will probably last without problems for many years.
There are three types of Spring air rifle: Under-lever, Side-lever and Break-Barrel.
Advantages of Under-lever? The barrel, spring system, and sights are rigidly attached. In theory, this should make the rifle more accurate.
Advantages of Side-levers? The stock does not have to be machined away to make room for the cocking lever. In theory, this means a stronger, more stable stock and hence greater inherent accuracy. (That’s the theory anyway!!!!!)
Advantages of Break-barrel? There is quite a variation where the barrel is pulled down against a hinge between the barrel and the stock/spring cylinder. Generally, the length of the barrel makes for easy leverage, cocking, and easier pellet insertion. Many of the shooters who prefer this rifle type are collectors of historic versions from ~ 1910 onwards.
CO2
These rifles are available in two forms: either a copy of a rifle used in the military or a more standard design intended for competition use. Both types can be used for either purpose. Calibres are 0.177 and sometimes BBs.
These rifles use small steel 12g capsules, which contain liquid CO2. The capsules are placed into a cavity, which is tightened to seal, and then a lever is used to pierce the cap of the capsule. Usually, from 60 to 100 shots can be achieved from a single capsule.
Gas Ram
GasRam air rifles basically only differ in one way from the Spring rifle. The metal coil of the spring has been removed and replaced by a piston with a seal, which compresses the air in the cylinder as you shut the lever or barrel of the rifle.
Some of the “gas ram” rifles have a completely sealed nitrogen system. Others simply compress the air around you into the cylinder each time. There is a difference in the recoil. It is faster, but smoother and slightly different when firing the shot.