Nowadays, airguns and catalogs of specialized arms stores feature airguns from various countries and firms. It has a different purpose: for exercises and amateur recreational shooting, airsoft, as well as for underwater and traditional hunting. Many people who first encountered this type and assortment of weapons often do not know how to choose an air rifle. Which is understandable, because hunting or fishing are not one-day, one-time hobbies, it is rather a way of life. Therefore, the choice of equipment for this hobby should be taken seriously and competently, so that in a hurry the acquired expensive thing does not gather dust somewhere in the far corner.
Who needs this?
All gun lovers are conditionally divided into two categories: those who already have it, and those who are only going to purchase it. For the second group, the question "how to choose an air rifle" is very relevant. A novice may object: “But what's the difference? I’ll come to the hunting store and get the first gun I like. ” However, not all so simple. It should be understood that any weapon is an extension of its owner. There must be harmony between them. For example, you can take any rifle with good combat characteristics. It fits one person perfectly: the butt fits tightly on the shoulder, the length of the weapon corresponds to the length of the owner’s hands, and the weight will be ideal. But everything will be different at random: the bed is not like that, and the overall dimensions are uncomfortable, and ... but you never know what else. As a result, despite the good characteristics of the rifle, the owner will not be able to get satisfaction from its use. Therefore, choosing a pneumatic weapon (as well as any other), you should not only pay attention to the performance characteristics, but also "feel" it, so that it becomes your faithful friend for many years.
You should not hope that the sales assistant will tell you a worthy option. At best, he will be able to tell you about the performance characteristics or design systems. However, most likely, he never even shot him, and even more so was not on the hunt. What in this case he can advise you remains a mystery. Or there may be another option: the seller will see a light sacrifice in you and “shove” you stale goods that are not in demand, because you also need to sell them. Therefore, if you are a beginner, take an experienced comrade with you to the store who can tell you the advantages and disadvantages of this or that thing. Now consider what to look for when choosing a weapon.
How to choose an air rifle?
Now the market offers a large selection of long-barreled weapons, both domestic and foreign production. However, you should be aware that all these instances differ not only in the manufacturer, but also in the features of the structural systems on the basis of which they are created, in caliber and power. Caliber is the first parameter that you need to pay attention to, because it determines the purpose of the rifle. To date, on the shelves of shops you can find pneumatic weapons with three variants of caliber: 4.5, 5.5 and 6.35 mm. The first view is intended for recreational shooting and training. Such weapons are quite popular among consumers due to the affordable price. This caliber for shooting in nature or in the country is considered the safest, since such rifles are low-power. However, it should be understood that using even the weakest weapons, you must adhere to safety rules.
5.5 mm caliber rifle is a pneumatic for hunting small animals and birds. If you plan to hunt a hare, a rabbit, a squirrel or a duck, then this specimen should be preferred. The next type of caliber (6.35 mm) is not very popular with us, since a license is required for the acquisition of such weapons, and the price is much higher.
What else to look for
When choosing an air rifle for hunting or fishing, you should definitely focus on the power of the weapon. The price of products is closely related to this parameter. In the performance characteristics, power is rarely indicated, but the initial speed of a bullet is always indicated there. This parameter is the main one for hunting and sports pneumatics. But if the weapon will be used in the shooting gallery, then this characteristic does not play any role.
The next important selection criterion is weight. It affects the ease of shooting and the accuracy of hitting the target. For beginners who decide to purchase pneumatics, it should be borne in mind that the lighter the weapon, the stronger it gives vibration when shooting. A large weight leads to fatigue of the shooter, especially during prolonged walking with a rifle. So, for the use of pneumatics in dashes from the stop, you can purchase a heavy copy. And for shooting with hands it is better to buy a relatively light rifle. If it is preferable for you to fire from a shelter or a car, then the weight in this case is not a determining factor. Then pay special attention to the method of loading weapons. It will be more convenient to use a multi-shot air rifle. Now we will consider features of constructive systems "air".
Spring-piston airguns
What are these rifles? The constructive system of such weapons is built on the basis of a powerful spring pushing the piston when fired. At the same time, air is compressed in a special compressor chamber and pressure is created that pushes the bullet out. Such rifles are easy to handle, they do not require additional devices.
At first, in the absence of skills in using such products, slight discomfort associated with breaking the trunk to cock the mainspring may occur. However, the shooter gets used to this feature of spring-piston rifles for several days. You can also purchase weapons with a side or under-barrel platoon lever. In such models, the barrel is more static, and accuracy and accuracy of shooting is significantly higher than in critical ones. In addition, these rifles can be used in conjunction with the bipod, which is very convenient when hunting from an ambush. Among the spring-piston models, weapons of high power are found. However, it should be borne in mind that such rifles have, respectively, a large return, and they also lose the accuracy of fire. In addition, such pneumatics for hunting requires specialized optics, which significantly affects the overall price of the kit.
Multi-Compression Air Rifles
This type of long-barreled pneumatic weapon differs significantly from spring-piston systems in that it is equipped with a storage tank and a pump, which are designed to pump compressed air. Such rifles are characterized by great stability during shooting and low recoil force, and, accordingly, greater strength. The multicompression system allows the shooter to independently choose the power of the shot. The disadvantage is the insignificant maximum speed of the bullet, so for real hunting such a weapon is practically unsuitable.
CO 2 rifles
At the heart of this system is a cylinder of compressed gas - CO 2 . Despite the fact that such pneumatics has its advantages (for example, shooting in semi-automatic mode, as well as minimal recoil), this option is completely unsuitable for hunting. Insignificant power and even slow but constant evaporation of gas at low temperatures make it irrelevant for hunting in the winter. And the constant need to replace gas cylinders causes newcomers significant discomfort.
Pre-inflated pneumatics
This weapon is widely used by athletes. The design of such rifles is similar to the design of weapons with CO 2 . The difference is that instead of a spray can, a special high-pressure tank is used here, into which compressed air is pumped . Such a sports air rifle is a very powerful weapon. At the same time, the flight speed of the bullet is easily and quickly regulated, which does not require special skills and will be clear even to a beginner. A small number of movable mechanisms makes recoil when shooting almost invisible. The disadvantage of the pre-inflation system is the need to purchase quite expensive and large-sized equipment for pumping under high air pressure. And, of course, the use of an oxygen tank requires additional safety measures.
Well, on this, the analysis of the question of how to choose an air rifle can be considered complete. Now we will consider some pneumatic models of both domestic and foreign manufacturers.
Products of the Izhevsk Plant
From the moment it was launched into mass production (mid-90s) and until now, the IZH-60 air rifle has been one of the most popular models among weapons of this class. The manufacturer positioned the mentioned model as a sports equipment intended for primary training, as well as the development of operational skills. This rifle has become the most popular Russian pneumatics in the foreign market. IL-60 has a modern design in combination with ergonomics, compactness, as well as low cost. The formation of the weapon design was mainly affected by the side cocking lever, the working cylinder placed in the butt, the presence of a rammer, as well as multiple adjustment devices. The design of the side lever cocking the rifle back and forth provided the weapon with an unbreakable barrel, which excluded the possibility of backlash, and, accordingly, had a positive effect on accuracy. The IZH-60 rifle is single-shot; The lead bullet has a length of 7 mm and a diameter of 4.5 mm. According to technical documentation, when fired, the initial flight speed is 150 m / s, but in reality this parameter is slightly lower, approximately 140 m / s. This weapon is more suitable as a training rifle for teenage athletes. Shortish butt perfectly suits teenagers and is not very convenient for an adult. The low power makes the IL-60 rifle unsuitable for hunting, but it remains sufficient for firing at targets from a ten-meter distance.
Replica Dragunov combat sniper rifle
This SVD air rifle is manufactured by renowned Aftermath. The weapon is intended for airsoft, but it is not suitable for hunting because of the relatively low power (the flight speed of the bullet is only 122m / s). The pistol grip and forend are made of transparent plastic. The holder is designed for 200 balls (weighing 0.2 grams). The SVD air rifle has a folding stock. The barrel and all internal mechanisms are made of metal, this has become necessary to ensure the failure-free operation of a very powerful spring. The rifle can be equipped with a bipod and an optical sight.
Magnum Pneumatics
DIANA 350 - This German rifle is a classic Magnum class model. This weapon is characterized by high quality performance, reliability and, of course, accuracy. The pneumatic rifle Magnum DIANA 350 has a fairly large power, the flight speed of the bullet is 320 m / s, and the caliber is 5.5 mm. Perhaps sharing with an optical sight. The model is specially designed for hunting, it shoots with heavy bullets, however, it is recommended to practice well for successful shooting, because of the weight of the bullet and high power there is a strong recoil. However, all weapons of this class have similar technical characteristics, therefore, choosing a rifle, it is better to try all the options and choose the one that will be convenient for you.
Pneumatics of the famous Spanish manufacturer Industrias El Gamo
Hunter air rifles are representatives of weapons of the Magnum class. In the hunting stores of our country, you can find models in the name of which there is a letter “F”, for example: Gamo 1250 F Hunter. This letter means that this rifle was weakened by the manufacturer, so that its power did not go beyond the limits prescribed in the legislation of the Russian Federation. However, most hunters restore pistons drilled at the factory and use the original Gamo combat spring, thereby increasing the power of an air rifle. As a result, it is capable of firing a bullet at a speed of 400 m / s. This is a very powerful weapon loved by many hunters. In addition to the high speed of the bullet, it shows good accuracy, and in combination with proprietary optics it is capable of delivering truly phenomenal performance in shooting. The disadvantages include powerful returns, so when shooting you need a good grip on the weapon. However, in the presence of practice and time, the shooter adjusts and can knock down a penny coin from one hundred meters. The weight of the rifle in question is 4.2 kg without optics, so it is better to shoot from the stop, it will be a very tedious task to do with hands.
Reinforce Air Rifle
Many hunters and athletes prefer their weapons to have more power, and accordingly, the speed of the bullet. For this, the following steps are taken: sealing of the rammer is improved and the mainspring is changed to a more powerful one. To achieve the goal, small grooves are made in the threaded joints of the rammer and rubber o-rings are installed. It is best to select a spring that is suitable in length and diameter (from more advanced types of pneumatics). In addition, the use of heavier bullets is recommended, which also leads to an increase in speed.
Conclusion
If you decide to purchase an air rifle, you must highlight the main tasks of the weapon: sports training, sports games, precision shooting or hunting. After that, compare the technical specifications of the respective models. It should be noted that with the right choice of weapons that fully meets all the requirements, there will be nothing to regret.