An air gun is a pneumatic gun which fires projectiles using compressed air or other high pressure gas as a propellant. A seismic source generates controlled seismic energy that is used in both reflection and refraction seismic surveys. ... Steel BBs BB guns are a type of air gun designed to fire usually spherical projectiles, called BBs after the Birdshot pellet of approximately the same size. ... 10 m Air Rifle is one of the ISSF shooting events. ... 10 m Air Pistol is one of the ISSF shooting events. ... Pneumatics, from the Greek πνευματικός (pneumatikos, coming from the wind) is the use of pressurized air in science and technology. ... It has been suggested that Last Call Poker be merged into this article or section. ...

History

Air guns represent the oldest pneumatic technology having existed since the 15th century. At that time, they presented compelling advantages over the more primitive firearms of the day. For example, air guns could be fired in wet weather (unlike matchlocks) and with greater rapidity than the muzzle-loading guns of the period. Moreover, they were quieter than a firearm of similar caliber, had no muzzle flash and were completely smokeless, not disclosing the shooter's position on firing. Black powder guns of the 18th and 19th century produced huge volumes of dense smoke on firing, giving air rifles an advantage over them. One might also assume that the sound of an air gun would have been inaudible against the noise of a pitched battle. The Matchlock was the first firearm to have a trigger mechanism for firing. ... A muzzleloader is any firearm into which the bullet is loaded from the muzzle of the gun (open end of the gun barrel). ... A Glock 22 hand-held firearm with internal laser sight and mounted flashlight, surrounded by hollowpoint ammunition. ... The word calibre (British English) or caliber (American English) designates the interior diameter of a tube or the exterior diameter of a wire or rod. ...

For general usage air guns were not a real challenge to the dominant position of powder weapons. They were expensive, delicate, air reservoirs could burst explosively and the valves were not well sealed and slowly leaked pressure. Historical accounts mention common soldiers were often unable to handle the complex guns ^{[citation needed]}, this seems logical in an age where the average peasant recruit had never encountered a machine more complex than a horse-drawn cart. People who had any experience with mechanical devices (millers or clockmakers) were few and far between. The guns of the period were crude and required little skill by the infantryman. A clockmaker is an artisan who makes and repairs clocks. ... Infantry in the First World War Infantry (or Infantrymen) are soldiers who fight primarily on foot, using personal weapons. ...

During this period, France, Austria and other nations had special sniper detachments using air rifles. The Austrian 1780 model was named "Windbüchse" (literally "wind rifle") in German. The guns were developed in 1778 or 1779 ^[1] by the Tyrolese watchmaker, mechanic and gunsmith Bartholomäus Girandoni (1744-1799) and are occasionally referred to as "Girandoni air guns" in literature (the name is occasionally spelled "Girandony"; "Giradoni" ^[2] or "Girardoni" ^[3]. The Windbüchse (or the Girandoni Air Rifle) was about 4 ft (1.2 m) long and weighed 10 pounds (4.5 kg), which was about the same size and mass as a conventional musket of the time. The air reservoir was a removable, club-shaped butt. The Windbüchse carried twenty .51" (13 mm) lead balls in a tubular magazine. A skilled shooter could unload one magazine in about thirty seconds, which was a fearsome rate of fire compared to the slower muzzle loaders of the period. A shot from this air gun could penetrate a one-inch wooden board at a hundred paces, an effect roughly equal to that of a modern 9 mm or .45" caliber pistol. // The Girandoni Air Rifle was a rifle designed by Bartholomäus Girandoni circa 1779. ... // The Girandoni Air Rifle was a rifle designed by Bartholomäus Girandoni circa 1779. ... Muskets and bayonets aboard the frigate Grand Turk. ... A stock or buttstock is present in many firearms and some crossbows to transfer the recoil from firing the weapon into the shooters shoulder. ... Gravure of a 30-round STANAG 4179 magazine, originally designed for the AR-15/M16 series of rifles. ... A Browning 9 millimeter Hi-Power Ordnance pistol of the French Navy, 19th century, using a Percussion cap mechanism Derringers were small and easily hidden. ...

Air gun developed by the Japanese inventor Kunitomo, circa 1820-1830.

Kunitomo air gun trigger mechanism.

Around 1820, the Japanese inventor Kunitomo Ikkansai developed various manufacturing methods for guns, and also created an air gun based on the study of Western knowledge ("rangaku") acquired from the Dutch in Dejima. Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 218 pixelsFull resolution (3033 × 826 pixel, file size: 575 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 218 pixelsFull resolution (3033 × 826 pixel, file size: 575 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Kunitomo Ikkansai (1778-1840, 国友一貫斎). Kunitomo Ikkansai (1778-1840, 国友一貫斎) was a Japanese gun manufacturer of the early 19th century, who, after having spent several months in Edo where he could get accustomed with Dutch wares, built in 1831 Japans first reflective telescope, of the Gregorian type, a European innovation made... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1536 × 1152 pixel, file size: 679 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1536 × 1152 pixel, file size: 679 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Kunitomo Ikkansai (1778-1840, 国友一貫斎). Kunitomo Ikkansai (1778-1840, 国友一貫斎) was a Japanese gun manufacturer of the early 19th century, who, after having spent several months in Edo where he could get accustomed with Dutch wares, built in 1831 Japans first reflective telescope, of the Gregorian type, a European innovation made... Rangaku (蘭学) or Dutch Learning was the method by which Japan kept abreast of Western technology and medicine in the period when the country was closed to foreigners, 1641-1853, because of the Tokugawa shogunates policy of national isolation (sakoku). ... Dejima, also Deshima (出島, literally protruding island) in modern Japanese, Desjima in Dutch, often latinised as Decima, was a fan-shaped artificial island in the bay of Nagasaki that was a Dutch trading post during Japans self-imposed isolation (sakoku) of the Edo period, from 1641 until 1853. ...

Air guns appear throughout other periods of history. The celebrated expedition headed by Lewis and Clark (1804) reportedly carried a .42" (10 mm) reservoir air gun, believed to be produced by Girandoni. It held 22 round balls in a tubular magazine mounted on the side of the barrel. The butt stock served as the air reservoir and had a working pressure of 800 PSI. The rifle was said to be capable of 22 aimed shots in one minute. The Lewis and Clark expedition (1804-1806) was the first American overland expedition to the Pacific coast and back. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... A pressure gauge reading in PSI (red scale) and kPa (black scale) The pound-force per square inch (symbol: lbf/in²) is a non-SI unit of pressure based on avoirdupois units. ...

During the 1890s, air rifles were used in Birmingham, England for competitive target shooting. Competitions were held in, and between, public houses. Prizes, such as a leg of mutton for the winning team, were paid for by the losing team. The sport became so popular that just after the turn of the 19th century, a National Air Rifle Association was created. During this time over 4000 air rifle clubs and associations existed across Britain, many of them in Birmingham. Birmingham (pron. ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... The shooting sports include those competitive sports involving tests of accuracy and speed when shooting various types of guns, including airguns. ... This article or section is not written in the formal tone expected of an encyclopedia article. ... An unweaned lamb Legs of lamb in a supermarket cabinet The terms lamb, hoggett or mutton are culinary names for the meat of a domestic sheep. ... Birmingham (pron. ...

During this time, the air gun was associated with poaching because it could deliver a shot at a relatively quiet level. A modern reproduction of an air cane copied accurately from one in the Royal Armouries, Leeds, UK by Baker and Currie ^[4] gives a performance of around 480 feet per second (ft/s) for a 51.5 grain 32 calibre lead ball. The reproduction was charged to 600 pounds per square inch and the first shot registered only 272 ft/s, indicating this is a realistic maximum pressure given that the release valve failed to open properly against the high pressure of air in the reservoir. The velocities were reasonably constant for the next five shots, after which they progressively diminished by about 20 ft/s per shot, though this figure is not exact. In an experimental simple home-made large calibre air gun with a three metre barrel Middleton obtained a maximum velocity of 599 ft/s for a 50 calibre 140 grain lead ball, and 411 ft/s from a 2 metre barrel with a .527 calibre 220 grain lead ball, using a pressure of only 100 pounds per square inch pumped with a bicycle pump ^[5]. Reilly, a London gunmaker specialising in air guns, writing around 1850 ^[6] states that he was able to produce a pressure of a little under 500 pounds per square inch using the direct stroke pump of the time. He does not give muzzle velocities. Wesley (op.cit., pp. 35-6) shot an antique air cane bullet of 3/4 inch diameter into the cast iron fireplace of his workroom, and demolished the fireplace, stripped the wallpaper off the walls, and blew all his oils and chemicals off the mantleshelf. For other uses, see Poaching (disambiguation). ...

Today's modern air guns are typically low-powered because of safety concerns and legal restrictions; however, high-powered designs are still used for hunting. These air rifles can propel a pellet beyond 1100 ft/s (330 m/s), approximately the speed of sound and produce a noise similar to a .22 caliber rimfire rifle. Using very light plastic or alloy pellets, many current spring powered .177 pellet guns can break the sound barrier, and one, the Gamo 1250, can reach 1600 fps with these new pellets. Most low-powered airguns can be safely fired in a backyard or garden, and even indoors, with the proper backstop. In some countries, air guns are still classified as firearms, and as such it may be illegal to discharge them in residential areas. Air guns can be highly accurate and are used in target shooting events at the Olympic Games, governed by the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF). This article is about the hunting of prey by human society. ... From left to right, flat, round nose, hollow point and pointed pellets. ... Sound is a vibration that travels through an elastic medium as a wave. ... “.22” redirects here. ... A firearm is a kinetic energy weapon that fires either a single or multiple projectiles propelled at high velocity by the gases produced by action of the rapid confined burning of a propellant. ... The International Shooting Sport Federation recognizes several shooting events, some of which have Olympic status. ... The five Olympic rings were designed in 1913, adopted in 1914 and debuted at the Games at Antwerp, 1920. ... The International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) is an organization that governs international shooting sports. ...

Legal issues

The legal definition of an air gun differs from country to country; in the United Kingdom, for example, air pistols generating more than 6 ft·lb_f (8.1 J) or air rifles generating more than 12 ft·lb_f (16.2 J) of energy are considered firearms, as are air guns in Canada with a muzzle velocity of over 500 ft/s (150 m/s) and a muzzle energy in excess of 4.2 ft·lb_f (5.7 J). In physics, a foot-pound force (symbol ft·lbf or ft·lbf), usually abbreviated to foot-pound, is an Imperial and U.S. customary unit of mechanical work, or energy, although in scientific fields one commonly uses the equivalent metric unit of the joule (J). ... The joule (IPA: or ) (symbol: J) is the SI unit of energy. ... A Glock 22 hand-held firearm with internal laser sight and mounted flashlight, surrounded by hollowpoint ammunition. ...

In Japan, any air gun that fires a metallic projectile is restricted as a firearm, so only airsoft type guns are readily available there. Many US cities restrict air gun sales and possession, usually independent of the power; these include: New York City, New York; Camden and Newark, New Jersey; Michigan; Chicago and Morton Grove, Illinois; San Francisco, California; and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. However these states do allow air guns except in these specific cities. In Australia law classifies Air and BB guns as "Category A" weapons, placing then in the same class as break-action shotguns and rimfire rifles, and acquiring a licence to possess. You must also have a legitimate reason and be able to prove that reason before you are allowed possession of a firearm, regardless if either airsoft or real steel. This article is about the sport. ... New York, New York and NYC redirect here. ... “NY” redirects here. ... “NJ” redirects here. ... Official language(s) None (English, de-facto) Capital Lansing Largest city Detroit Largest metro area Metro Detroit Area  Ranked 11th  - Total 97,990 sq mi (253,793 km²)  - Width 239 miles (385 km)  - Length 491 miles (790 km)  - % water 41. ... Nickname: Motto: Urbs in Horto (Latin: City in a Garden), I Will Location in the Chicago metro area and Illinois Coordinates: , Country State Counties Cook, DuPage Settled 1770s Incorporated March 4, 1837 Government  - Mayor Richard M. Daley (D) Area  - City  234. ... Morton Grove is a village located in Cook County, Illinois. ... Official language(s) English[1] Capital Springfield Largest city Chicago Largest metro area Chicago Metropolitan Area Area  Ranked 25th  - Total 57,918 sq mi (149,998 km²)  - Width 210 miles (340 km)  - Length 390 miles (629 km)  - % water 4. ... This page is a candidate for speedy deletion. ... Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Largest metro area Greater Los Angeles Area  Ranked 3rd  - Total 158,302 sq mi (410,000 km²)  - Width 250 miles (400 km)  - Length 770 miles (1,240 km)  - % water 4. ... For other uses, see Philadelphia (disambiguation) and Philly. ... Capital Harrisburg Largest city Philadelphia Area  Ranked 33rd  - Total 46,055 sq mi (119,283 km²)  - Width 280 miles (455 km)  - Length 160 miles (255 km)  - % water 2. ...

Anyone found in Australia possessing an unlicensed airsoft pistol faces the same charge as a person who unlawfully possesses an actual firearm.

Air guns are not considered firearms and are not subject to regulation in most areas; They are slightly more powerful than airsoft guns, and because of their velocity, do not legally require an orange tip. Though they are more powerful, they are in the same class as airsoft, and paintball guns. There are minimum ages for possession, usually 16. Sales of both air guns and ammunition may be restricted in some areas. Some areas may require permits and background checks similar to those required for firearms possession. In the UK, Brocock Air Cartridge System air guns, which use a precharged, single shot air cartridge (similar in size to a .38 Special cartridge) were banned after some pistols recovered by the police, were found to have been converted by criminals making them capable of firing rimfire ammunition or even .38 Special ammunition. ^[7] Left to right: .38 Special, .17 HMR and . ... This article does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... A rimfire is a type of firearm cartridge. ... Left to right: .38 Special, .17 HMR and . ...

In October 2007, a new law will take effect in the UK banning, among other things, the online or mail order sales of air guns. Sales must be made face-to-face.

Air gun power sources

There are different methods of powering an air gun. These methods can be broadly divided into 3 groups - spring-piston, pneumatic, and CO₂. These methods are used in air rifles and air pistols.^[8]

Spring-piston

An older, single shot, break barrel, spring-piston air rifle

Spring-piston air guns are able to achieve muzzle velocities near the speed of sound from a single stroke of a cocking lever or the barrel itself. The difficulty of the cocking stroke is usually related to the power of the gun, with higher muzzle velocities requiring greater cocking effort. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (905x475, 99 KB) Summary A spring piston air gun. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (905x475, 99 KB) Summary A spring piston air gun. ... Sound is a vibration that travels through an elastic medium as a wave. ...

Spring-piston guns operate by means of a coiled steel spring-loaded piston contained within a compression chamber, and separate from the barrel. Cocking the gun causes the piston assembly to compress the spring until a small hook on the rear of the piston engages the sear; pulling the trigger releases the sear and allows the spring to decompress, pushing the piston forward, thereby compressing the air in the chamber directly behind the pellet. Once the air pressure has risen enough to overcome any static friction and/or barrel restriction holding the pellet, the pellet moves forward, propelled by an expanding column of air. All this takes place in a fraction of a second, during which the air undergoes adiabatic heating to several hundred degrees during compression, and then cools as the air expands once more. Helical or coil springs designed for tension A spring is a flexible elastic object used to store mechanical energy. ... For the use of the term in optics, see piston (optics). ... The barrel of a firearm is the tube, usually metal, through which a controlled explosion is released in order to propel a projectile out of the end at great speed. ... In a firearm, the sear is the component of the trigger group which resists pressure on the trigger. ... This article covers adiabatic processes in thermodynamics. ...

Modern air gun lubricants are generally a compounded mix of ingredients, such as silicone paste and molybdenum disulfide. These compounds are designed to not burn at the temperatures reached in airgun compression chambers. Before the availability of synthetic lubricants, when petroleum based products were used, some writers claimed that upwards of 30% of the energy of the shot may have come from the burning or "dieseling" of some of the lubricant ^[9] although this has been debated by others. The use of such combustible lubricants in modern guns, which are much more highly stressed, can severely damage the spring and piston seals. Molybdenum disulfide, also called molybdenum sulfide or molybdenum(IV) sulfide, with the formula MoS2, is a black crystalline sulfide of molybdenum. ... This article is about the fuel. ...

Spring-piston guns seem to have a practical upper limit of 1200 ft/s (370 m/s) for .177 cal (4.5 mm) pellets. Higher velocities cause unstable pellet flight and loss of accuracy. However, the longer lighter pellets can achieve good accuracy and surprising high speed (the Gamo 1250 can reach 1600 fps with their special pellets). Drag increases rapidly as pellets are pushed past the speed of sound, so it is generally better to increase pellet weight to keep velocities subsonic in high-powered guns. Many shooters have found that velocities in the 800 - 900 FPS range offer an ideal balance between power and pellet stability.

Most spring piston guns are single-shot breech-loaders by nature (somewhat like a single or double barreled shotgun) but multiple-shot guns have been increasingly common in recent years. Spring guns are typically cocked by a mechanism requiring the gun to be hinged at the mid-point (called a break barrel), with the barrel serving as a cocking lever. Other systems that are used include side levers, under-barrel levers, and motorized cocking, powered by a rechargeable battery. For other uses, see Shotgun (disambiguation). ...

Spring guns, especially high-powered ones, have a significant recoil resulting from the forward motion of the piston. Although this recoil is less than that of a cartridge firearm, it can make the gun difficult to shoot accurately as the recoil forces are well under way while the pellet is still traveling down the barrel. Most guns seem to respond well to a light, repeatable grip that allows the gun to vibrate the same way from shot to shot. Spring gun recoil also has a sharp forward component, caused by the piston as it hits the forward end of the chamber when the spring behind it reaches full expansion. This sudden forward acceleration helps to counteract the backward recoil, since the backward and forward recoil forces happen within milliseconds of each other, but it is infamous for knocking around and loosening the lenses and reticles found in low and medium priced telescopic sights, even those which are designed to withstand the (backward-only) recoil from high-powered firearms. On any but the lowest power spring guns, any mounted telescope should be air gun rated. View through a 4x rifle scope A telescopic sight, commonly referred to as a scope, is a device used to give an accurate point of aim for a firearm. ...

Spring guns can also suffer from spring vibrations that can upset accuracy. These vibrations can be controlled by adding features designed into the gun, like close-fitting spring guides, or by aftermarket tuning done by 'airgunsmiths' who specialize in air gun modifications. A common modification is the addition of viscous silicone grease to the spring, which both lubricates it and damps out vibration.

The better quality spring air guns can have long service lives, often exceeding thirty years. Because they deliver the same energy on each shot, the trajectory is extremely consistent. This resulted in most Olympic air gun matches through the 1970s and into the 1980s being shot with spring-piston guns. Beginning in the 1980s, guns powered by compressed, liquefied carbon dioxide began to dominate competition. Today, the guns used at the highest levels of competition are powered by compressed air stored at very high pressures of 2000 to 3000 lbf/in² (14 to 21 MPa). The five Olympic rings were designed in 1913, adopted in 1914 and debuted at the Games at Antwerp, 1920. ...

The Chinese army uses spring-piston small arms to train more economically. These military-issue Chinese spring-piston air-guns are often available by mail-order, but the buyer should note that quality control on these guns tends to be somewhat variable. Similarly, the Romanian army formerly used spring-piston, single shot, 4.5 mm training rifles to train entry level recruits, prior to switching them to .22 LR training rifles.

The Theoben Evolution, a break barrel gas spring air rifle

Some makes of air rifle (e.g. Weihrauch, Theoben) incorporate a gas spring instead of a mechanical spring. Pressurized air or nitrogen is held in a special chamber built into the piston, and this air is further pressurized when the gun is cocked. It is, in effect, a gas spring commonly referred to as a "gas ram" or "gas strut". Gas spring rifles require higher precision to build, since they require a low friction sliding seal that can withstand the high pressures when cocked. The advantages of the gas spring include the facility to keep the rifle cocked and ready to fire for long periods of time without harming the mechanism. Also, since there is no spring (and therefore a reduction in moving mass during firing) there is less (although some say slightly sharper), recoil. There is also an elimination of the associated problems of long-term spring fatigue and a faster "lock time" (the time between pulling the trigger and the pellet being discharged). The improvement in lock time makes for better accuracy since there is less time for the gun to move off target. Image File history File linksMetadata Theoben_Evolution. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Theoben_Evolution. ...

Pneumatic

Pneumatic-type airguns require the pre-compression of air in a chamber prior to the gun being used. Single-stroke and multi-stroke guns utilize an on board pump, while PCP guns use either a high-pressure hand pump or air compressor to pressurize the air. When fired, the compressed air in the chamber is used to force the projectile out. Because of this design, the amount of recoil is almost zero as there is no significant movement of mechanical parts during the firing cycle. These air guns may also be powered by CO₂ stored in capsules or cylinders, and filled via a hand pump or dive tank. 12 litre and 3 litre steel diving cylinders A diving cylinder, scuba tank or diving tank is used to store and transport high pressure breathing gas as a component of an Aqua-Lung. ...

Multi-stroke

The Crosman Classic 2104X, a typical multi-stroke air rifle

Multi-Stroke pneumatic air guns require 2-10 pumps of an on-board lever to store compressed air within the air gun. Variable power can be achieved through this process, as the user can adapt the power level for long, or short-range shooting. The design of higher quality and match-grade multi-stroke air rifles can propel a pellet to speeds in excess of 1000 feet per second. Image File history File links Crosman_Classic_2104X.jpg‎ Source: http://www. ... Image File history File links Crosman_Classic_2104X.jpg‎ Source: http://www. ...

For beginners and intermediates, multi-stroke air rifles have been a cost-effective choice as they are generally the cheapest form of air gun available. Several manufacturers make multi-stroke air guns including, to name a few, Sheridan, Benjamin, Daisy, and Crosman. Modified multi-pump guns, with stronger pump linkages and improved valves, can produce muzzle energies in excess of 30 foot-pounds from inexpensive guns. Modification kits for Sheridan and Benjamin rifles are available from commercial suppliers. Skysmith 14:04, 4 April 2006 (UTC) Category: ... The Crosman Corporation is one of the major manufacturers of airguns and BB guns in the United States. ...

Single-stroke

As the name implies, one motion of the cocking lever is all that is needed to compress the air for propulsion. The single-pump system is usually found in target rifles and pistols, where the higher muzzle energy of a multi-stroke pumping system is not required.

Pre-charged Pneumatic

The Daystate MKIII, a pre-charged pneumatic air rifle. Note: The air reservoir (cylinder) is visible beneath the rifle's barrel)

Pre-charged pneumatic (PCP) airguns can be used for hunting and competition. These are usually filled by decanting from an air reservoir, such as a diving cylinder or by charging directly with a hand pump. Because of the need for cylinders or charging systems, PCP guns have higher initial costs but very low operating costs compared to CO₂ guns. These guns are often used for hunting purposes in countries other than the U.S. because of restrictive firearm laws. Image File history File links Daystate_MKIII.jpg‎ Pre-charged Pneumatic Air rifle Source: http://www. ... Image File history File links Daystate_MKIII.jpg‎ Pre-charged Pneumatic Air rifle Source: http://www. ... 12 litre and 3 litre steel diving cylinders A diving cylinder, scuba tank or diving tank is used to store and transport high pressure breathing gas as a component of an Aqua-Lung. ...

PCP guns were the very first air guns; an experimental gun was made for King Henry IV of France in 1600 ^{[citation needed]}. The Austrian military issued air rifles designed by Girandoni to special troops in the late 19th century.

PCP guns have very low recoil and can fire from fewer than 30, to as many as 500 shots per charge. The ready supply of gas, has allowed the development of semi-automatic PCP air guns. Though technology allows this design, these types of PCP airgun are not permitted in certain countries, e.g. the United Kingdom. PCP guns are very popular in the UK and Europe because of their accuracy and ease of shooting. They are widely utilized in the sport of Field Target shooting, ^[10] and fitted with telescopic sights. // Field Target is an outdoor air gun discipline originating in the United Kingdom, but gaining popularity worldwide. ... View through a 4x rifle scope A telescopic sight, commonly referred to as a scope, is a device used to give an accurate point of aim for a firearm. ...

PCP guns are frequently used for hunting. In some countries, the use of a sound moderator or silencer makes these rifles particularly quiet, an advantage for hunters. Modern reservoir guns in larger calibers (6 mm to 9 mm) are often used for hunting small game in the U.S. Several firearms with suppressors A suppressor is a device attached to a firearm to reduce the amount of noise and flash generated by firing the weapon. ... Several firearms with suppressors A suppressor is a device attached to a firearm to reduce the amount of noise and flash generated by firing the weapon. ...

Earlier hand pumps for charging carried with them problems of fatigue (both human and mechanical), temperature warping, and condensation. None of those is beneficial to good shooting or the longevity of the rifle. More modern design hand pumps with built-in air filtration systems overcome many of these problems. Using scuba-quality air decanted from a scuba cylinder provides a clean, dry, high-pressure air supply that is consistent and available at low cost. may refer to: Scuba diving, the use of a self-contained breathing set to stay underwater for periods of time. ...

During the discharge cycle, the hammer of the rifle is released by the sear to strike the valve. This usually involves the hammer moving toward the rear of the rifle, unlike firearms where the hammer normally moves forward. Prior to being struck by the hammer, the valve is held closed by a spring and the pressure of the air in the air gun's tank. The pressure of the spring is constant, and the pressure of the air changes with each successive shot. As a result, when the tank pressure is at its peak, the valve permits passage of less total volume of air than when the tank pressure has been reduced by a series of shots. This results in a somewhat greater consistency of velocity from shot to shot than would otherwise be expected, and accuracy with a rifle is mainly dependent on consistency.

The PCP is valuable to the small game hunter, pest controller, dedicated target shooter, marksmanship instructor and any other who requires precision, rather than the firepower of a firearm.

CO₂

The Crosman 2260, a typical CO₂ air rifle.

Most CO₂ guns use a disposable cylinder, a powerlet, that is purchased pre-filled with 12 grams of liquefied carbon dioxide, although some, usually more expensive models, use larger refillable CO₂ reservoirs like those typically used with paintball markers. Image File history File links Crosman_2260. ... Image File history File links Crosman_2260. ... A powerlet is a small disposable metal container holding 12 grams of liquid CO2 and often a small quantity of oil, used as a power source for certain air guns, paintball markers, and a few airsoft guns. ... Carbon dioxide is a chemical compound composed of two oxygen atoms covalently bonded to a single carbon atom. ... A paintball marker, also known as a paintball gun, is the central piece of equipment in the sport of paintball. ...

Carbon dioxide-powered guns have two significant advantages over pre-charged pneumatic air guns: (1.) A simpler system for compact storage of energy - a small volume of liquid converts to a large volume of pressurized gas. (2.) No pressure regulator. Within a temperature range tolerable to humans there is little need to regulate the inherently suitable pressure for low-to-moderate-power air guns. The vapor pressure is dependent only on temperature, not tank size, as long as some liquid CO₂ remains in the reservoir.

These two advantages allow CO₂ guns to be constructed more simply than guns using a pressurized air reservoir. Some CO₂-powered guns have detachable or fixed reservoirs that are loaded with pressurized gas from a larger cylinder. Most CO₂ powered guns use the standard 12 gram Powerlet disposable cylinder invented by Crosman. Recently, the same company introduced a new 88 gram disposable AirSource cylinder that is used in some of their guns.

CO₂ guns, like compressed air guns, offer power for repeated shots in a compact package without the need for complex cocking or filling mechanisms. The ability to store power for repeated shots also means that repeating arms are possible. There are many replica revolvers and semi-automatic pistols on the market that use CO₂ power. These guns are popular for training, as the guns and ammunition are inexpensive, safe to use, and no specialized facilities are needed for safety. In addition, they can be purchased and owned in areas where firearms possession is either strictly controlled, or banned outright.

Most CO₂ powered guns are relatively inexpensive, although there are still a few precision target guns on the market that use CO₂.

The CO₂ system has been used in experimental non-lethal law enforcement weapons, where high power delivery systems launch rubber batons or bean bags out of a gas-powered launcher, much like a non-lethal shotgun system (but at lower velocities, thus being safer). beanbags A bean bag is a bag containing dried beans or PVC pellets, with various applications. ...

Safety

For safety, CO₂ containers must be kept at temperatures below 120 °F (49 °C) ; at temperatures above this level, the pressure begins to increase very rapidly, and can cause the container to fail. CO₂ containers with diameters at or above two inches (50 mm) have a pressure release "rupture" mechanism to release the contents over a certain pressure level and avoid explosion because of high temperature. These disks are generally calibrated to a minimum pressure corresponding to the 120 °F level at 100% of the rated CO₂ capacity. Elevated temperatures, even those below the critical temperature, can cause increased leaking through seals.

Operating considerations

• Re-filling Forcing more carbon dioxide gas into a reservoir of liquid and gas CO₂ while maintaining a constant temperature would not raise the pressure but merely convert the additional gas into liquid. By chilling the vessel to be filled, the lower vapor pressure will pull CO₂ from the source container. While the pressure in the reservoir is generally dependent only on the temperature, if the bottle is too full, that changes. The expansion of the liquid CO₂ will take up all the space in the bottle, preventing evaporation. At this point, the pressure increase with temperature becomes dangerously high. ^[11]
• Cooling Each time the gun is fired there is some evaporation of liquid to gas which is an endothermic process in which the pressure drops until enough ambient heat is absorbed to restore the pressure. When shooting at a rate faster than the cylinder can absorb heat from the environment to counter the cooling of the evaporating liquid, the pressure will drop, and the velocity is likely to drop as well in a non-regulated gun.

In thermodynamics, the word endothermic describes a process or reaction that absorbs energy in the form of heat. ...

Calibers

The most common pellet calibers

Air guns are most commonly found in the following calibers: Image File history File links Pellet_Sizes. ... Image File history File links Pellet_Sizes. ... The word calibre (British English) or caliber (American English) designates the interior diameter of a tube or the exterior diameter of a wire or rod. ...

• .177" (4.5 mm) - the most common caliber, also used in ISSF shooting events at the Olympic Games, it has the flattest trajectory of all the calibers, making accuracy simpler.
• .20" (5.0 mm) - found in some European air guns and those manufactured by US air gun manufacturer, Sheridan. This is generally considered to be a 'compromise calibre', having a flatter trajectory similar to the .177 but more energy retention.
• .22" (5.5 mm & 5.6 mm) - the most common caliber for hunting small game, as it delivers large amounts of energy on impact (more so than the smaller calibers).
• .25" (6.35 mm) - the largest commonly available caliber. This caliber is renowned for its impact, having the most energy retention of all calibers. However, it does have a highly parabolic trajectory and is more commonly used with higher powered rifles.

Ballistic modeling software is able to illustrate the benefits and disadvantages of each calibre at various power levels. The International Shooting Sport Federation recognizes several shooting events, some of which have Olympic status. ... United States may refer to: Places: United States of America SS United States, the fastest ocean liner ever built. ...

Larger calibers do exist, for example a Korean manufacturer sells air rifles in .36" (9 mm) and larger ^{[citation needed]}. Custom airgun manufacturers regularly produce air rifles in common muzzleloading rifle calibers too, such as .45" (11.25 mm), .50" (12.5 mm), .58" (14.5 mm) and larger. These large bore air guns are made by several custom Airgunsmiths, for example US air gun manufacturer Dennis Quackenbush. Quackenbush rifles have been used to kill many types of large game including Elk, and African game species up to Kudu. Gary Barnes is another large bore air gun manufacturer, whose handmade air guns are suitable for hunting medium sized game. Muzzleloading is a term used to describe any firearm, but more particularly historical firearms, which are loaded at the muzzle, or open end of the gun barrel. ... United States may refer to: Places: United States of America SS United States, the fastest ocean liner ever built. ... For other uses, see Elk (disambiguation). ... Male Greater Kudu Female Greater Kudu The Kudu are two species of antelope: Lesser Kudu, Tragelaphus imberbis Greater Kudu, Tragelaphus strepsiceros Kudu: has a symbolic role in Hindu and Buddhist architecture. ...

Ammunition

A .177 caliber "Wadcutter" pellet next to a stick of gum.

Image File history File links 177cal. ... Image File history File links 177cal. ...

Pellet

Main article: Pellet (air gun)

The typical projectile used in rifled air guns is the lead diabolo pellet. This is a waisted projectile hollowed at the base and available in a variety of head styles. The diabolo pellet is designed to be drag stabilized, though is not as stable as some other shapes in the transonic region. From left to right, flat, round nose, hollow point and pointed pellets. ...

While some high-power Spring-piston air rifles can propel light pellets at, or beyond, the speed of sound, this results in decreased accuracy and often decreased life of the rifle's spring and seals. This is because a lighter pellet tends to move along a barrel before maximum pressure is reached, resulting in loss of the 'air cushion' and subsequent collision of the piston and/or seal into the end of the air chamber at high velocity.

Most air guns have a caliber of .177 (4.5 mm) or .22 (5.6 mm), and are designed for target practice, small game hunting and field target shooting. Cost per round is less than $0.02 (US) for Olympic-quality ammunition, and far less for cheaper grades. Though less common, .20 and .25 caliber (5.0 mm and 6.4 mm) guns also exist and are used predominantly for hunting. The word calibre (British English) or caliber (American English) designates the interior diameter of a tube or the exterior diameter of a wire or rod. ...

Most air rifle pellets are made from lead which is harmful to the body if it is inhaled, ingested, or enters the bloodstream. Over exposure to this substance may cause lead poisoning. Shooters should ensure that measures are taken to prevent lead from entering the body, such as washing hands and avoiding lead dust. If these measures are taken, lead is very safe for use as a projectile. There are non-toxic pellets available, such as tin or steel-tipped plastic, which are safe to handle and don't deposit lead into the environment. For Pb as an abbreviation, see PB. General Name, Symbol, Number lead, Pb, 82 Chemical series Post-transition metals or poor metals Group, Period, Block 14, 6, p Appearance bluish gray Standard atomic weight 207. ... Lead poisoning is a medical condition, also known as saturnism, plumbism or painters colic, caused by increased blood lead levels. ...

BB

.177 calibre steel BBs

The BB was once the most common air gun ammunition in the USA. A BB is a small ball, typically made of steel with a copper or zinc plating. Lead "Round Balls" are manufactured in numerous calibers too, however these are more appropriate for use in .177 caliber rifled guns normally used for shooting pellets. Steel BBs can be very accurate at short distances when fired from properly designed BB guns, however when fired from smoothbore barrels they lack the spin stabilization required for long-range accuracy. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (552x1000, 148 KB)Package of . ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (552x1000, 148 KB)Package of . ... Rifling of a Canon de 75 modèle 1897 A 35 caliber Remington, with a microgroove rifled barrel with a right hand twist. ... Steel BBs BB guns are a type of air gun designed to fire usually spherical projectiles, called BBs after the Birdshot pellet of approximately the same size. ... Smoothbore refers to a firearm which does not have a rifled barrel. ...

Typically BBs are used for indoor practice, casual outdoor plinking, training children, or for air gun enthusiasts who like to practice, but cannot afford high-powered air gun systems that use pellets. Some shotgunners use sightless BB rifles to train in instinctive shooting. Similar guns were also used briefly by the United States Army in a Vietnam-era instinctive shooting program called "Quick Kill" (Time magazine, Friday, July 14, 1967). is the 195th day of the year (196th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1967 (MCMLXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the 1967 Gregorian calendar. ...

Choosing an air gun

The following table provides general guidelines for choosing an air gun for a desired feature.

While the above generalizations are helpful, the performance of an air gun will also depend on its quality. For example, a match-grade CO₂ rifle will have better accuracy than a cheaper spring-piston gun. The extra costs of a more expensive gun may translate into higher quality, tighter tolerances, and better accuracy. Several firearms with suppressors A suppressor is a device attached to a firearm to reduce the amount of noise and flash generated by firing the weapon. ...

It is also important to consider where (e.g. club range, backyard, farm) and how (e.g. competition, target practice, plinking, pest-control) an air gun will be used.

See also

• Marksmanship
• BB gun
• Gun Quarter
• Girandoni Air Rifle
• Spud gun
• Airsoft guns

Shooting is the act of causing a gun to fire at a target. ... Steel BBs BB guns are a type of air gun designed to fire usually spherical projectiles, called BBs after the Birdshot pellet of approximately the same size. ... The Gun Quarter is the name given to an area of the city of Birmingham, in England, traditionally (and still) associated with the manufacture of firearms and sporting guns. ... // The Girandoni Air Rifle was a rifle designed by Bartholomäus Girandoni circa 1779. ... A typical die-cast spud gun. ... Airsoft guns fire 6mm plastic pellets and are generally immitation copies of a real model, such as the M16 or MP5. ...

References

1. ^ Arne Hoff, Airguns and Other Pneumatic Arms, Arms & Armour Series, London, 1972
2. ^ L.Wesley, Air Guns and Air Pistols, London 1955
3. ^ H.L.Blackmore, Hunting Weapons, London 1971
4. ^ Geoffrey Baker & Colin Currie, The Construction and Operation of the Air Gun Vol 2 The Walking Stick Air Gun, privately printed, 2003
5. ^ Richard Middleton, A Practical Guide to Man-Powered Bullets, Merlin Unwin Books (UK) and Stackpole Books (US) 2005
6. ^ E.M.Reilly, Air Guns and other Air Weapons; a short pamphlet reprinted in 1995 by W.S.Curtis Publishers, Rhyl, Clwd
7. ^ BBC News story
8. ^ Ben Saltzman. The Three Basic Types of Airguns. American Airguns. Retrieved on 2007-09-14.
9. ^ The Airgun from Trigger to Target. G.V. & G.M. Cardew 1995. 235 pp. Privately published. ISBN 0950510823 - ISBN-13 9780950510828
10. ^ American Airgun Field Target Association
11. ^ World And Regional Paintball Information Guide

• Robert Beeman's History of Airguns
• Modern Airgun and Air Rifle Technology, & Sport

Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 257th day of the year (258th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

Safety

• Air gun safety

Animations / Demonstrations

• Animations, demonstrations, schematics and the setting up of Air rifles and their optics

Ballistic Modeling software

• Chairgun

History

• The history and origins of the air rifle
• Girandoni style air rifles and pistols and preliminary research presentation
• Lewis and Clark's air rifle
• Air Guns Throughout the Centuries

Manufacturers

• AirForce
• Anschütz
• Air Arms
• ANA Arms
• Brocock
• BSA
• Crosman (also Benjamin Sheridan)
• Daisy
• Daystate
• Diana
• RWS (marketed in the USA by Umarex)
• Falcon
• Feinwerkbau
• FX Airguns
• Gamo
• Gunpower
• Logun
• Ripley
• Roehm
• Shanghai
• Steyr Mannlicher
• Theoben
• Umarex
• Walther
• Webley & Scott
• Weihrauch

Custom Manufacturers

• Barnes Pneumatic
• Crooked Barn
• Theo Hegmans
• ISP
• Skanar
• Quackenbush
• Whiscombe

Hand Pumps and Compressors

• Hill Pumps

Reviews

• Reviews by Straight Shooters
• Reviews by American Airgun Hunter
• Reviews by Tom Gaylord

Clubs and Special Interest Groups

• American Airgun Field Target Association
• British Field Target Association
• United Kingdom Association for Hunter Field Target
• National Small Bore Rifle Association (United Kingdom)
• International Shooting Sport Federation