| The purpose of this article is to explain the | | | | Additionally, air resistance determines speed |
| various types of air guns available and | | | | as well. There are various different types of |
| enable you to make informed decisions. Air | | | | pellets such as wad cutters, which are |
| guns come in various forms, such as target | | | | specific for target shooting and required in |
| and hunting types, as well as different | | | | competitions. Round nose pellets and crow |
| caliber and weight for pellets. Deciding on | | | | magnum hollow heads are used for hunting. |
| what you intend to use the air gun for will | | | | They are heavier in weight and penetrate |
| help you in making the decision on what type | | | | deeper. Crow magnums are great because they |
| of air gun to purchase. | | | | actually expand creating a larger hole as it |
| | | | enters the target, good for game such as |
| Target air guns are precision guns that are | | | | rabbits and woodchucks. |
| used specifically for target shooting. These | | | | |
| only require enough energy to speed a .177 | | | | The accuracy of pellet guns are determined by |
| caliber pellet through the air. The speed is | | | | three major factors - the crown, uniformity |
| able to be lower; however, the accuracy must | | | | and wind. The crown is essentially the barrel |
| be extremely high. With target air guns, | | | | lip, it is said that the crown should give |
| repeatability of the power ensures high | | | | the same exact surface to the spinning tail |
| quality. The function should be as smooth as | | | | of a pellet. This will prevent a wobble from |
| possible to keep concentration accurate and | | | | the pellet being tipped one way or the other. |
| pellet insertion should be easy. | | | | |
| | | | Uniformity is the spinning of the pellet. The |
| Hunting air rifles should provide reasonable | | | | pellet must be balanced as it spins otherwise |
| accuracy and be able to transfer three to | | | | even the slightest unbalanced pellet will |
| five times as much energy as target air guns. | | | | cause a pellet to veer off course the minute |
| The hunting rifle pellet energy should, at | | | | it leaves the barrel. Wind deflects the |
| the very least, be as high as the distance of | | | | pellets; this is usually dependant upon the |
| the target, as target air guns are at the | | | | weight of the pellet. |
| muzzle. | | | | |
| | | | In closure, your choice of air gun will |
| C02 or pre-charged air guns help eliminate | | | | greatly depend on the function you would like |
| re-cocking, thus providing for a smoother | | | | it to perform. For target practice or |
| shooting process. Choosing pellets for an air | | | | competitions, a target air gun is the proper |
| gun again depends on the purpose in which you | | | | choice for you. For hunting game, you will |
| intend to use it. The different types of | | | | require different accuracy and energy for |
| caliber available for air guns include .177, | | | | different prey. The best advice is that you |
| .20, .22, and .25 calibers. In order to | | | | purchase several different types of pellets |
| determine the best type of pellet for your | | | | and practice shooting these for the accuracy |
| air gun you should experiment with the | | | | and behavior within your own personal air |
| various combinations until you are satisfied | | | | gun. One expert suggests shooting pellets |
| with the intended results. | | | | into a bar of soap at various field ranges to |
| | | | determine how well the different pellets |
| The speed of a pellet varies with the weight | | | | penetrate and expand in hunting. The personal |
| of a pellet. The heaver a pellet is the | | | | testing will help you select the right type |
| slower the speed and vice versa. | | | | of pellet for your usage. |