Today, air guns are used in everything from precision shooting competitions and weekend plinking sessions to hunting small and even large game.
Recently legislation was passed to allow the PA Game Commission the authority to regulate the use of air guns for hunting. As a result, beginning in the 2017-18 license year, air or gas-operated rifles and handguns may be used for hunting small game and furbearers.
Air guns used in conjunction with small game are restricted to calibers from .177 to .22 caliber, for woodchucks at least .22 caliber. Air guns must propel a single-projectile or bullet. BB ammunition is prohibited.
The introduction of hunting with air guns has opened up a new window of opportunity for Pennsylvania hunters.
Air gun technology has and continues to reach far beyond thresholds achieved even a decade ago. But how big is the air gun business?
Names like Daisy, Crossman, Gamo, along with Anschutz, Walther, RWS, and Hammerli come to mind when talking air guns. However these names are the tip of the iceberg. Research indicates that there are no less than 106 companies serving the air gun market today that include names like Winchester, Ruger, Remington, and Colt just to name a few.
So how do you choose when considering an air gun?
Unlike a cartridge firearm, air guns employ a number of methods to drive the pellet down the barrel and drive it toward the target.
The variable pump: to charge the rifle, a handle, which is part of the gun, is used to pressurize the air reservoir. Between pumping the rifle and reloading the process can be slow.
Break Action is another air compressing platform. The heart of this action is a spring piston which can provide velocities at the muzzle reaching 1,000 fps while driving a .177 lightweight pellet.
The Nitro Piston system works by compressing a cylinder filled with nitrogen and is often referred to as a gas ram. When fired, the system propels the pellet with reduced vibration and noise.
The Nitro Piston 2 takes the piston design to a new level. It collectively has improved speed, noise, vibration, and recoil control which combine to improve accuracy.
Pre-charged pneumatic: this design relies on charging an air reservoir within the rifle. Rifles of this type fire with no notable report. Air rifles of this type are powerful and very accurate. However to recharge the gun, receiving air from a SCUBA tank or a pump will need to be used. Also the number of rounds fired on a given charge is limited. However, the system is for the most part recoil-free and is accurate.
At the present here in PA the selection of what goes out the barrel is limited to .177 and .22 calibers for hunting.
The .177 caliber pellets range in weight from 5.2 grains to 16.2 gains and nearly everything in between.
The heavier .22 caliber pellets are available in a variety of weights beginning at 14.3 and go up to and including 25.62 grain pellets. The heavier .22 caliber was my choice.
With a wide variety of pellet weights, a variety pack is a good way to begin testing which pellet holds the potential to shoot from a particular air gun.
When it came to air guns, I settled on the Benjamin Trail. This air gun is charged using the break barrel system. The rifle also features the new Nitro Piston™ 2. Also this particular model boasts that .22 caliber Benjamin Trail shoots up to 1100 fps delivering 26 foot pounds of energy making it attractive when hunting small game.
Along with the upgraded power plant, the rifle includes an enhanced Clean Break Trigger that is adjustable and an integrated suppression system.
Air guns and cartridge firearms generally work the same. Those who grew up shooting cartridge firearms and are new to air gun shooting can become frustrated quickly.
It will be surprising to learn that before shooting an air rifle it should be cleaned. A pull through device like that found in an Otis cleaning kit works great. A clean, dry patch should be pulled through the bore. No cleaning solvents should be used.
Pellet rifles require a 250 minimum break-in period. Taking the time to shoot the required number of pellets gives the internal working parts of the rifle to “settle down”. But there are additional considerations.
The break-in period provides a great opportunity to get the feel of the trigger. In the case of the Benjamin Trail, the trigger is adjustable and the range time offers a good opportunity to make trigger adjustments to your liking. At the same time testing a variety of pellets is important. And just like your favorite rifle has a particular type of ammunition, pellet guns act in a similar manner.
While on the range, testing should be conducted by sighting the rifle in with a given weight of pellet at let’s say 25 yards. Next, set targets at 10 yards beyond and 10 yards closer from the original 25-yard mark. Shoot at each target, then compare the point of impact on both targets. Range time is an important component when it comes to accurate air gun shooting and learning how your rifle will deliver a pellet at various yardages.
Optics can be interesting. The folks at Hawke Optics offer scopes designed and built exclusively
for air gun use. And the good news is that they work because they are designed with a reticle that allows the user to compensate when shooting various distances with the gun zeroed in at a given distance.
Air guns provide a young or new shooter a number of advantages. First, pellets are readily available and inexpensive to shoot. This means lots of practice for little money.
With an air gun, basic marksmanship skills can be taught without the intimidation factor of a loud report or excessive recoil. This makes the air gun a great teaching tool.
The great thing is, those who master shooting an air gun can take what they have learned and will be able to apply those skills in the field.
Charlie Burchfield is an active member and past president of the Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association, an active member of the Professional Outdoor Media Association, Outdoor Writers Assoc. of America and the Mason-Dixon Outdoor Writers. Gateway Outdoors e-mail is GWOutdoors@comcast.net
