What is the cost speed and range of an air rifle?

Answer 1

Cost: It all depends on the model, anywhere from $35 for a Daisy Red Ryder to over $3,000 for a Feinwerkbau.

Speed: It all depends on the Power plant inside the air rifle. Anywhere from 250 FPS (Feet per second) to well over 1,500 FPS.

Range: 30 feet to over 1000 yards

If you want to understand more about air rifle power plants then read this section on Airgunning

***********************Air gunning.************************

There are exception to this information. This is a generalization of different air gun systems.

Here are a few things to understand about air guns. Not all of them are the same. There are BB guns, there are pellet guns and there are combo BB/pellet guns. All BB guns and combo BB / pellet guns are for plinking or simple target practice. They are not very good for rodent control. The barrels are usually smooth bore, some have rifling and are not very accurate beyond 30 feet. They will work but are not efficient. Regular pellet guns usually have rifled barrels that give them more accuracy and distance. BB guns and rifles have their place for teaching young shooters the rules of shooting or just having fun. Every boy wants one, and it's a great way to teach safety and gun handling.

If you want rodent control or hunting stay with a "pellet" only air gun or rifle. Today there are 5 different power plants for air guns. I'll explain each one and try to give the good and bad for each system. Some of this information applies to both BB and Pellet guns and rifles.

Co2: you can purchase Co2 cylinders in 12 gram (the most common) 88 gram, 10 oz up to 24 oz. But 12 gram is the most common. They can propell a pellet at around 500 Feet Per Second (FPS) they hold around 800 PSI of Carbon Dioxide in the powerlett. Larger Co2 cylinders produce more power and more shots but must be recharged at a sporting center when they run out of Co2 gas. 12 gram powerletts are not reusable. Never leave a charged 12 gram Co2 powerlett in a gun after you use it. It will cause problems, like a blown seal. Co2 air guns are used for small rodent control, plinking and target shooting.

Advantage: Multi-shot air guns use this type of system because you can shoot several pellet between reloading.

Disadvantage: There are more powerful systems that produce a faster FPS, than the common 12 gram Co2. Also their range is not as far as other systems.

Forearm pump: Benjamin rifles are well known for this type design, several other air guns employ this design also. You must pump the rifle from 2 to 10 strokes for each shot. The more strokes ,the more power. Never go over 10 strokes. This system will produce around 600 FPS. But if you are shooting 10 rounds at 10 strokes each, well you get the Idea, you get tired. These air guns are single shot air guns. They are used for rodent control and target shooting.

Advantage: other than the pellets nothing else is needed.

Disadvantage. Single shot and all the pumping between shots

Spring piston: Most break barrel and under lever rifles and pistols use this type of system. It produces plenty of power and pellets have a further range and harder impact. They are used for rodent control, target shooting, and hunting.

Advantage: Powerful, anywhere from 500 FPS to 1500 FPS and more.

Disadvantage: They are single shot and you must reload after each shot. You also can not cock and load the rifle and leave it overnight. Over time the spring will lose its tension if it's always cocked.

Nitro piston: This is much the same design as "Spring Piston" except there is no spring. A Nitrogen gas cylinder replaces the spring cylinder. They are used for rodent control, target shooting, and hunting.

Advantage: powerful anywhere from 500 FPS to 1500 FPS and more. You can cock and leave the rifle for days. Gas doesn't get weak over time, there is also no spring wobble.

Disadvantage: They are single shot and you must reload after each shot. The cost is more per rifle over spring powered systems.

PreCharged Pneumatic (PCP): These can be the most expensive rifles on the market. PCPs are also used in Olympic shooting. They come in calibers that you won't find in other air rifles and air guns. These Air guns, shoot calibers in .177, .20, .22, .25, 9MM, 357, 45 Caliber and 50 Caliber. Most air guns usually shoot .177 to .22 caliber, but PCPs shoot all sizes of pellets. They can be single shot or multi-shot systems. They shoot with Co2 or Air power. They are more accurate and much harder hitting than most other air guns. But you must use a special bicycle pump or Scuba tank to charge then to the required 2000 to 3000 PSI that is needed to operated the power system. These air guns are used for target, rodent and large game hunting.

Advantage: Power, distance, accuracy, single or repeater-shot and larger selection of pellets sizes.

Disadvantage: Need special equipment to charge them and PCPs cost more than most air rifles and air guns. Larger pellets, .25 cal and up, must be ordered online and will cost more than smaller pellets.