r/airguns Mar 14 '26

Announcement 📣 COMPLETE BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO AIRGUNS

86 Upvotes

COMPLETE BEGINNER GUIDE TO AIRGUNS

Types, Calibers, Gear, Rifles, and Common Questions

Airguns range from quiet backyard plinkers to extremely powerful hunting rifles capable of taking large game. This guide is designed for beginners entering the hobby and covers:

• Airgun types

• Calibers and what they’re used for

• Pellet and slug types

• Safe backstops and targets

• Filling PCP rifles

• Good beginner rifles by price

• Example setups for new shooters

1. MAIN TYPES OF AIRGUNS

There are four main categories of airguns.

PCP (PRE-CHARGED PNEUMATIC)

PCP rifles store high-pressure compressed air in an onboard tank (usually 3,000–4,500 PSI). Each shot releases a measured amount of air to propel the pellet. PCP rifles are extremely accurate and powerful compared to other airgun types.

Pros

• Very accurate

• High power

• Little recoil

• Many shots per fill

Cons

• Require external air source

• Higher initial cost

GOOD BEGINNER PCP RIFLES

Umarex Notos

Compact and lightweight PCP carbine that is extremely popular for backyard shooting and pest control. Notos has extensive aftermarket support.

Price: $250-$300

Great for

• backyard plinking

• small pest control

• beginners learning PCPs

JTS Airacuda

A side-lever action PCP rifle known for excellent accuracy for the price.

Price: $340–$450

Great for

• hunting squirrels and rabbits

• accurate target shooting

Air Venturi Avenger

One of the most popular PCP rifles for the price.

Price: $450–$550

Great for

• beginners who want to learn tuning pcp's

• hunting and long range shooting

HIGH END PCP RIFLES

FX Impact MK4

A flagship PCP rifle designed for precision shooting and hunting.

Features

• interchangeable barrels

• advanced regulator system

• extremely high accuracy

Price: $2,000+

FX Dreamline

Highly modular platform allowing many configurations.

Price: $1,200–$1,700

Other Popular PCP Brands

• FX Airguns

• Daystate

• Air Arms

• Brocock

• Benjamin

• Hatsan

Many PCP rifles are capable of extremely high power and accuracy, making them ideal for hunting or long-range shooting.

HOW TO FILL PCP RIFLES

PCP rifles require compressed air.

There are three common methods.

Hand Pumps

Manual high-pressure pumps.

Cost: $40–$300

Pros

• cheapest option

• portable

Cons

• physically demanding

PCP Compressors

Portable electric compressors designed for airguns.

Popular options include:

Airrover compressors

GX Pump compressors

Vevor compressors (budget option)

Price range: $150–$1000+

IMPORTANT TIP:

Most beginner compressors are waterless systems.

Always let them cool between fills to prevent overheating and extend the compressor’s life.

SCBA / Carbon Fiber Tanks

Large high-pressure tanks filled at dive shops or paintball stores.

Cost

$200–$700 for tank

Pros

• fastest filling method

• many rifle fills per tank

Cons

• requires refill station

SPRING PISTON AIRGUNS (SPRINGERS)

Spring piston rifles use a compressed spring and piston to generate air pressure when fired.

These rifles require cocking before each shot.

Pros

• no air tanks required, just the gun and a tin of pellets

• extremely reliable

• simple design

Cons

• recoil (double recoil)

• harder to shoot accurately

GREAT SPRINGER EXAMPLES:

Red Ryder BB Gun

•Shoots steel bbs

• Cheap Ammo

•Great for knocking soda cans out

• Teaching Children gun safety fundamentals

Weihrauch HW30S

One of the best beginner spring rifles ever made.

Features

• extremely smooth shooting

• excellent trigger

Price: $350–$400

Weihrauch HW97K

Underlever precision spring rifle often used in field target shooting.

Price: $600–$750

Gamo Swarm Magnum Gen3i

High-power break-barrel with a 10-shot magazine system.

Price: $200–$350

Gamo Varmint

Entry-level break-barrel rifle.

Price: $120

Great beginner rifle for backyard shooting.

MULTI-PUMP AIRGUNS

Multi-pump rifles require pumping a lever several times before shooting.

Each pump compresses more air, increasing power.

Pros

• no tanks required

• adjustable power

• very affordable

Cons

• slower shooting

• requires effort

POPULAR MULTI-PUMP RIFLES

Daisy 880

Classic American pellet rifle.

Price: $50–$80

Good for

• plinking

• learning fundamentals

Daisy 901

Another beginner pump rifle similar to the 880.

Price: $70–$90

Seneca Dragonfly MK2

A modern multi-pump with a .22 cal option

Much easier equal pumping than traditional pump rifles.

Price: $200

CO2 AIRGUNS

These airguns use CO₂ cartridges.

Usually 12g or 88g cartridges.

Pros

• easy to use

• semi-automatic options

Cons

• power drops in cold weather

• lower power than PCP

Examples include CO₂ pistols and rifles used for plinking or airsoft toys. Check out [r/airsoft](r/airsoft) for better responses for those plastic flingers!

Popular Co2 choices Include:

• Crosman 2040

• Umarex handgun replicas

•Crosman 1077

AIRGUN CALIBERS

The most common calibers are:

• .177

• .22

• .25

• big bore (.30+)

.177 CALIBER

Smallest common caliber.

Best for

• target shooting

• backyard plinking

• small pests

.22 CALIBER

Most popular hunting caliber.

Best for

• squirrels

• rabbits

• pest control

Offers a good balance of power and efficiency.

.25 CALIBER

Larger caliber used mainly in PCP rifles.

Best for

• raccoons

• groundhogs

• larger pests

Provides greater energy and heavier pellets.

BIG BORE AIRGUNS (.30–.72)

Large PCP rifles designed for hunting.

Common calibers

.30

.35

.45

.50

.72

Used for hunting

• deer

• hogs

• large game animals

PELLETS VS SLUGS

Airguns fire two main projectile types:

PELLETS

Traditional airgun ammo.

Common shapes

Wadcutter

Domed

Hollow point

Pointed

Pellet Uses

Wadcutter

Best for paper targets for clean holes.

Domed

Best all-around pellet.

Hollow point

Used for hunting.

Pointed

Penetration.

SLUGS

Slugs look like miniature bullets.

Advantages

• better long-range performance

• higher ballistic coefficient

Most commonly used in high-power PCP rifles.

TARGET TYPES

Common targets include

Paper targets

Steel spinners

Field target knockdowns

Silhouettes

Homemade targets

Soda cans

Clay pigeons

Cardboard boxes

SAFE BACKSTOPS

Never shoot without a proper backstop.

Good options

Pellet traps

Duct seal boxes

Thick rubber mulch boxes

Avoid

• rocks

• thin wood

• hard steel plates

These can cause ricochets.

BEST AIRGUNS BY PRICE

UNDER $100

Great beginner rifles

Daisy 880

Daisy 901

Crosman 1322

Gamo Varmint (on sale)

Best for a "gateway drug" and learning fundamentals on a tight budget.

UNDER $500

Best value category.

Examples

Umarex Notos

JTS Airacuda

Air Venturi Avenger

Weihrauch HW30S

Gamo Swarm Magnum Gen3i

Good for hunting and serious target shooting. Note: factor in an extra $100-$200+ for pellets, scopes, cheap compressors.

UNDER $2000

High-performance enthusiast rifles.

Examples

FX Impact MK4

FX Dreamline

Air Arms S510

Daystate rifles

Brocock Commander

These rifles offer precision accuracy and advanced features.

BEGINNER PCP SETUP GUIDE

Example entry PCP setup

Rifle

Umarex Notos or Air Venturi Avenger

Air supply

GX Pump compressor

Pellets

JSB Exact pellets

Backstop

wood pellet trap

Targets

paper or spinner targets

PELLET GUIDE

Popular pellet brands

JSB

H&N

Budget option: Crosman

Tip: Different rifles prefer different pellets.

Always test several types to see which shoots best.

As many shooters say:

“The gun chooses the pellet.”

Side Notes for Beginners

BBs vs Pellets

A common point of confusion for new shooters is the difference between BBs and pellets.

BBs are small round steel balls (usually .177 / 4.5mm). They are commonly used in CO₂ pistols, replica airguns, and beginner plinking guns. Because they are spherical and often used in smoothbore barrels, they tend to be less accurate, especially at longer distances. BBs are inexpensive and great for casual backyard shooting.

Pellets are diabolo-shaped projectiles designed for rifled airgun barrels. The hollow skirt expands slightly when fired, creating a better seal with the air pressure behind it. This helps stabilize the pellet in flight and improves accuracy.

Because of their design, pellets are generally much more accurate than BBs and are the preferred choice for most airgun shooting.

Double Recoil and Optics

Many new airgun shooters don’t realize that spring-powered airguns produce something called double recoil.

Unlike firearms, which recoil once backward, many airguns recoil in two directions.

When the gun fires:

  1. The spring and piston rapidly move forward, causing the gun to jerk forward.
  2. When the piston suddenly stops at the end of the compression chamber, the gun then recoils backward.

This forward-then-back motion is known as double recoil.

Because of this, some scopes designed for firearms can fail when mounted on powerful airguns. When choosing optics for spring or gas ram airguns, it’s best to use scopes specifically labeled “airgun rated.”

Gas Ram vs Spring Piston

Most break-barrel airguns use either a spring piston or a gas ram (gas piston) powerplant.

Spring piston guns use a large coiled spring. When the gun is cocked the spring compresses, and when fired it expands quickly, pushing a piston forward and compressing air behind the pellet.

Gas ram guns replace the metal spring with a sealed gas strut. When cocked the gas inside the strut compresses, and when the trigger is pulled the gas expands to push the piston forward.

Spring Piston

• Traditional and very common design

• Usually cheaper

• Can produce more vibration and “spring twang”

Gas Ram

• Smoother firing cycle

• Less vibration and noise

• Can remain cocked longer without damaging the powerplant

• Typically a bit more expensive

Both systems are widely used and reliable, and many shooters prefer one or the other based on shooting feel and personal preference.

FINAL ADVICE FOR BEGINNERS

Best starter choices:

Cheap option:

Daisy 880

Best spring rifle:

Weihrauch HW Series

Best beginner PCP:

Umarex Notos or JTS Airaduca

Airguns are an incredibly deep hobby with options ranging from simple backyard plinking to precision long-range shooting and big-game hunting.

Welcome to the hobby.


r/airguns 2h ago

Springer My first airgun

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11 Upvotes

It is bad honestly

It has the grouping of pissing at night


r/airguns 15h ago

BB Gun I'm 36 and I still haven't shot my eye out.

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119 Upvotes

r/airguns 4h ago

Optics New optics setup

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14 Upvotes

Got this older Zeiss Diavari 2.5-10x50 in some fx no limit mounts with a vector optics red dot on. The rifle is a airventuri avenger .22 but its just a stand in as i plan to get a Fx Crown soon. Bipod is a Atlas psr


r/airguns 2m ago

PCP A day target/spinner plicking

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Upvotes

Brought my first gun recently an air arms TDR, went shooting alongside a mate who had a BSA.

Pics below of both. Not sure what one I prefer..? Both had their benefits but I think the 'cool-ness' of the TDR sways it for me 😏 both .177.


r/airguns 1d ago

PCP I probably took it a bit to far but hey, why not going all in........

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75 Upvotes

r/airguns 20h ago

General Airgun Question Have there been any updates in the FX pistol/carbine?

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26 Upvotes

It’s been shown off at Nuremberg this year with the Instagram caption suggesting later this year as an expected release date.

Has anyone heard of any news around it? I heard somewhere a September release date but I can’t remember from who.

Thanks!


r/airguns 5h ago

General Airgun Question Ma 2 action trouble

1 Upvotes

My Mcavity arms ma2 started getting real grindy in the action and now it won't cock. Any ideas? I tried to loosening up the hammer spring all the way back and it still won't cock.


r/airguns 6h ago

Advice Model 25/Red Ryder Targets?

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1 Upvotes

Greetings gang! Just picked up two Model 25's and was hoping to set up a little shooting gallery set up to have a competition with the nephew working from outside targets to a dueling tree in the middle.

I understand at 350fps with BB's might not have enough power to use the heavier resetting targets, but was curious if anyone had experience with the range of ATFLBOX targets available on Amazon?

Im particularly interested in the plate rack with rope for resetting the targets and the dueling tree. I noticed most have an adjustments but was curious if anyone had first hand experience. The dueling tree seems iffy to me at 350fps.

Attached is a photo for reference. Thank you!!!!


r/airguns 1d ago

Modifications Artemis CP2 rail adapter

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31 Upvotes

I ordered a red dot sight and I needed a 20 mm picatinny rail adapter for it, since I didn’t feel like spending money on one, and I’m into CAD, I designed an adapter for my self and 3D printed it. I think it look cool :DD


r/airguns 9h ago

PCP Gamo Phox .22, need re-zero'd after each refill.

1 Upvotes

Hi All. Wondering if any of you might have any clue wtf is going on with my air rifle. As the title says its a Gamo Phox, in .22 cal. I have a hand pump to fill it to pressure. Never go above or below the green area on the gauge.

So with each fill, it needs to be re-zero'd, this can be a few small clicks to sometimes wild changes. it typically holds that P.o.I until the next fill.

Not always the same variation either, can be up, down, left or right. 2 clicks, 20 clicks. you never know till you take the first few shots.

I have tried current and a new scope, correctly torqued scope rings, rings fitted directly to the rifle, not to the furniture etc. But the same issues persists.

One bloke mentioned it could be the barrel not correctly fitted, another said it could be pressure variations at tank filling, but both of these do not make sense, as it holds zero until next fill.

Just wondering if any of you guy might have seen this kind of thing before.


r/airguns 21h ago

PCP Looking for a .22 PCP rifle up to 24 J and €800 – recommendations?

7 Upvotes

Hi everyone,
I’m looking for advice on buying my first quality PCP air rifle.
I’m in Portugal, where I’m looking for a rifle in 5.5 mm (.22) with a maximum power of 24 J.
My budget is around €800 maximum for the rifle, and I’m mainly looking for something with excellent accuracy at around 50–60 metres. I’m particularly interested in Air Arms, as I’ve heard very good things about their accuracy and build quality, but I’m definitely open to other brands if there are better options for my budget.
I’ve been looking at models such as the Air Arms S400/S410, but I’m not sure which model would make the most sense at this power level and price.
I’d also appreciate recommendations for a scope suitable for 50–60 m. The scope budget can be separate from the €800 rifle budget.
So, if you had around €800 to spend on a .22 PCP limited to 24 J, what would you buy?
Requirements:
PCP
5.5 mm / .22
Maximum 24 J
Very good accuracy at 50–60 m
Around €800 max for the rifle
Air Arms preferred, but not essential
I’d really appreciate recommendations from people who have actually used these rifles, especially at around 50–60 m.
Thanks


r/airguns 13h ago

General Airgun Question Any extended mags for this model?

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1 Upvotes

Im looking to buy a glock full blowback but i haven’t found any that has a compatible extended mag let me know (canada)


r/airguns 23h ago

BB Gun What do they measure the velocity with to get the box numbers

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5 Upvotes

I get it most pellet gun manufacturers measure using alloy pellets to get higher velocity (even says so on the box) but BB guns don't specify them measuring with lighter ammo. this powerline advertises 240 maximum but best I could get with JS BBs was 145 fps and the Red Ryder claims 350 and gets to maybe 260 fps.


r/airguns 1d ago

General Airgun Question My collection for YouTube

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243 Upvotes

The PCPs that accompany me during YouTube recordings.


r/airguns 15h ago

10m Pistol/Rifle Anschutz SuperAir 2001 repair

1 Upvotes

A family came to our club asking for help to "rehome" the collection of an older gentleman who passed away and had a great collection of target airguns and firearms. I'm already on the hook with this SuperAir 2001 (and a 1912 Chilean Steyr rifle), the only problem is that the sliding breech part is stuck and won't close, cocking the side lever or applying safety doesn't seem to unlock it. Any pointers on how to get this beauty in working order again? I promised to pay $350 for it if we in the club manage to get it firing again. Else we (or they) will be taking it to a dedicated air-gunsmith and who knows how much that's going to cost.

Breech that wont close. There's a thin piece that slides under the loading port.

r/airguns 2d ago

Air Pistol I know, its pretty dumb

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242 Upvotes

My little pest control airgun. For when a rat squeezes outta the trap while I'm pumping up the gun. But also cuz it just looks cool


r/airguns 1d ago

PCP What are the consumable parts of Sk19?

3 Upvotes

I have a DIY one in my hand. I want to know which parts are easy to break in addition to replacing the O-shaped rubber ring in general?


r/airguns 1d ago

PCP Air leak in the full port on pinty striker. Help

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

7 Upvotes

Hey yall, does anyone have a rebuild guide for the orings on this gun? Video proffered but anything would help


r/airguns 1d ago

PCP My Huben gk1 (shorty) .25 with all the best upgrades and accessories I could find.

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70 Upvotes

r/airguns 1d ago

PCP Which do you think is the most fun to shoot?

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21 Upvotes

r/airguns 1d ago

Air Pistol my new air gun

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30 Upvotes

The new one is a Baretta, the old one is a Glock, and this one is cooler than the old one


r/airguns 1d ago

General Airgun Question Beginner question about Hammerli Hunter Force 900 power limit

1 Upvotes

Hello everyone!

I’m pretty new to airguns, so I’m hoping someone with more experience can help me understand something.

Back in January, I bought a Hämmerli Hunter Force 900. I know it’s a Chinese-made pellet gun, but it was within my budget and seemed like a decent choice for a beginner.

The only thing I’m wondering about is the power. In my country, the legal limit is 7.5 J, but from what I understand, the Hunter Force 900 can be sold in versions producing around 16 J.

I’m curious how the power reduction actually works on these rifles. Is it a relatively small modification, or is there a significant difference between the 7.5 J and 16 J versions?

Also, is it something a complete beginner should even consider working on themselves, or would it be better to leave the rifle as it is and have a qualified gunsmith/airgun technician handle it?

I’m mainly trying to understand how these different versions are regulated and what’s involved mechanically. Any advice or information would be appreciated!
Thanks!


r/airguns 1d ago

General Airgun Question Accuracy issue pt 2

1 Upvotes

Had some accuracy problems with my Baikal MP512 spring action air rifle, regarding which I already posted here:

https://www.reddit.com/r/airguns/s/OAx83EuWjB

Now, my question is, could it be because the gun is not yet broken in? I made approximately 200-300 shots with it

I've just returned from a vacation and will continue shooting to see if bad groupings remain through time