r/airguns • u/SimpleNerve7109 • 11h ago
r/airguns • u/bluebagles • Mar 14 '26
Announcement 📣 COMPLETE BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO AIRGUNS
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:
- The spring and piston rapidly move forward, causing the gun to jerk forward.
- 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 • u/wannadiehuh • 1h ago
PCP FX drs tactical update
Anyone know where to get the qd adapters for the front side rail?
r/airguns • u/LunarMond1984 • 3h ago
PCP Debouncing the Venturi/ Snowpeak/ etc. AP900 with DIY hammer AMAZING RESULTS!
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I found plenty of aftermarket hammers for the AP900 including springs to make it more efficient but I then also found this video about a DIY hammer made in Daystate style.
Redit keeps deleting the Link but you can easily find it on youtube, just search for: Snowpeak AP900 Custom Hammer
I wanted to find out and tried to cook one on my tiny terrible lathe that is not even meant for harder steel, but I kept at it and woala. The difference is like night and day! Not only are the shots super crisp now it needs like half the air........probably less. I made a recording comparing Stock and DIY bolt to each other you can literally hear the valve going off several times in stock setup while its a perfect single POP with the DIY,
took me a bit to figure out the correct spring tension on the bolt and all but it was a superfun project and whoever has the tools to pull this off.......go for it! Its like a different airrifle now.
Somebody should sell that as an upgrade for the AP900 series, its amazing.......but then I guess that kind of hammer surely is licensed?
r/airguns • u/Droidy934 • 2h ago
Modifications FX Dynamic compact mod
Got my Dynamic a few weeks ago and was dissapointed the bottle was so close to the scope sight line so I got a Panthera front bottle mount and it moved the bottle down ½" ....much easier to use now.
r/airguns • u/FunInTheSouth11 • 22m ago
PCP Who wants the Umarex Notos Gen 2, I already upgraded mine.
r/airguns • u/Brittex01 • 1h ago
Co2 SIG Spectre Comp CO2 pistol shoots low
My new Sig pistol is constantly shooting low. 4-5 inches at 5 yards
I have tried different pellets and co2 manufacturers.
My internet searching suggests this may be an intermittent problem even with the firearm version.
Trying to avoid filing down the front sight. Any other ideas
r/airguns • u/Wild-Cry5800 • 1h ago
PCP I can't keep the FPS values consistent between shots.
Hello everyone. I am using an FX Panthera (700mm barrel) in .25 caliber with 37-grain Zan slugs. No matter what I try, I cannot seem to reduce the FPS variance when shooting over the chronograph. For instance, a 5-shot string yields readings like 923, 960, 1020, 960, and 980. My regulator is currently set to 150 bar. I would really appreciate it if someone could help me figure out what I might be doing wrong.
r/airguns • u/Budget-Preparation-1 • 18h ago
Modifications PR900S 1225fps
Custom carbon barrel shroud, 4mm drilled ports, 135bar regulator, custom exhaust valve spring, 110mm hammer spring, custom 130cc 250 bar air chamber with 25cc plenum.
1225fps with 10 grain copper
r/airguns • u/SectorSensitive116 • 1m ago
PCP Another lovely Leshiy
Picked up today, a used 22 cal, 250mm barrel. In fabulous condition, and tastefully customised by the previous owner, with bespoke covers, Realtree dipped grip and Akula mod insert. Nice squat Spartan bipod too.
So accurate, just love it!
r/airguns • u/No_Break_327 • 4h ago
General Airgun Question So i recently got my first air gun its the SR1250W the 5,5mm (.22) and im wondering what you guys think of it as a first air gun (or gun in general beacuse it is my first gun) and im using 16,05 grain pellets but is that about right for a 20 joule?
r/airguns • u/retroboat • 16h ago
General Airgun Question Sterling Armaments HR81 .177
galleryWhat kind of production numbers were on the .177 HR81? I should clarify that this is the UK built version not the Benjamin Sheridan second generation.
Sure had some beautiful blueing…
r/airguns • u/IcyAnything9136 • 7h ago
General Airgun Question Is this sound click before shooting is ok when i reload ?
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It becomes more soft when i reload and this click before shot happens when its not reloaded its ok why?
r/airguns • u/BravoZebraZebra • 13h ago
Long Range .22 or .25 or .30 cal for long range shooting with a PCP?
What caliber do you use for long range shooting with a PCP?
What are your settings for long range shooting and how many usable shots do you get of one filling?
r/airguns • u/Creative_Slide1619 • 1d ago
BB Gun Lancer Tactical Hydra PDW Setup 🎯
galleryJust for funsies, i enjoy shooting it.
OPTIC MOUNT: Hantoptik GBRS Group Hydra Mount Clone $29.99
OPTIC: Hiram 1x22mm Red/ Green Dot Sight $24.99
LIGHT: EZAIMING Tactical Flashlight $26.99
LASER: Generic PEQ-15 Laser Light Combo $39.99
FOREGRIP: Generic Vertical Foregrip $16.99
r/airguns • u/DRYESTIIHAMIIAROUND • 17h ago
.22 Need help finding gas seal
galleryI need a new replacement gas seal for my .22 1866 Barra Winchester, I have looked everywhere only to find none online. Does anybody know where I could get this????
r/airguns • u/Overwatch_Sniper • 17h ago
General Airgun Question Is a .177 caliber hollow point pellet fired from an air gun at 350 fps powerful enough to kill a rat?
The SNR's got six shots so it's okay if I need to take follow up shots.
r/airguns • u/No-Composer-981 • 1d ago
PCP Moderator makes a huge difference
So I tried a little experiment with my beaman raider 25. Look at how much of a difference a Donny FL moderator made!
r/airguns • u/Weak-Bother-6765 • 19h ago
General Airgun Question Artemis CP2
Would an Artemis CP2 be a great choice if you wanted to shoot a rat once every 2-4 years? Is it very accurate?
What online company is reputable for purchasing an Artemis CP2 from?
Should I go .22 caliber? I read that's best for the occasional rodent.
This is probably something I'll use once every 2-3 years. We don't have a rodent problem, but I felt like I could have taken the rat out when we were staring at each other.
r/airguns • u/WatchMeWatchh • 19h ago
Advice Backstop for 16 joule (11.8 ft-lb) 4.5mm (.177) break barrel advice
Hello all, I’ve been shooting break barrels for most of my young life. Everything from weak .177 to quite powerful .22’s.
I sadly had to quit shooting for a couple years, but it’s time to start again. I will soon buy a Hämmerli Hunter Force 900. I just need some advice regarding the backstop I need.
The backyard I will be shooting in is pretty nice compared to others in the region, it’s about 30 meters (98 feet) long.
I will ofcourse need a backstop for my backyard. I’ve never had to build one before so I don’t know what’s good or what’s bad. It needs to be removable and stored in a shed.
I was thinking about a plywood backwall which should be thick enough on its own, and maybe a rubber mat in front of it to catch the pellets and prevent ricocheting.
Literally any advice will help, everything will be appreciated!
r/airguns • u/zosterpops • 20h ago
Advice Shopping for a PCP Rifle
Hello! I'm shopping for a PCP rifle (~$500ish before optics/accessories) for pest control (norway rats) and looking for advice.
I live in a suburban neighborhood with a large wooded backyard but the neighbors on either side of our house are quite close so loudness is a concern. We never shoot in the direction of the neighbors so penetration isn't a big deal. We only shoot to kills rats -- never for fun or target practice.
I currently have a .22 Benjamin Marauder PCP pistol with H&N Barracuda Hunter Extreme pellets. The shots are quiet enough that nobody has ever noticed us shooting it. But it usually takes two or three shots to kill a rat and I'd like to increase my chances of killing them in one. The Marauder pistol is also a little awkward for me to shoot. I'm 6'2" tall and the gun (with stock) feels too short and heavy/awkward to hold comfortably.
I'd like to upgrade to a PCP rifle.
After shopping extensively on the Pyramyd website, I ended up with the Benjamin Marauder Synthetic Rifle as my top choice based on its loudness, power, and price. But I'm rather ignorant about these things... our pistol is the only gun we've ever owned.
Is this the best choice for me given my intended use?
And which caliber should I choose? The .22 has been out of stock for a while, but I see they've got the .25 in right now. What are the downsides for choosing a larger caliber? -- I'm not concerned about ammo price or total shot count. We rarely shoot our gun more than a three times in a week.
Any other guns I should take a look at instead?
Thanks for any help!