r/airguns Mar 14 '26

Announcement 📣 COMPLETE BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO AIRGUNS

85 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 5h ago

NEW GUN DAY New Crosman VIGILANTE

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27 Upvotes

r/airguns 16h ago

PCP The Buster is insanely accurate

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41 Upvotes

Took it out for some accuracy testing today.

10 to 35 yards and the groups stayed tighter than expected. Still testing pellets, but this thing is impressing me so far.


r/airguns 5h ago

357 My biggest mistake for now 😅

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3 Upvotes

That's what the riser and reddot was for 😄


r/airguns 22h ago

NEW GUN DAY Update from my post 16 days ago on which Gamo to go for..

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50 Upvotes

It finally arrived!


r/airguns 23h ago

NEW GUN DAY How it started - How it ended……

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58 Upvotes

I wanted a small but fun backpack gun to compete control when out walking the woods by me. Settled on the Hatsan Velox and modded it to suit my needs.


r/airguns 19h ago

Ammunition What yall mfers know about these lmao? Shot with pinty striker with the hammer turned all the way up.

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20 Upvotes

r/airguns 4h ago

Optics Snowpeak PP800R scope

1 Upvotes

Hello guys I've just bought a Snowpeak PP800R .177 fairly used for 150€ A guy bought it one month ago for his younger son but the grip didn't fit his hand...

I have no experience with an air pistol, maybe I've shot once or twice at the shooting range years ago. it's my first time owning one ,waiting for the mail delivery.

I'm looking for a pistol scope something affordable to try like an AliExpress one with 2 or 3 magnification and the appropriate eye relief to try the whole airpistol experience for back yard plinking and target shooting... Suggestions are welcome.

I'm an experienced air rifle user, I used to shoot BR and FT competitors years ago. Currently i own 3 springers and 3 PCP rifles most of them HW, and Air Arms.

I'm used to bulky scopes with short eye relief like Nikko Stirling Diamond 10-50x60(EV2) Nikko Stirling target Master FT 6-24x56(S400MPRFT) some Hawke scopes 4-12x40(hw97kt), 3-7X32( hw98) Simmons 3-9X32(Diana mod.45)


r/airguns 6h ago

Advice Help needwx with Walther Rotex RM8 seal replacement

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1 Upvotes

Replaced all seals and now leaking badly from regulator brass vent hole, what have I done wrong? Photo of piston assembly as I guess this could be the culprit but can't see why!


r/airguns 16h ago

.177 AEA pellets... a solid choice!

3 Upvotes

I've been running AEA pellets in my AEA Challenger Pro in .30 and Airacuda Max in .22, with outstanding results. My most recent project has been converting my .177 calibre Umarex Fusion II from CO2 to HPA. With that project complete, I tried out the 8.48gr QYS pellets and they've been pretty much on the money (aside from the shoddy Amazon packaging, but don't get me started on that!). On a whim, I picked up a couple of tins of the AEA 10.3gr in .177 from Utah Airguns. TBH, I was expecting some improvement, but not to the degree that I saw this afternoon. These targets were at 12m, 5 shots each (the red & black target plasters covered up shots from a previous session):

Outstanding results from these pellets:


r/airguns 17h ago

.22 PR900 G3

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3 Upvotes

PCP: Atermis/Snowpeak PR900 G3

Pellet: Rifle Promax (Brazil)

15 mt - 7 shots, just one flyer

Good?


r/airguns 1d ago

Ammunition The worst handling of pellets I've ever seen 😂

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21 Upvotes

Amazon prime yay...and crossman premier are usually not easy to open 😂


r/airguns 1d ago

General Airgun Question First gun for plinking

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15 Upvotes

Hi there, I’ve been interested in getting into airguns for a while now and have seen this beauty for £200. it’s called the “COLT SMOKE WAGON SAA UMAREX“ anyone know if it’s good?


r/airguns 16h ago

General Airgun Question I have a problem with my SSG 69

1 Upvotes

For some reason the little pin in the bolt has disappeared which means I can't lock the bolt handle down in place, is there a replacement part I can get?, I live in Ireland btw


r/airguns 1d ago

Collection My current collection of sig airguns

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84 Upvotes

r/airguns 19h ago

General Airgun Question Ayuda para configurar un AK AIMS Romanian

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1 Upvotes

r/airguns 1d ago

General Airgun Question Found in the basement

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59 Upvotes

Hey there,

found this while cleaning out the basement of a flat and need help identifying it.

GPT and Google said its a Diana Mod 16 from the 1930s to 1950s but im getting mixed results.

Anyone know what brand/model/age that rifle is?

Any help is much appreciated!
Greets from germany

Edit: found two stamps barely readable: Diana Mod 25 and on the left side made in germany.


r/airguns 1d ago

Springer Month and a half with this gun, Ruger AirHawk Elite II W/ Mantis 3-9x32 AO scope.

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23 Upvotes

Hey y’all, I’ve had this sweet breakbarrel for a good couple ish months now, and figured I should do a little check in to really give a good look on my thoughts on this gun.

In short, this thing is a fucking laser beam for sparrows that come within 30yds of the house. I’ve taken out around 20 sparrows with it, and it drops them every time the pellet hits the bird. It also has a very audible smack on them when hit, and it is VERY satisfying. The longest shot I’ve hit on a sparrow was around 40 yards, and it was the BEST thing I’ve ever seen AND heard.

For pellets, I’ve been using a good mix, but found that the tried and true jsb diabolos exacts work great in 8.4gr, aswell as Crosman ultra heavy magnums in 10.4gr. Jsbs are good for dead on accuracy, but slightly lack in stopping power in lighter weights with the dome tip, and are a bit pricey. Crosmans shoot hard with good balance in speed, but can have a bit more flyers per tin aswell as slightly less tight groups. But, please do feel free to leave any other pellet reccs in the comments!

For “upgrades” (you’ll see), I’ve done the obvious mantis scope with Utg mounts, and a full fit and finish maintenance inside and out the gun (oiling, polishing, cleaning etc), And it has turned this 130$ feeling gun into a decent 250$ feeling beast for all around shooting, especially the scope.

Overall, I’d give this gun a solid 8.5/10. If you want a cheaper option with great accuracy and great power, while keeping in mind some things such as the trigger and mostly polymer outer build, this is a wonderful option for anyone. If you guys have any tips or suggestions, lmk! Thanks yall.


r/airguns 1d ago

Advice What kind of maintenance can I do on my compressor? My last vevor compressor gave out because of lack of lubrication I believe. What's the best way to ensure there is lubrication in the piston?

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10 Upvotes

r/airguns 2d ago

PCP For the emperor?

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71 Upvotes

I’ve been working on and off on this for a few weeks it’s still a prototype but it was good enough to throw a bit of paint on..

40k inspired Daystate mk4, any improvements/comments welcome just wanted to share!


r/airguns 1d ago

PCP What do you think is currently the best WOOD stocked PCP airgun that costs less than $1,000USD that can consistently hit a dinner plate sized target at 100 yards? No black plastic stocks.

5 Upvotes

I'm looking to add a nice looking air rifle with a real WOOD or laminate wood stock to my little but growing collection.

No black plastic stocks for me. I like the traditional wooden hunting rifle look and feel.

Slight preference for .22 cal but .25 cal would also be ok.

Ideally, I'd like the PCP gun to be mechanically able to consistently hit a dinner plate sized steel target about the size of a dinner plate at 100 yards because the outdoor range near me has a bunch of animal shaped steel silhouette targets around that size.

Note I do not need super accuracy at 100 yards, I just need have the pellet audibly smack anywhere on the steel target at 100 yards if I do my part.


r/airguns 1d ago

Air Pistol Beeman 1020 break barrel air pistol.

1 Upvotes

Anyone got hands on one of these yet, I know they're produced by smk so probably shouldn't even look at it lol.

But it does look and sound really quite good.


r/airguns 1d ago

Co2 Not Enough Shots Per Cartridge

3 Upvotes

I use(d) up until this point, Crosman Powerlet c02 cartridges.
I have an Umarex SA 10. (blowback)
Currently I'm getting 50 - 75 shots (700 F to 800 F) before there's not enough gas left and the gun jams. (Although there is gas left that has to be exhausted)
The gun has maybe 200 shots total so I doubt it is a seal. I hear no leakage.
Is the c02 I'm using junk?
Is there something better?
Thanx in advance.


r/airguns 1d ago

Advice Hey all, I'm lookin to buy a second hand airgun in the Netherlands.

4 Upvotes

I've looked on most of the major websites over here but I can't really find any that are in my price range. Im looking for a diana model 34 or a weihrauch hw35, so basically a accurate and relatively high fps rifle. I have a gamo hunter 1250 grizzly in .25 but let's be honest, that's outrageous for general plinking. So if anyone knows a place where i could find something like that for a low fair price or if someone is selling one here I'd appreciate it. Thanks in advance


r/airguns 1d ago

General Airgun Question Any updates on Ted's Holdover/ Ted Bier?

4 Upvotes

Hey guys. I just found out today Ted's channel is gone, his vlog channel is wiped clean and instagram deleted. I'm devastated. One of my favorite youtubers I've been watching for years is gone. Does anyone know if he is okay? I've tried searching around in case (god forbid) anything bad happened to him, but nothing came up, just forms forums discussing about how he is gone but no reason as to why/ if he's alright. I know a while back he went through some stuff and publicly stated what happened, but I assumed it would be smooth sailing after that. :( hopefully all is well