Air Gun Home :: View topic - Newbish question about the types of Air Guns

Jaxom · Senior Member

I've been meaning to ask this question for some time now. And do so without sound like a complete fool. Things have gotten worse for me at home, so sounding foolish is the least of my problems right now, so I'm going to go ahead and ask this anyways.

What are the main differences between Co2 power, pump, break barrel, and PCP?

Honestly, I understand the concepts behind all four types, but as far as accuracy, durablity, usage, and other such features, I'm at a loss.

As an advid fisherman, I can see the importance of having the right gear for the right situation. You don't take an 7' utra-lite rod with 4lb test on a Marlin outing. Same could be said here, don't need a $2000 olympic style marksmanship rifle to go rabbit hunting or plinking. Would it work? Probably so, but major over kill on the budget, and who'd want to get a pretty gun all dirty?

If worded correctly this would make a good sticky for other newbies as the come onboard.

Jax

thepaladin · Senior Member

PCP is the Cadalic of air guns, guys who shoot PCP will definatly tout it's pluses, and it has them. You can get plenty of power (you can hunt big game with a PCP if you want to go that way). They are very accurate, little if any recoil, and no louder than any other type of air gun and quiter than some. they are also quite (to me that is "very") expensive. You get a limited number of shots and then need to recharge from a scuba tank, or a hand pump or a compressor, whatever. I haven't made the jump as I simply haven't had the cash to lay out for what I'd want to start.

Pump or mulitpump. Good, little recoil, accurat again quiter. But, you need to be willing to stop between each shot and pump the gun 8 to 10 times, (clack, clack, clack,.....) the noise of pumping can be cut down with some mods. The power can be up through mods here, but Iassume you're talking here about factory guns. I own one of these but I've moved away from it pretty much. i shoot it now and again just to keep the seals from drying out and the gun from dying from lack of use.

CO2, I like co2, it's quiet, accurate, no recoil. The power is limited and it's tempature sensative in that it loses power in cold weather (low temp low pressure, like when water stops boiling). You'll be hard pressed to find a gun for much of anything bigger than rabbit out of the box. The Crosman 22450 or 2260 and the RWS 850 are good examples. if you want to go anything bigger you'll need a moded gun. (interested try :http://www.mountainaircustomairguns.com/ for prepared moded guns)

Springers, these are probably the most commonly used hunting airgun today. They require cosking either by breaking the barrel (most common) or a lever, side or underbarrel. These have more recoil tha any other airgun (they have a two way kick back and then forward therfore always use "airgun scopes" on them as they will destroy a $300 firearms scope in a heart beat.) They can be oretty loud so be aware of where you're going to shoot. Even if legal to shoot airguns inside city limits, let the neighbor what's going on, at least I do. Get a quality gun (there are budget guns that are reliable, I'd suggest you get the best you can afford). You can get a range of powers from target only to guns that will take larger varmints. I like my Walther falcon Hunter, it's Turkish made and if you have the funds to spend you can get an even nicer gun. While mine is good I've read reports of this rifle and others made by the same mfg. running hot and cold on quality. Personally I shoot springers more than any other type airgun (though CO2 is closing the gap). I own several in 3 calibers.

Single pump guns are usually only going to be used for targets. Either formal or informal. Don't know what you plan. I don't own one now, have little use for one.

Hope this helps. As I said what you want to spend and what you want to do with it (target, hunt etc) will have a great deal to do with what you choose. Look over the information and selection available on the NET.

Good shooting and welcome to the hobby.

AirGunEric · Site Admin

One thing everyone should familiarize themselves with, the glossary:

http://www.airgunhome.com/pages/glossary.html

thepaladin · Senior Member

Just correcting a typo, under co2 I went to hit 2250 but I hit the 4 and the 5 sorry. The 2240 is a nice gun, barrel is a little shorter and with co2 you need a certain amount of length to allow the gas to expand. So up to a point you'll pick up power with a longer barrel (thus the 2240, 2250, and 2260.) Sorry about the typo. Embarassed

I need to slow down. Rolling Eyes

Rogerflat · Silver Status Member

broommaster2000 · Moderator

Slavia · Moderator

thepaladin · Senior Member

CO2 has it's draw backs but I like the good guns. the difference in trajectory isn't from shot to shot, it'll be over a period of time, say 20 to 30 good shots from a small cylinder. Temperature does effect it. But again it's not like you'll tell the difference from 75f to 74f. It will take a few degrees. You will have to buy your CO2, but your start up costs are not anything compared to the start up on a PCP. You will also have to pay to have tanks filled etc., unless you buy your own compressor, So a lot of us shoot CO2, don't get totally shook.

A PCP is as I said the top of the air gun food chain. Their shooters can get understandably.... insistant as to their quality compared to other types of air gun. Mostly I'd say it depends on your pocket book.

Oh and yes springers do have a recoil, some more than others and it can effect the accuracy. Mostly this simply entails learning how to let it recoil. Hold is the key. Once you've gotten used to springers, it's not a big deal.

Jaxom · Senior Member

I really didn't have any particular rifle/pistol in mind when I asked about this. It was more of a general open ended question, so I can more familarize myself with the various types of system.

If I were to catogorize what type of shooting I like doing, I'd have to say some plinking and some hunting. Being good at the former, makes the later more productive. Besides it can be fun too!

I think what prompted me the most to post this question was comment someone made in another thread. I've tried finding it again, but I haven't been too successful. A member was describing XXXX brand break barrel rifle as being accurate. Call me dumb, or it's just all the time I've spent shooting .22's but I couldn't see how even a single shot bolt action break barrel could be accurate because of the steps involved with having to cock it. Of course I assumed that the author ment it was accurate for being a break barrel. But I don't really like to assume all that much and wanted some clarification.

As far as an arsenal goes. I know I'd like to have at least one quality, accurate pistol, mainly for plinking. If I can hunt with it, all the better, but this would be my "winter basement" gun. Same would go for a rifle. Good quality, decent accuracy, to be used as a summer "back yard" gun. Then finally a high quality, with excellent accuracy, and preferable as quiet as possible hunting rifle. (.22)

While I've repeatedly mentioned my interest in the 22xx crosmans, because it's a modifable series. I think I would like to limit my modifing of weapons to just that one gun. Any other weapons I purchase I'd just as soon buy ones that don't need any changes in them other then cosmetic.

Any other guns I buy after those three, will just because I have an itching for something new and have some spare cash (what the heck is that stuff??).

I do have some question about pcp weapons. I see some of these run of of compressed air, other's C02. Then I've seen one distributer sells a converstion kit to run any gun off air. Obvilously compressed air would be less expensive and not so sensitive to air temps. But can my compressor refill the tanks? A few years ago I bought one of Craftsman's (at that time) top of the line protable compressors. It's rated at 175psi and has a large 40-50gal tank on it.

As a wannabe welder I also have three tanks for my gasses. If the temps were the same, is there any major differences between using Co2 and compressed air, other then being a skeeter magnet?

AirGunEric · Site Admin

Slavia · Moderator

thepaladin · Senior Member

I don't tend to use my CO2 guns below 70 degrees f.

There are special stepped compressors for PCPs. Pyramyd has one, a liquid cooled compressor for around $1900 or $2000.

Break barrles are pretty solid and "breaking the barrel" usually doesn't effect the iron sight alignment. I however almost always use a scope on my springers. i only have one without a scope, an inexpensive rifle. I'll probably put an inexpensive scope back on it later, I've had the rifle longer (one of the first I bought) and have been guilt of "scope switching".

Ed Krzynowek · Member

AirGunEric · Site Admin

dummyracer36 · Senior Member

here it is, gives the basics of each type

http://www.beeman.com/types.htm