Hit Your Target With a .22 Caliber Air Rifle
An Air Rifle, also referred to as pellet gun or air gun, are rifles that propel projectiles, usually round BBs or shaped pellets, through the barrel using compressed air. The three methods of propulsion are the piston, pneumatic, and compressed CO2. These arms are usually used in target shooting and hunting small game and are available for sale in new and used condition on eBay.
Are there different brands of .22 caliber air rifles?Yes, .22 caliber air rifles are available on eBay in spring piston, precharged pneumatic (PCP), gas RAM, single-stroke pneumatic, and multi-stroke pneumatic styles. They are offered by the following brands:
- Benjamin
- Gamo
- Crosman
- Hatsan Arms Company
- Umarex
- Ruger
- Beeman
There are four main types of .22 caliber air rifles. Most rifles feature a lightweight body with a hardwood stock and a fully rifled brass barrel. These rifle types include the following:
- Piston-driven: Piston-driven models operate through a spring-piston system. A spring-piston gun compresses a steel coil behind a piston when cocked. When the trigger is pulled, the piston is released and rushes forward -- propelled by the steel coil spring. Spring-piston guns are rugged and reliable.
- Gas ram rifle: Sometimes called a Nitro Piston, it works the same as a spring rifle except without the spring. When cocked, air is compressed in a sealed tube behind the piston. When the trigger is pulled, the air forces the piston forward propelled by the compressed air.
- Pneumatic: The most common pneumatic model is the pump. As the name implies, you pump and compress air used to power the piston with each stroke. The pneumatic types are then divided into multi-stroke pneumatic and single-stroke pneumatic. With a multi-stroke pneumatic, a tiny bit of air is compressed with each stroke of the pump. With the single-stroke pneumatic, one pump is all you need to compress enough air to operate the piston.
- Pre-charged pneumatic Another pneumatic rifle is the pre-charged pneumatic (PCP). The air is mechanically compressed ahead of time into an auxiliary tank. Using a hose connection and a pressure gauge, air is transferred from the tank to the rifle.
- CO2: CO2 guns are powered by small tubes of carbon dioxide or from a larger tank through a hose with a pressure gauge, just as the PCP guns are charged.
Air guns are usually used to hunt small game, such as squirrels, rabbits, opossums, raccoons, nutria, and birds. They are also used to control pests, such as rats and mice. With advances in technology, there are more powerful air rifles, firing larger pellets, and capable of hunting larger animals, such as deer. They can also be used for target practice.