Page 12 of 12 - Air Pistols
What is an Air Pistol
An air pistol is a handgun that uses compressed air or gas to propel projectiles, such as pellets or bbs, rather than gunpowder or other explosive propellants. Air pistols are used for various purposes, including target shooting, plinking, handgun training, and some limited hunting applications or pest control.
How Does an Air Pistol Work
An air pistol works on a simple principle: compressed air or gas propels a projectile (usually a pellet or BB) through the barrel. The method of air compression varies depending on the powerplant of the pistol.
Air pistol powerplants:
Here's an overview of how various popular types of powerplants work:
Pistols that use CO2 deliver an exciting shooting experience without the high costs of traditional ammunition and are one of the most popular air sources for pistols. Most use a single 12-gram cartridge, and they can feature realistic blowback action. It is often used to power a semi-auto air pistol, and many come in the form of a multi-shot air pistol or air gun revolver and use magazines and BB or pellet cartridges.
Pneumatic air pistols have a cocking lever that lets you choose the power of your shots based on the number of pumps. More pumps mean more pressure and velocity, but be sure not to go over the recommended number.
A single pump air pistol requires one stroke of the lever to charge and cock it before shooting. One pump can achieve extremely high velocities at the cost of being slightly harder to pump than a multi-pump pneumatic. Pistols in this category include entry-level plinkers all the way up to 10-meter competition pistols.
King of the compressed air pistols, precharged guns or pcp air pistols feature an air tank that must be filled with a high-pressure compressor, hand pump or carbon fiber tank. The advantages are enormous! With large onboard reservoirs, you can fire shot after shot before needing to top off. These versions make impressive hunting air pistol and target practice guns, as well as some of the best competition guns in the market.
Why Should I Buy an Air Pistol
Air pistols offer several advantages over traditional firearms, such as:
- Lower cost of ammunition
- Quieter operation
- Fewer legal restrictions
- Suitable for backyard and indoor use with proper backstops
The quality and features of air pistols can vary widely. Higher-end models offer more realistic controls, blowback action, and improved accuracy.