Break barrels are air guns that use a coiled spring piston or gas ram to compress air into a compression chamber. You don't actually break the barrel, the air gun is built using the barrel as a cocking lever. When the trigger is pulled, it releases the spring or gas piston, pushing compressed air through the pellet breech and accomplishing the goal of sending the pellet down range. Most break barrels are single shot, meaning only one pellet can be loaded into the breach at a time. There are a few multi-shot break barrels that allow you to load multiple pellets into a magazine, giving the shooter the ability to break the barrel between shots without having to load another pellet.
The first recorded break barrel patent is the 1871 Haviland and Gunn. It was for a break barrel pistol. This air pistol was very low-powered, but there obviously was reason to build on it.
Break barrels are great for many applications. Most are available in .177 and .22 calibers, which are great for plinking, fun backyard shooting, pesting, and small game hunting. Some manufacturers have heard the requests of the airgunners desiring larger calibers in this concept. A few of them have produced .25 and .30 calibers for medium game hunting.
Some airgunners say shooting their break barrels is a type of therapy. Are you looking for something simple yet satisfying to plink with or a hard hitter for some medium game? There's a break barrel that's perfect for you; take a look at these top ten.
Break barrel air rifles are perfect for:
With hundreds of options, narrowing down our top picks is challenging, but here is where we would start.
When picking products to feature, we rely on the deep expertise and hands-on experience of our expert Insyders, who continuously test and use the products out in the field. Our recommendations are a combination of carefully curated top sellers, best reviewed and hand-picked products that our experts want to highlight. Drawing on more than 20 years of expertise, we understand the features that matter - from performance metrics to crucial model-specific nuances. When we recommend a product, you can trust that these picks come from experts who have extensive product knowledge and understand the equipment inside and out.
The Beeman R9 is a top-notch German quality spring-piston break barrel. You can keep your expectations high for this one; the hardwood Monte Carlo stock is suitable for both right- and left-handed shooters. After you cock the smooth and dependable air rifle, you'll find it's a comfortable fit, contoured perfectly for the human face, shoulder and hand.
It gives the option to utilize the open sights or mount an optic on the 11mm dovetail rail. The R9 has the famous Rekord trigger that is fully adjustable per shooters' comfort. At only 7.3 lbs, it's not tiresome to handle the R9 for continued cocking and shooting. Whether you're a backyard plinker, field target competitor, or looking to remove some varmints, the Beeman R9 packs plenty of punch with repeatable accuracy to accomplish most of your shooting goals.
A German quality that says it all! Are you an air gun enthusiast who enjoys the finer things in life? This one is number one for a reason. Go ahead and check this one out first!
"An absolutely gorgeous air gun. Fit and finish is terrific."
This one performs better than what the manufacturer claims. In .177, the max velocity is 849 fps; in .22, it's 650 fps, slightly higher than what the manufacturer says. You can expect to love the checkered beechwood stock's appearance and feel on the German-made spring-piston Weirauch HW50S. Above all else, the operation is simple and smooth with spot-on accuracy. It's a single shot with an automatic safety and a rifled steel barrel. The two-stage trigger is adjustable to create a more comfortable experience for the shooter.
If you prefer to leave the optic off and go with the included open sights, the total weight is a light 6.8 lbs, which makes it easy to handle. The 11mm dovetail rail gives you that option if you'd prefer an optic. The .177 is suitable for backyard plinking, field target competitions, and pesting, and the .22 is great for plinking, pesting, and small game hunting.
Smooth operator, that's what comes to mind with this one. If you like beauty and finesse, look no further!
"Great medium weight/power springer for all-around use."
The Diana 350 Magnum is also known as the "Long-Range Break Barrel" it produces exceptional velocity, giving it the energy for some long-range yet accurate shots. The .177 caliber produces up to 1,250 fps and in .22 1,000 fps. This German-made spring-piston break barrel is great for plinking, pesting, and small game hunting.
It has a gorgeous beech wood Monte Carlo checkered stock with a right-handed raised cheekpiece. Along with the automatic safety, Diana has equipped this one with a 2-stage T06 trigger, which is adjustable for pull weight, length of the first stage, and sear engagement. You can put the fixed front globe sight and the adjustable rear sights on the target and let it fly or mount your optic of choice onto the 11mm dovetail rail.
Diana, the "Long Range Break Barrel" if you like shooting further than most break barrels are capable of, you may want to check this one out.
"It's elegance balanced with ultra power for a Springer."
The Beeman R7 is a great spring-piston break barrel for shooters of all sizes. The total length of this one is 38.5". The average length of pull is 14.5". This one is slightly shorter than that at 13.75". The total weight without an optic is 6.1 lbs, and the cocking effort is 18 lbs. Both features come into agreement with the first statement.
Don't be fooled; just because it's small and compact doesn't mean the performance falls short. German-made engineering creates an exceptional shooting experience. When you're doing some backyard plinking, and you shoulder the beech wood stock, place your finger on the gold, adjustable two-stage trigger while locking onto your target through the open sights or an optic. You can expect spot-on accuracy with every shot.
This one is compact and lightweight but lacks performance and beauty; it may be the next one you should take to the range.
"The trigger is phenomenal! Lightweight, accurate!"
The Gamo Swarm Maxxim is available in .177 as well as .22 caliber and produces velocities of 1,300 fps in .177 and 1,000 in .22 using an alloy pellet. This one is meant for running and gunning with its durable automotive-grade glass filled ambidextrous stock and all-weather construction. The power plant is an IGT inert gas piston for smooth operation. With a gas piston, the longevity of the power plant is increased. The trigger is a two-stage adjustable CAT trigger.
What sets this break barrel apart is the Swarm mechanism. This allows for a 10X GEN 2 Quick Shot magazine to be inserted into the swarm mechanism, allowing quick follow-up shots if you're small game hunting or in a fun backyard speed competition. Speaking of a backyard speed competition, the Maxxim is backyard-friendly with the Whisper Maxxim noise reduction technology.
If you're out to find a quiet, accurate, easy-to-shoot break barrel with quick follow-up shots, you may have found exactly what you're looking for in the Gamo Swarm Maxxim!
"Wow, what a cool air rifle."
The Hatsan 95 has a beautiful ambidextrous Turkish Walnut stock with stempling on the grip and forearm. It's a single-shot spring-piston break barrel. This one is great for plinking, pesting, and small to medium game hunting because it is available in the standard .177 and .22 calibers and comes in .25, making the possibilities for hunting much broader.
The Quattro 2-stage adjustable match trigger is adjustable for pull weight, first stage, second stage, and length of travel, and the safety is automatic. You'll get the option to mount a scope on its 11mm dovetail rail or stick with the included fiber optic front sights and adjustable rear sights to experience the continued accuracy of the Hatsan 95.
If you want great performance inside and out, this one may be worth taking a deeper look at. With a beautiful break barrel and its matching performance, what's not to love!
"Beautiful wood stock and sturdy rifle, very accurate."
If you're looking for a nice hardwood ambidextrous stocked break barrel that fits your budget, the Benjamin Trail NP XL may be what you're looking for. A gas piston powers this one, so among other benefits, there's no concern for spring fatigue and smoother cocking. It is 70% quieter than most break barrels and is available in .177, .22, and .25 calibers. In the appropriate caliber, the Trail NP is great for backyard plinking, target practice, and small to medium game hunting.
Speaking of hunting, it is equipped with sling swivel studs to easily hit the woods and a weaver rail to mount the included 3-9x40AO scope or your favorite hunting optic. If the .177 boasts an average muzzle energy of 24 FPE, then the .22 and .25 calibers are hard hitters. The Benjamin Trail NP XL is a comfortable fit for many applications.
The Benjamin Trail NP XL is one of the few break barrels available in .25 caliber; if that's what you're looking for, here it is.
"The gun itself is powerful and is built with quality materials."
This break barrel sets itself apart from all other break barrels because it has no recoil. Not a percentage less than another, but no recoil. The ZRS system allows the barrel to move and not the entire air gun, resulting in no recoil, which will not damage your optic and make it easy to hold and control for repeatable accuracy. It is available in .177, which produces up to 984 FPS, and .22 caliber, producing 755 FPS; though it lacks recoil, it doesn't lack in performance.
The black synthetic simple yet sleek stock has an adjustable cheekpiece and a rigid rubber butt pad, not for recoil absorption but for comfort. The automatic safety is located in front of the adjustable trigger, and there is no need for an optic with the fiber optic front and rear sights.
If you're looking for a break barrel with no recoil but plenty of power, check out the Norica Omnia ZRS.
"Things I Liked: recoilless, trigger, grip, adjustable cheekpiece, safety location"
Here's one that's a little different, and little it is. The Browning Buck Mark is a .177 caliber break barrel pellet pistol. Its overall length is 12", and the total weight is 1.5 lbs. It is a replica of the Browning Buck Mark .22 caliber rimfire pistol.
It has a black synthetic stock with a contoured grip. The safety is automatic; when the gun is cocked, the safety automatically engages. While the barrel is "broken," load a single pellet into the barrel, push the barrel back up to the locked position, and aim at your desired target using the open sights or a small scope or red dot mounted on the weaver rail. The Buck Mark is great for backyard plinking with family and friends.
If you like replicas or you are interested in a pistol that only requires a small amount of elbow grease and ammo, this one might be for you!
"Really fun and easy to use!!!"
This one is one of the most budget-friendly spring-piston break barrels, the Gamo Whisper Silent Cat. It comes with a black synthetic thumbhole stock and has a vented rubber butt pad. Its total length is 46", and its total weight is 5.28 lbs, making it great for shooters of all sizes. It's available in .177 and is purposed for plinking.
The manual blade safety is located in front of the 2-stage adjustable SAT (Smooth Action Trigger) trigger. With the installed open sights, you have the option to use the 4x32 scope included in the box. Once you're all set, you'll experience a quiet shooting experience with the Whisper noise dampener.
If you're looking for an entry-level pellet rifle for a new shooter, this may just fill your need.
"Light, fairly EZ to cock; the shot groups are good. I really like the quality of Gamo."
Break Barrels are one of the simplest types of air guns. The maintenance required is generally minimal. I would encourage an occasional cleaning inside and out.
Lubrication is important as well. Seals tend to dry out and crack. To prevent the seals from drying out, use the RWS silicone oil and lube the seals every 500 to 1,000 shots. If you hear or feel the seals dragging, don't wait. Go ahead and lube them again.
Spring-piston break barrels may experience spring fatigue, affecting velocity and accuracy. In that case, you will need to replace the spring. Leaving your air gun cocked will only speed up the need for a spring replacement.
A gas ram piston will require less lubrication than a spring piston, though the moving parts could still use some lubing occasionally for a smoother shooting experience. And again, it is best not to leave your air gun cocked as it will speed up the process of the gas ram needing to be replaced.
The need for cleaning can vary, depending upon the pellets used, the environment the pellet gun is kept in, and the amount of shooting done. Some say they should be cleaned every 500 to 1,000 pellets, but if you notice the accuracy is declining, that is a good indicator that the barrel may need some attention.
Accuracy is the goal! If you follow all the previous steps, there are a few more things to consider and do. Before taking any shots, check your stock screws, and if you've mounted a scope, check those screws as well. A loose screw will make an accurate gun not so accurate. Next, break barrels require the consistency of a specific hold. Every pellet gun is different. You get to know your gun and do some testing. Try the artillery hold, hold it tight, hold it loosely, and see what it likes the best. That's a crucial action to take. If you're still experiencing accuracy issues, ask a friend to shoot it to see if the problem is consistent. Your next step is plenty of trigger time if it shoots well for them.
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