Pneumatic air guns use pre-compressed air to propel the pellet, and there are three different ways in which the air in the reservoir may be pressurised.
Multi-stroke air guns have a built in pump which pressurizes the air in the chamber and the power level can be varied for long, or short-range shooting. 2-10 pumps of an on-board lever are needed to store compressed air within the air gun. Competition grade multi-stroke air rifles can propel a pellet to speeds in excess of 1000 feet per second.
For beginners and intermediate users, multi-stroke air rifles are a good choice as they are generally the cheapest form of air gun available and there modification kits available if an increased pressure is required.
Single-stroke air guns also use a built in pump but only one motion of the cocking lever is needed to compress the air. The single-pump system is usually used in target rifles and pistols, where the higher muzzle energy of a multi-stroke pumping system is not necessary.
Pre-charged pneumatic (PCP) airguns are filled using either a high-pressure hand pump or by deriving the necessary air pressure from a diving cylinder or other source, or by charging the cylinder directly with a hand pump. They are often used for hunting and competition shooting. Because of the need for cylinders or other charging systems, PCP guns are initially more expensive to buy, but have very low operating costs thereafter, especially compared to CO2 guns. In addition, the design has no significant movement of heavy mechanical parts during the firing cycle, and thus the recoil is less, as there is no added recoil from a spring.
Multi-stroke air guns have a built in pump which pressurizes the air in the chamber and the power level can be varied for long, or short-range shooting. 2-10 pumps of an on-board lever are needed to store compressed air within the air gun. Competition grade multi-stroke air rifles can propel a pellet to speeds in excess of 1000 feet per second.
For beginners and intermediate users, multi-stroke air rifles are a good choice as they are generally the cheapest form of air gun available and there modification kits available if an increased pressure is required.
Single-stroke air guns also use a built in pump but only one motion of the cocking lever is needed to compress the air. The single-pump system is usually used in target rifles and pistols, where the higher muzzle energy of a multi-stroke pumping system is not necessary.
Pre-charged pneumatic (PCP) airguns are filled using either a high-pressure hand pump or by deriving the necessary air pressure from a diving cylinder or other source, or by charging the cylinder directly with a hand pump. They are often used for hunting and competition shooting. Because of the need for cylinders or other charging systems, PCP guns are initially more expensive to buy, but have very low operating costs thereafter, especially compared to CO2 guns. In addition, the design has no significant movement of heavy mechanical parts during the firing cycle, and thus the recoil is less, as there is no added recoil from a spring.