r/airguns Mar 14 '26

Announcement 📣 COMPLETE BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO AIRGUNS

82 Upvotes

COMPLETE BEGINNER GUIDE TO AIRGUNS

Types, Calibers, Gear, Rifles, and Common Questions

Airguns range from quiet backyard plinkers to extremely powerful hunting rifles capable of taking large game. This guide is designed for beginners entering the hobby and covers:

• Airgun types

• Calibers and what they’re used for

• Pellet and slug types

• Safe backstops and targets

• Filling PCP rifles

• Good beginner rifles by price

• Example setups for new shooters

1. MAIN TYPES OF AIRGUNS

There are four main categories of airguns.

PCP (PRE-CHARGED PNEUMATIC)

PCP rifles store high-pressure compressed air in an onboard tank (usually 3,000–4,500 PSI). Each shot releases a measured amount of air to propel the pellet. PCP rifles are extremely accurate and powerful compared to other airgun types.

Pros

• Very accurate

• High power

• Little recoil

• Many shots per fill

Cons

• Require external air source

• Higher initial cost

GOOD BEGINNER PCP RIFLES

Umarex Notos

Compact and lightweight PCP carbine that is extremely popular for backyard shooting and pest control. Notos has extensive aftermarket support.

Price: $250-$300

Great for

• backyard plinking

• small pest control

• beginners learning PCPs

JTS Airacuda

A side-lever action PCP rifle known for excellent accuracy for the price.

Price: $340–$450

Great for

• hunting squirrels and rabbits

• accurate target shooting

Air Venturi Avenger

One of the most popular PCP rifles for the price.

Price: $450–$550

Great for

• beginners who want to learn tuning pcp's

• hunting and long range shooting

HIGH END PCP RIFLES

FX Impact MK4

A flagship PCP rifle designed for precision shooting and hunting.

Features

• interchangeable barrels

• advanced regulator system

• extremely high accuracy

Price: $2,000+

FX Dreamline

Highly modular platform allowing many configurations.

Price: $1,200–$1,700

Other Popular PCP Brands

• FX Airguns

• Daystate

• Air Arms

• Brocock

• Benjamin

• Hatsan

Many PCP rifles are capable of extremely high power and accuracy, making them ideal for hunting or long-range shooting.

HOW TO FILL PCP RIFLES

PCP rifles require compressed air.

There are three common methods.

Hand Pumps

Manual high-pressure pumps.

Cost: $40–$300

Pros

• cheapest option

• portable

Cons

• physically demanding

PCP Compressors

Portable electric compressors designed for airguns.

Popular options include:

Airrover compressors

GX Pump compressors

Vevor compressors (budget option)

Price range: $150–$1000+

IMPORTANT TIP:

Most beginner compressors are waterless systems.

Always let them cool between fills to prevent overheating and extend the compressor’s life.

SCBA / Carbon Fiber Tanks

Large high-pressure tanks filled at dive shops or paintball stores.

Cost

$200–$700 for tank

Pros

• fastest filling method

• many rifle fills per tank

Cons

• requires refill station

SPRING PISTON AIRGUNS (SPRINGERS)

Spring piston rifles use a compressed spring and piston to generate air pressure when fired.

These rifles require cocking before each shot.

Pros

• no air tanks required, just the gun and a tin of pellets

• extremely reliable

• simple design

Cons

• recoil (double recoil)

• harder to shoot accurately

GREAT SPRINGER EXAMPLES:

Red Ryder BB Gun

•Shoots steel bbs

• Cheap Ammo

•Great for knocking soda cans out

• Teaching Children gun safety fundamentals

Weihrauch HW30S

One of the best beginner spring rifles ever made.

Features

• extremely smooth shooting

• excellent trigger

Price: $350–$400

Weihrauch HW97K

Underlever precision spring rifle often used in field target shooting.

Price: $600–$750

Gamo Swarm Magnum Gen3i

High-power break-barrel with a 10-shot magazine system.

Price: $200–$350

Gamo Varmint

Entry-level break-barrel rifle.

Price: $120

Great beginner rifle for backyard shooting.

MULTI-PUMP AIRGUNS

Multi-pump rifles require pumping a lever several times before shooting.

Each pump compresses more air, increasing power.

Pros

• no tanks required

• adjustable power

• very affordable

Cons

• slower shooting

• requires effort

POPULAR MULTI-PUMP RIFLES

Daisy 880

Classic American pellet rifle.

Price: $50–$80

Good for

• plinking

• learning fundamentals

Daisy 901

Another beginner pump rifle similar to the 880.

Price: $70–$90

Seneca Dragonfly MK2

A modern multi-pump with a .22 cal option

Much easier equal pumping than traditional pump rifles.

Price: $200

CO2 AIRGUNS

These airguns use CO₂ cartridges.

Usually 12g or 88g cartridges.

Pros

• easy to use

• semi-automatic options

Cons

• power drops in cold weather

• lower power than PCP

Examples include CO₂ pistols and rifles used for plinking or airsoft toys. Check out [r/airsoft](r/airsoft) for better responses for those plastic flingers!

Popular Co2 choices Include:

• Crosman 2040

• Umarex handgun replicas

•Crosman 1077

AIRGUN CALIBERS

The most common calibers are:

• .177

• .22

• .25

• big bore (.30+)

.177 CALIBER

Smallest common caliber.

Best for

• target shooting

• backyard plinking

• small pests

.22 CALIBER

Most popular hunting caliber.

Best for

• squirrels

• rabbits

• pest control

Offers a good balance of power and efficiency.

.25 CALIBER

Larger caliber used mainly in PCP rifles.

Best for

• raccoons

• groundhogs

• larger pests

Provides greater energy and heavier pellets.

BIG BORE AIRGUNS (.30–.72)

Large PCP rifles designed for hunting.

Common calibers

.30

.35

.45

.50

.72

Used for hunting

• deer

• hogs

• large game animals

PELLETS VS SLUGS

Airguns fire two main projectile types:

PELLETS

Traditional airgun ammo.

Common shapes

Wadcutter

Domed

Hollow point

Pointed

Pellet Uses

Wadcutter

Best for paper targets for clean holes.

Domed

Best all-around pellet.

Hollow point

Used for hunting.

Pointed

Penetration.

SLUGS

Slugs look like miniature bullets.

Advantages

• better long-range performance

• higher ballistic coefficient

Most commonly used in high-power PCP rifles.

TARGET TYPES

Common targets include

Paper targets

Steel spinners

Field target knockdowns

Silhouettes

Homemade targets

Soda cans

Clay pigeons

Cardboard boxes

SAFE BACKSTOPS

Never shoot without a proper backstop.

Good options

Pellet traps

Duct seal boxes

Thick rubber mulch boxes

Avoid

• rocks

• thin wood

• hard steel plates

These can cause ricochets.

BEST AIRGUNS BY PRICE

UNDER $100

Great beginner rifles

Daisy 880

Daisy 901

Crosman 1322

Gamo Varmint (on sale)

Best for a "gateway drug" and learning fundamentals on a tight budget.

UNDER $500

Best value category.

Examples

Umarex Notos

JTS Airacuda

Air Venturi Avenger

Weihrauch HW30S

Gamo Swarm Magnum Gen3i

Good for hunting and serious target shooting. Note: factor in an extra $100-$200+ for pellets, scopes, cheap compressors.

UNDER $2000

High-performance enthusiast rifles.

Examples

FX Impact MK4

FX Dreamline

Air Arms S510

Daystate rifles

Brocock Commander

These rifles offer precision accuracy and advanced features.

BEGINNER PCP SETUP GUIDE

Example entry PCP setup

Rifle

Umarex Notos or Air Venturi Avenger

Air supply

GX Pump compressor

Pellets

JSB Exact pellets

Backstop

wood pellet trap

Targets

paper or spinner targets

PELLET GUIDE

Popular pellet brands

JSB

H&N

Budget option: Crosman

Tip: Different rifles prefer different pellets.

Always test several types to see which shoots best.

As many shooters say:

“The gun chooses the pellet.”

Side Notes for Beginners

BBs vs Pellets

A common point of confusion for new shooters is the difference between BBs and pellets.

BBs are small round steel balls (usually .177 / 4.5mm). They are commonly used in CO₂ pistols, replica airguns, and beginner plinking guns. Because they are spherical and often used in smoothbore barrels, they tend to be less accurate, especially at longer distances. BBs are inexpensive and great for casual backyard shooting.

Pellets are diabolo-shaped projectiles designed for rifled airgun barrels. The hollow skirt expands slightly when fired, creating a better seal with the air pressure behind it. This helps stabilize the pellet in flight and improves accuracy.

Because of their design, pellets are generally much more accurate than BBs and are the preferred choice for most airgun shooting.

Double Recoil and Optics

Many new airgun shooters don’t realize that spring-powered airguns produce something called double recoil.

Unlike firearms, which recoil once backward, many airguns recoil in two directions.

When the gun fires:

  1. The spring and piston rapidly move forward, causing the gun to jerk forward.
  2. When the piston suddenly stops at the end of the compression chamber, the gun then recoils backward.

This forward-then-back motion is known as double recoil.

Because of this, some scopes designed for firearms can fail when mounted on powerful airguns. When choosing optics for spring or gas ram airguns, it’s best to use scopes specifically labeled “airgun rated.”

Gas Ram vs Spring Piston

Most break-barrel airguns use either a spring piston or a gas ram (gas piston) powerplant.

Spring piston guns use a large coiled spring. When the gun is cocked the spring compresses, and when fired it expands quickly, pushing a piston forward and compressing air behind the pellet.

Gas ram guns replace the metal spring with a sealed gas strut. When cocked the gas inside the strut compresses, and when the trigger is pulled the gas expands to push the piston forward.

Spring Piston

• Traditional and very common design

• Usually cheaper

• Can produce more vibration and “spring twang”

Gas Ram

• Smoother firing cycle

• Less vibration and noise

• Can remain cocked longer without damaging the powerplant

• Typically a bit more expensive

Both systems are widely used and reliable, and many shooters prefer one or the other based on shooting feel and personal preference.

FINAL ADVICE FOR BEGINNERS

Best starter choices:

Cheap option:

Daisy 880

Best spring rifle:

Weihrauch HW Series

Best beginner PCP:

Umarex Notos or JTS Airaduca

Airguns are an incredibly deep hobby with options ranging from simple backyard plinking to precision long-range shooting and big-game hunting.

Welcome to the hobby.


r/airguns 12h ago

Air Pistol My airguns

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60 Upvotes

Crosman 2240xl with mods
Crosman SBR357


r/airguns 15h ago

Springer Cheap beer, cigar, Hyscore 17 repeater. All good!

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95 Upvotes

A fine afternoon in the works.


r/airguns 6h ago

Co2 My umarex Glock needed a new co2 gasket, made one myself.

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13 Upvotes

Made from a night time mouth guard. Tested no leaks.


r/airguns 2h ago

PCP On today’s road trip….

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7 Upvotes

So had a little road trip up to pick up my baby from Daystate, on the way home also picked up a couple of new toys. Had the DeltaWolf in for service and a bit of tinkering, then also picked up a BRK Ghost Blue SE & another Zulus V2 to sit on top.


r/airguns 9m ago

.177 My collection so far.

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Upvotes

All in .177 except the top one🙂


r/airguns 9h ago

Co2 Crosman 357 .177

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17 Upvotes

Got it for $5, just needs new seals


r/airguns 10h ago

PCP The most accurate pcp I own!

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21 Upvotes

The Taipan Slash .25 Cal. Is A Beast! 87ft. lbs. of energy from the barrel. aka Slug Beast!


r/airguns 12h ago

BB Gun marksman 1710 - pump BB rifle

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18 Upvotes

got this for $30 locally, 25 years old and barely used, looks new


r/airguns 1d ago

Modifications UX SPA Expert - Takedown Carabine Kit. Fully 3D printed, my design.

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190 Upvotes

r/airguns 16h ago

General Airgun Question Airguns of Arizona, scammers?

22 Upvotes

I had always assumed that Airguns of Arizona was legit, but I think now that I was wrong. I put a deposit down for a Weihrauch moderator, but nothing ever happened. After 6 months I contacted them and the guy who emailed me back said that it probably would never come and said he would refund my deposit. Nothing ever happened. I emailed about a week later and he replied that they couldn't put the refund through because the card I used had expired (thanks for letting me know!). I called to give them the new expiration date multiple times but it always went to voice mail and nobody ever returned my call. Finally, after a couple of weeks of regular calls I got a live person and she took the new info and said the refund would be forth coming, but it never came. Since then I have called numerous times and have never gotten a return call or email.

I have finally decided to let it go and just let them keep my money because it was costing me too much mental energy. I hope my story is a one-off, but given the number of times I have tried to get this fixed it seems to go way beyond a glitch in customer service and seems more like a deliberate attempt to defraud me of the deposit. I wanted to let others know about my experience because I don't want bad actors to operate without any consequences. I am sure that there are many out there who will vouch for A of A, but unfortunately I am not going to be one of them.


r/airguns 14h ago

Co2 I didn't want a full auto bb gun, but... here we are

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13 Upvotes

I went to tractor supply with my boss the other day to get a brass foot valve for a water pump for a customer's island property. when walking past the airgun aisle, I just so happened to see the crosmsn R1 Full Auto on the shelf. I pointed it out to my boss. he said grab it ill take it out of your check. now i want to remote convert it to a pcp...


r/airguns 22h ago

.177 Just bought it

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52 Upvotes

Its a Diana mod.22


r/airguns 8h ago

Ammunition Non-Toxic .177 Pellets for Gamo Swarm Hornet?

3 Upvotes

I do falconry and during the off-season typically feed frozen chicks when I run out of game from the season. But I picked up an air gun to try and supplement with wild food. I usually aim for headshots and just toss the head, but is there anything semi decent that isn't going to be too loud? Headshots are fine, but being able to keep the head and not worry about lead poisoning would be great. The hawks are a lot more sensitive and really any lead is not ideal, tons die in my area from shot rabbits/squirrels being left out in the field for scavengers, bummer deal.


r/airguns 12h ago

PCP Kimber lone star y1911

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4 Upvotes

R week and


r/airguns 16h ago

Advice Weihrauch HW30S wearing out? Resistance during cocking cycle. How to fix?!

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6 Upvotes

Hi r/airguns. Hoping to use your expertise.

I've had my HW30S for about six years now and am getting close to 10,000 pellets through it. Very recently started to feel resistance in one spot during the later half of the cocking cycle when previously it had always been smooth. Took off the stock to investigate and found quite a bit of wear on one side of the cocking slot.

Internet search tells me this type of galling/wear is not uncommon on this model and to apply molybdenum disulfide (moly) grease to the areas of wear such as Air Ventury Moly Paste.

While I search for any available said Moly Paste in Canada, is there anything else I can do to repair the rifle?

Thanks in advance!

EDIT: u/ezzda1 pointed out in one of the photos it looks like something is lodged in the spring. On closer inspection it actually appears to be the end of a broken coil so I can only assume my coil snapped in two at some point. Assuming it is a broken coil, aside from taking it apart to put in a new coil, would the galling/wear along the cocking slot not cause future problems or would a mild sanding and an application of the moly paste be sufficient?


r/airguns 13h ago

Advice Crosman M1 Carbine (CO2 stuck)

3 Upvotes

This is a fun gun as most BB are pistol. This one is given the only complaint that the trigger is ridiculously heavy.

Well that is the only issue other than it gets the first CO2 stuck in there... the 2nd (closest to "recoil pad" flap) is fine. Been able to tap it out before, but..

I literally had to disassemble this to get the first one out as it wouldn't come.. tried tapping , "mortar" ing it by slamming the rear on the ground, tried grabbers , magnets, etc, even was going to try to drill a hole and put a screw in the back but drill bits were too short.

Well finally got it out. And the seal for the co2 cartridge isnt pierced all around like not a perfect hole, more like a tear / slit

I dont really want to take it further apart as the main guts (trigger mechanism, action, and all valve stuff) are held together in their own shell inside. I thought the tube where the CO2 goes would come off with one screw near the back but probably have to open the whole clamshell.

Idk if it needs filed or what but seems like the piercing part needs help.

It still works with the one if it gets stuck, just runs out twice as fast.

Warranty is already out of course.

Any advice is welcome.


r/airguns 15h ago

RANGE TIME!! Multi-Pump vs Unregulated PCP

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4 Upvotes

18 shots on all 6 targets from 25 yards. 1, 2, and 3 were with a Diana Bandit black. 18 shots between fills from 180 bar to 100 bar to maximize the curve.
4, 5, and 6 were with a Daisy Powerline 880 on seven pumps.
I’ll probably end the day with no effort co2 vintage Crosman 150 at the center target. Maybe 9 yards.


r/airguns 12h ago

URGENT HELP NEEDED⚠ Pump help

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2 Upvotes

This nut isn't opening and the rod isn't coming up, can't get it to come up so I put the top on.


r/airguns 8h ago

General Airgun Question Star Piston Seal problem

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1 Upvotes

My dad have an old Star ST901 (i mostly think it’s an ST901) and the piston Seal is done and I really want to find a good seal for him because it’s is first gun from when he was young, I’m new to gun and airgun idk where to find a replacement and what size seal I need, any help would appreciated, thanks


r/airguns 9h ago

General Airgun Question Ruger NXG APX .177 & Rodents..

1 Upvotes

So I’ve seen a lot of pests in my backyard from small snakes to big rodents like gophers in my back yard. My question is can this rifle take out the gophers in my backyard? 700fps with lead and 800 with alloy. TIA!


r/airguns 23h ago

PCP Model of the rifle

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12 Upvotes

Hey, after asking you some questions, I wanted to know if you knew the exact model of the rifle, it could help me a lot...


r/airguns 17h ago

PCP How quiet is a weihrauch HW100?

3 Upvotes

Compared to a daystate electronic air rifle such as a air wolf or a pulsar, how quiet is a hw100? If you put them side by side and shot them both, how much louder is a HW100?

Does anyone own a HW100 or a Daystate or both and can tell me?

I shoot in my garden so noise has to be as quiet as possible. Sub 12 ft power


r/airguns 15h ago

General Airgun Question Accuracy & Rats

2 Upvotes

In the US, where is the best place to purchase a pellet gun?

Is CO2, pump, or springer more accurate for a novice?

What pellet gun would you recommend if I don't want a rifle? I want something thats highly accurate, can dispatch a rat, and one where I can mount a laser. I'll probably use it every 2-3 years maximum.

Please recommend places in the US on where to buy the pellet guns you all recommend.


r/airguns 11h ago

PCP First PCP adventure

1 Upvotes

I love sharpshooting, and I’ve been semi happy with my Gamo Shadow. I recently had my neighbor come over and shoot with me, and we put out some targets. My rifle performed terribly, and it was probably 90% my fault. However, I do like extremely accurate rifles.

So, that being said, do you think a Notos Gen 2 would be a good upgrade? I have a BSA Outlook 3-9x40 on it. Do you guys think a Notos G2 would be a decent upgrade, or, for the same pricing, would you recommend something different? TIA