It is difficult for a person who has never dealt with weapons before, even pneumatic ones, to immediately make a choice. When deciding to purchase a rifle for shooting at cans, bottles or targets for fun or training, you must remember: despite the fact that an air gun has a small caliber and muzzle energy, it is still a weapon and its choice must be approached responsibly.
These types of weapons fire using gas or compressed air. Pressure is generated using a special compressor or carbon dioxide cylinders.
Spring-piston models are best suited for recreational and training shooting. Such specimens are easy to use, easy to train and are often inexpensive.
Interesting! The word "pneumatic" has Greek roots. "Pneuma" means "wind", "air".
Air Rifle Comparative Rating Table
| Hatsan Striker Edge cal. 4.5 mm 3 J | Reasonable price, ergonomic design. |
| GAMO Shadow DX 4.5mm | Excellent build quality, premium materials |
| Crosman FIRE, 4.5 mm, scope | Robust construction, elegant design |
| Hatsan FLASH QE, caliber 5.5 mm | High shooting accuracy, ease of use |
| GAMO Delta Fox GT 4.5mm | The most suitable model for recreational shooting |
| Hatsan Striker Alpha | High accuracy and shooting accuracy at short distances. |
| GAMO CFX, caliber 4.5 mm | Suitable for hunting - high muzzle velocity (305 m/s) |
| Hatsan Alpha, caliber 4.5 mm | Easy to assemble and disassemble, reasonable price, good accuracy. An excellent option for recreational shooting. |
| Hatsan 125 cal. 4.5 mm 3 J | Reliable, durable rifle. |
| Hatsan FLASHPUP QE | The most powerful hunting pneumatics without a license. |
Sports where air guns are used
- Let's start with competitions held indoors, for which match-type rifles are used. They have a diopter sight, weight and length have limitations. In international competitions, only PCP rifles are now allowed.
- Biathlon (summer) assumes that the weapon has a diopter-type sight, as well as a balancing weight. Compared to the previous type of rifle, there are fewer adjustments.
- A fairly new sport in our country is Field Target (shooting at targets in the form of animals).
Shooters compete outdoors, and the targets have a 1:1 scale to the original and are equipped with a target - a bright orange disk at the killing site. The rifle should not be more powerful than 27 joules, type - PSR or PPP. Any caliber can be used. Optical sight – magnification up to 20. - Benchresting is a shooting competition for accuracy. They take place under the roof, the targets are 25 m away from the shooters. The rifles can be PPP or RSR, of any caliber, with any magnification of the optical sight.
Summary: For what purposes will each of the best air rifles described be suitable?
Of course, the weapon should be selected according to your goals and its future use. Pneumatics, which do not require a license, are suitable for:
- obtaining and improving weapons shooting skills;
- entertainment: shooting at targets, cans, plates, etc.;
- hunting for small animals.
Let's consider which of the models we described is suitable for each of these purposes.
Obtaining and improving shooting skills
So, you are a novice shooter. You do not have adequate physical strength and skills in handling weapons. This means that the rifle you need is easy to use (does not require complex assembly/disassembly) and light in weight. From the list we have proposed, the following models fall under this description:
- Air rifle MP-60C 4.5 mm
- Hatsan Alpha, caliber 4.5 mm
- Crosman Fury NP, cal. 4.5 mm, sight
MP-60C is an inexpensive, classic option for beginners without any special bells and whistles. Lightweight due to the plastic body, quite powerful, quickly assembled and disassembled.
Hatsan Alpha is comfortable to use, with a medium-sized stock suitable for short people. No effort is required to break the barrel, there is an automatic safety to prevent accidental shots.
The Crosman Fury NP is a reliable, simple rifle with no unnecessary parts. Suitable for various purposes, incl. and to master shooting skills.
Entertaining shooting
Here the selection criteria differ little from those described in the previous paragraph. You will need a high-quality, simple product, comfortable to use, with a good rate of fire and high shooting accuracy. The following models meet these criteria:
- Hatsan FLASH QE, caliber 5.5 mm
- STRIKE ONE B018, caliber 4.5 mm
- GAMO Delta Fox GT 4.5mm
- GAMO Black Cat 1400, caliber 4.5 mm
Hatsan FLASH QE, caliber 5.5 mm, is characterized by an ideal combination of high shooting accuracy and ease of use of the weapon. The pistol grip and ergonomically shaped stock help prevent wrist fatigue even during long shooting sessions. The length of the butt is small, which makes the model convenient for people of short stature.
STRIKE ONE B018, 4.5 mm caliber, is suitable for entertainment due to its high accuracy and accuracy at short distances. The orthopedic buttstock makes using the rifle as comfortable as possible, and the rubberized butt pad absorbs recoil. Suitable for left and right handed people.
GAMO Delta Fox GT 4.5 mm is a lightweight rifle with an ergonomic shape: the presence of special grooves on the handle helps make the grip stronger and more reliable, and the pad absorbs recoil. It is possible to install an optical or collimator sight on the rail for even more accurate shots, but this is not the most powerful model, so it is suitable for recreational shooting, and not for hunting.
GAMO Black Cat 1400, caliber 4.5 mm, is a fairly powerful product, and at the same time lightweight due to the plastic from which the case is made. Available for purchase without a license, reasonable price compared to other models. It is possible to strengthen the weapon by installing a gas spring.
Hunting
The ideal rifle for hunting has the maximum possible power (without a license - no more than 7.5 J), a convenient design and a high muzzle velocity. Taken together, these indicators provide a good range of the bullet and improve its penetrating ability. From our rating, the most suitable models for hunting are:
- Air rifle Hatsan FLASHPUP QE
- GAMO ROADSTER IGT 10X GEN2 4.5 mm
- Air rifle GAMO Black Bear, caliber 4.5 m
The GAMO Black Bear air rifle is ideal for hunting small game, although it is powerful enough even to kill a roe deer. The point is the combination of a 6.35 mm caliber and a muzzle velocity of 270 m/s, which helps to increase the flight range and penetrating power. After amplification, the speed can reach 300 m/s and higher. At the same time, the rifle is light and not bulky, easy to carry. A multi-shot magazine significantly improves the rate of fire.
The GAMO ROADSTER IGT 10X GEN2 4.5mm is also equipped with a multi-shot magazine, so there is no need to reload after each shot. The high power of the rifle, the initial shot speed of 305 m/s, as well as the low noise level during operation allow it to be used as a hunting weapon.
The GAMO Black Bear air rifle is a reliable and ergonomic rifle. It has a high muzzle velocity, thereby increasing the range and penetrating power of the bullet. The model can be used for hunting small game; of course, it cannot cope with a large predator due to its insufficient power.
The main purpose of sports pneumatics
Before moving on to a direct review of a particular weapon model, it is necessary to first understand what sports pneumatics generally are. To do this, you can pay attention to the purpose of the model. Many may think that such balloons are used exclusively in competitions - this is a deep misconception.
The main purpose of sports pneumatics is training shooting. To achieve this, most rifles are equipped with a Quat Trigger system, which allows you to adjust the tightness of the trigger. Beginners often jerk their hand while firing, causing the ballistic projectile to deviate from its intended course. However, if you make the trigger smoother, this will not happen. Therefore, if you see such a system in this or that rifle, you can be sure that this is a sports model.
The simplicity of the rifle is also one of the most important nuances when it comes to a sports model. Yes, such units have the possibility of modification (the presence of a sighting bar or mount for an under-barrel upgrade), however, most “body kits” are prohibited at sporting competitions. So a sports rifle should not have too many unnecessary parts, otherwise its owner will simply not be allowed to compete.
Well, don’t forget that sporting rifles are also intended for use by people of any configuration, including girls and teenagers. Based on this, another important aspect follows - the models should not be too large in size or have too much weight. Otherwise, this will affect the shooter’s accuracy. So when producing weapons, engineers must take into account that the optimal weight of the unit should not exceed 3.5 kilograms.
Afterword
Of course, this review cannot serve as a guide to action and cannot claim to be 100% objective. But the rating will be useful to people who are interested in buying pneumatics and will help them understand what criteria they need to use to choose a rifle. Answer the following questions:
- What budget do you have?
- What is the purpose of the purchase - training, hunting, entertainment?
In addition, remember the legal regulations - purchase pneumatic weapons, the use of which is permitted on the territory of the Russian Federation. Our online store presents models, the purchase and use of which does not require a license. We present high-quality rifles from trusted manufacturers. In addition, in our store you can find accessories for pneumatics, select consumables and protective equipment. Consultants will help you decide on a purchase depending on your goals and budget.
Choosing a manufacturer
Walther – legendary German quality
Sports air rifle Walther LG300XT Alutec
There is no need to introduce the Walter weapon - everyone knows it. The company was founded back in 1886 by Karl Walter. Today it is called Carl Walther GmbH and produces excellent air guns. It is thoroughly tested according to European standards EN ISO 14001:2009 and EN ISO 9001:2008. Many gold medals at the Olympics were won by athletes using rifles of this brand.
The company produces all three types of air rifles - gas-cylinder, PPP and PCP. Their price can vary from 340 euros (a simple gas-cylinder model) to 3000 euros (a sophisticated rifle with PCP).
Steyr is a brand of hereditary Austrian gunsmiths
Steyr Challenge E sports air rifle
This manufacturer announced itself even a little earlier than the previous one (in 1864). Josef Werndl decided to continue the family tradition and founded the company Steyr Mannlicher GmbH in the city of Steyr.
Today, Steyr pneumatics are developed by experienced experts who take into account the wishes of athletes. Thanks to this, many victories have been won in sports with this brand of air gun. Modern technologies and ergonomic design make owning such a rifle the ultimate dream for true connoisseurs. Prices for PCP models are about 2000 euros (give or take).
Feinwerkbau - another German manufacturer
Sports air rifle FEINWERKBAU 700 alu
The name of the company can be translated from German as follows: “The design works perfectly.” And numerous users of weapons produced by the company can verify this. The very first rifle was released in 1956. Since then, the weapon has been further improved, and many athletes fell in love with it, achieving excellent results. So, in 2012, Chinese Sylin won gold at the Olympics with a rifle of this particular brand.
Feinwerkbau Westinger & Altenburger GmbH produces both spring-piston and gas-cylinder models. Their prices range from approximately 1200 to 3000 euros.
IzhMekh – domestic reliability
Note that 86 percent of Russian weapons are produced by Izhmekh, which is currently part of the Baikal TPO. The Vasev School of Weaponry at the plant trains excellent gunsmiths, and the company’s products are quite popular in Europe.
Pneumatics are available as spring-piston type (budget models) and with pre-inflation.
The company is trying to keep up with life - in 2011 it updated its line of air rifles, releasing models MP-60 and MP-61 with external ribbing of the barrel, as well as MP-512, which gives a significant increase in shot accuracy due to the muzzle chamfer and changing the shape of the rifling. The shooters affectionately called it “The classic of the genre” is the MP-532 rifle. An overview of this model will be given below.
FX BOSS
One of the powerful PCP air rifles, made in the design of a sniper firearm. The barrel of the model is made using a unique “smooth twist” technology, thanks to which the FX BOSS has high accuracy. It is an ideal solution for sports shooting enthusiasts and those who like to have fun while shooting at targets in nature.
The FX Boss is a limited edition product. You can only purchase it on order for 150-170 thousand rubles. The reason is that all design parts are calibrated manually at the factory. This guarantees a long service life without breakdowns.
Hatsan 125 F and Gamo Hunter 1250 F
Those who are interested in which is the best air rifle to choose without a license should consider shooting models whose power does not exceed 7.5 J. For example, a weakened blowgun from the Turkish manufacturer Hatsan 125 is very popular. This product differs from the original version by the presence of the F index. In its standard assembly, the Hatsan 125 has a power of 30 J. In order to sell the product without violating the “Weapons Law” in force in Russia, the manufacturer installs a low-power spring on the pneumatic gun instead of the standard one. It is noteworthy that the original spring is included with the product. You can also purchase a Spanish-made Gamo Hunter 1250 F air rifle. With a standard spring, the pneumatic power is 32 J. With a replaced spring, this figure is reduced to 7.2 J. Both of these models cost around 16 thousand rubles.
Dragon Career Slayer
The weapon is produced by the South Korean company ShinSung. The air gun has a stylish design, is made of durable alloy, and the butt is made of expensive wood. The advantage of the Dragon Career Slayer is that it is sold at a low price, but the disadvantage is its heavy weight (4 kg) and an inconvenient reloading system.
However, these disadvantages are compensated by a power of up to 4 J and the ability to hunt with a gun such game as wild boar, roe deer and even bear. The weapon is compatible with 12.7 mm cartridges and 0.495 inch round bullets (Hornady).
Crosman F-4 NP
Which air rifle is best for beginners? Such a consumer can be recommended to acquire this American-made nitro-piston shooting model. It is noteworthy that before firing the piston is filled with nitrogen, which in its effect is no weaker than a coiled spring. It is worth noting that you can keep this gun with a 47-centimeter barrel cocked for a long time, since this will not affect the speed of the projectile in any way. Due to this technology, the recoil of the weapon is reduced and the noise produced is reduced by 30%. A product with a breakable barrel and a plastic stock. Mounting of optics is carried out using the classic dovetail mechanism. The oven weighs 2.9 kg. According to experts, this figure for air guns is considered quite significant. However, due to its large mass, this model has minimal vibration, which has a positive effect on combat accuracy. This “air blower” has a maximum energy of 23.9 J. The projectile per second can cover a distance of 365 m. The cost of the “pneumatic gun” is within 9 thousand rubles.
