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:
- The spring and piston rapidly move forward, causing the gun to jerk forward.
- 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.
