
Air guns are weapons powered by springs, compressed air, or other gases to fire projectiles. These weapons can be of various types, including air rifles, air pistols, and air revolvers. Airguns are used for a variety of purposes, including sport shooting, in some cases hunting small game and as a hobby gun. Airguns differ from traditional gunpowder-powered weapons in that they use spring, compressed air, or gas to propel the projectile instead of explosive gunpowder. Air weapons are often less powerful than gunpowder weapons and may be a safer option for some use situations. It is important to note that there are rules and laws surrounding air weapons in Sweden when using these weapons.
Spring-operated airguns work by having a spring retracted into a cylinder. When the spring is released, it pushes forward and compresses the air in front of it to propel the bullet forward. These weapons are known for their simplicity and ease of use; they rarely require additional accessories and are usually easy to handle using muscle power.
One of the advantages of spring-loaded shooters is their affordability and availability. They are usually less expensive than other types of airguns and offer sufficient shooting performance for most users without the need for advanced accessories.
These weapons have some drawbacks. The double recoil can be difficult for beginners to handle and can affect accuracy. Additionally, manually cocking the spring requires an extra loading motion between each shot, making them unsuitable for rapid fire.
There are two main types of airgun springs: regular steel springs and gas springs. While steel springs are the most common and affordable, gas springs offer advantages such as reduced recoil and quieter shots. Additionally, gas springs are less prone to damage under prolonged tension and can often be adjusted to increase the weapon's muzzle velocity.
+ Always ready to use, the only thing needed is ammunition. The recoil and mechanics of a spring rifle have great value to many.
- The recoil is double-acting and can be a bit difficult to master. Can seem cumbersome to reload between each shot.
Airguns powered by carbon cartridges offer a different kind of shooting experience compared to spring-powered guns. Instead of tensioning a heavy spring between each shot, the carbonic acid is used to propel the projectile forward. These weapons can be either semi-automatic or require a simple movement of the jacket to reload and feed a new projectile.
When the carbon dioxide is fired, the gas expands and becomes very cold, which can cause the weapon to cool down. This can affect shooting performance, especially in intense shooting, as repeated shots in quick succession can affect accuracy. In addition, the carbonic acid is sensitive to outside temperatures and can work worse when it is cold.
An advantage of CO2 airguns is their minimal or non-existent recoil, which, together with the possibility of rapid bursts and easier loading movements, makes it easier to focus on the target. However, it is important to note that carbon-fueled weapons should not be stored with the carbon-oxygen cartridge in the weapon to avoid the risk of leakage from gaskets. Additionally, these guns require regular lubrication with silicone spray to prevent the gaskets from drying out and cracking.
Usually loaded with disposable carbon dioxide cartridges, 12g or 88g.
+ Recoilless and easy to shoot, Smooth and fast loading, often with magazines. Carbon dioxide cartridges can be stored and used when it is time to shoot.
- The energy from the carbon dioxide decreases at lower temperatures.
Pre-Charged Pneumatic (PCP) airguns are a well-known type of airgun that has gained popularity due to its superior performance and versatility. These weapons use a built-in air tank to propel the projectile forward and come in two main varieties: reservoir rifles and pump guns.
Reservoir rifles, commonly referred to as Pre-Charge Pneumatic (PCP) guns, have an air reservoir that holds compressed air for multiple shots. In order to fill the air reservoir, a special hand-operated pump or an external air source with a pressure between approximately 70 and 300 bar is required.
PCP airguns offer several advantages over other types of airguns. One of the most notable advantages is their superior precision and accuracy. The constant air supply from the built-in air tank results in smoother and more predictable shots, making them ideal for sports shooters during longer sessions.
In addition, PCP airguns are known for their quiet operation and minimal recoil, making them suitable for use in densely populated areas or where noise levels must be kept low. They are also more insensitive to low temperatures, making them reliable in various weather conditions.
Despite its many advantages, PCP airguns also have some disadvantages. They are usually more expensive than other types of airguns, both in terms of the weapon itself and the necessary equipment to fill the air tank. In addition, they require access to compressed air or a pump to be used.
+ Recoilless, insensitive to low temperatures, can deliver more energy than carbonic acid.
- Requires access to compressed air or pump
Pump guns, such as some models from Crosman, are another type of air-powered weapon that requires the user to pump up the air before each shot. These guns are available in two main variants: Single-pump and Multi-pump. With Single-pump, only one pumping of air is required before each shot, while Multi-pump gives the possibility to pump several times to increase the exit velocity of the projectile.
One of the advantages of pump guns is their lack of recoil, which makes them easier to handle and provides increased accuracy when shooting. In addition, they are less sensitive to low temperatures than some other types of weapons. Another advantage is that they require relatively little muscle power to be used effectively, making them suitable for a wide range of users.
A disadvantage of pump guns can be the time-consuming process of pumping up the gun between each shot. This can lead to some delay between shots and may be less suitable for users who need fast and continuous bursts of shots.
+ Recoilless, insensitive to low temperatures, little muscle power required
- Pumping several times before the shot makes time pass between the shots.
When it comes to choosing an airgun caliber, it is important to consider various factors to find the best suitable caliber for your needs and intended use. Caliber is a key decision and can affect everything from precision to efficiency. Here is an overview of the most common calibers and their characteristics to facilitate the choice.
4.5mm (.177): This is the most common caliber for airguns. Small balls and light weight result in high speed of the balls. With an impact energy of about 10 Joules, this caliber has a straight trajectory and is relatively easy to shoot. However, light bullets are more sensitive to wind, which can affect accuracy, especially at longer distances. In licensed designs, this caliber can exceed the speed of sound, which can sometimes negatively affect accuracy.
5.5mm (.22): This is an "intermediate caliber" that is also very popular. The bullets are larger and heavier than in the 4.5mm caliber, which lowers the exit velocity but makes them less susceptible to wind drift. This caliber is the smallest allowed for defensive hunting and is usually a good choice for users aiming for greater precision and accuracy.
6.35mm (.25): This is a large caliber for airguns. In license-free versions, the output speed can be low and the balls drop quickly. Despite this, many users prefer this caliber due to the large bullets marking hits well and leaving large holes in the target. This can be beneficial especially when hunting or target shooting at shorter distances.
When it comes to ammunition, there is also the option of round bullets in 4.5mm (.177). These balls are usually made of steel and have a slightly smaller diameter than traditional diabolo balls. Rounds are affordable and well suited for guns with large magazines that shoot fast and are fun to use. However, round balls do not rotate in the same way as diabolo balls, which can negatively affect accuracy and increase the risk of ricochets. It is important to always wear safety glasses when shooting round bullets to avoid possible damage from ricochets.
Power-limited weapons, usually powered by carbon dioxide, air, or spring, have their specific characteristics and limitations. These weapons can fire various types of projectiles, including metal or plastic bullets, arrows, or paint ampoules. To define the effect of such a weapon, one takes into account both the weight of the projectile and its velocity. The measurement of power is usually done in joules, and the limit for a power-limited weapon is set at 10 joules, measured four meters from the muzzle of the barrel, which is called impact energy. For fully automatic weapons, the limit is set at 3 joules. This specification is important to consider when choosing a weapon, to ensure compliance with statutory requirements and intended use.
Soruce: Polisen
According to the arms legislation, an air weapon is license-free if its impact energy is less than 10 Joules at a distance of four meters from the muzzle. To calculate the impact energy in Joules, the formula is used where the bullet weight (in kilograms) is multiplied by the initial velocity (in meters per second) squared and then divided by two.
For example, for a 4.5 millimeter air rifle bullet with a weight of 0.5 grams, the exit velocity can be 199 meters per second to be just under the license-free limit of ten Joules. On the other hand, for .22 caliber air rifles, where normal ammunition weighs 1 gram, the muzzle velocity must be below 140 meters per second to remain license free. Since .22 caliber air rifles usually need a higher muzzle velocity for the projectiles to deliver well, 4.5 millimeter rifles are usually the preferred choice to stay within the license-free limit.
