What Attracts You To Airguns?

[johnwoitalla]

My wife was at the range with me last weekend. She came over to my bench and tried my airgun for a couple of shots. She was not very impressed and asked me, “What’s your attraction to airguns, I don’t get it?”

Now it’s your turn-what is it about airguns that bends your taco?

 

[Quagmire]

For me it's the challenge. I started off shooting airguns and moved to rimfire as a kid. Next came shotguns and centerfire rifles, followed by magnum centerfire. I basically ran out of distance in my area. Went back to shooting precision rimfire for a number of years before getting back into airguns. Now I have a blast shooting really small targets at 50-150 yards with my PCPs.

 

[Vincent10]

I like that airguns typically require minimal equipment, not a lot of space to use, and are quieter to shoot. They're usually cheaper to operate over time than firearms for target work. When shooting outdoors at extended ranges it can be a good way to train. 

 

[HeyU]

They r safer and handier to use on the property than firearms. And don't disturb the neighbors.

 

[cea1960]

Low power. I can shoot in my backyard and inside barns.

Quietness. I can shoot in my backyard. The report doesn't scare away nearby quarry while hunting.

Accuracy. I find I'm more accurate with my pcps than rimfires.

 

[benderville]

shot bb guns as a kid but never really thought much more about it then life got in the way kids job you know. now i am retired divorced and own six acres in country my girlfriend loves to shoot and what i like best is being able to grab a pellet rifle walk out the back door very satisfying to hear the clang of the targets as you knock them over im hooked there is so many differant pellet guns i want now.

 

[L.Leon]

Being able to shoot plenty and often in places that are definitely off limits to firearms. To me that's the main attraction, the ability to try them out after unboxing, whether in my yard, basement or living room.

 

[moodyblues]

I’ve thought of this multiple times and always come back to how quiet they are. I’ve always had easy access to places to shoot my firearms, and am a firearm fanatic. Airguns are my favorite projectile slingers though with my Great Plains recurve bow in second. There is something magical about shooting or shooting at an animal and not spooking any game. also the older I get, the more annoyed I get with muzzle blast. I’d just prefer not making all kinds of noise. 
Good thread!

Beau

 

[Ezana4CE]

They’re quiet. I can hunt in several places and don’t have nearly as much to worry about due to missed shots and pass throughs due to much lower velocities compared traditional firearm cartridges. I can shoot at midnight and not disturb a soul. Airguns are cheaper to shoot than firearms. I also like the challenge of hunting with airguns. And most PCP reports I’ve heard don’t spook game nearly as much as the report of firearm cartridges. Plus women love them. If they don’t, we need to change that. 

 

[napairgunner]

Interesting question by your wife since I feel the same way about firearms (rifles). I don't get why people would want to shoot a rim fire or center fire rifle for target work or small game hunting. 

Firearms are:

1] Restricted to shooting ranges or much larger areas for target shooting. No backyard shooting for most folks.

2] Ammo is way more expensive and hard to get if you are using centerfire even rim fire is getting this way.

3] Far louder of course and much more dangerous 

4] Lots more restrictions to owning/buying/selling 

5] Far more hunting opportunities for small game in areas where firearms would never be allowed 

If you enjoy the sport of target shooting and hunting small game (ground squirrels mostly) as I do pellet rifles are clearly the best choice. 

 

[biohazardman]

 I never said any of that.

 

[harrymoreland]

Stealth.

 

[dizzums]

theyre a good tool to take care of problems around the home without resorting to firearms, and as we all know those tend to get the cupcakes all bent out of shape these days ...

 

[davelarson]

The accuracy and how quiet they can be is what I like. I can sit and quietly shoot with great accuracy out to 130 yards. It’s basically a dream come true for me, almost hard to believe it’s possible. What a great time to be alive lol!

 

[SDellinger]

Quietness and precission. I probably have a couple of rimfires ans centerfire guns that are as accurate but I could never shoot them safely where I shoot my airguns.

 

[maxtrouble]

Accuracy, noise levels and cost of ammunition. Hitting a tin can at 50 yards with a springer is quite fun. The pellet striking the can makes more noise than my HW57. 300 pellet session is easy and costs next to nothing.

 

[LeadandAirFun]

For me, same as mentioned above, being able to shoot in the garage or side yard anytime I want. It scratches that itchy trigger finger. My powder guns have not been shot for close to a year now. The nearest range is 45 minutes away and there is a fee to shoot of course. All my guns are zeroed so I'd just be burning expensive ammo. It is fun to warm up a gun though! I'm about to get into PCP. I'm sending the payment Tuesday to a fellow member for a p rod.

 

[kingsqueak]

The quiet, not having to put on ear pro or be concerned for bystanders.

The lower power, it greatly opens target opportunities.

Firearms ammo is getting ridiculous so I'd rather hold on to what I've got right now.

I like the challenge of the precision, aim small on small targets.

It's the concentration involved in shooting anything, firearm, air gun, bow or even a slingshot that I enjoy. It's a kind of meditation that shuts out the rest of the world for a few moments.

 

[Brent]

I mastered my pb's 30 + years ago out to 500 yrds. Shooting air guns is a new challenge for me, yes the initial cost is a bit high but once your set up the ammo is cheap compared to pb ammo. The lower power and quiteness opens up many more places to enjoy the hobby with much less travel involved. It also opens up hunting opportunities in places where pb's would be prohibited. Many people will allow airgun hunting around or close to buildings and homes because they won't be startled by the loud report of a pb. With the proper ammo and lower power settings on the rifle it greatly reduces the danger of pass-through and damage to buildings because of it. All in all its a great way to continue a challenge I've enjoyed for many decades and many more to come.

 

[SteveV]

Airguns fit and fill a certain "niche" for a lot of folks, yours truly included. All of the answers above are perfectly correct -

I personally started on pumpers, moved on to springers, then discovered the lego qualities of Crosman 22XX/Discovery format airguns, and see no end in sight -





may we all get more trigger time in 2022!





Vines