What is the purpose of an air gun?

Air guns are used for small game hunting, pest control, recreational shooting (commonly known as plinking) and competitive sports such as the Olympic 10 m Air Rifle and 10 m Air Pistol events.

Can an air rifle stop a human?

While air rifles are powerful weapons, their bullets cannot penetrate human skulls. You can certainly kill someone with an air gun, even yourself. These deaths aren’t caused by a gunshot to the head, but rather through lung perforation, heart damage, and/or bleeding out.

Is airgun a real gun?

Air gun, weapon based on the principle of the primitive blowgun that shoots bullets, pellets, or darts by expansion of compressed air. Most modern air guns are inexpensive BB guns (named for the size of the shot fired). An air-gun projectile seldom carries beyond 300 feet (92 m). …

How does an air gun work in a rifle?

When the trigger released the spring, the latter actuated a piston that compressed air which in turn drove the missile through the bore or barrel of the gun. This is the principle used in most air “rifles,” and it can also be used in air pistols.

What kind of gas is used in an air rifle?

This is the principle used in most air “rifles,” and it can also be used in air pistols. Later weapons were constructed on the older principle of a reservoir, but these use cylinders of compressed gas, usually carbon dioxide.

How is the spring used in an air gun?

During the 16th century a spring was substituted for the reservoir. When the trigger released the spring, the latter actuated a piston that compressed air which in turn drove the missile through the bore or barrel of the gun. This is the principle used in most air “rifles,” and it can also be used in air pistols.

What do you need to know about air weapons?

Before you use your air weapon, you should read this leaflet and familiarise yourself with its contents. For the purposes of this leaflet, references to ‘air weapons’ are to “lethal barrelled” air weapons as defined in the legislation ( see Types of air weapon ).