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There's no doubt that air rifles have come a long way since the BB guns that many people remember from their childhood. Today's air rifles are as accurate as the shooter is capable, and some are even powerful enough to bring down big game. The higher-power rifles can take down game as large as a warthog and dispatching animals such as springbok, duiker, and wild birds without spooking every big game in the vicinity. One of the most notable improvements in air gun technology is in PCP - or pre-charged pneumatic design.

As interest in pre-charged pneumatic guns grows, more manufacturers are getting into the PCP game and continually introducing new models. With such a wide variety to choose from, shooters should do their homework to be sure they are getting a rifle that is best suited to their needs and budget.

Pre-charged pneumatic rifles have a tank built into the rifle that holds compressed air. Air tanks can be filled with a compressor or hand pump and some models can hold over 2,700 PSI and delivering a projectile at more than 1,600 feet per second.

PCP rifles come in "regulated" and "unregulated" power designs. A regulated air rifle will shoot at a constant velocity until the air tank runs too low to fire the gun. However, an unregulated rifle's power is reduced after each shot until the trajectory of the projectile is no longer predictable. At this point, the tank must be recharged.

Standard PCP rifles fire .177 and .22 calibre pellets and can fire up to 80 shots between charges. The number of shots will depend on the manufacturer's design, the size of the tank, and the weight of the projectile.

 

Now that you know the basics, here are five things to consider when buying a PCP air rifle:


Intended use

Having a solid understanding of the gun's intended use is one of the top considerations when buying an air rifle. Just like traditional firearms, a competition target rifle is not very well suited as a hunting rifle and vice versa. While there are PCP rifle models that can be used for hunting and casual target shooting, competitive target shooters will want to pick an air rifle with a long and heavy barrel designed for the range. Two-stage or adjustable triggers are common on many of the higher-end PCP target rifles. Likewise, PCP rifles intended for hunting applications should be powerful enough and capable of shooting a projectile heavy enough to cleanly dispatch the intended quarry.


Shooter's experience

While PCP rifles are not hard to learn to use, shooters that have little or no experience with pre-charged pneumatic guns may want to opt for a lower-end model to get started. This will allow you to gain some experience with pre-charged air rifles without a big cash investment. Once you have gained some experience and have a better understanding of what you want to use the rifle for, you will be in a much better position to buy a rifle suited to you and your specific interests. Bear in mind that the lighter the weight pellet the more stability it will lose at faster speeds. For example, a .177 caliber pellet loses accuracy at speeds of more than 1,000 FPS.


Cost and your budget

The cost of a PCP air rifle can range from around a few thousand to tens of thousands of rands. The more powerful and accurate the rifle is the more expensive it will be. For those on a budget, there is a wide variety of high-quality target and hunting PCP rifles in the R5000 to R25000 range that will fit the purpose of most shooters.


Manufacturer

Typically, manufacturers that make the entire air gun in-house are the best as these manufacturers have absolute control over each step in the production and assembly process. Another trademark of reputable manufacturers is offering a solid warranty. Most air-gun manufacturers offer a warranty but are imperative to read the fine print. At a minimum, PCP guns should have at least a one-year warranty against defects in material and workmanship. If possible, try to research what percentage of a company's products have had warranty claims filed.


Vendor

Almost as important as the manufacturer - is the business you purchase the air rifle through. While most manufacturers will deal directly with the customer if there is a warranty issue, it is good to ensure the vendor has a solid reputation for customer service. This can sometimes help in case you need service or must file a warranty claim.

Shooting a PCP air gun can open a new world of fun and allow you to perfect your marksmanship at a cost far below shooting a traditional firearm. If you haven't shot an air rifle, you owe it to yourself to give a PCP rifle a try. 


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