What is a pellet rifle?
Knowing how a pellet rifle works and its characteristics will help you choose the right model for your needs. Pellet rifles are used for recreational shooting, but they are still shooting weapons and need to be handled with care.
How it works
The rifle uses compressed air to fire light pellets. It is the way in which the air (or gas) is compressed and stored that is different from one system to another. There are three systems of operation :
• Compressed air,
• CO2,
• Pre-compressed air.
The operating system will influence the way the pellet rifle is cocked and used.
The arming of the rifle
- With the air rifle, the air is compressed manually. Between each shot, the barrel must be broken or the cocking lever must be engaged to change the lead. At the same time, the air is compressed and stored in a chamber provided for this purpose.
- The CO2 rifle uses a small cylinder of compressed gas which is placed in the magazine or the stock of the weapon. The cylinder holds 8 or 10 pellets and allows for a burst of fire without the need to reload between shots. The CO2 cylinders weigh only about 12 grams and do not interfere with the handling of the weapon. They allow 60 shots in a row, knowing that after 40 shots the accuracy decreases. Once empty, it must be changed. However, as the cylinder only contains 8 or 10 pellets, the rifle will have to be reloaded several times before the CO2 cartridge is empty.
- With the PCP rifle, air compression is also automatic, except that instead of being stored in a cylinder, the air is stored directly in a tank under the barrel. Unlike the single-use CO2 cylinder, the air in the tank is renewed by the shooter using a hand pump, a high-pressure compressor or a scuba tank. Also equipped with a barrel, it allows for multiple shots in a row.
The power
Power is a central characteristic directly related to rifle types. Ranging from 7.5 to over 50 joules, it influences the range and accuracy of shots. As the points below show, the shooting distance can be up to 50 metres.
Rifle power: 7.5 joules / Shooting distance: up to 10 metres
- 10 joules / between 15 and 18 metres
- 20 joules / up to 30 metres
20 joules and more / up to 50 metres
- Models with less than 10 joules are mainly intended for children. As they are not very powerful, they pose little risk to apprentice shooters (although children's eyes and ears must be protected).
- Rifles under 20 joules are a little more powerful and should be used with more care. They are available over the counter for adults and can be used to hit targets further away. Rifles under 20 joules are ideal for fun and discovery shooting.
- Rifles over 20 joules are suitable for experienced shooters with a hunting licence or shooting permit. They allow you to work on your accuracy over long distances.
Tip : If you buy a high-powered rifle and have children at home, consider getting a trigger lock. This inexpensive accessory locks the trigger, making the gun unusable.
The calibre
Calibre refers to both the inside diameter of the barrel and the diameter of the ammunition. The two main calibres differ in size, country of use and range.
- In France, 4.5 mm lead is the standard. It characterises most pellet rifles even if they are manufactured by different brands.
- The 5.5 mm calibre is mainly used in England. Its diameter is a little larger and its range is slightly greater.
In our range you will find both the 4.5 and 5.5 mm calibres and the corresponding accessories.
There are three ranges of pellets.
- The classic pellets which will be used for leisure shooting. These weigh on average 0.50 grams and are cheaper than the others. They are characterised by their flat or pointed head and their striped skirt. They are suitable for shooters who want to practice on boxes, cans and moving targets.
- Shooting school pellets are specially designed and worked on for sport shooting and competition. They are higher quality, better finished and therefore more expensive. They are suitable for people registered with a shooting club who use a competition weapon.
- The heavier pellets, up to 1.2 grams, are used to load rifles of more than 15 joules. The weight of the pellet makes it easier to penetrate the target without being propelled further.
Apart from low-powered weapons, the types of pellets are interchangeable. Thus, it is possible to use both conventional pellets and school pellets in a sufficiently powerful rifle or air pistol.
Accessories for the pellet rifle
Most rifles accept accessories to improve accuracy, comfort or shooting pleasure. Other accessories serve to protect the shooter and the weapon.
- To improve accuracy: sights, rifle scopes, etc.
- Improve comfort and pleasure: bipod, barrel, target...
- Protecting the shooter: glasses, helmet...
- Carry and protect the weapon: case, scabbard, strongbox...
Accessories are a good way to please a pellet rifle enthusiast. A Christmas or birthday present? There are many opportunities to surprise a loved one!
An experienced shooter could be offered a red dot sight to practice shooting in the dark, while a child could receive, in addition to a 7.5 joule rifle, protective glasses from his godmother and 3D targets from his grandfather. It promises long family shooting sessions in the garden!
At Jean Pierre Fusil, we are here to help you choose your pellet rifle. Contact us on 03 21 34 30 47 if you are hesitating between several models. We put our 40 years of experience at your service!