ON THE MARKET
Spring-powered air rifles
On the market… Needing no external power source and usually
representing great value, the spring-powered airgun is the one that many start with… and it seems to be as popular as ever!
F 62
or more than 100 years the basics of a spring- powered air rifl e have remained the same – manual compression is
used to transfer power to a main spring, which is released when the trigger is pulled, forcing air in the cylinder to propel the pellet along the barrel. Shooters do not have to
insert a CO2 cartridge or place
air in a reservoir in order to use it, making ‘springers’, as they are often termed, popular with beginners and many out in the fi eld since they do not require a power source. T ey cannot really match
pre-charged pneumatic (PCP airguns) for long-range targets and hunting but their portability
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and relative cheapness make them ideal buys for the fi rst- timer or price conscious. T ere are three main ways
that the power is transferred to the spring, most commonly by breaking the barrel of the air rifl e like a lever to compress the spring. Alternatively, there are under-lever or side-lever models. T e main drawback of most
springers is what is termed ‘piston bounce’ and the resultant recoil. T is can have a noticeable eff ect on accuracy, especially when in the hands of newcomers, and the uninitiated often believe that this makes springers less useful than PCPs. However, with good handling
and some practice, a basic but decent-quality springer is easily
capable of a ‘killing’ accuracy of 30 yards and, because the piston movement is constant, the consistency of power is guaranteed.
Recession-proof Although technological
advancements have ensured improvements in materials and effi ciency, the basic premise of the springer remains the same. And this has helped make
these products recession-proof, thanks to their good value and the fact that ammunition is also comparatively cheap. Not only do they make ideal
fi rst guns but many .22 rimfi re rifl e shooters use them as training aids. Several brands produce
junior versions, too, with lighter weights, shorter or tapered barrels and less recoil. T is is a great way of introducing newcomers to airgun target shooting or ‘plinking’ as it is sometimes known. T e main brands, such as
BSA, Gamo, SMK, Crosman, Weihrauch, Hatsan, Cometa, Webley, Norica and more all off er products that fi t the bill more than adequately. T at said, in the right hands
a good springer is more than capable of pest control as well as knocking down tin cans in the garden. And the availability of
composite or tactical stocks has made these items even more desirable. Range Right, for
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