Terminology Used In Air Gunning
Every sport and every industry has its own terminology and it can be daunting for the beginner. So we at iHunter decided to put this list together to make it a little easier for the beginners in the world of airguns. If you are a beginner then you might find this article air gunning on a budget useful. So let’s start with the airgun terminology.
Accuracy:
The ability of an airgun to consistently group a serious of shots within a diameter as small as possible, at a given distance under optimal conditions. Accuracy does not take into account human error or environment conditions such as wind and elevation. There are many factors determining accuracy including the type of pellets you are using at the time. Surprisingly some brands of airguns are more accurate with a certain type of pellet. The magic is finding what pellets suit your airgun the best with trial and error.
Air gun:
Is any kind of gun that pneumatically propels by compressing air or other gases that are pressurized mechanically without involving chemical reactions. This is in contrast to a firearm which uses combustible propellants that rely on an exothermic chemical reaction (deflagration) to generate energy. Both the long gun and handgun forms (air rifle and air pistol) typically propel metallic projectiles that are either non-spherical diabolo pellets, or spherical shots called BBs. The first air guns were developed as early as the 1500s. They have been used in hunting, sporting and warfare. Modern air guns use one of three types of power source depending on the design: spring-piston, pneumatic, and bottled compressed gas (most commonly carbon dioxide). You can read more in our article about the types of airguns and what is the best. At one point or another we will have every different type of second hand air rifles for sale on our marketplace.
Backstop:
Anything that will safely stop a pellet and prevent it from hitting anything else after the target is struck. This can be from a custom built or bought backstop to a simple paving slab. A backstop is an important part of safety for air gunners so you must take responsibility for where you’re pellets will stop.
Ballistic Coefficient:
A measure of how a projectile decelerates during its flight through the air due to drag. It is an important and useful concept that is used for ballistics calculations. The higher the BC, the more aerodynamic the pellet will be, and the smaller the BC of a pellet, the greater its air resistance.
Barrel:
The metal tube through which the pellet or BB travels. The barrel serves the purpose of providing direction and velocity to the pellet. There are many manufacturers of barrels and you will find them on different brands of airguns.
Benchrest:
A bench rest is specifically designed support, e.g.a table (rest). Usually homemade or adapted for the purpose of aiding accuracy in airgun shooting.
Bipod:
A two legged support attachment to the fore-end of the stock. Again this is an accessory that aids stability and accuracy.
Bluing:
A chemically applied finish to metal work that offers protection against rust. It’s a traditional finish that looks great when properly applied. However it gives less protection than more modern finishes.
Breech:
That portion of the gun that contains the rear chamber portion of the barrel. The rearmost end of a barrel, the part closest to the shooter.
Break barrel:
Air rifles are rifles that use a spring powerplant to compress an air chamber. To cock the gun you simply break the barrel down (it swings on a hinge), load the pellet and break the barrel back up into position. Break barrel air rifles are one of the most common air rifles on the market. The break barrel air rifle is so popular because they are usually cheaper to make and thus gives good value to the air gunners. Also at the same time they are accurate and powerful
Bullpup:
A rifle configuration in which the action and magazine are located behind the trigger. This makes the overall length of the firearm shorter than it otherwise would be.
Butt:
The base of the grip on a handgun and the rearmost portion of the stock on a long gun that braces against the shoulder. Often these can be changed or added too so it’s reduces the recoil into the shoulder.
Caliber:
Most air guns are .177 (4.5 mm) or .22 (5.5 mm / 5.6 mm) caliber, and are designed for target practice, small game hunting and field target shooting. Though less common, .20 (5.0 mm) and .25 caliber (6.4 mm)the largest commonly available caliber guns also exist. .177 (4.5 mm) mandated by the ISSF for use in international target shooting competition at 10m, up to Olympic level in both rifle and pistol events. It has also been adopted by most National Governing Bodies for domestic use in similar target shooting events. It has the flattest trajectory of all the calibres for a given energy level, making accuracy simpler.
At suitable energy levels it can be used effectively for hunting. .22 (5.5 mm & 5.6 mm) for hunting and general use. In recent years air rifles and pistols in .22″ (and some other calibres) have been allowed for use in both domestic and international target shooting events not controlled by the ISSF. Most notably in FT/HFT and Smallbore Benchrest competitions. Other less common traditional calibres include:.20 (5 mm) initially proprietary to the Sheridan multi-pump pneumatic air rifle, later more widely used. .25 (6.35 mm) the largest commonly available calibre.
Cant:
To slope, tilt or angle the vertical crosshair from the vertical plane. A rifle held upright may still exhibit cant if the scope has not been mounted vertically. Similarly, the shooter can induce cant on a correctly mounted scope by angling the whole rifle away from the vertical.
Chronograph:
An instrument to measure velocity by using two optical sensors that detect the passage of a pellet. The pellet is fired so it passes through or over both sensors, and the time it takes for the pellet to travel the distance between the screens is measured electronically. Chronoscope: A device that measures the velocity of a shot, which will change depending on how far the chronoscope is placed from the muzzle. While it’s most often used to measure muzzle velocity, a chrono can be placed downrange to measure the drop in pellet speed and, if the pellet weight is known, retained energy.
There are now accessories that you can place under the gun (or attach with modification) and connect to your phone with bluetooth which do the same function.
C02:
Air guns utilizing prefilled removable gas cylinders as power sources have now become known as CO2 guns due to the ubiquitous commercial use of bottled carbon dioxide gas. Most CO2 guns use a disposable cylinder called a “Powerlet”, that is often purchased with 12 grams of pressurized CO2gas, although some, usually more expensive models, use larger refillable CO2 reservoirs like those typically used with paintball markers. It is also availble in CO2 canisters.
Cocked:
A state of readiness of any firearm. The hammer (or similar mechanism if there is no hammer) only needs to be released by the trigger to cause the gun to fire. Once a break barrel pellet rifle has been cocked and a pellet placed in the barrel, once the barrel is back in its original position then it is cocked.
Crosshairs:
The cross-shaped object seen in the center of a firearm scope. Its more-proper name is reticle Crown: The area of the muzzle where the end of the bore intersects with the face of the end of the barrel – this is the last place the pellet is in contact with the bore.
Diabolo
A diabolo refers to a shape of a pellet, buy diabolo pellets.
Dry Firing:
The operation of a firearm without the use of ammunition, as a means of gaining familiarity and technique. Dry firing must never be done with a spring air gun, but can be done very carefully with a verified unloaded pcp gun.
Elevation:
The setting on the sights of a firearm that controls the vertical placement and the altitude above mean sea level. This is important for long range precision shooting because the air density changes with elevation and affects the path of the projectile.
Eye Relief:
The distance a scope can be held away from the eye and still present the full field of view.
Field Of View (F.O.V.):
The side-to-side measurement of the circular viewing field or subject area. It is defined by the width in feet or meters of the area visible at 100 yards or meters. A wide field of view makes it easier to spot game and track moving targets. Generally, the higher the magnification is, the narrow the field of view will be.
First Focal Plane:
With this type of scope, the reticle will grow and shrink along with the image of the target. Thus meaning the relationship between the target and the secondary points of aim is consistent, whatever the magnification.
Flyer:
A shot that goes wild, but that doesn’t mean the reason for it can’t be pinned down. Flyers are usually blamed on a rogue pellet or shooter error.
Follow Through:
Holding the trigger to the rear after the shot has fired, until the sights are back on target, at which time the trigger is released.
Forend:
That part of the stock forward of the action and located below the barrel or air cylinder. It is designed to give the shooter a place to hold the front end of the gun. Some air gunners take great time in choosing their air rifles just for how well the forend feels and fits in their hands
Grains:
An old unit of weight measurement used for pellets. The more grains, the heavier the pellet.
Group:
A cluster of pellet holes made by the same airgun/pellet combination, formed from numerous shots fired at a target using the same point of aim, for checking accuracy. A 10-12 shot group provides usable statistics. When zeroing the scope it is recommended that you have a group of 5 shots before making any adjustments.
Group Size:
Commonly measured centre-to-centre, the maximum distance between the centres of the two farthest shots in a group.
Hair Trigger:
A trigger that breaks from an extremely light touch. Usually it is down to personal preference.
HFT
Hunter field target shooting competitions.
Hold Over:
Normally refers to aiming above your target because the bullet is falling as it travels. The simple way to think is the farther the bullet goes the lower it will hit on the target. Saying there is no holdover at 300 means that the weapon is zeroed at 300 yards or shoots “flat” enough that it doesn’t matter. Hold over/under is the amount of point of aim change either above or below your target, without adjusting your scope, to adjust for the trajectory of your projectile.
Hollow Point
Hollow point pellets are a different design of pellet, where as the point of the pellet is left open so it causes more damage on impact.
Hybrid Pellets
Hybrid pellets are made from other materials and do not use the traditional lead. Other materials such as plastic or gold are used.
Iron Sights:
The mechanical sighting system which usually comes with the air gun that has no optics.
Lands:
The part of the bore that remains following the rifling process. Because the grooves are cut into the metal of the bore, the resulting lands appear to be raised.
Leading a barrel:
When a pellet is fired, it will deposit some lead in the fissures in the lands and grooves, offering a smooth, even surface for subsequent shots.
Length Of Pull:
The distance from the vertical centre of the trigger to the vertical centre of the butt plate.
Loaded:
An air gun is loaded when a pellet is in its firing chamber or breach. However, for safety reasons all air guns are always treated as loaded at all times. Never point an airgun at anything unless you intend to shoot at it.
Muzzle:
The muzzle is the front end of the barrel from which the projectile exits.
Muzzle Velocity:
The speed of the pellet, measured in feet per second or meters per second, as it leaves the barrel.
Noise Pollution
There are 3 types of noise pollution when discharging your air rifle. First the mechanical noise, secondly the shot noise and finally the impact noise. We have created a post on noise levels and back garden plinking.
Parallax:
Where the images of the target and reticule appear on the same plane inside a telescopic sight. poor head and eye position can be offset by ensuring you have correct parallax.
Pellet :
The most popular ammunition used in rifled air guns is the lead diabolo pellet. This waisted projectile is hollowed at the base and available in a variety of head styles. The diabolo pellet is designed to be drag stabilized, though is not as stable as some other shapes in the transonic region (272–408 m/s ~ 893–1340 ft/s). Pellets are also manufactured from tin, or a combination of materials such as steel-tipped plastic. Wadcutter pellets are designed with a full diameter flat point. It is primarily used in target competition because it cuts a clean round hole in paper targets that aids in scoring the target. View our range of air rifle pellets for sale at iHunter. Also copper pellets are becoming a popular choice. Also there is Pointed Pellets
Pellet Jam:
A malfunction which locks up the gun so badly that tools are required in order to fix it.
PCP:
Or pneumatic air guns use internally stored compressed air as the source of energy to propel the projectile. Single-stroke and multi-stroke guns utilise an on-board pump to pressurize air in an internal reservoir, while precharged pneumatic guns’ reservoirs are filled using either a high-pressure hand pump or by decanting air from a diving cylinder.Because of the need for cylinders or charging systems, PCP guns have higher initial costs but much lower operating costs when compared to CO2 or ordinary pump guns. Having no significant movement of heavy mechanical parts during the firing cycle, produces lower recoil, and can fire as many as 200 shots per charge. Usually filled with a portable PCP compressor.
Plinking:
Informal shooting at any of a variety of inanimate targets. The most often practiced shooting sport in this country and definitely not completion shooting.
Point of aim:
The precise area on a target, whether paper, metal or living quarry, at which a rifle is pointed using eithera telescopic or open sight. If you do intend to partake in pest control it is advised that you know exactly your point of aim is on any quarry.
Point of impact:
The place where the pellet hits. Point of aim and point of impact should coincide at the chosen distance at which the rifle has been zeroed.
Power curve:
A number of shots taken from a PCP and plotted against their velocity. A flatter curve is desirable as it means there is little variation from one shot to another.
Underlever:
The barrel is fixed to the stock, with the cocking lever located parallel underneath it and is flexed downwards during cocking.
Range Finder:
A device used to determine the range to a target. Many rangefinders work by bouncing a laser beam off the target or nearby object and measuring the time for the reflection to arrive back at the instrument. It is also possible to use various passive optical devices such as a mil-dot telescopic sight.
Reactive Targets:
Targets that do something when you hit them, such as fall over, burst, send up smoke, or make a noise or move. We have some great ideas for reactive targets in our article air gunning on a budget.
Recoil:
The rearward thrust is caused by the propulsion of the piston or the pellet. Every action has an equal and opposite reaction. Spring piston airguns have a very aggressive and powerful kick, caused by the piston hitting the front end of the pressure chamber. It is this second forward snapping that can cause damage to high-quality riflescopes. The lack of recoil in Pre-charged airguns means riflescopes can be used without fear or damage often caused by the recoil of spring-pistol airguns.
Red Dot Sight:
An optical sight that uses an internal illuminated dot (normally red in colour) as an aiming point.They provide for fast target acquisition. The red dot laser sight.
Regulator:
A mechanical device that controls the air pressure and volume of air that is made available to the firing valve of a precharged pneumatic airgun.The regulator maintains the pressure within this secondary chamber at a set pressure (lower than the main reservoir’s) until the main reservoir’s pressure drops to the point where it can no longer do so. As a result, shot to shot consistency is maintained for longer than in an unregulated rifle.
Reticle:
Scope reticle,as you look in the eyepiece and down the inner tube you’ll find the “reticle” of the scope. The term “reticle” refers to the crosshairs of the scope. There’s quite the variety of reticles on the market today. The first thing to note is if the reticle is a “wire” reticle or an “etched glass” reticle. A mil-dot reticle, the most accurate means of range-estimation using a manual optical device, has a crosshair with dots added at a precise distance between each dot. A “duplex” reticle, which has thinner lines in the centre, changing to thicker lines further towards the outside of the field of view.
Revolver:
A gun, usually a handgun, with a multi-chambered cylinder that rotates to successively align each chamber with a single barrel and firing pin.
Rifle:
A firearm designed to be fired from the shoulder and fire only a single projectile at a time.
Rifle Cant:
Any leaning or the rifle to one side from a vertical position during firing, increasing the potential for misses, and especially at longer ranges.
Rifling:
The spiral lands and grooves in the bore that stabilise the pellet by spinning it either clockwise or anticlockwise as it travels down the barrel.
Report:
The noise when an air gun discharges, it is a loud, sharp sound that is caused by the sudden release of compressed air from the gun. (what noise levels are acceptable when shooting in the garden)
Safety Catch:
A built in lock that may prevent the air gun from being fired, Some are manually set others will automaticly be set when the air gun is cocked.
Scope:
A magnifying tube through which the shooter may see the target and aim the firearm. Scopes contain a reticle, commonly in the shape of a cross, which must be properly centered upon the target for accurate aim.
Sear:
The part of the trigger mechanism which holds the hammer or striker back. Pressure on the trigger causes the sear to release the hammer or striker, allowing it to discharge the weapon.
Second Focal Plane:
This type of scope makes the image of the target grow and shrink with changes in magnification. The reticle stays the same size, meaning the relationship between the target and the secondary points of aim will alter with changes in magnification.
Shoulder:
To shoulder, to bring the butt of a rifle stock to the shooter’s shoulder, preparatory to firing the gun.
Shooting Rests
The primary purpose of shooting rest bags is to provide a stable platform for the rifle or other firearms. They support the barrel and stock, allowing the shooter to maintain the gun in the same position for extended periods, which is crucial for precise aiming.
Silencer/Sound Moderator:
A device designed to muffle the sound of the discharging of pressurised gases exiting the muzzle.
Single-shot tray:
A device to effectively convert a multi-shot rifle into a single-shot rifle. This can be useful for training and competition purposes, but can also be useful to ensure pellets are properly presented to the breach by the pellet probe.
Sling:
A long strip of leather, plastic, or nylon which is fastened at the fore and rear of the gun for the easy carry of rifles. Particularly useful for full day shoots out in the country.
Slugs
A solid made projectile. Airgun slugs are designed to have more contact with the rifling and are usually much heavier than a standard pellet.
Smooth Bore:
A barrel without rifling. Smooth bore barrels are commonly used in BB firing pistols.
Springer:
A type of airgun using a coiled spring and piston to create the compressed air that drives the pellet. Springers are generally harder to shoot due to hold sensitivity and recoil.
Surge:
The forward movement often felt when a spring rifle is fired.
Stance:
How the shooter positions their body while shooting. The four most widely used are prone,seated,kneeling and standing.
Stock:
The back part of a rifle that holds the action. It is commonly made of wood, wood laminate, metal, or plastics.
Sweet spot:
The portion of a power curve displaying the minimum variation in velocity between shots. For an unregulated PCP, this will usually be somewhere in the middle of the power curve.
Threadlock:
A compound applied to the threads of a screw to prevent loosening and corrosion. Use the semipermanent blue type, not the permanent type.
Torque:
The rotational force needed to tighten or loosen screws. Too little torque means the components being tightened may come loose, while too much can cause damage, particularly to scope bodies and their sensitive internal parts.
Trajectory:
The path of a projectile in flight. As gravity causes the pellet to drop from the moment it exits the muzzle, its trajectory is always curved in the shape of a parabola.
Trigger:
The release device that initiates the gun to discharge. Usually a curved, grooved or serrated piece that is pulled rearward by the shooter’s finger, which then activates the hammer or striker and the gun fires.
Trigger Guard:
Usually a circular or oval band of metal or plastic that goes around the trigger to provide both protection and safety in shooting circumstances. The shooter’s finger should never be within the trigger guard unless the sights are on target and the shooter has made the decision to fire.
Trigger pull:
The force that must be applied to the trigger for it to release the sear. A good trigger pull must be appropriately light, and the release must be a clean, sharp snap.
TDR
Take down rifle, an air rifle that can break down is component parts to be able to carry it in a backpack. Here you can see the average price on a used Air Arms TDR.
Used Air Rifle
An air rifle that has had more than one owner
Wadcutter
A wadcutter pellet has a flat surface that causes greater damage to shooting targets. It creates a cleaner whole and is used for competition shooting
Windage:
The adjustment on the scope or open sights to compensate for horizontal deflection of the barrel.
Zero:
An air gun is said to be “zeroed in” when its sights have been adjusted so that the pellet will hit the center of the target when the sights are properly aligned upon the center of the target. The farthest distance from a air gun at which the pellet’s path and the point of aim coincide. This term is also used to mean the process of insuring that the sights of an air gun are properly aligned so that where they indicate the bullet will strike is in fact where it strikes. Don’t look like a fool – know your jargon like the pro’s
If you think we have missed anything then please contact us and we will be happy to add it and give you credit. You may find this useful best pellets for pest control, especially if you are just starting out. If you are thinking of selling your gun we have some great advice on how to value your gun. Another great resource on what your gun is worth is this post on used air rifle costs after analysing nine thousand listings.