The Air Rifle Gun Blog

Stephen Graham asked:




This is not a kid’s firearm. While many of us were given 22 caliber rifles as sub adults the
qualities of this rimfire carries over into adulthood. This rimfire is just plain fun to shoot.

Recoil is nonexistent and cartridges are inexpensive. Do you have fond memories of
shooting at tin cans with this firearm as a youngster? Many shooters start out their shooting
careers with this caliber. Long sessions at the shooting range can correct shooting problems brought on by high recoiling rifles. Bad rifle handling characteristics and shooting
techniques start life with heavy recoiling rifles. Shooting a 22 can be enjoyable because they
are intrinsically very accurate. They are much more accurate than their larger relatives.

Practicing with a 22 rimfire allows you to develop correct shooting techniques. The fact that
it does not beat you into submission after every practice session is also a plus.

This round offers plenty of power for small varmints and snakes. The sound of the round
going off does not cause permanent hearing damage. I believe that the cartridge comes in
several lengths. When I was a kid there were three offerings to the cartridge. Short, long
and long rifle filled the gap nicely for a kid out for adventure in the woods. Snake populations
could be reduced in Dad’s stock tank. Squirrels were on the endangered list when the 22
was in their vicinity. Rabbits could not outrun the speedy 22 rimfire. I think many sportsmen
today developed a love for the outdoors and the shooting sports because of their affiliation
with the 22 rimfire.

Dad gave me a 22 rimfire for Christmas one year in my youth. The rifle was a single shot bolt
action that had a knob that had to be pulled back before the rifle could be fired. I wore that
little rifle out in a few short years. Before I reached the age of twelve Dad presented me with
a 22 rimfire revolver. Though not as accurate as the rifle the little revolver brought many a
menace to extinction.

As you grow older I believe that you have a tendency to expect and use bigger rifles. These
fire breathing dragons cannot compare to the little 22 rimfires. The larger caliber firearms
belch and spew out recoil and high levels of noise. The little 22 rimfire is a gentle and soft
alternative to these big cannons. I guess that you never outgrow the kid that is in you. No
matter how old you become you still have fondness for that special little rimfire. A set of
memories that cannot be tarnished through time still exists for that fine firearm.

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Matthew Betourney asked:




It is safe to say that almost everyone knows that paint ball guns shoot paint balls, while airsoft rifles shoot plastic airsoft BBs. But the biggest differences between the 2 different types of guns, is what is inside of them. Each gun has its strong points and its weak points.

The way that paint ball guns fire is pretty basic; they all use either compressed (regular) air, or compressed C02. Most of the newer paintball guns use C02 rather than normal air (because it is more efficient). The way that the electric airsoft rifles (for example the airsoft AK-47) work is much more advanced. Electric airsoft guns actually have an electric motor inside of them, which powers a series of gears.
Electric airsoft guns have a battery powered motor that turns a series of gears, which pulls back (and cocks) a powerful spring. The spring propels the plastic airsoft BB when it releases (there is a plunger the end of the spring, which compresses the air almost instantly). This whole process is done at a very rapid rate with AEG airsoft guns, such as the airsoft M249 machine gun and the airsoft ak-47 assault rifle.

Also, there are a couple other types of airsoft guns, most notably the airsoft sniper rifles, which are single shot, manually cocked airsoft guns. These types of airsoft rifles are slightly similar to the automatic electric airsoft guns, but are single shot guns that need to be cocked for every shot. Also, they have no gears inside. While airsoft sniper rifles may be less exciting to fire than an electric airsoft M249 SAW machine gun, they do have a very high velocity, and are very accurate.

Basically all of the paint ball guns work the same way. They are much more basic than airsoft guns, and simply fire by using compressed air or C02. They don’t need to be cocked, and no battery (or gear box) is required to fire them. However, you will need to keep refilling their air tank in order to shoot them. Almost every paintball gun in existence is semi-automatic, which makes them a bit less exciting to shoot than the automatic electric airsoft guns.

Paintball and airsoft matches both have the same set of rules, and are played in the same manner. Keep in mind that it is easier to hit your opponents with an automatic electric airsoft gun, than it is with a single shot paint ball gun. But other than that, there really isnt much difference, other than paintball guns leave a visible mark when you hit your target, and airsoft guns obviously don’t, since they shoot plastic BBs).

Since airsoft rifles and the paint ball rifles both shoot at similar velocities, they also both shoot about the same distance. Airsoft and paint ball can be played in doors or outdoors, and the strategies and tactics are the same for each. Even the battlefields for airsoft and paintball are the same, and feature the same tactical structures, such as buildings, towers, trenches, and so on.

So what does it boil down to? Well, if you like the idea of firing off 14+ shots per second at your foes, then I would highly recommend that you give airsoft a try. But if you like the thought of leaving a nice big (and obvious) spot of paint on your opponent, then it sounds like paintball is the game for you. However, paintballs are very expensive compared to plastic airsoft BBs, so that is another factor to take into consideration as well.

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Steve Gargin asked:




Most hunters and firearm enthusiasts have some kind of optical device installed on their guns. Reasons for this are plenty. A rifle scope has the function of magnifying the target and surrounding area, thus enabling the hunter to produce a more accurate shot. Even people with less than perfect vision are able to adjust the focus for their particualr eyes, so they will always get a clear image of the target.

A rifle scope is constructed from the following elements - exit pupil; eyepiece; ocular lens; power ring; elevation adjustment; windage adjustment; objective bell; objective lens. When buying a rifle scope, you should first make sure that it matches with your gun and ammunition.

The lens of the rifle scope is coated to achieve less light loss and glare. Optical coatings are very important because they increase the amount of light that enters the scope, which results in better clarity, contrast and color resolution. When buying a rifle scope, have in mind that different manufacturers are not equal in terms of coating quality, as some of them have proprietary, sometimes patented, coatings that give better performance.

Rifle scopes are compared based on several important characteristics, such as - image quality, magnification, objective diameter, eye relief, field of view, length, weight, light transmission, brand.

The quality of the image is determined by brightness, clarity, resolution, power and field-of-view. Other parameters to consider are possible precision adjustments, durability and reticle strength.

The magnification power is expressed in series of numbers, like 3-9x or 4x. On some rifle scopes, you can manually adjust the level of magnification, as given in 3-9x, which means that the magnification can be adjusted from 3 to 9. Low power rifle scopes are more suitable for close range and moving targets, because they have the most effective light management and wider field of view even in low-light conditions. So for close hunting, it’s best to get a rifle scope with 4x magnification power.

The second number which comes after the ‘x’ stands for the diameter of the objective, given in millimeters. For example, 5×50 means that the power of magnification is 5, while the diameter of the objective is 50mm. The larger the number, the larger the lens, resulting in a wider field of view and greater amount of light that enters the scope, so you will get a clearer image, particularly in low light conditions.

The exit pupil is also parameter that determines the brightness of the image, proportional dependence. Larger exit pupil value means the position of your head related to the scope is less crucial.

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Sarah Porter asked:




Airsoft Gun and Air Soft Guns for Your Soft Air Gun Games

When it comes to an Airsoft Gun, nothing else can compare to its excitement factor. Users can get out on the field and discover the fun of re-enacting battles or just letting off some steam with friends. The right Airsoft Guns make all of the difference, too. No one wants to have the worst weapon in the group, and inexperienced players need a safe place to go to find quality products. Shopping with online websites can be that place if they are on the hunt for the ideal Air Soft Guns.

Affordable Airsoft Gun Perfection

Ideally, a Gun Airsoft shouldn’t be too difficult to find, but that’s not always the case. Without the Internet, many people would be facing extremely limited choices when it comes to the types of weapons, including the ever popular AEG Airsoft Gun. If someone only has one or two options, they are unlikely to find exactly what they want. Now, they can turn to online websites to find huge selections of these weapons at their fingertips.

Going with Quality Guns Airsoft

These weapons are one of the best choices for entertainment and fun. They may look and feel like real guns, but they emit only BBs so they are safe for users of most ages, except for the very young. Of course, those BBs do come tearing out of the barrel so they can definitely sting upon impact and should always be used carefully. But the reality is a Spring Airsoft Gun can provide hours of safe fun for the whole family.

Finding the Right Airsoft Rifle

Which of the weapons is the right one to purchase? That’s a question people ask daily. One of the best answers, at least for the experienced player, is the Airsoft Sniper Rifle. This weapon packs a lot of power but should never be taken for granted. On the field, players can use it to take out enemies from a distance while hiding in a secure location. Of course, if they are detected, then they lose their advantage. The best thing is that these rifles come in a number of different styles to match the needs of any seasoned player.

Discounted Airsoft Pistol Heat

Experienced players will say that Airsoft Pistols might not make the best primary weapon in the game, but they no one should get on the field without one for back-up purposes. At close range or if the primary weapon runs out of ammo, then an Airsoft Spring Pistol can still keep the player from losing to the “enemy.” Players can find a large selection of these pistols at a few online sites.

Popular Electric Airsoft Guns Advantages

The most common weapon on the playing field is going to be the Airsoft Electric Gun for several reasons. First, the gun can fire BBs as long as the player is holding down the trigger. That can make for some decisive game play, especially in tight moments. The Electric Airsoft Rifle can also switch to semi-automatic mode for slower, more precise firing if that’s what the player needs.

The Fun of Inexpensive Soft Air Guns

No matter what happens on the field, players need to have a good time with their Air Soft Guns. These weapons can literally come in any size and shape the Airsoft Gun a person wants so they can be whoever they want to be on the field. It’s definitely a lot less messy to shoot Soft Air Guns than paintball.

When customers are in the market for a low-priced but high quality Airsoft Gun, a few online shoppes offers exactly what they need.

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Michael Russell asked:




The Lockheed Ventura was the result of a September 1939 proposal by Lockheed to the British Air Ministry for a military version of the Model 18 Lodestar twin-engined 15/18-passenger commercial transport. It was viewed as a successor to the Lockheed Hudson in RAF service. The Hudson was itself a military version of an earlier model of the Super Electra 10/14-passenger commercial transport.

Under the temporary design designation of L-108, the Lockheed Company considered several different proposals for a military version of the Model 18. The final plans was designated as the Model 37-21-01 which was powered by a pair of 1850 hp Pratt & Whitney S1A4-G Double Wasp eighteen-cylinder air-cooled radials. This engine was a commercial version of the military R-2800. The RAF was pleased with this proposal and ordered 300 examples in May of 1940 under the name “Ventura”. Later in 1940, 375 more Venturas were ordered.

Since Lockheed now had sizable orders in hand from both domestic and overseas customers, they decided to have the Model 37 built by the Vega Airplane Company. The Vega Airplane Company was located right next door to Lockheed at Burbank, California. It had been founded in 1937 and had become a subsidiary of Lockheed. In recognition of the need for expanded output caused by the outbreak of war in Europe, Vega built a new plant at the Union Air Terminal at Burbank about a mile from the parent Lockheed plant. On December 31, 1941, the Vega Airplane Company formally merged with Lockheed. On November 30, 1943, the name Vega finally disappeared when the Vega Airplane Company was formally absorbed into Lockheed, its facilities becoming Lockheed’s Plant A-1.

The Venture I had twin 1850 hp Pratt & Whitney S1A4-G Double Wasps air-cooled radial engines. It had a Maximum speed of 312 mph at 15,500 feet with a Cruising speed of 272 mph. Initial climb rate was 2035 feet per minute with a service ceiling of 25,000 feet. Normal range was 925 miles. The wingspan was 65 feet 6 inches, with a length of 51 feet 5 inches and the height was 11 feet 10 1/2 inches. It weighed 17,233 pounds empty, 22,500 pounds loaded and 26,000 pounds for maximum take-off. Its armament consisted of four 0.303-inch machine guns installed in dorsal turret, twin flexible 0.303-inch machine guns were mounted in the extreme nose and a pair of flexible 0.303-inch machine guns were mounted in a ventral position behind the wing trailing edge. Two fixed forward-firing 0.50-inch machine guns were installed in the upper decking of the nose. A bomb load of 2500 pounds could be carried in an internal bomb bay.

The first Ventura took off on its maiden flight at the Lockheed Air Terminal on July 31, 1941 and deliveries of Venturas to Britain began in September of 1941. 21 of the early production run of Ventura Is were retained in Canada for the RCAF. At least six were transferred to the South African Air Force.

The Ventura II was generally similar to the Ventura I, but was powered by 2000 hp Pratt & Whitney R-2800-31s instead of the Double Wasp S1A4-Gs of the Mark I version. It had a redesigned bomb bay capable of carrying 3000 pounds of bombs or 780-gallon ferry tanks. Production totaled 487 aircraft. Only 196 Ventura IIs actually reached Commonwealth forces, with 264 being retained by the USAAF as Model 37s. For some reason, they never got USAAF designations or serial numbers. The Ventura I was first delivered to the RAF in September of 1941 and went into service with No 21 Squadron at Bodney, Norfolk, in May of 1942. It also served with Nos 464 (RAAF) and 487 (RNZAF) Squadrons. It flew its first combat mission on November 3, 1942, an attack by three aircraft of No. 21 Squadron against a factory at Hengelo which had to be diverted into a raid against railway lines instead.

47 Venturas from Nos 21, 464 and 487 Squadrons took part along with Mosquitos and Bostons in a daylight low-level attack on December 6, 1942 against the Philips radio and vacuum tube factory at Eindhoven in the Netherlands. The raid did not go well–nine of the Venturas were shot down and 37 were damaged.

After this disaster, the Venturas switched to medium-altitude missions and attacked numerous targets in occupied Europe. On April 4, a formation of 24 Venturas were sent to bomb the Caen/Carpiquet airfield whereas another 24 Venturas were sent to attack the shipyards at Rotterdam. Two Venturas attacking Rotterdam were shot down by German fighters and three more were shot down by fighters on the Brest raid. On April 21, when Venturas of No 21 Squadron hit the marshaling yards at Abbeville, three more were shot down by fighters. On May 3, 1943, eleven Venturas from No 487 Squadron attacked a power station in Amsterdam, but only one Ventura survived determined attacks from German fighters. The formation leader, Sqdn Ldr Leonard H. Trent, managed to shoot down a Bf 109 with his forward-firing guns before being shot down himself. Sqdn Ldr Trent was captured and spent the rest of the war in a POW camp. He managed to survive the war and was later awarded the Victoria Cross for his bravery.

On May 24, No. 487 Squadron resumed operations. An attack on a power station and coking plant at Zeebrugge came off without losses. On May 29, No. 21 Squadron attacked Zeebrugge again. Two Venturas got involved in a midair collision. One made it back safely, but the other was lost.

The Ventura was never very popular with its RAF crews. It was 50 mph faster than the Hudson which preceded it and had a bombload of 2500 pounds instead of the former’s 1000 pounds, but it was over 7500 pounds heavier. Losses were high and the aircraft was not really suitable as a bomber. The RAF Ventura I and II bombers were replaced by deHavilland Mosquitos by the summer of 1943. The last Ventura sortie took place with No. 21 Squadron on September 9, 1943.

21 Ventura Mk. Is and 108 Mk. II/IIAs were diverted to the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) from British contracts. The first Ventura I was received in June of 1942. The Ventura I and II aircraft retained in Canada were used exclusively in training roles and never saw combat. They retained their RAF serial numbers and were assigned to No 340 Operational Training Unit at Pennfield Ridge, New Brunswick and No 1 Central Flying School at Trenton, Ontario.

The South African Air Force received 135 Ventura Mk I and II aircraft. They equipped three Squadrons (Nos 17, 22 and 27) which initially operated at home to protect shipping routes around the Cape. They also served in the Mediterranean. Venturas of No. 17 Squadron carried out anti-shipping strikes off the coast of Italy and No 452 flew a few night intruder missions. No 27 Squadron took over 500 Squadron’s surviving Venturas and later operated from Malta. Venturas were operated by No. 27 Squadron until January of 1945, while other wartime Venturas, particularly in No. 299 Squadron of the RAF, were used as transports.

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Jukka Lahti asked:




I was only 13 years old when I learned the most important lesson I’ve ever learned about air pistol shooting. If you truly want to improve your scores, you can’t “just shoot”. You have to practice.

You have to really concentrate on what you do on the range and at home. The fun part is competing as you can just relax and let everything you’ve learned in practice just happen.

Air pistol training is firstly learning the right techniques. Right doesn’t necessarily mean something that other people tell you. More important than doing things like others do is to do them the way you feel comfortable. Of course there are guidelines and best practices that are universal. But there also is plenty of things you can adjust according to your own liking.

When you’re practicing air pistol techniques, you should practice only one thing at a time. Stance, grip, aiming and pulling the trigger are the main elements but they can be divided into more detailed processes. For every practice session you choose an element you’ll concentrate on.

There are two main reasons why you practice only one thing at a time.

1. Air pistol shooting is fairly complicated process as there are a lot of little things that are happening simultaneously. If you’re not concentrating on one single thing, there’s just no way you can perfect your process because your brain can’t register all the things that happen during a shot.

2. To be able to shoot easily in a competition you have to have your shot process stored into your muscle memory. You know of course that muscles grow when you rest after a workout. The same thing applies to muscle memory. If you first practice one thing and the another on a same session, your muscles remember only the last thing you were practicing. Muscle memory won’t develop for the first thing.

I started air pistol shooting when I was 12 years old and I soon made it to the Finnish national junior team. Then I stopped for many years but came back few years ago. In my first competition I shot only 543 and my old shooting buddies were asking if I had some problems with my weapon. Then I remembered the most important truth about air pistol training, designed a training schedule for myself and three months later I shot 575 and 577.

So I know what I’m talking about when I say: You can’t just shoot, you have to practice. If you want to learn more about air pistol training, go and claim your copy of my Free Air Pistol Training Tips eBook. You’ll find it at www.airpistoltraining.com.

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