When it comes down to it, there are three basic things that cause new rifle shooters to not advance their skills quickly. One, of course, is the price of ammunition once a beginner has purchased a rifle. Second on the list is the difficulty in finding a good, safe place to shoot, which also has a financial component.
Lastly, is recoil, that old “every action has an equal and opposite reaction” ditty we learned in junior high. For those who have a good place to shoot and can afford the ammo necessary, recoil is the last limiting factor. Recoil and muzzle blast cause shooters to anticipate the shot, flinch, and make a bad trigger pull—all aspects of bad shooting.
Fortunately, there’s an easy answer to all of these factors—train with an air rifle.
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Air Rifle Advantages
While air gun training doesn’t exactly replicate the experience of actually shooting a rifle, it can give you experience in the basics of handling and shooting that is otherwise more difficult to get. Air rifles are relatively inexpensive compared to regular firearms, and so is the ammo.
The fact that air guns aren’t real “firearms” doesn’t hurt, either. You don’t have to go through a Federal Firearms Licensee (gun dealer) and have a background check to purchase one. Plus, the very nature of air guns is also an advantage.
Without the loud muzzle blast and recoil of a typical rifle, air guns allow shooters to work more on trigger control without creating an unwanted flinch because of the loud blast that accompanies every shot.
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As for finding a place to shoot, many can fix up a safe, effective air gun range in their backyard, or even a garage or basement. That’ll save you fuel to the range, the range fee, and money for any ammo you burn on an average day at the range.
Along with training purposes, air rifles have some other advantages. First, they’re just a lot of fun to shoot. They’re also handy to have around the house for pest control, like keeping rats out of a dog food bin or smacking that pesky squirrel stealing your tomatoes.
Plus, hunting small game animals like rabbits and squirrels with an air rifle is a “blast” without the blast, along with providing tasty natural protein at dinner time.
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A Few Air Rifle Tips
Don’t think that just because an air rifle isn’t a conventional firearm, it shouldn’t be treated with the same respect as a cartridge-firing gun. Modern air rifles are much more powerful than the Red Ryder BB guns of yesteryear. So, if mishandled, they can do a lot more than just “shoot your eye out.”
When handling and shooting air rifles, you must always follow the cardinal rules of gun safety. Those include treating every air rifle like it is loaded, always keeping it pointed in a safe direction, knowing your target and what is beyond it, and keeping your finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot.
To get the most out of air rifle training to improve your marksmanship, use these tips:
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Rest the gun on something steady. This will help keep the gun on target throughout the shot. Next, line up the rear and front sights (or crosshairs if you have an optical sight) on the target where you want to hit. While holding the gun steady to your shoulder and the sights on the target, gently press back on the trigger.
“Pulling” the trigger usually results in poor shots, or at least not great ones. The key is to gently squeeze the trigger while you hold the sights on the target. When the gun “goes off” without you expecting it as you press the trigger, you’ll usually get your best results.
Wrapping It Up
One word of caution: Training with an air rifle full-time is not an adequate substitute for actually training with the firearm you intend to use. You need to hear and feel the blast, experience the recoil and become completely familiar with all aspects of your firearm to be efficient in its handling and use.
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So, train with your rifle when you can, and use your air rifle when you can’t train with your regular rifle.
