The Not-So-Underground World of the Air Rifle

A movement is happening in today’s gun culture, and it has gone overlooked by most forms of the major media in this country. Why this is, it would be hard to say, but it would be even harder to deny such a movement is in existence. It is the growing popularity and appeal of the air rifle, which is taking place all around the country, perhaps to the surprise and chagrin of the traditional gun manufacturers. What might surprise you even more is the demographics which are attracted to this. . .well, not exactly new type of firearm. People of all ages (admittedly, mostly men) are grabbing up these guns and heading for the range.

There is, of course, an added layer of safety involved with the air rifle, as opposed to traditional deadly firearms. Of course, on the other hand, we’re not talking about paintball, either. One of the main attractions, though to this world has been an increased interest in target shooting, both in private activity, and in competition. The main drive of the air gun market has long been children and teenagers getting prepared to handle real firearms when they are old enough. But more and more, adults are picking up these weapons again and remembering the unbelievable accuracy and clean shooting of these remarkable guns.

The competition aspect is perhaps what has driven many adults to the air rifle scene in such droves. There was a report out earlier this year that solidified this to be the case, with airgun shooting being one of the only target based events in the country that has grown over the last ten years. Although this may come as no surprise, the NRA is actually a big supporter of air gun shooting, and provides marksmanship award for those who can demonstrate their level of proficiency with the weapon. With the internet, there have been increased ways of people connecting with others and having competitions via correspondence.

There is also an increased attraction to using the air rifle to rid the property of pests such as rabbits and raccoons and other rodents that tend to eat up the garden. It’s not practical to bring out the thirty ought six to kill a gopher in the backyard if you live in a residential area, but it’s perfectly acceptable to do away with varmints and critters with an air gun, and just as effective. This says nothing of the use of these guns in actual hunting situations, especially when it comes to shooting wild fowl. The guns are by and large as accurate if not more so than their firearm cousins, so it only makes sense to use them when hunting small game.