Most folks think Airguns are fairly new when compared to firearms. But in reality, airguns have been around for several hundred years, going all the way back to the 1500s. The most famous “old” airgun would have to be the Girandoni Air Rifle carried by Lewis and Clark on their expedition to explore and map the Louisiana Purchase of 1803. Believe it or not, the Girandoni was a PCP air rifle with an air tank for the buttstock. Each rifle came with a fill pump that required a dizzying 1500 strokes to fill. It was chambered in .46 caliber and sent round balls to their targets at over 110 foot-pounds of energy. That makes it about equal to the energy of a modern .22 long rifle. The Girandoni was used for hunting and fighting and was a modern marvel for its time.
What’s New with Modern Airguns
With big-bore hunting PCPs having been around since the 1700s, exactly what’s new and improved with the airguns we have today? Well to start, the manufacturing processes have improved to the point where these products are widely affordable and reliable. That was not the case with the Girandoni. There are affordable, big-bore airguns pushing out five times the power. Additionally, the gear to support them has also improved dramatically. While you can still use a hand pump to fill your PCP, the availability of affordable personal compressors has completely changed the market. So, at a fundamental level, one of the biggest changes boils down to affordable access to much better gear.
Modern CNC processes have also helped improve price and consistency. Critical parts like barrels and valves can now be made in large batches with relative ease while maintaining high tolerances. Other manufacturing processes, like injection molding, further help create a high volume of parts at a much lower cost.
While the concept of PCP airguns has existed for a few hundred years, the execution of the technology has improved and continues to improve almost daily. The most critical “new” piece of technology has to be the implementation of affordable pressure regulators. PCP airguns work off a pressurized air reservoir that connects to a valve that connects to the barrel. When the valve is opened, air from the cylinder flows through to the barrel and drives the projectile forward. As the pressure decreases, the performance changes, and it can change with each shot. A regulator sits between the tank and the valve, creating a buffer to measure air volume at a specific pressure. It’s the same as a measured charge for reloading, and it delivers a consistent volume of air at a specified pressure for each shot. As long as the pressure in the tank is greater than the set regulator output pressure, you should see the same power shot to shot. This one device, now available in even the most affordable PCP airguns, has transformed the PCP market in recent years.
What About Spring Airguns
Spring airguns came on the scene in the early 1900s. They greatly simplified the entire process by eliminating the cumbersome air cylinder and the need to fill it. Early spring guns were moderately powered and were relegated mostly to target shooting in clubs and maybe some light pest control.
The same manufacturing processes that advanced PCP airguns have also improved spring airguns. Better materials and the knowledge of how to use them have delivered improved power, incredible accuracy, and small to medium game hunting performance. Spring gun power can’t rival big-bore PCP power just yet, but maybe one day.
Like the Regulator for PCP airguns, one device has really helped transform modern spring guns: the widespread adoption of the gas ram. A gas ram also called a “nitro piston” or an “air spring,” provides more constant power delivery and a better overall shooting experience by eliminating vibration and torque recoil.
When new technologies like the gas ram are combined with improved manufacturing and economies of scale, the entire industry benefits. Today, spring airguns are more reliable, more accurate, more powerful, and more affordable than ever.
What Does the Future Hold for Airguns
If we had a crystal ball to see what the future holds for modern airguns, we’d put our money on more power, more range, and more accuracy. It’s hard to imagine, with today’s airguns already pushing past the 100-yard accuracy barrier and the capacity to surpass firearms for energy on target, but that’s where we think things are headed. Additionally, we expect the gap between budget and high-end to widen and not shrink. Electronics have started to play a big role in niche airgun manufacturing, and those systems are expensive. It’s a topic that may deserve a dedicated look down the road. Let us know if you all would like to learn more about how electronics are entering the airgun world. It’s an interesting new time for airgunners.
