Achieving Accuracy with an Air Rifle

Shooting a magnum spring powered air rifle is much different than shooting a .22 rim-fire or .308 center-fire rifle. It takes practice and patience to master shooting a spring piston rifle. Some have said that a better marksman will result when a person begins in the shooting sports with a spring powered air rifle and then moves to a firearm, as opposed to starting first with a rim- or center-fire. This is due to the fact that unlike a firearm, an air rifle has two specific recoils. The first kick is rearward like a firearm, followed by an additional forward kick that is unique to an airgun, thereby making the following points very important when aiming for accuracy with a high powered air rifle.

Position and Grip Affects Spring Gun Accuracy. The shock and vibration generated from a spring gun will cause accuracy issues if you rest the air gun on a solid bench, rail, or other static structure. Use pillows or old quilts when shooting off of a bench or rest and never rest the airgun’s barrel on any object. Position your spring gun so that it is resting and pointing at a specific target point without being held. You can then ease into the shooting position without changing the sight picture. By taking out as much of the "human factor" of holding your air rifle, your accuracy will most likely improve. Always hold the airgun "loosely" at the forearm and in the shoulder. Spring guns usually become inaccurate when held tightly. If you’re still not achieving the accuracy you expect, experiment with your grip, position, or both. The position of your hands and body can affect your accuracy.

Follow-through is very important when shooting a springer. Try not to blink and stay focused on the bullseye before, during, and after the shot. Be sure to squeeze the trigger. Pulling or jerking the trigger will result in terrible accuracy.

If you’re using a scope, make sure it is mounted securely. Spring guns generate a lot of shock and vibration. If the scope is not locked down, it will move and affect accuracy. Also make sure to use an airgun scope with ASR, Airgun Shock Reinforcement. These air rifle scopes have reinforcement on both lenses to handle the specific double recoil of a spring rifle. You may end up with a broken reticle if you use a scope made for a firearm.

Each rifle is unique and has its own characteristics. To achieve the best performance, try an RWS Pellet Sampler to see which airgun ammo your gun shoots most accurately. Generally, you’ll find that a high quality German made airgun pellet, such as RWS Meisterkugeln or an RWS Super Dome will work very well when seeking accuracy.

Finally, keep in mind that spring piston airguns typically have a break-in period. They can require 500 to 1000 shots to break in properly. Groups may be erratic for the first 100+ shots. You may be able to minimize this by cleaning the bore with a quality airgun bore cleaner when you first get your air rifle.

And remember, always engage your brain when handling any type of gun. Think about what the projectile will hit if the gun fires. Keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction. Treat every gun as if it is loaded and ready to fire at all times.