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Air gun facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

An air gun is a gun which uses gas to fire a projectile instead of burning gunpowder that an ordinary gun uses.

The oldest air guns used a bellows to compress (squeeze) air in a tube. When the gun was fired the air was released. The only way for the air to go was by pushing the pellet out.

A later invention was the spring piston, these can only fire one shot before the spring has to be reset. Newer guns use air or another gas in a small cartridge, these guns can fire many more shots before the cartridge needs to be changed or refilled.

The projectile for an air gun is usually a pellet. An airgun that shoots such pellets is commonly known as a pellet gun. Some guns of this sort fire small round pellets call "bb"s. Some people think this means ball bearing, but it does not. The letters bb stood for a size of shot that was used to make shotgun cartridges. This was used in the first bb guns.

The most popular calibres (pellet sizes) for air weapons are 4+1⁄2 mm 5+1⁄2 (also called .177 to .22). In many countries there are strict rules that limit the sales of air guns so not everyone can have one.

They are not as powerful as other guns but they can still hurt or even kill people.

Many people enjoy air rifle and pistol shooting either for fun or hunting. In the Olympics and target games, air pistols are used in some of the shooting events.

Images for kids

  • Airrifle Collection

    A collection of spring-piston air rifles

  • َAir rifle collection 4

    Break-barrel air rifles

  • Under Lever Spring Piston Air Rifles

    Under Lever Spring Piston Air Rifles

  • KunitomoAirGun

    Kunitomo air gun developed by the Japanese inventor Kunitomo Ikkansai, c. 1820–1830

  • KunitomoAirGunMechanism

    Kunitomo air gun trigger mechanism

  • Air rifle collection 2

    Variety of different types & models of spring piston & gas ram air guns

  • New Benelli Kite

    An example of a Benelli Kite pre-charged pneumatic air pistol, as used in 10 metre air pistol ISSF shooting events

  • 20ozCO2Condor

    Airforce Condor, one of the most powerful PCP air rifles on the market

  • BB gun with CO2 and BBs

    CO2 pistol and disposable Powerlet cylinders

  • Nitrogen tank

    A Pure Energy N2 tank with a remote line attached

  • Walther CP88 Schall

    Walther CP 88 CO2 pistol with adapted silencer

  • Diabolo prof

    Wadcutter or Flathead pellets

  • 177cal

    A .177 (4.5mm) caliber "Wadcutter" pellet next to a stick of chewing gum

  • BB copper and nickel plated

    Steel BBs coated with copper and nickel

  • LG Bolzen

    Darts for an air gun

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Air gun Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.