Precharged Pneumatic Air Rifles

Pre-charged pneumatic (PCP) air rifles use air from a SCUBA tank or a high-pressure hand pump or compressor that is stored in a high-pressure reservoir on the gun. Olympic target models, many hunting air rifles, and many long-range varmint air rifles use this powerplant. This powerplant generally delivers highly accurate, consistent, and virtually recoil-free operation. Some models offer on-the-fly power adjustment. The chief disadvantage of these air rifles is that they are not self-contained, and so require extra gear – a high-pressure pump, compressor or SCUBA tank – to recharge the onboard reservoir. They also can be very loud, but many are now being offered with barrel shrouds or moderators that quiet the report considerably.