Air riflery

An air gun is any kind of small arms that propels projectiles by means of compressing air or other gases which are pressurized via mechanical methods that involve with no chemical reactions, in contrast to a firearm, which uses combustible propellants that involves an exothermic chemical reaction (deflagration). Both the rifle and handgun forms (air rifle and air pistol) typically propel metallic projectiles, either non-spherical pellets, or spherical BBs. Certain types of air guns (usually rifles) may also propel arrows or darts.

The first air guns were developed as early as the 1500s. They have been used in hunting, sporting and warfare. Modern air guns use one of three types of power source depending on the design: spring-piston, pneumatic and bottled compressed gas (most commonly carbon dioxide).

Air guns represent the oldest pneumatic technology. The oldest existing mechanical air gun, a bellows air gun dating back to about 1580, is in the Livrustkammaren Museum in . This is the time most historians recognize as the beginning of the modern air gun.

Throughout 17th to 19th century, air guns in calibers .30–.51, were used to hunt big-game deer and wild boar. These air rifles were charged using a pump to fill an air reservoir and gave velocities from 650 to 1,000 feet per second (200–300 m/s). They were also used in warfare, the most recognized example being the Girandoni air rifle.

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