7. How Spring Action Air Guns Work

Spring-Action air guns achieve power by compressing a spring to a locking point called a trigger sear. As the spring is compressed, ambient air is pulled into the spring guide chamber by a seal that is mounted on the front of the spring. When released by the trigger sear the compressed spring snaps forward to its relaxed position and the ambient air is pushed out of the spring guide chamber by the spring seal sending the pellet pellet forward out of the gun barrel towards the target.

In many cases the cocking is done by the barrel itself, however, separate side levers and under levers are common allowing the barrel to stay fixed.

To overcome the resistance of a relaxed spring coil and compress It to create tension requires a measured amount of force referred to as “cocking effort” or pounds of force. A spring with thinner coils will require less cocking effort than a spring with thicker coils.

Spring-Action Air Guns have four levels of spring coil thickness:

• 21 to 30 pounds of easy cocking effort
  • Thinnest of coils
  • Same spring equals same power for .177, .22 and .25 calibers
    • .177 caliber: accuracy yes- with light weight pellets
    • .22 caliber: accuracy no- pellets too heavy!
    • .25 caliber: accuracy no- pellets way too heavy!
  • Beginner or youth air gunners
  • Up to 14 ft/lbs of energy (FPE)
  • Power for plinking and killing tin cans

• 31 to 40 pounds of average strength cocking effort
  • Medium thick coils
  • Same spring equals same power for .177, .22 and .25 calibers
    • .177 caliber: accuracy yes- with medium weight pellets
    • .22 caliber: accuracy possible- with very light weight pellets!
    • .25 caliber: accuracy no- pellets way too heavy!
  • Target and small pest control purchased by the majority of air gunners
  • 14 to 24 foot pounds of energy (FPE)
  • Authoritative knock-down power for animals up to 5 pounds

• 41 to 50 pounds of above average strength cocking effort
  • Thick coils
  • Same spring equals same power for .177, .22, .25 and ,30 calibers
    • .177 caliber: accuracy possible- with very light weight pellets
    • .22 caliber: accuracy yes- with medium weight pellets!
    • .25 caliber: accuracy no- pellets too heavy!
    • .30 caliber: accuracy no- pellets way too heavy!
  • Target and small to medium pest control for strong air gunners
  • 25 to 30 foot pounds of energy (FPE)
  • Possible Authoritative knock-down power for animals 6 to 10 pounds*

• 51 to 60 pounds of brute strength cocking effort
  • Thickest coils
  • Same spring equals same power for .22, .25 and .30 calibers
    • .22 caliber: accuracy possible- with very light weight pellets
    • .25 caliber: accuracy maybe- with light weight pellets
    • .30 caliber: accuracy no- pellets way too heavy!
  • Target and small to medium pest control for brute strength air gunners
  • 30 to 35 foot pounds of energy (FPE)
  • Possible Authoritative knock-down power for animals 10 to 15 pounds**

• *PCP .22 & .25 caliber: Authoritative Knock-Down Power for Animals 6 to 14 lbs.
• **PCP .25 & 30 caliber: Authoritative Knock-Down Power for Animals 15 to 24 lbs