Shoot Like a Pro
ReadyNutrition guys and gals, this article is presented in the hopes of giving you a method for being able to practice your marksmanship both on the cheap and (logistically) under “friendly” surroundings. There are a host of different air rifles to choose from. I must state there has been a marked deterioration in the quality of air-powered (or pneumatic, if you prefer) firearms over the past thirty to forty years. No matter: you can still accomplish what you need with what is on the market today.
Fundamentals of Marksmanship
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Air rifles can be either powered by Carbon Dioxide (CO 2) cartridges, or with an internal pneumatic pump, either with multiple pumps for increasing power or a single pump (as with “break-barrel” models of rifles). For the most part your standard air guns come in either .177 or .22 caliber models. Beeman offers one that has interchangeable barrels in both calibers, with the velocity decreasing slightly as the caliber is larger.
There are many things you can do with an air rifle from a hunting and survival perspective. You can hunt small game quietly without the need for a suppressor if you’re doing it on the q-t, and ammo for it is both affordable and (when the SHTF) able to be reproduced simply (refer to the recent article I wrote on how to build your own forge).
The air rifle or air pistol fires pellets and/or BB’s (little ball bearings) that can be reused repeatedly. There are several “trap” targets like this one available with replaceable buffer materials on the inside. These targets enable you to collect your air rifle ammo and use it again. It is a simple thing to set up a range within your own basement or out in your backyard with an air rifle or air pistol. Although the motion of the weapon in terms of recoil is reduced from that of a rifle, the fundamentals of marksmanship are the same. Here they are:
Breathing: Before you pull that trigger, you need to control your breathing, and optimally should pull immediately after you have exhaled
Aim: Self-explanatory, but it involves you zeroing on your target to line up your sights with your eyes and enable you to hit that bullseye.
Trigger squeeze: Should be accomplished with the very tip/end of your index finger, and should be a smooth, non-jerky action akin to squeezing a lemon
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