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A GUIDE TO GETTING STARTED WITH AIRGUNS

Whether you’re plinking, handling pest control, off on a hunt, or even after big game, there’s a Benjamin air gun that hits the mark. Getting started is easy with a little guidance on the different types of air rifles and accessories.
Almost all Benjamin air guns use the pre-charged pneumatic (PCP) firing method. This means they use a high-pressure, pre-filled integrated reservoir to force compressed air through the barrel to fire pellets. See our pellet gun ammo guide to learn more about our pellets.

WE BELIEVE PCP IS THE SUPERIOR CHOICE OF FIRING METHOD.

THE BENEFITS OF PCP

  • An air gun shooting through a block of ice
    High Power, High Accuracy
    With a full reservoir, a PCP air gun delivers high power and high accuracy with almost no recoil. Other methods of firing an air gun allow for less consistency, accuracy, and power.
  • Different pellets laying on a table
    Multiple Shots, Less Hassle
    With a PCP, you can fire dozens of pellets before you’ll need to top off the reservoir. And because PCP reservoirs are highly pressurized and large, you can fire without pausing to pump or refill. Enjoy this high level of reliability with these types of air rifles from Benjamin Airguns.
  • A person holding an air gun pressure gauge
    See Your Status
    Benjamin PCP air guns all feature a pressure gauge, so you can see when you need a refill.
  • a man crafting an air gun
    Make it Yours
    Benjamins like the Marauder can be fine-tuned to fit your shooting preferences. You can adjust the hammer spring, the striker, and the valve metering screw to match the pellet you’re using and to flatten the curve as you deplete the reservoir.
 

TYPES OF AIRGUNS

THERE ARE FOUR MAIN CATEGORIES OF AIRGUNS, EACH WITH A DIFFERENT FIRING METHOD.
Spring Piston

These types of air rifles come in break barrel, side-cocking, and underlever varieties. All use a cocking mechanism to retract a spring, which activates an internal piston to push air through the barrel and fire the pellet.

PROS/CONS: Spring-piston air guns only need to be cocked once before every shot, and every shot is a positive. The recoil can be an issue and so can the barrel droop—that’s when you fail to perfectly lock up the barrel, so your aim gets thrown off.

Nitro Piston

A step up from spring-piston air guns, these swap compressed gas for the spring in the action. In both types of air rifles, a piston gets pushed forward to compress air in the barrel and fire the pellet, but a Nitro Piston (or Gas Piston) air gun has a built-in cylinder permanently filled with compressed gas. When you cock the air gun you further compress the gas inside so it can consistently power the piston and fire a pellet.

PROS/CONS: Nitro piston air guns have to be cocked before every shot, but they deliver consistent power over many shots while a spring can relax over time. Noise and vibration are also reduced with a Nitro Piston air gun. The NP has more power but the downside to this platform is the fact that the cocking effort is slightly higher than your typical spring break barrel.

Pneumatic

Also called variable pump air guns, these types of air rifles get filled via pump action. Some can be fired with just a single stroke, while others require more.

PROS: There is no recoil, and they are typically more accurate than break barrels. Control your power. Apply 2 pumps when just plinking to up to 12 pumps when you need that knock down power.

CO2-Powered

These use disposable cartridges as a power source. You load one into the air gun and then prime it so that each trigger pull releases a consistent amount of compressed gas.

PROS/CONS: These can be fired repeatedly without re-cocking. There’s no recoil, but the pressure will fluctuate as the cartridge gets depleted.

PCP

These types of air rifles use the same mechanism as pneumatic air guns, only they’re powered by a much larger, high-pressure reservoir.

 

GEAR UP

a man holding an air gun next to an air compressor in a shop
You’ll need a few things to get started:
  • For spring-piston and pump-action air guns, all you need is the air gun and pellets. Read our pellet gun ammo guide for more insights.
  • If you opt for a CO2 air gun, you’ll need to add Powerlets®.
  • For a PCP air gun, you’ll need a filling solution.

FILL WITH HIGH-PRESSURE POWER

With the Right Help
Most PCP air gun reservoirs need to be filled to between 2000 and 4500 psi (pounds per square inch). That’s more than a standard home compressor can handle but, for a small fee, and with the right adaptor, you can swing by and get your Benjamin filled at a dive shop or paintball range. This works across all types of PCP air rifles at Benjamin Airguns.
DIY

You can fill an air gun reservoir with a high-pressure hand pump. These use multi-stage compression to reach pressure. Filling an air gun with a hand pump is labor-intensive, but it’s relatively inexpensive.

A Benjamin Charging System Cylinder can be filled at a dive shop, and then you can use it to top off your air gun around six times before you’ll need to get it refilled.

Benjamin also offers two models of high-pressure air compressors:

  • The Traveler runs off a 12-volt battery—like the one in your car.
  • The Recharge is a plug-in model.
 

READY, AIM, FIRE!

Once you’ve made your choice from all the types of air rifles we have in stock, lined up your gear, and checked out our simple pellet gun ammo guide, there are only a few steps before you’re ready to fire a PCP air gun.

  • Fill your reservoir
  • Load your pellets
  • That's it.

If you’re following all applicable laws and all recommended safety precautions, you’re ready to shoot.

 

THE RIGHT AIRGUN FOR YOU

Air guns can be used in far more situations than a firearm.

While laws vary between states, in general, you can:

  • Use any type of air rifle without a license
  • Use one outside of firearm hunting seasons
  • Shoot them in places other than ranges.

Because air guns are quieter, your neighbors won’t complain, and you don’t need ear protection.

Air guns are less expensive to use.

While you might spend hundreds on 500 30-06 rounds, the same number of air gun pellets sell for $15. With more powerful, high-caliber air guns now available, there are a dwindling number of situations in which only a firearm will do.

 

RECOMMENDATIONS

First Timers
If this is your first ever air gun, the Benjamin Marauder Pistol is perfect for beginners. We have different types of air rifles ideal for all experience levels.
Every Day Users
Everyday shooters will likely lean toward a more advanced air gun, such as a Benjamin Marauder or Akela, both of which come in a variety of calibers.
Big Game
If you’re after a bigger game, you’ll want either the Benjamin Bulldog (.457) or a Pioneer Airbow, which can fire 8 full-length arrows in the same amount of time it would take to fire three from a crossbow.
 
Benjamin puts the power in your hands—the power to make something yours, to live the way you want, and to walk tall the whole way. We already know what Benjamin air guns can do. It's what you can do with yours that we're ready to see. Explore our different types of air rifles and get the perfect ammo with our pellet gun ammo guide today.
BENJAMIN PCP PUTS THE POWER IN YOUR HANDS.