You may be thinking to yourself: “Nick – why are you talking about Oprah here at the air rifle club?” Well – in celebration of Oprah I give you – Jefklak’s Favorite Things!  We will be listing some of our favorite things here at the Air Rifle Club.  Unfortunately we won’t be giving them away but enjoy them anyway!

1. The Hatsan 95 Air Rifle – as many of you know this is my all time favorite air rifle.  You must get it!
2. Crosman Destroyer Pellets – .177 Caliber – the best pellets on the market!
3. LOOGU Net Camouflage – perfect for hunting small game!
4. Personal Hydration Camouflage Water Bottle – Stay hydrated.
5. IRONMAN Gravity – this is the inversion table reviews website around – great for stretching out after a long air rifle session.
6. Gamo Whisper Silent Cat Air Rifle – this is quickly becoming my favorite tactical style air rifle – and it comes with a great silencer!
7. New York Times – this is my favorite newspaper to read still – especially the restaurant reviews.
8. JetBlue – my favorite airline – especially good for booking vacation packages.
9. Chattanooga Rifle Club – the best rifle club in all of Chattanooga.

As you can see – not all of the items here are directly air rifle related – but most are close enough.  We can enjoy things outside of just air rifles though – right?  Travel is nice and so are restaurants! Also – if you’re ever in Chattanooga -check out that rifle club.  Nice guys and gals over there.

Check back as I’ll be adding more stuff to this list as I come across things.  Have something you think we should add?  Use the contact us form to get in touch – we would love to hear what you have to say.

UPDATE – 08/03/2016

After a couple emails – we’ve decided to follow up with a second post later this year outlining favorite reader submitted things.  Thanks you for the feedback!

Is There Really a Difference?

After finally choosing the best pellet gun, it can be a confusing task to sort out the best air rifle scope. With dozens of choices (all with different features), you’ll have to consider the kind of pellet gun you’re purchasing and the kind of shooting you’d like to do. All scopes are not the same. Note: you should never use a firearm scope on an air rifle; the recoil from the air rifle is more powerful than that of a firearm and will damage the scope. Do your research. It’s worth it, as there are some very real differences between air rifle scopes and you don’t want to end up with one that’s more (or way less) than what you need. Here are the basics to get you started in finding the best air rifle scope.

Fixed Scopes

Among your less expensive choices will be scopes that have fixed magnification. This means that the magnification on them is always the same; you can’t change it to zoom in closer. The magnification level on the lens will be indicated by numbers such as 4×32. This means that when you look through the scope, the image you see will be magnified 4 times.

A fixed scope lens (in addition to being less expensive) is quick and easy. The downside to this type of lens is that you can’t increase the magnification. Fixed scopes are great for hunting small game (like rodents) at close distances.

Variable Scopes

Unlike fixed scopes, variable scopes can be zoomed in to a variety of magnifications. You’ll see more numbers on the side of a variable scope; for instance, 3-9×32. This means that the scope is able to magnify from 3 to 9 times. The increased magnification on variable scopes make them great for hunting at longer distances, but they tend to be pricier than fixed scopes.

What Does the Last Number Mean?

The last number on a scope is the objective lens size. The side of the lens you look through is the ocular lens, while the opposite side is the objective lens. The larger the magnification, the bigger your objective lens will be. A bigger objective lens lets in more light, which makes the picture clearer and brighter. If you’re shooting in low light or at dusk, a larger objective lens is ideal.

The Bottom Line: Do Your Homework!
As you can see, the scope you choose matters just as much as the air rifle. If you’re first starting out, don’t want to spend a lot of money, and won’t be shooting at long distances, a fixed scope should work well for you – do not use the fixed scope for deer hunting. If you’re a more experienced shooter or one who wants to shoot at a longer range, don’t waste your money on a fixed scope. Instead, spring for a variable scope. As with all things, keep in mind that you get what you pay for; cheaper scopes may denote a lack of quality. It’s worth investing in one that will last.

What is a pellet gun?

A pellet projectile is non-spherical, unlike a BB, and is designed to fire from an air gun. Pellet guns differ from other firearms in that they “operate at pressures as low as 50 atmospheres, while firearms operate at thousands of atmospheres.”1 Pellet guns are good for hunting small game like rabbit, dove, quail or duck. They are easy to use with practice and proper safety training.

Why get a pellet gun for your family?

Low Cost

Ammunition for pellet guns is extremely cheap. A few dollars will get you hundreds of pellets. Traditional ammunition is typically much more expensive, which makes it precious and more painful if you spend them up practicing with your family. If you adopt pellet guns as a hobby, you’ll want ample pellets at your disposal.  Find our selections for the best air rifle.

Quiet

Pellet guns are great to use while teaching children about gun safety for many reasons, one of which being that they’re silent. You don’t have to worry about their small ears or intimidating shy kids with a huge booming gun. Not only that, but silence allows for privacy while practicing and shooting.

Open Carry

Laws concerning firearms are serious and should not be bent. “Open carrying or storing of firearms in a vehicle or in public is prohibited in most areas, but there is no such restriction regarding pellet guns in most areas.”2 This means if you want to take a camping trip or travel with the family and bring your pellet guns along, you should be good to go. (Although you should always check with your local law enforcement agency to be sure.)

Benefit for Children

Over the last decade or so, a staggering number of people – adult and child – have lost their lives due to children improperly handling guns. Many people want to teach their children about guns and gun safety, but choose the wrong weapon. However, properly learning to shoot can help children on many levels.

“Lining up the sights on a distant target takes deep concentration. Children must slow their breathing and tune into the beat of their hearts to be able to squeeze the trigger at precisely the right moment. […] touching the trigger correctly takes small motor skills; doing both at once engages the whole brain. Marksmanship is an exercise in a high order of body-hand-eye-mind coordination.”3

Given the size of pellet guns and smaller degree of possible damage than a rifle or handgun, for example, they make great tools with which to teach your children about gun safety.

Confidence and Bonding

Learning a new skill as a family and creating a unique tradition in your home can have lasting effects on the relationship between you and your children. Learning new skills imbues children with confidence and gun safety has the added benefit of teaching them respect for the weapon and the lives of others. Carrying this skill with them as they grow older can provide them with a unique degree of confidence. Spending time together as a family, no matter how you do it, is beneficial. Why not choose something fun and interesting that can help your child learn to be safe?

Since there are so many types of air rifle scopes from which to choose and each has its own special features, the first thing to do is consider the basics. Simply put, a scope will magnify the image that is being targeted and will put you and the object on the same visual plane. It works by using lenses set inside the scope that bend the light that enters in order to make the image bigger.

Air rifle scopes are special because they are designed to be able to withstand the recoil and vibrations of an air rifle. A firearm scope should not be used on an air rifle.

Types of Air Rifle Scopes

There are two main types of air rifle scopes, a fixed scope and a variable scope. The fixed scope is set to one magnification and no adjustments can be made to it. A fixed scope will be denoted similar to this: 4×15 or 4×32. This means that the object is magnified four times. One of the advantages of a fixed scope is that once it is sighted in there is little adjustment needed. The obvious disadvantage of this type of scope is that the image cannot be magnified any more than the set magnification.

Variable scopes allow images to be magnified at different settings, typically between 3 to 15 times. The number will be denoted similar to 3-9×32. This means that the images can be magnified between 3 to 9 times and the 32 refers to the objective lens.

Objective Sizes

When looking at scopes the last number specified refers to the objective size. For example, if the scope states that it is 4-16×50, the 50 refers to the 50 mm objective lens or the opening of the lens. Objective size is important for a couple of reasons. First, the bigger the lens size the stronger the magnification is going to be. Secondly, larger objectives allow more light into the scope, which provides a picture that is brighter and clearer.

Choosing the Right Scope for your Needs

Now that the basics are out of the way there are a few things that should be considered when picking out a scope. First, decide the type of hunting that you do most. For hunting small rodents at close ranges a fixed scope of 4×32 is ideal. For hunting larger varmints, a variable scope will be best.

Next, decide on the quality of scope that you want and then buy one that is a bit better. It is always better to get something that is a bit nicer so that you do not regret your purchase.

Overall, choosing the right air rifle scope may seem daunting at first, but if you take the time to choose the right one to meet your needs you will find that your aim will improve greatly over time.

Some might think that the air gun (which includes air rifles, pellet guns, air pistols and any other weapon that uses gas or compressed air to force a projectile at high speeds) is a recent invention but the truth is, air guns have been around for centuries. In fact, the blow pipe, which is used to send sharp darts usually tipped with poison, has been around for much longer than that and uses the same basic technology.

Also, most modern day air rifle owners don’t realize that the preferred form of weaponry in the 16^th century was the air gun. Although they had guns in the 16^th century, they were loud, smelly and required the manual lighting of gunpowder. Most nobles and other folks with money used air guns for hunting. They were expensive then, but they were also quiet and could be used in wet conditions, unlike the arquebus, which was the firearm of choice until the musket came along.

In the 18^th and 19^th centuries the air gun became quite popular among soldiers. They had a number of advantages over the musket when it came to combat. For one thing, they were quiet and didn’t have a muzzle flash, so you wouldn’t give away your position when you fired. They also would work in the rain and were easier to load, which resulted in faster shooting.

The air rifle got a big boost in the 50’s and 60’s, as they were advertised heavily as toys for kids. At the time, kids idolized frontiersmen like Davy Crockett and nearly every kid wanted one, as shown in movies like A Christmas Story and books like The Great Brain Series. Today, air guns compete with paintball guns, but both are used widely, mostly for sport or group competitions, but occasionally for hunting as well.

Clearly air rifles have come along way in the past centuries.  Never before have we seen such a great selection of rifles and air rifle scopes avaliable.  Some of the big names like Hatsan, Benjamin and Gamo provide rifles that would make previous generations very jealous.  I have also seen a tremendous amount of new enthusiasts starting to purchase air rifle accessories online.  Be cleaning kits, targets or anything else the air rifle industry is alive and well.  I can’t wait to see what new innovation we can expect to see.  My favorite would be the joining or air rifle scopes and night vision goggles.

It is often said that once you learn how to shoot with an air rifle or a pellet gun, you will not forget it. If you pick up either of these after several years of gap, it will all come back to you like it happens when riding a bicycle. However, that level of skill and familiarity can only be achieved when you actually have had ample practice in aiming, shooting and using an air rifle or a pellet gun. Regular practice also helps you to master the skill in less favorable circumstances like shooting during horse-riding, running or having to make an aim in a short time. Basically, it is just how the saying goes; practice makes perfect.

So what are the benefits of spending hours at target practice? The first one is, as we mentioned above; you will not forget the art and technique of using an air rifle if you have had enough practice. Regularly doing target practice helps to curb down your reflexes and bad habits such as flinching, dropping the gun and eye blinking. Also, some people feel their heart beat to be racing, their sympathetic system to be in an overdrive every time they handle their pellet guns. These all get reduced to regular practice and even if they persist, no longer will they interfere with your aim and target.

As far as the maintenance is concerned, air rifles and pellet guns do not require high maintenance, but cleaning and oiling helps increase their life. Regular maintenance and cleaning of the gun helps increase its life, it will last for several years if you take good care of it. It also reduces the chances of malfunctioning that may occur due to the buildup of dust, rust because of the constant air exposure and the metal residue of the jacketed bullets. Furthermore, it is actually a great way to learn how your gun works. Often the huge size and numerous functions of the air rifle intimidate us and we are unable to become better shooters because of the uncertainty. As you maintain your gun, you get a clearer picture of how it works and that will help you become a better shooter.

Learning and mastering the use of an air rifle or a pellet gun is an art, a skill that only improves if you put in enough efforts. So pick up your rifle today and begin practicing and clean it afterwards, which is what will help you the most!

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Choosing a good air rifle is not only about choosing the gun itself but also choosing the best air rifle pellets available. Remember, choosing good grade pellets mean you also protect your airgun. Low quality calibers only decrease your airguns performance and torn them apart, and even lead to users injuries. There are several types of pellets which have their own advantages and disadvantages. Some pellets are best for pest, others are good for rabbits while some are best for birds. You should know your job and choose the suitable one for each task to maximize the pellet gun performance.

Four Basic Pellet Gun’s Calibers

There are four basic types of pellets for your air rifle include: wadcutter, domed nosed, hollowpoint and pointed pellet.

Wadcutter Air Rifle Pellet

This type of pellet is excellent for target shooting. The the wadcutter pellet has a flat nose and it is widely known that it is exceptionally accurate at short distance shooting.

Crossman wadcutter air rifle pellet is used extensively in competition shooting.

Domed or Round Nosed Air Rifle Pellet

The domed or round nosed pellets, which have the best aerodynamics, are used extensively in field target and small game hunting. They are considered to be the best utility pellet which can handle any task that are thrown in. If you want a type of pellet that is good for both shooting practice and hunting, choose this one.

RWS domed air rifle pellet is an all-rounder.

This type of pellet can be used in both hunting and competition shooting.

Hollowpoint Air Rifle Pellet

The hollowpoint air rifle pellet is mostly used for hunting since they have good features for this job. The pellet’s design offer maximum energy transfer to the animal that make the strongest impact and biggest wound when it penetrates the prey. Such features are good for taking down a game almost instantly. They perform best at distance under 25 yards.

Haendler & Natermann hollowpoint air rifle pellet gives great impact power.

Pointed Air Rifle Pellet

The pointed tip of the pellet makes excellent penetration upon impact and these pointed pellets are accurate in long range shooting. This is one of the most popular type of airgun pellets on the market today.

Pointed pellet offers excellent penetration for long distance shooting.

The pointed tip will get the job done, even at long distance.

Conclusion

The description above offer a quick review on pellet gun’s projectiles. However the results vary from person to person. Some feel great with this type of pellet while others are not. You can buy a pellet sampler kit which contains a number of different types of pellets to try out. You can find out what is the best type (and size) of pellets for you and your air rifle.

Benjamin Pellet Sample Pack is a good choice to find out which type of caliber is the best for you.

Beside pellets, you should consider some more accessories for your pellet rifle such as air gun scopes, reticle point sights and tripods for better shooting. More important, you should also learn how to maintain your air rifle and accessories. Treat the tools well and they will serve you best.

–> Learn to capture video while hunting.

Learn how to hunt rabbits here.

Rabbit Sott’olio: delicious reward for airgun hunters

Ingredients

– 2 cleaned rabbits

– 4 quarts of vegetable oil

– 1 spoon plus 1⁄4 cup of olive oil

– Unpeeled cloves of garlic

– 6 sprigs fresh thyme

– Red wine vinegar

– 1 sliced red onion

– Carrots, chop down into small pieces

– 4 cups baby arugula

– 1⁄4 cup of lightly toasted pine nuts

– 1⁄4 cup Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, shaved or grated

– Salt and ground pepper

How to make:

1. First, heat the oven up to 300 oF. Scrub the rabbits with salt and pepper, then place them in a Dutch oven. Mix vegetable with olive oil with a 3:1 ratio with the amount enough to submerge the whole rabbits. Add in garlic and thyme, and use aluminum foil to cover the Dutch oven. Cook the oiled rabbits in the oven for about 1.5 hours. Check if the meat become tender and fall apart the bone. Let them cool.

2. In the meantime, mix 1⁄3 cup of red wine vinegar with 1⁄3 cup of water, and boil the mixture. Pour this hot vinegar mixture over the sliced onions prepared in a bowl. Stir the bowl, add in salt and pepper, and let the onions to pickle naturally.

3. Lightly heat up 1 tablespoon of olive oil, then add the carrots. In the next 6-8 minutes, cook and stir the span until the carrots are tender but not soppy. Add salt and pepper for move to the next step.

4. Make a vinaigrette: Put 1⁄4 cup of red wine vinegar in a bowl and gradually add in 1⁄4 cup of olive oil, until the oil and vinegar are thoroughly mixed together. Add salt and pepper to this mixture.

5. When the rabbits are cool down, take the meat out of the bones.

6. The meat can be served for 4 people. When serve, warm up the meat with some oil in the pan. In a big bowl, gradually toss the arugula with the drained red onions, cheese, carrots, pine nuts, and about 3 tablespoon of vinaigrette. Split the salad among four plates, and top with the rabbit, adding some cheese and salt and pepper if you like.

Let think of a dark and cold outside, meanwhile in your warm room, you are cleaning your beloved air rifle and telling your kids great hunting stories, with a full stomach after a delicious meal. There is nothing more relaxing than that! Keep calm and aim well.

There are some considerations that you need to bear in mind as you are going to camp alone. This article will present 8 excellent tips for an unforgettable perfect camping trip.

Camping alone will bring you wonderful memories and experience.

1. Have Some Experience

Camping alone is only suitable for experienced campers. If you are new to outdoor activities, stick with other people several times before going on your own. No one suddenly wakes up and becomes an outdoorsman. Start with the basic, learn from experienced people and you will build up your necessary experience. When you are skilled enough, you can go camping alone.

If you are new to outdoor activities, go in group or join some training course beforehand.

2. Share Your Camping Plan With Your Family

Before you are going on a solo camping trip, it is important to inform your family about it. Create a detailed schedule and stick to it when you are on the trails. If there is something unusual happens, your family will know what to do in that case.

3. Be Prepared

You should consider your plans carefully and bring only essential items for your trip. Bring things that help you survive in the wild, leave luxury comfort things at home to make sure that you can manage everything easily on your own.

4. Go For Attainable Plans

If you are new to solo camping, don’t be impatient and throw yourself in harsh trails. If you are injured or lost in a trails, things become worse since you can rely only on your own. You should begin with popular and marked trails to build up experience. In such populated areas, you have more change get help from passerby if anything bad happen.

At first, go in marked trail in populated area for your own safe and build up your experience.

5. Hone Your Safety Skills

You should always bring a first aid kit and know basic medical treatments. You should learn to read weather to react according to the case, too. In some areas, be aware of wild animals there such as bears, mountain lions… and know what to do one you encounter them. It is best to prepare some sort of equipment such as bear spray, defensive tool..etc

6. Keep In Touch

You should bring along a communicating device that allow you to contact to the outside world in case of an emergency, such as handheld radios. Cell phone is not reliable as you think since they will fail on battery or connection cut off in remote area. You can invest in a good satellite phone or a personal locater beacon or another transceiver device. These devices will help you contact with emergency responders and people back home. If you are on a low budget, you can borrow or rent them.

7. Entertainment items

You should have some sort of entertainments to keep your spirit up. In the dark cold night, you can bring along a book, or your favorite instruments, like a flute or a harmonica or anything you feel comfortable with. Some campers love to do bushcraft work while sitting in front of a campfire.

Bring something that can entertain you. Always keep your spirit high.

8. Plan on a multi-day trip

Spending a night outside the wild makes it different from a quick trip. You can experience more than your think. A 3 days and 2 nights will be ideal for your experience, when you can live in harmony with the nature as well as getting over the fear of being lonely in the great space. After getting back to your busy life, you will feel more confident and different. In a multi-day trip, you should plan activities beforehand, such as first day you will go all for setting up camp site, second day is for air rifle hunting and last day for fishing. It is important to distribute your time on each activities. Normally, the first day is the busiest day since you have to prepare your camp site, setting up tent, prepare camp pit, cooking table…etc The second day is the ace of the trip when most interesting activities should be done. The last day will be saved for light activities since you have to take time to pack the camp gear and go back home.

Bring along your favorite air-gun or fishing rod if you plan on doing some hunting or fishing in the camp.

Sometime there may be some incidents that you are not expected but as long as you prepare well and come home safe, they will be part of your experience and fun memories. Be prepared and enjoy the nature.

–> Picking good CO2 for your favorite pellet gun.

Never put all eggs in one basket. Setup your survival gears in 3 layers for emergency cases.

Layer 1: The Main Pack

The main survival backpack consists of all important gears to guarantee you a comfortable experience.

The first layer of gear is your main survival or hunting pack. This pack should content gear that will allow you to be self-reliant while being out on the wild. Take all the supplies you would use for a 3 days backpacking trip and you are well prepared. You can add in some items for self-defense against animals such as pepper spray, bear spray and some communication device just in case something bad happens. The Spec Ops T.H.E. Ultimate Assault Pack is a great choice. This battle tested is super tough with great design for outdoor activities including shooting involved sport. When placing flat on the ground, the front pouches create an ideal pad for your gun to rest in (which is an original idea of the designer).

–> Read more about the Spec Ops T.H.E. Ultimate Assault Pack

Layer 2: The Kit Bag

This second layer contains some essential items, that you can call it some kind of bug out bag (or BOB). Normally these items are just for backup but in case of necessary, they can be your life saver. You can use any sort of small pack as soon as they are comfortable and convenient to wear. You can use a modular medical pack, leg pouches, military-style belt pack or even chest rig.

Ideally, you can choose a kit bag or medium molle pouch which is rugged and reasonable sized for your survival items.

–> See more pre-set survival kits here

The kit bag is a backup setup, which provide you emergency items if the main pack is lost.

What will you want to put in this kit bag? In short, you should pack items that have similar functions like those of your main pack but with a space-saving scale. For example, you will get a survival blanket instead of a sleeping bag, an inflatable water bladder with some disinfection tablets instead of water-filters and canteen. Some utility items such as Bic lighters or fire starter rods, compasses, backup folding knives, cordage, first aid kit, thread and needle, fish hook, rubber band and a small metal cup for boiling are recommended, too. If possible, add some high-calorie snacks or candy, or MERE for your kit bag. This kit will be attached to your body, be it on the belt or on your thigh, or on your chest, which will be independent of your main pack.

Layer 3: Your EDC Set

Your last ditch: your EDC!

The last survival layer is your everyday carry set. This set should have a pocket EDC knife, mini flashlight, multi-tool, lighter, and some other personal things that you can put in your pockets. These great EDC items will your boosting hope or even life saver in case you lost all other gears. In the worst scenario, you can survive with just a knife and a lighter with basic outdoor skills. Yes, you may be not a rampaging Bear Grylls, but at least you can make a shelter and a fire and hopefully, manage to gather some food to wait for rescue.

If you are into outdoor hunting (or a kind of prepper), get your best air rifle and pack your BOB in good arrangements before you go. You can read this article about choosing a good airgun. As the old saying “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.”, be a little more cautious and everything will go smoothly in every situation. Always be prepared!

–> 8 Great Solo Camping Tips You Should Know