Gas Piston Guns

[Matthew Temkin]

Any info on these?
Are they better than spring powered guns?
What are the advantages/disadvantages?

 

[RussB]

Any info on these?

I have an early Beeman RX in 22cal. It was made by Weihrauch

Are they better than spring powered guns?

No. Like most things, you get what you pay for. This is especially true for air rifles

What are the advantages?

More power available than with a spring
consistency, the gas spring doesn't take a set or wear over time
less "twang"
fast cycle time
with some guns, adjustability. you can tune the velocity

What are the disadvantages?

They can be more expensive to buy and repair
Like any high powered spring gun, they are hard to cock and break scopes...I've broke a few "airgun rated" scopes
They can be difficult to shoot accurately. All high powered springers require good airgun shooting technique



Here's a couple pics of my RX. I bought it new in 1990. That Swift scope broke...





This Leupold 3-9EFR has held up to the recoil,



here's the "rig" I use to adjust the ram's pressure,

 

[chicharrones]

That's something I haven't seen before, Russ. Is it worth the effort to be able to change the gas spring pressure?

 

[chicharrones]

Any info on these?
Are they better than spring powered guns?
What are the advantages/disadvantages?

I only have a Crosman/Benjamin Nitro Piston air rifle (gas spring) and have shot another gas spring gun similar to it. They are quieter to the ear due to no spring noise in the "receiver" of the gun. Yet, muzzle noise is more or less the same as a steel spring gun for the same claimed velocity.

If the Nitro Piston has been sitting uncocked for some time (a day, a week, etc.) the first time you cock it, it can be as stiff as a steel spring gun. Once that first cock is made for the shooting session, the cocking effort is noticeably less than steel spring gun. The cocking stroke kinda glides through and doesn't feel like you are pushing on a spring.

Other than that, a gas spring gun seems to shoot about the same as a steel spring gun in my hands.

 

[RussB]

Adjusting pressure let's you fine tune your rifle to your liking, and to squeeze the best accuracy possible with any given pellet