Must Reads – Page 2 – Air Gun Planet

If you're trying to decide between a springer and a gas ram for your next airgun then you are in the right place. It's an old question with a whole lot of bluster on both sides of the fence. Which side is right? I can't tell you what's right for you, but I can tell you springers are the best in my book, but not for the reasons you might think. What I can do for you is to explain the major differences, and how they will affect you. You can take me at my word that springers are better or you can continue reading this article to make the decision that best fits you as a shooter. It's time to get into some details. What's the difference in how a springer and gas ram work? The best place to start when deciding if you want to pick up a gas ram or a springer is understanding how they work. For the most part, they function the same. Both airguns have a lever you cock once to drive a piston back. The piston will lock in place, and it will be released when you pull the trigger. The piston then drives forward compressing the air in front of it and driving it through a small hole at the front of the compression chamber. That air compressed air is what drives the pellet down the barrel toward your intended target. What drives the piston? In a springer, it's a steel spring. When you pulled the lever what you did was compress a spring down. It's the motion of the spring resuming its original shape that drives the piston forward. Not all gas rams use the same gas, but they all operate on the same basic principle. A gas is behind the piston. When you cock the gun and the piston is driven backward it compresses this gas. When the piston is released the gas expands and drives the piston forward. The gas ram's shot cycle is a bit sharp What do I mean when I say the shot cycle is sharp? Basically, the common complaint is the gas release is a very rapid event. This pushes the piston forward quickly and produces a sharper shot cycle that kicks a little bit more. Some people report it is very noticeable, and others ask why those other people are complaining so much. This is a matter of preference and you can learn how to handle your gun effectively either way. Later we'll discuss a few more aspects of this issue. I heard a gas ram is more accurate Says who? I'm just kidding, a lot of people say that. Do you believe them though? Most of the evidence stating gas rams are more accurate is anecdotal and comes from less experienced shooters. The advice you'll see from the most experienced shooters all the way up to competition level says springers are the way to go. I found this to be very interesting and I did some research and I've come to a few conclusions Gas Rams are easier for beginners Personally, I think gas rams are easier for beginners. Note I didn't say better. The gas ram allows you to lock more quickly and that translates to more accuracy if you are a newbie. Skilled shooters notice no real difference in accuracy. One cause of this is the need to improve your skill with the artillery hold. I'm not going to go into that hold right now, but suffice it to say your ability to be consistently accurate with a springer relies on it. This hold can take quite some time to master. It's one of the reasons springers are harder for beginners. I'm not convinced it's better to start with an easier gun though. Depending on your goals it may be fine, but if you are seeking to improve your accuracy using a gun that forces good form will be more beneficial in the long run, despite some early difficulty. Really good springers aren't cheap Proponents of the accuracy of springers almost always tell you to spend big up front. If you are just getting into airguns this isn't always the best advice even though it is accurate. If you were to go out and buy up a bunch of airguns and test them this is likely what you will find. At the cheaper levels, gas rams will be more accurate. Cheap springs can cause serious problems while cheap seals are less likely to largely impact your air rifle. As the guns become more expensive springers will gain in accuracy and all other stats at a sharper trajectory than gas rams. Gas rams may slowly improve, but they will plateau out earlier. Putting it together for accuracy So, if you are brand new, don't want to spend a good chunk of money and want to be accurate right out of the gate a gas ram will be the more accurate choice. If you are willing to put in the time and effort, even a cheap springer, will equal its counterpart with time and practice. The skills you learn with your cheaper springer will carry over if you find yourself so in love with airguns you decide to purchase something higher end. Airguns are so fun, this is the most likely course of action. Accuracy isn't everything though is it? I heard you can leave a gas ram cocked, but that would ruin a springer Oh the hype. You can leave your gas ram cocked for years and years and never experience a failure. Springs have a memory and if you leave it cocked for even a short period of time you will be ruining your gun. WRONG! This is one of those things that I find a bit irritating. It was truer back in the day. Modern springs are stronger. You may find this to be more of a problem in cheaper models, but I suspect not as much as gas ram salesmen want you to believe. Do I recommend storing your springer cocked? No. Honestly, why would you store a gas ram cocked? You're just begging for an accident and an injury. Hunting though. I get the desire, and in that case, either gun will perform just as well. Don't springers wear out faster? Springers may wear out faster, but not appreciably. People have this concept that you will only be able to fire 4000 rounds through a springer before it wears out and breaks. If that happens to you either you got a cheap springer, or you got one with a defect off the line, which can happen to any type of gun. No, you can expect to throw something like 20k+ rounds through your airgun of either type without severely changing the ballistics. Yes, a spring will eventually wear out. It will eventually become weaker, and your drop off will be affected, but not any time soon. If my gun breaks how expensive is it to fix? Here is where the springer wins in my book. When your springer does eventually have a problem. When the spring gets weak, or some other problem occurs you will be able to take it apart by yourself. With some care. You will be able to spend somewhere around 25-30 dollars to get a good spring and you will have a working gun again. Do not expect this from your gas ram. I don't have a price, but I know getting them fixed is spendy. You can't just take them apart yourself. When a seal goes, or another problem occurs you can't just slap a new seal on and charge it with your own compressed gasses. Instead, you have to get your gas ram fixed by a specialist, or get a new one. A failure with a gas ram is more likely a catastrophic one than with a springer. At the end of the day, I like knowing I can work on what I own. I'm that way with my cars, my computers, and my airguns. Which is best for you? Of all the things we discussed in this article pay particular attention to what I said in the accuracy section. That is where you'll end up deciding which gun to go with. Ignore the hype about how long the gun can be cocked, or how long it'll last. Instead, think about what kind of shooter you are. Do you want the challenge a springer will offer? Are you going to put in the time to learn the essentials? Do you want to grow into higher levels of accuracy? If you are buying your air rifle for basic pest control or plinking chances are the gas ram will do the job well for you right off the bat, and you won't need to spend the time getting better. If you are planning on more, or you just like to take on challenges the springer is for you. You really can't go wrong with either one. So don't agonize forever. Get the airgun that really speaks to you and start having some fun.