Airgun Depot's Airsenal News

Let's say you purchased your new airgun from Airgun Depot. Or maybe you got one for Christmas, and now that the holidays are over, you've found the time to get it out and start shooting. Grab your ammo, propellant if needed, and a popcan for a target, and go shooting.....right?

Wrong!

As in anything mechanical, airguns have quirks and oddities about them. And to minimize the struggles and disappointments that sometimes come our way with new devices, take a minute and do some of the following things. This list isn't exhaustive, but it is a good place to start.

1. Read the manual. Seriously, it's there for a purpose, and you might actually learn something that you didn't know if you'll give the manual a good reading. There are safety precautions for you to follow to be a safe shooter, and little tidbits of information that the manufacturer just couldn't share with you on the brightly covered and attractive box that your new airgun came in!

2. Familiarize yourself with the features. Heft the gun, get an idea of the balance. Locate the safety and note the positions of safe/fire. Take a look at the open sights if it has some, and take a bead on a safe target while the gun is still unloaded just so you'll know what to expect. If the gun is co2 or PCP, or even a multi-pump gun, you are okay doing a few dry-fire shots with no ammo. CHECK THE GUN TO BE SURE IT IS UNLOADED BEFORE DOING THIS. Mistakes happen, and safety is up to you!

3. Check the securing stock screws. This is especially important with spring-piston guns due to their recoil, but any gun needs to have the action securely fastened into the stock. One of the most aggravating experiences is to shoot a new airgun and not be able to hit your target. And the most common culprit to this experience is that the gun, during shipment or storage at the factory, has had the screws work loose.

4. Clean the barrel. I know you may have heard it said that airguns don't need their barrels cleaned often. That is true from my experiences, but when a gun comes from a factory, or out of long-term storage, there are preservative greases and oils that have been applied. You will be amazed how much gunk may come out of the barrel of a new, never-fired gun! Try running a patch through there and see if I'm not right. Do be careful when cleaning, and don't use harsh firearm solvents. Simple citrus-based cleaners are just fine for airgun barrels. Go easy on the crown with the cleaning rod so as not to mess up the final point of contact before the pellet leaves the gun. 

5. Shoot close first, then go for distance. Once you've read the manual, checked the features, fastened all the screws, and cleaned the barrel, you are much closer to enjoying your new airgun. So when you go out and finally start the shooting process, start close. Figure out what your gun can do at 10 yards before attempting 40 yard shots. Then ease the distance out further until you know you can hit your target at the given distance you want to shoot. Why? Because hitting your target is the whole purpose of shooting an airgun! There really is no other reason for getting an airgun other than being able to hit your target. This is true for plinkers, hunters, and competitors. If you can't hit your target, then you just bought an expensive tomato stake!

Airgun Depot has cleaning supplies, ammo, and more airguns to heighten your shooting enjoyment. Take the time to browse items that interest you, and don't forget Airgun Depot's video resource for further information on these item. Seeing them in action often helps you make a well-informed decision about your next purchase.