Airguns are for hunting: here is one way the hunter can stay in shape during the off season, while reliving some boyhood memories

C[O.sub.2] Charged

I have a Crosman Model 1077 semi-automatic C[O.sub.2] powered .177 that, fed a fresh C[O.sub.2] cartridge, is effective on birds and small ground squirrels out to 20 yards. The problem with C[O.sub.2] power, however, is its wide velocity variations with a change in the ambient temperature. Zeroed at one temperature, a CO2 rifle will shoot to an unknown point of impact at another temperature. C[O.sub.2] powered rifles are great for plinking and controlled environment match shooting, but not ideal for hunting. And C[O.sub.2] cartridges do add a lot to the cost of shooting. Air power should be free.

Making Your Selection

The least expensive entry level air rifles capable of taking small game and providing the family with a bit of fun are the factory scoped and rifled barrel Daisy Model 1880 and Crosman 2104 GT in .177 caliber. These variable power pump pneumatics run from $50 to $80 and can be found locally at the larger discount merchandizers. For $130 to $150, you can step up to higher velocities, larger calibers and real steel and walnut with the .177 and .22 caliber Benjamins and the classic .20 caliber Sheridan.

For intermediate to advanced level of hunting, it's hard to beat quality, high velocity, spring piston air rifles readily available from Daisy, Crosman, RWS, Compasseco, Beeman, Gamo, and others. Many of these companies offer a scoped package that can be a plus in terms of cost.

And if you have the money and can tolerate a bit of complexity, pre-charged air rifles from RWS, Beeman, Air Arms, Theoben, Daystate, and others constitute the upper end of the air rifle hunting sport.

Calibers

While prevailing opinion seems to be that the larger the caliber the better the air rifle is for hunting, I'm not totally convinced. The typical game animal or bird being pursued is small, thin skinned, and fine boned. Shots are usually well within 30 to 40 yards, and at those distances, the precision inherent in even modestly priced .177 caliber air guns permits taking head shots at larger animals such as rabbits or squirrels and body shots at birds. I shoot .177, .20, and .22 caliber air rifles, and while the wallop of the heavier .20 or .22 pellet is perceptibly greater, the heavier .177 caliber field pellets like the Crosman Premier consistently penetrate sufficiently to get the job done. Having said that, I may often reach for the .20 or .22 caliber rifle if I'm hunting rabbits or squirrels. But I've never felt substantially undergunned with a .177.

Ammunition

At the bottom of the list is the common BB. "Common," did I say? Made by Daisy, that copper coated little steel sphere is manufactured to an incredibly tight tolerance. Daisy automatically rejects any BB with a diameter of less than .172 inch or more than .176 inch.

Fired from a pump-up Daisy or Crosman model to velocities as high as 755 fps, the steel BB is a formidable projectile because it's hard and penetrates well. I've taken desert cottontails with a Crosman Pumpmaster Model 76GB shooting BBs at 570 fps, and what's fun about this particular model is that you can load several BBs in the chamber, which produces a bit of a shotgun pattern for bird hunting.