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

The selection of airgun pellets available today is mind-boggling. They are offered in a variety of weights, body designs and point forms. In terms of quality, you get what you pay for. While spitzer point and hollow point pellets might appear to be more effective for hunting, I have found that match quality, flat nosed, diablo and domed head field pellets are usually the most accurate and leave nothing to be desired in terms of terminal effects.

In my .177 and .22 rifles, Crosman's "Premier" and "Copperhead" domed head pellets, the RWS Superdome pellet, and the RWS Meisterkugeln diablo pellet have been outstanding both in terms of accuracy from one rifle to another and in terms of performance on game. In a .20 caliber Sheridan, the company's standard conical pellet can't be beat.

Pellet selection ultimately comes down to which pellet is most accurate in your air rifle. Remember, we're going for head shots. You simply must test different types. My accuracy parameter for hunting purposes is a five shot group of 1 inch or less at 30 yards. Thirty yards is a reasonably good range for testing and zeroing a hunting air gun.

Sights And Range Finders

The most important consideration in taking small game with a air rifle is shot placement. Shot placement is far more important than either the caliber or the pellet design. Consider the fact that the weight of a .177 caliber pellet is only 8 to 10 grains and average .20 or .22 caliber pellets run only slightly heavier at 14 grains. Fired at velocities from 600 to 1,000 fps, we're not talking great power here.

Given the incredible precision of even modestly priced air rifles, a head shot is the shot of choice on small mammals. And that level of precision calls for a scope and the use of a range finder.

The ideal airgun scope is designed specifically for airguns. It should offer graduated, target type adjustment knobs, a parallax adjustable objective for ranges from 10 meters to infinity, and variable power. And it should be constructed to handle the recoil of high velocity, spring piston guns that dish out a unique double recoil vibration that will tear a normal scope apart.

Bushnell offers an exceptional variety of air rifle scopes that are reasonably priced, as do RWS, Beeman and others. And by all means, if there's time when game is in sight, use one of the short distance range finders from Bushnell to verify distance and assist you in compensating for air rifle trajectories.

Field Target Competition

If you like hunting, you might enjoy field target competition with an airgun. The targets are realistic steel silhouettes of game animals and birds set out in a suitable habitat at distances from 10 to 50 yards. This game is extremely popular in England, where it started, and there are a number of clubs around the U.S. that offer competitive events. The American Airgun Field Target Association is the source of an informative newsletter and match information.

Now, it's time to go hunting. If you haven't fired an air rifle in a long time, you'll find a modem air rifle is probably the most flexible and useful tool a hunter can own to keep stalking and shooting skills highly honed. It will also provide many hours of enjoyment for the whole family throughout the year.