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pellet rifle
A pellet is a non-spherical projectile designed to be fired from an air gun. Air gun pellets differ from bullets and shot used in firearms because of the pressures encountered: airguns operate at pressures as low as 50 atmospheres, while firearms operate at thousands of atmospheres. Airguns generally use a slightly undersized projectile that is designed to obturate upon shooting so as to seal the bore, and engage the rifling; firearms have sufficient pressure to force a slightly oversized bullet to fit the bore in order to form a tight seal. Since pellets may be shot through a smoothbore barrel, they are often designed to be inherently stable, much like the Foster slugs used in smoothbore shotguns
The "diabolo" (or "wasp waist pellet") is the most common design found today. It can have a flat, round, hollow or pointed tip, followed by a taper to a thin waist. From the waist back, the pellet is hollow, and flares out to full diameter when pressurized by the gun. The head, or solid part in front of the waist, is usually sized to fit the bore just touching the rifling. This keeps the pellet centred in the bore, while keeping the friction as low as possible. The effect of friction is used in order to keep the pellet stationary until the piston has reached the end of its travel, compressing as much air as is possible. The skirt of the pellet is thin, and made of a malleable material, usually lead or lead alloy, although non-toxic alternatives are available that use tin or even plastic. When shot, the skirt will obturate to fit the bore and provide a good seal, and engage the rifling, whereby imparting spin. In a smoothbore barrel, the skirt will still flare to provide a tight seal, but since there is no rifling, the pellet will not spin, and is less accurate. In most cases of this type, the solid head in the front and hollow skirt in back will work to prevent the pellet from tumbling. However, this is not always the case, and some ammo types of this nature will tumble in flight, and hit the target sideways. When this happens the pellet will not leave a clean, round hole in the paper, but will instead, leave behind a keyhole-shaped silhouette. This phenomenon is known as keyholing.
Pellets are designed to travel at subsonic speeds. High velocities can cause light pellets to overly deform, or even break apart in flight. The transition from subsonic to supersonic velocities will cause almost all pellets to tumble. The closer a pellet gets to the speed of sound, the more unstable it becomes. This is a problem for high powered break-barrel and pre-charged pneumatic air rifles, which often can push a normal pellet to velocities exceeding the speed of sound. A few companies have addressed this issue by manufacturing heavier than normal pellets for use in these high powered air guns. The heavier weight of these pellets ensure that they will travel at speeds well below the sound barrier, resulting in less tumbling and more overall accuracy. Their weight also makes them less susceptible to air resistance, and thus imparts more kinetic energy downrange, increasing lethality.
Everything you need. Less than 100 pellets of use on everything. I just don't use the rifle so I'm selling it along with all of the accessories I bought for it. All of this was over $900 when purchased. Everything is in life new condition. Selling the package for $600 for a quick sale. I'm not...
Hi all,
I am in search of a mid-range functional semi-auto BB/pellet gun. Hoping to be under $150 for it. I'm not very familiar with BB gun pricing, so I don't know if this price point is unreasonable. Not looking for anything high end, just accurate and strong enough to kill mice. The ideal...
Nice Gamo Big Cat 1250fps break action for sale or for trade. Scope that came with is included, I just have been using it on my ruger .22, but it is pictured below. Interested in trading with cash on top for lever actions, a 10/22 takedown, a small long gun safe, Co2 powered airsofts, or...
This .177 caliber 1250 FPS rifle has less than than half a tin of pellets fired.
Box, papers, scope and pellets included.
Sold
Near the Washington Square mall.
Selling .22 caliber Benjamin Marauder pre-charged pellet rifle in new condition along with the original box. This rifle has only been shot a dozen or so times. It includes a Tasco 3x9 variable power scope plus 4 .22 caliber magazines and 1500+ pellets. See photo included with my ad. If...
Can I use an air rifle to kill nutria in the urban area of Washington County (Oregon)? I live on Fanno Creek and the nutria have tunneled under my flood wall.
How powerful a rifle is needed? How inexpensive can I go, considering that it will be for a single purpose?