How to Find the Best Air Rifle Accessories Online

You put a lot of time into finding the perfect air rifle. Now you want to find the perfect accessories.

How do you find the best air rifle accessories online?

This guide will tell you what you need to know. We'll start by looking at how you'll be using your air rifle and then go through some of the most important types of accessories.

You'll be on your way to making an informed decision and improving your shooting experience.

What Do You Use Your Air Rifle For?

How you use your air rifle will help to determine which accessories you should buy. There's no sense paying a lot of money for an accessory that isn't really necessary.

Some of the most common uses of air rifles are plinking, sports shooting, pest control, and hunting small game.

1. Plinking

Plinking is casual target shooting, often in the backyard or an open field. The shooter typically uses homemade targets like tin cans or bottles. In fact, the name comes from the "plink" sound a BB makes when it hits a tin can. Plinking is an inexpensive way to improve shooting accuracy and have fun.

2. Sports shooting

Sports target shooting events range from local competitions to the Olympics. The 10-meter air rifle target shooting format is well-known because of its use in the Olympics. Other types of sports shooting competitions include field target (FT) and hunter field target (HFT) shooting. These formats imitate a hunting scenario.

3. Hunting small game

Hunting small game like squirrels and rabbits is another popular use of air rifles. Air rifles have a shorter effective range than traditional firearms, but they're quieter and will still take down a small animal. Hunting laws vary by state, so it's important to check your local government's website to be sure you're legal.

4. Pest control

Similar to hunting small game, an air rifle can also eliminate pests like mice and rats. An air rifle is much safer than a firearm for use in a residential area.

Once you've thought about what type of shooting you'll be doing, it's time to find the air rifle accessories that will help you the most.

Types of Air Rifle Accessories

When you start looking for air rifle accessories online, you'll find many different categories to choose from. Here are some of the most important accessories you'll want to consider.

Scope

A scope attaches to a mount on the top of the air rifle and magnifies your target. You can hit the target more often and more accurately (at least theoretically!).

An air rifle scope is almost always a worthwhile purchase. If you use your rifle exclusively for plinking at short distances, you probably don't need a scope. For other uses, though, a scope will boost your performance.

A scope can have fixed or variable magnification. Fixed scopes are usually set to a lower magnification. Variable ones let you choose between lower and higher power.

Scopes also have different reticle types. This refers to the type of crosshairs you see through the scope.

Remember that more complicated and expensive doesn't always mean better, especially when it comes to scopes. Optical quality will give you more benefit than a bunch of fancy extras.

Scope mount

The scope mount is a critical link between the rifle and the scope. Be sure the mount matches the rails on your gun (dovetail or Weaver/Picatinny) and the tube size of the scope.

Mounts can be either one or two pieces. One-piece mounts are used with spring piston air rifles to prevent the scope from moving during recoil. A two-piece mount is typically fine for other types of air rifles.

Bipod

A bipod is a two-legged support that steadies the air rifle as you shoot. Bipods are especially useful for precision competitors and hunters, but they can also help range shooters and even plinkers who might prefer a bipod to another type of gun rest.

Bipods use various systems to attach to the rifle, so be sure to check what kind of attachment you might need.

Case

Storing your air rifle properly in a case is important for several reasons. A case protects the gun from the elements. A case also prevents damage when transporting the air rifle.

A hard case has a tough outer shell with a foam interior lining. A soft case is made of a durable fabric like nylon and has a padded lining.

Hard cases offer more protection but are usually more expensive, heavier, and bulkier than a soft case. Soft cases are more convenient to carry but give the air rifle less protection.

Pellets

Most air rifles fire pellets instead of BBs. Pellets ricochet less than BBs, are more accurate, and can be fired at a higher velocity.

You might assume that buying pellets in the caliber that matches the bore size of your gun is all you need to do, but other factors are also important to think about.

There are four types of pellets to consider.

1. Wadcutter

Wadcutter pellets have a flat nose and are very accurate at short distances. They are ideal for target shooting.

2. Domed/Round Nose

As the name suggests, these pellets have a round head designed to reduce wind resistance. They are great for hunting and field target shooting.

3. Hollowpoint

Hollowpoint pellets are used almost exclusively for hunting. Their design transfers the maximum energy to the game and helps produce a one-shot kill.

4. Pointed

Pointed pellets penetrate easily. They are for long-range shooting and are also ideal for hunting small game.

Trying several different types of pellets will help you find the perfect type of ammo for you and your air rifle.

These air rifle accessories will enhance your shooting experience and give you greater enjoyment of your gun.

Finding Air Rifle Accessories Online

You'll find many options when you start looking for air rifle accessories online. First, think about how you use your air rifle. Then look at the categories we covered and consider your budget. You'll be on your way towards finding the right accessories!

Check out our great selection of accessories when you're ready to take your air rifle experience to the next level.