What is a PCP Air Rifle?

A Pre-Charged Pneumatic or PCP air rifle is a gun that uses cylinders filled with compressed air to launch pellets downrange with incredible accuracy and consistency. These rifles use highly compressed air that is stored in an onboard cylinder or carbon-fiber air tank. PCP rifles shoot much faster than any springer, and they don't have the same barrel vibration or recoil problems. They are smooth shooters at any power setting you can dial in.

Pre-charged pneumatic rifles are what made the hobby so interesting as a whole. No other type of air-powered gun can be that powerful off the shelf without a lot of work. If you have the money, you can buy a good compressed air rifle and just go shoot it right out of the box without fiddling or any tuning at all.

How Do PCP Rifles Work?

A PCP rifle uses an onboard, high-pressure air cylinder to send a burst of air that forces a projectile (pellet or slug) out through the barrel. Unlike spring-powered air rifles that need to be refilled after each shot or CO2 rifles that use disposable cartridges, PCP air rifles feature built-in reservoirs that store the compressed air they use to propel projectiles.

When the trigger is pulled, a valve opens, releasing a precise amount of stored air behind the pellet or slug. This burst of high-pressure air accelerates the projectile down the barrel and toward the target. After firing, the remaining air stays pressurized in the reservoir, allowing for numerous shots before requiring a refill.

When the air cylinder is empty, it can be filled from a prefilled SCUBA or carbon fiber air tank, a high-pressure hand pump, or a high-pressure compressor. With a PCP air rifle, you can fire shot after shot at higher velocities before needing a refill with the proper maintenance.