Hello, Chris !
I'm a target pistol shooter, mainly .177 air pistol (accuracy, 10m). I own a now old Feinwerkbau model 100 pistol. (no air, nor CO2 cartridge, but a cocking lever, which precompresses air inside a chamber ; something like
this one ).
I have no experience with the kind of air rifles you talk about.
So, the links you provided were interesting reading material.
As far as I can see,most of those air rifles are either breakbarrel or need a scuba tank or hand pump to fill an air cartridge.
- breakbarrel : I suppose it means you "fold" the front part of the barrel to compress a spring. As I have only seen, a long time ago, this system on cheap, inaccurate rifles, I guess now this system has been enhanced. But does it stay sturdy as the rifle ages ? Or does it become somewhat loose ... ??
- air cartridge, filled with scuba tank or hand pump : I know this system is now used, to replace the CO2 cartridge system, for competition pistols and rifles.
But I don't like its complexity. And it's forbidden to transport such a weapon, with the air cylinder charged.
- I would prefer something along the lines of the RWS model 48 (side cocking lever). But then you have only one shot ! Not easy to follow rapidly with a second one, if needed...
After reading your post, I tried a google search, for french web sites on air rifles, but did not find anything on the subject.
I guess air rifles, except for 10m target shooting, are not easily available in France.
And I guess I would need a possession permit to get one (depends on the rifle power ; mandatory above 10 "joules" which is .. I don't know, I will have to do some calculations ... <img src="images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> ).
Alain