There are many options when it comes to weapons for home defense. Tasers and baseball bats immediately come to mind, but no one can deny the stopping power and seriousness of a pistol. Though traditional firearms are undeniably effective, many homeowners do not wish to keep something this lethal (like a semi-automatic pistol or shotgun) in their house, or would prefer for this to not be their go-to home defense weapon. For those who are not looking for a lethal revolver or firearm, online shopping is perfect since most retail sites do not sell traditional handguns. They do, however, carry a wide variety of airsoft and bb pistols which can deter or even incapacitate intruders. These can be the perfect alternative to a semi-automatic handgun, and you don't have to worry about the consequences of such weapons, like rifles' recoil, or running out of ammunition or bullets. It's a great way to make a faux handgun safe in your household.
There are several methods for powering an airgun type weapon:
- Variable Pump: Pistols using variable pump power allow the user to pump up between 3 and 10 strokes to compress air and get their desired level of power. There is no external tank or cartridge, so they can last for a long time. This is the lowest velocity option, at a max of 700 FPS (feet per second) muzzle speed. It must also be pumped for each shot, so it is not ideal for rapid fire situations. Most weapons of this type are only effective up to 15 yards.
- CO2: The advantage of CO2 cartridges is that they are generally more powerful than a manual pump-action shotgun and can support 40-60 continuous shots. The disadvantage is that cartridges must be purchased separately and a fresh cartridge should be inserted prior to usage in order to ensure maximum power. The range for most CO2 guns is only about 20 yards, so when choosing between a variable pump pistol and a CO2 pistol frequency of usage is a major consideration.
- Break Barrel: Guns utilizing a break barrel are powered by a spring or piston that is cocked by a lever. Like pump action weapons, there is no external power source that needs to be refreshed so these are an excellent choice for someone who is an infrequent user. Due to the firing mechanism, break barrel pistols can fire with up to twice the velocity of a variable pump weapon (up to 1400 FPS). Though the weapon must be cocked for each shot, the amount of ammo it can fire in a session is only limited by the amount that one can load. It is much more accurate than a variable pump or CO2 pistol, and is effective up to 35 yards, which is much further than the longest hallway in the average house.
- Pre-Charged Pneumatic (PCP) weapons use a high pressure reservoir as its energy source. A tank or pump is used to fill the reservoir. These weapons have high accuracy and are effective up to 60 yards, but only shoot up to 1100 FPS. It is the closest of all non-lethal weapons to an actual firearm, but is also the most expensive option.
Variable Pump:
The Crosman PC77 Variable Pump Pellet Pistol is a .177 caliber weapon that can shoot up to 600FPS. It weighs only 1lb, so it can be handled by a shooter of any experience. The extra-long barrel length also increases the accuracy of this weapon.
CO2:
Crosman is known for making high quality weapons, which is why we featured a second product by them in this review. The Crosman 2240 Bolt Action CO2-Powered .22 Pistol is a high-powered but inexpensive option for those seeking some legitimate firepower in their home defense arsenal. The higher .22 caliber barrel allows for a heavier ammunition that makes up for coming out of a CO2 powered weapon. The combination of this gun’s power and intended ammunition will definitely stop an intruder in their tracks.
Break Barrel:
Browning is a trusted and dependable maker of firearms, so it should come as no surprise that their Buck Mark URX Air Pistol is a highly rated choice for bb gun owners. The rifled barrel allows for higher accuracy, while the spring piston action gives enough power with the right ammunition to cause some damage if necessary. There is also a rail on this weapon to allow for accessories if desired.
PCP:
The Benjamin Marauder PCP Air Pistol is a .22 caliber option that packs the power of PCP action with the weight of a .22 caliber pellet. This product has an 8 shot magazine so you can be prepared for any home defense situation. It also includes an interchangeable stock so you can convert this gun from a pistol to a rifle depending on what you are most comfortable with or what the situation entails.
A quick discussion on ammunition is certainly necessary, as weapons will perform very differently depending on the pellets that are used. These aren't like shotguns or rifles that require ammunition in the form of bullets. For the pellets, there are four major shapes: Wadcutter, Pointed, Round nose and Hollowpoint. Wadcutter is a flat head pellet best suited for varmint and targets. Round nose pellets are designed for air resistance and are particularly good for target shooting. For home defense purposes, pointed or hollow point pellets are a highly recommended choice due to their greater ability to inflict damage. Most air and pellet guns can handle any of these four shapes, so it is highly recommended that when purchasing one of these weapons the cheapest ammunition is also purchased for practice. These weapons tend to be much lighter and handle differently from traditional firearms, so seasoned even seasoned shooters should practice with them to get a feel for how they handle. Even if the power of the weapon is not lethal, like a semi-automatic pistol with bullets, using the right ammunition can ensure a homeowner has the protection they are looking for. These weapons are a strong point of defence that won't get you into trouble with law enforcement. A defense gun doesn't have to be a revolver or a semi-automatic handgun.
It is very important that anyone purchasing an air pistol for home defense understands that these weapons are not meant to be lethal. These weapons are designed to be realistic but also are intended for deterrence. These weapons are designed for realism so it should always be expected that anyone seeing these products will believe them to be real. Depending on the circumstances, that may be a positive or a negative and it is up to the owner to understand how to handle the situation.