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Air Rifles

Air Rifles for Sale in South Africa

NeonSales stocks close to 300 air rifles, from break barrel pellet guns at about R1,000 to regulated PCP rifles at over R70,000. The range covers every main type of airgun, including PCP, spring, nitro piston and CO2, in .177 (4.5mm) and .22 (5.5mm) calibres. You will find brands such as Gamo, Hatsan, Nova Vista, Artemis, Snowpeak, Kral and Crosman. Every air rifle ships nationwide, and our team can help you choose the right rifle for pest control, target shooting or plinking.

Types of Air Rifle

  • PCP air rifles: pre-charged pneumatic rifles run on high-pressure air from a hand pump, scuba tank or compressor. They have almost no recoil, give many shots per fill and are the most accurate and powerful option. PCP rifles are our most popular type of air rifle online.
  • Spring and nitro piston air rifles: one cock of the barrel or lever compresses a spring or gas ram for each shot. No pump, tank or gas is needed, which makes them the simplest and most affordable way to start. Nitro piston rifles, such as Gamo's IGT models, give a smoother and quieter shot than a traditional spring.
  • CO2 rifles: powered by 12g or 88g CO2 capsules, these rifles fire pellets or BBs with no cocking effort, and many offer fast follow-up shots. They suit plinking and backyard target practice.

Air Rifle Prices in South Africa

  • Under R2,500: entry-level break barrel rifles such as the Artemis B2-4, Snowpeak GR800S and Gamo Junior Delta, a good choice for a first air rifle.
  • R2,500 to R7,500: quality spring and nitro piston rifles such as the Gamo Replay-10, Gamo G-Magnum 1250, Crosman Fire and Cometa Fenix, plus entry-level PCPs like the Nova Vista PCP1000 and Razer.
  • R7,500 to R20,000: full-power PCP rifles from Hatsan, Kral, Kuzey and Nova Vista, such as the Hatsan Vectis and Kral Puncher Mega.
  • Over R20,000: premium regulated PCPs from Daystate, FX, Brocock, Airmaks and Uragan, built for long-range accuracy and serious hunting.

The Most Powerful Air Rifles

The most powerful air rifles in our range are high-power PCPs such as the Airmaks Katran L High Power, rated at 64 joules, and the Daystate Delta Wolf High Power. Our list of the most powerful air rifles in South Africa compares the top models and their prices.

Any airgun above 5.6mm calibre that also produces more than 8 joules is classified as a firearm in South Africa and needs a licence. This includes .25 rifles such as the Nova Vista Behemoth .25. Read our guide on when an air rifle needs a licence before you buy.

Choosing Your First Air Rifle

Start with how you plan to shoot. For backyard targets and learning the basics, a .177 (4.5mm) spring or nitro piston rifle is affordable, accurate and needs nothing but pellets. For pest control on a plot or farm, a .22 (5.5mm) delivers more knock-down power, and a PCP gives the most consistent shots. Younger or smaller shooters do best with a light rifle such as the Gamo Junior Delta, always under adult supervision.

Our guide to the difference between 4.5mm and 5.5mm pellets explains the trade-offs, and What Is an Air Rifle? covers the basics for new shooters.

Shop Air Rifles by Brand

Browse Gamo for spring, nitro piston and PCP rifles, or Hatsan, Kral and Nova Vista for PCP rifles. Artemis and Snowpeak offer affordable spring rifles and PCPs, while Crosman and Umarex cover spring and CO2 rifles.

Pellets, Scopes and Accessories

Complete your setup with 4.5mm pellets or 5.5mm pellets, a rifle scope made for airgun distances, a bipod for steady shots and targets for practice. Our airgun spares range covers seals, magazines and replacement parts to keep your rifle shooting well.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an airgun used for?

Originally used in warfare, air guns are commonly used in target shooting, as toys, and as "beginner" guns for children. The projectile force of these weapons can rival that of many conventional handguns.

Do airguns use bullets?

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.

Is a BB gun an air gun?

BB guns are often regulated as a typical air gun. Air gun laws vary widely by local jurisdiction.

What is better, airsoft or airgun?

Power and Velocity. Airguns are absolutely more powerful than airsoft guns. They are used to hit targets and are capable of killing vermin. You could not kill anything with an airsoft gun, other than time.

Can I conceal an airgun?

Airguns may be carried on one's person concealed/openly. It is an offence to shoot animals and human beings, except criminals and animals who are attacking you, as defined in Chapter 16 of the FCA.

Can you silence a pellet gun?

If you decide a silencer is right for your setup, fitting them is usually relatively straightforward, you just screw the silencer onto the muzzle. However, you must be very careful when doing so.

Do pellet guns kick?

On spring piston BB guns, like a Daisy Red Ryder, you can feel it jolt a bit. This is actually the spring and piston moving in the gun. On high power spring piston pellet guns, this jolt can be felt as a push/pull recoil.

How powerful is an air rifle?

A typical . 177 air rifle might shoot pellets at velocities ranging from 900 to 1200 fps. In contrast, a . 22 calibre air rifle using heavier pellets might achieve velocities between 700 and 1000 fps.

What damage can a pellet gun do?

Abrasion, chipping, and fracture are the most typical pellet gun induced lesions.

Are pellet guns supersonic?

Due to their lighter weight, they accelerate more quickly inside the barrel, and commonly reach supersonic velocities. This increases the effective feet per second (FPS) of an airgun, which can result in greater accuracy.