This Crosman Valiant SBD Air Rifle is the culmination of the company’s experience in making single-shot air guns. You can use it for all types of activities, such as backyard shooting, pest control, and hunting small game. Despite its simple and humble appearance, the internal components are impressive.

The original break-action air guns used springs to pump air out, but steel springs had a major problem. If left cocked for too long, the spring would weaken, lowering the maximum muzzle velocity. Springs also don’t function too well in cold weather.

That’s where Crosman’s Nitro Piston Technology comes in. It replaces the spring and performs much better, addressing all of the former model’s problems. You can leave it cocked for hours, use it in cold weather, and the mechanism lasts longer overall.

The Nitro Piston makes cocking and shooting smoother, as the mechanism has been highly optimized. You get the Nitro Piston Elite on this model, a superior version to the standard piston.

Crosman also understands the importance of trigger comfort, as a lousy trigger ruins the shooting experience. This air rifle has a two-stage trigger, which is more precise than a single-stage trigger. You can even adjust this Clean Break Trigger’s stages to shoot the way you like.

The Valiant fires .177 caliber pellets at 1,400 FPS, making it a loud weapon if not for the SBD sound suppression system. That’s why the barrel has a gradual bulge near the muzzle, as the gasses pass through chambers and the report is softened. It reduces the noise levels by 70%, which is a significant amount.

You can use the integrated iron sights on the barrel calibrated for precise marksmanship. However, Crosman also included a CenterPoint 4x32mm scope in the package, an optic meant for air rifle use. As Crosman owns CenterPoint, you can expect this sight to function well.

The rifled steel barrel helps your .177 pellets fly true to your target, be it near point-blank range or around the rifle’s maximum range.

While single-shot air guns are marginally safer, this one still has a safety lever that locks the trigger. You’ll need to switch to fire mode before discharging the pellet in the chamber.

The hardwood stock is ergonomic and carved to fit most sizes. As a thumbhole stock, it will let you grasp the pistol grip firmly. There’s also a rubberized butt pad to absorb the recoil and reduce impact.

Specifications

• 1,400 FPS
• .177 caliber
• Break-action
• Single-shot only
• Comes with CenterPoint scope

Pros

• Nitro Piston Elite
• High muzzle velocity
• Comes with a scope

Cons

• Must reload after each shot
• Wooden stock can be scratched easily

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The Crosman Shockwave NP QuietFire is another of the company’s single-shot air rifles. However, it performs differently from the Valiant in several aspects. The first thing you’ll notice is the lower muzzle velocity.

Compared to the Valiant’s 1,400 FPS, the Shockwave reaches 1,200 FPS with alloy pellets, lighter projectiles compared to other materials. Lead pellets are heavier and only reach 1,000 FPS. However, heavy pellets and bullets will retain more energy and do extra damage to targets.

The main reason for this lower muzzle velocity is that the Shockwave doesn’t have the Nitro Piston Elite power plant. It only has the one designated Nitro Piston, which is weaker than the former. That said, it still comes with the advantages of pistons.

In cold weather, you can use this air rifle and keep it cocked for long periods without experiencing a permanent FPS drop.

The Shockwave also has the QuietFire shrouded barrel, explaining the larger diameter near the muzzle. The bulge contains two chambers for the gasses to pass through, and Crosman reports a 70% noise loss compared to having no QuietFire system. Thus, you can hit targets without the whole neighborhood complaining that you were causing a disturbance.

You can also adjust the Clean Break Trigger on the Shockwave, which has two stages. With the help of some tools, it’s possible to place the stages where you want. Doing so will increase your accuracy and comfort, as bad triggers hamper performance.

You’ll find a CenterPoint Optics 4x32mm scope, rings, and mount in the package. These will attach to the 11mm dovetail rails on the rifle above the trigger, which is a traditional position for rifle scopes.

As a fixed magnification scope, you can’t adjust the zoom level on this one. However, there are still knobs for windage and elevation.

Should the scope be too much for your surroundings, you can always use the iron sights. The rear adjustable sight lets shooters account for various ranges.

Instead of a wooden stock, the Shockwave comes with a Monte Carlo synthetic stock, which will let you use it in all weather conditions. The cold and heat don’t make it deform, nor does it crack easily unless you hit it with immense force.

A Monte Carlo stock has a raised comb, making it a decent choice for scoped rifles. Despite any strange marketing claims, this design does help with telescopic sight usage.

Specifications

• 1,200 FPS
• .177 caliber
• Break-action
• Single-shot only
• Comes with CenterPoint scope

Pros

• Nitro Piston technology
• Monte Carlo stock
• Comes with a scope

Cons

• • Must reload after each shot
  • Slightly lower muzzle velocity

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The Crosman R1 BB Air Rifle has an entirely different design philosophy than the guns we just covered. Instead of being a precision weapon, the R1 is a replica of the AR-15 rifle, the commercial form of the military-issue M16. Therefore, you can expect it to do different things.

A full-auto BB air rifle can hit more targets at once, making it excellent for pest control. Self-defense is another legitimate reason to own it, as you can own one even in a gun-free zone, which doesn’t prohibit air guns. Of course, target practice with this air rifle is also enjoyable.

Please remember that .177 BBs and pellets have the same caliber, but they’re not interchangeable. Only use the former ammunition with this weapon.

You might wonder why a rifle with 430 FPS is competing with others that reach more than 1,000 FPS, but don’t worry. These steel .177 BBs are usually heavier than .177 pellets, so they retain a great deal of energy. They can even penetrate ballistic gel without much effort.

The six-position crane stock is similar to the one on the standard M4 carbine issued to armed forces in many countries. It lets anyone fire the R1 comfortably, even young children. The buffer tube is AR-compatible, meaning you can replace it with other stocks on the market.

The same goes for the pistol grip, and you can tell that anyone who has used an AR-15 platform will feel right at home with the Crosman R1, as the charging handle, magazine release, and fire selector are all in the exact locations. The muscle memory will transfer over for the most part.

Mounted onto the top Picatinny rail is a detachable red dot sight, as you can only use this airgun within a shorter range. It can easily be replaced by other optics or iron sights regardless.

The handguard is a quad RIS example, which you can also find on many modern AR-15s. It has enough space for accessories such as magnifiers, foregrips, laser sights, and many more.

Unlike pellet guns, this rifle has a smoothbore barrel, which is the norm for BB guns. BBs will drift at longer ranges, so it’s best to use this within 30 yards.

Specifications

• 430 FPS
• .177 caliber BBs
• Powered by two CO2 cartridges
• 25 rounds in the magazine
• Comes with a red dot scope

Pros

• Highly customizable
• Works similar to an M4
• Red dot sight included

Cons

• Lower range
• Requires CO2 cartridges

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DPMS is a U.S. firearms manufacturer that enjoys an excellent reputation, especially for its AR-15s. This SBR is inspired by the company’s tactical rifle designs, taking furniture from those weapons. It’s similar to the Crosman R1 mentioned above, though you can see some differences.

Notably, the furniture is all black, and there is no red dot sight included with the package. However, you get two flip-up iron sights. These sights can stay mounted on the air rifle while attaching other optics, as flipping them down will prevent any interference.

Mounted under the rifle is an angled foregrip, an object distinct from a vertical foregrip. This accessory allows shooters to maintain a natural hand angle while holding the gun and shooting. Vertical grips may struggle in this regard, but you can also attach one, if you prefer.

The quad RIS handguard allows users to mount whatever attachments they like, such as lasers and flashlights. You can even mount a magnifier on the top rail that works with red dot scopes.

Unlike the other R1, this one has a different muzzle device. It resembles a threaded muzzle brake that comes with some modern AR-15s, only it isn’t truly threaded. It’s still a stylish attachment that adds character to the gun’s appearance.

Crosman also swapped the standard M4 crane stock out for one with a different style. This one is more skeletal, but you can still adjust the position. The pistol grip is identical to the standard AR-15 polymer hollow grip, and you can swap it out.

All of the external controls are the same as the firearms they’re based on. The fire selector, magazine release button, and charging handle are all fully-functional. Therefore, you’ll feel at home if you have extensive experience with similar rifles.

Specifications

• 430 FPS
• .177 caliber BBs
• Powered by two CO2 cartridges
• 25 rounds in the magazine
• Comes with an angled foregrip

Pros

• Highly customizable
• Works similar to an M4
• Stylish design

Cons

• Lower range
• Requires CO2 cartridges

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This Fire Nitro Piston SBD air rifle is identical in concept to the Valiant and Shockwave. All three are single-shot only break-action rifles. However, the Fire does have several unique features that the others don’t have.

The most glaring difference is the all-weather polymer stock. It has a futuristic skeletal design that reduces much weight compared to other stock styles.

Another difference is the angular trigger guard, which offers a distinct appearance. Many other rifles have square or curved trigger guards, but this is closer to a pentagon.

Otherwise, you can find many other Crosman break-action rifle features on the Fire. It has a Nitro Piston power plant that drives alloy pellets up to 1,200 FPS. Lead shots are slower at 1,000 FPS.

The rifle’s steel barrel is identical to those found on the Valiant and Shockwave. It promotes a straight pellet flight path to the target.

With QuietFire technology on the barrel, the air rifle’s noise levels are decreased by 70%.

You also get the Clean Break Trigger and same CenterPoint optics 4x32mm scope. The latter will stay on the 11mm dovetail rails on the receiver.

There are also no iron sights on this rifle at all.

Specifications

• 1,200 FPS maximum
• .177 caliber pellets
• Nitro Piston power plant
• Single-shot only
• Lightweight stock

Pros

• Very light
• Stylish stock design
• Easy to use

Cons

• Single-shot only
• No iron sights

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