CO2 Air Rifles

CO2 is stored as a liquid under pressure inside a sealed cartridge. When the rifle pierces the cartridge, the gas fills a valve, and each trigger pull releases a short burst that pushes the BB or pellet down the barrel. The 1866 CO2 uses two 12-gram cylinders that load under a cover in the buttstock. You tighten a piercing screw until they pierce, without overtightening.

They suit different shooters. CO2 is the simpler choice: cartridges are easy to find, there is no fill gear and setup is quick, which is ideal for plinking and casual target practice. A PCP rifle needs a high-pressure pump, compressor or tank, but gives you more power and more consistent shots, which is why hunters often choose one. Compare both in our PCP air rifles.

Yes. CO2 pressure depends on temperature, so a cold rifle shoots slower and less consistently. Fast strings of shots also chill the gas and lower velocity. Let the rifle warm up between strings, and change to fresh cylinders when your point of impact drops or shots sound noticeably quieter. Shooting on nearly empty CO2 is the most common cause of jams in the 1866 CO2.

Not in the 1866 CO2. The manual says to remove the CO2 and unload the shells whenever you are done shooting. To empty it, point the rifle in a safe direction and fire off the remaining gas with no BB or pellet in the chamber, then remove the cylinders.

Some can. The .177 1866 CO2 rifles have a smoothbore barrel that fires steel BBs or .177 pellets at up to 600 FPS. The .22 versions have a rifled barrel and fire .22 pellets only, at up to 450 FPS. Never put steel BBs through a rifled barrel. Optional rifled .177 and .22 barrel kits fit both the classic and Tactical models.

The 1866 CO2 holds 10 reusable metal shells, and each one carries a single BB or pellet. Working the lever ejects the spent shell and chambers the next, just like a classic lever-action. The rifle comes with 10 shells, and spare .177 shells are sold in packs of 10. Pick the empties up after shooting and reload them.