An
air gun (often called
pellet gun or
BB gun depending on the projectile) is any variety of
pneumatic weapon that propels projectiles by means of
compressed air or other
gas, in contrast to
firearms, which use a
propellant charge. Both the
rifle and
pistol forms (
air rifle and
air pistol) typically propel metallic projectiles, either
pellets, or
BBs. Certain types of air guns, usually rifles, may also propel arrows or darts with feathers