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Definition of air rifle
: a rifle whose projectile (such as a BB or pellet) is propelled by compressed air or carbon dioxide
Examples of air rifle in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web This makes for a semiauto air rifle with faster follow up shots than most of the competition, which is a boon for hunters and a blast for plinkers.
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Joseph Albanese, Field & Stream, "The 12 Best Air Guns of 2020," 28 Feb. 2020 Unlike obviously dangerous products like the Red Ryder carbine action 200-shot range model air rifle Ralphie covets, many supposedly safe products turn out not to be.
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Spencer Jakab, WSJ, "More Women on Boards, Fewer Dangerous Products," 7 Apr. 2020 Four of the best nine smallbore team scores and six of the best 11 air rifle team scores all season were recorded by UK.
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Jon Hale, The Courier-Journal, "UK coach whose undefeated season was ended by coronavirus: Cancellations right decision," 20 Mar. 2020 The air rifle range and competition, run by Daniel Boone Conservation League, will be back, too.
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Paul A. Smith, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Smith: Like an oak, venerable Sports Show celebrates its 80th anniversary," 28 Feb. 2020 Doesn’t Aunt Clara know that all Ralphie wants for Christmas is a Red Ryder air rifle?
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Emma Specter, Vogue, "9 of the Most Iconic Onscreen Christmas Presents, Ranked," 25 Dec. 2019 Councilwoman Casi Boyer asked Ringsaker about the effectiveness and ranges of shotguns and air rifles.
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David Anderson, baltimoresun.com, "Havre de Grace approves firearm use on farmland to protect crops from pests like invasive birds, groundhogs," 5 Dec. 2019 Ringsaker added that air rifles that fire pellets, with a maximum range of 30 yards, are effective for dispatching rats or invasive birds.
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David Anderson, baltimoresun.com, "Havre de Grace approves firearm use on farmland to protect crops from pests like invasive birds, groundhogs," 5 Dec. 2019 Ralphie, of course, tries not to shoot his eye out with an Official Red Ryder carbine-action 200-shot Range Model air rifle.
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Domenica Bongiovanni, Indianapolis Star, "14 traditional events that make it feel like Christmas and the holidays in Indianapolis," 27 Nov. 2019
See MoreThese example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'air rifle.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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Time Traveler for air rifle
The first known use of air rifle was in 1801
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