Why can’t we use more expensive sporter air rifles?

February 24, 2026

Civilian Marksmanship Program▸Youth 3 PAR▸Why can’t we use more expensive sporter air rifles?

This question usually comes with an explanation that the air rifles being proposed comply with the 7.5 lb. weight limit, the 1.5 lb. minimum trigger pull and have ambidextrous stocks. There is often an argument that better equipment will help athletes get better scores. Over the years, several more expensive air rifles have requested approvals, but the Council has remained firm in restricting its list of approved sporter air rifles to rifles that comply with a maximum price now pegged at $600, when sold to junior shooting organizations. This Council policy is aimed at keeping the playing field level and keeping sporter class air rifles affordable. Yes, more expensive air rifles would produce higher scores, but they will also generate an equipment race where well-funded clubs and teams buy the more expensive rifles while less affluent teams decide they cannot afford to keep up and stop competing. The Council policy of approving sporter air rifles according to model and price has proven to be an effective way to make sure competitors have equipment that is relatively equal in scoring capability. There is an inverse relationship between equipment costs and participation. Council sporter class restrictions keep the emphasis on participation. The Council is not closed to allowing better equipment; it just wants to move deliberately so that any changes do not reduce participation. A good example of this approach has been the gradual change, over the last ten years, from pneumatic air rifles to CO2 and compressed air sporters. The Council also challenged manufacturers to improve the quality of sporter class air rifles while keeping prices under the price ceiling. Crosman, for example, was not successful with its original Challenger, but the firm worked hard to bring out the Crosman Challenger 2009 that has been very successful.