How do semi-automatic air rifles work?

Question

When you fire one shot does the gun reload itself with another round? If so, how is this done? And how many pellets can be shot without having to manually reload the gun?

Answer 1

G'day mate how it works is when you pull the trigger on the gun the power discharges a gas which  pulls the receiver or bolt back and it loads another shell for the next shot.Air rifles have a air/gas cylinder but same thing it loads the next one in to be fired.The only time you manually reload it is when it's empty (no ammo) or when the air cylinder runs out on yr air rifle,then you pump it up .cheers mate

Answer 2

Most of the time, the process works in a manner similar to a double action revolver. Pulling the trigger, turns a rotary magazine which loads a new pellet into the chamber, and then releases a burst of CO2 from a cartridge in the gun. This is the system that Crossman uses for its RepeatAir® 1077 and repeating CO2 pellet pistols. (BBs don't need a rotary magazine).

The other option is a modified version of the gas system used by semi-automatic rifles however that's a more complex system and is likely only used on more expensive guns like the FX Monsoon. In that instance there would be a gas tap near the barrel which would use some of the gas to drive a cam or piston to cycle a bolt which is fed from some kind of magazine.