Air rifles are versatile weapons that can be used for various purposes such as pest removal, target practice, and recreational shooting. They are also popular for hunting small game due to their quiet nature. Synonyms for air rifles include pellet guns, air guns, BB guns, and pump pistols. Pellet guns are designed to shoot pellets made of lead or alloy, whereas BB guns can only shoot BBs. Air guns come in various calibers and can shoot pellets or BBs, depending on the type. Pump pistols are operated by manually pumping air into a chamber before each shot, and they can shoot both pellets and BBs.