Americans also target shoot in clubs, albeit in a bit drier surroundings than their European counterparts. While Americans often think of airgun shooting as primarily a youth program leading to adult firearm events, they are now recognizing that serious airgun competition is an end in itself and something in which members of all ages can participate. Airgun shooting in America is actively promoted by the National Rifle Association. The NRA has established 15 levels of marksmanship awards in their 25-ft airgun shooting programs, awards which you can obtain by shooting right in your own home. Target shooters can also compete with each other via postal matches, and in-person at hundreds of airgun matches at the local, state, national and international levels.
Airgun competition is also an official Olympic event for both men and women.
Suburbanites, farmers and gardeners appreciate the adult use of airguns in the selective control of crop predators such as woodchucks, opossum and even raccoons. Airguns may be used to control destructive rodents and birds such as Norway rats, English sparrows, crows, European starlings, and feral Old World pigeons. Hunting for food is especially popular for such delicate game as pigeon, squirrel and rabbit. Airguns are quiet, modestly powered, extraordinarily accurate mechanical works of art. Learning to master the discipline of superior marksmanship, and training yourself to approach the performance of which these tools are capable can be an enduringly satisfying avocation.