Air-powered projectile launcher

An air-powered projectile launcher includes a housing defining a cylindrical launch tube for receiving a projectile and a cylindrical cylinder bore. A piston having an extending piston rod is sealingly movable within the cylinder bore and is coupled at its forward end to a coil spring. The piston rod extends rearwardly through a trigger and cocking mechanism which in turn is coupled to a pivotal pump handle. A ratcheting mechanism is operatively coupled between the pivoting pump handle and the piston rod to facilitate the incremental drawing motion of the piston rod and piston stretching the power spring. The trigger mechanism holds the piston rod against the force of the stretched spring until the user pulls the trigger into its release position. Thereafter, the stored energy of the spring drives the piston forward against the launch tube and projectile providing an air burst which launches the projectile.