lock time the cycle would start with the firing of the start switch 10 the piston 5 would proceed to the end of the cylinder 14 compress the air and fire the projectile 9 at the end of the piston 5 stroke the motor 1 would reverse direction and fully retract the piston 5 to allow air to be replenished in the cylinder 14 at this point the motor 1 would reverse again and advance the piston 5 to pre compress the air in the cylinder 14 the piston 5 would then stop and wait for the next pull of the start switch 10 this would constitute a full cycle although the preferred embodiment employs a linear compressor described as a lead screw driven piston compressor it is understood that various other direct mechanical air compression means such as linear compressors using bellows or rotary compressors as in gear or screw compressors could be adapted to operate in the previously described cyclic fashion without departing from the spirit of this invention these methods directly compress the air as opposed to inefficient and complicated indirect methods such as an electrically wound spring piston technique furthermore additional modifications are possible by those skilled in the art including fully automatic firing burst mode firing or two position triggers which allow for a pre advancement of the piston in readiness for the next shot in the preferred embodiment the control circuit includes a microprocessor high power switching elements for directing power from the power source to the motor at least one control circuit input which could be from an internal or external timer or position feedback element and an electronic trigger switch although these elements are used in the preferred design it is understood by those familiar with the.