Throughout the years, the price of ammunition has gotten more expensive. This has forced hunters and marksmen to make the transition from regular firearms to air rifles and air guns. Suffice to say, these weapons are capable of replicating a similar experience and can provide you with enough power to hunt or practice your skills. With this in mind, you should remember that the market is over saturated with a wide variety of different air rifles and manufacturers. This makes it increasingly difficult to try and purchase the best air rifle. At the same time, it is important to remember that the best for one individual might not be the best for another. Instead, it is imperative to take the time to read air rifle reviews! By reading this information, you will be able to figure out the different features and characteristics for each rifle. Ultimately getting the best air rifle for your money.
Depending on your specific usages, needs, and desires, you will need to choose an air rifle accordingly. Once you’ve determined how you’re going to be using the gun, you’ll be able to choose the right air rifle, which will be able to provide you with the best experience! At the same time, you’ll need to choose a reliable rifle, which fits your budget and is actually worth your money. Making the wrong choice can be very detrimental to the overall experience. Therefore, it is absolutely imperative that you take the time to use the information below and read the air rifle reviews, in order to assure that you purchase the right air rifle for your particular needs!
After the critical faults were dealt with, the guns shot fairly well. Please keep in mind I started shooting air rifles in the 1960s, so I understood how to deal with the reverse recoil of springer rifles. A newbie must master the special hold most inexpensive air rifles require to be anything approaching accurate.
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Or check out our picks on the top rated air rifles for 2019 below.
Best Air Rifle for 2019 Comparison Chart Or check out our picks on the top rated air rifles for 2019 below.
TOP AIR RIFLE | FPS | CALIBER | LENGTH | WEIGHT | PRICE |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Gamo Whisper Silent Cat Air Rifle | 1200 (PBA) | .177 | 46.0' | 5.28 lbs | $$$ |
Crosman Nitro Venom Break Barrel Air Rifle | 800 | .22 | 44.25' | 7.37 lbs | $$$ |
Gamo Hornet Air Rifle | 1200 (PBA) | .177 | 43.3' | 6.1 lbs | $$ |
Ruger Blackhawk Combo Air Rifle | 1000 | .177 | 44.8' | 6.95 lbs | $$$ |
Benjamin Trail NP XL 1100 Break Barrel Air Rifle | 950 | .22 | 48.25' | 8.5 lbs | $$$$$ |
Gamo Big Cat 1250 Air Rifle | 1250 (PBA) | .177 | 43.3' | 6.1 lbs | $$$ |
Benjamin Marauder PCP Air Rifle | 1100 | .177, .22, .25 | 42.8' | 7.3 lbs | $$$$$ |
Crosman M4-177 Pneumatic Pump Air Rifle | 625 | .177 | 33.75' | 3.75 lbs | $$ |
Hammerli 850 AirMagnum Air Rifle | 760, 655 | .177, .22 | 41.0' | 5.65 lbs | $$$$$ |
Crosman 1077 Repeat Air Semi-Automatic CO2 Pellet Gun Air Rifle | 625 | .177 | 36.88' | 3.75 lbs | $$ |
Air Rifle Reviews: Top 10 Picks
- Gamo Whisper Silent Cat Air Rifle
If you are looking for an air rifle to take down small game or for a little target practice, you are definitely going to be interested in the Gamo Whisper Silent Cat Air Rifle. One of the best features that this rifle has to offer is the non-removable noise dampener. This damper is able to dampen the noise of your shot by 52%. This is great, if you have neighbors and are looking to take out some pesky squirrels in your backyard.
Another great feature is that this rifle has two safety features that make you feel so much safer, while you are using the rifle. The safety features are an automatic cocking safety system and manual trigger safety. The rifle also uses a single cocking system. This allows you to shoot the gun, cock it, and shoot the gun again. You should be able to take down multiple targets within seconds.
- Crosman Nitro Venom Break Barrel Air Rifle (22) Powered by Nitro Piston
The Crosman is definitely a great air rifle for varmint and small game hunting. It offers a substantial amount of accuracy, after you do a bit of practicing first. It is advised that you take the time to get the feel of the gun, before you begin your plinking expedition. The spring or piston must be cocked one time, before every shot, which is suitable for most adults. It is also capable of shooting up to 35 yards, without mishap, but should not be attempted without a high-quality scope.
It can shoot up to 800 FPS with lead ammunition and 950 FPS with alloy ammunition. With 20 FPE, this is an airgun that can take down small game and pests with ease. This air rifle is a bit pricier, but offer multi-use options, it is definitely worth the extra cost. Just remember that you must cock the lever, before each and every shot.
- Gamo Hornet Air Rifle .177 Caliber
The Gamo Company has delivered an astounding air rifle, despite the affordable price of $99. Suffice to say, this gun is capable of providing you with precision and power. Although it is only 0.177 caliber, the gun is more than suitable for hunting small prey. When used with the recommended pellets, the rifle will be able to fire at 1,200 feet per second! With others, the FPS will remain around 1,000. The gun is approximately 43 inches in length and only weighs 6 pounds.
During our time with the gun, we were able to experience effortless use and lugging the gun around was never difficult. In order to cock the gun, you’ll need to use the break-barrel. The gun must be cocked with each shot. The included 4×32 riflescope can help improve accuracy, regardless of distance. The gun works tremendously well, when shooting targets and preys up to 30 feet away.
- Ruger Blackhawk Combo Air Rifle
The Ruger Blackhawk Combo Air Rifle is another excellent break-barrel air gun. If you’re fine with cocking the gun, after every shot, you’ll find comfort with this weapon, which is equipped with an efficient 4×32 riflescope. This is a good weapon for longer distances and is capable of providing you with an approximate shot of 1,000 feet per second.
During our time with this air gun, we had a tremendous amount of fun and enjoyed the overall experience. When firing the weapon, the noise produced isn’t anything to complain about, although it is slightly louder than a BB gun. Again, this is a .177 caliber gun, which is suitable for long distance shots, thanks to the equipped scope. At $80, you can rest assured that the rifle is well worth the money! An included 1 year warranty helps to add more value to the overall package and can help put your mind at ease! If you’re looking for an affordable rifle, which is sufficient for rangy shots, this might be the best air rifle for you.
- Benjamin Trail NP XL 1100 Break Barrel Air Rifle
Benjamin has truly created a great air rifle that will stand up to the test of time, and the elements. This air rifle has big velocity that is perfect for small game hunters. Not only does this gun provide you with all these astounding features, but it looks amazing as well. The stock is made with a stylish hardwood finish that gives the gun a great look and aesthetics. The rifle also has a great looking thumbhole in the stock.
One of the best features of this gun is that it uses a gas piston, instead of a spring coil piston. The gas piston makes it so much easier to cock the gun, and it also produces 70% less noise than a spring coil piston air rifle. The gas piston is also not affected by weather, which means that you do no have to worry about the piston getting rusty, due to humidity.
- Gamo Big Cat 1250 Air Rifle with 4 x 32 Rifle Scope and PBA Platinum Pellets .177 Caliber
If you’re looking for a solid air rifle, which feels like a realistic gun, you’ll want to check out the Gamo Big Cat 1250 Air Rifle. This rifle is equipped with a very handy 4×32 riflescope. The rifle is capable of shooting pellets, at approximately 1250 feet per second, when using the PBA Platinum Pellets. Be prepared to cock the gun, after every single shot. At 6 pounds and 43 inches in length, the air rifle feels like an authentic rifle, which is suitable for marksmen, who wish to perfect their aim.
This rifle is equipped with a break barrel cocking system. Be aware that the gun is fairly loud. When we used it, the sound was reminiscent to that of a 22. This is an astoundingly affordable rifle, which shoots excellently! With the riflescope, you can rest assured that you’ll be able to hit your target each and every time!
- Benjamin Marauder PCP Air Rifle, Synthetic Stock Air Rifle
If you are searching for an air rifle that allows you the capability of customizing your air compression velocity, you definitely need to consider the Benjamin Marauder. It is equipped with an auto-indexing component that will allow you to adjust the velocity with ease. The choked barrel design will provide a much better accuracy rating than other brands.
The synthetic stock presents the gunner with a realistic feel and lightweight feature, which will prevent fatigue, when toting, aiming, and shooting the air rifle, even for longer periods of time. With a total weight of 4.1 pounds, you will still achieve the same accurate shot, as before.
This air rifle is excellent for target shooting and hunting small game, with a 60 yard shooting range. You will have several different caliber options to choose from including 0.177, 0.22, and 0.25. The exterior construction will offer durability and longevity, since it is an all-weather synthetic, which is necessary if you are hunting in severe weather conditions.
- Crosman M4-177 Pneumatic Pump Air Rifle .177
Those that are looking for plenty of fun, with their air rifle, the Crosman M4-144 is capable of delivering. With the included 5-shot clip, it is possible fire 5 shots fairly quickly. Of course, this is a pneumatic pump air rifle, which means you’ll need to pump the gun occasionally. This is a very versatile air gun, which is capable of shooting pellets and BBs. When shooting pellets, the gun can fire at 600 feet per second. For BBs, the gun will fire at 625 FPS.
With the weapon’s accessory rails, it is possible to add customization. For instance, you can easily add a scope to the rifle. If you’re interested in a flashlight, or camera, this is also a possibility. During our time with the Crosman M4-177, we had a tremendous amount of fun. The gun is affordable and suitable for several purposes, including target shooting and hunting small prey.
- Hammerli 850 AirMagnum Air Rifle
Some air rifles do not feel realistic, but this isn’t one of them. The Hammerli 850 AirMagnum Air Rifle is capable of recreating the feel and weight of a traditional rifle. If you’ve ever shot a regular shotgun, you’ll feel right at home, with this air gun, which is capable of firing pellets at 655 feet per second. Although the weapon is a little on the expensive end of the table, it includes a one year warranty for added peace of mind.
This rifle must be used with an 88 gram CO2 cylinder. Although this can add a little to the overall cost, it provides extended use, since the cylinder can be used for up to 200 shots! Anyone that wants a gun that is able to fire shots rapidly will find that this air gun is more than suitable. The Hammerli 850 is capable of shooting 8 shots, before reloading is necessary. With the .22 caliber air rifle, we were able to hunt plenty of animals and deliver humane kills.
- Crosman 1077 Repeat Air Semi-Automatic CO2 Pellet Gun Air Rifle
If you are searching for your teenager’s first air rifle, you definitely ought to consider the Crosman 1077. It is very affordable and reliable so that he/she will gain the experience and knowledge that is required, before moving on to a larger, more experience air gun. It is vital that every gunner learn how to care, clean, and shoot the air rifle properly, so always keep this in mind, when you are training your teenagers everything there is to know about the gun.
The pellet clip will offer a longer shooting option, before needing to reload, as it is capable of holding 12 pellets. The 3.7 pound weight is perfect for the small stature, since it will not weigh the newbie gunner down. The CO2 cartridge will allow the user to fire off around 40-60 shots, without having to switch out the cartridge. This is the perfect air gun for any youngster that is avid about becoming a professional gunner.
What You Should Look For In an Air Rifle
Be sure to read the reviews that are left by current and former customers. This will give you an idea of how well the air gun performed and stood up to the test of time for the specific gunner. Stay clear of brands that hold a low rating because they are most likely not worth their price tag.
Accuracy Necessity
Accuracy is important, when aiming and shooting a moving or fixed object. Of course, if you are aiming at a target that is 35-50 yards away, you should consider using a scope, since it will make mark or object more visible. If there is a lack of accuracy provided, then it can tend to cause the gunner to become frustrated and loose interest in the sport. Do read our reviews on the air rifle scopes available.
Powerful Options
If you are looking for an air gun that is powerful enough to take out small or medium game, you will require a break barrel or pneumatic rifle. Of course, it is not always necessary to utilize a high-powered or magnum-powered air rifle, if you are not planning on shooting from long distances. The CO2 air rifle may be sufficient, if you are shooting from 20 yard distances. Most hunters like to sneak upon their prey and get up close, before they aim and take their shot. This will allow them the opportunity to improve their chances of hitting their target.
How Will it Be Used
When it comes down to it, you should break down your specific uses of the gun, before you ever look at the air rifle reviews. By understanding your own desires, you will be able to figure out the exact parameters that are needed. Obviously, people, who want to shoot longer distances, will need a different air gun than those, who are trying to target prey, at a close range. If you desire to be able to rid your home and yard of pesky possums, you’ll want to equip yourself with a powerful gun, which is .22 caliber or higher. This will ensure that the animal is capable of receiving a humane death. By knowing your most likely uses, you’ll have a much easier time choosing the most suitable rifle for your specific needs.
The Pellets
The truth of the matter is that pellets and BBs are tremendously less expensive than ammunition for traditional firearms. Still, there are many different types of pellets that can be used for your gun. Depending on the parameters and specifications of your air gun, you may only been able to use pellets, but some are successfully capable of using pellets and BBs. Either way, it is also important to understand the different types of pellets. If you’re interested in shooting targets, you’ll want to consider purchasing wad cutters. Anyone, who considers himself or herself friendly with the environment, will want to choose the Crosman Powershot pellets. These are lead-free and will protect the environment. Finally, hunters will want to opt for pointed pellets or polymer tip hollow-head pellets. Many hunters recommend the latter and consider them to be the most suitable for hunting.
CO2 or CO2 Free?
If you’re trying to save money, you may want to consider skipping rifle, which require a CO2 cartridge. If money isn’t an issue, CO2 powered rifles can offer some additional benefits, such as semi-automatic features. Remember that replacing these cartridges can become expensive and may become annoying to purchase repeatedly. Be sure to consider the other types of propulsion methods, if CO2 is out of your range.
Preferences
When choosing an air rifle, you really need to consider what you want out of the gun. Do you want an air rifle that feels like a real gun, do you want an air rifle that shoots long distances? Maybe you’re interested in something powerful that will be able to eliminate rodents? It really just comes down to what you want.
Budget
Air rifles can sometimes be expensive depending on what you are looking for. However, there are many great air rifles that can be found at an affordable price. If you are a beginner or are buying a gun for a beginner then you might want to go with a cheaper air rifle. This will help the individual get comfortable with air guns, before they consider buying a more expensive one that can provide them with many more features than your basic air rifle.
Yardage
While there are many different styles of air guns, it is important to remember that they all offer different distance. Still, it is really the accuracy that plays a huge factor, when you are hunting. However, if you are interested in long distance kills, you might want to consider a PCP (Pre-Charged Pneumatic), since rifles with this mechanism will shoot accurately for up to 60 yards.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, there are many different reasons for an individual to switch to air rifles and guns. They’re much more economically friendly and will be able to help the hunter or marksman save a tremendous amount of money. Still, it is crucial to remember the different types of guns. By using all of the information above you will be able to figure out exactly which gun will work perfectly for your specific situation and needs. Remember that budget and price is important, but quality shouldn’t be ignored. Sometimes, you will find it better to spend a little more, in order to receive a better quality gun and improved durability.
Still, there are many different other traits and characteristics that you’ll need to consider, before laying down your money. For instance, you will want to consider taking the time to read our air rifle reviews, which have been put together, after tremendous experimentations. Once you’ve taken this information into account, you’ll have a good ideal of the specific brands and models that are best suitable and most durable. Once you’ve found the best air rifle for your specific needs and uses, you’ll want to experiment more with other rifles. Truthfully, you’ll completely fall in love with these guns and may even give up on those overly expensive traditional rifles and guns like we have. Not only are these guns much cheaper, but also they’re highly precise, extremely durable and most important, tremendously fun. Choose a rifle, take to the woods and loose yourself in the enjoyment that you’ll experience from your new air rifle!
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- The Benjamin Maximus is a good shooter, but it will take some work. The trigger is terrible out of the box, but can be fixed.The Benjamin Maximus is a good shooter, but it will take some work. The trigger is terrible out of the box, but can be fixed.I have a Gamo ACCU177 that I purchased for $100 on sale. It is has an under the barrel cocking lever, is spring powered and has a fixed barrel. Mine is .177 caliber, and it is very accurate. They are also available in .22 caliber, but you have to search around for those because I don’t think they are made any more, or at least they aren’t currently listed on the Gamo website. You didn’t mention what country you live in, but check Amazon or Google for prices in your country.Another good choice is Hatsan. The Torpedo 100X has been on sale at several different website for $123.00. This is also an under lever, spring powered rifle with a fixed barrel. I have one in .25 caliber, but they are also available in .22 and .177.Currently, Midwayusa.com and Fieldsupply.com have sales running on Hatsan air rifles. Again, not knowing what country you live in, I’m not sure if they can be exported.I have a Gamo ACCU177 that I purchased for $100 on sale. It is has an under the barrel cocking lever, is spring powered and has a fixed barrel. Mine is .177 caliber, and it is very accurate. They are also available in .22 caliber, but you have to search around for those because I don't think they are made any more, or at least they aren't currently listed on the Gamo website. You didn't mention what country you live in, but check Amazon or Google for prices in your country. Another good choice is Hatsan. The Torpedo 100X has been on sale at several different website for $123.00. This is also an under lever, spring powered rifle with a fixed barrel. I have one in .25 caliber, but they are also available in .22 and .177. Currently, Midwayusa.com and Fieldsupply.com have sales running on Hatsan air rifles. Again, not knowing what country you live in, I'm not sure if they can be exported.JamesRifle, that is a tough one. First let me say that when I started here I did not want to spend much on air rifles. I wasn’t really sure I wanted to throw a huge chunk of money into this hobby. So, to that end, I started with some very inexpensive springer rifles made by Benjamin. I did some work to enhance the trigger, and that helped. I ended up replacing the Benjamin factory provided scopes, as factory scopes are usually of a poor quality. The factory scopes also had problems with the zero drifting on them, so each day meant tweaking the zero on the scope. By the way, this is typically true of any scope which comes bundled with an airgun of any manufacture. After the critical faults were dealt with, the guns shot fairly well. Please keep in mind I started shooting air rifles in the 1960s, so I understood how to deal with the reverse recoil of springer rifles. A newbie must master the special hold most inexpensive air rifles require to be anything approaching accurate. That said, I would not take any of my springers to a match competition. The good news is there are a lot of new PCP air rifles coming out which also fit your budget (okay, you have to spend a bit more to get an air pump). Let me give one example: The Benjamin Maximus with an air pump bundled costs $350, but once you apply the “AGNATION” discount code at check out, it drops to $262.
The link for the air rifle is here:
http://www.crosman.com/airguns/air-rifles/maximus-kit-22
There are other PCP rifles in this price range, and they will give you the most approachable accuracy in your price range (and a bit more).
Should you purchase the Maximus, and want to improve it, there are several aftermarket components which enhance it’s accuracy even more.
You came into the market at a good time, with several different companies introducing sub-200 dollar PCP air rifles. You just have to remember to factor in the price of an air pump, or you will be stuck with a gun which you cannot fire.
Best of luck
AddertoothJamesRifle, that is a tough one. First let me say that when I started here I did not want to spend much on air rifles. I wasn't really sure I wanted to throw a huge chunk of money into this hobby. So, to that end, I started with some very inexpensive springer rifles made by Benjamin. I did some work to enhance the trigger, and that helped. I ended up replacing the Benjamin factory provided scopes, as factory scopes are usually of a poor quality. The factory scopes also had problems with the zero drifting on them, so each day meant tweaking the zero on the scope. By the way, this is typically true of any scope which comes bundled with an airgun of any manufacture. After the critical faults were dealt with, the guns shot fairly well. Please keep in mind I started shooting air rifles in the 1960s, so I understood how to deal with the reverse recoil of springer rifles. A newbie must master the special hold most inexpensive air rifles require to be anything approaching accurate. That said, I would not take any of my springers to a match competition. The good news is there are a lot of new PCP air rifles coming out which also fit your budget (okay, you have to spend a bit more to get an air pump). Let me give one example: The Benjamin Maximus with an air pump bundled costs $350, but once you apply the 'AGNATION' discount code at check out, it drops to $262. The link for the air rifle is here:http://www.crosman.com/airguns/air-rifles/maximus-kit-22There are other PCP rifles in this price range, and they will give you the most approachable accuracy in your price range (and a bit more).Should you purchase the Maximus, and want to improve it, there are several aftermarket components which enhance it's accuracy even more.You came into the market at a good time, with several different companies introducing sub-200 dollar PCP air rifles. You just have to remember to factor in the price of an air pump, or you will be stuck with a gun which you cannot fire. Best of luckAddertoothThat’s not an easy thing to answer since you said “air rifle shooting class ( 50 meters distance air gun )”. At 25 and even up too 40 meters you can make some less expensive air rifles do ok. But just a few yards can make a really big difference. If you could find someone that is shooting that type gun in your area, might be the best help. And maybe even find a good deal on a used one? I would ask the instructor that is going to teach that shooting class and see if they know of any used guns for sale? And that way maybe you could get a package deal on a gun and scope. Less expensive springer rifles have been known to be “less expensive scope” killers.Good luck on your quest.That's not an easy thing to answer since you said 'air rifle shooting class ( 50 meters distance air gun )'. At 25 and even up too 40 meters you can make some less expensive air rifles do ok. But just a few yards can make a really big difference. If you could find someone that is shooting that type gun in your area, might be the best help. And maybe even find a good deal on a used one? I would ask the instructor that is going to teach that shooting class and see if they know of any used guns for sale? And that way maybe you could get a package deal on a gun and scope. Less expensive springer rifles have been known to be 'less expensive scope' killers.Good luck on your quest.Have you tried a WTB (want to buy) ad here or on the YF? Dollar for dollar, you may be better off with a quality used rifle. Just be sure to deal with sellers who have only positive feedback. Happy Hunting!BrianHave you tried a WTB (want to buy) ad here or on the YF? Dollar for dollar, you may be better off with a quality used rifle. Just be sure to deal with sellers who have only positive feedback. Happy Hunting!BrianHave you considered an Air Arms 200T in .177? It’s easily tuned to 12 ft lbs and there’s a lot of sources for parts and upgrades so you can make it into a full on field target rig if the $ are available. The CZ barrels on these have proven to be very accurate.Have you considered an Air Arms 200T in .177? It's easily tuned to 12 ft lbs and there's a lot of sources for parts and upgrades so you can make it into a full on field target rig if the $ are available. The CZ barrels on these have proven to be very accurate.S200 or 400 are good places to start but you’ll soon outgrow them so a second-hand EV2 or Steyr may be a good place to start.S200 or 400 are good places to start but you'll soon outgrow them so a second-hand EV2 or Steyr may be a good place to start.Field Target. $200ish budget. Only one choice ( but it is a good rifle so…) QB79.http://www.airgundepot.com/beeman-qb79-air-rifle.html
add a $59.00 regulated Ninja bottle, adjust the trigger ( one of the best for the money) , polish barrel and you should be good to go.Good enough to place in State matches and would do better with a better shooter.JohnField Target. $200ish budget. Only one choice ( but it is a good rifle so...) QB79.http://www.airgundepot.com/beeman-qb79-air-rifle.htmladd a $59.00 regulated Ninja bottle, adjust the trigger ( one of the best for the money) , polish barrel and you should be good to go.http://www.invictaftc.org/images/match_15.jpg Good enough to place in State matches and would do better with a better shooter.JohnHummm…..unless you opt for the expense of a PCP rig it would be a chore to find a good SCOPE (one that will rangefind OK) with mounts for less than $200, however I did use a 4-16×40 Center Point that I bought at WalMart for about $80 and it worked OK considering the low cost.Hummm.....unless you opt for the expense of a PCP rig it would be a chore to find a good SCOPE (one that will rangefind OK) with mounts for less than $200, however I did use a 4-16x40 Center Point that I bought at WalMart for about $80 and it worked OK considering the low cost.