Good Air Rifels?

Question

I need a good air rifel. One that can drop a squrriel with ease and rabbits. And with a couple shots: Coons, Possums,etc.
Give me some ideas and what you have killed with the ait rifel.

Answer 1

RWS Diana is the best. I have a .22 caliper and it will kill a rabbit or a woodchuck in one shot. Beemans is good. I know someone who has owned one for years. Sheridan used to make a nice air rifle. I haven't seen one for a long time.

Answer 2

You can kill a rabbit with 6 ft lbs of energy with an air rifle.
http://www.airgun.co.uk/Understanding_Terminal_Ballistics_Part_1.html
However 12 lbs works best and most the adult air rifles can put out that and more.
Here are some nice ones. Some are powerful enough to kill a raccoon with one shot no problem.
http://www.airgunsbbguns.com/Pellet_Guns_High_Powered_Break_barrels_s/342.htm

And air rifles are not all toys the adult rifles send a .177 cal pellet over 1200 ft per second. They even have large caliber air rifles including a .50 cal;
http://www.airgunsbbguns.com/Career_Dragon_Slayer_Air_Rifle_50_cal_p/shin-sung-career-dragon-50.htm




I have killed lots of game with air rifles and pistols. Many people don’t seam to know how powerful some are.
But for big game I always use center fire firearms.

Answer 3

Try the Gamo Shadow 1000.
I currently have that rifle, and is probably the most popular one Gamo has sold...I think;)

Here are some reviews...221 of them!
http://www.reviewcentre.com/reviews3151.html
9.1 overall. Has been known to take out small boars.
And his very accurate with open sights, maybe even with a scope.

Answer 4

Good air rifles
Feinwerkbau 124
Beeman R1/HW80
RWS 350/54
Webley & Scott Patriot

Good inexpensive air rifle
RWS 34

Answer 5

I agree with Jim A and am surprised at some of the other answers.
Well we have a bit of disagreement on air rifle hunting! Now I do not dispute air rifle-target’s knowledge about punching paper targets with air guns. I went to your group and noticed “hunting” was not a topic. Well here is a list of the things I have killed with an air rifle in over a half century WITH BRAIN SHOTS;
Small birds, quail, grouse, pigeons, pheasants, ducks, geese, turkey, rabbits, squirrels, rats, groundhog, prairie dog, raccoon, marten, skunk, possum, ferial cats and on badger. And trust me a badger is one tough cookie but at 20 feet I put a .22 cal pellet through his ear and he dropped dead where he stood.
I agree the .177 is not suitable for things larger than a squirrel or rabbit. And you HAVE to hit their brain a body shot will lead to a suffering animal. Some like raccoons, need to be shot in the ear or in the back of the skull where it’s thin, a frontal skull shot will just glance off unless you have a VERY powerful air rifle.
In Europe air guns are used for hunting and have been for decades same goes for Japan.
Here are people who hunt with air guns.
http://www.survivalistboards.com/showthread.php?p=33930
http://www.crowbusters.com/begart3.htm
http://f4bscale.worldonline.co.uk/pest.htm


Here is a forum about air rifle hunting;
http://forums.cabelas.com/archive/index.php/t-1318.html
Here is some air gun hunting history facts scroll down to air guns; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hunting_weapon

Quote; “Air rifles have long been used as hunting weapons, for well over 200 years. Lewis & Clark, on their early journey through the Western United States, carried a repeating air rifle for use as a hunting weapon,”… “Air rifles are well suited for hunting small game such as squirrels and rabbits in commonly available powers. Such hunting is widely practiced in the United States and in the UK”…. “Large game air rifles have experienced a resurgence in the last several decades, and are now capable of taking all game in North America…”

Now what else will it take to prove the right air gun with the right pellet placement will take game? I left out air-shotguns that are used in Japan to hunt waterfowl.

Now back to the person asking the question. Air guns are NOT a toy they can kill people and have. Learn gun safety, also learn the limits of your gun. Start with paper and get real tight groups and see to it you can put all your shot in a quarter size group or less. Always aim for the ear canal or back of skull; you have to hit the brain on small game like rabbits.
And read what these hunter on the links above have to say about hunting with an air rifle. As others have said you want to kill it not wound it and have it suffer.

Answer 6

After researching my own future air rifle purchase, I would say RWS is a good brand if you can afford one. If not, I am sure the GAMMO's and BEEMANS are useable and accurate enough, espcially if you don't want to spend $500+ on a pellet gun.

Answer 7

As a legal, ethical and moral hunter, you want to kill EVERY animal with one shot. You don't want to cause needless suffering of a prolonged death.
Coons can't be killed reliably by any air rifle. You need at LEAST a .22 WMR.
To drop a squirrel or rabbit with "ease" you need to learn to be a good shot and get a .22 caliber air rifle with at least 800 fps.
http://www.pyramydair.com/cgi-bin/show.pl?cmd_rifles=show_guns_caliber&Caliber=0.220
Maybe a .25 air rifle, but judging by the fact you can't even spell RIFLE you probably don't have the ability to pay $400-600 for such a rifle.
http://www.pyramydair.com/cgi-bin/show.pl?cmd_rifles=show_guns_caliber&Caliber=0.250

Answer 8

"beeman" makes one nasty lil varmit getter, have two of em and they work excellent