Air guns are fun to use and great for target practice, but for hunting in the real world they really aren't that practical. The air rifles that are powerful (1000fps or faster) can actually be louder than a .22 rifle. The biggest problem I've found with using air rifles is the fact that you have only one shot and its a PITA reloading for another shot. Can you hunt small game with an air rifle? Sure...its just easier using a .22 rimfire rifle in my opinion. If an air rifle is your only option for whatever reason go for it...they can be very accurate thats for sure.

 

For the money it is hard to beat a RWS 34. It is a spring piston air rifle so the power plant is self contained. Great survival rifle. https://www.airgunsofarizona.com/rws.html

Don't need a silencer for these. You do for a precharged pneumatic though.

 

 

 

i know guys that take foxes with them, one with a suppressor in .22 cal is the
gamo wisper.

 

you can actualy get air rifles from 22 ot 50 cal or so.they kill deer and bigger game with them one is 45 cal 780 fps with 200 gr bullet

 

I would do a small 22LR over a air gun. try some sub sonic ammo or 22 short ammo. Main reason would be for simplicity over the air rifle. Most times a 22lr will be lighter while walking than most of the more powerful air guns.

 

air rifles are for kids and europeans that arent allowed to play with real guns.

dont waste your money, buy a .22, you can ammo from quieter than an airgun, to almost .22 magnum power. much more versatile. much more accurate.

 

That has to be one of the dumbest things I've read on this board. You wouldn't say that if you had any education at all in airguns. Don't speak about things you have no knowledge of.

If you are looking for a small game gun, the Benjamin Marauder is available in .177, .22, and .25. Personally, I'd go with .22. It is nearly dead silent, and puts out a good punch. Ammo is readily available, and dirt cheap.

Video reviews are available here

and here

Big bore airguns are also available. I own a 45 caliber airgun that took a 1200 pound elk. I know a few guys that make airguns in 308 up to 58 caliber. These are serious guns, and can be used for hunting big game.

The primary advantages of airguns are lower cost of ammo, quieter firing, and they're not considered firearms. You can cast bullets for them for dirt cheap, and you don't need casings or primers.

I'm not European, and I have plenty of "real" firearms in my arsenal. Airguns are just plain fun. Cheaper to shoot, and can be extremely effective for hunting. For target practice they are a no brainer.

A comment like "air rifles are for kids" isn't helpful at all.

 

I have interest in air guns also and it gets to be a pain recharging the higher power guns when setting it up or plinking. The air guns are also heavy and the bigger air guns take a but load of accessories to make them work. I go for the 22 lr.

 

What butt load of accessories do they need? A pump, or a tank.

 

I'm curious about the range you've chosen.

The small game I've hunted in the past with air rifles were taken at half of that range or less.

Most, if not all, of the game I hunted scurried for what they thought was a safe place.

There are different kinds.
The Benjamin 397
I haven't used this one in a long time. I think the one I did use was a 392 or something, though.
I don't know if it uses BBs or just pellets.
But it's a strong gun at 800 fps
(600 fps is the benchmark for hunting to me)

The Crosman 760
That was the one I used to hunt with the most.
I like the variable power of the pump action.
You don't always need full power for every shot and it saves wear on the cylinder seals.
Just makes the power range at 600 fps (10 pumps)
Dual ammunition with BBs and .177 pellets.

I bought a new Daisy 880 but was not impressed with the quality of the plastic and the mechanism is a little fussy. Sometimes the gun won't fully cock and leave a dead trigger until you redo the load

The Crosman loads a magazine that allows you to pick out the BBs and ready the gun for pellets.
The Daisy, once loaded with BBs, chambers a ball on every cock, so it's a bit of a tedious effort to switch to pluck out the ball and use a pellet, especially if you're in a hurry to get off a second shot.

The BBs will take birds, squirrels and rabbits.
Pellets for raccoons.
I never shot at anything bigger than a coon.
The expected performance at longer range (and closer for coon size) is a disabling shot with a pellet and then a kill shot at closer range. Usually with a BB.

When my little brother was about 10, he hit a groundhog at 40 yards or better with a pellet from the Crosman.
It was either a great shot or a lucky one, but he hit it and the wound was severe enough to work.

I favor the Crosman 760 and would like to have the pellet pistol version 1377c as well.
If it's not dinner, it can be bait.

 

It has its place.

The big advantage to spring piston or gas ram air rifles for survival is they are accurate, quite and you can carry a boat load of ammo.
Don't get caught up in the velocity hype. Most advertisements are bogus. They advertise a high muzzle velocity using ultra lite pellets. They are useless as they peter out very quickly. A .177 running around 800 pfs with 8.4 grain pellets or .22 at 700+ with a 14.3 grain pellet will put meat on the table out to around 50 yards.
Stick with a RWS, Weihrauch, Theoben, Air Arms. I have read good things about the Benjamen Trail also. I would not recommend a gamo or walmart specials.
You do not need a silence/moderator on a spring rifle period. It is a gimmick by Gamo to sell their product. You don't really need one on a PCP either as they are not that loud. I have both so I have experience with this (over 20 years).
A .22 rim-fire has its place but so does a quality air rifle for SHTF.

 

The big advantage to spring piston or gas ram air rifles for survival is they are accurate, quite and you can carry a boat load of ammo.
Don't get caught up in the velocity hype. Most advertisements are bogus. They advertise a high muzzle velocity using ultra lite pellets. They are useless as they peter out very quickly. A .177 running around 800 pfs with 8.4 grain pellets or .22 at 700+ with a 14.3 grain pellet will put meat on the table out to around 50 yards.
Stick with a RWS, Weihrauch, Theoben, Air Arms. I have read good things about the Benjamen Trail also. I would not recommend a gamo or walmart specials.
You do not need a silence/moderator on a spring rifle period. It is a gimmick by Gamo to sell their product. You don't really need one on a PCP either as they are not that loud. I have both so I have experience with this (over 20 years).
A .22 rim-fire has its place but so does a quality air rifle for SHTF.

Are the ones you mentioned pumps, springs or CO2?
Most of these guns are affordable enough to have more than one.
I like the pumps, but a stronger spring gun would be nice to have as well.
Preferably sticking with the .177 round.

 

you could carry 500 times the ammo for an air rifle than for a 22 for almost the same weight and you can even get a mold to cast more ammo. i have killed game up to a red fox with mine. you could carry a repare kit and be good for years.and ya id love to have one of those 45 cal air rifles . lewes and clark carried 2 with them and the french army under napolion had air rifles with a range of 300 yards.

 

I have a RWS model 48 and like it alot, other than it's heavy. 1150 FPS. Head shots on squirrels with hollow points drop em quick in .177 caliber. Use the right ammo that seals well and you will get a supersonic bullet crack. Something to watch if using in a backyard for sure!

 

I have one of the cheap chinese air rifles in .177 that I bought years ago for about 25 dollars. It's what I use for squirrels, dove and quail. I've also taken dozens of ducks with it.

John

 

mine likes rws super h point .. 10 shot average over the cronny is 918 fps. its not what id call super accurate but i can hit a squirrel in the head at 20 yds and it will kill a gopher out to 60 yds.