The higher the velocity, the more powerful the rifle. While this statement isn’t always true, it is good advice when you are considering an air rifle. You also have to consider the type of pellet you are using, remembering that lead pellets have a lower fps than alloy pellets. If you choose an air rifle that can break the sound barrier and produce fps over 1300, you will have the power you need for pretty much anything. You just change up the type of pellets you use, and a super powered short range turns into an accurate long distance flier.
Ruger Air Magnum Air Rifle
| Rating | Price | Purchase Options |
|---|---|---|
 |  | Click to Check Amazon Price Click to Check Pyramyd Air Price |
The Ruger Air Magnum combo comes in 2 calibers, the .177 that tops 1400 fps with alloy and 1200 fps with lead pellets, and the .22 that tops 1200 fps with alloy and 1000 fps with lead pellets. It is a single shot, break barrel with a spring piston. It comes standard with a weaver scope rail, fiber optic sights and a 4×32 scope. The stock is all-weather synthetic and it has a rubber recoil pad. The stock is Ambi Monte Carlo so can be used equally by right or left-handed shooters. This is a big, fairly heavy rifle, weighing in at 9.5 lbs and 48.5″ long, and has a cocking effort of 42lbs. Cocking this gun has given some people problems, but most seem to be okay with it. It is not the quietest air rifle, the neighbors will hear the shot, but it isn’t loud enough to hurt your ears.
| Velocity | Size | Power Source | Caliber | Pellet Capacity | BB Reservoir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 1400 FPS | Weight: 9.5 Pounds Length: 48.5 Inches | Spring-Piston | .22, .177 | Single Shot | N/A |
Benjamin Trail NP XL Air Rifle
| Rating | Price | Purchase Options |
|---|---|---|
| | Click to Check Amazon Price Click to Check Pyramyd Air Price |
The Benjamin Trail NP XL air rifle is a beast of a rifle. It comes in 3 calibers, .25, .22, and the .177 which tops a whopping 1500 fps velocity with lead-free pellets. It generates up to 28 ft-lbs muzzle energy. It comes with a Crosman Nitro gas piston instead of a spring piston. This allows for smoother cocking, better performance in colder weather, and eliminates spring fatigue if gun is left cocked. It has a hardwood thumbhole stock, and sling swivel studs come mounted. It is ambidextrious with twin cheek rests in place and a ventilated recoil pad. A 3-9×40 AO scope comes with this rifle but is unmounted. With the rifle mounted, this gun weighs 9.7lbs and is 48.25″ long with 47lbs cocking effort. While this gun will elicit the ‘crack’ from the sound barrier if broken, it is quieter than many other rifles in its class. It is advertised as up to 70% quieter than other models.
| Velocity | Size | Power Source | Caliber | Pellet Capacity | BB Resevoir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 100 FPS | Weight: 9.7 Pounds Length: 48.25 Inches | Gas Piston | .177, .22, .25 | Single Shot | N/A |
Gamo Bone Collector Bull Whisper IGT Air RIfle
| Rating | Price | Purchase Options |
|---|---|---|
| | Click to Check Amazon Price Click to Check Pyramyd Air Price |
The Gamo Bone Collector Bull Whisper IGT air rifle is the signature creation between Michael Waddell and Travis Turnerfrom the Bone Collector TV show. It comes in .22 and .177 calibers with a top fps of 1300 alloy for the .177. It has a rugged, all-weather synthetic green stock with the Bone Collector logo imbedded. It has a Shockwave rubber recoil pad, which advertises up to 74% more absorption of recoil, and ambi rubber cheek rests. It also has a textured forearm and pistol grip. This is a single shot breakbarrel rifle with an IGT gas piston, so it offers the benefits of gas technology over a metal mainspring. The trigger is a newly designed Smooth Action Trigger that eliminates the need to replace the Gamo trigger with an aftermarket setup.It has an 11mm optics dovetail, and comes with a 4×32 scope, but it does not have open sights. As an extra perk, it comes with 50 rounds of PBA ammo.
| Velocity | Size | Power Source | Caliber | Pellet Capacity | BB Reservoir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 1300 FPS | Weight: 5.95 Pounds Length: 43.75 Inches | Gas-Piston | .22, .177 | Single Shot | N/A |
These rifles are ideal for small-game hunting, and are used extensively in suburbia. A raccoon is a little tougher than a squirrel or a possum, so more accuracy is needed there, but overall they are wonderful for pest control. They are also used by competition shooters, and a good way to practice target shooting. They are generally quieter than a traditional firearm, so ideal for parent-child backyard target practice. Some will make more noise than others, especially if it breaks the sound barrier, but the sound doesn’t carry like a firearm.
