Best Hunting Air Rifles For Small Game
Looking for the best small game hunting air rifles? Look no further as we have what you need. Air rifles are an ideal way to deal with small game like coyotes or squirrels. Air rifle shooting is an affordable and fun activity you can take up and also ensures you can control pests and varmint. With some air rifles going for incredibly low prices, air rifle shooting has grown to become a popular activity amongst hunters and outdoor enthusiasts alike.
The market is flooded with small game hunting air rifles and it might feel like a daunting task when you are looking to buy one. We have compiled a list of the best small game hunting air rifles on the market to help you make an informed buy.
Here is a quick list
| Product | Image | Price |
| Ruger Blackhawk Combo air rifle |  |
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| Hornet Maxxim Air Rifle |  |
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| Gamo 6110017154 Varmint Air Rifle .177 Cal |  |
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| Crosman Air Rifle |  |
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| Hatsan Edge Air Rifle, Vortex Piston, Black air rifle |  |
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| Benjamin Trail NP2 Air Rifle Combo air Rifle |  |
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| Gamo Swarm Maxxim Air Rifle |  |
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| Magnum Air Rifle |  |
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| DPMS Full Auto SBR CO2-Powered BB Air Rifle with Dual Action Capability |  |
Best Small Game Hunting Air Rifles Review
#1) DPMS Full Auto SBR CO2-Powered BB Air Rifle with Dual Action Capability
The DPMS Full Auto is one of the best small game hunting air rifles for many reasons. For starters, it comes with a whopping 6 adjustable positions that make the rifle easy to shoulder and handle. It is also fitted with an adjustable rear sight and a removable pop-up sight. This air rifle can shoot up to 1400 rounds per minute with muzzle velocity of up to 330 fps. It is fitted with a 25-round drop out magazine that is compatible with traditional BBs. It also features a thumb selector that provides safe and proper handling. Pros
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#2) Ruger Blackhawk Combo air rifle
As one of the best small game hunting air rifles, the Ruger Blackhawk air rifle offers more than the average air rifle. It features an ambidextrous stock that ensures both left-handed and right-handed people can use it comfortably. The stock has a checkered grip so your grip is secure. It is a spring piston single stroke break barrel that fires at up to 1000 fps. It is fitted with fiber optic sights that help in improving your accuracy and quickly acquiring your target. Additionally, it comes with a 4×32 scope that easily mounts on its dovetail grooves. This air rifle’s rugged construction gives it durable qualities that ensure it serves you for a long time. Pros
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#3)Hornet Maxxim Air Rifle
This is one of the best small game hunting air rifles on the market. The Hornet Maxxim is an air rifle that comes with a lot of features and innovative technology that ensure the squirrels and the coyotes do not stand a chance. It is fitted with the Inert Gas Technology which is a gas piston that delivers velocity with consistent power, minimal vibration, and a smooth cocking effort. It features the Whisper MAXXIM noise dampening technology that has two chambers that lessen the noise delivering a less noisy performance. This means you can quietly hunt small game without worrying about loud sounds. A custom Action Trigger lets you adjust the 1st and 2nd stages independently. What’s more, it comes with a 3-9×40 scope with a recoil-reducing rail that increases the rifle’s life span. A shock wave absorber is fitted to absorb recoil cementing this rifle’s ability to withstand the test of time. Pros
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#4) Gamo 6110017154 Varmint Air Rifle .177 Cal
Over the years, Gamo has really perfected their air rifles, churning out the best small game hunting air rifles year in year out. The Gamo 6110017154 Varmint is one of their masterpieces. It comes with a shockproof 4×32 scope that allows you to spot and effectively take down a squirrel. It can deliver up to 1250 fps of muzzle velocity with a 177 PBA Platinum alloy pellet It features a synthetic all-weather stock that can be comfortably used by both right and left-handed users. The stock also has a rubber recoil pad for recoil absorption to ensure this air rifle lasts you a long time. A Monte Carlo cheek pad helps you align your eye with the scope sights for ultimate accuracy. It is an air rifle that is engineered for small game hunting with incredible performance. Pros
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#5) Crosman Air Rifle
The Crosman Air Rifle is one of the best small game hunting air rifles on the market. It is a single-shot rifle that shoots allow pellets at a muzzle velocity of up to 950 fps. It comes with a scope and its rear optic sights are fully adjustable. Its ambidextrous wooden stock ensures both left and right-handed users can comfortably use it. The 4×32 scope lets you easily acquire and takedown squirrels or tiny animals. It fires .22 caliber pellets and is 45 inches long. Pros
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#6) Hatsan Edge Air Rifle, Vortex Piston, Black air rifle
As one of the best small game hunting air rifles, the Hatsan Edge Air Rifle is the ideal rifle for many applications. It comes with a 3-9×32 optima scope and mount that makes it easy to spot tiny animals from a small distance. It shoots 0.25 pellets at a muzzle velocity of 650 fps. This air rifle comes with a synthetic thumbhole stock and 1-year warranty. Pros
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#7) Benjamin Trail NP2 Air Rifle Combo Air Rifle
Benjamin is another great brand the manufactures high-performance air rifles. The Benjamin Trail NP2 Air Rifle is one of the best small game hunting air rifles on the market today. It comes with the recoil pad integral sound suppression that lessens vibration and noise. It comes with a 3-9×40 scope whose objective is adjustable. The 2-stage trigger and clean break trigger enhance the cocking effort. Pros
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#8) Gamo Swarm Maxxim Air Rifle
This is another one of the best small game hunting air rifles from Gamo. It is an air rifle that comes with a 10-shot break barrel that lets you shoot up to 10 pellets without needing to reload. It delivers a muzzle velocity of 1300 feet per second. It features inert gas technology that delivers consistent power, lessens vibration, and offers smooth cocking effort. This air rifle comes with a 3-9×40 air rifle scope that is great for quick target acquisition. With the whisper maxim technology, this air rifle lessens the noise the air rifle produces. Pros
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#9) Magnum Air Rifle
The Magnum Air Rifle comes with features that make it one of the best small game hunting air rifles. For starters, you can easily spot your prey with its 3-9×40 adjustable objective scope. It comes with the IGT Mach 1, a powerful system that provides more velocity and enhances terminal penetration. It is a precise and powerful air rifle that shoots both the .177 caliber pellets and the .22 caliber pellets. It comes with an all-weather stock with rubberized grips that give you a firm, non-slip grip. The Custom Action Trigger allows you to adjust the trigger stages independently. With the recoil reducing rail absorbing recoil and reducing pressure on the internal components, this air rifle’s durability is enhanced. Pros
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Best Small Game Hunting Air Rifles Buying Guide
To buy the best small game hunting air rifle, consider the following:
Durability
It is often said, a good air rifle is supposed to outlive you. It should be built with high-quality materials and comes with features that help you ethically take down the target. Ensure you get a low-maintenance air rifle as a high maintenance air rifle often results in a short-lived scope.
Reviews
This is why we value the internet. Before you settle on an air rifle, you should read the air rifle’s reviews. Reviews give you a glimpse of what to expect from the air rifle you choose.
Features
Different air rifles come with different features. Some air rifles like the Magnum Air Rifle come with great features that make the difference between a successful hunt and a bad day in the field. Ambidextrous stocks are also a thing to look out for, you need to ensure it’s a comfortable and non-slip grip for a sure grip.
Best Small Game Hunting Air Rifles Advantages
- Easy to use- Air rifles are easy to use
- Accuracy- They enhance your accuracy especially if you mount a scope.
- Power- They have a high knockdown power
Best Small Game Hunting Air Rifles Disadvantages
- The risk of accidents is higher
- Some are too loud
- The risk of misfiring is high
Conclusion
Air rifles are important for pest control, target shooting, and even self defense. The best ones for small game hunting are air rifles that offer high performance, accuracy, and precision. We have compiled the best air rifles for hunting small game to help you make an informed buy.
Happy hunting!