6 Best Air Rifles: Which is right for you?
There was a time when air rifles were seen as nothing more than toys for kids, but times have changed. Air rifles now come in a vast array of calibers and can be used for everything from plinking to hunting. If you’ve never considered adding an air rifle to your firearms collection, it’s way past time you do so, and we have some suggestions. Check out our list of the best air rifles to choose from for the next member of your firearms family.
Types of air guns
Yes, there are purposes for air rifles, not to mention sizes and styles. In fact, most air rifles fit into one of five categories: spring powered, pneumatic, gas piston, C02, and variable pump. For our best air rifles choices, these are the categories we’ve narrowed it down to:
- Best all-around hunting air rifle
- Best varmint air rifle
- Best plinking air rifle
- Best air rifle for new shooters
- Best compact air rifle
Before we get into that, let’s take a look at the five types of air rifles.
Spring powered – These air rifles operate by using a piston that’s spring-powered. Working the action on a spring powered air gun compresses the spring so it can propel a projectile down range when the trigger is pulled. These guns can produce greater velocity than air guns powered by something like C02.
Pneumatic – This type of air rifles can be pre-charged pneumatic or pump pneumatic. Pump pneumatic air guns might be single stroke or multi stroke and function by mechanically compressing the air to propel a projectile down range. Pre-charged pneumatic air guns have reservoirs filled from external sources. When the trigger is pulled, the hammer strikes a release valve on the reservoir, which allows a set amount of air to be released. This compressed air then provides the pressure needed to move a projectile to the target.
Gas piston – These air rifles are the next generation of spring powered air guns and utilize more advanced technology. Rather than manually compressing a spring, a gas piston or spring uses an internal gas piston to provide compressed air for firing a projectile. The gas piston has the added bonus of not causing undue stress on an internal spring, which can happen if you keep a spring powered air gun’s spring compressed for extended periods. With a gas piston, you can have the gun ready to go without worrying about what it might do to the spring.
C02 – The CO2 air rifles operate by using cylinders full of CO2. By using a C02 air gun, you can fire multiple shots without pumping or filling. When the cylinder is empty, simply replace it with another cylinder. These tend to be more affordably priced guns and often have fewer regulations applied to them.
Variable pump – This is the style you might have in mind when you think of an air powered rifle that has a pump action powering it. The variable pump air gun builds pressure with each stroke, meaning it can provide more or less pressure depending on your preferences.
Gun University’s Choices of the Best Air Rifles
Best Air Rifles
Best all-around for hunting Airforce Texan SS Carbon Fiber |  |
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Best for varmint hunting Gamo Coyote Whisper |  |
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Best for plinking Umarex Origin .22 |  |
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Best for new shooters SIG MCX Air Rifle |  |
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Best compact FX Maverick Compact |  |
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Best semi-auto Western Rattler .357 |  |
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Best Air Rifles Specifications
Below is a table of the specs for each air rifle.
| Rifle | Action | Caliber | Weight | Barrel Length (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airforce Texan SS Carbon Fiber | Pre-charged Pneumatic | 0.457 / 0.510 | 6.76 lbs | 24.75 |
| Gamo Coyote Whisper | Pre-charged Pneumatic | 0.177 / 0.22 | 7.85 lbs | 24.5 |
| Umarex Origin .22 | Pre-charged Pneumatic | 0.22 / 0.25 | 6.8 lbs | 22.9 |
| SIG MCX Air Rifle | CO2 | 0.177 | 7.35 lbs | 18 |
| FX Maverick Compact | Pre-charged Pneumatic | 0.177 / 0.22 / 0.25 / 0.30 | 6.35 lbs | 19.68 |
| Western Rattler .357 | Pre-charged Pneumatic | 0.357 | 9.18 lbs | 28 |
Best Air Rifles
Here is our list for the best air rifles:
- Airforce Texan SS Carbon Fiber
- Gamo Coyote Whisper
- Umarex Origin .22
- Sig MCX Air Rifle
- FX Maverick Airgun, Compact
- Western Rattler .357
Best Air Rifles – Reviews
Let’s get into the best air rifles for various purposes. When you go through this list, just remember, these aren’t airsoft guns and they’re also not the air guns of yesteryear. Today’s air rifles are quite well made and capable of being used for pretty much anything a firearm can do.
Best all-around Airforce Texan SS Carbon Fiber
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Airforce Texan SS Carbon Fiber Specs
- Action Pre-charged Pneumatic
- Caliber 0.457 / 0.510
- Weight 6.76 lbs
- Barrel Length 24.75 in
Airforce Texan SS Carbon Fiber Review
We’re going a bit bigger for an all-around hunting air gun because if you want your air gun to be multi-purpose, it shouldn’t be a smaller caliber. The Airforce Texan SS Carbon Fiber in .457 has a listed velocity of 1067 feet per second. This is a single-shot air gun with a 24.75 inch barrel and an overall length of 42 inches. It’s a pre-charged pneumatic air gun, which means greater velocity and less effort on your part. And with an empty weight of 6.76 pounds, this gun is light enough to tote around in the fields and woods without much trouble at all.
The Airforce Texan SS Carbon Fiber has a 475cc carbon fiber tank with a TX2 valve, meaning it’s well made, durable, and resistant to use related wear. It has an automatic safety system rather than a manual one, which can be nice depending on personal preferences. The barrel is a fully moderated Loather Walther with an acoustic baffle system and it produces moderate noise but is quieter than some models. Also, the buttplate is adjustable, so the length of pull is somewhat changeable. It’s compatible with 11mm dovetail rings, so it is possible to mount an optic (it doesn’t ship with optics and also doesn’t offer iron sights).
This air rifle has a nice factory trigger that’s set with a 2.06 pound trigger pull weight. The trigger is light, crisp, and has a brief re-set. The trigger is not adjustable. As for the tank, it’s capable of five shots per fill. That’s going to be plenty for a lot of hunting purposes, but might not suffice if you’re trying to wipe out an entire sounder of feral hogs. If you think .457 caliber is a bit small, this model is also offered in .510 caliber. It’s a high-quality air rifle that’s designed for hunters. What more could you ask for?
Best For Varmint Hunting Gamo Coyote Whisper : Gamo Coyote Whisper
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Gamo Coyote Whisper Specs
- Action Pre-charged Pneumatic
- Caliber 0.177 / 0.22
- Weight 7.85 lbs
- Barrel Length 24.5 in
Gamo Coyote Whisper Review
This isn’t just an air rifle, it’s a beautifully designed one that was made with dropping coyotes in mind. Sure, you can use it for other things like plinking or shooting other pests, but it’s nice that they made it for the purpose of hunting song dogs. It’s also worth mentioning that this is a good-quality, European made Gamo, putting it at the higher end of the company’s product line.
The Gamo Coyote Whisper is a pre-charged pneumatic air rifle chambered in .22 that utilizes the company’s Whisper Fusion for quieter live fire. Features include a metal jacketed rifled steel barrel that’s 24.5 inches long, a laser engraved non-slip textured grip, and a Shock Wave Absorber Recoil Paid (according to Gamo it’s capable of absorbing up to 74 percent of felt recoil). The Coyote Whisper has a manual safety.
If you want to add optics to your Coyote Whisper, this rifle does have 11mm dovetail grooves. As for the trigger, it’s a two-stage design with a 3.2 and 2.6 pound pull weight. The gun weighs 7.85 pounds empty, which is lighter than many air rifles. Out of the box, you can tell this is a well-made air rifle. The trigger might take getting used to if you’re accustomed to single-stage designs, but it’s a decent factory model. This air gun is accurate on target and has a nice, classic wood stock aesthetic.
Best for plinking Umarex Origin (PCP)
- Accuracy A
- Ergonomics A+
- Durability A
- Value A+
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Umarex Origin .22 Specs
- Action Pre-charged Pneumatic
- Caliber 0.22 / 0.25
- Weight 6.8 lbs
- Barrel Length 22.9 in
Umarex Origin .22 Review
If you’re interested in an air rifle specifically for plinking bottles or small targets at the range, the Umarex Origin .22 is the air gun for you. The Origin .22 is a pre-charged pneumatic air gun made by the manufacturer to cut down on pumping needed for operation. It has a three-stage, 4500 psi hand pump that requires 13 pumps for full-power shots. Its cocking lever is side mounted and it ships with two 10-shot rotary magazines.
The Umarex Origin .22 takes .22 caliber pellets, as its name suggests. Features include a manual safety, single-action trigger, and compatibility with either Picatinny or 11mm ring optics. This air gun offers 100 pumps per fill. It has a 23 inch barrel which allows shooters to get the best ballistics out of the .22 caliber pellets. It has an overall length of 43.1 inches with a fixed stock.
At the range, the Origin .22 runs reliably and shoulders naturally. It’s not a youth gun, so if you’re looking for a shorter length of pull to accommodate youth shooters, you’ll have to look elsewhere in the Umarex line. What it does is provide reliable accuracy and function with a decent trigger and straightforward design.
Best for new shooters SIG MCX Air Rifle
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SIG MCX Air Rifle Specs
- Action CO2
- Caliber 0.177
- Weight 7.35 lbs
- Barrel Length 18 in
SIG MCX Air Rifle Review
Newcomers to the air gun world or to guns in general might want a simpler, lighter platform, and that means checking out the SIG MCX air rifle. This rifle is also great because it’s more operationally similar to what you’d get with a standard AR platform rifle. This can make it more natural to operate for some shooters.
The SIG MCX is C02 powered and has a 30 round capacity. They offer c02 cylinders in 88gr and 90gr, meaning they’re fairly small but also lightweight (they won’t add unnecessary bulk to your air gun). It’s a .177 caliber air gun and great for learning the ropes of air guns, plinking, and tiny varmint hunting and pest control. According to SIG, it has an optimal pellet weight range between 5.0 gr and 8.0 gr. Features include a Picatinny rail, which makes it simple to add optics, and flip-up front and rear sights. This air gun has an 18 inch barrel and synthetic handguard.
It’s worth mentioning that the SIG MCX does have a heavier trigger—it’s set at the factory at seven pounds. That heavier trigger can be good for new shooters. Just take care not to start jerking the trigger to get past the pull weight. Because this is a C02 gun without an adapter, it’s typically best not to store it for extended periods with a cylinder in place. The fact that it’s C02 powered also means it doesn’t produce quite as much velocity or energy, but that can be preferable for newbies. Overall, this is a nice air gun with a recognizable design and delivers good quality for the cost.
Best compact FX Maverick Compact
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FX Maverick Compact Specs
- Action Pre-charged Pneumatic
- Caliber 0.177 / 0.22 / 0.25 / 0.30
- Weight 6.35 lbs
- Barrel Length 19.68 in
FX Maverick Compact Review
This is another air rifle that falls under the heading of higher-end, but it really is worth it. They offer the compact sized FX Maverick in .177, .22, .25, and .30 caliber. This compact version is made specifically for shooting heavier pellets and features the company’s dual regulators. The purpose of the dual regulators is for the first regulator to provide the first stage or pressure reduction before the second regulator provides its own reduction. That process takes stress off the second regulator and tightens up standard deviation for greater shot-to-shot consistency. Both regulators have external adjustment knobs.
The FX Maverick Compact in .30 caliber has a 300cc tank that offers 30 to 35 shots per fill. Magazine capacity is 13 shots, and the action is a side lever. It has an overall length of 27.5 inches, which makes the entire air gun more compact than some barrels on others. That also translates to reduced weight; the FX Maverick Compact weighs in at 6 pounds, 3 ounces, empty. As for the ability to add optics, this air gun has a Picatinny rail.
This air gun has a trigger that’s smooth out of the box and is, in fact, one of the nicer air gun triggers on the market. The gun delivers great results on target. Thanks to its .30 caliber chambering, it can take large game. With its 13 round capacity, you could use this gun on a sounder of feral hogs with great success.
Best semi-auto Western Rattler .357
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Western Rattler .357 Specs
- Action Pre-charged Pneumatic
- Caliber 0.357
- Weight 9.18 lbs
- Barrel Length 28 in
Western Rattler .357 Review
The Western Rattler .357 is purpose-built for hunting, but of course you can use it for whatever you want. This is a .357 caliber air rifle, as its name suggests. It has a 580cc air cylinder and adjustable regulator. There’s a throttle knob located by the magazine that makes it easy to adjust velocity according to the task at hand. This is an air gun designed for impressive accuracy and fine-tuning.
Features of the Western Rattler .357 include a hammer forged, nitrate coated 28 inch barrel, Picatinny rail for optics, and a fixed Titanium magazine. According to the manufacturer, the magazine is sized to accommodate longer-length pellets. The gun weighs 9 pounds, 3 ounces, empty, so it’s a bit hefty, but the payoff is in the precise results on target. They list energy produced between 90 foot-pounds and 270 foot-pounds depending on various factors. Magazine capacity is 15 shots, and it has a 15 to 75 shots per fill rate depending on settings.
This gun has a nice trigger and, as mentioned, excellent accuracy. It’s not a lower-priced air rifle, but the results are well worth the expense. We can change the pistol grip out for another AR-style grip if the user prefers it and the buttpad is designed for comfort. Gauges are easy to read and they rated the gun for everything from varmints to large game to long-range precision shooting. If you want a well-made air gun that does it all, and it’s semi-automatic, check out the Western Rattler .357.
The bottom line on best air guns
There’s a whole wide world of air guns on the market, so it’s simply a matter of deciding what you need the gun for and then choosing one. One of the reasons it can be smart to save a little longer and go for a high-end model is because these guns aren’t as customizable as something like an AR-15. Make sure the factory gun you get is as close as possible to your ideal air gun. Also, take care to have plenty of cylinders or refill components on hand so you don’t get stuck unable to shoot because you can’t refill your air gun.
If your focus is just squirrel hunting, we have best pellet gun for squirrel hunting article just for that.
Happy air rifle shooting!
About Kat Ainsworth-Stevens
Kat is a respected author and dedicated student of the gun. To date, she has published three books and written thousands of articles on firearms and self-defense in print and online.
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