Varmint Air Rifles

M

metal man

New member
I am just wondering what are some good varmint hunting air rifles . I am thinking .22 or .25 cal for 220 and under.
1. Ruger Air Magnum Break Barrel .22 (I have read a review saying he hunts upto coyotes)
2. Hatsan 95 Air Rifle Combo, Walnut Stock .22 or .25
3. Tech Force Contender 89 - .22 Caliber (Read people hunting coons and ground hogs with it.)
4. Umarex Octane Air Rifle Combo, Gas Piston .22
5. Gamo Varmint Hunter HP .22 Cal Air Rifle
6. Crosman Nitro Venom .22 other Crosman Rifles in .22 or .25 that are in my price range.
7. Benjamin Trail NP Nitro Piston® All Weather .22
8. Beeman RAM .22 Caliber Air Rifle Combo with RS2 Trigger
Those are the ones that I am leaning Twords I must say that I am leaning more twords the Ruger, Hatsan, Umarex, and the Tech Force as my top but I would love your input guys on what are good varmint hunting air rifles in my price range.
I need one that hits hard but is quite quiet because I can not shoot fire arms in my area. My plan is to hunt upto woodchuck size varmints but if any of these can hunt bigger varmints or animals than those I would really appreciate your advice or any other advice from you guys would be awesome.
Thanks guys
 
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I do not own either of these but I do share your interest in them. I almost purchased a trail NP the other day but future bills were whispering in my ear not to do it.
My quick 2 cents worth....I don't think you will go wrong with the trail NP in a 22 caliber. It will stay under the sound barrier (at least it should) and will have plenty of energy to take small game and will still knock off a larger animal with proper shot placement (behind the ear) at 20-30 yards.
I was really chomping at the bit to buy that sucker but maybe another time. Good luck with which ever you choose and post back with your thoughts and reviews.
 
I'm having a lot of fun with a Browning Leverage or XS46U as the Chinese call it. Mine is .22. Haven't harvested much except paper and McDonald's toys with it yet. There's a guy call Mike Melick or something like that who runs Dragon Arms or something like that who sells these types already tuned. I'm sure a Google search will lead you to who I'm thinking of; just can't remember right now. His prices are reasonable and his reputation seems to be good. Might check out Gateway to Airguns forum for more info.
 
I was using a piece of 1/2" OSB inside a cardboard box stuffed with crumpled newspaper as a pellet trap. I had the 14.3 gr Crosman Premier's coming out the back of the box with enough oomph to bury themselves in the fence pickets. I've upgraded to OSB and 2x12 with no shoot thru's. I don't know how much energy that comes out to be, but hope that gives you an idea of what it will do. Good luck.
 
here is my varmint hunting airguns! the blue one is a tuned and Modded airforce condor in .25 cal
the camo is a tuned modded bam 51 in .25 cal and the red is a CZ200s in .177 cal the CZ i use for crow and down in game size the other 2 are used for coyote and down game! the Condor is what the cast pan pic shot yesterday at 100 yards Thats .735 " at 100 yards the hole in the pan is what the gun did at 30 yards to the pan! the regular card stock target was shot with the CZ at 40 yards and yes thats a Ten shot group!
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The strongest RWS .22 caliber pellet rifle now available,remember this is after Umarex owns the RWS factories, is the RWS 350 Magnum (google RWS #: 2166462)which runs around $360(at MidwayUSA)where it lists the maximum velocity as 1000 FPS and the "cocking effort" at 33 lbs. This is a true Spring-Piston air rifle so it will have the typical recoil effect of the spring action air rifles.
I just bought the .22 Umarex Octane, for $220 (at Pyramid Air)where it lists the "cocking effort" at 42 lbs and the maximum velocity as 1250 FPS, which they state elsewhere yields 1050 FPS with lead pellets. That means this is the strongest break action .22 pellet gun now available. You can get more power by going PCP but at what price? The Umarex Octane comes with a 3x9 40 mm scope adjustable for parallax, Picatinny optics rail and free ground shipping, so how can you beat that? This is a gas piston break action air rifle so you won't have the spring recoil effect.
All you have to do is find a heavy enough pellet to bring the velocity down to the optimum accuracy range (less than sound barrier wobble effect) but a heavier pellet means more foot pounds impact.
 
From limited knowledge about pellet rifles, I have not heard of any scope that will stay working on a spring powered rifle. I would advise spending the money for middle of the road pcp rifles. You will be much happier and have something to start with. The rifle is only part of the cost. You will need an air source such as a scuba or scba tank. My Webley Venom is a 3,000 psi rifle and I use a 3,000psi tank that I fell myself at the fire department. Make sure you get a tank with a good inspection on it if you don't have a source to fill it yourself.

A hand pump will make a real man out of you after a few fill ups. My Webley is good for 30+ shots before you see a drop in pressure.
 
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