When people hear the term “air rifle,” they probably think of a pellet gun they had when they were younger. Or maybe they think of that highly sought-after Red Ryder BB gun (with a compass in the stock) that Ralphie received as a gift in the movie A Christmas Story. I’ll admit much the same—until recently, when an editor asked me to look into modern air rifles.
Modern air rifles are a far cry from Ralphie’s Red Ryder. The latest crop of air rifles are much sleeker, much more powerful and packed with the same type performance features that you would find in real firearms. In fact, I’ve found these adult air rifles to be nearly as useful as a .22 rimfire rifle for smaller size predator control. Taking things a step further, many companies now produce big-bore air rifles capable of effectively hunting deer-sized game, coyotes and other four-legged animals.
Modern air guns are truly marvels of manufacturing. They are easy to operate, produce higher muzzle velocities (compared to older models) and are highly accurate. All of these factors make shooting them even more enjoyable.
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For beginner shooters, adult air rifles can serve as a great learning tool and an entertaining hobby.
Why Air Guns?
To start with, airguns are easy to buy. Compared to metallic cartridge firearms, they’re also usually more affordable (hold that thought for later).
Airguns aren’t legally classified as “firearms,” so there is no need to go through a gun dealer/FFL or have a background check to buy one. Instead, they are sold over-the-counter at many retail stores. Similarly they can also be ordered by mail from major outdoor related retailers.
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Since adult air rifles don’t have the same loud muzzle blast that metallic cartridge firearms do, they can also help benefit new shooters. More specifically, the lack of a blast lets shooters focus more on the fundamentals of marksmanship and trigger control without developing that unwanted flinch caused by a loud report. Disruptive muzzle blasts can lead some new shooters to develop bad habits.
Due to the type of ammunition they shoot, adult air rifles also have virtually no recoil. Like with muzzle blasts, recoil can cause some challenges for both new and even experienced shooters to focus on things other than good shooting fundamentals.
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Learning these critical skills without having to deal with recoil is a win-win for airgun shooters. It can help lock in skills that will transfer over to cartridge-shooting firearms.
Finally, adult air rifles possess another advantage: you don’t need full berm to safely shoot one. Many people safely shoot their airguns at home in their backyards, garages or basement. This means air gun owners can practice shooting without having to pay to go to an actual rifle range. Just make sure you have enough space and a proper backstop before shooting at home.
Long-Range Air Rifles
Believe it or not, airgun shooters can now participate in long-range shooting. Any talk about shooting at “long-range” and airguns needs a few clarifications. In the context of air gunners “long range” is obviously not the same as it would in the context of metallic cartridge rifles. In this case, long range for air guns is better defined as distances lying between 100 and 150 yards. When I was a kid, a 25-yard shot would have seemed impossible. Now, it’s just an easy shot with a modern air rifle and a good optic.
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Keep in mind that air rifle projectiles are typically lighter and travel at lower velocities, so shooting them beyond 150 to 200 yards can be quite challenging.
Still, shooting accurately beyond that point is possible. At the time of this writing, the longest air rifle shot recorded on video was an impressive 2,058 yards, or 1.17 miles!
The Guinness Book of World Records‘ longest shot was 150 yards, set in 2018. While that might seem like a small distance compared to the feat mentioned above, the Guinness record required the shot to be made with a .177 caliber pellet weighing less than 7.7 grains—while using iron sights!
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A Few Options To Get Started
Let’s review a few airgun models you might want to add to your collection. We’ll cover different price ranges to provide a clearer idea of costs.
Umarex Notos Carbine
The Umarex Notos Carbine offers outstanding features at a very reasonable price. The Notos is a .22-caliber pre-charged pneumatic (PCP) air rifle that delivers impressive power from its short 11.75-inch barrel. In fact, it fires a 12-grain .22-caliber pellet at about 700 fps. This makes the Umarex Notos suitable for small game hunting, plinking or target shooting. The Notos’ fixed, high-pressure air tank fills to a maximum pressure of 3,625 psi. It has a seven-shot, auto-indexing rotary magazine and side-lever cocking, both of which help provide a smooth transition to the next shot. MSRP is $260.
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Pyramyd AvengeX
The AvengeX repeater from Pyramyd Air follows the legacy of the company’s popular Avenger air rifle. This adult air rifle is available in .177, .22, and .25 calibers. It also has some modularity built in, as it is designed to allow easy swapping of the receiver to another stock style. This includes options like the Avenger classic wood stock, a bullpup stock or even a tactical stock. AvengerX air rifles are outfitted with a two-stage adjustable trigger that helps improve accuracy. Their receivers include 11mm dovetails that make scope mounting straightforward. The rifle is pressurized via interchangeable air bottles that can charge up to 4,350 psi. Bottle sizes for the AvengerX are offered in 210 cc “tubes” or 390 cc carbon-fiber tanks. According to the manufacturer, the AvengeX has the power and accuracy to perform effectively out to 100 yards. MSRP starts at $500.
Rapid Air Worx HM1000X LRT
For those interested in a “long-range” airgun, the Rapid Air Worx HM1000X LRT fits the bill. You might have to rob a bank to pay for it, because it isn’t cheap. According to Rapid Air Worx, the HM1000X LRT is capable of sub-1-inch groups out to 100 yards. I think that looking at the air rifle’s features actually makes that claim believable.
The heart of the LRT is the proven HM1000x receiver. It features a high-power tune that allows the LRT to create up to 50 foot-pounds of muzzle energy in .22 and 60 fps in .25. The fully regulated design ensures that shot strings are consistent, and the 480-cc carbon fiber bottle enables you to have enough air on board for extended stays at the range or in the field. However, this adult air rifle’s MSRP is a whopping $2,199.95.
