Finding a quiet air rifle on a budget

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magnum3s

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Every time I begin to take an interest in air rifles for pest control and small game hunting , someone comes up to me and says they sold theirs . Why ... because they found them too loud or in effective and that they got better results using quiet or sub sonic .22 LR ammo . I find it hard to argue that point , although I haven't purchased a " New " air rifle in some time . Now , I have done research and followed shows like American air gunner . But I guess at what point , dollar wise , do you justify , buying a quiet air rifle for my type of hunting , when I already have rim fires to do the job . I researched mostly nitro piston models and started on the more expensive rifles with charging units , but is there really a say .22 air rifle out there , at a price point , that will match a .22 LR used as previously mentioned and still have the versatility with other rounds to reach out as far as a .22 LR and dispatch other game ethically . I mean , you could spend under $200 Canadian on a used say, Savage Mark 2 w/accutrigger and have a pretty effective shooter .
 
I would simply say no, not around that price point. Yes you can get around 20-30 ft-lbs airrifles getting close to a 40ft-lb CCI quiet but generally what you get from a quality air rifle is consistency in velocity, meaning accuracy. It does come at a lot higher of a cost than a standard 22lr rifle or standard, run of the mill air gun. You could always look at a .25 caliber air rifle but need to have a source of the somewhat rare/odd pellets. To each his own is really more of the answer. Myself, I do like shooting airguns and 22lr so having both isn’t a bother.
 
I’ll also say no, I shoot pcp’s and even then to match 22 lr is expensive. I have a AA s410 that shoots 21grains at 800+ fps but it cost more than my rimfires. I also have a 25 cal marauder that I could dump hundreds into to get it upto 80fpe but the cost of pellets already puts it at the same price as 22lr.

Keep in mind the effective range of an airgun to dispatch animals is significantly shorter than a 22lr, from what I know it’s typically 50’ and under but there’s a lot of factors that play into it and that can extend or shorten that range.
 
Spring powered air rifles are relatively quiet. Quite often a squirrel will allow a reload and second shot if you miss, provided you move slow and have a little concealment. Neighbors outside in an urban subdivision will still hear you. CCI Quiets are great if your rifle likes them. Only one of my several 22lr groups them well. An older 10/22 that then has to have the bolt operated manually with that ammo.
I highly recommend adding a quality .22 cal Springer, see it as a tool for situations where your 22lr aren't quite as safe to operate. The air rifle will be more like in the 15-18 ft/lb range. Ammo is far cheaper than 22lr so getting one simply to increase practice time is reason enough. You can shoot every day in a basement year round.
Springs and piston don't last forever. You may get 200 th 10000 shots before changing it out. Springs are still cheaper and more available. They can't leak.
 
take an interest in air rifles for pest control and small game hunting
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Kinda of a "Catch-22 you got there... You want a quiet air rifle yet you also want it to humanely kill pest or small game.
Any air rifle be it spring, PCP or other, that is going to humanely kill anything beside a small bird or your odd squirrel is going to be as loud as a 22lr.
And they are going to be over 500fps which is PAL rated. The under 500 fps rifles that CTC sells are not bad for quietness, but you're not gonna kill much with them.
Like Ronan said .25 rifles are a lot quieter but you're still gonna hear them.
If you're after quietness or a stealth kill get yourself a crossbow with a scope. JMO
 
I'd say this groundhogs is bigger than a small Bird or squirrel. Diana 34 in .177, the rifle was clocking 820 fps at that time rather than the full power 875ish. 20 yards right behind the eye and it died instantly. Good eating, I might add.

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Same synthetic stock D34 .177, and my hunting partner's Diana 350. Nice limit each that day. His in .22 cal punching right through both shoulders at 55 yards.
 
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I'd say this groundhogs is bigger than a small Bird or squirrel.
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Nice Pics Wolfy...
If you read what I wrote...I said "without being loud". The OP is after a quiet rifle. As the title of the thread states.
The Diana is an awesome rifle for a break! It comes in with a lot of praise for sure.
But @ 875ish fps it's gonna be loud. Even a sub500fps rifles got a crack to them when fired.

Here's two of my .22's
Both are in the upper 900fps, JBS matched 13.43gr pellets @ 27+fpe. They are not quiet.
My .22lr's are fun...but would rather shot my PCP's any day.

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luckythirteen said:
Nice shootin Wolfy, nice guns too. What are you shooting for a pellet in the .177?
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It likes a few different pellets including the boxed Crosman Premiers, which I like for size consistency and the bit of extra tin they add to their pellet for hardness. Lots of people hope to see mushrooming ammo for hunting. I'm cool with that. But for some reason these hard pellets hit audibly harder and do a little more damage. My HW 97 happens to prefer them, too.
 
HuskyDude said:
Nice Pics Wolfy...
If you read what I wrote...I said "without being loud". The OP is after a quiet rifle. As the title of the thread states.
The Diana is an awesome rifle for a break! It comes in with a lot of praise for sure.
But @ 875ish fps it's gonna be loud. Even a sub500fps rifles got a crack to them when fired.

Here's two of my .22's
Both are in the upper 900fps, JBS matched 13.43gr pellets @ 27+fpe. They are not quiet.
My .22lr's are fun...but would rather shot my PCP's any day.

K4xnqdN.jpg
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Nice PCPs there, too.

I did mention that if you're neighbors are close quarters, like in a typical subdivision, it's not quiet enough. But there's no doubt bylaws prohibiting anyway.
From what I've experienced, CCI Quiets are still loud in a shorter barrel, but quieter than any air rifle in a long barrel like a Cooey for example. Again, only useful if your rifle groups them well.
If they group well in a rifle you already have, and can shoot them safely/legally for your surroundings, Quiets would be a mighty practical way to go.

2 things we don't know until the OP clarifies. How close are the neighbors ? What size pests is he referring to ?
As for price between air rifles and 22lr, there's a reason. More parts and labor going into that air rifle. And like with anything air rifle price goes up with quality and origin.
 
Have to admit Wolfy , those are some nice picks . Kinda jealous actually . I also live in southern Ontario and have set up a couple guns specifically for groundhogs and rabbits . Problem is , outside of the odd dead one at the side of the road , or one or two inside town limits (mine and the neighbors backyards ) , the groundhog situation is almost nil around here . Done a bit of driving around during , what I remember was prime time to catch them , but the numbers just aren't there , with the predators moving in . Just itching to take the boys out shooting . See the odd holes , deeper into the edge of the bush lines , but back in the 70's and 80's , it would be nothing to see holes and mounds in the the ditches and dotted all thru tilled fields and head lands .
 
I've heard AA S510s in .22 shoot very quietly when tuned properly. They have power adjusters on them. They also have an empty barrel shroud, which is legal as it has no baffles, but does quiet down the rifle significantly. Same with say the FX Streamline shrouded at mid power (around 710 fps in .22).

One thing to consider as well is that JSB 15.9gr .22 ammo can be found for about 3 cents per round. The cheapest .22 ammo is around 7 cents, but that's for garbage. For decent ammo that's anywhere near as accurate as JSB in a decent rifle, you're paying at least 10 cents a round. If you shoot a lot, the cost difference between a rimfire and a PCP dissipates pretty quickly. I go through around 2500 pellets per year. That adds up to about $150 in savings right there. I do also pay to get my tank refilled, but that's only $10, and it lasts for the year's worth of shooting. I've shot a number of .22lr rifles, but none have been as accurate as my FX Streamline.

As for effective range, I've dropped a starling at 67 yards with my old Hammerli Pneuma, which wasn't even as accurate as the FX. Decent PCPs can be used to 50 yards and further, easily. Rabbits roll over dead with a solid shot to the high spine at that range. Watch Ted's Holdover or AirArmsHuntingSA on Youtube, and you'll see them taking ethical shots beyond 100 yards.
 
Checking out some Walther Terrus and Parrus reviews today, for the money not bad either. Either in .22. The Parrus is the magnum and the specs look comparable to the Diana 350. Just shorter and probably not as heavy. Either in synthetic ?
This guy is a ridiculously good shot, but seems the rifle is ok. Not sure what the case is re replacement springs...
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGvOyeUMPXA
 
I was thinking about an airgun for starling. The population has gotten out of control and makes for an annoying day/evening by the pool. Would I be ok with a Canadian tire airgun, something simple and quiet. Ive got neighbours all around, I've also got an old Bushnell 3x9 if i can mount it too. Thanks
 
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