Hunting air rifle recommendation for varmint & small game.

M

marcjer

CGN Regular
Rating - 99%
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Location
South Central Ontario
Hi CGNers,

Can anyone suggest a good hunting air rifle which is:

- .22 Cal
- capable of over 20 Foot pounds of energy with standard pellets
( > 600 fps muzzle velocity)
- quiet enough to not alarm neighbors 40 yards away ( quieter the better)
- preferably nitro piston or springer ( don't want to pay to recharge a PCP)
- accurate enough to do quarter sized groupings from 30 yards?
- quality enough to last a while.
- single shot is reasonable.
- available in Canada.

-range greater than 40 yards not a huge issue.. but nice to have

My preference is for hunting up to varmints (racoons), but will settle for squirrel gun.

First thought was the RWS diana model 350 magnum, but think it might be noisy. RWS model 34 , I am concerned about noise too.

I've heard that the trigger and durability of the Trail NP and NP XL, nitro venom is suspect due to poor QA.

I've read that GAMMO Big cats 1200 are powerful but noisier than .22 Short.
and GAMMO silent stalker is a gimmick.

I know that the benjiman Discovery has a hand pump, but not heard that the hand pump falls apart.

Perhaps I am asking too much from an air rifle?

My experience with an air gun is limited ( just those toy crosman pumpers).
However, willing to learn.


Hoping to pick the minds and collective wisdom of fellow CGNers.

Thanks.
 
choices

I have the Weirauch hw97 mine is in 177 but they come in .22 as well. It is a heavy piece but has a built in suppressor and a fully adjustable trigger and super accurate. Love that blue laminate stock as well. FS
 
Re Air Gun

When you tought of a RWS 350 magnum, you were on the right track.
It is super accurate. and is a beauty.
This gun will kill a rabbit or a partridge with no propblems.
The moment that you try one you will be hooked.
 
Last edited:
The Theoben Eliminator is another option. Pricey but is quality made, gas piston and accurate, has an anschutz barrel on it. Powerful as well, close to 30ftp.
I owned the 350 in .22 before and wasnt impressed.
 
marcjer said:
Hi CGNers,

Can anyone suggest a good hunting air rifle which is:

- .22 Cal
- capable of over 20 Foot pounds of energy with standard pellets
( > 600 fps muzzle velocity)
- quiet enough to not alarm neighbors 40 yards away ( quieter the better)
- preferably nitro piston or springer ( don't want to pay to recharge a PCP)
- accurate enough to do quarter sized groupings from 30 yards?
- quality enough to last a while.
- single shot is reasonable.
- available in Canada.

-range greater than 40 yards not a huge issue.. but nice to have

My preference is for hunting up to varmints (racoons), but will settle for squirrel gun.

First thought was the RWS diana model 350 magnum, but think it might be noisy. RWS model 34 , I am concerned about noise too.

I've heard that the trigger and durability of the Trail NP and NP XL, nitro venom is suspect due to poor QA.

I've read that GAMMO Big cats 1200 are powerful but noisier than .22 Short.
and GAMMO silent stalker is a gimmick.

I know that the benjiman Discovery has a hand pump, but not heard that the hand pump falls apart.

Perhaps I am asking too much from an air rifle?

My experience with an air gun is limited ( just those toy crosman pumpers).
However, willing to learn.


Hoping to pick the minds and collective wisdom of fellow CGNers.


Thanks.
Click to expand...
Your not going to get quiet with 20+ fpe
If you do go for a good quality air rifle look at Theoben, expensive but excellent air rifles.
 
FiringSquad said:
If you want to step it up "a bit", check out this prick!!
http://www.airgunsource.com/store/index.php?product=SY-DRAGONCLAW50D&c=63
Click to expand...

Am getting this one below. Fired one this summer, and it is quite something.

Not sure of the velocity, but it was a 45 calibre, 450 or 500 grain slug that certainly created an impressive hole in the object I was shooting. They are available set up from 200 to 400 ft-lbs energy rating.

Airgun2.png


They also have a 30 calibre that would be perfect for small game, and they also have a 58 calibre for hogs, deer, etc, that goes up to 750 ft-lbs. (10mm Auto = 650 ft-lbs, 44 Mag = 1,000 ft-lbs)

As for "regular" airguns, you are going to need 25 calibre for anything larger than squirrels. If you want raccoon, well, none of the conventional 22 or 25 calibre are sufficient, the pellets are too light for any decent penetration, and you will wound, (or annoy) raccoons.

Have several high powered 177 (RWS/Diana 52, side lever), and they are NOT quiet. No way around it, they are supersonic. A 22 or 25 will be quieter, as they are not supersonic, but still louder than a CB cap.
 
I think i have the rifle like what you are looking for.
Weihrauch HW 85K or what they replaced it with now the HW 95
Its more or less the HW80 just a little lighter with a 15 inch barrel and a thinner diameter compression tube. It makes it a little lighter and transfers the weight further to the rear due to the shorter barrel.
Mine does 720fps with RWS superdomes and the muzzle report is fairly low compared to the dianas. Ive had the 350 its powerful but very long and heavy. If you want somehting amazing and quiter than shoting a CB long search for the S410 its amazing.
aMyHw85.jpg
 
S410

I have an Air Arms S410 carbine and after having had my fair share of air rifles from Crossman's to Diana's, I can honestly say that it bye far the best built most accurate air rifle that I have ever had. When tuned with the pellets that it likes, it will shoot a full mag (8 rounds in this case) into a quarter inch group at 25 yds.
 
Thanks Ian.

I checked out D&L airguns for their Weirauch models... dumb question noise wise what is better: Gas Ram Piston? Or built-in supressor? Or is this a factor we shouldn't really consider?

Your gun seems to have a non built in supressor..those legal in Canada? Or is that a just a muzzle break?

Thanks for your response.
 
Supressor are not legal even on air rifles, when i moved from uk i had to leave my wonderful silencer :( , my poor rapid 7

Its amazing how quiet a 25+fpe rifle is with one.
 
Fassteel said:
I have the Weirauch hw97 mine is in 177 but they come in .22 as well. It is a heavy piece but has a built in suppressor and a fully adjustable trigger and super accurate. Love that blue laminate stock as well. FS
Click to expand...

The ones legally for sale in Canada don't have an integral suppressor. They have a muzzle weight that is hollow, so no suppressor internals.
 
Most of the noise on a springer comes from the piston cycle, no silencer can SHHHH! that. If you go for the Diana 350 mag get lots of ammo and try them all, this rifle is real hold sensitive and ammo picky too, you have to use the artillery hold , just like the M34, just let the forestock rest on your open palm, don't grip it, or rest it on something.(Heck this goes for all springers) Try RWS Super H Points 22 cal, thats what mine likes. The Diana 34 is also a great choice, 30 yards is fine for this unit.
 
Are the nitro piston guns really as quiet as they say. 70% less noise seems an outrageous claim.
 
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