Best Air Rifles for Groundhogs
Are you looking for the best air rifles for groundhogs? You have come to the right place. In this article, we delve into the best air rifles that are ideal for taking the taxing task of groundhog control.
When it comes to pest control, having the right gear is essential. An air rifle is an important tool to have to achieving accurate and humane results. Whether you are a professional in pest control or not, there are so many air rifles you can use for this kind of activity but its important to find a model that offers the perfect balance between power and performance.
What is the Best Gun to Shoot Groundhogs With?
The best gun to shoot groundhogs with depends largely on individual preference and the specific environment you will be shooting in. Most people no matter their level of skills prefer to use air rifles for groundhog control.
High-powered air rifles are highly effective and pest control including groundhog control, especially if noise and recoil are concerns. In most cases .22 or .25 caliber air rifles have adequate power to deliver humane kill, irrespective of how far the groundhogs are.
Other that air rifles, one can use varmint rifles, shotguns or centerfire rifles to control groundhogs.
Best Air Rifles for Groundhogs
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Gamo Raptor Whisper Air Rifle
First up, we have Gamo Raptor Whisper Air. Crafted with the avid hunter and shooter in mind, this gun boasts a comprehensive set of features which make it one of the best air rifles for groundhogs.
This air rifle has a Smooth Action Trigger and a whisper silencing technology which reduces up to 52% of sound it produces. This means that you won’t spook the groundhogs when you shoot. Furthermore, rifled steel barrel provides unmatched accuracy as the pellet blazes down range.
Another stand out features of this air rifle is construction quality. It has an ergonomic all-weather stock which is great for shooting in all kinds of environments. Other than that, the air rifle is built with a shock wave absorber recoil pad which dampens the shock.
Above all, the Gamo Raptor Whisper Air Rifle has a lightweight construction of 5.64lbs only for portability convenience.
Features
- Gas piston power source
- Smooth action trigger
- Ambidextrous stock
- Whisper silencing technology
- Fluted polymer jacketed rifled steel barrel
- All-weather, non-slip textured stock
- 1300fps maximum muzzle velocity
Pros
- Lightweight
- Quality construction
- Ease of use
- Easy to load
- Accurate
Cons
- Cheap scope included
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Benjamin Bulldog .357 PCP Hunting Rifle
Benjamin Bulldog .357 PCP Hunting Rifle is a powerful, efficient and easy to use air gun ideal for modern day sportsmen. It is crafted with advanced airgun technology to set the standard for hunting air rifles.
With a weight of 9.2 pounds, this air rifle is relatively lightweight, portable and easy to shoot with. It has a 5-shot magazine for fast follow up shots and a short 36-inch bullpup configuration to ensure easy carrying in the field.
Moreover, the air rifle is designed with a 26-inch Picatinny rail which is large enough to accommodate the accessories of your choice. Also included is a reversible sidelever which is ambidextrous and a baffle-less SoundTrap technology to minimize noise.
Features
- PCP powered
- 26-inch picatinny rail
- Rifled steel barrel
- Baffle-less sound trap
- 5-shot magazine
- Cleaning kit
- Reversible sidelever bolt action
Pros
- Powerful and accurate
- Easy to shoot with
- Good value for money
Cons
- Loud
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Gamo Swarm Maxxim Air Rifle
When it comes to power and accuracy, it is hard to go wrong with the Gamo Swarm Maxxim Air Rifle. It is available in .177 and .22 caliber pellets for you to choose from. With .177 pellets, the air rifle delivers 1,300fps and 975fps with .22 caliber.
The selling point of this air rifle is the rapid reload technology. It utilizes a patent pending 10X quick shot technology which provides fast loading for repetitive shooting. On top of that, this gun has a Whiper Maxxim sound suppression technology to ensure that you don’t just fire quickly, but also quietly.
For extra value, this air rifle comes with a 3-9×40 shockproof and fog proof scope so you don’t have to buy one separately. It also boasts a 30lbs cocking effect for easy shooting and a lightweight design to enhance ease of portability.
Features
- 10x quick shot
- Inert gas technology, IGT piston
- Custom action trigger
- Shockwave absorber recoil pad
- Tough all-weather ambidextrous stock
- 2-stage adjustable custom action trigger
- 3-9×40 air rifle scope
Pros
- Quality build
- Accurate
- Ease of use
- Great value for money
- Plenty of power
Cons
- Fragile loading device
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Benjamin Armada BTAP25SX PCP-Powered Multi-Shot Bolt Action
As one of the best air rifles for groundhogs, Benjamin Armada BTAP25SX PCP-Powered Air Rifle delivers plenty of power to make humane kills. It is easy to shoot with even for beginners and has a modular, versatile design to meet all your shooting needs.
Built with a 10-round magazine, this rifle delivers fast follow up shots. Besides, it delivers over 30 consistent shots per fill. The bolt action is reversible to accommodate all users, irrespective of which is dominant. Additionally, receiver features a machined picatinny rail for mounting accessories.
When it comes to shooting power, the rifle delivers velocities of 1100FPS with 21 foot pounds of energy. Over and above that, it is designed with a crisp two-stage trigger and a resonance dampener which suppresses the noise.
Features
- Modular, versatile design
- Crips two-stage trigger
- Built-in air pressure gauge
- Reversible bolt action
- 10-round magazine
- Integrated resonance dampener
Pros
- Accurate
- Quality construction
- Powerful
- Quiet
Cons
- Slightly heavy
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Umarex Unisex Adult Ruger Blackhawk .177 Caliber Pellet Gun
Built for performance and value, the Umarex Unisex Adult Ruger Blackhawk .177 Caliber Pellet Gun makes an invaluable tool for small game hunting and pest control. It shoots a single pellet out of its barrel at 1000fps for lead pellets and 1,200fps for alloy pellets.
This pellet rifle is built with ease of use in mind. As a result, it is ideal for all users, beginners, professionals and anyone in the middle. Other than that, it has an ambidextrous stock for both left and right-handers, and a checkered grip to ensure secure, anti-slip handling.
Moreover, this air rifle has a cocking effort of 30lbs and 3.3lb trigger pull. It is also designed with light collecting fiber optic sights that are standard for both front and rear. The rear sight in adjustable for both windage and elevation to enhance your shooting precision.
Features
- .177 caliber
- 30lbs cocking effort
- Spring piston powered
- 3lb trigger pull
- Fiber optic sights
- Ambidextrous stock
- Single stroke break barrel
Pros
- Accurate and reliable
- Well built
- Good value for the money
Cons
- Heavy
- Takes time to setup
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Umarex Ruger Targis Hunter Max Pellet Gun Air Rifle
Specially designed for pest control and small game hunting, Umarex Ruger Targis Hunter Max Pellet Gun Air Rifle is another premium quality rifle ideal for controlling groundhogs. It fires .22 caliber pellets and utilizes a break barrel action for smooth and accurate shooting.
The air rifle has a high velocity of 800fps. This guarantees reliable performance even at longer distances. Furthermore, it is built with integrated Picatinny rail for mounting an optic or any other accessory of your choice.
In terms of construction, this air rifle is made with a durable rubber body which is weatherproof to withstand elements. On top of that, it features checkered rubber grip inserts for a sure grip in all conditions.
The other essential features included are a 5-chamber SilencAir sound dampener, sling studs and a comfortable rubber recoil butt pad.
Features
- Turbo nitrogen technology, TNT power system
- All-weather stock
- Rubber recoil butt pad
- 5-chamber SilencAir sound dampener
- Integrated scope rail
- Break barrel action
- Shoots up to 800fps
Pros
- Accurate
- Powerful and reliable
- Quality construction
Cons
- Heavy
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Benjamin 392S .22 Caliber-Bolt Action Variable Pump Air Rifle
Benjamin 392S .22 Caliber-Bolt Action Variable Pump Air Rifle, marks our seventh pick in our list of the best air rifles for groundhogs. It shoots .22 caliber pellets at a speed ranging from 500fps to 800fps and is ideal for close and medium range hunting.
The air rifle is relatively lightweight for ease of use. The all-weather synthetic stock and fore grip make it ideal for use in all weather conditions while being able to stand up to high levels of abrasion. Besides, it has a Monte Carlo styling to add on aesthetics.
In addition to the quality construction, the Benjamin 392S .22 Caliber-Bolt Action Variable Pump Air Rifle comes with cross bolt safety for safe handling. It also features a rifled barrel and fully adjustable rear sight to help with shooting precision.
Features
- Rifled barrel
- Fully adjustable rear sight
- Cross bold safety
- Synthetic all-weather stock
- Variable pump which delivers 500-800 fps
Pros
- Reasonably lightweight
- Accurate
- Reliable performance
Cons
- Quality issues
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SIG Sauer MCX Virtus PCP Air Rifle
Sig Sauer is a highly respected brand known for its dedication to performance and quality. By choosing the SIG Sauer MCX Virtus PCP Air Rifle, you can rest assured that you are getting a high-quality air rifle that will be there for you when you need it the most.
This PCP air rifle double the muzzle energy of a classic CO2 air rifle to ensure that you have enough power to take down pests and small game with ease. Furthermore, it uses the Sig Rapid Pellet Magazine which makes it the appropriate tool for controlling unwanted pests.
What’s more, the SIG Sauer MCX Virtus PCP Air Rifle is built with ease of use in mind. It is reasonably light, portable and easy to shoot with. On top of that, the unfilled, regulated 13 cubic inch air cylinder is included with make quick disconnect fill fitting.
Features
- Fires .22 caliber pellet
- 600fps maximum velocity
- Pre-charged pneumatic power
- 30-rounds magazine
- Semi-auto regulated PCP
Pros
- Well built
- Accurate
- Sleek appearance
- Good and reliable performance
Cons
- The handrail is too thick
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Crosman Shockwave NP QuietFire Air Rifle
Next up, we have the Crosman Shockwave NP QuietFire Air Rifle. This is a .22 caliber break barrel air rifle optimized for small game hunting and target shooting.
The selling point of this air rifle is construction quality. Its tubes are CNC milled from solid 17.4, heat-treated, stainless bars. This promises optimum performance and longevity even with frequent use. On top of that, the air rifle has a synthetic stock and foregrip for all weather use.
Another stand out feature of the air rifle is performance. The rifled steel barrel delivers spectacular accuracy and speeds up to 950fps. Besides that, the gun has a lightweight make of 3 pounds only to be portable and easy to use.
Features
- .22 caliber break barrel power
- Synthetic all-weather stock
- Rifled steel barrel
- Quietfire sound suppression technology
- Nitro piston technology
Pros
- Lightweight
- Great value for the price
- Ease of use
Cons
- Quality issues
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Benjamin Cayden BPC22W Hunting Air Rifle
Lastly in our list of the best air rifles for groundhogs is Benjamin Cayden BPC22W Hunting Air Rifle. If you are in the market for a sleek, durable and high performance air rifle for pest control and small game hunting, this models suits you.
It has a Turkish walnut stock with a balanced adjustable cheek piece. This unique design makes the air rifle comfortable to shoot even during lengthy shooting periods. Other than that, the rifled steel barrel guarantees shooting precision and is threaded for aftermarket suppression.
When it comes to the magazine capacity, the air rifle gas a 12-shot rotary magazine for fast follow up shots. It has up to 60 shots per fill at 3000 PSI and delivers pellets up to 1000fps with 32 FPE.
To top off everything else, this air rifle comes with a side cocking lever and a Picatinny mounting for mounting your accessories of your choice.
Features
- 12-shot rotary magazine
- Solid, hardwood stock
- Break barrel and PCP powered
- Side cocking lever
- Power adjuster knob
- Rifled steel barrel
Pros
- Sleek design
- Powerful and accurate
- Excellent trigger
Cons
- Loud
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How to Choose an Air Rifle for Groundhogs
When shopping for the best air rifles for groundhogs, consider the following things before you settle on any specific model.
Caliber
Air rifles come in different calibers suitable for different applications. Typically, the calibers range from .177 to .25, where each caliber is well suited for specific applications. For groundhogs control, we recommend an air rifle that fires either .177 or .22 caliber pellets.
Scope Compatibility
The next important thing to consider is whether or not the air rifle is scope compatible. The best air rifles for groundhogs are scope compatible to enhance shooting accuracy in all environments. A good air rifle also comes with an integrated rail for mounting other types of accessories.
Accuracy
Consider the accuracy of the air rifle at the distances you anticipate to shoot. An air rifle with high accuracy will help you achieve the most from your shooting expeditions and make the expeditions more enjoyable.
Build Quality
Last but not least, look at the build quality and materials used to make the gun. The best air rifles for groundhogs are built with premium quality materials to withstand abrasions, wear and tear. It is also vital for the air rifle to have a stock that is not just durable, but also weatherproof for use in all weather conditions.
Best Air Rifles for Groundhogs FAQs
- Can air rifles cause harm to animals?
Yes. Using an air rifle for pest control or small game hunting can cause harm to animals. It is therefore important to use the right type of caliber to ensure humane kill.
- Which air rifle caliber is best for deterring groundhogs?
.177 and .22 are the best caliber for deterring groundhogs. They are powerful enough to provide a clean, ethical kill in any situation. Besides, they are easy to shoot, affordable and easy to source.
Final Words
Hopefully, this article has provided you with some insights into the best air rifles for groundhogs. Responsible and ethical control of pest is essential and these air rifles have the features you need to achieve that. Factor in your individual needs and budget, and use this guide to find the air rifle that aligns best with those needs.