10 Best Air Rifles for Squirrels Hunting
When squirrels invade your farm, they can create a huge destruction. They also dig holes in our lawns and damage the landscaping. One of the most effective and efficient ways of eliminating squirrels is by shooting them and the best way to do this is to use an air rifle. Modern air rifles are accurate and powerful enough to take out a squirrel within the first shot.
If you are tired of the nuisance that squirrels cause, it’s time you invested in the air rifle made for squirrels hunting. Out of the hundreds of air rifles present on the market, here are the top 10 best air rifles that do exceptionally well when it comes to squirrel hunting. Let’s take a look.
10 Best Air Rifles for Squirrels Hunting – Our Top Picks
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Crosman Benjamin Trail NP XL 1500 .177 Caliber Nitro Piston Air Rifle
The XL 1500 is one of the best air rifles for squirrels hunting. It has a nitro piston power plant which shoots .177 caliber pellets up to 1500fps. This high velocity is sufficient to hunting squirrels either in the backyard or garden.
This air rifle is perfect for all users regardless of their skills and expertise. It’s smooth to cock and produces less recoil for smooth handling in the field. Weighing just 1kg, this gun is ultra-light, easy to shoot and comfortable to carry in the field.
Another great feature about this model is the great accuracy it provides. You can take out squirrels and other small pests with great accuracy at varying ranges. The rifled steel barrel increases your accuracy, while the 3-9×40 precision scope helps you spot this small game easily. The scope has an adjustable objective for eliminating parallax and a range estimating reticle for accurate aiming.
Features
- Lightweight design
- Smooth cocking
- Checkered hardwood stock
- Rifled steel barrel
- Nitro piston power type
- Break barrel
- Shoots .177 caliber pellets
- Quiet operation
- Centerpoint 3-9×40 precision scope
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Gamo Swarm Magnum G2 .177 Multi, 0.22
This air rifle from Gamo is designed to shoot .22 caliber pellets. It has a single cocking break barrel and a 10x GEN 2 technology for greater accuracy and improved operation. This gun features an inert gas technology which delivers more velocity and less vibration.
It’s quiet to shoot and very comfortable. It has an integrated noise reduction technology which keeps noise levels to bare minimum. The air rifle comes with a recoil reducing rail which absorbs the shock waves produced by recoil. This helps keep the scope is good shape.
When it comes to construction, this rifle is a built to offer unbeatable durability. The all-weather stock is designed to fit every shooter out there and align perfectly with the scope. The shockwave absorber recoil pad included also helps you to shoot comfortably. A 3-9×40 scope from Gamo is also included to give you maximum accuracy and reliability. Overall, this is a great quality air rifle for squirrel hunting that’s also light and easy to carry.
Features
- Great accuracy
- Simple to shoot
- Shoots .22 caliber pellets
- Maximum firing velocity: 1,300fps
- 10-shot magazine
- Two stage adjustable custom action trigger
- Recoil reducing rail
- Whisper fusion noise dampening technology
- Shockwave absorber recoil pad
- All-weather synthetic stock
- Inert gas technology
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Gamo Whisper Fusion Mach 1 6110063254 Air Rifles .177 3-9×40
When it comes to squirrels hunting, it’s hard to go wrong with the Whisper Fusion Mach 1 air rifle from Gamo. This is a high-quality air rifle with a powerful gas piston technology. It offers great speed and versatility. It’s simple to shoot and works with either .177 caliber pellets or .22 caliber pellets depending on the model that you choose
Thanks to the large 33mm gas cylinder, it’s able to shoot the pellet at up to 1420fps. Such a velocity will be sufficient for hunting squirrels. This air rifle provides a very quiet shooting operation to help prevent spooking the game. It features the Whisper Fusion technology which is patented by Gamo.
Weighing about 6.61 pounds, it’s pretty light and convenient for hunting. The synthetic stock features a snug, ambidextrous cheek piece for comfortable shooting. More importantly, this air rifle offers unmatched accuracy. It comes with a Gamo 3-9×40 scope for maximum accuracy and reliability. The recoil reducing rail absorbs the harsh recoil of the gun to keep the scope in the best shape possible. To top it all, this model delivers remarkable power and performance.
Features
- Custom action trigger
- Whisper Fusion technology
- Consistent cocking effort, powerful and accurate
- Compatible with both .177 and .22 caliber pellets
- 1420fps maximum firing velocity
- 5-year warranty
- Fairly light and easy to carry
- Gamo 3-9×40 scope
- Snug, all-weather synthetic ambidextrous stock
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Crosman .177 Bolt Action Variable Pump .177-Caliber Pellet and BB Air Gun
The Crosman M4-177 is a variable pump air rifle that’s shoots either .177 caliber pellets or traditional steel BBs. With the variable pump, you can control the speed from 350fps to 700fps depending on your hunting needs.
What makes it suitable for squirrel hunting is the great accuracy and ease of use. The lightweight design makes it easy to shoot for beginners and seasoned hunters alike. Moreover, this air gun comes with a durable, weather resistant synthetic design so you can use it in ay environment. Besides that, it comes with a rifled steel barrel which enhances your accuracy and a crossbolt safety for safe and proper handling.
Features
- Variable speed from 350fps to 700fps
- Durable, weather resistant synthetic design
- High impact on targets
- Simple to shoot
- Lightweight design
- Rifled steel barrel
- Crossbolt safety
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Crosman Pump Master .177 Air Rifle with Scope
Here is another quality air rifle for hunting squirrels from Crosman. It shoots BBs or .177 caliber pellets with great power and accuracy. Since it has a variable speed, you can pump it from 3 to 10 pumps depending on your needs. The speed will vary from 350fps to 700fps.
The checkered grip gives you a secure and comfortable grip so you can stay on the target all through. Additionally, this air rifle is simple to shoot and so light that you can carry it all day and not get tired. This makes it suitable for both adults and kids.
Another great thing about the air rifle is the accuracy it provides. It comes with a 4×15 scope, a fixed front sight and an adjustable metal rear sight for greater accuracy. When you are shooting pellets, you’ll have to load them one at a time. But for the traditional steel BBs, you get an 18-shot magazine that’s fed from the 200-shot reservoir for fast follow up shots. Above all, this air rifle comes with a crossbolt safety to ensure safe and proper handling.
Features
- Variable speed from 350fps to 700fps
- Durable, weather resistant design
- Smooth bore steel barrel
- Compatible with .177 caliber pellets or traditional steel BBs
- Doubles as BB repeater or single-shot pellet gun
- Lightweight and easy to shoot
- 4×15 scope
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Crosman 1077 RepeatAir Semi-Automatic CO2- Powered .177-Caliber Pellet Air Gun
If you are looking for a cheap but quality air rifle for squirrel hunting, you should go with the Crosman 1077 RepeatAir air gun. This is a reliable semi-automatic air rifle that’s powered by CO2. It shoots .177 caliber pellets with a maximum firing speed of 625fps which is sufficient for hunting squirrels.
Featuring a 12-shot rotary pellet clip, this air rifle not only provides fast-follow up shots, but it also allows you to shoot longer. Better yet, it’s very light and offers great accuracy. It comes with an adjustable notch rear sight which helps you stay locked on target and a fiber optic front sight for greater accuracy. It’s made tough to last long and comes with a durable synthetic stock and foregrip which provides a secure grip for snug shooting.
Features
- Easy to shoot
- Cost-effective
- CO2-powered
- Available in .177 caliber
- Maximum firing speed: 625fps
- 12-shot rotary pellet clip
- Adjustable notch rear sight and fiber optic front sight
- Durable synthetic stock and foregrip
- Lightweight design
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Crosman CLGY1000KT Legacy 1000 Single Shot Variable Pump .177-Caliber Pellet and BB Air Rifle
The legacy 1000 air rifle from Crosman offers great features that every squirrel hunter will find handy. First, it has an advanced variable pump which provides great power and performance. You can smoothly pump it up to 12 tikes for full power and get 1000fps with alloy pellets, 750 fps with lead pellets and 800fps with BBs.
Weighing less than 5 pounds and having fiber optic sights, this air rifle provides great accuracy at different ranges. The lightweight design also makes it simple to carry and comfortable to shoot. It also features a rifled steel barrel and a 4×15 scope for extra accuracy.
More importantly, it shoots rather quiet so you don’t spook the squirrels. Thanks to the crossbolt safety feature, this air rifle ensures proper and safe handling. Lastly, it has a side-load pellet chamber and a spring-loaded 17-round BB magazine which gives you fast follow-up shots.
Features
- Rifled steel barrel
- Durable water-resistant synthetic design
- Built-in 850 BB reservoir
- Variable control from 750 fps to 1000fps
- Crossbolt safety
- Fiber optic sight
- 4x15mm scope
- Side-load pellet chamber
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Crosman P10 Kit CO2 Powered Semi-Auto BB Air Pistol, Multi, One Size
The Crosman P10 Kit comes with everything you need to make your squirrel hunting expedition a success. Each Crosman P10 Kit comes with P10, copperhead BBs, two CO2 cartridges and shooting glasses as well.
Weighing just 1.31 pounds, this pistol is ultralight and very comfortable to carry in the field. The compact design makes it easy to handle, while the removable grip helps you replace the CO2 cartridges smoothly. Better yet, it comes with a 20-round drop-out magazine for fast-follow up shots and an under-barrel accessory rail where you can add your accessories of choice.
Features
- Steel barrel
- Ultra-lightweight design
- Removable grip for simple replacement of CO2
- Quick release 20-round drop-out magazine
- CO-2 powered
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Winchester 1977XS Dual Ammo 1000 FPS Air Rifle, Black, One Size (991977-402)
Next on our list is the Winchester 1977XS Dual Ammo air rifle. This model has a multi-pump pneumatic action and shoots .177 caliber BBs or pellets. It’s maximum firing velocity is 1,000fps with alloy pellets when you have pumped it 10 times. Also, it provides a maximum shooting distance of 291 yards.
This air rifle has been built to provide unbeatable durability. The rugged, durable composite stock and forearm makes it suitable for use in all environments. Besides, it has a lightweight construction for smooth handling. The air rifle also has a 4×32 that helps you small targets smoothly and open sights for added accuracy.
Features
- Dual Ammo .177 caliber BB or pellet
- 1,000fps when pumped 10x
- Variable speed
- 4×32 scope included
- Open sights for greater accuracy
- Lightweight construction
- Rugged, durable composite stock and forearm
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Gamo Wildcat Whisper Air Rifles
Last but certainly not least is the Gamo Wildcat Whisper Air Rifles. With this air rifle, you can either choose a model that shoots the .177 caliber pellets or the .22 pellets. With the .177 model, you get speeds up to 1300fps and 975fps for the .22 counterpart. That’s a lot of punch for squirrel hunting.
This air rifle features the whisper noise dampening technology for quiet shooting. This is essential as it helps prevent spooking the squirrels. On top of that, it has the IGT gas piston which provides more terminal velocity, consistent power and reduced vibration.
Another thing that makes this air rifle suitable for squirrel hunting is the durable make. It’s sturdily made to last long and comes with a tough, all-weather ambidextrous stock to survive the harsh hunting conditions. The lightweight design makes it easy to carry in the field, while the user-friendly make makes it simple to shoot. Above all, air rifle comes with a 4×32 shockproof scope for greater accuracy and a rubber recoil pad which helps protect the scope from recoil damage.
Features
- Whisper noise dampening technology
- 1 year warranty
- 4×32 shockproof scope
- Single cocking break barrel
- Automatic cocking safety system
- Lightweight design
- Tough, all-weather ambidextrous stock
- Rubber recoil pad
- Fluted polymer jacketed steel barrel
- Inert Gas Technology IGT gas piston
Criteria for Choosing the Best Air Rifles for Squirrels Hunting
Caliber
Your ideal caliber for hunting squirrels largely depends on your hunting habits and preference. Most .177 and .22 caliber will work well for squirrel hunting. If you’ll be hunting squirrels in long distances, go for the .177 caliber rifles. They offer high fps so the pellet will be able to cover long distances.
On the other hand, if your hunting involves hunting squirrels at short quarters, a .22 air rifle will do. .22 caliber pellets deliver more muzzle energy which is essential for taking out a squirrel ethically.
Air Rifle Type
There are several types of air rifles present on the market. Each air rifle has its own pros and cons. Your ideal type will largely depend on your shooting purposes and requirements.
Pneumatic air rifles are the cheaper option. With this gun type, you are required to create power by pumping the pump manually. Most pneumatic air rifles have variable power which is suitable for hunting at different ranges.
Spring powered air rifles have a spring that compresses the air in the chamber and use it as the power source. These air rifles are more powerful and convenient to use than the rest. However, they have a downside of being costly and difficult to reload.
CO2 powered air rifles use CO2 cartridges as their power source. They are easy to use and shoot. But they are less powerful compared with the spring-powered counterparts. They also struggle to provide long-range accuracy.
Weight
It’s also important to look at how heavy the air rifle is. If you want to get the most out of your plinking and make it pretty simpler, look for a lightweight air rifle. A heavy model is not only difficult to shoot, but cumbersome to carry around.
Durability
Look for an air rifle that’s made with high-quality materials so you’ll get many years out of it. Whether you are hunting squirrels in the backyard or garden, the air rifle will be subjected to harsh impact. So having a model that’s built tough will ensure it lasts long. Also go for air rifles that have an all-weather stock so you don’t have to worry about it getting damages when the rains strike you on the field.
FAQs for the Best Air Rifles for Squirrels Hunting
Do you need a tax stamp for air rifle suppressors?
Yes. The law requires you to buy a tax stamp for each air rifle suppressor that you purchase. Once you have paid for the tax stamp, there will be no ongoing fees or license needed.
What’s the difference between a suppressor and a silencer?
A silencer is more of a muzzle device that’s attached to the equipment to reduce the sound of the gunshot. On the other hand, a suppressor is a more like a silencer but it functions by eliminating the muzzle flash when you fire a gun.
Is an air gun considered a firearm?
Yes and no. All air guns regardless of the power type, caliber and muzzle energy are considered firearms for legal purposes. But under the federal laws, an air isn’t considered a firearm because its projectile is expelled by the force of air and not gun powder.
Conclusion
An air rifle is a powerful tool that can take out a squirrel ethically on the first shot. They are simple to hunt with and fun to shoot with. Use our buying guide above and get yourself a good quality air rifle that will take out squirrels without you breaking a sweat.