Best Air Rifle - Backyard Targets and Pesky Critters

[BladesNBarrels]

Google Searched for best Air Rifle and Amazon's Number 1 pick was the Gamo Whisper Fusion Mach 1 Air Rifle .22 Cal

https://www.amazon.com/Gamo-61100632...s%2C154&sr=8-1

Priced around 225 before tax, single pump break barrel, 3-9 x 40 air rifle scope, .22 cal.
Lots of pro's listed and the con is that it is louder than the manufacturer claims.

Any thoughts or experiences of better choices in this price range?

[newracer]

I'd get one of these.

https://www.crosman.com/product/benjamin-prowler-np-22

https://www.crosman.com/product/rifl...2-22-sbd-scope

https://www.crosman.com/product/cros...ire-extreme-22

https://www.crosman.com/product/benjamin-vaporizer-22

[SouthPaw]

I have a Gamo Swam Whisper .177 pellet rifle and have no issues with it. It has a 10 shot rotary mag which is pretty handy. Scheels will also price match Amazon.

$189 - https://www.scheels.com/p/gamo-swarm-whisper-177-caliber-air-rifle-with-scope/79367609038.html

$149 - https://www.amazon.com/Gamo-61100687...%2C108&sr=8-12

[Fromk]

I have a .177 Gamo Whisper. The scope mounts are terrible so I just use the irons. Also agree that it's not exactly quiet. I would poll the neighborhood rabbits about whether or not it is effective but I can't seem to find any.

[asystejs]

I got one of these 10/22 replicas when it was on sale for $99 a while back.
Trigger is horrific.
10/22 replica

A friend has a RWS break barrel spring piston in .22, it is very loud.

I have an old Daisy 880 pump up air rifle (.177 or BBs)

All the above are quite a bit louder than a suppressed .22 rimfire using CCI quiet.

[brutal]

I have a .22 cal Gamo Whisper.

After getting the scope mount tightened and locked in, it's a tack driver. The .22 are quieter than the .177 due to lower velocity. My neighbors can't hear me shoot - at least it's not over the Doug Co db limit.

Have taken P-dogs out to 150+ meters. Agree on the poll, but there's no critters to be found. .22cal hollow points take them out quick. Except for the one P-dog I hit in the foot at around 180. LOL

I have a range card in the upstairs bathroom window. LOL. Wife thinks I'm nuts. Strelok app has air rifle ballistics if you're so inclined.

[BPTactical]

I am currently running a moderated .22 FX Dreamliner Tactical with a Vortex 1-8x24 FFP.
It is set at 950 fps with the pellets I am using. It is a bit louder than I care for, I may try a different moderator but then I have to go back through tuning the rifle to it which is time consuming.
It was not a cheap setup but I will tell you, it is an absolute laser.
Be careful though- good air guns can be a rabbit hole that runs deep.

[fitz19d]

I am currently running a moderated .22 FX Dreamliner Tactical with a Vortex 1-8x24 FFP.
It is set at 950 fps with the pellets I am using. It is a bit louder than I care for, I may try a different moderator but then I have to go back through tuning the rifle to it which is time consuming.
It was not a cheap setup but I will tell you, it is an absolute laser.
Be careful though- good air guns can be a rabbit hole that runs deep.

Unrelated but sent you a pm.


Hate these threads as you said, quickly becomes a hole to drop some serious coin. Still thinking about one, as even though o should be able to shoot on my 5acres, neighbors fairly close and have horses. So for any varmint control etc figured an air rifle might be a little less disruptive.

[colorider]

I am currently running a moderated .22 FX Dreamliner Tactical with a Vortex 1-8x24 FFP.
It is set at 950 fps with the pellets I am using. It is a bit louder than I care for, I may try a different moderator but then I have to go back through tuning the rifle to it which is time consuming.
It was not a cheap setup but I will tell you, it is an absolute laser.
Be careful though- good air guns can be a rabbit hole that runs deep.

I have 2 Hatsan pcp air rifles. Yes, the rabbit hole goes deep. All the way into owning a 45min carbon fiber scba tank. PCP rifles are truly laser accurate and addicting. Both my Hatsans are shooting at 950fps using the JSB 18gr 22 cal pellets. Had the thing at the shooting range and other people could not believe the accuracy and quietness of the rifles. I have a Donny fl moderator that works awesome. All you hear is the hammer hit the poppet valve. Triggers on the Hatsans are fantastic. Fully adjustable. I shoot mine a lot in the back yard, in the house into a pellet trap, and a whole lot when I am camping. Cheap, accurate, awesome for getting rid of a variety of furry critters. Even at long distance.
Regarding break barrel air guns, They destroy regular scopes in short order. Literally shake the shit out of them due to the double recoil of the rifle. You HAVE to use a scope that is compatible with break barrel rifles. This also true with the "nitro piston" style break barrel. PCP rifles you can use any scope you desire. Some day I will own and FX like Bert. Those things are AMAZING.
Prior to getting into the PCP platform I had 3 break barrels. I gave up on them due to their sensitivity on how you hold them and the scope requirements. Also wanted a repeater instead of a single shot. Buy once, cry once because once you start you will want to go the PCP repeater route.

[NFATrustGuy]

Please correct me if I'm wrong as I'm certainly no expert in ballistics or shooting in general. In the past, I've opted for a pellet gun instead of a suppressed .22LR because my understanding is that a .22LR is more likely to ricochet and could travel for a significant distance and cause damage. My thought was that if I missed or if the projectile for whatever reason hit a glancing blow on something hard, it could ricochet and cause harm of put a window out or hurt somebody.

I've got the ability to suppress a .22LR and it's a fact that the .22LR suppressed with subsonic ammo is as quiet as the hammer falling in a bolt action rifle. I also have a .22 cal spring action air rifle that's been pretty effective in the past. It's currently on loan to a family member, so I can't share make and model info as I'm old and can't remember what I bought 5 years ago!

Is my understanding of the potential for ricochet harm correct? Or am I making something up in my own mind?