Best Air Rifles for Squirrel Hunting.
Whether you take out squirrels for fun or pest control, having the right air rifle is important. Modern air rifles are great for squirrel hunting. They are more powerful, more accurate, and ideal for shooting squirrels at varying ranges. Additionally, the air rifles are quieter, easy to use, and fun to shoot with.
With the market offering a wide selection of air rifles, finding a premium air rifle for squirrel hunting can feel overwhelming. If you are having a difficult time trying to find the best air rifle for squirrel hunting, here are the best options you should consider.
Best Air Rifles for Squirrel Hunting
1) Gamo Varmint Air Rifle .177 Cal
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This rifle shoots .177 PBA platinum alloy pellets at a velocity of 1250 fps. It’s a multi-purpose air rifle that is ideal for hunting small game, target practice, and pest control making it one of the best air rifles for Squirrel Hunting. It has a single cocking break barrel with a 30lbs cocking effect. This isn’t much compared with other convectional air rifles. It also has an automatic cocking safety system to prevent accidental firing. The air rifle is built to last. The tough all-weather ambidextrous stock is carefully made to fit every shooter and align perfectly with the scope. The synthetic stock has a rubber recoil pad to absorb shock and an anti-slip texturing on both the forearm and pistol grip. Weighing about 5.47 pounds, the air rifle is light, easy to carry, and easy to shoot with. It comes with a 4×32 shockproof scope for added accuracy. It makes smaller targets like squirrels easy to spot and hit. Features
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2) Umarex Ruger Targis Hunter Max Pellet Air Rifle
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This is a hard-hitting break barrel air rifle suitable for small game hunting, pest control, target shooting, and skill development. The air rifle fires .22 caliber pellets at 800fps. It has adequate muzzle energy to take down squirrels at close to mid-ranges. Additionally, the break barrel action allows for smooth and accurate shooting in any hunting environment. The air rifle is very durable. It is made with a hard-wearing, weatherproof rubber body to withstand extreme weather elements. It also has checkered grip inserts for an ergonomic non-slip grip even in wet conditions. Thanks to the non-removable noise reducer, the air rifle provides a quiet shooting performance. Therefore, if you are hunting squirrels in the backyard, it won’t cause noise disturbance to the neighbors. It will also not spook the squirrel. The unique Umarex Nucleus Rail provides a secure and steady platform to mount the 3-9×32 AO scope included. This rail also helps to reduce the rifle’s sound output and ensure even vibration distribution. Features
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3) Winchester 1977XS Dual Ammo Air Rifle
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This Winchester 1977XS Dual Ammo Air Rifle is another hard-hitting air rifle suitable for squirrel hunting. With this air rifle, you can either shoot .177 caliber pellets or BBs. It offers a maximum velocity of 1,000 fps with alloy pellets. This is a multi-pump pneumatic air rifle. You can pump it three times for indoor target practice/shooting and up to ten times when you want to achieve maximum velocity. Thanks to the cross-bolt trigger block, the air rifle prevents accidental shots for added safety. The air rifle is rugged and durable. It has a composite stock and forearm for comfortable handling. At only 3.1lbs, the air rifle is lightweight and easy to carry around. You’ll also like how the thumbhole fits your arm and wrist. The maximum shooting distance of the air rifle is 291 yards. For greater accuracy, the air rifle has a 4×32 air rifle scope included. It helps you identify the squirrels with ease at close to mid-rages. It also features blade and ramp front sights for easy focusing and an adjustable rear sight as well. Features
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4) Ruger Blackhawk .177 Caliber Pellet Air Rifle
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This Ruger Blackhawk .177 Caliber Pellet Air Rifle is a spring-piston air rifle ideal for small game hunting, target shooting, and pest control. The air rifle has a maximum velocity of 1,200fps with alloy pellets and 1,000fps with lead pellets. This is enough to take out squirrels on the farm or backyard. The air rifle features a snug ambidextrous stock. It has a checkered grip in both the pistol and forearm areas for a secure, non-slip grip even in wet weather conditions. The all-weather composite stock also enhances the air rifle’s durability and comfort. The accuracy of the air rifle is commendable. It features standard front and rear fiber optics sights for enhanced accuracy. The rears sight is also adjustable for windage and elevation. For added accuracy, the air gun comes with a 4×32 scope and mounting rings. The air rifle has a 30lb cocking effect. This makes it easy to cock for the less energetic people. At only 1kg, this rifle is incredibly light, easy to carry, and fun to shoot with. You can use it for extended periods and it won’t weigh you down. Features
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5) Gamo Wildcat Whisper Air Rifle
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With a whisper noise reduction technology, the Gamo Wildcat Whisper Air Rifle provides the quietest shooting performance. The noise dampening technology allows you to shoot squirrels in the backyard without scaring them away or causing noise disturbance in your neighborhood. This is a dual-caliber air rifle. It shoots both .177 and .22 caliber pellets. The IGT gas piston gives you more consistent power and a smooth cocking effort. With the .177 caliber pellets, you get a maximum firing speed of 1,300fps and 975fps with the .22 caliber pellets. Thanks to the lightweight design, the air rifle is very comfortable to carry. It incorporates the latest technologies, a polymer jacket rifled barrel, and a top-notch ambidextrous stock to give you the most comfortable squirrel hunting and shooting experience. Besides the tough, ambidextrous stock is designed to be used in all weather conditions. The Gamo Wildcat Whisper Air Rifle comes with a 4×32 shockproof scope with a mount. You can use it to improve your accuracy when hunting squirrels at a distance. Features
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6) Bear River TPR 1300 Suppressed Hunting Air Rifle
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The TPR 1300 Air Rifle is a high-powered air rifle with an impressive performance and eye-catching look. The break barrel air rifle is perfect for hunting controlling pests such as squirrels, rodents, and mice. Featuring a spring-piston design, the air rifle delivers great shooting velocity. It can fire .177 caliber pellets at a maximum velocity of 1,300FPS. This is more than enough to take down squirrels in any environment. The air rifle shoots quietly. It features a top-notch non-removable suppressor for quiet shooting. If you are hunting squirrels in your backyard, you don’t have to worry about spooking them or causing noise disturbance to your neighbors. The TPR 1300 Air Rifle is solidly built to last long. The barrel is made with alloy steel for added strength and durability. It is also light and easy to carry in the field. The rifled steel barrel helps increase your accuracy, while the 4×32 scope included gives you a better target acquisition. Features
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7) Daisy 880 Powerline Air Rifle Kit
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This Daisy 880 Powerline Air Rifle Kit has everything you need for squirrel hunting, pest control, small game hunting, and target shooting. The air rifle is designed to help you take down squirrels at a distance. The air rifle is best for beginners and trainees. The pneumatic pumping mechanism makes it easy to use, while the light design makes it easy to carry, whether you are an adult or a youth. The 880 shoots both .177 caliber pellets and BBs. It boasts an impressive 750fps with the BBs and up to 715 fps with the pellets. Besides, power and speed are adjustable depending on the number of pumps that you put into the rifle. Another great feature about the air rifle is the cross-bolt trigger block safety. This safety feature prevents accidental firing. It’s effective and really safe. The Monte Carlo-style stock is stylish and very comfortable to hold. What’s more, is that the air rifle comes with a 4x15scope. You don’t have to purchase a separate scope. If you need more accuracy, the dovetail is designed to provide a platform for mounting a third-party scope. Besides, the air gun has fiber optics front sight and an adjustable rear sight for added accuracy. Features
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See Also
- 6 Best Air Rifles for Rabbit Hunting
- 8 Best Hunting Air Rifles
- Best .22 Hunting Air Rifles
- 8 Best .177 Hunting Air Rifles
- 8 Best Scopes for Pellet Guns
- 9 Best Scopes for Gamo Air Rifles
Choosing the Best Air Rifles for Squirrel Hunting
- Caliber
You’ll want to choose a caliber that suits your shooting needs. Most air rifles for squirrel hunting are compatible with .177 caliber pellets and BBs as well. The .177 caliber has the fastest velocity which is great for hunting squirrels at a distance.
For shooting squirrels in the backyard, you should look for a .22 caliber air rifle. .22 caliber pellets have less velocity but more muzzle energy. Once fired, the pellet makes a powerful impact if the shot is placed correctly.
- Velocity
The velocity of an air rifle determines how fast the pellet travels when it’s fired from the rifle. Having the right amount of FPS will help you shoot accurately. You’ll need more power to shoot squirrels at a distance. Air rifles with more the 900fps are great for mid to long-range shooting. If you are hunting squirrels in your backyard, an air rifle with about 700FPS will be adequate.
- Durability and Safety
You’ll want an air rifle that’s durable to ensure many years of use. The type of material used to make the stock directly affects the air gun’s durability. The air gun should also have a weatherproof stock for added durability.
For basic squirrel hunting and target shooting, you’ll want an air rifle that offers great safety. It should have a trigger safety to prevent accidental firing. The air rifle should also be easy to operate or load.
- Scopes and Sights
An air rifle that has scopes and sights will improve your shooting accuracy. If you want to reach further distances, you should use a scope that meets your needs. If the air gun comes with a scope but is not reliable, you can invest in a better scope. The air gun should also have a rifled steel barrel and optic sights for added accuracy.
Best Air Rifles for Squirrel Hunting FAQs
- How many FPS do I need to kill a squirrel?
The recommended FPS for taking out squirrels is 1,000FPS. But it can go lower if you are shooting the squirrels at a closer range.
- Can an air rifle kill a squirrel?
Yes. When you have an air rifle with a high FPS, it is easier for you to kill a squirrel either in your backyard or on the farm. Most people prefer using air rifles to hunt squirrels because they are easy to use and accurate.
Conclusion
If you have been thinking about getting an air rifle to hunt squirrels, we hope that this post will help you make the right buying decision. Besides hunting squirrels, the air guns listed above can be used for small game hunting, pest control and skill development. They are powerful, accurate, and fun to shoot.
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