What is the best air gun for pest control? In this post, we look at the top picks for the best Air rifle for Varmint Control.
Varmint hunting is a great way to control pests’ invasion. Whether you do it as a necessity to control pests or as pure sport, you’ll need the right gear for the job.
Over the years, the popularity of air rifles for varmint control has been on the rise. Modern air rifles are powerful and reliable. They are great at taking out varmints at close or long-range.
If you are on the market for the best air rifle for varmint control, here are our top picks.
Best Air Rifle for Varmint Control-Top Picks
1) Gamo Varmint Air Rifle .177 Cal
Check Price on Amazon
What We Love This Gamo Varmint Air Rifle is a high-power air rifle suitable for target game hunting and varmint control. It shoots .177 PBA platinum alloy pellets at a maximum velocity of 1250FPS. The high velocity makes it ideal for shooting varmints at both close and long ranges. The air rifle is durable and dependable. It has a durable water-resistant stock suitable for both left and right-hand users. The stock is well designed to align flawlessly with the scope and fit every shooter comfortably. It also has a rubber recoil pad to absorb shock and ensure comfortable handling. The rifle has a lightweight design which makes it easy to carry in the field. It has a 30lbs cocking effort which isn’t so high. It is easy to cock even for the less-built people. Additionally, the air rifle comes with a 4×32 air rifle scope so you don’t have to buy a scope separately. The scope is easy to use and it comes in handy when shooting distant varmints. Features
|
2) Ruger Blackhawk .177 Caliber Pellet Air Rifle
Check Price on Amazon
What We Love If you need an air rifle that offers more power and great value, you can hardly go wrong with the Ruger Blackhawk .177 Caliber Pellet Air Rifle. This is a spring piston-powered air rifle that shoots .177 caliber pellets. It has a high speed of 1200fps and 1000fps with alloy and lead pellets respectively. This is enough to take out varmints and small game. The air rifle has an overall length of 44.8 inches. The ambidextrous stock is contoured for comfortable handling and checkered for an ergonomic and secure grip. Besides, the air rifle weighs only 1 kg so it’s lightweight and easy to carry in the field. The air rifle has standard front and rear light gathering fiber optic sights. They improve your shooting accuracy, especially when shooting in low-light situations. The rear sight is also adjustable for windage and elevation. You also get a 4×32 air rifle-rated scope for added accuracy. Features
|
3) Daisy 880 Powerline Air Rifle
Check Price on Amazon
What We Love This Daisy 880 Powerline Air Rifle is the best air rifle for varmint control if you are new to varmint shooting. The air rifle comes with a kit that contains almost everything you need to take out varmints. This multi-pump pneumatic rifle is very easy to operate. At only 3.1lbs. the air rifle is easy to hold or carry for long. It shoots BBs or .177 caliber pellets. For the BBs, you get a 50 shot BB capacity for fast follow-up shots. You also get a firing speed of 750fps and 715fps for the pellets. Both speeds are great for taking out varmints. The air rifle has a cross bolt trigger block safety. It ensures safe and secure firing by preventing accidental firing. Other than that, the air rifle comes with a blade and ramp front sight for easy target adjustment and an adjustable rear sight that keeps you locked on target. Features
|
4) Gamo Whisper Air Rifle (.177 /.22Cal)
|
5) Bear River TPR 1300 Suppressed Hunting Air Rifle
Check Price on Amazon
What We Love The Bear River TPR 1300 is a hard-hitting air rifle suitable for varmint control. The air rifle features a spring-piston technology and a smooth trigger pull for easy shooting. The air rifle is solidly built to ensure many years of use. The high-powered break barrel action provides superb long-range accuracy and consistency. The air rifle also comes with an 18” rifled steel barrel and a 4×32 scope for added accuracy. Another great feature about the air rifle is the silenced shooting. It has a built-in suppressor to keep noise at a minimum and avoid spooking the target. The air rifle has a lightweight design for smooth operation in the field. It also comes with a 6” Picatinny rail for attaching different accessories or scopes. Features
|
6) Gamo Swarm Fusion 10X GEN2 Multi-Shot Air Rifle
Check Price on Amazon
If you are looking to shoot further, then you should go with the Gamo Swarm Fusion 10X GEN2 Multi-Shot Air Rifle. The air rifle is engineered with the latest top-notch Gamo technologies to deliver the best solution for varmint control and pest control. This second-generation 10X is highly accurate and smooth to shoot. All you need to do is break the barrel and enjoy quick follow-up shots. It has a revolutionary new horizontal magazine integration which makes it light, compact, and simpler to handle. Besides, the air rifle delivers higher energy downrange for the best impact and penetration. Featuring whisper fusion technology, the air rifle provides quiet shooting. You don’t have to worry about spooking varmints or causing noise disturbance. The recoil reducing rail incorporated enhances your shooting accuracy by absorbing the shock waves produced by the recoil. The synthetic nylons stock is glass-filled and carefully engineered to fit every shooter and align perfectly with the scope. It is water-resistant, so you can use it in extreme environments. The shockwave absorber recoil pad has three removable absorption cells to increase your shooting comfort. Features
|
7) Black Ops Sniper Rifle S
Check Price on Amazon
What We Love This Black Ops Sniper Rifle S is a high-powered break barrel pellet rifle suitable for varmint control. This gun is built for serious air gunners. It provides the ultimate long-range performance, accuracy, and consistency. The air rifle is powered by power piston technology. It shoots .177 caliber pellets up to 1,250fps. The smooth trigger pull makes it easy to operate, while the less recoil enhances your shooting accuracy. The adjustable comb provides a comfortable hold for the best shooting experience. For added comfort, the air rifle has a study bipod with adjustable legs. The legs can be adjusted from 8-10” and folded when not in use. Featuring an integrated suppressor, the air rifle provides extremely silenced shooting. This prevents spooking the target and reduces noise disturbance. The air rifle also features a rifled steel barrel and a 6” Picatinny optics rail for attaching accessories or a scope. Features
|
How to Choose the Best Air Rifle for Varmint Control
When looking for the best air rifle for varmint control, here are the key factors you should always consider in order to make the right buying decision.
- Size of the Barrel
The size of the barrel differs from one air rifle to the other. The longer the barrel, the greater the accuracy and vice versa. Therefore, if you want to enhance your accuracy while keeping weight at a minimum, try to look for an air rifle with a total length of 40-50 inches.
- Firing Mechanism
There are several firing mechanisms found in different air rifles. Some air rifles use spring pistons that use compressed air to fire, while others like nitrogen pistons use gas instead. You can choose the firing mechanism based on your preference as well as shooting skills.
- Pellet Caliber
There are many pellet calibers for air rifles. However, .177 and .22 caliber pellets are the most popular ones. Both caliber pellets are ideal for varmint control. The .177 is lighter in weight, which makes it travel faster. Some say that it is more accurate because of its high speed.
On the other hand, the .22 has more muzzle energy so it hits harder. These pellets are bigger and better at taking out the varmint on the first shot.
- Weight
Over the years, air rifles have evolved. This means that we now have lightweight air rifles that are lightweight and easy to carry in the field. However, if you add a scope or other accessories such as a gun lamp or night vision optic, you could end up with a heavy air rifle.
- Loading Mechanism
The other important factor to consider is the loading mechanism. Do you want an air rifle that allows you to load a single pellet at a time or do you want a rifle that allows for continuous shooting? Break barrel action air rifles are simpler to shoot but require constant reloading. On the other hand, bolt action air rifles allow multiple shots, however, they are slow to load and hard to maintain.
Air Rifle for Varmint Control FAQs
- What is the best caliber to hunt varmints with?
The .177 and .22 caliber pellets. The .177 caliber pellet is lightweight and has more travel velocity. This makes it ideal for hunting varmints at a distance.
The .22 caliber is bigger and heavier than the .177 caliber pellets. Its main advantage is that it provides more muzzle energy for the ultimate impact and penetration.
- What is a varmint air rifle good for?
Air rifles used for varmint control are highly versatile. Besides varmint control, these rifles can also be used for pest control, small game hunting, target shooting, and skill development.
- What animals can you hunt with the .22 air rifle?
This air rifle is powerful, consistent, and highly accurate. It makes a great air rifle for small game hunting and pest control. You can use it to take out rabbits, squirrels, and varmints.
Conclusion
One of the most humane ways to take out varmints is to use an air rifle. We hope that after going through this buying guide, you are now able to make the right buying decision. Make sure that you do your research to find the air rifle that meets your needs. And don’t forget to get a quality rifle that will offer great value for your money.
Related
- 8 Best Hunting Air Rifles
- Best .22 Hunting Air Rifles
- 8 Best .177 Hunting Air Rifles
- 7 Best Air Rifles under $100
- 7 Best Air Rifles for Squirrel Hunting
- 6 Best Air Rifles for Rabbit Hunting
- 8 Best Scopes for Pellet Guns
- 9 Best Scopes for Gamo Air Rifles