Best Pellet Gun for Rabbits
For many of us, me included, the main reason why we become interested in pellet gun in the first place is to hunt small game or dispatch vermin close to home. And for these purposes most high-quality pellet gun are excellent. Unlike conventional firearms, pellet gun are relatively quiet, have little or no recoil, and because they have limited range, are much less likely to produce dangerous stray bullets that could impact nearby residential areas. In fact, even very powerful pellet gun lose much or all of their punch after about 150-200 yards, whereas a .22 long-round rimfire shot can travel well over a mile and still hit with enough power to possibly kill.
Here is a list of the Best Pellet Gun for Rabbits
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This article primarily focuses on pellet gun hunting for the type of small game most readily available air rifles are suited for - like birds, squirrels, rabbits, hares, woodchucks, etc. Of course, there are very large caliber air rifles, like .45 and .50 cal. big bores that can take down things like coyote, wild pigs and even deer, but these are fairly expensive PCP weapons and beyond the scope of this particular decisions.
Although a pellet gun will never be as powerful as a standard hunting rifle, with the right one you can humanely bag rabbits during the season or remove them from your property. To help you find the best pellet gun for rabbits, we have put together a review of our favorites. Maybe one of these air rifles is the right one to take hunting with your buddies or to save your vegetable garden.
Top Five Best Pellet Gun for Rabbits
1. Crosman Benjamin Trail NP XL 1500 .177 Caliber Nitro Piston Air Rifle
The hardwood stock on the air rifle gives it an elegant look, while the slim, rifled barrel helps to guide your shots directly to the target. Featuring an all-weather design and weighing only 9.5 lbs, this pellet gun is ideal for any type of outdoor shooting. A noise dampener helps to muffle the sound of your shots, so you stand a better chance of catching more than one rabbit. The nitro powered piston can shoot up to 1500 feet per second with an amazing 24 feet per pounds of muzzle energy. The 3-9 x 40 mm scope will also help you track your prey from farther distances. If you don’t want to break the sound barrier and increase the noise of your shots, always use PBA pellets instead of lead BBs.
Crosman Benjamin Trail NP XL 1500 .177 Video Review
2. Gamo Whisper CFR Air Rifle
This .177 caliber air gun looks as powerful as it is with an all black design and the capability of firing up to 1100 feet per second if you use PBA pellets. A two-step trigger lets you control your shot, and the fixed barrel helps to keep you right on target. The noise dampener is not removable, but the included 3-9 x 40 AO rifle scope is. Use it to track your prey from a distance, or take it off for an unobstructed line of sight. A thumbhole in the stock gives you even more control and stability when firing, and the adjustable cheek pad will protect you from the gun’s impressive back kick. This pellet rifle also uses a breach loading system so you never have to worry about missing a shot when you’re distracted loading the clip. The air rifle also uses an inert gas system to power each of your shots.
3. Crosman Optimus .177 Caliber Break Barrel Air Rifle
With a two-stage trigger and a sleek all-weather design, this .177 caliber air rifle is perfect for hunting rabbits in any season. The break barrel helps to keep your shots even and on target, while the textured grip and forearm helps to give you even more stability. Capable of firing up to 1000 feet per second and with a front and adjustable rear sight, this powerful air gun can help you protect your yard and enjoy the rabbit hunting season. The included rail is 3/8” dovetail and will accept most any air rifle mounts.
Crosman Optimus Break Barrel Air Rifle Video Review
4. 880 Powerline Kit
This complete hunting and plinking air rifle kit even includes protective eyewear. The Monte Carlo-styled stock and forearm make this air rifle stand out in a crowd, and the 4x 15 mm rifle scope can help you find rabbits and other small pests even when they are hiding. The multi-pump action air rifle lets you control the velocity of the pellet, which is capable of reaching 750 feet per second. A raised cheek pad helps to protect against kick backs, and the included paper targets let you get in a quick practice session before heading out. The included rifle scope is also easy to mount and remove, and you can choose between using pellets or BBs when you are hunting.
880 Powerline Kit Video Review
5. Hatsan 95 Air Rifle Combo (Walnut Stock Air Rifle)
The gun comes with multiple caliber with one of the most popular being the .177 and the .22 caliber rifles. These shoot at 100m/s and 800m/s respectively, something that is impressive with these rifles. The interesting break barrel design lets you load your pellets and also ensures that the safety is automatically turned on or off. I was looking for something that is good on the eye, offers maximum safety, accuracy, ambidextrous design and affordability. I found this in the Hatsan 95 Air Rifle Combo, Walnut Stock air rifle.
Conclusion
Having said all that, there is more to consider than simply hitting power, and that's accuracy. If you can't hit the target, then even the most powerful rifle isn't going to help you. Further, if you are even slightly off of the small kill zones required for this type of game, then you are likely to maim an animal, or allow it to flee where it may die slowly. And on the accuracy score, there is little question that .177 pellets have the flattest trajectories and therefore make accurate shooting the easiest. This is not to say you can't be accurate with a .22 rifle, but it generally takes more time to get a feel for the relatively bowed flight path of these pellets - especially if you are shooting at some distance. The same holds true for the.25 caliber as well.
Pellet gun hunting is fun and a good way to teach young shooters how to safely handle and respect the power of a gun. As long as you're careful about choosing the game you hunt and the type of air gun and pellets you use, this type of hunting can be rewarding and a nice way to spend a weekend afternoon.
While you probably already know to check with your local game and wildlife department on rabbit hunting laws, you will also want to check your local gun ordinances. Most semi and automatic air rifles are still illegal in some countries and other states are unfortunately outlawing them as well. In most countries, you do have to be eighteen before you can purchase a pneumatic weapon.
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