Out here in the country I’m able to take out my shotgun or 22LR rifles every time I need to take care of a nuisance animal, but that’s just not the case in the city. Instead you’ll have to rely on something that’s a little quieter then your trusty 10/22. Luckily there’s an easy solution in the form of air rifles. Modern air rifles aren’t like the BB gun you got as a child. They’re powerful enough to take on small game and accurate enough to hit a quarter at 30 yards. Some people spend serious money turning their air rifles into serious small game guns.
You don’t have to spend a lot of cash to find the perfect squirrel hunting rifle. By far the best air rifle for squirrel hunting is going to be a budget Gamo Varmint Air Rifle. You aren’t going to beat the accuracy of this Gamo Rifle without doubling your price tag. The .177 caliber pellot has more than enough power to take down a squirrel at 50 yards.
What’s The Best Air Rifle For Squirrel Hunting?
1. Gamo Varmint Air Rifle
Gamo designed its varmint air rifle to be extremely high-quality for the price. You don’t have to spend a lot of cash to get an extremely accurate rifle. Designed specifically with squirrels in minds this Gamo Rifle is well worth its low price tag.
You might not get all the bells and whistles found in rifles that cost twice as much, but you do get one hell of an accurate rifle which is all you really need. The break open design Is easy to load and we’ll shoot a .177 caliber pellet at 1250 fps. That’s more than enough force to take down any squirrel and you probably won’t even need a headshot. This varmint air rifle perfect for hunting small game, Pest Control and target practice. It’s the perfect rifle to use in busy cities where you can’t bring out your full size 22LR rifle.
the Gamo Varmint Rifle is built like a tank and comes with a fluted polymer jacketed rifle steel barrel. You’ll be amazed at just how accurate this tiny rifle is. It even comes with a 4 x 32 mm scope that will extend out as far as the gun will shoot. if you’re looking for a gun it’s extremely accurate and doesn’t cost an arm and a leg look no farther than the Gamo varmint Hunter air rifle.
2. Ruger Blackhawk Combo Air Rifle
The Ruger Blackhawk combo air rifles made by one of the best rifle manufacturers of all time. You know you’re getting a quality rifle when Ruger stamps its name on it. It is a little bit more expensive than the above Gamo rifle, but I think it’s well worth the price.
Ruger knows a thing or two about designing high quality rifles and they really show their clout with the air magnum rifle. Designed in conjunction with Umarex(also a very well established air rifle brand) it’s available in both .177 caliber and .22 caliber pellets. It’s the perfect rifle for hunting small game or just blasting targets when you need to be quiet. The sucker really slings pellets out at high velocities. You can expect approximately 1400fps with .177 caliber and 1200fps with .22 caliber which is rarely found in other air rifles.
With all that power you’re going to need a sturdy design and this rifle is built like a brick shithouse. it has an extremely secure grip and an all-weather composite stock that sure to last a lifetime of abuse. It comes with a custom metal 4 x 32 mm airgun scope that’s surprisingly clear. Paired with its two-stage trigger and automatic safety this rifle sure is impressive.
3. Gamo Whisper Silent Wildcat Air Rifle
The Gamo Whisper Silent Wildcat air rifle is another great product that you should consider. just about any Gamo rifles going to be high quality, but the silent cat has been making a name for itself. It’s an extremely quiet, that still generates a lot of power.
Like most of the other rifles on this list the silent cat rifle is extremely accurate. The single shot system uses a durable break barrel that’s as accurate as rifles that cost twice as much. Suitable for both beginners and experienced Hunters alike, it isn’t going to disappoint. The skeleton stock allows for easy handling just like a thumb hole AR-15 stock. you’re either going to like this type of stock or hate it, but personally I think it gives you a little more control.
Designed to be one of the quietest air rifles on the market the noise dampening Barrel Guarantees a 25% reduction and volume compared to other budget air rifles. That’s a big difference when you have to worry about Neighbors complaining and calling the cops. the only downside is that the reduction and sound comes with a slight reduction and Power. Rated at 1000 fps with .177 lead pellets it’s a little slower than other guns on this list, but that’s more than enough to take down a squirrel. If noise is a serious concern you should definitely consider this Gamo Whisper Silent cat air rifle.
4. Ruger Airhawk .177 Caliber Airgun
Another high-quality product from Ruger, the Air Hawk .177 caliber air rifle offers a lot of bang for your buck. It’s one of the few high quality rifles that offers of Woodstock and doesn’t cost a fortune. with the feel of a traditional 22LR rifle the Air Hawk has more than earned its spot on this list.
Ruger really did a lot of things right when they designed this air rifle. It has a high quality wood finish that fits in right next to some of the more expensive rifles in my gun safe.Just like every other rifle on this list it features a single shot cocking mechanism and break action Barrel. again this rifle slings pallets out to 1200 FPS using a .177 caliber alloy pellet.
What really sets this rifle apart from the similarly priced competition is its adjustable two-stage trigger. if you can’t hit a bull’s-eye with this rifle you probably couldn’t hit it with anything. designed to be a high-performance rifle it has a rifled barrel that should greatly improve accuracy.
5. Crosman Fire Nitro Piston Air Rifle
The Crosman Fire Nitro Piston Air Rifle is another budget option that would make for a great varmint hunting rifle.It really is impressive how much rifle you can get for a few bucks. This Crosman rifle is easily one of my favorite budget air rifles. With it’s completely ambidextrous features it’s perfect for just about anybody.
Crosman’s new fire break barrel .177 caliber rifle is powered by their patented Nitro piston design. What’s really nice about this is that it’s an affordable way to increase the shooting power without increasing the cost. Able to shoot pellets up to 1200 feet per second like the more expensive rifles on this list it can definitely stand side-by-side with the competition.
Crosman didn’t Design This rifle to seem like a high-dollar rifle, but it’s no slouch either. It was built with a synthetic all-weather stock that sure to stand up to a lot of abuse. What else can you ask for out of a common field rifle. also included in the box is a 4 by 32 mm scope that should Aid in Target acquisition.Both right and left handed users can use the fully ambidextrous safety and break barrel design.
How To Squirrel Hunt With an Air Rifle
I always thought it was funny that most hunters learn to hunt using an air rifle but then graduate on to their big boy rifles. Switching over to a 22LR rifle is just way too much power for any squirrel. the truth of the matter is that squirrel hunting with an air rifle is by far the safest and most efficient way to hunt squirrels. I would even argue that it’s some of the most fun you can have while spending less than a dollar.
It doesn’t matter if you’re just beginning to hunt squirrels or have a few years of hunting under your belt oh, it’s always good to learn a few tips.
4 Squirrel Hunting Questions Answered
Should You Sit or Stalk Squirrels?
They’re typically two different guys that go out into the woods squirrel hunting. You have the people that like to sit and the people that like to stalk. With extensive pre hunt scouting you can get away with sitting in a stand, but most people are going to want to stalk squirrels. There’s just something about using your brain to track squirrels through the woods.
Unless you have an abundance of natural food sources that are attracting a ton of squirrels you’re going to want to stalk them. All it really requires is a little bit of patience and moving stealthily through the woods. if you’re having a hard time finding squirrels all you have to do is stop and listen for a little bit of movement. It really isn’t rocket science to find squirrels.
Is .177 Caliber Enough Rifle?
Whether or not you can hit a squirrel with a .177 caliber rifle is going to depend on what kind of Hunter you are. If all you’re trying to do is defend your backyard bird feeders against those dreaded squirrels you can get by with a .177 caliber round. it’s definitely strong enough to take out a squirrel but it lacks a little bit of range.
If on the other hand you’re going to want to stalk through the woods you should probably up your game to a .22 caliber pellet. The added velocity the .22 caliber pellet adds will really increase your range farther than you need.
Do You Need a Scope?
Again whether or not you need to scope is going to be a matter of personal preference. If all you’re trying to do is rid your yard of Critters you can probably get by with just the iron sights. Most people are going to want to use the 4×32 mm scope supplied with most of these rifles. you’ll definitely want to use a scope if you’re trying to extend out to the 30 meter max range these rifles offer.
Which Type of Pellet Should You Choose?
There are so many different pallets on the market that it would be impossible to list them all. I definitely have to admit that there is no one perfect palette for all rifles, but there are some that are better than others for most situations. most people are going to want to stick to the round nose or pointed standard pallet for hunting in the field. At close range you might want to switch it up and go with a wad cutter. at longer ranges you’re going to want to use a heavier pellet to maximize the range.