Top 5 Air Rifles in 2022
Air rifles are guns that use several ways to propel a projectile out of the barrel. Today, you can find examples using C02, spring power, or pneumatic mechanisms. They all have different advantages and weaknesses, so owners tend to pick according to their needs.
It’s easy to confuse the terms “air rifle” and “airsoft rifle” due to how similar they sound and various overlapping systems. To clear things up, we’ll define each category.
Air guns include air rifles and air pistols, and they’re generally rated to fire projectiles at dangerous velocities. The design dates back to the 1500s, using primitive operating systems to drive their shots forward. There are also several types of air gun ammunition, including steel BBs, pellets, and larger projectiles up to .50 caliber.
On the other hand, airsoft rifles use electric motors or compressed gas to fire BBs at less-than-lethal velocities. However, some specific models also shoot steel BBs for pest control. Airsoft guns are made for training and war games. Occasionally, it’s used as movie props.
Technically, airsoft guns are considered air guns as well. You may even see this technicality used in laws or regulations. However, the terms have now diverged enough that laws treat both separately.
Some countries consider air guns to be firearms, while others don’t. Airsoft is also illegal in some locations, but these same places may also permit air rifle ownership.
In short, the main differences between these two categories are usually the weapon’s ammunition and muzzle velocity.
Here are our top five air rifle designs for 2022. These weapons are designed for target practice, competition, or even self-defense. Please practice firearm safety protocols when handling them to prevent unfortunate accidents.
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Crosman Bushmaster MPW Full Auto .177-cal CO2 BB Gun, Tan/Black
At first glance, you might assume this rifle is an airsoft AEG without an orange tip, but U.S. federal law prohibits air gun use without the requisite end. Made by the venerable American air gun company Crosman, the Bushmaster MPW is a fully-automatic CO2-powered air rifle.
It has a mock suppressor attached to the barrel, but only for appearance, as air guns are generally quieter than firearms.
The weapon is based on the iconic AR-15, a design that many consider America’s national rifle. It has similar controls, as the charging handle, fire selector, and magazine release are all positioned in the same way as your service M4 carbine and M16 rifles. Therefore, anyone with sufficient training with these rifles will find this Bushmaster MPW a familiar gun.
Like a firearm, you can mount accessories such as foregrips, flashlights, and optics on the tactical rails. The quad RIS handguard has enough space for all of these accessories, and the top rail links seamlessly with the one located at the upper receiver. They’re all compatible with standard Picatinny accessories.
Should you own a fully-kitted AR-15, the accessories can quickly transfer over after several minutes of reattachment. This air rifle does come with a red dot sight and no iron sights.
The buffer tube and pistol grip are patterned after real-life counterparts so that you can attach aftermarket stocks and grips without modification.
As with air guns that shoot BBs, the steel barrel is smoothbore. Otherwise, the majority of components are made of nylon fiber polymer.
This weapon will work for self-defense, pest control, and training. Please check your local laws before purchasing.
Specifications:
- .177 caliber BBs
- 430 FPS maximum
- 25 rounds in the magazine
- Powered by two 12g CO2 cartridges
- Licensed from Bushmaster
- Blowback
- Compatible with some AR-15 furniture
- Semi-auto and full-auto firing modes
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Gamo Swarm Fusion 10X Gen 2 Multi-shot Air Rifle .177 Cal, Black
We’re moving on to this Gamo Swarm Fusion 10X Gen 2 air rifle. Most pneumatic air rifles were single-shot designs, but this one has a magazine capacity of 10 .177 caliber pellets. Make sure you only load pellets, as .177 BBs will cause malfunctions.
Gamo packed this rifle with many features, making it a technological feat as much as it’s a recreational air rifle. The company’s Whisper technology propels pellets through two chambers, where the gasses are forced to compress. Therefore, most noise expansion is canceled, and you can shoot without ear protection.
The higher muzzle velocity is due to the Inert Gas Technology gas piston that replaces the typical spring in a pneumatic air rifle. The piston can propel .177 pellets up to 1,300 FPS with this technology. Users find it easy to cock before firing, even with this much power.
You also have an adjustable two-stage trigger, and both stages are individually adjustable to your preferences. This competition-oriented feature is called the Custom Action Trigger.
The Swarm Fusion 10X Gen 2 also has an 11mm Recoil-Reducing Rail on top of the gun, which prevents the recoil from interfering with the included 3-9×40 scope. The rails are isolated from the rifle by two pieces of polymer, which absorb most of the rearward energy that comes from firing the pellets. Your scope isn’t just steady, but it lasts for longer too.
Gamo’s Gen 2 technology has improved the horizontal magazine design. It’s now lighter, smaller, and integrates more into the weapon. The results are more accurate and fluid rifle operation.
Its polymer and rifled steel barrel make this air rifle perfect for pest control, target practice, and hunting.
Specifications:
- .177 caliber pellets
- 1,300 FPS maximum
- 10 rounds in the magazine
- Uses pneumatics, cocked every shot
- Break-action
- Softer report thanks to sound reduction
- Competition-style features
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Crosman Shockwave NP QuietFire Air Rifle .22 cal w/lead pellet, Black
This Crosman Shockwave NP QuietFire Air rifle fires larger pellets than the previous entry. Its .22 caliber pellets are excellent for target practice, though many users also use this caliber for pest control and small-game hunting. It will work with practically any brand or variety of ammunition, even hollow points.
Crosman incorporated its Nitro Piston technology into the air rifle, allowing it to propel pellets up to 950 FPS. Unlike comparable systems, the piston reduces recoil immensely and is 70% quieter due to sound dampening chambers. The distinctive shrouded barrel is where the gasses are forced to slow down.
Unlike the Gamo Swarm Fusion 10X, this Crosman rifle can only hold one pellet in the chamber at a time. However, it still uses a break-action mechanism like many others, so you must insert a shot before firing again every time you break the barrel open.
The barrel is made of steel for higher accuracy and has rifled grooves inside. The latter allows the pellets to spin and fly in a straight line.
The Crosman Clean Break trigger has two stages upon pulling, allowing for precise shots. You can even adjust each stage independently so it fits your shooting style and habits.
Aiming is possible by attaching the included CenterPoint Optics 4x32mm scope to the 11mm dovetail mounts. The rear sight ramp is fully-adjustable if you want to use the iron sights, though the front sight is fixed.
Safety and accessibility are essential to all guns, and the safety catch on this rifle helps prevent accidental shots. The stock is ambidextrous, made of a black polymer that endures in all weather conditions. The rubber buttpad also helps make shouldering the gun more comfortable.
Specifications:
- .22 caliber pellets
- 950 FPS maximum
- One round in the magazine
- Uses pneumatics, cocked every shot
- Break-action
- Uses Nitro Piston technology for reduced recoil and sound
- Comes with CenterPoint scope
- Single-shot only
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Remington Express Hunter, Nitro Gas Piston, Air Rifle
Remington has been in the firearms industry throughout U.S. history, but their first air gun was only introduced in the late 1920s. This Express Hunter rifle is geared toward the air gun hunter, a group of hunters who prefer the softer cracks of these weapons to the loud reports of rifles. Thus, everything from furniture to internals has been optimized for humane killing.
This gun comes with a nitro gas piston system, a modern innovation that replaces the older spring-powered mechanisms from long ago. These pistons are stronger than a spring, have less recoil, and produce less noise upon trigger pulls.
Remington’s experience designing rifles also bleeds into this Express Hunter, especially with the stock. It’s ambidextrous and has a raised cheek rest. This feature helps you align your head to the stock and look down the scopes more comfortably.
The pistol grip is ergonomic, molded according to a natural human hand’s grip.
Additionally, the package contains a 4x32mm scope mounted onto the receiver via dovetails. This scope has fixed magnification, but you can replace it with others later.
If scopes are out of the question, the iron sights are on the barrel are your best bet. You have an adjustable rear ramp sight. The front sight has a red fiber-optic insert for increased visibility.
With the help of the nitro gas piston, this air rifle can reach velocities up to 950 FPS, but it can only hold a single .22 pellet within the chamber. You must break the action open and insert the pellet correctly to reload.
Even if this rifle was made for hunters, it’s perfectly acceptable to hit soda cans with it on the weekends.
Specifications:
- .22 caliber pellets
- 950 FPS maximum
- 1 round in the magazine
- Uses pneumatics, cocked every shot
- Break-action
- Uses Nitro Piston technology for reduced recoil and sound
- Comes with a 4x32mm scope
- Fiber-optic iron sights
- Single-shot only
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Umarex Hammer .50 cal Air Rifle, O.D. Green/Black
Air rifles have primarily been used for small game, but manufacturers are still pushing the design to greater capabilities. Umarex’s Hammer .50 caliber air rifle is the king of air gun calibers, with .50 caliber pellet capabilities that can easily take down big game.
Umarex is confident that while this projectile isn’t as fast as the 9mm Parabellum and 5.56 x 45mm NATO cartridges, it’s still a 550-grain bullet flying towards a target. This heavy bullet will retain a lot of energy, reaching lethal velocities without needing any gunpowder.
Compared to a cartridge, this air gun has enough power without the noise and flash of burning powder. The result is a weaker recoil with more of a push than a backward snapping thrust.
The Umarex Hammer can hold two shots in detachable magazines, using a straight-pull design, unlike some big bore air rifles. Therefore, it’s much faster than rotating bolt mechanisms that require twisting motions.
The top of the Umarex Hammer comes with a Picatinny rail that readily accepts many different scopes. Although the handguard doesn’t have any Picatinny rails, you can find two M-LOK slots on each side for horizontally-mounted accessories. These will accept your favorite lasers and flashlights.
The Umarex Hammer has a 1:24 twist barrel that optimizes the .50 caliber bullet’s performance for maximum accuracy.
A German company named Walther makes these twist barrels. Its German engineering and over 100 years of experience in making firearm components result in an incredible performance. Some of Walther’s guns have even been used in World Wars. You can also find some police and armed forces carrying the company’s pistols today.
Under the barrel is the non-removable PCP tank made of carbon fiber, reducing the overall weight. It can handle three full-power shots, and the fourth shot will be around 90% of the maximum velocity. After that, you’ll need to refill the gas.
Specifications:
- .50 caliber bullets
- 760 FPS maximum
- 2 rounds in the magazine
- Gas-operated
- Straight-pull bolt action
- German barrel
- Made for big game
