The Best Air Rifles of 2024, Accuracy Tested and Reviewed

By Jim Chapman

Updated on Aug 28, 2024 3:46 PM EDT

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Air rifles have exploded in popularity in the last ten years, and alongside that popularity a fleet of highly-accurate and user-friendly airguns hit the shelves. This new breed of air rifles rival the accuracy and down-range energy of .22 LR, and the large-caliber models can take big game. Finding a definitive best air rifle in this talented group of products is no easy task and even finding the best options in the various airgun categories is a challenge.

But, I’ve been shooting air rifles of all kinds for over two decades and reviewing them for nearly as long. That background gave me some idea on where to start and who to ask for help. I reached out to Pyramyd Air, one of the premier air rifle retailers, to utilize their vast inventory and indoor range to test 15 top contenders. They included big bores, precision, hunting, and budget air rifles.

Along with two other testers, I evaluated each rifle’s accuracy, power, consistency, and ergonomics. Here are the results of the shootout.

The Best Premium PCP Air Rifles (Jump to the section)

The Best Budget Budget PCP Air Rifles (Jump to the section)

The Best Compact PCP Airguns (Jump to the section)

The Best Spring Piston Air Rifles (Jump to the section)

The Best Big Bore Airguns (Jump to the section)

We spent two days shooting 15 air rifles that ranged from budget spring-powered guns to the latest in premium PCP air rifles. Here’s a breakdown of how we tested air rifles for accuracy, speed, and general utility.

We shot these rifles straight out of the box without additional tweaking or tuning. This is important to note because, unlike a firearm, many airguns are designed to allow adjustment to their powerplant (transfer port, hammer spring, regulator settings, etc.), which can significantly impact accuracy, power, and shot count.

We felt the most reasonable approach was to use the baseline setup selected by the manufacturers. Typically, stock tunes try to balance accuracy, power, and shot count.

All air rifles were outfitted with magnified scopes, allowing us to extract the best possible accuracy from each gun.

We tested air rifles at Pyramyd AIR’s 45-yard indoor range, which allowed us to shoot air rifles in a controlled environment over two days. All three testers executed five-shot groups, and we measured a minimum of four groups for each rifle. We accuracy tested PCP air rifles at 45 yards and the low-velocity, spring-powered airguns at 25 yards. You’ll see a four-group average in the test results section for each airgun.

We also shot the two most accurate air rifles (Air Venturi Avenger and FX Impact M3) at 100 yards.

Airguns are notoriously ammo sensitive, and even rifles of the same model might shoot different projectiles the best. That’s why we shot each gun with several pellets and chose the best performing for our accuracy testing.

We recorded ten shot strings on all the airguns, with measurements taken after a full charge. We measured velocity with the Garmin Xero C1 Pro, which has become my go-to chrono because of its ease of use, airgun-specific settings, and accuracy in all conditions. You’ll find the average velocity in the results section for each rifle.

The trigger weight was performed using the Lyman Digital Trigger Pull Gauge, with the gun mounted in a vise or held on a shooting bag. We averaged three measurements, and you’ll find the average in the test results section for each air rifle.

Each of the testers evaluated the ergonomics and handling of the rifles. Scores from 1 to 5 were given for handling, accuracy, aesthetics, ergonomics, versatility, value, and reliability. A score of 5 was awarded for exceptional performance and a 1 was given for poor performers.

These scores, along with the accuracy data, is how we chose the winners in each category.

Patner reviews airguns on the Pyramyd Insyder YouTube series. He’s an avid field target shooter, having won regional and national titles, as well as representing Team USA at the WFTF World Championships on multiple occasions. He’s hunted a variety of large and small game with airguns, and also enjoys bowhunting.

Einsmann is Outdoor Life’s Gear Editor and has a lifelong obsession with hunting squirrels and shooting guns. He’s new to airguns and owns two PCPs that he uses for precision shooting and hunting.

I’ve been shooting airguns of all types for over 30 years, hunting almost exclusively with them for the last 20 years. I’ve reviewed airguns for Outdoor Life, many other publications, and on my YouTube channel American Airgun Hunter.

Scott Einsmann

Test Results

Key Specifications

Pros

Cons

We tested the legendary FX Impact M3 this year, but, shortly after testing concluded, FX released the new Impact M4. The M4 keeps everything we liked about the M3 and adds some incremental improvements. The M4 has a thicker and more rigid scope rail, stronger magazines, a brass piston regulator, a new grip, and an easier to adjust trigger. The overall design, tuneability, and function of the Impact M3 remain in the latest version. The following review is based on the testing we did using the Impact M3, but its performance stands for the new M4 as well.

All three of us shot the FX Impact well, and noted the ergonomic stock, excellent trigger, and flawless functionality across the board. We agreed that this rifle performs well and is pellet tolerant out of the box, but its customization and tuning features are truly outstanding. Einsmann noted that you have a highly accurate hunting rifle in the stock configuration, but the user can transform it into a benchrest rifle or long-range slug shooter. This was mirrored by Patner saying the rifle is easy to modify for serious bench or PRS work. On the other hand, it was noted that its tuning options lead to a certain level of complexity, so the owner of an Impact should be ready to dedicate time to learning the platform.

Photo by Scott Einsmann

The Impact’s accuracy is well known, and several major airgun competitions have been won with it. I made my longest prairie dog kill at 168 yards with this rifle using heavy .25-caliber pellets. So it wasn’t a surprise when the Impact M3 was the most accurate airgun in our test. We shot the Impact with the Air Arms Diabolo Field 25.4 grain pellets and its smallest five-shot group measured .28 inch and the largest group shot was .5 inch. It’s important to note that you can tune the Impact M3 (or M4) to shoot even tighter groups.

Shooting the 25.4-grain pellet at an average velocity of 896 fps, the Impact is achieving approximately 45 ft-lbs. I’ve taken dozens of predators, hogs, and small game with similar power output. With the tunability of this rifle, it is possible to achieve velocities over 1,000 fps and power around 108 ft-lbs.

For tuning, the Impact M3 features dual Adjustable Match Precision (AMP) regulators, external micro and macro hammer-spring tension adjustment, and an external valve control adjustment. We did not adjust or experiment with these settings during these tests, though I’ve used them to optimize my M3 for different shooting conditions and projectiles with ease.

With the 580cc carbon fiber bottle, the Impact generates about 150 shots per fill in the .25 caliber version. At the factory settings, our 10-shot string measured from 896 fps to 899 fps with an average velocity of 896 fps. That consistency shows the regulator is dialed in on this rifle, and it’s probably the most consistent production gun I’ve ever shot.

Photo by Scott Einsmann

Aside from the shot-to-shot consistency, the Impact’s outstanding two-stage, fully adjustable trigger helped us shoot good groups. The trigger adjusts for first-stage travel, second-stage break, and the blade’s vertical position. Our test gun had a 1.5-pound pull out of the box. The new Impact M4 allows you to make those same adjustments plus the blade can be moved forward and back.

The Impact is a bullpup design built on a modular aluminum frame that accepts standard AR pistol grips. A carbon fiber air tank is positioned under the barrel and serves as the fore-end. It’s a well-thought-out minimalist design. The ergonomics of the Impact are quite good, the stock has a vertically adjustable buttpad that all of us found comfortable while offering a stable hold. The smooth, fast sidelever action was easy to cock while holding on target. We also liked the position of the safety and dual pressure gauges, which were easy to access when needed.

The FX Impact is undoubtedly an expensive rifle at approximately $2,100, but Einsmann says it’s a classic example of getting what you pay for, and I agree. The price point is in alignment with other premium guns on the market. I think another consideration is that with the base rifle, you can add other calibers, specialty barrels, and liners to optimize it for a specific activity, compete at the highest levels, and use it for hunting.

Photo by Scott Einsmann

Test Results

Key Specifications

Pros

Cons

The FX Impact just edged out the AirArms S510 Tactical, with a .08-inch difference in group size and a fractional difference in overall score. Patner and I were both drawn to the looks and feel of the AirArms S510 Tactical, and I thought it was one of the most ergonomic guns I’ve shot. Patner said that he loved the good looks and substantial feel of the S510. But Einsmann commented that for some reason he could not get comfortable behind this gun, and while he thought the trigger was “insanely good” and was a true match trigger, his first modification out of the box would be a new stock. We all agreed the trigger was outstanding, and the side lever action was silky smooth and easy to cycle. Of the three premium options we tested, this is the rifle I’d choose as a dedicated small game air rifle.

Photo by Scott Einsmann

Test Results

Key Specifications

Pros

Cons

The HM1000X was also a solid performer with outstanding accuracy at factory settings. Patner stated that the HM1000X was built like a tank with match-grade features and thought the trigger was “second to none.” He also mentioned that he preferred the wood stock option over the RAW chassis we had on our test gun. I have used the wood stock version on previous outings and really liked it, but Einsmann had problems acclimating to the S510.

“I just could not settle in behind the trigger of this rifle,” he said. “I shot a sub .5-inch group with it but felt like I was fighting the stock the whole time.”

Einsmann also mentioned that he found the large moderator visually displeasing, and the gun was still loud despite its size.

Photo by Scott Einsmann

Test Results

Key Features

Pros

Cons

While the Avenger doesn’t have the most refined stock on the market, it was ergonomic and had a nice trigger out of the box. The sidelever cocking mechanism is smooth and easy to accentuate, the trigger serviceable, and it allowed me to shoot some of my best groups of the test.

On the range, almost every group we shot was under .5 inch. The average group during testing was .44 inch, coming in second only to the FX Impact, a gun at the opposite end of the price spectrum.

The Avenger is one of the most tunable airguns on the market, particularly at the budget price point. It can be adjusted down to very low velocity for a basement range, or high enough to anchor game in the field. As a testament to its power, I’ve shot several 50 to 70 pound feral hogs with this rifle. You can also dial it in to work at the optimal velocity for various projectiles from pellets to slugs. As our test gun was set up at the factory, we got about 900 fps with a 26.5 grain pellet for a power output of about 47 ft-lbs.

The shot count is variable depending on how the power adjustments have been set, but at full power, you’ll get about 25 shots per 4351-psi charge. By dialing down the regulator, that shot count can be easily doubled. The regulator on the Avenger provides excellent shot-to-shot consistency across the shot string. In a recorded 20-shot string the maximum velocity was 908 fps, the minimum 898 fps, yielding a spread of 10 fps and an average velocity of 901 fps shooting JSB Hades 26.54 grain hollow-point pellets.

The trigger is a two-stage adjustable design that breaks at just under 3 pounds out of the box. Patner said he would probably lighten it up, while I thought it was perfect for small-game hunting. I adjusted my personal Avenger’s trigger down to 1 pound, a gun that I set up for long-range shooting.

All three team members thought that the stock on this rifle was serviceable and didn’t have any major shortcomings. It was, however, underwhelming. Einsmann summed it up well when he noted the Avenger was incredibly accurate, though he found the stock on the “chunky” side. There is a wood-stocked version and also a bullpup if the synthetic stock doesn’t suit you.

The Avenger utilizes a 180cc air cylinder that fills to 4351 psi via a male quick-release fitting. The tank and regulator pressure are monitored by the two air gauges (manometers) on the rifle.

With a price tag of $350, the Avenger offers exceptional value in an entry-level air rifle that has performance, features, and adjustability suitable for even experienced airgunners. In addition, there are several small-scale producers of components to modify and build custom rifles on the platform, so it’s also a great deal for the hot rodders out there.

Einsmann also noted that the rifle was impressively accurate regardless of price and handled well in the field. Patner commented that the Avenger had “accuracy for days and is easy to shoot well.” I have to confess that I’ve long appreciated the platform. I have three in my collection set up for everything from hogs in dense thickets to long-range prairie dog shooting. I think it’s an outstanding field gun at an excellent price.

Read Next: Best PCP Air Rifle Compressors

Photo by Scott Einsmann

Test Results

Key Specifications

Pros

Cons

The Komplete NitroAir stands out in a crowded field of value-oriented PCP air rifles because it uses a proprietary nitrogen gas cartridge. The cartridge resembles a large CO2 cartridge, but a CO2 cartridge is only filled to 800 psi. The NitroAir cartridge is charged to 3600 psi, which is enough gas for about 45 regulated shots. Aside from a high shot count, the single-use nitrogen cartridges give you the performance benefits of a PCP without needing to invest in a costly compressor or air tank.

It is the least expensive PCP with respect to startup costs, though at about $10 per cartridge (sold in packs of two), the operating costs could be higher depending on how much you shoot. After 1,900 shots, you’ll spend $400 on 20 boxes of cartridges, which is about the cost of a small compressor. That’s why this airgun isn’t ideal for high-volume shooters, but it does make a lot of sense as a backyard pest rifle, plinker, or small game airgun.

Test Results

Key Specifications

Pros

Cons

While this was second of the three compact airguns in accuracy and the least powerful, it ticked so many boxes that it scored highest. One of this carbine’s strongest attributes is also the most intangible — it is so much fun to shoot.

It’s also accurate, ligth, whisper quiet, easy to cycle, and powerful enough for small game. That all adds up to it being the perfect pest control air rifle.

The Notos is based on an air pistol platform, which might lead you to question the accuracy potential, especially when reaching out to 45 yards. But we generated five-shot groups of .56 inch to 1.3 inch with an average of .96 inch. We measured the adjustable trigger pull at about 4 pounds out of the box, and we think it’s a serviceable trigger for hunting.

The Notos shoots well on the bench, but it really comes into its own while offhand shooting. Patner noted that it’s a great little pest control gun. Einsmann said this will become his tool to address the marauding squirrels in his backyard. I have used the Notos on woodland squirrel hunts and stalking jackrabbits in the Texas desert. In those settings I found it to be a great offhand shooter, quick to deploy, quick to cycle, and a pleasure to carry.

We chronographed the Notos at 722 fps with JSB 15.9 grain pellets, which generated over 18 ft-lbs. This is considerably higher than the 13 ft-lbs power output stated in the official specifications, but I’ve noticed this to be consistent with other Notos air rifles I’ve shot.

The Notos is powered by a 66cc tube under the barrel that fills up to 3,625 psi via a Foster style quick release connector. Airflow is managed with a non-adjustable regulator that is set at 1900 psi to generate 20 regulated shots per fill with excellent shot-to-shot consistency.

At $270, this carbine is a bargain and a must-have in any airgun shooter’s collection. Big fun at a small cost sums it up perfectly.

Photo by Scott Einsmann

Test Results

Key Specifications

Pros

Cons

All of us liked the Avenge-X Tactical, and it ended up just barely missing the first-place position. The highlights of this rifle included excellent ergonomics, accuracy, easy adjustability, and aesthetics. This gun was the most accurate of the group, nudging out the Notos by .01 inch.

While all those highlights are impressive, I think the Avenge-X’s best feature is its modularity. It’s easy to swap from .177 caliber backyard plinker to a hard-hitting hunting rifle in .25 caliber with the caliber change kits ($70) that include a barrel, probe, and magazine. There are also different air storage options and several stock configurations.

This is one of my favorite airguns for small game hunting based on performance and adaptability, and the budget friendly pricing. If you don’t like the bullpup design, the Avenge-X is also sold as a rifle.

Test Results

Key Features

Pros

Cons

The R9 was by far the best spring airgun we tested. It had the smoothest shooting cycle, the best trigger, and yielded the best accuracy. But you’ll pay $530 for that level of performance, which is more than double the price of the others tested.

The Rekord trigger on the R9 is a two-stage adjustable design that came out of the box at 2 pounds 14 ounces. I liked its predictable uptake and crisp break. I wasn’t alone in that opinion. “It’s a fantastic trigger at the factory setting,” said Patner.

In our 25-yard accuracy testing, the smallest group was .21 inch, the largest was 1 inch, and the four group average was .53 inch. That’s some good shooting for a springer, but most notably, the accuracy came easily. Other spring rifles we tested were finicky and needed specific holds to shoot well. The R9 just performed without fuss.

This gun was set up at low power, generating 605 fps with the 15.89 grain JSB Diabolo pellet. The R9 was producing a power output just a little above the UK legal limit of 13 ft-lbs. I know that to firearms shooters this seems very low, but for context consider the British have been bagging small game with sub 12 ft-lb guns for decades.

The R9 uses a wood Monte Carlo stock with a subtle cheekpiece that allows it to be shot comfortably right-handed or left-handed. We all gave the R9’s ergonomics high scores. “This gun is an absolute pleasure to shoot, and it would make a fantastic hunting, pesting, or plinking gun,” said Einsmann. “The firing cycle is smooth throughout, with a very tame recoil, especially considering the power output.”

With a cocking effort of approximately 38 pounds, this rifle fell somewhere between the Swarm and the Model 95 in terms of effort and would be manageable for most shooters.

Read Next: PCP Air Rifles 101

Test Results

Key Specifications

Pros

Cons

The Swarm Maxxim 10X Gen 2 was a pleasant shooting rifle with a fairly tame firing cycle, and the multi-shot magazine worked flawlessly during testing. The cocking effort was low, and the overall ergonomics were good.

Einsmann found the gun quite hold sensitive. “The gun was fairly accurate, but far too hold sensitive to be reliably accurate,” he said.

Test Results

Key Specifications

Pros

Cons

The Model 95 was the most challenging rifle for all three of us to shoot. It has a nice walnut stock and handles well, but it’s heavy and requires considerable cocking effort. The trigger is quite heavy, at about 7 pounds, which makes it difficult to shoot accurately.

I think this rifle would have been much more accurate if we had adjusted the trigger, but we were testing all the air rifles with the factory set up. I like that this rifle is a well-built, solid rifle with a sub-$200 price point. But it’s not ideal for shooters unfamiliar with properly shooting a spring-powered airgun.

Test Results

Key Specifications

Pros

Cons

The Hammer shot the best groups of the three guns tested. The groups ranged from 1 to 1.7 inches, with a 1.3-inch average. Those accuracy results were aided by the airgun’s excellent ergonomics, consistent velocity output, and crisp 3-pound 10-ounce trigger.

The Hammer uses a two-shot, linear shuttle magazine that performed flawlessly and is a unique feature for a big bore. Additionally, this is one of the only regulated big bores on the market, which provides a very consistent shot-to-shot performance.

The Hammer generated velocities from 671 fps to 685 fps for a 14-fps spread. Using the UX SLA 550 grain bullets the power output was 573 ft-lbs. This gun is capable of four shots per fill, and the critical point here is they are four consistent shots per fill.

This carbine is one of the most manageable and comfortable big bores I’ve shot, it shoulders well, on the bench or offhand, and the stock dampens recoil.

Key Specifications

Pros

Cons

The Texan is arguably the most popular big bore in the U.S., so it’s not surprising that we shot it well and it scored high in most categories.

The Texan is a minimalist rifle that uses the air tank as the buttstock. Einsmann didn’t find the stock ergonomic or easy to mount, and Patner commented that he wasn’t a fan of the rear tank and scope position. We all found the auto safety deployment irritating.

I commented that initially (several years ago) I had difficulty finding a comfortable and reproducible hold because of the stock design, but eventually acclimated and have no issue with it now. The Texan comes in the widest range of caliber options of any of the big bore rifles and is field proven.

The gun is actuated with a sidelever cocking mechanism, which I think is one of the fastest and smoothest cycling I’ve used. The Texan is not regulated but is accurate and powerful. It is also one of the easiest to carry, well suited for a sling, and light enough to pack for long hauls.

Key Specifications

Pros

Cons

The Dragon Claw was co-developed with the Air Bolt, and is probably one of the most powerful and accurate of the arrow launching platforms. The Dragon Claw II is much more powerful than its predecessor and it has a new, ergonomic cocking lever.

To use this rifle as an arrow shooter, you’ll use the Air Venturi Air Bolt. The Dragon Claw will shoot that bolt to around 600 fps, which is screaming fast for an arrow.

I’ve hunted with several versions of this gun over the years, including big game hunts in Africa using slugs and arrows. It is not as powerful as the other two guns tested, but it is fine for deer-sized game at 50 to 60 yards with slugs, and I’ve been blown away with its performance using AirBolts on some very large game.

The Dragon Claw II has a high shot count and, though not regulated, is fairly consistent. The shooter can select either a full or low-power shot by using different cocking positions. Pulling the cocking lever halfway back produces a low-power shot and pulling it back all the way gives you full power.

The Dragon Claw II looks cool, but it was the least accurate and least powerful big bore we tested. There was consensus that the trigger was very heavy and difficult to release without pulling the gun off target.

Einsmann had not shot this rifle before and commented that everything about getting the slug down range was difficult: the trigger was hard to pull, it was hard to open the sleeve (to access loading port), and the gun was hard to cock.

The first consideration for choosing a hunting air rifle is deciding what you’d like to hunt. With today’s accurate and powerful air rifles you can hunt squirrels, predators, wild pigs, and deer. Once you’ve decided on the game you’d like to pursue you can narrow down your choices to the proper caliber, power, and features.

The rifles I gravitate toward for small game and varmint hunting are primarily .22 and .25 caliber rifles that generate power in the 20 to 40 ft-lb range. This energy output, in conjunction with sub-1-inch accuracy at 50 yards, makes for an ideal flat-shooting, small-game rig. Features that separate the top picks from the rest of the pack are an ergonomic design, fast cycling action, reliable high capacity magazines, large volume air storage with a correspondingly large shot count, shot-to-shot consistency, and a low sound signature.

For most hunters, it makes sense to choose an air rifle that can take either small-game or predators. The rifles I use for combined small-game and predator hunting are .30 to .35 caliber, and are designed to shoot Diabolo pellets at 50 to 100 ft-lb. These rifles are fine for shooting a coyote or bobcat at closer range (within 50 yards), but not over-the-top to use on smaller-bodied game, such as rabbits or squirrels.

In my opinion, a primary predator gun should be optimized for solid lead slugs, generate 100 to 150 ft-lb, provide at least 10 consistent shots per fill, and print groups under 1 inch at 100 yards. I don’t mind a single shot rifle, but I want a fast-cycling action, easy access to the loading port, and a light, crisp trigger to enhance accuracy.

Big bore air rifles — in the .357 to .72 caliber range — represent a growing segment of the airgun market. In addition to the many regions in North America that permit these rifles to be used to hunt hogs and exotics, there are increasing opportunities to hunt deer, elk, pronghorn, bear, and javelina. I hunt in Texas, where there is a minimum power requirement of 215 ft-lb for a gun used to take big game. And for the traveling hunter, African plains game provides one of the ultimate hunts for the big bore airgun. Big bore airguns used for this typically generate from 200 to 800 ft-lb, though some newer guns are driving the power well beyond this.

In this shootout we ranked rifles based on object data and our personal preferences. But when you’re selecting a new air rifle for yourself it’s not all black and white. You might want a small game rifle that is compact, but also fits within a strict budget. Or you might prioritize light cocking effort in a springer over accuracy and handling.

I suggest using our evaluation to get an understanding of how these guns perform, but also consider your individual needs and preferences to pick the rifle that best suits you.

We were fortunate to partner with Pyramyd AIR and use their facilities and inventory to conduct our evaluations. Pyramyd is one of the largest retailers of airguns in the U.S. and they carry a wide range of air rifles, optics, and accessories. They offer tuning services for air rifles and will even sight in a gun before shipping it out. Pyramyd AIR also stocks archery gear, e-bikes, firearm ammo, and other outdoor products. Having been a customer of Pyramyd for several years, I appreciate having a one-stop shop offering just about anything needed for my airgun hunting adventures, and dealing with a retailer that is knowledgeable and stands behind the products they sell.

Airgun Contributor

Jim Chapman is Outdoor Life’s top airgun contributor. He writes air gun reviews on the best hunting air rifles and shares his years of experience in airgunning with Outdoor Life readers. He lives in Minnesota with his family.

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