The Best .22 Air Rifles of 2024, Range and Field Tested
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I’ve been airgun hunting for 20 years and have shot nearly every .22 air rifle available. With that experience hunting with and reviewing airguns, I’ve put together a list of the best .22 air rifles.
I’ll start with my standard disclaimer for these types of articles. The “best” rifle is a subjective measure that depends on its end use and your personal preferences. These are guns that I would choose based on criteria such as accuracy, power, size and weight, cocking action, magazine capacity, trigger, or the cost of ownership.
It would be easy just to select my overall favorite airguns and say, “I’ll take the .22 version of that.” However, I am going to start with a clean slate, ask myself what I’d want specifically in a .22, look at what’s available on the market, and share my top picks.
- Best Overall: Brocock Commander XR
- Best Budget: Umarex NOTOS .22 PCP Carbine
- Most Accurate: FX Impact
- Best Modular Design: Air Venturi Avenge-X
- Best for New Airgun Hunters: Umarex Komplete NitroAir
- Best Spring Piston: Beeman R9
- Best Budget Spring Airgun: Gamo Swarm Maxxim 10x Gen 2
- Best Semi-Auto: AEA HP Carbine
How I Chose the Best .22 Air Rifles
Photo by Scott Einsmann
My top .22 airgun picks are a combination of air rifles I’ve field and range tested on my own and guns from the Outdoor Life air rifle test. Air rifles from the test will include group and chronograph data. Groups were shot at 45 yards with the ammo listed for each air rifle. We shot all the air rifles in their stock tune and it’s safe to say with tuning, the groups could be improved.
All of the options below are highly accurate in the right hands and which you choose will depend on your budget and intended use case.
Best .22 Air Rifles: Reviews & Recommendations
Best Overall: Brocock Commander XR
Key Features
- Huma-Air adjustable regulator
- Lother Walther polygonal barrel
- Tactical stock, AR-style stock, and pistol grip
- Shrouded barrel with integrated baffles
Pros
- Very accurate long-range capabilities
- Quiet
- Ergonomic and adjustable
- Fast, smooth cycling of sidelever
Cons
- Expensive
- Picatinny rail under bottle could be longer
The Brocock Commander XR is lightweight, compact (with the stock folded), and easy to pack over long distances. The sidelever action and magazine are reliable and can cycle quickly without coming off target. When shooting off sticks or with a bipod attached, I find this rifle is an absolute tack-driver on long-range prairie dog shoots. When hunting at distances over 100 yards with an air rifle and an 18-grain pellet, everything on the gun has to work well and work the same way every time, which the Commander does, and it’s why this rifle makes the grade.
It has a bottle-forward design that is configured to accept an AR-compatible stock and pistol grip. The rifle uses a sidelever cocking and loading system that cycles the 10-shot magazine. The cocking handle is comfortable to use and only needs a short straight pull to cycle. Air management is provided by the HUMA regulated air delivery system that works with the adjustable hammer and valve to provide a high-level consistency.
You can choose from an aluminum or carbon air cylinder. The aluminum is less expensive, and the carbon fiber is lighter. Dual air gauges monitor both regulator pressure settings and the air supply status. A power adjuster — located on the right-hand side of the breech block — works well for on-demand tuning.
If you are looking for a gun that is both a good all-around small game rifle and can be set up to reach out for longer range small game and pest control shooting, the Brocock Commander XR is hard to beat. With adjustable power, flexible airflow management, a precision barrel, a design that provides a stable and solid shooting platform, this is one that I felt comfortable making my pick for the best .22 air rifle for hunting overall.
Another great long-range hunting air rifle: FX Dreamline
Best Budget: Umarex NOTOS .22 PCP Carbine
Key Features
- Regulated for consistent velocity output
- Sidelever action
- Seven-shot rotary magazine
- Fully shrouded barrel
- Compact, adjustable stock
Test Results
- 45-Yard Group Average: 0.96 inch
- Pellet Used: JSB 15.9
- Trigger Pull Weight: 4 lbs 2.3 oz
- Average Speed: 722 fps
Pros
- Good accuracy and power for plinking or hunting
- Regulated, rare feature at this price point
- Three consistent magazines (21 shots) per fill
Cons
- Regulator setting is not adjustable.
- Left side cocking lever might not appeal to some shooters.
I believe the NOTOS is a close-to-perfect vehicle for a .22 caliber small game gun. It generates around 18 foot-pounds, is accurate, ergonomic, and very reasonably priced. With the adjustable stock, the NOTOS would be perfect for a young hunter, performs at a level that would grow with the newbie shooter, or be a great addition for the experienced hunter that wants a super light and compact rig for squirrel hunting in the fall woods. This little carbine is an absolute blast to shoot.
During the 2024 air rifle test, this little air rifle shot a .96-inch, 5-shot group average. It shot a 15.9 grain JSB pellet at 722 fps. That’s plenty of accuracy and power for small game hunting.
The Umarex NOTOS .22 PCP Carbine comes with all the components to configure it as a large handgun or a sub-compact carbine, making it one of the most versatile offerings I’ve tested in a while. The stock is a black synthetic material with a pistol grip and an adjustable AR-style stock. It is also one of the best airgun values you’ll find, at well under $300, yet it offers features found on air rifles that are much more expensive. Another interesting fact about the NOTOS is that it is a dedicated .22, the only caliber it is offered in, and as a bonus, this carbine is very ammunition tolerant.
Read our full review of the Umarex NOTOS
Most Accurate: FX Impact
Key Features
- Interchangeable barrels and slug liners available
- FX Smooth Twist X Barrel
- Adjustable regulator and power plenum
- AR15-style grip, CNC aluminum stock, adjustable recoil pad (height)
Test Results
- 45-Yard Group Average: .41 inch
- 100-Yard Group Average: 1.53 inches
- Pellet Used: Air Arms Diablo Field 25.4 grains
- Trigger Pull Weight: 1 lb 8 ounces
- Average Speed: 896.8 fps
Pros
- Extremely accurate
- Adjustable match trigger
- Carbon-fiber tank: 480 cc Standard, 300cc Compact
- Shot count: approximately 130 shots per fill
- Multi caliber
Cons
- Expensive
- Complicated to set up for new shooters
I am not a serious competitive shooter, though I occasionally compete and have had a chance to watch and speak with some of the best competitors on the circuit. Many of the top shooters I’ve talked to have told me without reservation why the Impact is one of the best .22 air rifles for benchrest and speed silhouette. And when a group of the best comes close to a consensus, I’m going to pay attention. That accuracy proved to be fact when at the Outdoor Life 2024 air rifle test, the Impact shot the best groups in the field. It averaged .44 inch, five-shot groups at 45 yards for three different trigger pullers.
The FX Impact is a bottle-forward bullpup built on a CNC aluminum stock with an adjustable recoil pad and an AR-style pistol grip. It uses a sidelever action that quickly and smoothly cycles. The two-stage adjustable trigger uses a post and blade configuration and offers incredibly light and tactile responsiveness. There are several barrel options, and they are interchangeable.
Airgun competitions in the U.S. and Europe are gaining popularity, especially benchrest, high-speed silhouette, and field target. The FX Impact has become one of the most widely used and successful platforms competing in benchrest and silhouette, and it is because every aspect of the gun has a laser focus on wringing every bit of accuracy. I am not a competitive shooter, but I have an Impact .22 set up for long-range prairie dogging, and it is quite simply one of the most accurate air rifles ever built. The FX Impact’s track record for incredible accuracy and consistency is why it’s my pick for the most accurate .22 air rifle.
Best Modular Design: Air Venturi Avenge-X
Key Features
- Adjustable regulator
- Modular design
- Adjustable power
- Sidelever action
- Range of caliber options (.177, .22, .25)
- Fully shrouded barrel
Pros
- Extremely configurable
- Accurate and powerful
- Moderately low sound signature
Cons
- No frill, workmanlike design and manufacture
- Brand-new offering and inventories may deplete quickly
I really like the fact that this rifle is available in several configurations, sporter, bullpup, and tactical, but what I think enhances this is that the Avenge-X series is truly modular. The Avenge-X is unique in the marketplace, with a range of optional components (barrels, air storage, and stocks), which are both easily available and reasonably priced.
The Air Venturi Seneca Avenge-X is difficult to provide a concise description of because it can be configured in so many ways. The product line leverages key technology and lessons learned from the Avenger rifle and bullpup. While other manufacturers tout a modular design, what I appreciate about the Avenge-X is that the parts are available, priced reasonably, and can be modified by the typical user.
Read our full review of the Air Venturi Avenger.
Best for New Airgun Hunters: Umarex Komplete NitroAir
Test Results
- 45-Yard Group Average: 0.86 inch
- Pellet Used: JSB 10.4
- Trigger Pull Weight: 1 lb 3.3 oz
- Average Speed: 935 fps
- *We tested the Komplete in .177
Key Specifications
- Powered by the NitroAir NCR cartridge system
- Side lever cocking
- Two stage trigger, adjustable take up, 2.25 lb pull weight
- Internal (non-adjustable) Regulator
- SilencAir noise suppression
- Available in .177 and .22
Pros
- PCP with no additional fill gear required
- Cartridge powered PCP
- Low cost of entry to PCPs
- Powerful and accurate
- Regulated for approximately 45 shots per cartridge
Cons
- Value proposition varies depending on usage
- Included scope quality is suboptimal
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.
Best Spring Piston: Beeman R9
Test Results
- 25-Yard Group Average: .59 inch
- Pellet Used: JSB 15.89
- Trigger Pull Weight: 2 lbs 14 oz
- Average Speed: 605 fps
Key Features
- Powerplant: Conventional Spring-piston
- Length Overall: 43.25 inches
- Length of pull: 14.25 inches
- Weight: 8.5 pounds
- Single shot break barrel
- Barrel Length: 16.5 inches
- Trigger: two-stage adjustable Rekord trigger
- Cocking effort: 40 pounds
- Sighting: Open sights, adjustable rear sight, 11mm Dovetail for scope
Pros
- One of the best spring piston triggers ever produced
- High level of fit and finish
- Outstanding ergonomics
- One of the most accurate spring piston airguns ever built
- Great balance of accuracy and power
- Easy to cock
Cons
- Incorporate a resettable safety (can’t be reset after releasing)
- It’s on the heavy side, but to be expected with this type of gun in wood.
- This is almost the perfect springer, if such a thing exists.
The R9 was by far the best spring airgun at this year’s air rifle test. 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.
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. Everyone in the test group gave the R9’s ergonomics high scores. With a cocking effort of approximately 38 pounds, it should be manageable for most shooters.
Read Next: PCP Air Rifles 101
Best Budget Spring Airgun: Gamo Swarm Maxxim 10x Gen 2
Test Results
- 25-Yard Group Average: 1.13 inch
- Pellet Used: JSB Exact 18.13 grain
- Trigger Pull Weight: 3 lbs 12.3 ounces
- Average Speed: 611 fps
Key Specifications
- Break barrel action
- IGT Inert Gas Technology Gas Piston power plant
- Magazine with 10 shot capacity (Horizontal orientation)
- Two-stage adjustable trigger
- Whisper Maxxim sound suppression system
- Shockwave Absorber recoil pad
Pros
- Multi-shot magazine
- Low cocking effort
- Smooth shooting cycle
- Ergonomic
Cons
- Bundled scope is low quality
- Trigger out of box has a lot of creep
- Only one magazine included
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.
Its accuracy wasn’t spectacular, but it’s plenty accurate for hunting small game inside 30 yards or fun shooting in the yard. One note is that you’ll want to learn a proper artillery hold if you’re going to own this airgun. Or at the very least address the air rifle in a consistent manner. We found that this gun’s point of impact would shift depending on where and how much pressure was applied to contact points.
Air Venturi Avenger
Key Features
- Value pricing
- Adjustable regulator
- Shrouded barrel
- Accurate and powerful
Pros
- Excellent performance out of the box
- Responsive trigger and sidelever action
- Rugged and reliable magazine
- Fully adjustable regulator allows optimization for specific projectiles and applications
- High-capacity and high-pressure air storage provides a high shot count
Cons
- Stock has a hollow and plasticky feel
- If the regulator is set high, a high pressure (4351 psi) fill is required
For a rifle to be a great entry-level gun, it has to be easy to set up and shoot, offer the performance to allow a new shooter to achieve success and see improvement, and continue to support the shooter’s needs as their experience level grows. The Avenger does an outstanding job of addressing this requirement.
The standard Avenger is a full-sized PCP rifle in a black synthetic sporter style stock that will fit most shooters well. The air reservoir sits below the barrel and provides a surprisingly high shot count due to the high fill pressures it can accommodate. The rifle is cycled with a sidelever action using a well-designed cocking lever that reliably auto indexes the magazines. Two pressure gauges display the status of the air storage and the regulator setting.
The Avenger is an excellent example of a gun that can adapt to the shooter’s needs. It is an excellent choice for novice PCP shooters and airgun aficionados who want to tune and modify a gun to make it their own.
I have used the Avenger .22 to hunt squirrels and rabbits with standard Diabolo pellets, and dialed it in to work with airgun slugs for long-range prairie dog shoots. The intrinsic accuracy, tactile trigger, smooth cocking action, and overall ergonomics make this an easy gun to shoot accurately. The low price makes it an attractive rifle to purchase, and the features and functionality ensure it will continue to provide value as a new shooter gains experience. And for all of these reasons, the Avenger was my pick for best budget .22 air rifle.
Best Semi-Auto: AEA HP Carbine
Key Features
- Semi-auto action
- Folding stock
- High power
- Shrouded barrel
Pros
- Accurate
- Powerful
- Reliable
- Compact and lightweight
Cons
- Occasional misfeeds with some ammo (functions reliably with most pellets)
- Uses a lot of air and pellets
There are a few semi-auto PCP air rifles on the market, but not many good ones. I’ve been shooting the HP Carbine for a few months now, and besides having a good track record for reliability, they have built this gun on a smaller frame and kept both the size and the price down. AEA seems to have found the sweet spot.
This is a tactical design with a folding AR-style buttstock, pistol grip, and bottle-forward configuration. The gun folds for easy packing and transporting, deploys quickly, and offers an ergonomic and stable shooting platform that I like for offhand shooting. The shrouded barrel does a good job of reducing the sound signature.
It’s accurate, powerful, and spits out pellets as fast as you can pull the trigger. I think this caliber is one of the best .22 air rifles for plinking or hunting. With this gun, you will consume a lot of air and a lot of pellets, so you need to ensure you have access to both. I would suggest that you think about investing in a compressor, so you always have air available.
Another great semi-auto airgun: Hatsan Invader
How to Choose One of the Best .22 Air Rifles
To select the best .22 air rifle you need to answer three questions:
- What is your budget?
- How will you use the air rifle?
- Are you willing to invest in an air compressor or air tank?
If your budget is over $1,000 you have a lot of accurate and powerful .22 air rifles to choose from. I’d suggest a PCP for maximum accuracy and power. Then you just need to decide if you’d like a target rifle like the FX Impact or a hunting air rifle like the Brocock Commander XR. In the $500 range you can choose from excellent PCPs like the Air Venturi Avenger or a springer like the Hatsan Model 65. The deciding factor will be if you prefer the simplicity of a springer or the precision of a PCP. In the $250 range you can still find excellent PCP and springer models like the Gamo Swarm and Hatsan Flashpup QE.
Read Next: The Best PCP Air Rifle Compressors
FAQs
I think a .22 makes a lot of sense for beginners, especially in a PCP air rifle. It is fairly flat shooting, offers good performance for small game hunting, and ammo is inexpensive.
With airguns, it is the gun that generates, stores, and releases energy, not the ammo. The same pellet in a gun generating 12 foot-pounds will carry far less distance than one producing 30 foot-pounds. That’s why adjustable power is a great feature on an air rifle. But I’d say that depending on these variables, between 300 to 400 yards is a good rule, though the energy at this distance will be very low.
Some rifles will get up into supersonic velocities around 1400 fps, but there are a couple caveats: often these velocity claims are based on ultralight alloy pellets that have little practical use other than driving up the velocity rating. And second, Diabolo pellets are designed for subsonic velocities and may destabilize at high speeds.
Final Thoughts on the Best .22 Air Rifles
The .22 caliber is arguably the most popular caliber being used in PCP air rifles, and right behind the .177 in spring piston guns. If we look specifically at hunting applications, the .22 is probably the most widely used caliber.
They’re the most popular for good reason. There’s a broad selection of .22 rifles; they’re flat shooting, and have good terminal performance. There’s also a vast range of affordable pellets in varying designs and weights. I’d advise you to look at the online retailers when choosing pellets for your .22 air rifle, as they will have a much better selection and often better prices than you’ll find in a big box store. If you choose the right gun and the right projectile, one of the best .22 air rifles will serve you well whether you plink, shoot competition, or hunt.
The post The Best .22 Air Rifles of 2024, Range and Field Tested appeared first on Outdoor Life.
Source: https://www.outdoorlife.com/gear/best-22-air-rifles/
