Air rifle for whitetail

Grappler

FNG
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Aug 21, 2025
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Any recommendations on air rifle for deer. Wanting a .30 cal or bigger up to 100 yd shots, any suggestions?
 
An air rifle like a pellet gun. I have a 270 i am interested in air rifles for deer hunting. Much cheaper to shoot than a center fire rifle
 
There are certainly some powerful air rifles made these days, but I just have to ask “why?”

It will cost as much as a real rifle, kick as hard as a real rifle, and make a good amount of noise. For 2-3 shots before refilling the tank. And that takes specialty equipment.

The Umarex Hammer is the one I researched the most, before deciding it was a novelty item.

PS - just get a crossbow or use a real rifle.


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Any .50 cal suggestions. Thats what i would like to get. But willing to go down to .30. I really like the umarex brand, i have some other umarex and really lile them
 
I expect this is one place that bigger is better. Pressure is limited, thus velocity is limited to just over sonic. So let’s just assume sub sonic speeds. A 400-500g easily kills a deer out to 100 yards. Much like powder burners, it’s about the bullet.

I expect to get that size projectile, you will need to go bigger than 30 cal. Not sure who makes good rifles in the larger calibers. It will be a 1-2 shot rifle as I think they are doing dump style valves to get enough air delivery on the large calibers. Unlike the smaller .177 and .22 cal. It is an interesting challenge, but people are doing it.
 
I remember probably 7 or 8 years ago watching guys shoot does out to ~ 100yds with a benjamin bulldog 357. With the new slugs and even better guns I can't see why the 357 stuff wouldn't work better than before.

If you really want something 45 or 50 cal I'd go with one of the airforce texans, but I would probably shoot slugs out of a 357 fx dynamic. Preferably the express 600 but you could save some money and go with the vp 700
 
Go with any thing Rapid Air Worx/ Airforce.

Lots of options, but the Trex is a good 50 cal option. Not needed for deer - we’ve taken a good bit with the 30 and 45 cal ones too. A buddy of mine is a rep and has been killing lots of game - from iguanas to deer with different sized rifles

I was ignorant (like most guys) to how these really have evolved. Until I started using them regularly. The 22 cals are a lot of fun - and they last more than 2-3 shots from what was said above.
 
That's just foolishness. You can buy a whole lot of center fire rifle ammo for the cost of a high power air rifle.


Now that's a perfectly legitimate reason. Here is is one for you https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Girardoni_air_rifle
Air rifles are considered primitive weapons in a lot of states, and in areas that don’t allow centerfire rifles for hunting. So depending on where you hunting and what season you want to go after, these are solid alternatives. I’d pick one of these over a black powder rifle
 
The Native Americans were certainly more impressed with the air rifle Lewis showed off for them than the black powder rifles that they had seen before.
 
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