Getting into the world of hunting can seem like a herculean task.
There is so much to know about the different types of guns to use, the different games and which season to hunt in, the regulations in your region, and a lot more.
But none of it compares to the thrill and adventure of hunting.
Carefully observing the movements of an animal, aiming for a precise shot, knowing where exactly to aim, and the joy that you feel afterward – are some of the reasons why so many people love to hunt.
It doesn’t matter if you are a beginner or a highly experienced hunter, everyone could go for a better air rifle to improve their skills.
Top 10 Best-rated Air Rifles For Hunting Medium Games
If you are in a hurry, here is an overview of the highlight candidates in our list of best air rifles for hunting medium games 2024:
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | DETAILS | LINK |
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Most Powerful
 | FX Impact M3 |
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High FPE
 | Seneca Sumatra |
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Best Synthetic
 | Benjamin Marauder Gen 2 |
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Most Versatile
 | Seneca Dragon Claw |
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Best Long Range
 | Airforce Condor SS |
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Most Accurate
 | Gamo Swarm Maxxim G2 |
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Best Self-supported
 | Seneca Aspen |
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Best Repeater
 | Umarex Gauntlet |
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Best Big Bore
 | Airforce Texan |
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Best Value
 | Air Venturi Avenger |
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Things to Consider Before Buying Air Rifle For Hunting Medium Game
Before we get into the best options for air rifles for hunting medium game, let’s discuss some factors to consider before making this choice:
1. Types of Medium Game
The most important factor to consider is whether the air rifle you purchase is suitable for the game you want to hunt.
Medium game is considered to be animals that weigh over 50 pounds and less than 350 pounds, such as raccoons, woodchucks, red foxes, bobcats, deer, wild sheep, antelope, feral hogs, warthog, caribou, impala, etc .
(Are raccoon rodents? See this post for more)
2. Sound Produced
The loudness of an air rifle is an important factor to consider before making the final purchase.
An air rifle with a lower sound will not scare away animals, make it easy for you to shoot, and not disturb the people in your surroundings.
Many of the air rifles you will find in the market have a sound suppression system but it is still important to check how many decibels of sound an air gun makes upon shooting.
(What meat is venison? Find out here)
3. Repeater Mechanism
The repeater mechanism is especially important for medium games. It lets you shoot multiple times without reloading your gun.
This is useful as it can be difficult to kill a medium game with a single shot.
The time that you save with a repeater mechanism ensures that the animal doesn’t escape.
4. Easy Usage and Lightweight Nature
Apart from technicalities, easy usage, and lightweight are the most important factors while purchasing any gun.
Most air rifles weigh six to seven pounds but you can find many good options that are lightweight.
On the other hand, you can also find air rifles that weigh up to 8 pounds.
So, for your own ease, make sure to consider the weight and manageability of the air rifle you purchase.
(Does Walmart Sell Hunting Licenses? – see this post for more)
Best Air Rifles For Hunting Medium Games – Top-rated guns in 2024
Now that you know what to consider before making the final decision, to take your hunting experience and skills up a notch, I present to you, some of the best air rifles for hunting medium game.
1. FX Impact M3: Powerful PCP Air Rifle For Hunting Medium Game
The FX Impact M3 is my top recommendation when it comes to a powerful PCP air rifle that you can use for hunting medium game.
This air rifle has many impressive features that put it on top of my list.
Not only is this gun the most powerful option you can find within its price range, but it is also extremely comfortable and convenient to use.
First, you need to know that this air rifle is available in .177 cal, .22 cal, .30 cal.
Each of these air rifles has 375, 270, and 85 shots per fill respectively.
But the best part is that the FX Impact M3 has an interchangeable caliber to suit your needs.
Moreover, this air rifle has a dual transfer port and a reversible side lever.
You can even adjust the valve control, match trigger, and the hammer spring tension of this air rifle externally.
What more can you want in a rifle? The FX Impact M3 will not only give you a good velocity but can also be adjusted to function exactly how you want.
The length of this rifle is 34.25 inches and it comes with an AR15-style manual safety system.
Moreover, you will get a 3-year transferable warranty if you choose this PCP gun.
Chrony tests:
| Pellet | Muzzle Energy (FPS) | Velocity (FPE) |
| 8.44-grain pellet | 950 FPS | 16.92 FPE |
| 16-grain pellet | 920 FPS | 30 FPE |
| 25.4-grain pellet | 900 FPS | 44 FPE |
| 46.3-grain pellet | 870 FPS | 77 FPE |
| 81-grain pellet | 860 FPS | 133 FPE |
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
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2. Sumatra 2500, 500cc Reservoir
The Sumatra 2500 is the best air rifle for groundhogs that I have come across.
It has a 500cc air reservoir and is only produced with a .22 caliber.
But you will be impressed to know that this air rifle can give you a velocity of 1260 FPS.
Another impressive feature that you won’t find in many other rifles is that the Sumatra 2500 has an adjustable back sight and a fixed front sight Cialis.
Moreover, this air rifle has an adjustable power wheel with as many as 13 different types of settings for you to choose between.
Safe to say, there are very few options in the market that are as versatile as the Sumatra 2500.
You would also be impressed to know that the trigger of this air rifle has two-stage adjustability and its muzzle energy goes up to 78.41 ft-lbs.
(What is a 10-point buck? See this post for more)
Chrony tests:
| Pellet | Energy (FPE) | Muzzle Velocity (FPS) | Accuracy |
| Gamo Raptor Platinum (9.7 Grain) | 39 FPE | 1356.7 FPS | Average |
| H&N Field Target Trophy Green (14.66 Grain) | 40 FPE | 1345.29 FPS | Good |
| Rws Hobby (11.9 Grain) | 43 FPE | 1286.53 FPS | Good |
| Crosman Premier Hp (14.3 Grain) | 48 FPE | 1232.71 FPS | Good |
| JSB Jumbo Exact (14.35 Grain) | 47 FPE | 1225.59 FPS | Good |
| H&N Field Target Trophy (14.66 Grain) | 49 FPE | 1231.82 FPS | Good |
| H&N Baracuda Match (21.14 Grain) | 57. FPE | 1110. FPS | Good |
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
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3. Benjamin Marauder Gen 2 – Synthetic Stock
If you know anything about the hunting world, then you must be no stranger to the Benjamin Marauder air rifle.
So, you will be happy to know that the famous Benjamin Marauder Air Rifle now comes with an ambidextrous synthetic stock.
With a caliber of .177 and a velocity of 1100 FPS, it is one of the most powerful PCP air rifles that you could find in the market.
Benjamin Marauder Air Rifle has a vertically adjustable comb, a reversible bolt, and a tray that can be adjusted for achieving different velocities.
Apart from the different stock, this air rifle now has more features that make it easier to use, such as a raised aluminum breach that makes it easy to load this powerful rifle.
Like the older Benjamin Marauder Air Rifle, this model is 42.80 inches in length, has a manual safety, and has a magazine capacity of 10 pellets.
Chrony tests:
| Pellet | Energy (FPE) | Muzzle Velocity (FPS) | Accuracy |
| Gamo Raptor Platinum (9.7 Grain) | 23 FPE | 1041 FPS | Good |
| H&N Field Target Trophy Green (14.66 Grain) | 25 FPE | 1024 FPS | Poor |
| Rws Hobby (11.9 Grain) | 25.40 FPE | 980.30 FPS | Good |
| Crosman Premier Hp (14.3 Grain) | 27.81 FPE | 935.83 FPS | Good |
| Jsb Jumbo Exact (14.35 Grain) | 28.26 FPE | 941.99 FPS | Good |
| H&N Field Target Trophy (14.66 Grain) | 28.89 FPE | 941.99 FPS | Good |
| H&N Baracuda Match (21.14 Grain) | 33.43 FPE | 843.85 FPS | Good |
Pros & Cons
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4. Dragon Claw Air Rifle
The Dragon Claw Air Rifle is the best air rifle for woodchucks in the market.
You can easily hunt any hunting medium game including feral hogs, coyotes, foxes, possums, woodchucks, and raccoons with this .50 caliber air rifle.
Perhaps the most impressive feature of this air rifle is that it has dual air chambers with a total 500cc air capacity.
It has a single-shot fire mode which will give you a velocity close to 700 FPS.
The Dragon Claw Air Rifle also has a fixed front side and a fully adjustable rear sight which can also be removed as per your wish.
Pros & Cons
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5. AirForce Condor SS
The AirForce Condor is not exclusively a medium game air rifle.
With a velocity of 1000 FPS, this powerful air rifle can be used for all types of hunting.
It is made with aircraft-grade aluminum alloy and has .177,.20, .22, and .25 calibers.
The AirForce Condor also has a two-stage non-adjustable trigger, bolt action, and a single-shot fire mode.
There are many features that will compel you to choose this versatile air gun.
This PCP rifle has a special valve system, automatic safety, and a whopping number of 50 shots per fill.
With an overall length of 38.13 inches, the AirForce Condor has a relatively lightweight of 6.10 lbs.
So, along with power and adaptability, this gun will also feel easy in your hand.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
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6. Gamo Swarm Maxxim 10X GEN 2 Multi-Shot: Best Break Barrel Air Rifle For Hunting Medium Games
If you are looking specifically for a break barrel air rifle for hunting medium game, there is no better option than the Gamo Swarm Maxxim 10X GEN 2 Air Rifle.
With a .177 caliber, this air rifle will give you a velocity of 1300 FPS.
If you opt for the Gamo Swarm Maxxim 10X GEN 2 Air Rifle with a .22 caliber, you can enjoy an impressive velocity of 1000 FPS.
Not only is this air rifle extremely powerful, but it is also designed to allow shooting in all seasons with an all-weather stock.
It has a textured grip that allows improved cold-weather performance as well as quieter cocking and shooting.
Along with all these features, this air rifle also has an impressive total length of 45.3 inches while only having a weight of 5 lbs.
Another interesting feature of this PCP air gun is that it has a horizontal magazine orientation.
Clearly, the Gamo Swarm Maxxim 10X GEN 2 Air Rifle is one of the most impressive air rifle options that you can find in the market.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
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7. Seneca Aspen: Best Self-Supported PCP For Medium Game Hunting
If you prefer a self-supported PCP air gun while hunting medium game, I have the perfect suggestion for you.
If you are a beginner when it comes to hunting, the Seneca Aspen is one of the best choices to start your hunting journey with.
This air rifle has a .22 caliber with a two-stage velocity adjustment option along with features like an onboard pressure gauge, and automatic overpressure air release.
Not only will this gun be very convenient for you to use, but it is also easy for you to carry as the latest model features a new synthetic stock.
Although it is slightly heavier than other PCP air guns at a weight of 8 lbs, the overall length of this rifle is 43 inches.
The new edition of the Seneca Aspen air gun features a fully shrouded rifled steel barrel along with a fill probe and a single-shot tray.
Pros & Cons
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8. Umarex Gauntlet
The Umarex Gauntlet is one of the most popular PCP air rifle choices.
What you might not have known is that the Umarex Gauntlet has many new features that have taken this air rifle to another level.
The new Umarex Gauntlet feels much more comfortable in your hand, thanks to its new all-weather synthetic stock and textured rubber buttpad.
You can either choose the .22 caliber Umarex Gauntlet which has a velocity of 1075 FPS and 70 shots per fill.
Or you can go for the .25 caliber Umarex Gauntlet which has a velocity of 985 FPS and 50 shots per fill.
Both of these models now have an 8 dB sound reduction, an aircraft-grade aluminum receiver, as well as an onboard pressure gauge.
So, if you are already familiar with the Umarex Gauntlet, you can be assured that you won’t regret choosing their new model of PCP air rifle.
Chrony tests:
| Pellet | Energy (FPE) | Muzzle Velocity (FPS) | Accuracy |
| Gamo Raptor Platinum (9.7 Grain) | 18.71 FPE | 931.86 FPS | Very Good |
| H&N Field Target Trophy Green (10.03 Grain) | 18.52 FPE | 911.89 FPS | Good |
| RWS Hobby (11.9 Grain) | 18.76 FPE | 864.63 FPS | Good |
| Crosman Premier HP (14.3 Grain) | 19.73 FPE | 788.16 FPS | Excellent. |
| JSB Jumbo Exact (14.35 Grain) | 20.75 FPE | 806.91 FPS | Excellent |
| H&N Field Target Trophy (14.66 Grain) | 22.20 FPE | 787.71 FPS | Excellent |
| H&N Baracuda Match (21.14 Grain) | 18.72 FPE | 631.44 FPS | Excellent |
Pros & Cons
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9. Airforce Texan
The Airforce Texan is one of the most widely talked about guns recently.
You might have already heard that this air gun is the best choice when it comes to hunting bores.
The Airforce Texan has .45-caliber bullets and provides a high velocity of 1040 FPS.
This gun is one of the most powerful air rifle choices that you can go with.
With a single-shot fire mode, the Airforce Texan is 48 inches in length and provides easy access through a two-stage non-adjustable trigger.
It has an automatic safety measure as well as a lifetime warranty.
However, one disadvantage of this gun is that it does not have a sound repression system, so it might be too loud for some people’s liking.
Chrony tests:
| Pellet | Energy (FPE) | Muzzle Velocity (FPS) |
| 143 grain | 265 FPE | 22.30 FPS |
| 200 grain | 319 FPE | 28.34 FPS |
| 350 grain | 469 FPE | 170.99 FPS |
| 405 grain | 505 FPE | 229.40 FPS |
Pros & Cons
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10. Air Venturi Avenger: Best Value PCP Air Rifle For Medium Game
The Air Venturi Avenger rifle is easily the best-value PCP air rifle for medium games.
You might have even heard many fellow hunters talk about this air rifle recently.
It provides perhaps the best velocity and accuracy for its price range.
The .177 caliber Air Venturi Avenger rifle has a velocity of 1000 FPS; the .22 caliber rifle has a velocity of 930 FPS, whereas the .25 caliber rifle has a velocity of 900 FPS.
Not only is this PCP air rifle powerful, but it also has many features that make hunting easy for you.
In fact, the Air Venturi Avenger rifle was designed with keeping target practice in mind, so it is an excellent choice for those who are new at hunting.
This highly sought-after air gun has a two-stage adjustable trigger, a magazine capacity of 8, and 24 pellet shots per fill.
Moreover, it has a repeater fire mode that will assume a clear and accurate shot for you, whether you are honing your aiming skills or shooting small and medium games.
Pros & Cons
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Frequently Asked Questions
Now that you know all about the best medium-game air rifle options, let us take a look at some related questions:
What Is Considered a Medium Hunting Game?
Medium hunting game is usually considered to be between 50 to 300 pounds in weight.
This includes animals like deer, antelope, feral hogs and raccoons, woodchucks, red foxes, bobcats, wild sheep, warthog, etc.
(Groundhog vs. Woodchuck: What’s the Difference? Find out here)
Medium game is usually hunted with .22, .25, .30, or bigger caliber air rifles.
But there are many factors you need to consider when it comes to restrictions.
I suggest that a silenced medium-game air rifle is the way to go for such animals.
(Are Deer Nocturnal, Diurnal, or Crepuscular? See this post)
What To Aim for When Hunting Raccoons? Best Place To Hit Raccoon When Hunting?
It can be quite difficult to aim while hunting raccoons, especially if you are not a highly experienced hunter.
One easy spot to aim for while hunting raccoons is the chest area.
Shooting raccoons in the chest gives you a larger area to shoot at and also reduces the likelihood of wounding them.
If you are a skilled hunter, you can also go for the back of the year.
This area is the softest part of the cranium and is guaranteed to reduce any risk of wounding the raccoon.
When Does Raccoon Hunting Season Start?
The raccoon hunting season starts from October 1 to the last day of January of the following year.
What Gun Should You Use When Raccoon Hunting?
Any .22 caliber gun would be suitable for raccoon hunting.
More specifically, you should choose a medium game hunting air rifle for raccoons.
The best pellet gun for raccoons is Air Venturi Avenger.
When Does Red Fox Hunting Season Start?
Red fox hunting season depends on which region you are from.
In most places, the best time to hunt red fox starts in November and ends in March.
However, southern states might find red foxes to hunt until warm months like May.
When Is Bobcat Hunting Season?
Bobcat hunting season begins from December 20 to March 8 of the following year.
Depending upon which region you are from, the peak season for hunting bobcats can differ.
Some places only experience peak bobcat hunting season from December to January while others can find bobcats lurking up until mid-February.
