Hunting with air rifles is a popular sport across many countries. Especially places where firearms are strictly prohibited or regulated.
Air rifles have always been considered low powered guns used for eradicating pests and varmints around your stead. However, with air rifles now expanding to big calibers, such notions have changed.
Here we’ll talk about one such big airgun caliber, the .25, and review the best rifles chambered in it.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks for .25 Caliber Air Rifles For Hunting
- OUR TOP PICK: Benjamin Marauder Synthetic Stock PCP
- RUNNER-UP: Umarex USA, Gauntlet PCP
- BEST BUDGET OPTION: Benjamin Armada PCP
Comparison of the Best .25 Caliber Air Rifles For Hunting
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How to Choose a .25 Caliber Air Rifle
Choosing a .25 caliber air rifle can be a very simple task if you know exactly what you’re looking for. That means your intended applications and the scope of use. Let’s simplify this into some major points.
Type of Shooting Mechanism
Air rifles come in three different designs. Springers, gas pistons, and PCP (air charged). Each of them has its benefits and drawbacks. For example, springers and gas piston designs have more recoil and don’t offer semi-auto modes. But tend to cost way less, have a longer service life, and don’t rely on external power sources.
PCP’s on the other hand is extremely silent, recoil-free, offer semi-auto function, and can generate more energy for longer shots. These rifles are great for precision use. But the springer/piston designs can be a cheaper alternative if one shot’s all you need.
Power It Can Generate
Different air rifles offer a specific amount of muzzle velocity and energy that can impart to the projectile. There are high power air rifles and medium power ones. It depends on what use you plan on putting it up to. Whether it's penetrating paper or thick fur.
Size and Design Complexity
Some rifles will offer a longer barrel and full-length size, whereas others will offer a more compact size. Some air rifles will offer tactical designs with ample room for attachments, whereas some are more simple.
Review of the Best .25 Caliber Air Rifles For Hunting
Best Overall:
Benjamin Marauder Synthetic Stock PCP
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Buyers find this rifle to be very powerful, accurate, and adaptable in different situations. People using pumps tell that it takes about 40-50 pumps to fill up the tank. Buyers using this to hunt have found it effective in the 50-80 yard range for doves and other small game. Gives about 50 shots at max power and 80-100 at low power.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The Benjamin Marauder is a durable and accurate air rifle with an accessory ready design. The in-built gas tank with a pressure gauge offers easy filling. This PCP gun operates with a bolt and an 8 shot rotary magazine. The top dovetail mount helps with attaching scopes and the adjustable comb height is a great feature for many shooters.
The air reservoir lasts quite a while and the silent operation of this gun makes it suitable for hunting. It offers great accuracy even at ranges up to 100 yards. The stock is synthetic and will withstand all weather conditions.
Bottom Line
The Marauder .25 is a pretty solid gun under $500. It is a high quality ‘Made in America’ product that serves range or hunting applications very well. Good air rifle for long-range accuracy, and a robust body to withstand the test of time.
Runner-up:
Umarex USA
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
This rifle is super silent and offers consistent velocity shots, thanks to the pressure regulator. The trigger pull is very light and crisp. The profile is slim but it weighs more than 8 pounds and is better to be used in benchrest or with a bipod.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The Umarex USA Gauntlet delivers 44-48 foot-pounds of energy 25 yards downrange with 25-grain pellets flying at about 880 fps. The difference drops only to 36-38 foot-pounds with a diminishing tank. The accuracy is just perfect and with the right scope, you’ll be hitting sub-MOA groups at 50 yards.
The design of this rifle is very ergonomic and the tool-free comb adjustment is a great utility. The gun is ridiculously quiet and works great with different pellet brands and weights.
Bottom Line
The Gauntlet is an absolute no-brainer if you’re looking for an inexpensive, PCP operated, accurate, and powerful rifle with a few extra utilities and aftermarket accessory compatibility.
Best for the Money:
Benjamin Armada PCP
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Some users called it the “AR-15 of airguns”, and it certainly lives up to that expectation. The rifle shoots extremely tight groups at 50 yards and can humanely take down any small-sized game at up to 100 yards. Some users replaced the bipod and scope to shed weight.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The Benjamin Armada is seriously the coolest looking airgun on the market today. It has such an amazing design with attached accessories that it looks like a firearm rifle rather than an airgun. The included scope is fully adjustable (with parallax) and a quick diopter adjustment. The accuracy of this air rifle is astounding and matches the performance of sniper rifles. The consistent velocity with absolutely small groups at ranges up to 100 yards.
The gas tank offers consistent pressure and the rifle can be adjusted to each preference in every manner. Except for its big and bulky design that feels a bit over for an air rifle. This is by far one of the best air rifles you can find.
Bottom Line
The Benjamin Armada has been built to offer you the conveniences of shooting a firearm rifle. It is a stout piece of equipment with great scope and bipod, and too much rail-estate to attach accessories. The accuracy is top-notch and allows you to split cards at about 50 yards.
Editor's Pick:
Hatsan AT44-10 QE Air Rifle
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
The Hatsan AT44 is extremely silent and backyard friendly. Most users found it accurate right out of the box. But some had to undergo the break-in period. The velocity offered is consistent and the action flawless. It’s better to buy an air pump rather than the manual one.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This rifle has been around on the market for 10 years now. Hatsan is a reputed air rifle manufacturer, especially for big bore powerful air rifles. This gun has a very solid, user-friendly design with a silencer fitted barrel that reduces noise to almost zero. The rotary mag holds 9 rounds and the gun delivers about 25 consistent shots per fill.
With the right pellets, you’ll be shooting groups the size of a quarter at 50 yards. The gun offers maximum energy of 46-foot pounds, which is enough to hunt medium-size critters at close range.
Bottom Line
The air rifle is exceptional for the price. The accuracy is top notch and the differentiating quality is its silent operation. Hatsan has overdone the safety quite a bit, but then it's not a semi-auto and you’ll have to cock the lever anyway. The Mag holds one extra pellet compared to its competitors.
Honorable Mention:
Hatsan Mod 95 Vortex Combo
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
The close range accuracy and penetration power are the most admired qualities of this air rifle. The price is amazing and it needs a short break-in period. It hits like a hammer and is mostly used for decimating squirrels and rabbits. But make sure to clean it after every 200-300 shots.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The Hatsan Mod 95 features a simple but effectively-balanced design. The wooden stock is ergonomic and textured. The fiber optic sight on the front helps with an acquisition to some extent. The shock-absorbing elements help mitigate the recoil. Which is already less compared to basic springer air rifles.
The included scope adds to the overall value. Since it is the cheapest .25 cal air rifle you’ll find on the market. But being cheap doesn’t mean a compromise on quality. It is a Hatsan and conforms to the best quality standards for a break-barrel air rifle.
Bottom Line
The Hatsan Mod 95 is the best low-priced .25 cal air rifle you can buy. The rifle’s design is pretty basic but very effective in terms of accuracy. The included scope is decent and this air rifle will be best used for hunting.
What Can You Hunt With a .25 Caliber Air Rifle?
A .25 caliber air pellet is bigger than a .22 pellet. The .22 and .177 have been favorite calibers for young shooters and varmint hunters. But the .25 expands your reach to bigger games.
A .25 caliber air rifle can be used to hunt smaller pests like rabbits, raccoons, pigeons, and squirrels. Although smaller critters are more likely to be found in shreds after taking the brunt of these pellets.
.25 can be and have been successfully used to hunt medium-size game like small to medium-sized pigs and coyotes. Being air rifles, these are silent guns and get the job done at a fraction of the cost.
.25 Caliber Air Rifles Safety Considerations
All weapons must be treated with respect. Some people think that air rifles are just toys and can’t fatally harm humans. But remember, if an air rifle can kill a critter the size of a hare, it can seriously hurt a human. Especially if the caliber in question is .25 that’s often used to hunt pigs.
Take note of these bullet points and remember them as important safety considerations whenever you touch or store your air rifle
- Always treat your air rifle as it is loaded. Never point the muzzle (barrel’ pellet exit end) at anything you don’t wanna shoot.
- Always keep the safety engaged. Disengage it only when you are ready to shoot and aiming at your target.
- If your air rifle is a springer or nitro piston design. Never carry or store it cocked. As it is a potential threat and may also damage the spring mechanism. If it’s a PCP, ensure that you fill the gas tank up to the specified pressure limits.
- Handle your rifle with care and don’t toss it around carelessly or lean the barrel against a shooting rest. Air rifles operate at a lesser pressure than firearms and should be handled with care. These are not battle-guns.
- Always wash your hands thoroughly after touching pellets. Especially when handling lead pellets. Also, ensure that you don’t drop the pellets and handle them with care. Since some pellet metals are soft and may distort in shape with mishandling.
Benjamin Marauder Synthetic Stock PCP
Are All .25 Caliber Air Rifles The Same?
Certainly not. The foremost and basic difference is between the design of many air rifles. Some mechanisms operate via spring power whereas others use compressed air to propel the pellets. This difference in design further affects different characteristics such as recoil, loading time, power, and handling-convenience.
Some rifles are suited for rugged all-terrain use, whereas some have to be handled with care. Additionally, a few rifles feature very advanced designs to suit the likes of firearm rifles.
And yes, your budget also plays an important part here.
Conclusion
A .25 cal air rifle is powerful enough to hunt small to medium-sized game at a range of up to 100 yards. PCP rifles are easier to handle and more silent compared to the traditional break barrel designs. However, it depends upon your personal preference.
People Also Ask
Check out this brief FAQ section that covers the answers to some common and important queries about the .25 caliber rifles and pellets.
How Far Will a .25 Caliber Air Rifle Shoot?
A .25 caliber air rifle generating 37 foot-pounds of energy with 31-grain diabolo pellets can effectively penetrate a 1.3 cm (0.5 inches) thick wooden board at 130 yards. So it is safe to assume that a .25 caliber air rifle will be effective up to a range of at least 150 yards.
How Accurate is a .25 Caliber Air Rifle?
This directly depends upon what rifle & pellets you are using and your shooting skills. It also depends upon the distance at which your rifle is sighted. .25 caliber pellets are heavy and have a significant drop. But it works great under 75 yards.
