5 Best Benjamin Air Rifles

Outdoor Moran is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn More

If you are looking for the Best Benjamin air rifles, you came to the right place, we look at the best, the features, and more.

 

Best Benjamin Air Rifles

 

1. Benjamin Marauder Wood Stock Air Rifle 

Benjamin Marauder Wood Stock Air Rifle

As one of the Best Benjamin air rifles, this is a rifle for pest control, small game hunting, varmint hunting, and pest control. This Benjamin Marauder Wood Stock Air Rifle brings to the table relentless accuracy and quiet power.

The rifle is redesigned for PCP’s next-level performance. Rifled and Shrouded Barrel for Accuracy and Resonance Dampening

Features

  • Up to 1100 FPS
  • Balanced Wood Stock
  • Precharged Pneumatic Power Plant
  • 177 Caliber Pellet Rifle
  • 11mm dovetail grooves

 

 

2. Benjamin 392 Bolt Action Variable Pump Air Rifle (.22)

Benjamin 392 Bolt Action Variable Pump Air Rifle (.22)

This Benjamin 392 Bolt Action Variable Pump Air Rifle (.22)  has over the years been known for great performance and is a partner you can trust when it comes to accuracy.

This .22 caliber multi-pump pneumatic has lightweight, sleek stock and a rifled brass barrel. You get velocities up to 685 fps making this one of the best air rifles for small game and pests. You also use this rifle as a target shooting rifle.

This Benjamin Air rifle has fully adjustable sights which are very effective in zeroing in on your target. You can also use the B272 inter mount to attach a scope.

Features

  • Monte Carlo stock design
  • Single shot bolt action powered by a variable pump
  • American Hardwood stock
  • Fully adjustable sights
  • Shoots up to 685 FPS / 14.9 FPE
  • Rifled brass barrel 

 

3. Benjamin Marauder Synthetic Stock Pellet Air Rifle 

Benjamin Marauder Synthetic Stock Pellet Air Rifle

 

This Benjamin Marauder Synthetic Stock Pellet Air Rifle comes with (.25 cal is an 8-shot repeater) a 10-shot repeater with the auto-indexing feature.

This Air rifle uses 2,000 to 3,000 psi of compressed air with the capability to make adjustments to your preference as per the manual provided. The internal shroud is very effective in noise reduction. The Choked barrel improves the accuracy of the 2-stage adjustable match trigger.

The aluminum breech is raised making it very easy to load the circular magazine 11mm dovetail.

Operating this rifle is made easy by quite a number of unique features. The Trigger is moved back offering a great hand position. There is an optional reversible bolt making it convenient for both right and left-handed shooters. The breach design is simple for assembly and service as well as provides a very stable platform for bigger scopes.

Features

  • Ambidextrous synthetic stock with vertically adjustable comb
  • A reversible bolt that switches from right to left side
  • Built-in air pressure gauge or manometer
  • One magazine and sling swivel studs
  • Factory-installed depinger for converting the  sharp ping to a dull thud

 

4. Benjamin Trail NP XL Air Rifle air Rifle

Benjamin Trail NP XL Air Rifle air Rifle

This Benjamin Trail NP XL Air Rifle is known to be quieter than its peers. The Rifle has an Ambidextrous stock with twin cheekpieces, you also get a textured grip and forearm.

Included is an unmounted CenterPoint Optics 3-9x40AO scope, the Sling swivel studs are already mounted while the stock is Hardwood. Here are some of the benefits  you get with this Benjamin Trail NP XL Air Rifle as one of the best Benjamin Air rifles

  • Smoother cocking and shooting
  • No spring torque and fatigue even when the rifle is cocked for many years
  • Functions perfectly even in the coldest of weather
  • Durable than metal springs rifles

Features

  • Textured grip & forearm
  • Ambidextrous stock
  • 70% quieter than other break barrels
  • Hardwood stock

 

5. Crosman Benjamin Trail NP XL 1500 .177 Caliber Nitro Piston Air Rifle 

Crosman Benjamin Trail NP XL 1500 .177 Caliber Nitro Piston Air Rifle with Hardwood Stock Includes 3-9 X 40mm Scope

As one of the best Benjamin Air Rifles, the Crosman Benjamin Trail NP XL 1500 .177 Caliber Nitro Piston Air Rifle is accurate and powerful. Noise is a nonissue here you get a top-quality rifle.
The Benjamin Trail XL 1500 features a Nitro piston technology. which works the kinda same way as a spring gun but the only difference is that it has a nitrogen-filled gas ram as the power source.

It’s a single shot, break barrel meaning you only shoot one shot at a time then break the barrel to reload. The rifle has a beautiful hardwood stock that is able to withstand shocks and vibrations. The stock is also ambidextrous making it very comfortable for both right and left-handed shooters.

Features

  • Nitro piston technology
  • Single shot, break barrel
  • Improved Accuracy
  • Durability
  • Hardwood stock
  • Has a Safety Lever
  • Uses .177 and .22 pellets as source of ammo
  • Velocity up to 1500 FPS with alloy pellet and 1250 FPS with lead pellets

 

Features to Consider when Choosing the Best Benjamin Air Rifles

Benjamin air rifles have a wide range of models, styles, and calibers to choose from and they vary in price to suit your budget too. Below are some of the important features you need to consider in order to get yourself the best Benjamin air rifles on the market.

Type of caliber

Depending on the shooting activity you intend to engage in you will require a different caliber type. Hunting with an air rifle is really interesting and adventurous. For an even more exciting experience, you will need the right air rifle which is determined by your targets, hunting experience, and style.

The different caliber types include .177, .22, .25, .30 and .357 caliber. The bigger the caliber size, the bigger the animal you can takedown. The .177 calibers are the most accurate, long-range, and the fastest. They are ideal for small games like hunting pigeons.

The 22 and .25 calibers have more knockdown power but less range and speed. They are ideal for medium game hunting like hunting rabbits or raccoons that are not really big. .22 is more common since the best .22 air rifle for hunting can suit almost all shooting needs. .30, .357 and above calibers are super powerful and therefore suitable for big games like hunting deer, elk, or boars. Remember to choose a suitable and accurate air rifle to kill your prey ethically.

Air rifle power source

There are three main power sources of air rifles; spring power compressed CO2 gas and compressed air (PCP).

The PCP air rifle is much easier to shoot and the projectile comes out of the barrel immediately when pulling the trigger. The springer is the hardest to use compared to the three.

When shooting the spring-powered air rifle, you are required to hold it consistently or the pellet will go in the wrong direction because the movement of the pellet coming out of the barrel takes a bit of time.

Nevertheless, shooting with a spring air rifle is so much fun. If you can handle the recoil and shoot accurately, you are good to go with a Benjamin spring air rifle.

Compressed CO2 gas rifles operate poorly in too cold or too hot temperatures but the spring power and compressed air rifles are not affected by temperatures. If you require a fun gun that is closer to a real rifle, select the springer air rifle. If you need a modern and simple operating gun, choose the PCP.

  1. Type of air rifle

There are several types of air rifles, each with its’ own pros and cons. They include:

  • A manual air rifle. These rifles are still popular, however, the latest precharged models are replacing the manual models, at least by a little margin.
  • The multi-pump rifles. They offer the option of selecting the amount of power, more or less, which is needed with every shot. A lot of energy is needed to pump, which can be exhausting to the individual based upon their age and strength. Reloading is also slow and the shooter has to develop a rhythm before getting it to a comfortable pumping level.
  • Break action. It is the popular type and involves cocking the rifle in order to load the next shot. It takes a good shooter to handle these types, as the spring that drives the pellet on the inside of the barrel can cause quite the kickback, affecting the accuracy

Scope

There is no point in using an air rifle if you can’t see your target properly. Most air rifles come with a scope, however barring the Benjamin Titan XS Nitro Pistons MOA scope, most are average to above average and require adjusting on arrival.

Most scopes on air rifles were meant to be replaced. The good news is that most air rifle scopes were made to be replaced and several outlets online and in stores sell high-quality scopes that work across all brands and types.

Accuracy is very crucial when aiming and shooting a fixed or mobile target. For lengthy distances such as 35-40 yards away, it is best to use a scope to make the target more visible. If the air rifle lacks accuracy, the user will get frustrated and may lose interest in shooting.

The best Benjamin air rifles come with quality scopes and offer compatibility with some of the best scopes on the market.

Pellets

Air rifle pellets are safer than steel BBs because ricochets aren’t much of an issue. Pellets have the advantage of being more accurate as well as carrying more energy.

Pellets are cheaper compared to traditional firearms. The use of pellets will depend on the specifications and parameters of your air rifle. Always ensure that the caliber of the pellets you select matches the caliber of your Benjamin rifle. There are four main types of pellets:

  • Pointed pellets have a pointed tip. The pointed tip offers superior penetration.
  • Domed pellets are normally used for field targets, hunting small game, and in the general shooting. They offer the best aerodynamics and are a great all-around pellet.
  • Wadcutter. These pellets have a flat nose. They are highly accurate and are commonly used in target shooting. They are suitable for short-range hunting and with low-velocity rifles as they are only effective up to 25 yards.
  • Hollowpoint. Hollowpoint pellets are commonly used for hunting. They expand rapidly and allow for maximum energy transfer.

Use of the air rifle

One of the first things you should consider is the purpose you intend to use the air rifle. Are you looking to hunt small game or eliminate pests? Are you looking for Benjamin’s air rifle for target shooting or are you looking for smoothing to take down predators or varmint?

The purpose of your air rifle hugely impacts the kind of rifle you will choose. If you are looking for an air rifle to hunt predators or varmint, you will require a powerful air rifle, like the .177 or .22 caliber.

Hunting

For taking out the small or medium-sized game, you will require a powerful rifle. You will need a pneumatic or break barrel Benjamin air rifle. You don’t have to use a magnum-powered or a high-powered air rifle if you plan to shoot from long range.

The CO2 air rifle is adequate if your target is from 20 yards range. Most hunters sneak on their target and get near, before aiming and taking a shot.

Cost

Some Benjamin air rifles are expensive depending on the features they come with. For beginners purchasing an air rifle, you can go for a cheaper air rifle. It will help you get comfortable with air rifles before you decide to buy a costlier one that offers more features than a basic air rifle.

If you want to save money, you can consider purchasing a rifle that does not require a CO2 cartridge. Remember that replacing the cartridges can be costly and annoying if you keep on purchasing them over and over again.

If you have adequate resources, you can purchase CO2-powered rifles which offer some added benefits such as semi-automatic features. Consider other models of powered rifles if you can’t afford the one with CO2.

FAQs

  • What is the correct way of choosing the right pellet for my air rifle?

The majority of spring-powered air guns work properly with lightweight pellets than CO2 rifles. On the other hand, PCP rifles are more accurate with heavy pellets.  When using a spring-powered rifle, the pellet head should have the same measurements as the land or bore size, and the air rifle skirts same as the groove size of the barrel.

  • How does the size of my ammunition affect my shot?

The smaller the size of the pellet the lighter it is, therefore, it can travel at a faster speed and for a longer range. The .22 and .177 are the two common pellet sizes. If you are lengthy shots, the .177 pellet is the best. The .22 caliber will not travel as far as the .177, however, it can hit your target harder. It is the ideal pellet size if you prefer a shot that will provide a higher power shot.

  • Is it legal to shoot a squirrel with an air rifle?

It is illegal to use a firearm in the city district. Air rifles are not considered as firearms and they can be therefore used to shoot and kill small game such as squirrels.

  • What is the effective range of an air rifle?

Most air rifles with a pellet of .20 caliber can shoot effectively up to 60 yards. If you are using a high-end pellet, you can increase the range for a few yards.

  • Can a Benjamin air rifle kill?

Most Benjamin air rifles are able to kill small animals and birds. They can fail to kill large animals such as dogs but can cause severe injury if shot.

  • How do I convert to CO2 from PCP?

To convert from PCP to CO2, you will be required to purchase a CO2 fill adapter that doesn’t come with the air rifle.

Advantages of Benjamin Air Rifles

  1. Durability

Benjamin air rifles have a durable, all-weather synthetic stock that is long-lasting.

  1. Easy to take care of

You only need to clean every few hundred pellets or so to keep the lead build-up in the barrel down. Wiping the rifle’s stock down with a microfiber cloth removes smudges and fingerprints keeping your rifle looking new.

  1. Bipod

Certain Benjamin air rifles such as the Benjamin synthetic marauder PCP comes with a bipod. This air rifle is perfect for snipping pigeons and squirrels at 50 yards or above, having a solid bipod is a great addition.

  1. Low Noise

Most Benjamin air rifles are quietly making them perfect for those who enjoy plinking in their own backyards. If you have neighbors in close vicinity, you can go hunting or target shooting with your air rifle knowing that you won’t be disturbing anybody. They make no loud bangs that might scare off other game in your area.

  1. Easy to shoot

There is virtually no recoil, therefore people of any age or height will be able to safely and accurately shoot any Benjamin air rifle.

Disadvantages

  1. High-caliber Benjamin air rifle pellets are not easy to find and are typically expensive. You may need to special order your pellets. This can be inconvenient if you run out of pellets when shooting.
  2. Co2-powered Benjamin air rifles’ power and accuracy are affected by weather since the expansion of Co2 is different at various temperatures.
  3. Spring-powered air rifles cannot be left cocked since the spring will be fatigued and might fail to function properly.

Conclusion

Benjamin air rifles are considered one of the best air rifle brands. Benjamin air rifles offer value for money and are incredibly simple to shoot, and quiet therefore you do not cause any disturbance to your neighbors or other wild game when hunting.

If you do decide to own an air rifle, Benjamin air rifles will be one of the best air rifles you can buy. You will not go wrong with any of their air rifles.

Related