5 Fastest Air Rifles / Fastest FPS Air Rifles 2024

Which are the Fastest air rifles? When you answer this question you kill two birds with one stone, you also answer the most powerful Air rifles question.

The best and fastest air rifle type is one that is accurate, powerful, and sturdy. Its pellets should be capable of leaving the barrel at a high speed while the right padding absorbs the recoil with ease. Speed and power are crucial in air rifles for several reasons, depending on the purpose the hunter intends to use them for.

One major reason why a shooter would be looking for the fastest air rifle would be for hunting, target shooting, or long-distance shooting. A fast and powerful air rifle for use in target shooting, in particular, is very essential for the pellet to maintain its energy toward the target for accuracy.

The fastest air rifles range from any brand and are highly dependent on their intended purpose.

Fastest Air Rifles

Factors to Consider when Choosing the Fastest Air Rifles

With the technological advancements coming on board, every year we see the FPS (feet per second) of air rifles on the rise. Manufacturers are working day and night, each one trying to outdo the other.

Choosing the fastest air rifle has, therefore, become quite challenging, especially for the shooting beginners. We have compiled for you several factors that should help you select the fastest air rifle that will suit your needs.

Factors to consider when choosing the most powerful air rifles.

1. Intended use of the air rifle

Ensure that you know the intended use of the air rifle before deciding on which to buy. Knowing what you intend to use the air rifle for is vital because all air rifles are designed and made to fit different market needs.

You’ll find those designed more specifically for target shooting or hunting. In other cases, you can find an air rifle that you can use for several uses. However, experienced air rifle users will tell you that it’s better to purchase an air rifle designed for your intended use only. You can use a magnum hunting rifle for target shooting or plinking however, in reality, a medium-powered air rifle built and designed for general use would be better for such tasks.

2. Accuracy and Precision

Accuracy is crucial when aiming and shooting mobile or fixed target objects. If you are shooting for longer distances like 50 yards away, it is recommended that you use a scope to enhance your accuracy by making the target more visible.

If you get an air rifle that lacks accuracy, you will end up frustrated and may end up losing interest in the shooting activity you are engaged in. The fastest air rifles should be very accurate since they release bullets at high speed.

3. The distance you intend to be shooting

Air rifles fall into these four shooting categories: light, medium, high magnum, and super magnum. The super magnum and magnum are classified in the high power category. Normally, the light-powered air guns are ideal for target shooting, pest control and plinking.

You can plink, target shoot, or control pests at any distance however the air rifle will perform best at approximately 35 yards from where the target is. The medium-powered air rifles will be capable of shooting targets that are about 50 yards away.

Magnum rifles will extend the range to around 65 yards while super magnum rifles shoot up to about 80 yards.  Knowing your intended shooting distance is important because it helps you to fit a gun with the proper power level to your required shooting distance needs.

4. Air rifle scope

When looking for the fastest air rifles, consider getting an air rifle scope too. The most beneficial air rifle scope is one that helps improve the accuracy of your air rifle.

Target shooting, for instance, takes a whole new dimension when you use a properly sighted air rifle scope. In addition, if you are shooting small pests or animals, using a scope improves your kill ratio greatly.

If you happen to buy an air rifle that comes pre-loaded with a mounted scope, make sure that it’s of good quality. You might find that most pre-mounted scopes are less than top quality however they might be adequate for the air rifle with which they are paired.

You may save some money by buying a quality air rifle with rifle scope dovetail mounts and putting your rifle scope on it. You can easily find great quality rifle scopes on sale for you to select the best one for your air rifle.

5. Air rifle aesthetics

The fastest air rifle aesthetics might not directly impact the function ability of the air rifle however it is essential to be aware. The fit and finish of your air rifle can make a big difference to a shooter.

Fit and finish include factors such as the overall look of the rifle, cosmetic factors, and quality of the bluing as well as the shape of the stock. Any hunter knows that a plain wooden rifle for deer hunting is as dangerous as a tactical-looking military weapon.

Nevertheless, air rifles can have varying degrees of intimidation. If a shooter feels more comfortable with the rifle’s aesthetic, he/she is likely to shoot with more confidence which leads to better shooting results.

6. Trigger quality

Air rifles are designed and built at different price levels and their trigger sensitivity differs depending on the cost and intended use of the air rifle. The majority of the adult air rifle triggers are factory set at about 3 lbs. of pull which are adjustable down to 1- 1.5 lbs. of pull.

Nevertheless, if you need a lighter trigger pull, look at a match gun with a match trigger that is designed to be set to mere ounces of pull.

7. Power

It is good to use a spring-powered air rifle with the correct power level for the intended purpose. It’s highly discouraged to buy a gun with far more power than what is required to do the job.

This is because, for spring-powered guns, you pay more for a higher power. In addition, as the power level of the spring-powered air rifle goes up, the cost of the scope required also goes up.

If you plan on taking out a small or medium game, a powerful rifle is what you require.  On the other hand, if you have plans of firing from long range, you don’t have to use a magnum or high-powered air rifles.

8. Caliber

The other important feature to t consider is the rifle’s caliber. There are different air rifle calibers out there in the market, however, the most popular ones are .177 and .22.  The .177 air rifle is ideal for plinking, target shooting, and pest control. They are highly accurate and powerful enough to take down small pest.  On the other hand, the .22 caliber is ideal for small game hunting.

9. Type of pellet

Air rifles fire pellets which are known to be much safer compared with steel BBs as ricochets aren’t much of an issue. Pellets also have the advantage of being more accurate and carrying more energy. The type of pellet you decide to select should match the type of your air rifle. The four major pellet types include:

• Wadcutter pellets. They have a flat noses. They are commonly used in target shooting because of their high accuracy. They are suitable for short-range hunting and when used with low-velocity air rifles, they are only effective up to 25 yards.
• Domed pellets. They are normally used for general shooting, hunting small game, and field targets.
• Hollowpoint. These pellets are hollow for maximum energy transfer and expand rapidly and are therefore suitable for hunting purposes.
• Pointed pellets. They are pointed at the tip and therefore offer superior penetration.

FAQs

• Which caliber should I select, the .177 or .22 caliber air rifle?

The answer to this question depends on the intended use of your air rifle. The .177 serves you well if you are a target shooter only. Its sufficient power makes it more accurate for skill-based target shooting compared with .22 caliber.  On the other, the .22 caliber rifle is ideal for hunting purposes. Its larger diameter projectile makes it have more killing power at a given velocity. The .22 air rifle caliber will therefore out kill the .177 caliber always at any given distance and velocity.

• What is the fastest air rifle?

The basic assumption in this question is that faster is better. This is, however, a flawed assumption.  A .177 caliber and even most .22 caliber pellets are not heavy enough to remain stable at speeds greater than the speed of sound. If your air rifle speed exceeds 1100 FPs, use a heavier pellet to slow it down. You will be able to deliver the same terminal energy as a faster and lighter pellet, however with more accurate results. The Hatsan air rifle is a .22 caliber with a high velocity of up to 1000 fps.

• Which air rifle regulations exist for air rifle hunting?

The majority of the states permit air rifle hunting in general. You are advised to first consult with your state’s game and fish regulatory commission to check if there exist any special regulations.

• Should I invest in a scope for my fastest air rifle?

This depends on several factors and you might find that certain air rifles require you to use a scope at a certain time and at other times you don’t. For close-range target shooting a scope can be less effective than physical sites.

Scopes can be effective when hunting as long as hunters are not shooting beyond the guns range and the scope has been zeroed on target range before hunting.

Advantages of the Fastest Air Rifles

1. More powerful.

The fastest air rifles are more powerful than the low-caliber rifles. It takes more energy to power the fastest air rifle, therefore the impact is much greater. They have more muzzle energy also referred to as Ft. Lbs. of energy which gives the pellet more knockdown power to hit the target.

2. Highly accurate.

The fastest air rifles are highly accurate and are therefore ideal for target shooting and hunting. Additional use of a quality scope enhances the accuracy of these air rifles.

3. Easier to hit the target.

With a larger caliber pellet, you will find it much simpler to hit your target at a given shooting range.  A larger caliber pellet at a closer range makes it easy for you to hit and kill the target faster.

4. Hunt larger game.

The extra power that comes along with the fastest air rifles enables you to hunt larger game. With the high-caliber air rifle, you can be able to hunt small deer, coyotes, or boars. If you are a hunter, the quietness of the air rifle makes it more appealing.

Disadvantages

Just as there are advantages of the fastest air rifle, they have some disadvantages too.

1. Cost

The fastest air rifles are not only difficult to find, but they are also typically more expensive than the common air rifles. You might be required to specially order your pellets online or travel far distances to find them.  This can be inconvenient if you want to hunt but run out of pellets.

2. Limited types are available.

Not every type of air rifle is ideal for high-caliber pellets. A larger caliber is normally found with PCP guns.

Conclusion

When it comes to the fastest air rifles and selecting the best one that will suit your needs perfectly, there is a lot to know about them. Don’t forget to first consider all your needs and what you plan on using the air rifle for.

With the various factors we have outlined for you, we hope that our guide helps you pick out your next air rifle that meets your needs and preferences. We hope that you have fun when you engage in your preferred shooting activity.

Read Also: Best Air Guns for Self-Defense