What Can You Hunt with a .22 Air Rifle?

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What can you hunt with a .22 air rifle?

The .22 caliber rifle is one of the most common calibers for avid hunters. This is the perfect air rifle caliber for beginners looking to kickstart their hunting hobby. It is also ideal for seasoned hunters who are looking to sharpen their hunting skills.

So, what can you hunt with a .22 air rifle? If you are new in the hunting field, you’ll be amazed as to what this air rifle is capable of. But first, let’s take a look at some of the reasons why the .22 air rifle is great for all-round hunting.

Weight

A simple .22 air rifle is very light. This makes it easy to handle and carry in the field, especially during long hunting sessions. The lightweight design also means that beginners will have an easy time mastering how to hold, shoot and carry the gun.

Recoil

High recoil air rifles make hunting less enjoyable. Luckily, the .22 air rifle produces lesser recoil. This means that you don’t have to feel nervous about the rifle injuring your eye since there is no recoil to anticipate. Typically, .22 rifles are virtually recoil-less. These make them suitable for seniors and beginners as well.

Ammo

Another good thing about this air rifle is that it’s economical to run and maintain. 22 caliber rounds are reasonably affordable and easily available too. Besides, the rounds are ultralight, so you can carry thousands of them as you go hunting and they will be easy to carry. They also require less energy to be shot.

More Muzzle Energy

.22 caliber rounds offer more muzzle velocity than the .177 counterparts. This gives them more penetrating power which is essential for hunting. The high penetrating power also kills the game in a more humane way.

Longer Shooting Distance

With the right accessories and experience, you can effectively take out a small game that’s up to 440 yards away. However, at such a range, you might not take out a medium or big game, but you can injure it severely to a point that it will be hard for it to survive.

What can you hunt with a .22 air rifle?

What Animals Can You Hunt with a .22 Caliber Rifle?

Since the .22 caliber round is smaller in size, it’s perfect for small game hunting. You can use it to hunt down small animals and birds such as squirrels, rabbits, ducks, geese, pigeons, woodcock, grouse, partridge, and pheasant.

Professional hunters can also use the .22 caliber rifle to take down larger game such as coyotes, wild boar, deer, roebuck, groundhogs, prairie dogs, foxes, and venison.

Final thoughts

Now you know the type of animals you can successfully hunt with a .22 caliber rifle. If you are looking to start your hunting hobby, the .22 rifle is a good gun to start with. It provides numerous hunting benefits and it also provides you with a way to enjoy the great outdoors. You can also use it for plinking, target shooting, and skill development, not just hunting.

See Also: 10 Best .22 Air Rifles