What makes up a “plinking” airgun? It needs to be relatively accurate, it needs to be affordable to purchase and operate, and perhaps the most important characteristic of a “plinking” airgun is that it needs to be fun to shoot. Fortunately, there are a ton of great airguns that fit the bill. Here are some of our favorites, sorted by popularity.
Gamo Arrow PCP Rifle Hand Pump Combo
At just under $300, you may not think that the Gamo Arrow PCP Rifle Hand Pump Combo would fall into the “plinking” category, but let’s look at what you are getting. The Gamo Arrow, available in .177 and .22, is compact, easy, and fun to shoot, very accurate, nearly silent, and perfect for backyard plinking, pesting, and target shooting. Bundled with the hand pump, you need the pellets and are ready for a good time.
SIG Sauer MCX Rattler Carbine
SIG really upped the game with their MCX Rattler Canebrake model. This .177 pellet rifle, operating from a large CO2 cartridge and a thirty-round belt-fed magazine, may not be the most powerful. Still, it’s accurate; it looks, feels, and operates like the firearm it’s modeled after while delivering hours of shooting fun and excitement. It epitomizes an ideal “plinking” airgun, promising a thrilling plinking experience.
Beeman R7
The Beeman R7, the most expensive airgun on our list, has a rich history of durability, accuracy, and ease of operation. This spring-powered airgun, pushing .177 pellets at about 700 FPS, may not be the fastest, but it compensates with exceptional accuracy. The match-grade adjustable trigger, precision open sights, and wood and steel construction make it an heirloom airgun that will stand the test of time and heavy use.
Crosman 1322 Pellet Pistol Combo
Affordable, accurate, and a ton of fun, the Crosman 1322 Pellet Pistol Combo checks all the boxes for a plinking airgun. This multi-pump, pneumatic, bolt action, .22 caliber pistol/carbine combo ships with pistol grips and the skeleton stock giving airgunners the best of both worlds. If you want to practice your pistol shooting, you are all set. You are also good to go if you want to practice your open sights rifle marksmanship.
Daisy 880 Kit
The Daisy 880 multi-pump pneumatic rifle ships with a basic scope, shooting glasses, BBs, and pellets. It’s capable of speeds up to 750 with BBs and a little slower with lead pellets. It’s been around for decades and has been the favorite “next” airgun for many who started on the Daisy Red Ryder. Shooters can vary the power output by how many pumps they use per shot. The Daisy 880 needs as few as 3 pumps and maxes out at 10 pumps. It’s very affordable, fun to shoot, and ideal for younger shooters. A true plinking airgun, for sure.
Daisy Red Ryder(s)
No “Top Plinking Airguns” list would be complete without the model that started it all. The Daisy Red Ryder, now available in a larger adult-sized version, is the iconic plinking airgun. It’s spring-powered, holds hundreds of BBs internally, and is easy to operate. Additionally, it is very affordable. There’s even a scoped model for the youngster wanting to shoot like the big folks. While the Red Ryder isn’t very powerful or terribly accurate past 15 to 20 feet, it’s the airgun that’s most associated with plinking in the backyard. It’s an American shooting icon, and it may be the best plinking airgun ever created.
Want to Know More?
We barely scratched the surface of all the great plinking airguns available. If you are looking for something specific that’s not mentioned here, please don’t hesitate to call us. I’m sure we can help you find just the right plinking airgun for your needs.
