A pellet gun for squirrels is an air rifle with enough energy and accuracy to deal with a pest animal cleanly at short range, typically a .22 or .177 break-barrel, underlever, multi-pump or pre-charged pneumatic (PCP) rifle. Where squirrels are legally classed as pests or in season as small game, a quality air rifle is the quietest, lowest-cost tool for the job.
Before anything else, know the law. Squirrels are protected or regulated as game in many states, discharge of any air gun is restricted inside many city limits, and some jurisdictions treat air rifles above certain power levels like firearms. This guide covers the hardware; your state wildlife agency and local ordinances decide whether and when you may use it.
What is the best pellet gun for squirrels? For most buyers, the Gamo Swarm Magnum 10X GEN3i is the best all-round pick thanks to its 10-shot magazine and break-barrel power that needs no tank or pump. The Umarex Notos .22 PCP carbine is the choice for compact, quiet, consistent shots, and the Gamo Varmint is the value break-barrel for occasional use.
In short: choose .22 caliber for pest control where legal, pick a power plant you will actually cock or fill, fit a scope, and practice until you can group on a coin at your working range. Take only clean, close, ethical shots on animals you may legally take, and never point any air gun at a person.
This guide was written by researching product listings and manufacturer details, not by testing each rifle. Below: our top three, how we chose, a comparison table, ten picks with pros and cons, a buying guide, safety and care tips and FAQs.
Recommended Pellet Guns for Squirrels
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. These are research-based picks, not products we have tested. How we choose.
Our Top 3 Pellet Gun for Squirrels Picks
BEST OVERALL Gamo Swarm Magnum 10X GEN3i Break Barrel Air Rifle, 10-Shot. A high-power break-barrel with a 10-shot rotary magazine so you can follow up without reloading a single pellet.
BEST PCP Umarex Notos Carbine .22 Caliber PCP Pellet Air Rifle. A compact .22 pre-charged pneumatic carbine that delivers consistent, recoil-free shots from a fill of air.
BEST VALUE Gamo Varmint Air Rifle, .177 Caliber Break Barrel. A simple, affordable .177 break-barrel from Gamo for occasional pest work and backyard targets.
How We Chose Each Pellet Gun for Squirrels
We started from Amazon listings for pellet guns and air rifles and kept rifles suited to pest control: break-barrel, underlever, multi-pump and PCP pellet rifles in .177 or .22. We excluded BB-only guns, CO2 pistols and full-auto replicas, which lack the accuracy or energy for a clean shot, and allowed no more than two products per brand.
We included rifles across a range of power plants and prices so there is an option for occasional use and for serious pest work. Nothing here was fired by us.
Pellet Gun for Squirrels Comparison Table
| Pick | Power plant and caliber | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Gamo Swarm Magnum 10X GEN3i Break Barrel Air Rifle, 10-Shot | Break-barrel gas piston, 10-shot mag | Most pest-control buyers |
| Umarex Notos Carbine .22 Caliber PCP Pellet Air Rifle | PCP, .22 caliber | Accuracy and low noise |
| Gamo Varmint Air Rifle, .177 Caliber Break Barrel | Break-barrel spring, .177 | Occasional use on a budget |
| Diana Two-Sixty Breakbarrel Air Rifle | Break-barrel spring, single shot | Traditional accuracy |
| Stoeger S6000-E .22 Caliber Underlever Pellet Air Rifle, 1000 FPS | Underlever spring, .22 | Fixed-barrel consistency |
| Crosman Vantage NP .22 Caliber Break Barrel, Wood Stock | Break-barrel gas piston, .22 | Smooth gas-piston shooting |
| Umarex Prymex Break Barrel .177 Caliber Pellet Air Rifle | Break-barrel spring, .177 | Beginners |
| Crosman Legacy 1000 Variable Pump .177 Pellet/BB Air Rifle with Scope | Multi-pump pneumatic, .177 | Adjustable power |
| Daisy Powerline 880 Multi-Pump .177 BB/Pellet Rifle Kit, 800 FPS | Multi-pump pneumatic, .177 | Classic multi-pump kit |
| Stoeger S3000-C .177 Compact Pellet Air Rifle with Scope, 810 FPS | Break-barrel spring, .177 | Compact and quieter |
The 10 Best Pellet Guns for Squirrels
1. Gamo Swarm Magnum 10X GEN3i Break Barrel Air Rifle, 10-Shot
BEST OVERALL
The Swarm Magnum is Gamo’s top break-barrel and our pick for the best pellet gun for squirrels overall, and the GEN3i magazine is why it leads this list. Instead of loading one pellet at a time, a 10-shot rotary magazine feeds a fresh pellet each time you cock the barrel, so a quick second shot is practical. It is a full-size, full-power rifle with a stiff cocking stroke, for adults who want a serious pest rifle with no tank or pump.
Best for: Most pest-control buyers
2. Umarex Notos Carbine .22 Caliber PCP Pellet Air Rifle
BEST PCP
The Notos is a short, light PCP carbine in .22 caliber. Because it runs on a reservoir of compressed air there is no spring recoil, shots are very consistent, and cocking is a quick sidelever stroke. The trade-off is that you need a hand pump or tank to fill it. For accurate, quiet, repeatable shots at pest range it is hard to beat at this size.
Best for: Accuracy and low noise
3. Gamo Varmint Air Rifle, .177 Caliber Break Barrel
BEST VALUE
The Varmint is Gamo’s entry-level break-barrel, a budget pellet gun for squirrels and the classic first pest rifle: a single-shot .177 spring rifle with a straightforward cocking stroke and a basic scope in most bundles. The .177 pellet is fast and flat but lighter than a .22, so placement at close range matters even more. For a few outings a season it covers the basics.
Best for: Occasional use on a budget
4. Diana Two-Sixty Breakbarrel Air Rifle
Diana is a long-established German air gun maker, and the Two-Sixty, a classic choice for a pellet gun for squirrels, is its modern mid-range break-barrel with a wood-look stock and a single-shot layout. The brand is known for triggers and barrels that reward careful shooting, which matters more than raw velocity on a small target.
Best for: Traditional accuracy
5. Stoeger S6000-E .22 Caliber Underlever Pellet Air Rifle, 1000 FPS
The S6000-E is an underlever rather than a break-barrel, so the barrel stays fixed and only the cocking lever moves, which many shooters find more consistent. The listing rates it at 1000 FPS in .22 caliber, firmly in pest-control territory, and the E model adds adjustable stock features. It is a heavy rifle, best shot from a rest.
Best for: Fixed-barrel consistency
6. Crosman Vantage NP .22 Caliber Break Barrel, Wood Stock
The Vantage NP is a Crosman break-barrel pellet gun for squirrels with a Nitro Piston gas ram instead of a steel spring, giving a smoother shot cycle, less vibration and no spring fatigue when left cocked. The listing lists it as .22 caliber with a 15-inch barrel, single shot and a wood stock, from a brand with wide parts availability.
Best for: Smooth gas-piston shooting
7. Umarex Prymex Break Barrel .177 Caliber Pellet Air Rifle
The Prymex is Umarex’s current entry-level break-barrel in .177. It is light, simple and easy to cock, a sensible first air rifle for an adult beginner who mostly wants targets with occasional pest duty. Keep shots close and precise. Umarex has a large US presence, so support and accessories are easy to find.
Best for: Beginners
8. Crosman Legacy 1000 Variable Pump .177 Pellet/BB Air Rifle with Scope
The Legacy 1000 is a multi-pump pneumatic: you choose the power by how many times you pump, from quiet plinking up to the full rated velocity. It shoots .177 pellets or BBs and comes with a scope. Variable power is handy where a full-power shot is too much, and the pumping action has no spring recoil.
Best for: Adjustable power
9. Daisy Powerline 880 Multi-Pump .177 BB/Pellet Rifle Kit, 800 FPS
The Powerline 880 has been in production for decades and is the classic American multi-pump pellet gun for squirrels and plinking. The kit includes a scope and accessories, and the listing rates it at up to 800 FPS with pellets. It is light, cheap to run and quiet at low pump counts, a good trainer and a capable close-range pest rifle for a shooter who knows its limits.
Best for: Classic multi-pump kit
10. Stoeger S3000-C .177 Compact Pellet Air Rifle with Scope, 810 FPS
The S3000-C is a compact .177 break-barrel rated at 810 FPS and sold with a scope. Its shorter length suits smaller shooters and tight spaces such as a barn or shed, and the lower power makes it quieter and easier to cock than the S6000. A reasonable pick for close-range work where a magnum rifle is overkill.
Best for: Compact and quieter
How to Choose a Pellet Gun for Squirrels
Think about legality first, then caliber, power plant and optics.
| Factor | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Legality | Check state wildlife rules on squirrels and local ordinances on discharging air guns before buying. Rules vary widely. |
| Caliber | .22 delivers more energy per shot and is the usual pest choice. .177 is flatter and cheaper but needs closer, more precise shots. |
| Power plant | Break-barrel and underlever springers are self-contained. Multi-pumps offer variable power. PCPs are the most accurate but need a pump or tank. |
| Magazine | A rotary magazine, as on the Gamo Swarm, allows quick follow-up shots. Most rifles here are single shot. |
| Optics | A basic scope helps precise placement. Budget for a better scope than the bundled one if you shoot a lot. |
| Noise | Gas-piston and PCP rifles are quieter than steel springers; suppressed models help in neighborhoods. |
Whatever you choose, accuracy matters more than velocity. A rifle you can shoot into a one-inch group at your working distance is more effective and more humane than a faster one you cannot.
Pellet Gun for Squirrels Buying and Care Tips
- Zero the scope at your typical working distance and practice from field positions.
- Use quality domed pellets of the right caliber; cheap pellets ruin accuracy.
- Never dry-fire a spring or gas-piston rifle; it can damage the mechanism.
- Keep the barrel clean and wipe metal with a light oil to prevent rust.
Honest Limits
- We did not fire these rifles. The notes come from listings and manufacturer details.
- Velocity figures come from makers, usually with light alloy pellets, and real-world speeds with lead pellets are lower.
- Calibers and bundles change often on Amazon; confirm caliber, scope and included items on the current listing.
- We allowed two Gamo, two Umarex, two Crosman and two Stoeger products, within our two-per-brand limit.
- This is not legal advice. Laws on air guns and wildlife control differ by jurisdiction and change over time.
Who Should (and Should Not) Buy a Pellet Gun for Squirrels
The best pellet gun for squirrels is a sensible purchase for rural and suburban homeowners who have a genuine pest problem, a safe backstop and a clear understanding of local rules. It also suits small-game hunters who want a quiet, low-cost rifle for the season, and anyone who prefers an air rifle to a rimfire where firearm discharge is restricted.
However, it is the wrong purchase in several situations. In many towns, discharging any projectile weapon within city limits is prohibited, and squirrels are protected game animals in most states outside the open season. If your goal is simply to keep squirrels off a bird feeder, a baffle or a live trap is cheaper and legal everywhere. Finally, an air rifle is still a weapon: treat it like a firearm, store it locked and unloaded, and follow the basic rules of safe gun handling published by groups such as the National Shooting Sports Foundation.
Common Mistakes When Choosing a Pellet Gun for Squirrels
- Chasing the highest FPS number. Velocity figures are measured with ultralight alloy pellets. A .22 at 800 FPS with a lead pellet delivers more energy and a cleaner result than a .177 at 1,300 FPS.
- Skipping the scope mount check. Break-barrel springers batter cheap scopes. Choose a scope rated for spring-piston recoil and a one-piece mount.
- Shooting too far. Most shooters should keep squirrel shots inside about 30 yards with a .22 air rifle, and only at the head or vitals.
- Ignoring the backstop. Pellets ricochet off branches and travel further than people expect. Never shoot a squirrel skylined on a fence or roof.
- Buying a PCP without a fill plan. Pre-charged rifles need a hand pump, tank or compressor. Budget for the fill gear or choose a break-barrel.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best pellet gun for squirrels?
The Gamo Swarm Magnum 10X GEN3i is our top pick, with the Umarex Notos .22 PCP for accuracy and the Gamo Varmint for value.
Is .177 or .22 better for squirrels?
.22 is generally preferred for pest control because it carries more energy. .177 works at close range with precise placement.
Is it legal to shoot squirrels with a pellet gun?
It depends on your state, season and location. Check your wildlife agency rules and local ordinances before shooting.
How much power do I need?
Enough for a clean, humane shot at your working range. Most .22 break-barrels and PCPs here qualify; shot placement matters more than speed.
Do I need a scope?
A scope makes precise placement far easier. Bundled scopes are basic; upgrade if you shoot often.
What is a PCP air rifle?
A pre-charged pneumatic stores compressed air in a reservoir filled from a hand pump or tank. It is accurate and recoil-free.
Are break-barrel rifles loud?
Spring rifles can be noticeably loud. Gas-piston and PCP rifles are quieter, and some include a moderator.
Can I use a pellet gun inside city limits?
Many cities restrict or ban air gun discharge. Check local ordinances first.
What pellets should I use?
Quality domed lead pellets in the correct caliber give the best accuracy and energy for pest work.
How do I store an air rifle safely?
Unloaded, uncocked, locked away from children, with pellets stored separately.
The Bottom Line
For most buyers who may legally control squirrels, the Gamo Swarm Magnum 10X is the best pellet gun for squirrels and the strongest all-round choice, the Umarex Notos is the pick for quiet, consistent accuracy, and the Gamo Varmint covers occasional use on a budget.
Whatever you choose, confirm the law where you live, practice until your groups are tight and take only ethical shots. Related reading: our guides to the best self-defense knives, grease guns, retractable hoses and tabletop fire pits.
Last reviewed: October 23, 2026.