The quietest air rifle is the one you can use in your neighborhood or backyard without getting calls from your neighbors to keep the volume down.
Air rifles are ideal for hunting down vermin and small game, and even for plinking and practicing the accuracy of your shots.
Thanks to the technology of air guns, they are usually a lot less noisy than firearms. However, they still work by projecting pellets at top speed, so they will still produce quite an amount of noise when fired.
If you’re looking for a quiet air rifle for backyard use, keep reading. We’ve made a list of the best and quietest air rifles you can use around your property without bothering your neighbors, so let’s take a look at all your options.
Quiet air rifle for backyard use
While the air rifles many would consider ‘quiet’ are not completely silent, there are some amazing options in the market you can buy that are considerably less noisy than any firearm.
If you’ve gone through the considerable lengths of learning how to block noise from your next-door neighbors, it’s time to compliment that by acquiring a nice and silent air rifle to practice your aim or keep your house rodent-free.
If you’re looking to rid your home of pests, or even safely practice your shooting in the comfort of your backyard, let’s take a look at the best options for you.
- Decibels: 89
- Velocity: 1420fps
- Weight: 6.61 lbs.
This Gamo Whisper Fusion Mach 1 air rifle is a great option if you’re looking for a silent air rifle.
It works on Inert Gas Technology, which gives it a powerful impact on every shot. It’s only 6.61 pounds in weight, 46 inches long, and has a break barrel action to load the pellets for each shot.
It comes with an 11 mm scope rail and has incredible optics to aim right for the bull’s eye. These optics include 3-9x magnification, a 40mm objective lens, and a 30/30 reticle with fine crosshairs.
This rifle has a 1-inch tube, is waterproof, and also shockproof thanks to its rubber recoil pad.
As for noise reduction, it has a double-integrated noise dampener, placing it at 89 decibels for both the .177 and the .22 versions.
- Whisper Fusion Mach 1
- Whisper Fusion Mach 1
- Whisper Fusion Mach 1
- Decibels: 86
- Velocity: 1070 fps
- Weight: 8.0 lbs.
Hatsan is known for creating amazing air rifles, and the Hatsan AT44-10 is no exception.
This particular model is a precharged pneumatic air rifle that serves a very powerful shot each time.
It comes with a side lever bolt action and an anti-double-feed mechanism that prevents more than one pellet from loading up the gun.
This pellet gun is one of the best models you can get for dealing with all sorts of vermin and pests that affect your home.
And you can do this quietly too since the Hatsan AT44-10’s volume level is 86 decibels. While this is not excessively quiet, it does grant a peaceful shooting session without looks or calls from your neighbors.
This rile also comes with automatic safety and a two-stage adjustable trigger. It comes as well with an anti-knock system that prevents the wasting of gas when the rifle gets knocked or bounced.
- Warranty: 1-year Limited Warranty
- 10rd Repeater, Precharged Pneumatic
- Decibels: 85
- Velocity: 1050 fps
- Weight: 7.65 lbs.
The Air Arms S510 air rifle is one of the quietest pellet guns you can find, being only as loud as a snowblower.
The Air Arms S510 model uses an air tank with a capacity of 231cc, which makes up for 10 per clip.
What will strike you first about this model is its elegant look, comprised of its wooden stock which gives it a classical and polished look.
This is quite the contrast when you compare it to most modern models, which are sleek, dark, and synthetic in appearance.
The S510 is an accurate, precise model that comes with a two-stage trigger action that allows you to secure the perfect shot. It is ideal for small game such as rabbits and other rodents and can be easily used for aiming practice.
This model can get you from 30 to 35 powerful shots thanks to its 200 bar fill pressure ceiling, all while maintaining a noise level that is safe for your hearing health.
- Decibels: 90
- Velocity: 1300 fps
- Weight: 7.25 lbs
While definitely not the quietest air rifle on our list, the Raptor Whisper air rifle is way below the 175dB mark for regular firearms, making it a solid choice if you’re looking to keep the volume down.
This incredibly accurate air gun works on Inert Gas Technology, which is one of the main components in the noise volume factor.
This type of technology on air rifles is used to minimize vibration and reduce the amount of noise, making this particular model 52% quieter than similar models by other brands.
It’s a slick, lightweight model that packs a punch and is known across all its users for its tight accuracy.
Regarding the volume of the shots, we have to give this air rifle some credit. While this might feel loud when shooting, you should hand it over to your shooting partner and gauge the noise from a slight distance.
Then you’ll notice how much quieter it actually is when compared to other air rifles and, of course, firearms.
- .177 Cal pellet single cocking break barrel, 1300 fps with PBA Platinum
- The IGT (Inert Gas Technology) is a gas piston that replaces the spring delivering more terminal...
- This air rifle also features the well known WHISPER noise reduction technology patented by Gamo. The...
- Decibels: 74
- Velocity: 1100 fps
- Weight: 7.30 lbs
Anyone who is into the world of air rifles will tell you the this Benjamin Marauder air rifle is one of the quietest pellet guns you can ever use.
The .22 caliber version of this air gun produces only 72dB in volume, which is as loud as a domestic vacuum. That’s it, this Benjamin air rifle is definitely one you should be on the lookout for if you’re looking for quiet shots in your backyard.
This particular rifle is a precharged pneumatic air gun that allows you to take up to 32 shots thanks to its 215 cc air cylinder.
This rifle can be adjusted for different velocities, so the power of each shot varies depending on your settings. It also comes with quite an elegant and classic design that you can pick over the more synthetic presentation.
- PCP-POWERED .177-CALIBER AIR RIFLE
- BALANCED ALL-WEATHER SYNTHETIC STOCK - Adjustable raised comb cheek-piece and reversible bolt handle
- RIFLED STEEL BARREL - Shrouded, with integrated sound suppression
Important factors to consider before purchasing a quiet air rifle
When you’re looking for a brand new quiet air rifle, there are a series of aspects you have to consider before making your purchase.
These go from knowing what you’re going to be using your rifle for, to the noise level you need in order to keep your neighbors at bay and maintain a healthy hearing capacity.
Let’s take a look at some of the most important factors you need to consider before purchasing a quiet air rifle.
The use you’ll give your air rifle
Air rifles are great for shooting practice, as well as getting rid of small rodents and any kind of vermin that plagues your backyard.
This is why they’re so good to keep around the house, especially if you have a large patio with lots of trees and nature that might attract all sorts of animals.
And since they’re so good for domestic use, it’s a big plus – if not a straight-up need – for your air rifle to be quiet and make as little noise as possible.
If you plan on keeping the use of your air rifle within your backyard or patio, then you need something quiet like the Benjamin Marauder Air Rifle.
However, air guns are also used for hunting small animals, so if you plan to take your rifle out to the great outdoors, then you’ll be needing something strong and weather resistant like the Hatsan AT44.
Another thing to keep in mind when thinking about the use of your rifle is the velocity you’ll be needing, the power in every shot, and whether a precharged pneumatic rifle or one that works with Inert Gas Technology.
The caliber
Air rifles come in three main calibers: .20, .22, and .177. Once you0ve determined what you’re going to use your air rifle for, it’s time to select the caliber. But, which is best?
Let’s find out.
A .20 caliber in an air rifle is considered by most to be the best overall option. This caliber is great for hunting the larger of small prey and delivers quite a powerful shot while maintaining a flat trajectory.
It’s also one of the best options for larger distance shooting, being effective for as far as 60 yards. The pellets for a .20 caliber air rifle are 5 mm in diameter, and the right pellet-rifle combination can give you incredible results.
A .20 caliber air gun is a sure-shot option you can get for any type of use you want to give your rifle.
A .22 air rifle works with heavier pellets, which generate a great impact when hitting targets but also go a shorter distance.
Due to the weight of the pellets, a .22 air rifle is great for shooting within the 50-yard mark, since it won’t be very effective at larger distances.
These rifles are great for hunting down small vermin at close range and are pack great power in each shot.
Lastly, the .177 caliber rifles are the most commonly used air rifles in the market. The pellets for this type of rifle are the smallest and lightest of the three, and thus can go over large distances without losing trajectory.
You are very likely to find that most models come with a .177 caliber version of all their rifles since this is the best-sold caliber for air rifles around the world.
The level of noise
A super important aspect to consider when looking for the best quiet rifle for you is the noise level you’ll have to deal with.
Being exposed to regular shooting can have a deeply negative effect on your hearing health. While finding out how noise-canceling headphones work and acquiring a pair can save you from hearing loss, there are also your neighbors.
Any neighborhood – understandably – would frown upon shooting cracks in the middle of the day, especially if there are pets that can be affected by the noise.
To prevent any complaints from your community, the best thing you can do is purchase a quiet air rifle with the right technology to remain as silent as possible.
The range of decibels among firearms can be between 97 and 170 decibels, which is far too loud for anyone looking to just practice their shots in their backyard.
On the other hand, the quietest air rifles on our list barely reach the 90-decibel mark, with some models like the Benjamin Marauder going as low as 74 decibels.
Sound dampening technology can come in the form of noise dampeners located at the tip of the barrel. It can also come in the form of patented silencing technologies, and such is the case for the Whisper technology found on Raptor air rifles.
Your surroundings play a big role in how you perceive the loudness of your air rifle. When you’re in a location that is prone to echo, you can expect your rifle to be heard from a very long distance.
If your primary concern is the wellbeing of your pets, you can always learn how to soundproof a dog crate. This way, you can complement the sound dampening technology of your rifle with the added safety of a dampened crate for your pet.
Most quiet air rifle for neighborhood use
From all the options we’ve shown so far, we have to say that the Benjamin Marauder is definitely the most air rifle for neighborhood use you can find.
At only 74 decibels, the shots you make with this rifle won’t be louder than a regular lawn mower or snowblower.
Since this air rifle was specifically designed for hunting down pests, varmint, and even small game, it’s to be expected that it is this quiet.
This allows you to shoot your game or practice your aim in the comfort of your backyard without looks from your neighbors, and without making your pets nervous.
Besides, it has a lovely, wooden stock that gives a classic and elegant look to your rifle, which is always a nice plus.
So, if you’re looking for an accurate, powerful, and most of all, quiet air rifle, the Benjamin Marauder is definitely the right choice for you.