Air Rifle Hunting
A jack-rabbit is "big game" when air rifle hunting. Hunting with an air rifle is similar to bow-hunting, and even reminds me of fishing with ultra-light tackle. Most air guns require you to cock or pump before you can shoot; somewhat like drawing a bow. You need to get close with a bow or an air rifle.
Click to see the air rifles and pistols at Cobra AirGuns. 
With ultra-light fishing equipment you have a better chance of hooking more small fish, but the capability of the equipment is limited. Air rifle hunting is similar in that you are hunting smaller animals, but again you equipment limits what you can do. This hunting should be limited to hunting for small game or pest. Advertising claims using words like magnum power, high power, extreme power, and such; are a little misleading. Those words are true only when comparing air guns, not when compared with firearms. Claims of pellet rifles shooting at speeds of 1200, even 1600 fps. (feet per. second) are made. You can "bet the farm," those muzzle velocities were with very light weight pellets. Some .177 caliber pellets weigh as little as 5 grains, that is about 40% less than the weight of a typical 8 grain .177 pellet. Such light weight pellets will start out faster, but loose the speed advantage quickly. For air rifle hunting many experienced hunters prefer pellets of normal weight or heavier. Although the advertised velocities may be a bit misleading; we can still use them as a rough guide to categorize air gun power. For simplicity we are talking only about .177 caliber guns here. If you choose the same gun in a larger caliber you will get less velocity, and a little more energy (power). 
400-600 fps. Low end guns will usually shoot pellets at these speeds. These can be basic cheap spring air, pneumatic, or CO2 powered guns, or they can be expensive and extremely accurate target rifles or pistols. Almost all pellet handguns shoot in this range of speeds. Even these lower power guns can be used at close range for pest birds, mice, rats, frogs, snakes, insects... 600-800 fps. Many guns in this range are used for hunting; especially in Europe. Some places in Europe don't allow firearms and limit air guns to about this power level. Many spring-piston rifles, inexpensive pump-up pneumatics, and a few CO2 powered rifles can reach these velocities. The pre-charged pneumatic handguns can reach these speeds. Animals of rabbit size at 20-25 yards are reasonable targets. 800 fps.-up. Many shooters in the USA are going to buy these guns. These guns can extend the range, but not by much; pellets loose energy rapidly. No gun, no matter how powerful, gives us an excuse for careless shooting. An air gun hunter should be thinking precision head shots; not power. Especially for anything bigger than sparrows or mice. 
Accuracy is 'possibly' even more important when air rifle hunting. While 'some' air guns are extremely accurate; not always under hunting conditions. Hunters can be shooting with poor lighting, wind, through limbs, leaves, grass, from awkward, unsteady positions... Some guns have excessively heavy, rough, trigger pulls. Guns, especially spring air guns, can shoot differently, depending upon how they are held. Even the heaviest pellets will be moved around by the wind. Many factors make air rifle hunting fun, and sometimes challenging. We have many more pages of information. See all the air rifles and pistols at Cobra AirGuns. Air Rifle Hunting to Pellet Rifles
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