Airguns · Buyer's Guide
Best air pistols: CO2 and PCP picks for plinking and pests
Researched by James · Updated September 26, 2026 · Editorial policy
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Specs and prices below come from Crosman's and Pyramyd AIR's own product pages, linked in Sources. FPE figures not printed by the manufacturer are computed with the same formula used across this site (grains × fps² ÷ 450,436, the AAFTA divisor), not measured on a chronograph. Full methodology & editorial policy →
What can an air pistol actually do?
An air pistol is a plinking and close-range pest tool, not a small rifle. The short sight radius between front and rear sight (or a small red dot) magnifies aiming error compared to a rifle, and the power ceiling is much lower because a pistol-sized reservoir or CO2 cartridge simply can't store as much energy as a rifle's. That combination is fine for tin cans, paper, and rats at arm's length. It's a poor match for anything you'd call hunting past a few yards. If quarry is the goal, start with which air rifle to buy instead.
CO2 vs PCP air pistols
| Type | How it's powered | Typical price | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CO2 | Disposable 12-gram cartridge | $60-150 | Cheap, simple, no fill gear needed | Velocity fades as the cartridge empties; cold weather kills performance |
| PCP | Onboard reservoir, hand pump or tank fill | $350-600+ | Consistent velocity shot to shot, higher power ceiling, better real accuracy | Needs a pump, tank, or compressor; costs several times more |
A single-stroke or multi-pump pneumatic pistol splits the difference: no CO2 or fill gear, but you're pumping by hand before every shot, which gets old fast beyond casual plinking.
Best CO2 air pistol: Crosman 2240
The Crosman 2240 is the pistol most airgunners point a beginner toward, and for good reason: a .22 caliber, bolt-action single shot running on one 12-gram CO2 cartridge, rated up to 460 fps and 7 ft-lbs of energy at the muzzle, for about $86 at Crosman's own store. It's also the base platform for a long list of aftermarket barrels, stocks, and shoulder-stock kits that turn it into something closer to a compact carbine, which is part of why it shows up so often in backyard pest-control setups aimed at rats at very close range.
| Spec | Crosman 2240 |
|---|---|
| Caliber | .22 |
| Power | One 12-gram CO2 cartridge |
| Velocity | Up to 460 fps |
| Energy | 7 ft-lbs (manufacturer spec) |
| Action | Bolt-action, single shot |
| Weight / length | 1.81 lbs / 11.13 in |
| Price | About $86 (Crosman, September 2026) |
Best PCP air pistol: Benjamin Marauder
The Benjamin Marauder PCP Air Pistol is the obvious step up once CO2's fade-as-it-empties behavior stops being good enough. It's a .22 bolt-action repeater with an 8-round auto-indexing rotary magazine, filled to 2,900 psi from a 65cc reservoir, rated up to 700 fps. At a middling pellet weight that works out to roughly 14-16 FPE, computed the same way as the rest of this site's energy numbers, not printed by the manufacturer. Pyramyd AIR lists it at about $510. A two-stage adjustable trigger and a 12-inch choked barrel are unusual detail for a pistol at this price, which is why it shows up as a common base for a compact carbine build with a shoulder stock and red dot.
| Spec | Benjamin Marauder PCP Pistol |
|---|---|
| Caliber | .22 |
| Fill pressure | 2,900 psi (65cc reservoir) |
| Velocity | Up to 700 fps |
| Energy | ~14-16 ft-lbs (computed) |
| Magazine | 8-round auto-indexing rotary |
| Weight / length | 2.7 lbs / 18 in (29.75 in with stock) |
| Price | About $510 (Pyramyd AIR, September 2026) |
Air pistols worth owning
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Are air pistols good for pest control?
At very close range on rats and mice, a PCP pistol's 14+ FPE can get the job done, and the compact size matters when you're working in a garage, coop, or crawlspace where a rifle's length is a liability. Past that, a rifle wins on every axis that matters: more energy, a longer sight radius that makes head shots realistic past 10-15 yards, and enough reserve energy that a slightly off-center hit still does the job. See airgun pest control for rats and starlings for the full rundown by species, and the FPE chart for exactly how much energy each animal actually needs.
Where air pistols fall short
Good fit
- Backyard plinking, cans, and paper at short range
- Pest control on rats or mice at arm's length
- A compact, low-recoil way to teach grip and trigger control
Look elsewhere
- Any small-game hunting past a few yards
- Anything past 15-20 yards, period, regardless of quarry
- A first gun for someone who actually wants to hunt (start with a rifle instead)
If a pistol's power ceiling is the problem, the honest fix isn't to push a CO2 or PCP pistol past its factory spec, it's to buy the right tool. A basic .22 PCP rifle clears the small-game energy floor by a wide margin and still costs less than some premium pistols; see best PCP air rifles by budget. Bullpup and semi-auto rifle options are covered in bullpup vs conventional air rifles and semi-auto PCP air rifles, and if you're deciding between a BB gun, a pellet gun, and an airsoft gun in pistol form, that split is covered in BB gun vs pellet gun vs airsoft.
Verdict
Buy a CO2 pistol like the Crosman 2240 for cheap, simple plinking, and a PCP pistol like the Benjamin Marauder if you want real consistency and a magazine. Don't buy either one expecting it to hunt like a rifle: the energy and sight-radius gap is real, and a $150-300 PCP rifle will out-hunt any air pistol on the market.
FAQ
What is an air pistol?
A handgun-sized airgun that fires a pellet or BB using compressed air or CO2 instead of a powder cartridge. Power sources split into CO2 (a disposable cartridge, cheap and simple), single-stroke or multi-pump pneumatic (you supply the air by hand each shot), and PCP (a small onboard reservoir filled from a tank, pump, or compressor, giving more shots and more consistent power).
How strong is an air pistol?
Weak compared to a rifle. A basic CO2 pistol like the Crosman 2240 makes about 7 FPE at the muzzle, and even a PCP pistol like the Benjamin Marauder tops out around 14-16 FPE. Compare that to the 9-12+ FPE most small-game hunting needs arriving at the animal, not at the muzzle, and a pistol has almost no cushion left for range or a marginal hit. See the full picture in the FPE chart by quarry.
Is a CO2 or PCP air pistol better?
CO2 is cheaper to buy into and simpler, but velocity drops as the cartridge empties and as temperature falls, and cold weather can stall it outright. PCP holds a consistent fill pressure shot to shot, which means consistent velocity and better practical accuracy, for roughly 5-6x the price of an entry CO2 pistol.
Can you hunt with an air pistol?
Only at very close range on the smallest pests, and even then it's marginal. A pistol's short sight radius and low energy make anything past 10-15 yards a bad bet, and most cottontail- or squirrel-sized game needs more energy than a pistol reliably delivers. For real small-game hunting, a rifle in .22 is the honest choice; see which air rifle to buy.
How to fix a jammed air pistol?
Uncock or depressurize it, point it in a safe direction, and check the breech and magazine for a double-fed or misshapen pellet before doing anything else. The full safe-clearing steps for pellet pistols, rifles, and BB guns are in how to fix a jammed air gun.
How do you grip an air pistol accurately?
The same way as a firearm handgun: a firm, high grip with both hands if the pistol allows it, wrists locked, and consistent pressure shot to shot. Inconsistent grip pressure is one of the biggest accuracy killers on a pistol-length sight radius, more so than on a rifle.
Can you increase an air pistol's power?
Don't push it past the manufacturer's spec. A CO2 pistol's power is fixed by the cartridge and valve; a PCP pistol's power is set by its factory regulator or power adjustment, and running it outside that range risks the seals and voids any safety margin the maker built in. If you need more power than a pistol makes, the honest fix is a rifle, not a modification.
What's a 10m air pistol, and is it different from a hunting pistol?
A 10m air pistol is a dedicated Olympic target platform (like a Steyr LP or Walther LP-series), built around a rigid stance, a match-grade trigger, and a fixed short-range sight setup, not around power or portability. They're excellent for paper punching at exactly 10 meters and a poor fit for anything outdoors or field-related, which is what this page covers instead.
Is an air pistol good for backyard pest control?
For rats or mice at very close range where nothing bigger is legal or practical, a PCP pistol with 14+ FPE can work. For starlings, sparrows, or anything at more than a few yards, a rifle's longer sight radius and higher energy makes for cleaner, more reliable hits; see airgun pest control for rats and starlings.
