My cousin is starting to have problems with feral pigs. He would like to get an air powered pellet rifle with enough power to kill the pigs. He says they are small, about 200 lbs. Several factors which are to be considered. He lives between CA and HI and would like to get a pellet rifle which would be TSA approved so he can transport it between his places. Are suppressors available for air rifles? Are they needed or are they quiet enough? He lives in a semi-rural area. Not having any experience with air rifles, I'm turning it over to the experts for suggestions and comments. Thanks.

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Bill

Modern air rifles are indeed far more powerful than those in the past. However, I do not believe there is one powerful enough to take a tough and dangerous animal like a feral hog.

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The Last Standing Knight

I am not an expert (or even a casual shooter of these) but: This bad boy would do it: Airforce Texan: Big Bore Air Rifle Review | Outdoor Life PCP (Precharged pneumatic) is the technology.

There are YouTube reviews, too.

As for how they are regulated, I recall reading that regulations are less stringent than for firearms, but your pal would need to look into that.

Not what your friend is after, but years ago, back when I spent a lot of time in Hawaii, I read about a guy who was a commercial bow hunter of wild pigs in Hawaii. With the bow he could work residential areas in Honolulu. I recall Manoa, specifically.

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Flying with a rifle is not a big deal (checked, declared), but I have no idea how CA and HI regulate big bore airguns. He'll need to investigate that.

A friend has a large bore PCP airgun that he uses for deer. Some are available in calibers up to .50, deliver over 800 ft/lbs of energy and are integrally suppressed. Those don't require a tax stamp, but can cost over $2K. They're charged with scuba tanks or specialized compressors.

I have a small bore PCP rifle that's integrally suppressed, plus it has an add-on external suppressor. It powerful enough for small game and quiet, but charging the rifle up to 3000psi with a foot pump is quite the workout! A suitable compressor costs around $800.

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"I also cook."

A gun shop West of here sells the “ big bore” air rifles. Guy has videos of hunts from wild pigs, deer and even in Africa. IIRC cheapest one was $1,500 and they are Quiet.

As Chad has said - the rifle is one thing BUT you'll need to add a compressor to charge it[unless you have time & a strong leg]. The compressor cost can be as low as $600 but this price range is relatively new and durability with a lot of use is still TBD IMO.

I have a friend that has three air rifles that would probably do the job with proper shot placement. They are in .22, 9MM and .50 cal. All air filled from a divers air tank. Pretty quiet for what they are.

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USMC 69-93 Combat Pistol Inst.

I would bet a lot that both CA and HI are so generally hostile that any serious air rifle will be regulated to an extent that is amazing to reasonable people.

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NHI, 10-8.

Check out Pyramyd Air and/or Air Guns of Arizona. There are air rifles out there with bore size and psi capable of taking hogs. It ain't gonna be cheap, though.

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SIC SEMPER TYRANNIS

Airguns of Arizona knows this backwards and forwards......
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Check out Dennis Quackenbush website he makes serious rifles. I have a couple of his pistols.

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WOW - two of the worst States for gun rights! I'd absolutely check the hunting laws before buying anything! CA & HA might consider pellet guns "firearms" these days. Be careful!!

What about a crossbow?