Where Can You Buy a .22 Rifle Online and in Stores?

Visit Local Sporting Goods and Farm Supply Stores to Handle the Rifle First

If you want to feel the weight of the rifle and inspect the sights before spending any money, shopping in person is your best move. Major outdoor retailers, farm supply outlets, and independent gun shops keep physical racks stocked with both powder-burning firearms and air rifles. Stepping into a store lets you shoulder the stock, see how easily your eye lines up with the sights, and check how much muscle effort is needed to cock the action.

Here is where you can look locally and what to inspect while you are standing at the counter:

• Large outdoor sporting goods chains: Retailers like Bass Pro Shops, Cabela's, Academy Sports + Outdoors, and Scheels carry wide selections of both .22 rimfire firearms (rifles that shoot powder-burning ammunition) and .22 pellet airguns. Staff at the gun counter can show you different stock designs and explain local inventory.
• Farm and ranch supply stores: Retailers like Tractor Supply Company, Rural King, Runnings, and Murdoch's regularly stock pest control air rifles and entry-level .22 rimfire rifles. These stores cater to landowners looking for practical rodent management, so you will often find durable synthetic stocks and pest control pellets right in the hardware aisles.
• Independent gun shops: Your local firearm retailer is an FFL (a licensed gun dealer). These shops usually focus heavily on firearms rather than airguns, but they offer personal advice, help you process official registration forms, and handle firearm transfers if you order a rifle from an out-of-state website.
• Regional hardware stores: Some independently owned hardware and hunting shops carry break-barrel air rifles (rifles cocked by pivoting the barrel down to compress an internal spring or gas piston). They may not carry powder-burning firearms, but they provide an easy place to buy target pellets and basic plinking rifles without long lines.

When you hold a rifle in a physical store, pay close attention to the balance. A heavy barrel can cause your arms to shake after just a few minutes of standing offhand. If you are examining a break-barrel air rifle, ask the clerk to demonstrate the cocking motion. Some high-power pest models require more than thirty pounds of force to bend the barrel downward, which can tire out younger shooters or anyone with shoulder pain.

Order Online from Dedicated Airgun and Outdoor Retailers for Wider Selection

Shopping online gives you access to hundreds of rifle models that local stores simply do not have room to display on their shelves. You can easily compare stock styles, barrel lengths, and power plants from your computer or phone. Online outdoor stores also stock hard-to-find accessories, such as specialty domed pellets, scope mounts, and cleaning kits.

Specialty websites like Pyramyd AIR and Airgun Depot focus specifically on air-powered shooting equipment. These retailers carry everything from multi-pump pneumatics (rifles powered by 3 to 10 forearm hand pumps) to PCP airguns (rifles filled with high-pressure air from a special hand pump, compressor, or scuba tank). If you want an air rifle for quiet backyard pest control or target shooting, specialized websites offer detailed technical specs and owner reviews that general department stores do not provide. If you prefer sidearms for action shooting, many shooters also look into a CO2 training replica to practice handling skills on a budget.

Broad outdoor retailers like MidwayUSA and Brownells carry both air rifles and traditional powder-burning .22 rimfire firearms. General merchant websites, including Amazon, also carry popular break-barrel and multi-pump pellet rifles. However, broad online marketplaces use automated shipping filters that sometimes block airgun deliveries to specific zip codes, even when local state law allows them. If an online marketplace cancels your cart during checkout, a dedicated outdoor sporting goods website is often the better route.

Compare Doorstep Shipping Rules Against Licensed Gun Dealer Pickups

The biggest confusion when buying a .22 rifle is figuring out whether the box can show up on your front porch or if it has to go to a retail counter. The answer comes down to what makes the projectile leave the barrel: burning gunpowder or expanding air.

Under United States federal law, air rifles are not classified as firearms. Because they use compressed air, nitrogen pistons, or metal springs rather than an explosive powder charge, federal law does not require you to ship an air rifle to a dealer. In the vast majority of states, you can order a .22 pellet air rifle online, pay with a credit card, and have UPS or FedEx deliver the box straight to your front door just like any ordinary home delivery.

Powder-burning .22 rimfire rifles follow completely different rules. Under federal firearm regulations, you cannot order a firearm online and have it sent directly to your house. Instead, the online retailer must ship the rifle to an FFL (a licensed gun dealer) in your home state. You must then travel to that dealer in person, present your identification, complete federal paperwork, pass a background check, and pay the dealer an administrative transfer fee before you can walk out with the rifle.

Be aware that state and local city laws can override standard shipping rules for air rifles. A few jurisdictions regulate airguns similarly to firearms or forbid home deliveries outright:

• States like New Jersey define high-powered air rifles as firearms, meaning online orders must ship through a licensed dealer.
• Cities such as New York City, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Washington D.C. enforce strict local municipal bans or restrictions on shipping airguns directly to residential addresses.
• Some counties in California, Illinois, and Michigan restrict specific calibers or types of airguns from home delivery.

Before placing an online order, check your local city and county ordinances on airguns. Reputable online retailers maintain automated checkout systems that will flag your shipping address if your local laws prohibit direct home delivery.

Check State Age Rules and Identification Before You Pay

Whether you walk up to a physical cash register or complete an online checkout, you must meet basic age and identification standards. These rules ensure that you can take possession of your rifle without running into legal roadblocks or canceled orders.

For powder-burning .22 rimfire firearms, federal law sets the absolute minimum purchase age at 18 years old when buying from a licensed dealer. Several states have raised that threshold, requiring buyers to be at least 21 years old for any long gun purchase. At the gun shop counter, you must show a valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID, such as a state driver's license. The address on your identification must match your current residential address. If your driver's license shows an old address, the dealer cannot complete your background check until you provide an official government document proving your current residence.

For .22 air rifles, federal law sets no minimum age, but state laws and retail company policies almost always require the buyer to be at least 18 years old. When you purchase an air rifle in a physical store, the clerk will routinely ask to see your photo ID to verify your age before ringing up the sale. If you order an air rifle online, the merchant may verify your age through public records during checkout, or they may require an adult signature when the delivery driver drops off the package.

You do not need a background check or government registration forms to buy a .22 pellet rifle in most states. However, you should still avoid shipping air rifles to a post office box. Most parcel delivery carriers require a physical street address for parcels containing air rifles, especially if an adult signature is requested on delivery.

Choose Between a .22 Pellet Airgun and a .22 Powder-Burning Rimfire for Backyard Use

Many people search for a .22 rifle with the goal of plinking paper targets or clearing out garden pests behind the garage. Before spending your money, you must decide whether a traditional powder-burning rimfire rifle or a .22 caliber pellet air rifle actually fits your shooting environment.

Noise is the first major factor to consider. A powder-burning .22 rimfire cartridge produces a loud, sharp crack that echoes across neighborhoods. That noise will easily alarm nearby neighbors, frighten pets, and draw calls to local law enforcement. In contrast, modern .22 pellet air rifles produce a soft pop. Models equipped with built-in noise baffles or muffled barrels quiet the shot even further, keeping the sound low enough that people thirty feet away will barely notice it.

Backyard safety and projectile travel are just as critical. A standard .22 rimfire lead bullet carries enough velocity and mass to travel over a mile. It will easily punch through wooden privacy fences, shed walls, and residential siding. Because of that extreme danger, nearly every city and suburban township makes discharging a powder-burning firearm within municipal limits illegal.

A .22 pellet air rifle fires shaped lead or alloy pellets that lose speed quickly once they hit an obstacle. When paired with a reliable backstop, such as a rated steel pellet trap, dense rubber mulch box, or thick backstop berm, a .22 pellet rifle lets you practice your marksmanship safely in a suburban yard where local ordinances permit airgun shooting. The .22 pellet carries solid punch and knockdown power for clearing out rats, squirrels, or rabbits inside 35 yards, giving you practical pest control without the danger of an errant bullet traveling into a neighbor's property.

Ammunition pricing and availability also favor air rifles for frequent practice. High-quality .22 caliber lead pellets cost only a few pennies per shot, and you can buy tins of 500 pellets online or at local hardware stores without any purchase limits or identification logs.

Look for Quiet Backyard Air Rifles That Match Your Shooting Space

If you want a .22 rifle for backyard target shooting or pest control without dealing with licensed dealer fees, background checks, or disruptive noise, a .22 caliber air rifle is the sensible route. Before you pick an air rifle, look at how the gun generates its power and how loud it will sound in your outdoor space.

For simple, self-contained shooting, look at rifles cocked by pivoting the barrel down to compress an internal spring or gas piston. These break-barrel guns do not require extra pumps, air hoses, or high-pressure tanks. You simply bend the barrel downward until it clicks, load a single pellet into the exposed breach, swing the barrel closed, and pull the trigger. Gas-piston models tend to shoot smoothly and can sit cocked for short periods without spring fatigue, making them practical tools for waiting out garden pests.

Pay close attention to noise suppression features if you have close neighbors. Look for models with muffled barrels and integrated noise baffles that trap expanding air at the muzzle. These quiet systems keep your plinking discreet and prevent neighborhood complaints.

Finally, check the scope mounting system on the rifle. Spring-piston and gas-piston airguns generate a unique forward-and-backward recoil that can shake loose standard firearm scopes. Make sure the rifle features sturdy notched rails or deep mounting grooves, and always pair it with a scope rated specifically for spring airguns. Sticking to shaped lead or alloy pellets will protect the rifled steel barrel, ensuring your rifle stays accurate for years of dependable shooting.

1

Gamo 611006875554 Swarm Whisper Air Rifle, .22 Caliber,Black

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• ARS Mark

  ARS Mark is a ranking system developed by bestairriflescopes.com. ARS Mark has no relationship or impact from any manufacturers or sales agent websites. Learn more

  9.7
• Brand
  Gamo

Key specs2

Ammunition Caliber

.22 caliber pellets

Loading Platform

Features Gamo Swarm multi-shot mechanism with Whisper sound dampening for pest management and plinking.

Pros & cons32

Pros

• Swarm Whisper configuration offers .22 caliber shooting for pest control and target plinking
• Multi-shot Swarm platform eliminates the need to load individual pellets by hand between shots
• Whisper sound dampening design helps suppress muzzle noise during backyard practice

Cons

• Velocity specifications and muzzle energy are omitted from the listing data
• Cocking effort and optic specifications are unlisted and require verification

2

Umarex Komplete NCR N2-Powered .22 Caliber PCP Air Rifle

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• ARS Mark

  ARS Mark is a ranking system developed by bestairriflescopes.com. ARS Mark has no relationship or impact from any manufacturers or sales agent websites. Learn more

  8.9
• Brand
  Umarex

Key specs2

Powerplant Mechanism

N2-powered PCP

Cartridge System

Uses N2 nitrogen power instead of manual pump charging, though replacement cartridge availability must be confirmed.

Pros & cons32

Pros

• Pre-charged pneumatic PCP system delivers recoilless .22 caliber shooting
• N2-powered nitrogen cartridge setup avoids traditional high-pressure hand pumping
• .22 caliber bore provides heavier pellet options for pest control and target use

Cons

• Requires dedicated N2 nitrogen cartridges rather than standard bulk air fills
• Muzzle velocity, magazine capacity, and shot count per fill are unstated

3

DPMS Full Auto SBR CO2-Powered BB Air Gun with Dual

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• ARS Mark

  ARS Mark is a ranking system developed by bestairriflescopes.com. ARS Mark has no relationship or impact from any manufacturers or sales agent websites. Learn more

  8.5
• Brand
  DPMS

Key specs2

Firing Action

Dual-action semi and full-auto

Caliber Limitation

This model fires BBs instead of .22 pellets, making it a plinking gun rather than a traditional .22 pest rifle.

Pros & cons33

Pros

• Dual-action capability allows switching between semi-automatic and full-auto fire
• CO2-powered action enables rapid fire cycles without manual break-barrel cocking
• Short-barrel rifle design provides a compact platform for recreational plinking

Cons

• Fires steel BBs rather than .22 caliber pellets, limiting pest control use
• CO2 power can drop velocity during rapid continuous fire or in cold conditions
• Velocity and magazine round capacity are omitted from the product specifications

4

Gamo Swarm Magnum 10X GEN3i Inertia Fed .22 Caliber Break

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• ARS Mark

  ARS Mark is a ranking system developed by bestairriflescopes.com. ARS Mark has no relationship or impact from any manufacturers or sales agent websites. Learn more

  8.4
• Brand
  Gamo

Key specs3

Velocity Rating

Up to 1,300 fps

Magazine Capacity

10-shot inertia fed

Action and Loading

Uses Gamo 10X GEN3i horizontal inertia feed to automatically chamber a .22 pellet each time the barrel breaks.

Pros & cons33

Pros

• Delivers high muzzle velocity rated at up to 1,300 fps in .22 caliber
• 10X GEN3i inertia-fed magazine allows 10 shots without handling pellets each time
• High-power magnum break-barrel platform provides strong downrange impact

Cons

• High-power magnum break-barrel spring action can require significant cocking effort
• The 1,300 fps rating requires lightweight alloy pellets instead of standard lead
• Optic specifications and shock-rating details are omitted from the listing

5

Gamo 6110017154 Varmint Air Rifle .177 Cal , Black

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• ARS Mark

  ARS Mark is a ranking system developed by bestairriflescopes.com. ARS Mark has no relationship or impact from any manufacturers or sales agent websites. Learn more

  7.5
• Brand
  Gamo

Key specs2

Caliber Size

.177 caliber

Barrel Action

Single-shot break barrel

Pros & cons33

Pros

• Lightweight synthetic black stock design intended for small garden pest management
• Traditional break barrel design provides simple manual single-shot cocking
• Fewer mechanical components than complex magazine-fed multi-shot platforms

Cons

• Uses .177 caliber rather than .22 caliber, delivering less projectile mass
• Single-shot manual loading requires inserting each pellet by hand every shot
• Velocity, cocking effort, and sight equipment are unstated in the listing

Last update on 2026-10-15 / Affiliate links / Images, Product Titles, and Product Highlights from Amazon Product Advertising API

FAQs

Can a .22 rifle be shipped straight to my house?

A .22 pellet air rifle can usually ship directly to your front porch in most states because federal law does not classify airguns as firearms. However, a powder-burning .22 rimfire rifle cannot be shipped to your house under federal law. Any firearm ordered online must be delivered to a licensed gun dealer in your area, where you pick it up in person after completing a background check.

Which local stores carry .22 rifles in stock?

You can find .22 rifles at major outdoor retailers like Bass Pro Shops, Cabela's, and Academy Sports + Outdoors, as well as local independent gun shops. Farm supply retailers like Tractor Supply Company and Rural King also regularly stock both .22 pellet air rifles and rimfire firearms. Even smaller regional hardware shops often carry airguns and target pellets on their shelves.

Do I need a background check to buy a .22 pellet rifle?

In the vast majority of states, you do not need a background check or government registration paperwork to buy a .22 pellet air rifle. You simply pay at the register or online checkout as you would for normal sporting goods. Only a few jurisdictions, such as New Jersey and select major cities, treat high-powered air rifles under firearm rules that require dealer transfers.

How old do you have to be to buy a .22 caliber rifle?

Federal law requires you to be at least 18 years old to buy a powder-burning .22 rimfire rifle from a licensed dealer, though several states have raised that age limit to 21. For a .22 pellet air rifle, retail store policies and state regulations almost universally require buyers to be at least 18 years old. You will need to show a valid government photo ID at the store counter to confirm your age.

Can I shoot steel BBs out of a .22 pellet rifle?

No, you should never load steel BBs into a .22 pellet rifle. Pellet rifles feature rifled steel barrels made specifically for soft lead or alloy pellets, and standard steel BBs are sized for .177 caliber smoothbore guns. Feeding steel BBs into a rifled pellet barrel will fail to seal the air properly and will permanently strip and damage the delicate internal rifling.