Ruger AirHawk Elite II Air Rifle vs Gamo Swarm Viper 10X Gen3i .22

The Gamo Swarm Viper 10X Gen3i is the better all-round rifle. It has a 10-shot auto-indexing magazine, a two-stage adjustable CAT trigger, a noise-dampened barrel and a recoil-reducing rail, and it carries a 3-year warranty. The Ruger AirHawk Elite II is a simpler single-shot break barrel with a gas piston, fiber optic sights and a bundled 4x32 scope, but its 3.7 rating from 341 owners is middling. Buy the Gamo for repeat shooting and small-game hunting; pick the Ruger only if you want a basic single-shot .177 with iron sights as backup.

• Choose the Ruger AirHawk Elite II if you want a simple single-shot .177 break barrel with open fiber optic sights and a scope in the box.
• Choose the Gamo Swarm Viper 10X Gen3i if you want fast follow-up shots from a 10-shot magazine, a tunable trigger and a quieter, softer-shooting .22.