Hiya Folks

 you dont need an extremely powerful rifle for effective small game hunting,i would choose 22 cal over 177 for hunting small game like rabbits/possums etc,any 22 cal rifle capable of around 16/18fpe at muzzle will easily put down rabbits/possums out to 25/40 yards with a head shot with the usual 14/16gr pellets but isnt really powerful enuf to effectivly use the heavier 18/25 gr pellets,25cal another option in some the new gas ram rifles which can now be as powerful as some pcp rifles as can 22 cal gas ram rifles,,the more powerful spring and gas ram rifles get the harder they can be to shoot accurately,bit of an art learning how to shoot powerful spring and gas ram rifles,but once mastered these rifles can be very accurate,the beauty of co2/pump up and pcp rifles is there total lack of recoil which makes them easier to shoot accurately the the powerful hard recoiling spring and gas ram rifles,really just a case trying the different types of guns and finding one that suits your needs and purposes i guess,there plenty on forum who can give you more and better advice in choosing a rifle than i,as i am very much a dedicated pcp shooter these days,pcps do come with an added cost over the rifles as you will need either a good hand pump or a dive bottle etc to be able to fill them with air ,but this is a once only cost as can be used for other pcp guns as well.

 my recommendation would be to start out with a good gas ram /spring rifle,and there are plenty on forum who can best advise you on that than i .

 cheers mike

 cheers mike