Lewis and Clark carried two large caliber air rifles with them on their trip west and wrote in their journals that they took large game with them. I also saw a program on one of the out doors shows a few weeks ago, It was showing Gamo's new adult gun and ammo in .177 and they took two pigs (not real big ones around 80lbs but a lot bigger than any rabbit I ever saw) at around 25'. I have had a Sheridan Blue Streak in .20cal since I was a kid (many rebuilds ago). I have taken coyotes with it at 30'+ (with an unused pistol for backup). All in all an air rifle is not your best self defense weapon but it is an excellent and quiet way to procure small game for food.