If you’ve been following Mountain Sport Airguns, you already know we enjoy testing practical hunting airguns that actually perform in the field. Today we’re taking a detailed look at the Pinty Buster PCP Air Pistol in .177 caliber — a compact hunting-style PCP pistol that surprised us in several ways.
Pinty Buster PCP Air Pistol in .177 Caliber Reviews
At roughly $270, this isn’t the type of airgun we’d normally feature. However, the tactical layout, side lever action, Picatinny rails, and open sight setup immediately caught our attention. Pinty was kind enough to send one over for testing, and after spending time both on the bench and in the field hunting rabbits, we’ve got a solid feel for what this pistol does well — and where it could improve.
First Impressions & Build Quality
The Pinty Buster has a very distinct tactical hunting pistol appearance. Overall length comes in around 15.75 inches, with a 10.5-inch barrel and a total weight of about 2.8 pounds. It feels compact without being toy-like, and the metal construction gives it a durable feel in the hand.
The machining and finish are surprisingly good for this price range. After carrying it around ranch property, through brush and around junk piles while rabbit hunting, the finish held up nicely without noticeable scratches or wear.
One feature we immediately appreciated was the dual Picatinny rail setup. This gives shooters plenty of flexibility for optics, bipods, flashlights, or even camera mounts for filming hunts.
Power System & Performance
The Buster uses a 100cc air tube with a 250-bar fill pressure. It’s also regulated at approximately 1450 PSI, producing around 12 foot-pounds of energy across roughly 24 shots.
For a compact PCP pistol, that’s respectable performance.
While 12 foot-pounds may not sound huge compared to full-size air rifles, in .177 caliber it proved more than capable for small game hunting at reasonable distances.
The fill system uses a probe, which admittedly is not our favorite design. Fill probes are easy to misplace in the field, and without it the gun becomes unusable. Thankfully, Pinty included a male Foster fitting, allowing us to keep it permanently attached to the fill whip, which helps reduce the inconvenience.
Moderator Compatibility & Noise
The pistol includes 1/2-inch UNF threading, allowing shooters to add suppressors or moderators easily.
We tested it using a Zero Decibel Moderator, and it worked extremely well. Without a moderator, the shorter barrel produces a noticeable crack. Once suppressed, the pistol becomes far more backyard-friendly and comfortable to shoot.
There is one small annoyance: installing a moderator blocks access to the fill-port dust cover. That means removing the moderator every time you refill the gun. It’s not a deal breaker, but it’s definitely something users should know before purchasing.
Trigger, Side Lever & Ergonomics
One of the strongest features of this pistol is the side lever.
The left-side cocking lever allows quick follow-up shots without taking your eyes off the target, which is extremely useful during hunting situations. The cocking effort is somewhat heavy, but that’s understandable considering the hammer spring tension needed to generate 12 foot-pounds.
The trigger itself is surprisingly good for a pistol in this price category. It breaks cleanly and helped make precise shots much easier during field testing.
The safety placement is also excellent:
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Down = Safe
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Up = Fire
Simple, intuitive, and easy to manipulate.
The only major ergonomic complaint involves the rubber grips. While comfortable, they feel somewhat loose and flexible. They don’t ruin the experience, but they do feel cheaper than the rest of the gun.
Open Sights That Actually Work
A lot of airguns include open sights simply as an afterthought. That’s not the case here.
The fiber optic sights on the Pinty Buster are honestly some of the best factory open sights we’ve used on an airgun. Windage and elevation adjustments are straightforward, and after a small correction, the pistol was shooting accurately out to 25–30 yards.
Low-light visibility was especially impressive during evening rabbit hunts.
For shooters who genuinely enjoy open-sight shooting, this pistol delivers a very enjoyable experience.
Magazine System
The Buster ships with two 9-shot rotary magazines.
Loading is simple:
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Rotate counterclockwise
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Insert the first pellet
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Continue loading while spring tension holds pellets in place
The magazines also use magnetic retention, which keeps them securely seated in the breech during shooting.
Overall, the system worked reliably throughout testing with no feeding issues.
Field Test: Rabbit Hunting Performance
Bench testing only tells part of the story. To really understand this pistol, we took it onto a large ranch for cottontail rabbit hunting.
The goal was simple: carry the pistol naturally, hunt with open sights, and see how practical it really was in real-world conditions.
The compact size made it extremely easy to carry while moving through fence lines, brush, and junk piles where rabbits tend to hide.
The first rabbit was taken at roughly 10 yards with a clean head shot. The second came later at approximately 30 yards — still using open sights — and the pistol delivered another effective head shot with excellent precision.
For a 12 foot-pound .177 pistol, that’s genuinely impressive performance.
The biggest takeaway from the hunt was how fun the platform felt. It’s lightweight, maneuverable, and fast to deploy. For close-range pest control or small game hunting, it fits the role very well.
What We Liked
- Excellent fiber optic open sights
- Good trigger for the price
- Durable finish and solid machining
- Picatinny rails provide versatility
- Accurate out to 30 yards
- Regulated shot consistency
- Includes spare O-rings and repair kit
- Compact and lightweight hunting setup
- Moderator-ready threading
What Could Be Better
- Fill probe system is inconvenient
- Moderator blocks easy access to fill port
- Cocking effort is fairly stiff
Final Verdict
For around $270, the Pinty Buster PCP Air Pistol delivers a surprisingly capable hunting package.
It’s accurate, reliable, lightweight, and genuinely enjoyable to shoot. The open sights are among the best we’ve tested on an air pistol, and the regulated power output provides enough consistency for effective small game hunting.
While the grip quality and fill-port access could be improved, neither issue is severe enough to overshadow the overall performance.
If you’re looking for a compact PCP hunting pistol with tactical features, solid accuracy, and real field capability, the Pinty Buster is definitely worth considering.
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Pinty Buster PCP Air Pistol Reviews
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