Best Bullpup PCP Air Rifles Under $500 (2026 Buyer's Guide)

Last updated November 2026 · By the Northtac Team

A bullpup puts the action behind the trigger, so you get a full-length barrel in a rifle that's several inches shorter than a conventional PCP. That makes it handy in a truck, a blind or a small backyard. Under $500 there are more good options than there were a few years ago, and they're not all built for the same shooter.

We make one of them, the QILIN BP, so we've included it next to the rifles it competes with. We've kept the comparison to things you can check on a spec sheet or a tape measure. Prices below are what major US retailers listed in mid-November 2026, and Black Friday will move most of them.

What to look for in a bullpup under $500

A regulator. A regulated rifle feeds the same pressure to every shot, so your pellets don't climb or drop as the cylinder empties. Most rifles in this price range have one now. If one doesn't, expect fewer usable shots per fill.

Air capacity. Bigger cylinders mean more shots between fills. Shot counts on retailer pages are the maker's numbers at a given power setting, so treat them as a guide and compare like with like.

Caliber. Most rifles here come in .22 and .25. If you want .30 for bigger pests, the list gets short fast.

Length and weight. Short is the point of a bullpup, but a few inches and a pound or two make a real difference when you carry one all day.

Fill pressure. Check that your pump or tank reaches the rifle's maximum fill. A rifle that fills to 300 bar needs gear that gets there.

Bullpup PCP air rifles under $500 worth a look

QILIN BP-C, $399. Our compact model. It's regulated, fills to 310 bar and comes in .22, .25 and .30, with an 18" barrel and a 220cc cylinder. At 28.7 inches overall it's the shortest rifle on this list, and it's the only one here that offers .30 at $399. The trade-off is air. That small cylinder gives you fewer shots per fill than rivals with bigger tanks, so plan on topping off more often. It's on pre-order now and expected to ship in late November.

QILIN BP-A, $449. The BP-C's longer sibling, with a 24" barrel and a 300cc cylinder in the same three calibers. It gives up the compact size for more air and more barrel. If short is the main reason you want a bullpup, the BP-C is the better pick. The BP-A is also on pre-order.

Air Venturi Avenger Bullpup II, about $420. Regulated with an external adjuster, 180cc, fills to 300 bar and is rated at 60 shots per fill. It's 33 inches long and weighs about 7.9 pounds, in .22 or .25. Air Venturi rifles are widely sold and well supported in the US, which counts for a lot in a first PCP.

Reximex Apex, about $380 on sale. The regulated version has a 250cc cylinder, fills to 250 bar and is rated at 40 shots in .22 and 60 in .25. It's 32 inches long and about 7.7 pounds. Make sure you're buying the regulated model, because an unregulated version is sold too.

Hatsan FlashPup QE, about $350 on sale. The lightest rifle here at about 6.35 pounds and 32 inches long. It isn't regulated, has a 165cc cylinder, fills to 200 bar and is rated at 30 shots. It's the budget pick, and it's a fair one if you mostly plink and don't mind filling often.

JTS Brawn, about $500. The other way to get .30 in a bullpup at this price, along with .22 and .25. It's 33 inches long and heavy at about 9.3 pounds, and it's rated at up to 35 shots. Stock has been patchy at some retailers.

One rifle you'll see recommended a lot is the Air Venturi Avenge-X Bullpup. It's a good rifle, but it's listed at around $600 right now, so it's outside this budget unless it goes on sale.