Thinking PCP again.

 no matter what rifle you choose get the 25 cal. the avenger looks to be a great rifle for the money...

I'd go .22 Avenger especially if mainly shooting squirrels. .22 can take out raccoons and ground hogs no problem in those distances. Plus much more efficient on air and pellets are cheaper. Can shoot slugs also if your worried about not enough power for the raccoons and ground hogs.

Avenger or the Umarex Origin. Both guns look similar because they're made by the same company (Nova Vista) in Macau . The Avenger is regulated and more adjustable externally. The Origin is not regulated, but it comes packaged with a hand pump. It also has a pre-pressurized air cylinder that helps reduce the number of pumps required to fill when using a hand pump. Both guns retail for around $300. My next choice would be the new Benjamin guns (Cayden, Kratos, Akela) made by Kral, but those are a little more expensive.

What cea said.

Put a bug buster scope on top of it. They're not pricey and good enough for what you're doing. 

Pyramid Air is now selling discounted packages with the Avenger that include things like a scope and other accessories. They will also do a 10 for 10 or 20 for 20(dollars) deal where with the 10 for 10 they fire ten shots and check that everything is working (no leaks, etc.) or 20 for 20, where they do the same and also attach and zero a scope you're buying, and keep an eye out for anything not working with your scope.

The Avenger in .177 is too weak for a reliably ethical kill on raccoons, a 22 Avenger is a few dollars cheaper than the Gauntlet, and you could also get a .25, but that may be too loud or otherwise less backyard friendly. 

On the other hand it could be helped with a moderator, but that costs more money too. I wonder if you have been considering that already, because if you are not spending much, they will seem relatively expensive.

Check out AEAC and the AEAC Vlog for a very good review and tuning guide on the Avenger in .22. You can also find a review for the Gauntlet there.

Hope that helped, and good luck.

I have an Avenger and like the gun for the most part. The air tubes seem really thin and the shroud is defiantly delicate imo as is the front part of the stock. Some noise damping tape will help with the pinging hollow sound though. If you plan on getting a moderator (it needs one) and an adapter it will bump you up 150-200. I have been using mine to shoot paper and a skunk or two, but I am not sure about it in my truck or hunting in the woods. It is plenty accurate to 50 yards and I have had 20 grain slugs at 960 fps so it is a fun one.

I see Utah Airguns has the Hatsan flashpup for 399 and it seems a little sturdier to me, or the Benjamin Akela for under 500 from crosman (discount code and friday free shipping). The P15 and other SPA versions look pretty nice too for about the same price range as the modded avenger and have moderators already. I have also been looking at the Walther Ruin as a woods/ truck gun.

I'm from the Big City and am always amazed when people talk about having a nice gun in the truck. Where I'm from, my car and the cars of my friends, even the crummiest ones, have been broken into countless times, and I think of a vehicle as a mobile crackhead-wanted sign. Thinking of putting something nice in it sets my panic sensors off. I think if I were to carry something in it, I'd just as soon have it cheap enough not to bother me if I lose it.

Well,caliber wise,,22 is fine along with the .177 for squirrels with in the parameters you put forth. Both pellet calibers can be very accurate with in specified distance.When it comes to coons and ground hogs I suggest you go larger than 22cal. Those critters can be thick of hide and skull and die hard of will. To put them down as fast and ethically as possible is the reason for the larger caliber (25/30 cal). So what can you get that's multi-caliber for your money? There's Hatsan and FX .Both have alot of info and reviews u can research. Both have good to WOW accuracy. Good and strong and or adjustable power.Service reps,especially FX USA. Both have a variety of models and or concepts. Bull-pup,semi-bull-pup,full-length stock. Just a plug for Hatsan,my little Hatsan Flash bull-pup 22cal (18.13gr JSB pellets) is an easy enuff and adequate tool for squirrel patrol (Warranty?)Good trade value? IDK. If that's a column to check off?,lol. My FX Classic 22cal. Accurate as all get out(18.13 JSB and 18gr AA pellets) but failed to take out critter coon (20yds) as quickly as I'd have liked. And after having owned it for 1&1/2 years it has already broken down (all air leaks out in about 2 hours? and is in needs of repair. The accuracy you can get out of these PCPs will drop-jaw impress.

Benjamin Marauder- with Donny fl makes it a killer out to 40 yards. Plus it is super quiet. 

Benjamin Maximus Hunter. 2000 psi fill for easy hand pumping. Inexpensive. Threaded for LDC

Hand pumping? Seriously? Then you really want the lowest pressure maximum fill gun so the 2000psi Benjamin Maximus Hunter also gets my vote no question. Very cheap with the 25% AGNATION discount code ordered direct from Crosman.com on FRIDAY for FREE SHIPPING. 

Do it my man! I stoped after a few weeks with my first gun, now im back in the game.

Just got an email from PA. They are having a 2 day sale on the Kral Puncher NP-03 in .22 cal for $299. At that price I couldn't resist. The Puncher series has a pretty good reputation and the reviews looked very good. Should be here Friday, we will see.

...I almost bought one of those too...I spent more on parts and repairs for my old CZ S200...

I recently got a Benjamin Kratos and am extremely happy with it. Great value for the money, it shoots pellets and slugs just fine. you wouldn't believe the shot count on low power setting-it's amazing. High power with slugs will get your attention. 

Well Iiiii don't know. The FX Dreamline is a little pricey BUT, a tinkerers dream for sure. Or a devoted solemn meticulous hunter. It comes in 177, or 22,or 25,or 30 cal.Along with adjustable power settings of 3 levels.All u need really,Low,Medium,and High"duh" and can be made into any of the other 3 calibers. AND has set-ups designed for slugs,there ya go.How about that for squirrels that r a wee bit far for a pellet,huh? Put some sling swivels on the classic and it would be a fine rifle to hunt with. I had some concern with repair issues but it is pretty easy to dis-assemble and replace o-rings. There r a few tutorials for the dream out there.