The use of air rifles for small game hunting has become quite popular as of late. Heck, some custom manufacturers will even build you a big bore air rifle for medium game hunting, for the right price. But, the one thing I've never seen in the airgun world is an air pistol capable of hunting even small game. Has anyone heard of any air powered handgun that you'd trust has enough power for hunting, say, squirrels?

Depends on what "power" you feel comfortable using at the distance you find the squirrels. Some folks use pistols that have at least 500 fps (hopefully more) in .177 cal. (at least 7.9 gr. pellet) at very close range. Some folks use say 400 fps or more with .20 or .22 cal with at least 13-14.3 gr. pellet. Look at Crosman or AirArms, Falcon, but there are other makes as well. Go to https://www.crosman.com/get-hunting/hunting-with-airguns , this should get you on your way!...Good luck, it is fun!

Also, check out this site http://www.network54.com/Forum/79537

I went with a Browning 800 Express in 177. It's a bit heavy, accurate, for its limited use. Sky's the limit with air guns. For the money it fit my needs.

http://www.pyramydair.com/s/m/Browning_800_Express/1857

I have a Beeman P-1 (spring piston), IIRC it shoots a 7.9 gr. pellet 550+ depending on pellet.

I have only used it for pest birds and does fine up to 40 yds.
I would not hesitate to use it for Squirrels or Cottontails , taking head shots at appropriate ranges.

It is comparable in power to pneumatic pellet/BB rifles I used as a kid and they killed many a Squirrel and Cottontail!

I have taken numerous raccoons at 20 yard head shots with several different air rifles. Never used an air pistol but I sure don't want to be shot by one based on the rifle's performance.

Maybe consider a 1322 or 1377.
Airgun Nation site may have some answers or even you tube.

I picked up a couple 22 cal air rifles and took about 20 cottontails and a couple snowshoe hares with them last winter. I was looking at pistols first but was not sure they had the power to make clean kills. I was looking for a 12ft lb minimum which is what everything I read recommended for rabbit size game with airguns.

What kept pushing toward rifles instead of pistols is that pellet velocities listed by most manufacturers are much higher than velocities you can expect to get with a hunting weight pellet. The velocities they list are attained with lightweight alloy pellets. Even when they list a lead pellet velocity its usually a light pellet not intended for hunting.

I learned this with the first "adult" airgun I picked up. It was a 22 cal Crosman Shockwave with the Nitro Piston. They advertised a lead pellet velocity of 800 fps (alloy 950fps). The actual velocity with a 14.3gr pellet through my chronograph was 626fps. That's quite a bit slower than I expected. I didn't want to see that kind of power loss in a pistol which are already listed with lower velocities.

The pistol I was most drawn to was the Benjamin Marauder. There are many videos on youtube of people taking squirrels with them. I prefer a gun with open sights which it doesn't have. My son has a Crosman 1377 thats a fun gun to shoot and very accurate. I prefer a 22 cal and looked at the 1322 but the velocity drops with the heavier pellet. There are shops doing modifications on both the Marauder and the 1377/1322 to increase their power. I'm not trying to push you away from air pistols. This is just why I haven't settled on one yet.