I have had a Beeman R1 with a Beeman scope for more than ten years. It is powerful, accurate, convenient, and very well made. The quality is far better than all the other air rifles I have ever had. It will penetrate clear through a small animal, jack rabbit or cat size, at fifty yards, and will group just over one inch at that range. I use it for target practice in my basement too. Seriously, it is not a toy. It's a life-long keeper.
The recoil can be a challenge to deal with. Not that it is heavy or painful or anything like that. But it vibrates when you shoot it. First, the spring-air piston moves forward, causing the rifle to recoil backwards. Then the piston stops, causing the rifle to recoil forward, then the pellet and air accelerate and exit, causing the rifle to recoil backward again. Again, this is light and not at all unpleasant. But it does move the rifle enough to affect your aim, and it happens slowly enough that you will need to work on your hold and follow through.
A good pre-charged pneumatic can be more powerful and accurate, but considerably more expensive and less convenient. If you use your rifle for pest control, you're likely to leave it near the back door for days or weeks at a time, waiting for a shot. I wouldn't want to leave any air rifle, including a pcp, cocked and loaded or charged with compressed gas for that length of time. A pcp will take a while to charge up, and the pest may be gone by the time you're ready to shoot. The spring-air rifles, on the other hand, will take only a few seconds to cock and load.
The Sheridan Silver Streak I had when I was a kid was nice too, but nowhere near as powerful or accurate or fast to charge. All the Crosmans and cheap imports I have had are junk by comparison.
