Yes. We are a crazy subculture. Lots of folks in the US now hunt with Pre Charged Pneumatic (PCP) rifles which achieve much greater energy than spring powered ones but are also much more expensive and require a bunch of accessories. PCP guns are now available in 9mm, .45 and .50 cal. as well as the more normal .177, .22 and .25 Some of them generate more than 200 ft lbs of muzzle energy and are used for big game hunting.
Small game hunting with air rifles is very popular in the UK and other parts of Europe where firearms are very restricted (overly restricted IMO). The UK places a limit on the muzzle energy generated by air guns, capping it at 12 ft lbs, if your rifle generates more energy than that it is considered a firearm and you need to obtain a FireArms Certificate (FAC) to use / own it. Hence people hunt with 12 ft lb rifles. In .177 about 38 yds (yeah, they've got it to that much of a science) is the accepted limit for a shot on a rabbit.
Few states allow you to hunt Turkey with a rifle of any kind. California allows hunting with shotguns and airguns above .20 cal. The benefit is that the max effective range, even for magnum turkey shotgun loads, is about 25-30 yds and once you shoot if you miss the turkey will see the muzzle flash and be out of there. With a high powered air gun you can increase your useful range to about sixty yards (further with some PCP's) and shoot with pinpoint accuracy. Spring guns and shrouded barrel PCP's are very quiet and produce no muzzle flash so if you miss your quarry it often doesn't even know its been shot at. This is where PCP's really shine as many of them are repeaters or bolt actions which can be reloaded with a minimum of movement. Reloading a spring gun for a second shot is trickier but can be done.
Airguns are considered (even PCP's, if you use a hand pump instead of a scuba tank or compressor to fill them) "man powered weapons" like a bow, spear or boomerang and that is a big part of their attraction to me. Plenty of pellets for a full days hunting or plinking will fit easily in your pocket and cost about $10. I personally (and my crazy survivalist alter ego) really dig the self containedness of spring guns. I also enjoy taking them apart and "tuning" them. Another advantage IMO is that they are man powered and shooting a magnum springer for a couple of hours will really give you a workout. Since I started shooting them the strength in my left arm is almost equivalent to my right.
