I was in a competition when I was a boyscout. They gave us large HEAVY air rifles with a large lever on the side. Pulling the lever charged the gun and opened the breach. You had to place one shot at a time in the chamber. After the pellet was loaded you pushed back the handle and took your shoot. I don't know the make, but I would consider getting one. They were fast and very accurate, but they didn't seem cheap at all. They felt like a real gun compaired to the crossman toys we grew up with.
I've also fired a nice one that broke open at the barrel "shot gun style". It opened, charged it and again you loaded one shot. Not as nice as the competition rifles, but still felt like it was quality built. I wish I knew the names so I could track them down.
Loading each shot could be a pain, but the single charging action made up for it. Those old ten pump guns drove me nuts.
I don't think I'd drop $1,000 for an air rifle. I could add an ar to the closet fo that, but I'd do $3-400 some something good enough to put a rabbit or duck in the pot and have relatively safe fun with my son.