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Thread: large bore PCP air rifles for hunting

  1. #1
    muddywater Guest

    large bore PCP air rifles for hunting

    PLEASE...no PETA responses !! ;-)


    I live in a rural area ( but still city limits ) in the northeast ( Mass ) where more than plenty of deer & turkey frequent my backyard.

    I am an avid bowhunter, but have been following the rise in large bore hunting air rifles. I am an ethical hunter and would only be interested in hunting large game ( deer & turkey ) if I can make a clean, humane kill.
    99% of the time, I only take shots ( gun or bow )within 30-35 yards.

    Does anyone have any experience or insight with these big bore PCP guns ?
    ( Sam Yang Big Bore 909 ( .45 caliber) or the ShinSung Career Dragon (.50 caliber )

    Pyamid Air seems to be the only online dealer who carrys them. I know Quackenbush and Barnes are two additional large caliber airgun manufacturers, however, they are custom guns which are very expensive

    I appreciate any feedback

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Nov 2003
    Location
    Stockholm-Sweden
    Posts
    745
    In Sweden, bow hunting is illegal.......

    Hunting with airguns is resticted to small game, up to magpie.

    However, big bore airguns are classed the same as 22LR if they have the same power (150J/115fpe).

    So, I guess that any game that You would hunt with a 22LR is fair game for a big bore airgun?

    We don't have any (wild) turkeys in Sweden, but birds of similar size reguire a 22WMR and deer require a centre fire rifle (222Rem).
    FX2000/RWS Excalibre
    FX Typhoon/Logun Solo
    Stealth 9mm
    Crosman 3540 (9mm)
    Lots of Brococks......
    Springfield 1911 A1 Distinguished Custom .45ACP
    Smith & Wesson 29-2 .44 Rem Magnum
    Smith & Wesson 24-3 3" .44 S&W Special
    And a few hunting rifles....

  3. #3
    muddywater Guest
    thanks for the reply Mike -

    check out this site from one of the BBS forum members -

    http://www.adventuresinairguns.com/Whitetail.html

    I reference the site because I understand there is a rise in big game airgun hunting in the US. I just want to make sure its humane & ethical. From what I keep reading, large bore PCP airguns are capable of shooting some very heavy( 225+ grain ) pointed pellets around 600fps. In close enough range, a head shot would be deadly ( I think ? )

    Thats why I hope folks who are familiar with this airgun technology will write in and add some comments

  4. #4
    draftsmann Guest
    Welcome to the forum. I'm afraid there might not be too much informed comment on big bore airguns here as this is a British forum and the minimum legal muzzle energy for shooting deer is way above even the most powerful exotic Barnes or Quackenbush; furthermore bowhunting of any kind, including crossbow, is banned in Britain.

    Needless to say that will not prevent us gaining some vicarious enjoyment from reading about other shooters' use of high powered / big bore airguns in other countries.

    Adrian

  5. #5
    PrestonLadInUSA Guest

    Well, as ever, it's all about shot placement. It's been awhile

    since I read Gary Barnes' wild-boar-hunt story but as I recall, it took two shots from his 500+fpe airgun to drop 120-130lb-er and others have done similar. But these were gut-shots.

    About a year ago, I dropped a 260lb wild boar with my 9mm Career/90grn round-nose bullet and it dropped INSTANTLY. This is a combo that produces 130fpe when set to full power but in this case I had it set two notches down from maximum (variable power gun) as that was where I got the best groups and I ONLY go for head shots (I didn't Chrony it at this setting so I don't know the actual ME).

    It was a perfect shot, right behind the ear. As it was a very hot day, we whisked the thing off to the local meat processing place and had them remove the head right away to see what damage had been done. As the pellet/bullet had passed straight through the head, I dont know how it turned out but it had certainly made a mess of the pig's spine...it was just a mush.

    I was one of nine hunters that actually shot a wild boar during this weekend hunt and I was the only one with the 'overgrown BB gun' whereas the other guys had conventional stuff (center-fires, bows) but everyone agreed that mine was the cleanest kill of all.....because of the headshot.

    My buddy got the shot on the DV camera and it's pretty cool to watch as you can actually see the pellet in flight before it disappears in to the boar's noggin. I have the movie uploaded to my 'Xdrive' on the net so anyone interested in downloading it can email me at michaelcraigwebster@hotmail.com and I will email back with a download link.

    Oh I forgot to mention that I am typing this during a quick tea-break from deer hunting with my Sam-Yang Big-Bore 909, .45 (saw it mentioned above). I was planning to use my newly arrived .25 Daystate Air Ranger (GC laminate stock) but I have grouping 'issues' so I don't yet trust it for the intended head-shot.


    Cheers!

    Craig W.
    Last edited by PrestonLadInUSA; 28-11-2004 at 07:41 PM. Reason: Addition

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Nov 2003
    Location
    Near Ayr Scotland
    Posts
    1,157
    Firstly, welcome to the board.

    I came across a US site some time ago which showed some air rifles that produced in excess of 600 fpe and were .50 calibre.

    Dont know how accurate these things were but I'm sure with that power and pellet size/weight a well placed head shot from a sensible range would be capable of dropping both dear and turkey. I'll do a search and see if I can find the web site and post a link.

    Happy shooting....Ian

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