Big bore air rifles

phorizt

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3:48p, 1/9/23

anyone here shoot/hunt with a big bore air rifle now that they are legal in use for hunting in Texas? if so what do you have and what have you hunted with it?

I mainly bowhunt but wanted something a little different to take hog hunting and deer hunting as I've got several setups on my lease that would be perfect for something with about a 75 yard range. I was thinking a single shot rifle in 30-30 or something old school with limited range just because but ended up ordering an Airforce Texan SS(the short suppressed version of this model) air rifle in .457 caliber with a Hawke scope.

I still don't even have the rifle yet as it was back ordered a few weeks but supposed to ship this week. Man these things are as bad as getting into archery with all of the extra stuff you need to get going. I've already ordered 3 different types of ammo(150 grain round, 250 and 350 grain hollow points), a 4500 psi compressor, extra portable tank for refilling, 4000 psi hand pump(to let the kids get an upper body workout) and a few other things. At this point I think I may need to go ahead and get another smaller caliber PCP air rifle to make getting all of this equipment worthwhile lol. Maybe a CondorSS in .25 caliber...

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Animal Eight 84

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4:26p, 1/9/23

AG

I had a Quackenbush .30 caliber many years ago. Beautiful rifle and workmanship.
Sold it after a couple of years.

Large bore Airguns are a gimmick.
No advantage to them, they are just as noisy as a powder burner.
And just as heavy.
Limited on repeat shots.

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Ag_07

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4:30p, 1/9/23

AG

My cousin shoots one as his hog rig.

Can't recall what caliber he has but it's fun as hell to shoot.

phorizt

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In reply to Animal Eight 84 • 4:44p, 1/9/23

Animal Eight 84 said:
I had a Quackenbush .30 caliber many years ago. Beautiful rifle and workmanship.
Sold it after a couple of years.

Large bore Airguns are a gimmick.
No advantage to them, they are just as noisy as a powder burner.
And just as heavy.
Limited on repeat shots.

I get what you're saying but that's exactly what I want. I like making things hard on myself and prefer disadvantages not advantages. Other than when I take my kids hunting I have 0 desire to ever hunt with a regular rifle. I have a safe full of guns but it has been almost 30 years since I have shot anything with one.

I guess I'll find out but everything I've seen shows that the suppressed(moderated) version is significantly quieter than a high powered rifle. I don't expect it to be completely quiet either.

and by that definition anything that isn't a fully auto high powered long range gun is a gimmick bc there is no advantage. Compound bows are gimmicks, crossbows are gimmicks, single shot rifles are gimmicks, lever actions are gimmicks, any caliber that have limited range are gimmicks.

CS78

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5:04p, 1/9/23

You can definitely get them down to suppressed rifle noise levels without having to deal with NFA suppressor BS.

The 30 cal with a 150+ grain bullet is great for braining deer and pigs. Great sectional density with ample penetration. The 45 will do well for lung shots. Just keep the light weight bullets to targets only. They lack the sectional density to pass through and exit a mature deer. You really want to make sure you get an exit because the animal is going to react just like if you shoot them with a bow. Theyre going to run some. Two large holes to leak blood can be critical. My opinion, 300 grain minimum for a flat fronted bullet. 350 grain minimum for a hollow point.

Watchful Ag

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In reply to phorizt • 1:04p, 1/10/23

AG

phorizt said:
Animal Eight 84 said:
I had a Quackenbush .30 caliber many years ago. Beautiful rifle and workmanship.
Sold it after a couple of years.

Large bore Airguns are a gimmick.
No advantage to them, they are just as noisy as a powder burner.
And just as heavy.
Limited on repeat shots.
I get what you're saying but that's exactly what I want. I like making things hard on myself and prefer disadvantages not advantages. Other than when I take my kids hunting I have 0 desire to ever hunt with a regular rifle. I have a safe full of guns but it has been almost 30 years since I have shot anything with one.

I guess I'll find out but everything I've seen shows that the suppressed(moderated) version is significantly quieter than a high powered rifle. I don't expect it to be completely quiet either.

and by that definition anything that isn't a fully auto high powered long range gun is a gimmick bc there is no advantage. Compound bows are gimmicks, crossbows are gimmicks, single shot rifles are gimmicks, lever actions are gimmicks, any caliber that have limited range are gimmicks.

If you like making things harder on yourself - have you tried not hunting around a feeder?

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phorizt

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In reply to Watchful Ag • 7:30p, 1/10/23

Watchful Ag said:
phorizt said:
Animal Eight 84 said:
I had a Quackenbush .30 caliber many years ago. Beautiful rifle and workmanship.
Sold it after a couple of years.

Large bore Airguns are a gimmick.
No advantage to them, they are just as noisy as a powder burner.
And just as heavy.
Limited on repeat shots.
I get what you're saying but that's exactly what I want. I like making things hard on myself and prefer disadvantages not advantages. Other than when I take my kids hunting I have 0 desire to ever hunt with a regular rifle. I have a safe full of guns but it has been almost 30 years since I have shot anything with one.

I guess I'll find out but everything I've seen shows that the suppressed(moderated) version is significantly quieter than a high powered rifle. I don't expect it to be completely quiet either.

and by that definition anything that isn't a fully auto high powered long range gun is a gimmick bc there is no advantage. Compound bows are gimmicks, crossbows are gimmicks, single shot rifles are gimmicks, lever actions are gimmicks, any caliber that have limited range are gimmicks.
If you like making things harder on yourself - have you tried not hunting around a feeder?

yes actually my entire life. No problem if that's what anyone else wants to do just not how I like to do it.

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JSKolache

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In reply to Animal Eight 84 • 9:19p, 1/10/23

AG

Animal Eight 84 said:
I had a Quackenbush .30 caliber many years ago. Beautiful rifle and workmanship.
Sold it after a couple of years.

Large bore Airguns are a gimmick.
No advantage to them, they are just as noisy as a powder burner.
And just as heavy.
Limited on repeat shots.

Lots of folks with criminal records cant buy firearms. They can buy these, black powders, cross bows, etc. Gimmicky vs. federal law workaround depending on specifics...

1