GTA
General Discussion To Gateway To Airguns => Airgun Gate => : Gene_SC March 28, 2010, 02:40:49 PM
-
Well I have followed the big bore guns lightly over the last couple years. I personally think that the small game hunting sport is growing more each year with the popularity of the PCP's and Magnum Springers. I think that we are at the end of the power rating with springers that are made for small game hunting. As the sport increases many of our sportsman hunters are looking for bigger game and pushing the limits with whatavailable and affordable through the large air gun manufacturers.
With that being said the next step would be the Big Bore PCP's, which seem to slowly increasing in popularity. Guys like Quackenbush, custom hunting PCP's like the OutLaw Air Rifle and other models. Probably now in my lifetime but many others of you will see the day when you can order one of this comparable Big Bores from Pyramyd Air and other online retailers.
I can also see in the future some of our most popular GTA Hunters taking down Bison..:)
http://www.bigboreairguns.com/07bisonhunt.htm (http://www.bigboreairguns.com/07bisonhunt.htm)
Just some thoughts that are running across my slowly deteriorating brain cells...:)
http://www.quackenbushairguns.com/LA_Outlaw.htm (http://"http://www.quackenbushairguns.com/LA_Outlaw.htm)
-
Gene, I think you are right about the power scale going up and the game size as well. My only issue with them is that you will spend more money on them than you will a powder burner. Sure you can spend easily a thousand on a decent powder burner with scope, but it will hold its value for years to come if you ever decide to bail out of the sport. While the powder burner is more expensive to shoot, it is also pretty much always ready to go. :)
I've been pondering buying one for suburban shooting of bigger game. The main reason is that while they make a decent amount of noise, they still probably aren't as loud as a shotgun or centerfire. Coyotes are on the rise in the suburbs and I think that a big bore air gun would be ideal for shooting them. I've thought of a bow or crossbow, but they don't put them straight down usually. They hit them and the prey runs off before it expires. The other reason is of course safety. I'm not sure how far the bullet will carry,but surely it isn't as far as a center fire or a .22.
Maybe next year, if the economy bounces back, I can get one. My business isn't as healthy as it used to be and I think my wife would kill me if I spent any more "gun" money. :)
-
The ongoing quest for the Airgun hunter bigger airguns to stalk bigger game. :) I still get odd look's from folk's when I tell them that I hunt with airguns hehe. :o :) Ed
-
That is nuts! I couldent imagine a 2000 lb buffalo with an airrifle.
-
Gene, my thoughts on the big bores. Compared to a Shadow 1000, the Quackenbush used in the "buffalo hunt" seems like Big Medicine. So do guns like the "Dragon Slayer" (good thing there really are no dragons, BTW!) These big bore shooters should try a black powder rifle to gain perspective. The .457 500 grain bullet at 700 fps is, to many muzzle loaders, a target load. 400 - 500 grain black powder bullets usually clock around 1400 fps. Even the cursed in-line guns shooting 240 grain pistol bullets are producing more power than most of the air guns.
But, getting away from the technical aspects, should the day come when you can buy a high powered air gun from PA, you will be seeing them regulated to some extent. And that regulation my have a trickle down effect all the way to the current springers. Something to think about.
Just a side note on buffalo, etc. Sometimes the trophy photo doesn't always tell the tale. I read of a hunter's quest for the North American Big Five, one of which is bison. He first had to enter a lottery and, after winning, was allowed to shoot a bull being culled from the herd. The animal was penned and the "hunter" shot it from an adjacent blind. Contrast that "hunt" to a fellow black powder hunter I knew who went after wild boar down in Mississippi using his Lyman Great Plains rifle of .54 with a 450 grain conical atop a very stout load of powder. He shot the boar through the shoulder and chest as it broke from cover about ten yards away, charging him. The animal continued past for another thirty yards. This was not one of the "pork freight trains barreling through the woods" variety. It measured longer than the man was tall when hung from a large tree limb for dressing out. Funny how these darned air guns hit so much harder.
-
The Bison was shot on a ranch in Texas and required 2 shots both inside of 100 yards. They are very cool but I feel too much coverage and everything down to the airsoft guns are likely to end up on a federal form. Hell if they can change the amount of votes need to pass health care just imagine what they can do to the shooting sports industry
-
Just my thoughts air-guns will never out gun a center fire. point being my 22-250 will launch 45 gr. bullet at 4100f.p.s my 300win. mag a 200gr. bullet at 3200 my 47-70 500gr. 1800f.p.s. & none of this loads are really hot. I don't think you could keep an air shooter together at high speeds & pressure. as far as us allowing our gov. too reg. or take our weapons!!!!!! please, please stand up and be heard so few stand for so darn meany (STAND THE HELL UP!!!!) its our gov.!?!!. Sorry about rant it's just me, parts of my ass & mind went for our rights & I as one will die on my feet than bow my knee! oh and boucned shoots from a Big bore air will go as far if not farther than a center-fire, just look at 12ga. 1 oz slug moveing so slow,its bounch is as long if longer than a high speed shell.
-
Well I have seen first hand what a big bore is capable of. As far as powder burners and air guns go that is comparing apples to oranges..:)
Here is a clip where the game is not tied to a post or tree. This is not staged.
http://www.gatewaytoairguns.com/bbaonline2.wmv
-
I didn't know ZZ Top hunted.
-
Eskimoes hunt Polar Bears with .223's, also. Use enough gun, please.
-
Just so happens the guy you call ZZ top is a good freindof mine. His name is J Woodcock. Many members here on the GTA know J very well.
-
nothing like z.z. top (man I'm getting old) I wrote above gene & I still stand on my thoughts, but that reel is a eye opener,effective shot ,looked too be around 60yds or so, I believe I heard him call a shoulder shot ,fell like it was brained! would you know cal. wieght of projectile & vel. .I would really like too see pen. & deform of projectile. rather impressive!! but if you know please post. and if mr.woodcock also shoots i.d.p.a. ,s.a.s.s. I believe we meet tell him (THE DRIFTER) says yo.P.S. mr. redfeather is right on one thing please use enough gun air or powder
-
SORRY JUST ONE MORE THING (I kind of promise) lewis & clark had a big ? bore air with them dosn't seem alot of progress has been done with air as have been powder? I'm wondering why after that shot!
-
If you can do it with a bow and arrow then you can do it with a big bore . Only thing is in many states it is not legal as it is with a bow . I have friends that take elk with a bow every year . They now how to hunt and get close to their game . That is were thw big chalange is for big bore hunters as well . Buy the way you better hurry up and buy a couple before the price goes up . And while you are shopping around take a look at Haleys store .
http://www.southernairgunconversion.com/
By the way big bores are a lot of fun . I enjoy makeing my own bullets as much as shooting the rifle . Marvin
-
Nice looking guns, horribly coded website :D
-
Its not the coding on the site. the site is down. Jack has be revamping his big bore rifles trying to get away from the QB platform. he's been down a while not sure what he's up to.
-
Jack has not made the QB conversions for quite some time . He just offered the rifle again but it apears that he has decided not to make them again . But it looks like he has some kits for the DIY QB ownwe . He has a good line of made in America self built rifles now . I think he still offers a .25 , 308, .32 , 452 , 457, and .458 caliber . They are not the Qb conversions by any means . I have a 32 and have a .452 on order . The 32 is as good of workman ship as I have seen . It shoots .43 grain round balls at 1148 fps and 100 grain conicals at 900 fps with no mods . Marvin
-
Two things.
1) Lewis and Clark did have an air rifle. It was used for small game and to impress the Indians. No way could it have been considered a big bore for large game.
2) You can't compare rifles to arrows. If the bullet doesn't expand very much, it will only create a narrow wound channel. People think that, since arrow shafts are slender, it's about the same wound channel but that is not how they work. Arrows kill more by internal hemorrhaging. Those blades are rotating and slice through a lot of blood vessels. You can put a .22 bullet through an animal and it will keep going strong. An arrow from a modestly powered bow will kill it, although not on the spot.
Gene, meant no disrespect to your friend. Wish, myself, I had half as much hair as ZZ Top.
-
LOL Red, I would be glad to donate some of my hair any time..:)
-
http://www.air-rifle.net/history/history.html
-
i too was looking into big bore rifles but im not a big game hunter and dont think i will venture into that area so ill keep it simple and go small bore aka airforce condor triple A style i like the fact you can fill up 2 or 3 air canisters and take em with you plus a triple A is pushing 80/90 fpe plenty for me if i do venture into bigger il just buy a real deer rifle but for what i plan and need small bore is good enough also roy weid has a nice gallery of custom pcp pistols and rifles im pretty sure he can do big bore if requested.
-
No offense, but a .51 round ball is NOT deadly at 100 yards. The Brown Bess wasn't absolutely deadly at that range (and at approximately three times the weight and high velocity.) The two barrel gun described in the link with the .40 "big game" barrel begs the question "big as in what?" It took a fine shot with a .40 black powder gun to take deer sized game and at short range. Look, I like air guns, too, but the early "big bore" air guns were just not that powerful.