Big Bore Airguns

[Crock Pot]

I have a question about big bore airgun hunting.  Where I live there is more large game than small (small virtually non existent).  I am relatively new to air gunning and know nothing about big bore airguns.  I am also a bow hunter of many years and enjoy the challenge and that is what has attracted me to airguns.  So my question is what size game can be harvested humanely with these big air guns (shot placement obviously taken into account) and at what sort of distances and is there an airgun anyone would recommend for large pigs (100kg plus not uncommon).  I am used to stalking in close to make a shot but I am also wondering about the effective range too.  I shot this boar the other day with my bow from 15yrds and the other one popped up behind me while I was fishing and got to five yards before it smelt me.  I only had my camera so I shot it with that. Oh! and how loud are they too.

P.S the time where I am is 5.40pm at time of this thread so if i am slow in replying the time difference is why....just in case anyone thought i was being rude.

[dave2288]

well, there are those who like the quackenbush(spelling?) big bore airguns(he makes all of the guns he sells...and from what i've heard, they're extremely effective), and others go to websites and order a career dragon slayer .50 cal airgun, or a big bore 909(one from samyang, one from shinsung...both korean) and use them, or maybe even get them tuned a bit, but they work quite well also...personally, i wouldn't want to wait for my rifle to be made, cuz i'm impatient, haha, so i would go with a korean rifle...probably the .50 cal, and then get it tuned to get a little more power.  if you go to pyramydair.com, click on tips and tricks on the left, on that page should be a review of the dragon slayer and a little bideo on the bottom of the page.  as for noise, i've heard that they are as loud as a centerfire, and kick pretty hard like a shotgun, but i personally have never shot one.  there are also two 9mm rifles on pyramydair's website...check em out...as for the quacjenbush rifles, just do a google search, and i'm sure you'll find his website...i know there is another gentleman that makes bigbores, but i can't remember his name...maybe someone else could chime in on this...

hope i helped

Dave

[Crock Pot]

Thanks Dave,
I have never heard of anyone with one in Australia, so I will have to do some research. I had a look and that Dragon Slayer - looks good.  I will keep making enquiries.  It sounds as if they are loud though.  Another animal that is causing a lot of havoc where I live are feral dogs and I think a Dragon Slayer would be perfect. Not sure about a Water Buffalo!

[leftcoast1]

Quackenbushairguns.com shows a 2000 lb buffalo shot at 55 yards with a .457 quackenbush air rifle. 3noon has a couple bigbores and he has a video floating around here somewhere that is a hunt he did with his Quack.

[gamo2hammerli]

I guess my .177 springers just wouldn't cut the mustard with those big boars.  :o)  Neither will the .22's that others have.  Good shooting with the bow by the way......

[Crock Pot]

I have Humble Gamo 440 .177 which I dearly love but due to the lack of small game like those cool squirrels or ground Hogs I have become interested in perhaps getting a big bore airgun too.  I am a bit excited about someone getting a buffalo with one.  To me the thought of creeping up to one of these beasts with one shot to make or break is scary but cool.  I have done it with a bow from 40 yrds but now my main interest lies with airguns.  The stalking bit (which is the same as with the bow) is a great part of the fun and that's why im not interested in conventional firearm hunting.  This is a photo of an average size Bull Buff  I took while fishing from about 40yrds.

[gamo2hammerli]

I wouldn't want to tick that big guy off!!!!  :o)

[Crock Pot]

Yeah! you really would want full confidence in your gear before you annoy one.  I know of blokes up here who have had their vehicles bent into bananas by angry Buffs.  But boy what a challenge with an airgun.

[3n00n]

Getting a Shin Sung .490" /.495" {50cal} or Sam Yang 909 {.454" =/- .003"}are possibilities, or gettingBig Bore Bob Dean to twist upa DAQlike a few here are,is a slightly more difficult proposition.

`

Remember thisisn't a bicycle tire either. Timat 150# {70kg}has difficultycompressing the hand pump at 2400 psi, so he is thinking about SCBA tanks. For me at about 200#{90kg} it starts getting difficult at about 3000psi, but I already have SCBA and a compressor.

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Here is an old thread & a thread about BBBob DAQ stuff, but remember this stuff ain't your grandads Daisy Red Rider.

[Crock Pot]

Those things look GREAT! Boy! that is a lot of pressure.  I am a bit heavier since my boxing days (125kg) and need the exercise Ha Ha.  How many shots would 3000 PSI give? also what would you recomend for someone starting out. Rough $$ too.

P.S i could not look at the Video File on my work computer so I will have a look when I get home. its 2.46pm here.

Thanks,
Rob

[3n00n]

The BBBob DAQ operate at 3800psi for maximum power, butdifferent systems can be set up.

`

Prices are according to how 'custom' andthe energy levels. Lets just say my 1995 Toyota truck cost less than any of my BBB DAQ customs . . . the truck also cost less than the compressor and one SCBA tank.

`

Not so cheap, but is sure alot of fun . . .

[Crock Pot]

Hmmmmmmm I wont bring it up to my wife just yet then (new baby almost here) ha ha.  What weight projectiles do you use and what MV do you get? Do you think you could roll a Buff with one?  looking at what i have seen I am sure a pig would be no problem and it would be great on feral dogs.

[3n00n]

http://www.bigboreairguns.com/20mmshort.wmv

`

On a 2200psi fill, the 20mm pushes a 1005 grain slug at 900fps, so just a matter of acquiring a bit of unobtanium through the unusual channels. Iwas privileged toshoot Cecil Whitesides 20mm just before he sold it, but don'town one myself.

`

I'm prettysure the 20mm would roll just about anything . . .

[Crock Pot]

WOW! I agree, heaps of power, With a slug that big going that fast i think it would roll anything we have here.  So that big slug is still subsonic,  is it very loud? and what do you hunt with it where you are?

[DEALERMAN]

Read my story here:

http://talonairgun.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2569