If 3000 psi is your limit, then a Bulldog might be good. The Seneca guns are also 3000psi and have similar power levels, but might be easier to mods for more power, but less shots.You could look at pre modified Pitbull or the previously mentioned bulldog based guns.I'm not sure what the AEA guns will do on lower pressures, might still get more power, not really sure.As far as the ergonomics of a bulldog, it has features that are good (flat top AR sights), but the bolt position is horrible. They should have used a connecting rod and made a side lever near the grip, or a pump style. Otherwise it is a good platform that produces the advertised performance. Leave it stock, shoot the Nosler ammo, and you will be pretty happy. Other really good rounds are many of the Griffin boat tail slugs. Also the 125 grain Lee 356-125-2R in pure lead, but run it hot or they may be under size. People use .356 pellets in 80grains, and they are OK at shorter distances, spin rate and diameter are factors here. I've used other .356 Seneca rounds and accuracy is only OK at short range, never took them farther because it just gets worse from there.All that said, the newer Benjamin Gunnar in 45 is supposed to be good, but you'll wait several months for it to be done. There is a new Kral .357 that Troy Hammer is now importing, it might be worth a serious look, especially a tuned one from his shop.And finally, yes I have hand pumped my Bulldog, it gets tiring after a few times at the range, but you can do it. A compressor is much nicer! I suggest one that runs on AC or 12 volts DC. I have both a Benjamin hand pump, and what used to be a $35 China pump, both work fine. Now that the China pumps have doubled (or more), I probably wouldn't consider one. With a combo you could probably get a bulldog and Benji pump for similar to bulldog and China pump.
I think you may find the 3000psi, carbine, and 300fpe may be fighting each other. Longer barrels generally = higher power.Higher pressures generally = higher powerOn 3600 you might be able to get there with 357, but probably more like 45 or 50. I may find out with a higher pressure air tube, still not sure.I think 300fpe is out of range for a Bulldog, if you get there, it will be a 2 or 3 shot fill and probably $1000 in total expenses. I think 200fpe is a better upper range for the Bulldog, or only about 20-30 fpe increase and all I want to get to on mine.The AEA Big 9 is up around 300fpe at 4.5k pressure, I think it gets 6 shots up there.Not sure what the AEA Challenger gets in 50cal, it might tick more boxes.For purely big game hunting, right now I'd buy the Umarex Hammer and learn to live with it. For coyotes and other "small" game, Bulldog is versatile with the 180fpe with the Nosler and down to around 100fpe with 84 grain NOE cast hollow points. If you keep the Bulldog stock, it will perform day after day within its specs with no drama, it's a several year old known device with good parts supply.
My .45 AEA is shooting 3 tight shots at 3600. It’s dead horse heavy. But being a pup helps level it out. Just received my FX radar today so I can get some speeds with different slugs. I wouldn’t suggest it as a first big bore rifle. But it sure is fun to shoot. What ever you do, don’t buy a Hatsan .45 Bully as a first big bore. I have mine shooting pretty nice. But I have put enough money and e in it to buy 3 guns. I also have a .40 Badger that’s been a great deer rifle. But it’s long and clumbersome in a blind. As much as I hate the looks of the Airforce rifles, they are at the top for a reason.
Quote from: Airgun-hobbyist on December 30, 2021, 09:48:41 AMGo with the design of gun you like best, that is also most accurate. I like shorter light bullpup style and would be inclined to get a modified and tuned Benjamin Bulldog from https://www.veradiumair.com/ for deer and hogs down there. They are powerful and accurate enough for any shot placement on deer and can put a hog down with accurate head shots behind the ear without worry. There is several long gun manufacturer's that make quality and accuracy a priority also. But almost all have to be single loaded. I am not a fan of that for hunting. The magazine and it's capacity for decent length of slug is another reason for choosing the Bulldog.Stay away from the .45 Challenger Bullpup for now untill the factory gets the barrel bore dimensions correct. I have a .45 Challenger Bullpup that was all the rave when it came out, but it is not as accurate as it should be. The barrel bore is way too big to be accurate with any standard sized ammo. Going up to the correct sized slug has tightened it up some, but not to any reasonable standard of accuracy. The are really heavy for a deer hunting rifle as well. Not sure I agree with staying away from the Challenger. I have only had mine for a couple weeks now. I DO agree it’s a boat anchor. But I am shooting from a blind or bench and not doing a long carry. I have been using NSA 300gn hp and powder coating them. I am getting clover leafs at 75 yards. That is tethered mind you. I have run 6 different slugs through it so far from 147 which is nice for using the mag to 330gn. It does like the heavy stuff. Waiting on some Mr Hollowpoint slugs to show up. Just got another mold in the mail today to try.
Go with the design of gun you like best, that is also most accurate. I like shorter light bullpup style and would be inclined to get a modified and tuned Benjamin Bulldog from https://www.veradiumair.com/ for deer and hogs down there. They are powerful and accurate enough for any shot placement on deer and can put a hog down with accurate head shots behind the ear without worry. There is several long gun manufacturer's that make quality and accuracy a priority also. But almost all have to be single loaded. I am not a fan of that for hunting. The magazine and it's capacity for decent length of slug is another reason for choosing the Bulldog.Stay away from the .45 Challenger Bullpup for now untill the factory gets the barrel bore dimensions correct. I have a .45 Challenger Bullpup that was all the rave when it came out, but it is not as accurate as it should be. The barrel bore is way too big to be accurate with any standard sized ammo. Going up to the correct sized slug has tightened it up some, but not to any reasonable standard of accuracy. The are really heavy for a deer hunting rifle as well.
Quote from: DLP on December 30, 2021, 02:23:30 PMQuote from: Airgun-hobbyist on December 30, 2021, 09:48:41 AMGo with the design of gun you like best, that is also most accurate. I like shorter light bullpup style and would be inclined to get a modified and tuned Benjamin Bulldog from https://www.veradiumair.com/ for deer and hogs down there. They are powerful and accurate enough for any shot placement on deer and can put a hog down with accurate head shots behind the ear without worry. There is several long gun manufacturer's that make quality and accuracy a priority also. But almost all have to be single loaded. I am not a fan of that for hunting. The magazine and it's capacity for decent length of slug is another reason for choosing the Bulldog.Stay away from the .45 Challenger Bullpup for now untill the factory gets the barrel bore dimensions correct. I have a .45 Challenger Bullpup that was all the rave when it came out, but it is not as accurate as it should be. The barrel bore is way too big to be accurate with any standard sized ammo. Going up to the correct sized slug has tightened it up some, but not to any reasonable standard of accuracy. The are really heavy for a deer hunting rifle as well. Not sure I agree with staying away from the Challenger. I have only had mine for a couple weeks now. I DO agree it’s a boat anchor. But I am shooting from a blind or bench and not doing a long carry. I have been using NSA 300gn hp and powder coating them. I am getting clover leafs at 75 yards. That is tethered mind you. I have run 6 different slugs through it so far from 147 which is nice for using the mag to 330gn. It does like the heavy stuff. Waiting on some Mr Hollowpoint slugs to show up. Just got another mold in the mail today to try.I would love for my barrel to get a clover leafed group of that size at 75 yards. Your's is is a sub-MOA barrel. With my Bullpup's barrel, I would not hit a deer in the heart if aimed directly at it at that range. The groups are well over 6" at 100 yards. There are some that bought a Challenger with good barrels, and I along with others ended up getting a bad one. It seems most owners are content with their level of accuracy but I am not. I have done a lot and spent more to chase accuracy with it and have closed the groups up a bit, but nothing comes close to being accurate.
Back when I ordered my Challenger SL .357 AEA didn't have any side lever actions, I would probably go for the 45 Cal sidelever action today if I was buying one. I don't know the exact bore or twist rate of the new 45's because if they're like the ones that Bob (Mr. Hollowpoint) tested, shooting slugs sized to .457 shot really good. I realize they're a heavy gun but they'd definitely get the job done. What I wonder is are the magazines deeper on the side lever actions.