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All Springer/NP/PCP Air Gun Discussion General => PCP/CO2/HPA Air Gun Gates "The Darkside" => Big Bore AirGun Gate => Topic started by: Jawbreaker 38 on June 09, 2011, 01:17:19 AM
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I'm starting to gain interest in big bores, mainly for hunting boar and coyote, I can't legally hunt deer in my state, but I'd like to have a big bore for deer hunting in other states. I know I could just get a Gamo and take down elephants, but I don't want to go that route. I've never handled any big bores and don't know anything about any of them. I'd like to get the best shot count to power average, but the other thing I'm concerned with is ammo availability and what caliber is going to give me the most choices and be readily available. I'm thinking that with the Rogue coming out shortly that 9MM/.357 air rifle ammo will be in constant supply. I currently have 2 Careers and an Evanix, but only in .22 and .25 cal., I've been more than pleased with my Korean rifles. I know there's supposed to be an Air Force big bore conversion coming out soon, but as with the Gamo option I don't want to go that route. So, can some of you who have had experience in the big bore department give me some input?
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I'm starting to gain interest in big bores, mainly for hunting boar and coyote, I can't legally hunt deer in my state, but I'd like to have a big bore for deer hunting in other states. I know I could just get a Gamo and take down elephants, but I don't want to go that route. I've never handled any big bores and don't know anything about any of them. I'd like to get the best shot count to power average, but the other thing I'm concerned with is ammo availability and what caliber is going to give me the most choices and be readily available. I'm thinking that with the Rogue coming out shortly that 9MM/.357 air rifle ammo will be in constant supply. I currently have 2 Careers and an Evanix, but only in .22 and .25 cal., I've been more than pleased with my Korean rifles. I know there's supposed to be an Air Force big bore conversion coming out soon, but as with the Gamo option I don't want to go that route. So, can some of you who have had experience in the big bore department give me some input?
Don't let anyone tell you any different: whichever route you go, ammo is already in "constant supply". You will find a bunch of boolit supply links on this forum.
Taking into consideration that you included wild boar along with coyote, I'd say go with a .45 of some sort rather than .357. Since you have been more than pleased with your Korean guns, a tuned 909S isn't a bad place to start, nor a tuned 909 for that matter if you are wanting another shot or two at the expense of a little top-end. If you want more power/flexibility than that, go with the ultimate bigbore and get a .45Ranger
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.357 ammo is huge out there, Rogue or not Rogue, there's allready so much ready avaiable.
Are you thinking of more short rage head shot type of hunting or longer distance heart/lung shots ?
If you thinking of going the headshot route .357 is a good caliber,...whatch out for the new .357 Evanix coming out.
202s, 707 Ultra and the new Sam yang .357 are good guns
if you thinking heart/lung than I would go bigger caliber, againg the Sam Yangs .45 and .50 are good, relible, accurate, affordable rifles
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I'm thinking more along the lines of 50 yds and out, .45 or .50 cal. is starting to become more appealing over the 9MM/.357.
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I have a Dragon Slayer 50 that shoots a 180 gr, round ball with an average over a 10 shot string at 564 fps. High 583 fps and low 531 fps. N.P. says that is a little low and the rifle is in need of a tune which it will get later. I would not hesitate to use this on a coyote as it is now but hogs, well I don't think so unless it was small and not more than 50 yards away.
Gary
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In my humble and unbiased opinion (yeah right!) I would say go with the 9mm. It gives you more velocity for more range for heart/lung shots on coyotes and head shots on hogs. I suggest this because you want to hunt both coyotes and hogs. If you wanted to just shoot hogs I would say a .45 or .50 but with coyotes a little extra range can't hurt thats why I chose a 9mm.
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I'm thinking more along the lines of 50 yds and out, .45 or .50 cal. is starting to become more appealing over the 9MM/.357.
If you are wanting to shoot coyotes and hogs out past 50 yards, the .45Ranger from XP-Airguns is the way to go. That would be a legitimate 100+ yard airgun with the velocity it produces shooting medium-to-heavy slugs. The standard 28inch barreled version will be PLENTY for coyotes/hogs (even very large hogs) as it throws 230grainers at 1100+fps, and a 416grain .45-70 style slug at just over 900fps (around 750fpe!) and will still be relatively portable thru the brush with the 28inch barrel. It shoots .45Colt boolits of .452 diameter, which are available just about everywhere you look. Plus you can adjust the power in three levels. Proven accurate (very accurate) with a wide range of boolit weights from 154-416grains.
There is a very long, and very informative 20 page thread about the Ranger over at the TAG (Talon forum). It appears to be the best thing running in higher-end bigbore airguns available on the market at this time. Interchangeable barrel/air tube lengths, adjustable power (from lots, to a whole lots :D), quality engineering/materials/coatings, stellar customer service (this is a big one for me), dis-assembles in practically no time, etc.
The performance numbers given on the XP Airguns site are from the rifle as delivered. Velocity goes up 50+fps after the break-in process.
http://www.xp-airguns.com/Home_Page.php (http://www.xp-airguns.com/Home_Page.php)