GTA

All Springer/NP/PCP Air Gun Discussion General => PCP/CO2/HPA Air Gun Gates "The Darkside" => Big Bore AirGun Gate => Topic started by: redlined_b16a on February 15, 2022, 03:22:16 PM

Title: Benjamin Bulldog .457 looks interesting
Post by: redlined_b16a on February 15, 2022, 03:22:16 PM
https://youtu.be/YrfMsqDrBYM
Title: Re: Benjamin Bulldog .457 looks interesting
Post by: Greg_E on February 15, 2022, 05:10:15 PM
I got a Pyramyd ad today, going to be above $1000 and it mentions a gravity fed 3 shot magazine which makes me think it is only 3 shots at 450fpe. That seems a little low, but I guess the air tube also isn't that big so maybe.

From another thread it is .457 and the max length of projectile might have been around .750 (but I could be wrong).

Also from that other thread, you can not directly swap a 457 barrel into your old 357 Bulldog, they had to change the receiver to handle a thicker barrel and probably different transfer port location/size. That said, they'd be fools if they didn't make a 357 version on this new receiver so you could swap back and forth. Probably a 3 shot, 300fpe in 357 tune that a few people might really want, and cheaper than buying a Pitbull modified and tuned old BD357. They should also do a 257 on this new platform, probably under 200fpe but it could be whizzing along above supersonic for long range target shooting or small game.
Title: Re: Benjamin Bulldog .457 looks interesting
Post by: Pellethuntr on February 15, 2022, 05:59:54 PM
Good to see Crosman on the scene with another big bore. I agree with what Greg said, they would be making a mistake not making .357 barrels for it.
Title: Re: Benjamin Bulldog .457 looks interesting
Post by: MisterAP on February 15, 2022, 06:13:41 PM
https://www.benjaminairguns.com/airguns/big-bore/bulldog-457 (https://www.benjaminairguns.com/airguns/big-bore/bulldog-457)

$1100
3 shots 760 fps
3k PSI
Title: Re: Benjamin Bulldog .457 looks interesting
Post by: Spacebus on February 15, 2022, 06:20:50 PM
Not bad! It's not a Texan competitor, but definitely a solid effort from Benjamin. Sticking with the Bulldog form factor was definitely a good move. I wonder how well they were able to dampen the muzzle report.
Title: Re: Benjamin Bulldog .457 looks interesting
Post by: FuzzyGrub on February 15, 2022, 06:34:32 PM
They just announced at Shot Show and here it is already.  :)   

Not sure I could come up with a use, outside of a log splitter.  ;)

It will be interesting for what parts can swap back to the 357. 
Title: Re: Benjamin Bulldog .457 looks interesting
Post by: bear air on February 15, 2022, 07:31:33 PM
I wonder how close they were to that ballistics gel lol.
Title: Re: Benjamin Bulldog .457 looks interesting
Post by: TroyHammer on February 15, 2022, 08:15:47 PM
Welcome10 is 10% off plus free ground shipping
Title: Re: Benjamin Bulldog .457 looks interesting
Post by: LegionAir on February 16, 2022, 01:34:01 AM
They should also do a 257 on this new platform, probably under 200fpe but it could be whizzing along above supersonic for long range target shooting or small game.

Rich Dudek makes a .257 bulldog with a TJ barrel. Not a bad price either https://www.airgunrevisions.com/product/benjamin-bulldog-257/ (https://www.airgunrevisions.com/product/benjamin-bulldog-257/)
Title: Re: Benjamin Bulldog .457 looks interesting
Post by: Eskimo_Airgunner on February 16, 2022, 03:27:01 AM
Agreed, and think it is interesting that the Gunnar was or is going to be offered in .45 but not .357.  I thought for a moment one line was possibly absorbing the other but I guess not?
Title: Re: Benjamin Bulldog .457 looks interesting
Post by: bear air on February 16, 2022, 06:20:16 AM
Not a fan of the bulldog design. I sure wish crosman would make a big bore rifle in a classic configuration or bottle gun.
Title: Re: Benjamin Bulldog .457 looks interesting
Post by: Wayne52 on February 16, 2022, 06:47:43 AM
I got the same email from them yesterday, it's tempting but deer season is a ways off yet.
Title: Re: Benjamin Bulldog .457 looks interesting
Post by: FuzzyGrub on February 16, 2022, 08:44:22 AM
Wayne,

Don’t you mean elk or bear?  :D

Here in NY, they proposed big game Airgun use a number of years ago.  But, it was never approved.  Not sure what the opposition was, or if it just didn’t have the support.
Title: Re: Benjamin Bulldog .457 looks interesting
Post by: Wayne52 on February 16, 2022, 08:55:56 AM
Wayne,

Don’t you mean elk or bear?  :D

Here in NY, they proposed big game Airgun use a number of years ago.  But, it was never approved.  Not sure what the opposition was, or if it just didn’t have the support.

If I bought a 45 cal that means there's good options for .457 molds available, I would much rather cast whatever I might be shooting.  By the way I read that email I can get a 10% discount if I buy one, it is tempting though.  I do like the AEA big bores and they're about the same weight as the Bulldog and I do like the wood stocks on them as well, who knows what will be for sale right around August is what I'm thinking by the way that AEA is pumping out newer guns continuously.
Title: Re: Benjamin Bulldog .457 looks interesting
Post by: Greg_E on February 16, 2022, 10:25:25 AM
Wayne,

50 cal might be better. 3 shots at 450fpe with 45 or 3 shots at 600fpe to 700fpe with 50 (.510)? We all know that the original 357BD would take deer and larger if you hit the right spots, and do it at only 185fpe and with nearly 10 shots worth of air, but is bigger better? Some states require a certain power level, some require a certain caliber (or larger).

So we have:

457BD at up to 450fpe

Hammer at up to 700fpe

50 cal AEA at around 400+fpe

AEA S45 at ?

I think I remember the Bushbuck 45 being rated at over 400fpe

Airforce is up there, but I don't know what the energy is, at least 400fpe in 45



I did note that in the video they had it listed as 457/357 so I'm guessing there will be a BD 357 mk2 built on this chassis and it will possibly hit 300fpe for a few shots. We know this is possible from third party work, so it would make sense that Crosman builds a mk2 357 on this same chassis (but we've already discussed this).
Title: Re: Benjamin Bulldog .457 looks interesting
Post by: Spacebus on February 16, 2022, 10:36:20 AM
Wayne,

50 cal might be better. 3 shots at 450fpe with 45 or 3 shots at 600fpe to 700fpe with 50 (.510)? We all know that the original 357BD would take deer and larger if you hit the right spots, and do it at only 185fpe and with nearly 10 shots worth of air, but is bigger better? Some states require a certain power level, some require a certain caliber (or larger).

So we have:

457BD at up to 450fpe

Hammer at up to 700fpe

50 cal AEA at around 400+fpe

AEA S45 at ?

I think I remember the Bushbuck 45 being rated at over 400fpe

Airforce is up there, but I don't know what the energy is, at least 400fpe in 45



I did note that in the video they had it listed as 457/357 so I'm guessing there will be a BD 357 mk2 built on this chassis and it will possibly hit 300fpe for a few shots. We know this is possible from third party work, so it would make sense that Crosman builds a mk2 357 on this same chassis (but we've already discussed this).

I think the Texan .457 is now 400 FPE in the old version short barrel and over 700 FPE with the new TX2 valve, CF tank, and long barrel. It's also the lightest in the 400+ FPE group. The Evanix Rex Ibex .50 cal is pretty impressive in power while also being very light, a bit pricey though.
Title: Re: Benjamin Bulldog .457 looks interesting
Post by: Pellethuntr on February 16, 2022, 11:09:18 AM
The problem I see with AEA is parts availability especially down the road. At least with Crosman I know I can call them up and have a part to my door within a week.

Food for thought, I know not everyone cares about fixing their own airguns. Anything mechanical that I spend more than $200 on I expect to be able to use it for a long time and that usually means replacing parts on occasion. I recently bought a sub $300 Savage Axis rifle, it shoots close to MOA and I killed a number of deer with it this year. I fully expect to pass it on to my 5 year old some day. I expect the same from an airgun.
Title: Re: Benjamin Bulldog .457 looks interesting
Post by: Spacebus on February 16, 2022, 11:15:29 AM
The problem I see with AEA is parts availability especially down the road. At least with Crosman I know I can call them up and have a part to my door within a week.

Food for thought, I know not everyone cares about fixing their own airguns. Anything mechanical that I spend more than $200 on I expect to be able to use it for a long time and that usually means replacing parts on occasion. I recently bought a sub $300 Savage Axis rifle, it shoots close to MOA and I killed a number of deer with it this year. I fully expect to pass it on to my 5 year old some day. I expect the same from an airgun.

From all accounts parts are easy to get, but I agree, it's not like ordering from Crosman. Even other American airgun manufacturers, Like AirForce, don't have the amazing parts resources that Crosman has, they really have a special niche.

This is just a personal anecdote and hardly indicative of Crosman as a whole, but the only rifle I have that is difficult to deal with is my only Crosman. The rest of my rifles are Chinese or Korean (not sure on the Daisy) and only the Korean rifle has had zero issues. My Chinese guns only started leaking when I started tinkering, but they haven't had a leak since I got them dialed in and stopped opening them up. The only hard to get thing for my SPA guns are barrels, but that wasn't the case not that long ago. Haven't had to get anything for my AEA yet, but the vendor is very responsive to email.
Title: Re: Benjamin Bulldog .457 looks interesting
Post by: Pellethuntr on February 16, 2022, 11:34:00 AM
From all accounts parts are easy to get, but I agree, it's not like ordering from Crosman. Even other American airgun manufacturers, Like AirForce, don't have the amazing parts resources that Crosman has, they really have a special niche.

This is just a personal anecdote and hardly indicative of Crosman as a whole, but the only rifle I have that is difficult to deal with is my only Crosman. The rest of my rifles are Chinese or Korean (not sure on the Daisy) and only the Korean rifle has had zero issues. My Chinese guns only started leaking when I started tinkering, but they haven't had a leak since I got them dialed in and stopped opening them up. The only hard to get thing for my SPA guns are barrels, but that wasn't the case not that long ago. Haven't had to get anything for my AEA yet, but the vendor is very responsive to email.

I am glad to hear AEA has been good about parts, I want an AEA .45 in the worst way but I will never buy a gun again that I can't easily get parts for. I am less than impressed with Air Venturi. It has been months and I can't seem to get a hold of anyone about getting a part for my 909. I was recently talking with a friend who is working for a start up company that bought out a few smaller airgun companies. They are bringing a few of their own gun designs to the market this year and he was asking me what I thought. I told him I like the specs and the price point but what about parts availability? He said he has been pushing for a huge parts resource since he started with them. They are listening. I told him if he could make a section of their website dedicated to ordering parts directly with no calling or emails he would have a winner. Time will tell where they land with it but if they can do that I will become a fanboy!
Title: Re: Benjamin Bulldog .457 looks interesting
Post by: LegionAir on February 16, 2022, 12:01:10 PM
Very easy to get parts for AEA. Bin(main distributor) sent them to me for free, didn’t even charge for shipping
Title: Re: Benjamin Bulldog .457 looks interesting
Post by: Eskimo_Airgunner on February 16, 2022, 12:59:32 PM
Not a fan of the bulldog design. I sure wish crosman would make a big bore rifle in a classic configuration or bottle gun.

That's just it, last year when the Gunnar was being unveiled by Crosman, it was supposed to also be available in .457.
Title: Re: Benjamin Bulldog .457 looks interesting
Post by: Eskimo_Airgunner on February 16, 2022, 01:02:31 PM
Wayne,

Don’t you mean elk or bear?  :D

Here in NY, they proposed big game Airgun use a number of years ago.  But, it was never approved.  Not sure what the opposition was, or if it just didn’t have the support.

If I bought a 45 cal that means there's good options for .457 molds available, I would much rather cast whatever I might be shooting.  By the way I read that email I can get a 10% discount if I buy one, it is tempting though.  I do like the AEA big bores and they're about the same weight as the Bulldog and I do like the wood stocks on them as well, who knows what will be for sale right around August is what I'm thinking by the way that AEA is pumping out newer guns continuously.

I cast for my .357 Bulldog, 106 grain SWC, 127 grain RFP, 155 grain Keith HP and 173 grain Keith bullet.  I make them from pellet lead dug out of a back stop so that they will deform and mush up well.
Title: Re: Benjamin Bulldog .457 looks interesting
Post by: Spacebus on February 16, 2022, 01:33:28 PM
From all accounts parts are easy to get, but I agree, it's not like ordering from Crosman. Even other American airgun manufacturers, Like AirForce, don't have the amazing parts resources that Crosman has, they really have a special niche.

This is just a personal anecdote and hardly indicative of Crosman as a whole, but the only rifle I have that is difficult to deal with is my only Crosman. The rest of my rifles are Chinese or Korean (not sure on the Daisy) and only the Korean rifle has had zero issues. My Chinese guns only started leaking when I started tinkering, but they haven't had a leak since I got them dialed in and stopped opening them up. The only hard to get thing for my SPA guns are barrels, but that wasn't the case not that long ago. Haven't had to get anything for my AEA yet, but the vendor is very responsive to email.

I am glad to hear AEA has been good about parts, I want an AEA .45 in the worst way but I will never buy a gun again that I can't easily get parts for. I am less than impressed with Air Venturi. It has been months and I can't seem to get a hold of anyone about getting a part for my 909. I was recently talking with a friend who is working for a start up company that bought out a few smaller airgun companies. They are bringing a few of their own gun designs to the market this year and he was asking me what I thought. I told him I like the specs and the price point but what about parts availability? He said he has been pushing for a huge parts resource since he started with them. They are listening. I told him if he could make a section of their website dedicated to ordering parts directly with no calling or emails he would have a winner. Time will tell where they land with it but if they can do that I will become a fanboy!

Talk to Will P. of https://sites.google.com/site/saddlemountaingunsmith (https://sites.google.com/site/saddlemountaingunsmith) for Senca/Sam Yang rifles.

I agree that a Crosman style parts website is king for repeat buyers.

Wes almost has that with SPA parts, but he doesn't always have everything available, but that's no fault of his I'm sure.
Title: Re: Benjamin Bulldog .457 looks interesting
Post by: redlined_b16a on February 26, 2022, 07:36:22 PM
https://youtu.be/nlUT7ljbVxo
Title: Re: Benjamin Bulldog .457 looks interesting
Post by: Greg_E on February 26, 2022, 10:23:31 PM
I'm surprised the one in the thumbnail still has the cover over the fill port, most of them break the first time you remove them. I put a generic cap on my 357.
Title: Re: Benjamin Bulldog .457 looks interesting
Post by: redlined_b16a on February 27, 2022, 09:02:05 AM
The fill port location is a pain to shoot teathered.
Title: Re: Benjamin Bulldog .457 looks interesting
Post by: bear air on February 27, 2022, 11:42:05 AM
Can't wrap my head around why crosman refuses to make a traditional rifle in big bore caliber. Not a fan of the bulldog design.
Title: Re: Benjamin Bulldog .457 looks interesting
Post by: Nomadic Pirate on February 27, 2022, 12:13:58 PM
Can't wrap my head around why crosman refuses to make a traditional rifle in big bore caliber. Not a fan of the bulldog design.

Same here, they have the platform..........or for that matter .22 .25 and .30
ditch the Marauder and build around this platform, no need to go to Turkey either to bring in their guns.
Title: Re: Benjamin Bulldog .457 looks interesting
Post by: Ironman482 on February 27, 2022, 12:18:35 PM
I too would appreciate a traditional stocked bulldog , but dang I've taken 7 deer with my 357 BD so I can't bad mouth it to much.with the technology today you'd think someone would have come up with a affordable replacement stock by now.
Title: Re: Benjamin Bulldog .457 looks interesting
Post by: Greg_E on February 27, 2022, 01:00:26 PM
I still find it odd that they didn't put a linkage on the lever and move the charging handle forward!

I'm sure the lack of traditional rifle stock comes from wanting to keep the assembly to a shorter size, a stick would put it out at 40+ inches long, much like the Hammer (44 inches). Walking around in the woods could prove more difficult with a longer rifle, but I think many people would accept it and prefer it. Not for me, but that's fine, we can enjoy it is different ways. All I want is either a forward charge handle, or a pump mechanism.

Of course with only 3 shots, is it really needed to move the handle? Probably not. Like the Hammer, this is not really a go shoot targets gun.