GTA
All Springer/NP/PCP Air Gun Discussion General => PCP/CO2/HPA Air Gun Gates "The Darkside" => Big Bore AirGun Gate => Topic started by: C.ALLS on November 16, 2015, 02:52:08 AM
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As some of you know I've been talking with a lot of Maryland DNR and NRP agents over the past few months. My first phone call was to a local DNR agent about the gray area in the big game hunting regulations for the state of Maryland. The regulations state airguns are not legal to use for big game BECAUSE none are currently available that can meet their crazy 1200ft/lbs of muzzle energy requirements. I explained to him that there is some airguns that could meet the requirements (on helium) does that mean I'm legal for big game and while he didn't have an answer he was very helpful with getting me to someone who would. Fast forward a few days and I'm getting calls from a few different people at the DNR and NRP headquarters. Most of them are asking me if I understand the difference between FPS and FT/LBS of energy because apparently they've been down this road before lol.... Luckily I have all my ballistics memorized and they soon realize I'm not your average idiot lol....
So a week or so later the head of deer biology for the state of Maryland calls me and gives me the go ahead on harvesting what will be the first airgun big game in the state of Maryland. I have to say of all the people I spoke to at DNR and NRP they were all very helpful and worked hard on helping me find my answer. There was even a few people who were into PCPs but had no clue of the power some of the big bores were capable of.
So a quick call to Brent at Extreme and the .72 is to my door in less than 4 weeks. I decided to go with a short gun because I hunt in the thick woods and don't enjoy navigating a 50 inch rifle in the dark through the woods. He assures me that with even a short 22" barrel I'll break the 1200ft/lbs mark. So a 22" barrel and 20" charge tube are my go to.
So the gun arrives the same day as my 10 pound box of .72 caliber hollow points from non other than Mr. Hollowpoint. I get everything together and the numbers don't lie folks. Even with my 22" barrel I tuned this rifle for 1350ft/lbs and it gives me 2 shots. I eventually backed it down to 1220ft/lbs on a 4200psi charge and I'm getting 2 full power shots with a 3rd finishing shot. There's nothing better than shooting a 530 grain Hollowpoint at over 1000fps and touching holes at 50 yards. That's pretty Extreme IMO and the rifle is only 42" long lol...
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Sweet!!!! We need pics! That gun sounds awesome.
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Holy &^^&. That's like, insane. We need pics now.
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Sounds like a monster for sure, good luck👍🏻
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What kind of performance is available on air instead of Helium?
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What kind of performance is available on air instead of Helium?
Well this setup is far from efficient IF you want max power and trust me I've tried everything. If you want max power on air you're looking at a 1 shot rifle between 700 and 800ft/lbs depending on slug weight and barrel length. Now I managed to get 3 shots within %4es that were a little over 500ft/lbs with a 20" charge tube. I know 500ft/lbs is 500ft/lbs but there's something about this gun that makes 500ft/lbs hit like double that and it's probably the fact the slug is .72 inches in diameter lol....
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Im certainly impressed with that rifle, however equally impressed with your perseverance and approach on getting the approval of the DNR. Im sure your work will pave the way for many folks there, congratulations! Chris
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I really wish this would have sparked a re-evaluation of Md's ridiculous restriction on airguns....
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That is great!!!! I wish we could use our Air rifles here in Tx. to hunt deer. We can take exotics but no game animals. I've shot hogs but can't shoot a javelina!!
The Extreme .72 is a MONSTER!!!!!! Mr. HollowPoint has taken Elk with his .72 one shot kills. I own the Extreme .457 that Brent used in the Helium Hogs and Airguns vid. He guaranteed it not to leak with helium. Man, the FPE doubles in these guns with helium. I have yet to use mine with helium, she is a beast on HPA that I don't see a need for it. I have an Oryx, Fallow, and Axis hunt lined up in a few weeks with my Extreme .457 I will be using 4200psi fill and 280gr Mr. HollowPoint ammo. She is sighted in at 85yds and with the same POA I'm getting the same POI clover leaf groups on one fill 3shots. I wish I could figure out how to post pics to show the groups at 85yds. I'm new to the GTA and computers lol. Best of Luck on the very first deer to be taken in Maryland with an airgun!!! And what an Airgun you will be using!!!!!!! Please post pics
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How far of a shot do you feel you can take on deer?
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I have taken many deer and other animals at 100 yards breaking both front shoulders in my opinion 100 yards should be the max range for air rifles of this power and for the lesser power I would not recommend that far my rule is if it can not break both shoulders than it is to far I have customers taking game at greater ranges but these are the rules I follow when hunting. Don't get me wrong if that 170 class buck shows at 150 I will put him down but it will be a rib cage shot with the hollow point because I am sure it will be a pass through at 150. For shooting 150 and above at big game I would strongly recommend solid nose bullets if you try for a rib cage shot and hit it in the shoulders the solid will pass through both shoulders making a clean kill. Again this is my opinion shooting the extended ranges for big game should be left to a powder burner but I do have people exceeding the 100 yard range with clean kills on big game but you better be a good shot have a range finder and know your rifle to be doing it.
Brent Hoag
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I've always thought of a shoulder shot as a way to break down dangerous game. Not game meant to be eaten. Far too much meat ruined for me.
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How far of a shot do you feel you can take on deer?
I haven't done any long range testing yet. I can say for certain that if a deer is inside 100 yards I'm %100 confident it's hitting the dirt. I was shooting the rifle today off shooting sticks and touching holes at 50 yards with the 530 grain bullets. At 100 yards I was DESTROYING my 3.5" steel gong but I haven't shot for groups at 100 and beyond YET.
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That is great!!!! I wish we could use our Air rifles here in Tx. to hunt deer. We can take exotics but no game animals. I've shot hogs but can't shoot a javelina!!
The Extreme .72 is a MONSTER!!!!!! Mr. HollowPoint has taken Elk with his .72 one shot kills. I own the Extreme .457 that Brent used in the Helium Hogs and Airguns vid. He guaranteed it not to leak with helium. Man, the FPE doubles in these guns with helium. I have yet to use mine with helium, she is a beast on HPA that I don't see a need for it. I have an Oryx, Fallow, and Axis hunt lined up in a few weeks with my Extreme .457 I will be using 4200psi fill and 280gr Mr. HollowPoint ammo. She is sighted in at 85yds and with the same POA I'm getting the same POI clover leaf groups on one fill 3shots. I wish I could figure out how to post pics to show the groups at 85yds. I'm new to the GTA and computers lol. Best of Luck on the very first deer to be taken in Maryland with an airgun!!! And what an Airgun you will be using!!!!!!! Please post pics
Yea I own three Extreme rifles and they DON'T leak period. My .308 has had thousands of rounds go down the barrel and most of them was by way of helium AT over 400ft/lbs and the gun has never given me any issues. And as far as using helium do yourself a favor and stay away from it lol.... I never thought I'd have a need for it until I pulled the trigger on my .408 the first time and sent a 230 grain hollow point down range at 1300fps or 860ft/lbs! I shot a fox with that setup and it looked like Thor smacked it in the face with his hammer!
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KnifeMaker I agree it does waste a bit of meat but like where I hunt farm fields with only the edges being wooded and close to the property lines it causes me much less headaches putting them down on our property and not dealing with the city neighbors trying to steal my game. I must have the option to bust them down and on the off chance I am aiming behind the shoulder but hit it in the shoulder it is quick and clean either way. But hey we all have diffrent wants and needs with the air rifle we choose that is why I say there is a place for every air rifle in the hunting world.
Brent Hag
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Here is a pic of Chris's Extreme 72 cal!!!!
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C.ALLS that is too funny! These Babies are GREAT GREAT AIR RIFLES!!!! It's a huge pleasure to shoot my Extreme .457 and .308 accuracy is superb and the guns handle so nice, I am excited on taking some predators with the .308 and .457. If been shooting out to 150yds with no trouble what so ever. I never knew that a man could have so much fun blowing up water bottles with a Big Bore Air Rifle!!!!
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Texas has a very well thought out law regarding retrieving game animals shot on the property your hunting on if and when it crosses onto other land. Not only are you allowed to retrieve it, you are required to by law.
The property owner of the land the animal has crossed onto, is also required to not interfere with you. It would come under Interfering with a legal hunt. Which is a HUGE "NO-NO in Texas. (Just ask what can happen to some of those Pot and Pan bang'n Anti Hunters that tried to stop Deer hunting here a few years ago). Little did the do gooders know that they were committing a felony in Texas.
Still, after all these years, landowners try to interfere. Most often by telling the hunter trying to retrieve their game, that they are trespassing.
Usually they call the game warden, only to find out they if anyone is going to jail.,it is them. LOL!!! You are not required by law to notify the land owner that you are crossing the property line. Which in Texas, makes sense, as many time the property owner can live hundreds, if not thousands of miles away. A lot of absentee property owners here.
The only time I will use a shoulder shot, is when the brush is so thick that there is literally NO possibility of tracking.
I suspect that the (Mostly) lost art of tracking is a big reason shoulder shooting is so openly talked about these days.
I run into a LOT of hunters, and would be shooters these days that are in no why true woodsmen, or even decent hunters. Especially the I only shoot during Deer season, and then only one or two weekends a year type. They are without doubt, one of the most dangerous things in the woods today.
Knife
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WOW.
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Here is a pic of Chris's Extreme 72 cal!!!!
Does the gun have much recoil?
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Here is a pic of Chris's Extreme 72 cal!!!!
Does the gun have much recoil?
Maybe not so much as an air rifle, but as a powder burner that thing may kill on both ends. It would have to have one heck of a muzzle brake. It'd be cool to see a video of it in action.
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Here is a pic of Chris's Extreme 72 cal!!!!
Does the gun have much recoil?
Lol.... it has a healthy push but not a kick.
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KnifeMaker I wish Michigan would have some rules like that here if there is a discrepancy between property owners you have a 50/50 chance of a ticket and loosing your animal.
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It's the same here in Maryland. My neighbor shot a deer on his property a few weeks ago and it went about 400 yards before piling up on our property do to poor shot placement. He tracked the deer to my property line and even though he knew I would be okay with him retrieving the deer he called me right away and asked BEFORE he did. I couldn't live somewhere that allowed people to just come onto my property whenever they wanted. *(&^ I might put that 735 grain slug in that deer's ear hole lol....