How do I get started???

[herbieusmc]

I had never heard of taking big game with anair rifle... So I have some questions, how much gear do you need to maintain this sport? Is it easily accessible?

Are these airguns loud?

What's the max range to harvest game with these?

And how much can someone expect to spend on getting set up with a big bore?

Thanks!!

[JonnyReb]

 Hi Herbie, glad you saw us and stopped in.

 On the easy and less expensive side, you can get set up pretty inexpensively, for a pcp gun at least. The most popular bigbore is made by a korean company called Sam Yang, they make a .45 caliber single shot that uses .457 diameter roundballs(141?gr.) and fills with either a hand pump or a scuba tank@ 3000+psi. This gun will take up to deer at close ranges and is legal for big game in many states.  If you buy used you can pick one up in the $400 range, new they are about $550-600. They are ugly imo but work well and are more accurate than you'd ever think. They shoot anything from the round balls to 300+ grain cast slugs, and generate 160-200 ftlbs of energy. A $200 tune can jump them up to 250-300ftlbs. In addition to the slugs and gun, you'll have to purchase a hand pump, (anout $200-300) depending on make, or a scuba tank with a filling regulator/adapter and hose.($225 complete on the low side). So used, i could see a real deal concious shopper to put together everything for about $650.00. If you just bought everything new you'd spend maybe $900.00

  If you look at the BigBore info sticky at the top of the page, you can check out all the current manufactured BigBores, custom makers and ammo. Of course by getting into the higher end guns and by going with a carbon fiber 4200+psi tank instead of the less expensive 3000psi steel tanks, or an electric air compressor, you can quickly spend thousands of dollars, but gain considerable performance.  http://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php/topic,9085.0.html


Here is the .45 sam yang and a pcp filling station, you'd buy a scuba tank local if possible to save shipping and to insure that someone is willing to fill it(scuba shop)   Good to have you stop in BB gate, hopefully you'll get more info once some other folks see your post, let us know if we can help in anyway, J

https://www.pyramydair.com/product/seneca-big-bore-44-909-light-hunter?m=394#productDescription    or...
https://www.pyramydair.com/product/seneca-big-bore-909s?m=516#productDescription
https://www.pyramydair.com/accessories/pcp-parts/hand-pumps   or...
https://www.pyramydair.com/product/air-venturi-scuba-tank-yoke-k-valve-adapter-hose-assembly-1-8-bspp?a=534#productDescription + your own tank ($130-150 steel)($400+ carbon fiber)
 ammo:  http://mrhollowpoint.com/6764.html

 CAUTION GRAPHIC!!!  : Bigbore hunting link..  http://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php/topic,9145.0.html

[JonnyReb]

 To get slightly more indepth into your question i want to mention that as of this moment it's not quite as easy as it used to be to get into bigbore, it seems that there are no guns being imported in right now so buying is either a semi custom proposition or you have to find a used one. If you have any further intrest in a particular gun, let us know and we can keep an eye out for used ones on the various AG classifieds some of us scan on a regular basis. This goes for anyone. Also, to answer your question more simply, all you need is a gun, the filling probe that comes with it and a hand pump. Plus some slugs and you are ready to shoot.  J

[herbieusmc]

I've been looking more into it and it seems way to more expensive than what I expected.  Looks like a BLAST!!!   But way more than what i would spend.   Thank you all for the advise and I will keep this on he back burner, not a done deal... But, for now...  I'll stick to archery and burning powder..   Thanks again!!!!