FLEX .30 field test and Review

[Gr8Gorilla]

Gr8Gorilla, get close and go for the headshot. Drop it where it stands and spare yourself a hike.

I think white tail deer move their head almost constantly. It is definitely a lower percentage shot, even close. I understand if the opportunity arises that's the way to go. I figure if a 22 lr can get it done with a body shot under 50, we have a bigger hole and the same Fpe, maybe more.

[Bullfrog]

My neighboring state, Alabama, made white tail and hogs legal with .30 & larger air rifles. The state line is less than 2 hours away. Now, I just don't know about a head shot on a deer. I suppose at under 50 yds a .30 70-75 grain would still be carrying over 100 FPE at the target. My guess is that barring a Double shoulder hit, a heart/lung would be total pass thru. They say 45 ft/lbs is enough for white tails with a bow. I know they have a bigger wound channel and do lots of damage but I think the .30 can still do the job. Thoughts?

I would say so. .35 can do it with no problem if the power is there. You need enough power to pierce both lungs with a good broadside hit and a big enough hole that the lungs won't re-seal and re-inflate. Based on the numbers I've seen with the .30 Flex, I think the Flex could do it no problem. Your issue is going to be what kind of blood trail you get, and you're not going to know that until you try. No harm in trying if you're legal and stand a reasonable chance at being successful. You may find that the deer only consistently run under 30 yards before they die. Or you may find they run very far and leave little or no blood, just like they do with some otherwise good high powered rifle hits. Have a good blood trail dog on standby the first time you kill a deer with the Flex and if you find that .30 just doesn't cut it, just don't try it again.

Don't rule out headshots. Headshots are very doable on deer when they are either eating off the ground or staring intently at something. Poachers have been stacking deer up with .22LR brain shots for decades. I'd keep it close so that the deer won't have time to flinch between the sound of the shot and the impact of the pellet like they might with a bow string. But also think about how much faster a pellet is flying than an arrow is. Within 50 yards you should be fine. Just be very judicious to time your shot with the body language of the deer. And I would try a double lung shot first before the head shot just because its a higher percentage hit than the brain shot. Don't want to shoot the deer's jaw off.

[Nomadic Pirate]

I think we need to send many a new tape ruler, the weather there has go the best of his lol!!!  David

Right ?

my tools take a beating

[Gr8Gorilla]

I have heard of poachers and legal hunters in at least one state taking deer with boiler room shots from a 22 lr consistently.

I think at some point gun and or ammo manufacturers influenced and inflated the accepted minimum FPE for killing game animals to sell more guns and ammo

[Nomadic Pirate]

I think at some point gun and or ammo manufacturers influenced and inflated the accepted minimum FPE for killing game animals to sell more guns and ammo

BINGO !!!!!!

[Tomg]

That and the fact that not every "hunter" is an ethical or good hunter. So to ensure a "safe" kill you raise the FPE for a better margin.

[Bullfrog]

I have heard of poachers and legal hunters in at least one state taking deer with boiler room shots from a 22 lr consistently.

I think at some point gun and or ammo manufacturers influenced and inflated the accepted minimum FPE for killing game animals to sell more guns and ammo

I agree with you generally that there is a mythology propagated out there concerning what will and will not cleanly kill large game that tends to lean towards discounting smaller and weaker rounds in favor of sometimes overpowered rounds.

However hearing of people taking deer with .22LR with body shots is new to me. I come from a long line of Florida backwoods poachers and yet was also raised by an honest game warden. I've also prosecuted my fair share of poaching cases. I've seen both the outlaw and the law enforcement sides of it and I know most of the tricks of the trade. Never heard of poachers using .22LR for body shots. The number 1 rule of poaching is don't leave sign of your activities. Number 2 rule is to take the animals as efficiently as possible so you can get them butchered and the meat packed out quickly. It would seem to me that body shots with a .22LR would rarely result in an instantly dropped animal and would leave little or no blood trail to easily follow, especially at night. A poacher doesn't want to be trailing something all over the woods. That leaves more sign of the poacher's passing and is very inefficient. I'd be surprised if it was a common practice.

[Bullfrog]

... but back to the original topic... the .30 Flex impresses me more the more I learn about it.

[LEE IN VA.]

How much does the flex weigh?

[oldpro]

7lb 14oz

[Sfttailrdr46]

  The Flex and Slayer are both high on my want list and after the holidays I will have one or the other in my possession as my medium game hunter. I will be trying to get some coyote up near my in laws next spring

[Gr8Gorilla]

The Flex and Slayer are both high on my want list and after the holidays I will have one or the other in my possession as my medium game hunter. I will be trying to get some coyote up near my in laws next spring

I had the same issue and chose shot count. I'm about to order another barrel or 2. A longer, 25" or 24.5" unchoked .30 barrel and maybe a 7mm not sure yet.

Also the ability to shoot pellets wss important. Slayer is a slug gun.

[WHITEFANG]

😉
The FLEX seems to be an on going up coming gun now after the intro.
 A freak gun that has already proven many factors in the making off a great gun. So much more to come.
Pellet and slug barrels, different calibers.
Yet the Slayer is one nice profile gun?
 The .30 cal has taken wings and attention to many makers now. Many brands offered and many out there that are HOTRODDERS!😨
So many choices. The FLEX is now a contender on the market. The gun is on the charts, on paper at many distances and NP  video on records of all of the gun in action.
Congrats Travis and Jim!!🎯

Talk about is heavy and great for sales plus the new possibilities.  JMO

FANGSTER

[Tater]

😉
The FLEX seems to be an on going up coming gun now after the intro.
 A freak gun that has already proven many factors in the making off a great gun. So much more to come.
Pellet and slug barrels, different calibers.
Yet the Slayer is one nice profile gun?
 The .30 cal has taken wings and attention to many makers now. Many brands offered and many out there that are HOTRODDERS!😨
So many choices. The FLEX is now a contender on the market. The gun is on the charts, on paper at many distances and NP  video on records of all of the gun in action.
Congrats Travis and Jim!!🎯

Talk about is heavy and great for sales plus the new possibilities.  JMO

FANGSTER

Totally agree. It's been amazing watching along the way as it all came together. Congrats Travis and Jim, much success to you.

[Tomg]

Much kudos to Jim and Travis!!!
THe flex will shake things up, no doubt.

[WHITEFANG]

It want because it has already has!!🙈🙉🙊

AR furniture and all the adjustments for lop and scope focal.
Plus so many options of angle of the rear butt to fit you. As I have posted on other posts. You can angle the rear but off center and make a good fit to your own body and shoulder as the AR was designed  for with the  collar and lock design.
Many options out there.
But the gun has a super adjustable Powder Burnetr Trigger in  it. 
Much new intro has been developed in this gun as shot count on a non regulated gun. Shown on stats I have and stats that have been emailed to me.
The valve design is as the WAR valve for the Marauder. Hate to compare but a design squeezing all you can  get out by research and calulations. But!# The gun has so much more potential and is a USA home brew. Parts are available  and USA   available parts and costumer service.   Plus upgrades.

Fang
JUNKYARD AIRGUN'S

[Nomadic Pirate]

Got lucky last nite, almost broke my trigger finger.....almost.

I was carrying one of those Quarterbarrel Kegs ( 87 pounds ) on my right shoulder and a Sixth Barrel Keg  ( 58 Pounds in my left hand ) had to squeeze through a narrow doorway and clipped it with my right elbow, the keg on my shoulder started to go but I couldn't use my left hand to catch it,
I did try to hold on but the momentum took over and eventually it fell forward,
 I had my hand inside the handle and almost broke my trigger finger in the process, ..super sore right now but I'll try do some more shooting later, Luckily the FLEX trigger doesn't take much

I should be 100% for Wednesday hunt

[PakProtector]

This was a weekend worth of supplies for you Manny...LOL There was probably a dead Sixth in the trunk. Glad your finger will mend quickly.
cheers,
Douglas

[oldpro]

Dang Manny dont they have hand trucks there or were you just trying to impress some chicks lol

[bnowlin]

They got the chicks where he's at but you moved away from them yougen , except the ones on the slope and they have too many clothes on to tell anything about them.
Bob