257 Condor or 308 slayer?

[jc1234]

I want an airgun that I can suppress for hunting coyotes out to about 250-400 yards and if I get the chance prairie dogs at about the same range. The texan looks to be the cheaper option but by the time I add a moderator the thing is huge! If you suggest the 257 please tell me ware to find the most accurate barrels and the valve for the conversion, I may be able to get a used condor from a friend as the base for the build.
Thanks,
Jesse

[nielsenammo]

I own both a Condor .257 and a .308 Slayer. 

My .257 is more set up for bench shooting which is what I wanted it for where as my Slayer is set up for a Coyote gun.  I have shot 2 coyotes with my Slayer to date.  It is nibble and powerful and quiet.  The second coyote I shot was done so in a backyard of one of my customers so it is pretty quiet to shoot 1 or 2 shots without bringing attention.

If a Slayer is in the budget it is so perfect for coyote hunting and is quiet and accurate and has a 7 shot magazine.

The Condor with a .257 conversion is also a great gun.  The best valve on the market for the conversion is Doug Noble's valve, it produces the most power.  Most guys are using a TJ barrel which you can buy from RL, the longer the barrel the more power, but of course, the longer the gun becomes.  Of course the Condor is a single shot if it matters to you.

You will get the shortest and most power from a .308 Slayer between these two guns.

As far as the .308 Texan goes, I would not be the first to buy it.  I would wait until others say the accuracy it has and bullet requirement.  The 45 is really accurate with heavy 400 grain bullets or round ball and EPP, but in between the .45 Texan does not cut it for me.  If the new gun is accurate with a bullet weight you want to shoot then it would be a cheaper choice if you don't mind the huge gun.

[Nomadic Pirate]

I would seriously look into the .308 Slayer and the Upcoming .257 War Hammer

[jc1234]

I have a friend who has Serial #0001 357 slayer, it is a loud gun, not to mention I am left-handed and bullpups not the easiest thing for me to shoot at long range plus the rifle length really isn't a problem it's just inconvenient. That .257 War Hammer has definitely caught my attention, I'm going to pay very close attention to that one as it moves from prototype to production weapon.

[nielsenammo]

I have a friend who has Serial #0001 357 slayer, it is a loud gun, not to mention I am left-handed and bullpups not the easiest thing for me to shoot at long range plus the rifle length really isn't a problem it's just inconvenient. That .257 War Hammer has definitely caught my attention, I'm going to pay very close attention to that one as it moves from prototype to production weapon.

I shot the .357 and own a .308 Slayer.  The .308 is way quieter than the .357, not a little, but a huge difference in noise and they come left or right handed - Tom, the owner is left handed and the gun I borrowed was a left handed .357.

[Nomadic Pirate]

There you go, the .357 is a 275 FPE gun,......Noise is very much related to power.

[jc1234]

will the 308 give me the accuracy I need to hit a coyote in the head at 400+ yards for the 12 shots or will I get 6 consistent shots then it fall off at that range. I can build a .257 condor for about $1400 with a used gun and should get the 12 shots out of that rig filling to 300 bar but the slayer is $2180, If it is honestly worth the extra money the I will defiantly consider it as an option. I have the budget for a slayer but the less money I spend on the gun the better scope and bipod I can get, and there is the .257 War Hammer to consider when it comes out.

Nielsenammo, How dose the noise of the 308 slayer compare to a .25 M-rod?

[shamu25]

Jesse, I am not the long range expert but this sure sounds like what I would expect from a 22-250 PB and not an airgun.  Consistent head shots at 400 yds?    Just seems to  me like asking a lot from any of  the Big Bores out  there today.

[blackdiesel]

Jesse you can contact Cedric username Toufazfou.  He's a wealth of knowledge about long range hunting and he uses a modified AF 257 cal that Doug Noble helped build and design.

[dyotat100]

Condor setup up with a 300 bar tank and filled to 3500 psi can get 10 good shots.  You won't be filling to 300 bar.

[nielsenammo]

will the 308 give me the accuracy I need to hit a coyote in the head at 400+ yards for the 12 shots or will I get 6 consistent shots then it fall off at that range. I can build a .257 condor for about $1400 with a used gun and should get the 12 shots out of that rig filling to 300 bar but the slayer is $2180, If it is honestly worth the extra money the I will defiantly consider it as an option. I have the budget for a slayer but the less money I spend on the gun the better scope and bipod I can get, and there is the .257 War Hammer to consider when it comes out.

Nielsenammo, How dose the noise of the 308 slayer compare to a .25 M-rod?

I don't own a .25 M-rod but I have shot them.  It is louder than a .25 caliber, but you are comparing a 80 ft to 220 ft lb gun so not a real comparison to compete with one another but to get a reference of sound it is louder than a suppressed Mrod.  The Slayer is good for about 6 really good shots and then some drop off but still very powerful follow up shots in the tank.

My .257 is built by Doug Noble and is much quieter than the Slayer but is also the size of a Texan with a huge moderator he built for it.  It is really quiet but really big and long with a 2" diameter moderator.  I love the gun but because of the size it is more of a bench gun or hunting from a fixed spot and not a lot of hiking - but that was my intention for the build so for me the gun is fantastic and Doug does incredible work.  I shoot with Doug and Cedric (tofazfou) regularly.

I think both of those guns would be great for coyote.  My .257 has a 32" barrel and I would not do that if you are taking it hunting.  If you are going to put a new valve in the gun I would not consider anything other than Doug's valve.

As far as 400 yard head shots - it is one thing to shoot an airgun 400 yards and hit something the size of a coyote head and a whole other when you have to have an exact yardage and only one shot to hit it.  If you are off by  a very small margin in your range you will miss by a lot.  However, if there are airguns capable of it, both of these can do it.

[Nomadic Pirate]

400 yards HeadShot on a dog ?  Wow you really expecting to do that ?

[jc1234]

Sorry about that I worded that wrong, what I mean is if the gun is benched you can hit an object the size of a coyotes head and I was more wondering if the point of impact will change it on the 3rd shot or the 12th shot.

[nielsenammo]

Sorry about that I worded that wrong, what I mean is if the gun is benched you can hit an object the size of a coyotes head and I was more wondering if the point of impact will change it on the 3rd shot or the 12th shot.

Both my .257 Condor and my .308 Slayer can hit coke cans at 400 yards.  We can hit with a high percentage at 200 yards even though where we shoot is windy.  At 400 yards we hit the coke cans but it is a challenge - a fun one.  Doug, Cedric and myself meet at the same spot Cedric made his video shooting coke cans at 440 yards and is about 20 minutes from where the Slayers are built.

Hunting at 400 yards with an airgun because of the drop - tough.

[jc1234]

The 308 Texan is out now considering the slayer instead, title has been changed.

[rsterne]

IMO, not a hope of consistently hitting ANYTHING at "about 400 yards" with an airgun on the first shot.... From a bench, taking a few shots to find the "range" (ie where the bullets are hitting and compensating for the drop and wind), yes, you can hit things, and even shoot groups.... In the field, even with a laser rangefinder, your range will be off a bit, and at 400 yards, even with the best bullet you can get at 1000 fps will drop an additional 2" per yard you are off in your estimated range.... or be 2" high if the range is less by a yard.... IMO, hitting something the size of the kill zone on a Coyote at 400 yards on the first shot will be more luck than skill and the ability of the rifle.... YMMV....

There is a reason guys use high-velocity centrefires, like a .22-250, for long range varmint hunting....

Bob

[jc1234]

Thanks for setting me straight, if I lower my expectations to 200 yards is it still impractical for hunting?

[rsterne]

Now you're talking!.... At 200 yards, your change in drop (good bullet BC at 1000 fps) is only about 0.4" per yard over or under, and it's a lot easier to get a good range with a laser rangefinder at 200 than at 400.... In addition, MOA groups are 2", not 4".... In addition, a 1% ES is only about 1.4" of vertical stringing at that range.... IMO that is a reasonable range for a Coyote sized target with an accurate, well tuned, and skillfully shot airgun that can deliver about 100 FPE at that range.... That puts is in the same FPE as a .22LR within 50 yds....

Bob

[nielsenammo]

I believe 200 yards is in reach for either gun. I shot a coyote at 152 yards with my .308 at night using a green light. There is a thread on here you can read about it.

[jc1234]

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