Air Force Texan hunting accuracy

[Prouzy]

Off stix at 3 power, that's great!

[Randbo]

I was at the Kalamazoo air gun show today and I picked up some 255 gr. and some 350gr. Mr Hollow Points and as soon as I got back home I tried them in my Texan and the first 5 shoot group at 100 yds. tethered to a 3000 psi. scuba tank was just over 1" the next 2 five shot groups I shot filling every 2 shots and they were both 3 1/4" the 255 gr. shot 4" for the first group with 4 of the shots in 2" and the second group was a nice 2 3/4" group. Any one looking for hunting bullets for there Texan may want to try some of these bullets from Mr. Hollow Point.

[kbstingwing]

What setting are you using on the hammer spring adjuster for those shots? Low ....Med..... High... some where in between?

[Randbo]

What setting are you using on the hammer spring adjuster for those shots? Low ....Med..... High... some where in between?

I have it screwed as far as it go's toward the breach.

[Tofazfou]

What setting are you using on the hammer spring adjuster for those shots? Low ....Med..... High... some where in between?

I have it screwed as far as it go's toward the breach.

So the TEXAN does have a power wheel?  It appears so.

Its funny because if so, i hear so many people talking about what bullets are actually accurate in the Texan but i NEVER hear folks talking about properly using the PW to test for accuracy with said bullet combos.  This is the 1st i've read about a PW on the Texan (i know nothing of the gun).  Why is know one testing the gun at various settings using various bullets?  Just curious is all......

[kbstingwing]

it just applies more tension to the hammer spring, you can tune it like a M-rod to increase or decrease the hammer spring for optimum efficiency.   

[Tofazfou]

it just applies more tension to the hammer spring, you can tune it like a M-rod to increase or decrease the hammer spring for optimum efficiency.

Kevin,

No, i know what a power wheel does as im familiar with all other Airforce guns BUT the Texan.  What i'm saying is, a PW increases/decreases spring tension which in turn increases/decreases velocity.  This is how you tune the gun for optimum accuracy/power with each bullet tested.  At full power, people are having an issue shooting 200+ gr bullets accurately because they want to shoot a 200 or 250 gr bullet FASTER (at 500 fpe) but no one has found an accuarate round.  I also havent seen anyone shooting a 200 + gr bullets at LESS FPE to see if accuracy improves.

For those that are not understanding on the proper use of tuning, i will tell you that a gun like the Texan which is rated at 500 FPE and probably has a 1-20" twist rate in the barrel, It won't work with every bullet you put in it.  You can't have 500 FPE and shoot 160 grs, then 200's, then 225s, then 250 gr then 320s then 360s then 400s then 450s then 500 grs and they all shoot well at one setting which in this case is full power.  The PW gives you options but shooting the gun MAXED out will only result in a few or a couple of bullets being accurate which is the trend with this gun.

I just didn't know the TEXAN had a PW due to my lack of knowledge of the gun.  But its an Air force and that makes sense. DUH on my part.....lol!

[Prouzy]

Yes Cedric, similar concept to the Condor, slightly different configuration in the cocking/breech set up.  My first Texan was having similar issues as others, with valve lock and inconsistent performance.  With a new spring and a little work, ie fill pressure and power setting, I had pretty good luck with Nick's swaged: http://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=104926.0 Typically I found not maxed and slightly lower fill pressure. 

Finding something similar with my new one, but it is different as Im not having the same issues and power wheel remains in position (it would move much more).  Ive got more of Nicks swaged, but these are about 20gr lighter.  Ive only tested fps with it close to max and at at some different fill pressures, but thus far still likes less than 3000psi regardless of wheel position  I can seem to shoot 143gr round ball at any fill pressure so long as it stays below 1000fps, actually below 950 is even better out to 75yd.  Which is fine, giving a decent shot count. 

[Randbo]

it just applies more tension to the hammer spring, you can tune it like a M-rod to increase or decrease the hammer spring for optimum efficiency.

Kevin,

No, i know what a power wheel does as im familiar with all other Airforce guns BUT the Texan.  What i'm saying is, a PW increases/decreases spring tension which in turn increases/decreases velocity.  This is how you tune the gun for optimum accuracy/power with each bullet tested.  At full power, people are having an issue shooting 200+ gr bullets accurately because they want to shoot a 200 or 250 gr bullet FASTER (at 500 fpe) but no one has found an accuarate round.  I also havent seen anyone shooting a 200 + gr bullets at LESS FPE to see if accuracy improves.

For those that are not understanding on the proper use of tuning, i will tell you that a gun like the Texan which is rated at 500 FPE and probably has a 1-20" twist rate in the barrel, It won't work with every bullet you put in it.  You can't have 500 FPE and shoot 160 grs, then 200's, then 225s, then 250 gr then 320s then 360s then 400s then 450s then 500 grs and they all shoot well at one setting which in this case is full power.  The PW gives you options but shooting the gun MAXED out will only result in a few or a couple of bullets being accurate which is the trend with this gun.

I just didn't know the TEXAN had a PW due to my lack of knowledge of the gun.  But its an Air force and that makes sense. DUH on my part.....lol!

According to Air force for lighter bullets you have to have the spring adjuster turned to the stiffer position to open the valve and with the heaver bullits  you are suppose to turn the tension down because the weight of the bullet helps hold the valve open longer and you can tune it to get more shots, but in my experience with it when I tune it this way I run into valve lock after it sits for a while. Here in Michigan we deer hunt in some pretty cold temp. at times and cold temp. and springs with oil on them can give you lots of trouble so rather than take a chance at valve lock because the spring was a little slow I prefer to have it at max tension for 2 shots instead of less tension and maybe 4 shots. I have got good accuracy at 50 and 75 yds. with light bullets but I have done it with less airpressure.

[Tofazfou]

Yes Cedric, similar concept to the Condor, slightly different configuration in the cocking/breech set up.  My first Texan was having similar issues as others, with valve lock and inconsistent performance.  With a new spring and a little work, ie fill pressure and power setting, I had pretty good luck with Nick's swaged: http://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=104926.0 Typically I found not maxed and slightly lower fill pressure. 

Finding something similar with my new one, but it is different as Im not having the same issues and power wheel remains in position (it would move much more).  Ive got more of Nicks swaged, but these are about 20gr lighter.  Ive only tested fps with it close to max and at at some different fill pressures, but thus far still likes less than 3000psi regardless of wheel position  I can seem to shoot 143gr round ball at any fill pressure so long as it stays below 1000fps, actually below 950 is even better out to 75yd.  Which is fine, giving a decent shot count.

Yep, i've found 45 cal roundballs 141-143 grs tend to like the low-mid 900 fps range and maybe even lower with the 20" twist.  Once you get over 1000 FPS, they don't shoot so well.  Also, Sounds like the mainspring is just a few pounds too light in compression lbs or the hammer is not heavy enough or the likes thereof to activate the hammer at ONLY 3000 psi.  This could be due to the BIGGER valve internals which allows the full 3000 psi in the bottle to weigh heavily on.  In other words, maybe the valve seat or something else in there is pretty big which provide a big surface for the 3000 psi to bear down on keeping the valve from fully opening.

[Prouzy]

Thats why the new spring allowedfull pressure fill.  At lower settings on the wheel, very little mainspring, small and short.  This one I have now, is different.  No valvelock or issues with wheel position changing.  Ove only tried RB on different power settings but with the swaged at 3000psi starting, first shot off by 2-3in at 50yd, then next two in same hole. Thats at about 2600psi. So Im hoping turning back down a bit will allow for a higher fill. At least for now, until I establish otherwise, I will keep this stock spring.  I actually get the same result with the 340gr Lee. So there is at least consistency to work with, less feeling like I'm chasing my tail and trying to find the answer in just different bullets.

[Tofazfou]

Thats why the new spring allowedfull pressure fill.  At lower settings on the wheel, very little mainspring, small and short.  This one I have now, is different.  No valvelock or issues with wheel position changing.  Ove only tried RB on different power settings but with the swaged at 3000psi starting, first shot off by 2-3in at 50yd, then next two in same hole. Thats at about 2600psi. So Im hoping turning back down a bit will allow for a higher fill. At least for now, until I establish otherwise, I will keep this stock spring.  I actually get the same result with the 340gr Lee. So there is at least consistency to work with, less feeling like I'm chasing my tail and trying to find the answer in just different bullets.

AWESOME!

[Rattus58]

I have tried about a dozen different  bullets in my Texan and the best I have found is a 340 gr. cast from a Lyman hollow point mold, I am going to try to post the picture of the groups I shot today at 50, 75, and a 100 yds. the velocity is about 800 fps. what is every ones thoughts on this for a deer bullet and the accuracy? [the groups were .843 at 50 yds.  .866 at 75 yds. and 2.359 at 100 yds. ctc.]

These are, for hunting, certainly adequate if not great for hunting deer. If you are getting 800 fps out of that bullet, and if its the Gould hollowpoint, you should have a point blank range out to 80 yards with a 65 yard zero and using a 6" kill zone. At 80 yards, theoretically, you should have 757 fps residual velocity which....

grains   330
speed   800 At the muzzle
Bullet Diameter   0.457
KE   468.8644689
Momentum   1.172161172
momentum_1   11.72161172
Taylor   17.23542857
   
grains   330
speed   757 At 80 yards
Bullet Diameter   0.457
KE   419.8161172
Momentum   1.109157509
momentum_1   11.09157509
Taylor   16.30902429

and a 10" drop at 100 yards... so just below the top of the back.... back straps.... this is all on paper I realize... but to answer your question is this adequate... more than...

Much Aloha...
   

[nielsenammo]

We just went out testing new bullets this weekend shooting at 50 and 100 yards out of my Texan.  Tofazfou actually did all the testing for me.  One bullet stood out of the crowd because it was accurate at both ranges.  It was no surprise which bullet was the most accurate because my math says this the correct configuration for the stock barrel in the Texan.

The bullet is 372 grains and can shoot moa if your Texan is tethered (and you are able to shot moa).  This bullet is heavy but that is what the Texan is designed to shoot - heavy bullets.  That 20-1 twist rate is optimal with a bullet length of around 1.06 inches. 

I have played with many designs for the Texan and not happy with most of them which is why I don't a bullet on my site for it.  This bullet is very accurate out to 100 yards.  After Cedric did the testing on Saturday I tested this bullet on Sunday and was amazed on it's performance.  This bullet will be up for sale on my site by the end of the week.

[wll2506]

We just went out testing new bullets this weekend shooting at 50 and 100 yards out of my Texan.  Tofazfou actually did all the testing for me.  One bullet stood out of the crowd because it was accurate at both ranges.  It was no surprise which bullet was the most accurate because my math says this the correct configuration for the stock barrel in the Texan.

The bullet is 372 grains and can shoot moa if your Texan is tethered (and you are able to shot moa).  This bullet is heavy but that is what the Texan is designed to shoot - heavy bullets.  That 20-1 twist rate is optimal with a bullet length of around 1.06 inches. 

I have played with many designs for the Texan and not happy with most of them which is why I don't a bullet on my site for it.  This bullet is very accurate out to 100 yards.  After Cedric did the testing on Saturday I tested this bullet on Sunday and was amazed on it's performance.  This bullet will be up for sale on my site by the end of the week.

Nick, congrats on the new bullet, I hope it is a big success for you. It is nice having a bullet manufacturer that sells accurate bullets and gets the orders out quickly ;- )

wll2506

[rifle50]

We just went out testing new bullets this weekend shooting at 50 and 100 yards out of my Texan.  Tofazfou actually did all the testing for me.  One bullet stood out of the crowd because it was accurate at both ranges.  It was no surprise which bullet was the most accurate because my math says this the correct configuration for the stock barrel in the Texan.

The bullet is 372 grains and can shoot moa if your Texan is tethered (and you are able to shot moa).  This bullet is heavy but that is what the Texan is designed to shoot - heavy bullets.  That 20-1 twist rate is optimal with a bullet length of around 1.06 inches. 

I have played with many designs for the Texan and not happy with most of them which is why I don't a bullet on my site for it.  This bullet is very accurate out to 100 yards.  After Cedric did the testing on Saturday I tested this bullet on Sunday and was amazed on it's performance.  This bullet will be up for sale on my site by the end of the week.

Looks good Nick......When you say accurate to 100 yds, Is this as far as you tested it? Or at a further distance  DID NOT do well.....?? I would think if good at 100 would continue out another couple hundred yds and be acceptable???  Been thinking of an excuse to get a Texan but as you said most bullets aren't all that great.  As soon as you are ready, will buy 100 of them......

At local range a guy let me shoot his and all he had was the round balls and we were shooting at a softball sized rock near 130 yds and that thing was right there and he had NO REST at all.

Carl

[Randbo]

Them look like they would have a pretty high B.C. Nick, at what pressure were you tethered at?

[nielsenammo]

Looks good Nick......When you say accurate to 100 yds, Is this as far as you tested it? Or at a further distance  DID NOT do well.....?? I would think if good at 100 would continue out another couple hundred yds and be acceptable???  Been thinking of an excuse to get a Texan but as you said most bullets aren't all that great.  As soon as you are ready, will buy 100 of them......

At local range a guy let me shoot his and all he had was the round balls and we were shooting at a softball sized rock near 130 yds and that thing was right there and he had NO REST at all.

Carl


I usually do my testing at 50 and 100 yards and I did not test past that range.  What I have found in my experience is that many bullets are tack drivers at 50-60 yards but fall apart at 100 yards.  So I normally test at 50 yards and if it does well I then send down range at 100.

You would be surprised how many bullets I have tested in many guns that do not shoot well at 100 yards but are great at 50.  At the same time, a bullet good at 100 yards seems do well past that as well.  That said, I only tested out to 100 yards with this bullet.

Round ball do OK out of this gun and so do my EPP slugs.  Neither of those will do as well as this bullet out to 100 yards.

[nielsenammo]

Them look like they would have a pretty high B.C. Nick, at what pressure were you tethered at?

I tethered to 2800 psi when I did my testing.  Hopefully Tofazfou will chime in and report what he tethered to.

In my Texan I normally tether between 2500 psi and 3000 psi.  I also tried this bullet tethered to around 2000 psi and it still did great. 

[nielsenammo]

I added this bullet to my site.  You can order anytime but this bullet will not ship until later in the week.

https://nielsenspecialtyammo.com/collections/45-cal/products/texan-372-grain-45-caliber-flat-point-flat-base-slug