.35-.45 cal. Big game (whitetail) gun?

[Chpmnkh8r]

For all you guys who have the knowledge and floorspace needed to "build" your own big bore gun.....I'm in awe!
Then there's guys like me, who are new to big bore Airguns and just have yet to stockpile the tools and brains needed to build one.
So I'm looking and leading up to getting something in the .35 to .45 cal. realm. I'm leaning more toward the .45 cal. though
After just some quick browsing is the Air Force Texan LSS pretty much the top choice?
Again, this will be for hunting Whitetail and Coyotes mainly.

[wimpanzee]

It's not the most powerful, but I really like my Winchester model 70 in .45.

Very nice trigger, 5 shot magazine, and decent power - I'm hitting 200fpe after Will Piatt tuned it. It was only about 180fpe before.

They can also shoot airrows, but I keep my 909s for that.

Last time at the range, I had a 3 shot group (its tuned for 3 shots after Mr. Piatt) under 1" at 50 yards, and several groups under 2" at that range. Best ammo for me is Mr. Hollowpoint 155gr.

They are definitely powerhouses, but I have yet to shoot an Airforce gun that I liked.

[Chpmnkh8r]

Wimpanzee, I'll look into the win. 70. Question, did you ship the gun out to have the tune done to it? Or was it an option? How much for the tune?

[wimpanzee]

Wimpanzee, I'll look into the win. 70. Question, did you ship the gun out to have the tune done to it? Or was it an option? How much for the tune?

I shipped it to Will Piatt at saddlemountaingunsmith.com, it was the first winnie he had worked on, but he did valve work, trigger work, bolt work, barrel work, slugged barrel, chrony test, shipped back - gave it the all over spa treatment. $271.

The trigger was already nice, but now it is superb, extremely nice for the power it releases, and much much better than my 909s, but still not quite as good as the mutant, but thats a pretty high bar.

[Habanero69er]

Will Piatt is the Korean airgun guru. IMO, you can't go wrong sending your rifle to him

He's worked on all three of my Koreans & now they are much stronger shooters, more air efficient, with much better triggers.

[BigBird]

FYI Bargain Gate probably has this.  There is a Clearance priced (blemished)
Airforce TexanSS PCP 45 Caliber Pellet Pellet Air Rifle
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/518601/airforce-texanss-pcp-45-caliber-pellet-pellet-air-rifle-blemished
I think these are rated up to 400 fpe and have the shrouded barrel to reduce sound.  Would be good for deer.  I'd get a 45 caliber over 35 for big deer.

[dyotat100]

Yes. 200 fpe in 45 is pretty sad actually. Has to have a real rainbow trajectory.

Texan 45 for deer for sure

[BigBird]

Yes. 200 fpe in 45 is pretty sad actually. Has to have a real rainbow trajectory.

Texan 45 for deer for sure

I think 200fpe will work for most north american whitetail.  I think you can get more out of the Winchester for more fpe, can't you?  It may reduce shot count but I'd rather have 2-3 good shots.  The main issue with the Winchester is the restriction in the length of bullet.  Your 155 gr probably has good trajectory just less retained energy.

[dyotat100]

Regular Texan is at 500 fpe.  That even has a rainbow shot.

155 gr at 200 fpe is only 765 fps.  To be good you need over 900 fps for flat shooting.

My 257 make 200 fpe on 3000 psi with 92 gr. 

[screwwork]

Slayer all day long, is I am going to say... .357 cal, multi shot has taken big game in VA or go bigger to a .452

[Ben in Va]

.357 XP Badger.  You could go light slugs for the yotes and have some screamers.  I was getting 975fps with 120grns.  Then you could up the weight and knock some deer down.

[BigBird]

Slayer all day long, is I am going to say... .357 cal, multi shot has taken big game in VA or go bigger to a .452

What velocity are you getting with your slayer?   Sounds like a deer slayer!  Website said something about 975 fps at 275fpe with a "Bell curve" (maybe ok for range??) and, taking away shot count, easily 140gr at 1050 fps (342fpe).  Sounds like it is easy to adjust?

[screwwork]

Dan,
My Slayer came from a great guy in VA, he has posted some of his hunts in the AAA gate.  My tune was with 965fps w/120gr ammo, currently, I am shooting 142gr now. Keith is tuned for 142gr BT, 4 shots @ 275.60 FPE with his Slayer.
Here is a post that talks about the .357 cal airguns and ammo.
https://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=153122.0

[wimpanzee]

Slayer would definitely be the way to go if you have the money for it. I hope to buy one some day if I can ever stop buying cheaper guns

[Chpmnkh8r]

Awesome! So you're saying if I get a Slayer I should have it tuned.
357 or 45?

[wimpanzee]

Awesome! So you're saying if I get a Slayer I should have it tuned.
357 or 45?

I don't think Slayers require any tuning. Tom should be able to ship you exactly what you need for your application.

[screwwork]

Awesome! So you're saying if I get a Slayer I should have it tuned.
357 or 45?

I don't think Slayers require any tuning. Tom should be able to ship you exactly what you need for your application.

That's correct, Tom will tune it for you.

There are a lot of great big bore choices, you need to really define the following, budget, cal, fpe, optics, hunting style, open country, heavy bush/marshland etc. what is your longest shot you able to make within your capabilities. What are your hunting laws for the areas you what to hunt also makes the choice of cal/fpe to be a legal hunter for those areas?

Are you willing to play the waiting game, if yes, watch the GTA classified for a great deal on a used bigbore.
People here change are always upgrading/downgrading all of the time. Take the time, do your research GTA is a great resource and everything has been discussed many times before.     

[Zeddymon]

Wimpanzee i would really consider the range you want to hunt, if you need that long range then the higher fpe gun will be needed and the one with flatter trajectory,
i feel really good about my win45 @60yds considering deer jump and power
                                Corsair.357 @100yds  "                                   "

all the rifles others have mentioned are awesome, and can compete at or beyond that 100yd mark
i myself think the slayer HP .357 is the sweetest looking one of any
https://americanairarms.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Slayer-Rifle_white_2_clean_400_304.png

[BigBird]

...if you need that long range then the higher fpe gun will be needed and the one with flatter trajectory

FPS would trump FPE for long range.  You'd probably want the 357 and using a 120 or 140gr at 975FPS you'd still be around 180- 200 FPE at 100 yds with about 11" drop sighted in at 30yds. 

[Loren]

How about the .40cal Badger XP-Airguns.

This would be my choice for whitetail.