To big bore or not to big bore...

[triggerfest]

...that's the question.

Choosing .25 is an easy pick and a very versatile caliber. Though going .30 or even .357 is tempting as well.

Haven't decide exactly on the airgun yet, since they're all powerful in these calibers anyway. But what do the big bore calibers deliver more, besides a big smak, compared with .25 ?

[Greg_E]

Big smack and big air use. If you are target shooting, then you may not want to go bigger than 257 (for distance). For distance the longer the length of the ammo, the better (within reason) for a higher BC, and again 257 and maybe a 257 conversion is what you might want. Things like a converted Bulldog with it's .750 inch long magazine give you an almost 3:1 length to diameter, but it will be a custom mod.

If you are hunting up to "big" game, then lots of smack is just what you need. You can always regulate the amount of smack by using different weights of ammo, but air usage is pretty much air usage and will be big for bigger calibers.

[Airgun-hobbyist]

What Greg said about big air usage is no joke.  The big bore's use way more air, so you are constantly filling the cylinder to be consistent in the shot string when target shooting.  If not needing a really large big bore for bigger game then I would be inclined to get a decent 30 caliber.  There is a decent amount of shots per fill and a large variety of ammo available to choose from based on the game or distance shooting from.

[bear air]

They are fun but they also use alot of air and the ammo is pricey compared to the smaller calibers.

[fatmike]

I've got .30 .357 and .50. Not legal to hunt anything but small game and predators in my area. I do enjoy shooting them. They use a ton of air in a short shooting session. To hunt with would be great though.  I had a hard time getting .30 ammo for a while. Lots of 9mm.357 38 ammo choices.  I usually shoot round ball from my 50. If I was to seriously hunt with a bigbore I'd get a texan. To me it's a simple light weight tool for the job. Another thing to think about is where you are shooting. I have to travel to shoot big bore. Not backyard friendly.

[Spacebus]

If I were buying a big bore today I would be shopping in .357 which allows for air bolts, great long range slugs, most have enough power for deer, and not quite as much air consumption as .45 or .50+ That is of course unless you really want that extra kick from going to BIG bore.

[Blacktalon6]

My question to you is what do you want it for? To hunt or target shoot.

[bear air]

Agree, NOT back yard friendly!

[Mr.P]

I just got a .357 along with a mold so I can cast my own and avoid that whole nightmare.  Just got it out of curiosity, and to have something yto tinker with since my AF guns are all as good as I am likely to get them. 

I bough this to learn from, to tune/modify as best I can, and mainly for plinking and low-stress target shooting. 

Working now with quieting it down as I will be testing in my garage in the burbs.  Moving to a rural area soon though thank goodness where it will get to shed the moderator and lengthened shroud and revert to it’s compact and ridiculously loud form. 

[maraudinglizard]

My question to you is what do you want it for? To hunt or target shoot.

+ 1

[Nomadic Pirate]

Regardless,...Big bores are cool, if you have the chance to shoot in your yard get one !

[triggerfest]

My question to you is what do you want it for? To hunt or target shoot.

+ 1

Target shooting and plinking for the moment.

But it is like Nomadic Pirate says, they're cool for sure ! I only can't shoot one in my garden unfortunately, I'll have to drive to the range for shooting it. So that's a potential show stopper. Regarding the air consumption, I have a scuba bottle and planning for a hand pump as well so I can manage that.

[Nomadic Pirate]

My question to you is what do you want it for? To hunt or target shoot.

+ 1

Target shooting and plinking for the moment.

But it is like Nomadic Pirate says, they're cool for sure ! I only can't shoot one in my garden unfortunately, I'll have to drive to the range for shooting it. So that's a potential show stopper. Regarding the air consumption, I have a scuba bottle and planning for a hand pump as well so I can manage that.

Yeah that's a bummer, I don't think I would be into Airguns at all if I had to drive to the range.

[Greg_E]

If you are filling from a tank, then I would recommend something that only fills to 3000 psi so that you can get a few fills per session. Getting something that will gobble a tank (tethered) after a dozen shots doesn't seem like it is worth doing.

[Mr.P]

I made the decision to get one that fills to 4500 PSI.  This definitely constrains my options.  I used to wear enough to pump up to about 4000 psi but I shed some pounds and I can’t do it anymore, that I hadn’t accounted for. 

My plan: 

1) find a lower fill tune at around 3000 - 3500 psi for lighter rounds, using a lighter spring and hammer, for plinking and closer range use.  I can hand pump easily enough for that tune I believe, or use a tank of I ever purchase one.   This will be for shooting JSB 81 grains and I am looking at a couple of 60-80 grain molds for this.

2) find a high power tune with heavy spring and hammer (likely a “cliff tune” with mine) for those times more range or destructive potential is called for, knowing that by the end of a single magazine, I will have to be switching to lighter projectiles or refilling, this one I will fill with the compressor.


Not planning to hunt, it’s just a matter of what I am plinking at and where, these are all about entertainment for me.  No PB’s, this big bore will have to scratch the hand cannon itch for me.   No need to mention there is no comparison of course.   spent (so far) the most hours shooting with an old .177 760 so it is quite a blast to me to shoot a .357 air gun.

[Greg_E]

Assuming you have a 357, I don't think you are going to find much lighter than around 80 grains, at least I haven't found anything lighter. NOE has a hollow point that is 88gr flat and down to 84gr with the "big" hollow point, they seem to cast OK but I haven't really had them at any range yet.

For a "plinking" level of big bore, the Benjamin Bulldog is probably the most friendly. 10 shots per fill and will take cast 80-ish grain for light loads up to 145gr for reasonable power. With the 3000 psi fill, you can pump it, and I have pumped mine a bunch. Not the most fun, but the hand pump still works.

[Mr.P]

There are some molds out there for 60-80 grain .357.  Accurate molds builds them to order. Manny helped me find these, thanks manny.   the 61 grain pancake wad cutter is an odd one.  The idea of shooting 9 mm pancakes kind of amuses me but they are so ridiculously non-aerodynamic I don’t know what to think. like it is already expanded…


Is there anyway to know ahead of time whether these will be stable out of a particular barrel? I know someone here was talking about calculations for that.

[triggertreat]

.357 caliber is a tall order just to shoot at the range for fun.  I do it with a .357 Slayer slinging my own 155gr cast slugs from two different NOE molds using a 60-minute SCBA tank. I shoot tethered after the tank reaches 3800 psi.  I can shoot for my full two-hour time slot which includes cold lines every 15 minutes.  I went to the range frequently when sorting out my casting but now mainly go just before deer season to make sure all is still well as it takes a lot to shoot .357 caliber just for fun.  I couldn't imagine trying to do this with a hand pump.  I can say you would have just as much fun punching paper with say a .25 or .30 caliber.  I cast for those as well and they take a lot less lead and air and can be typically shot from the backyard with the proper equipment and safety precautions.  You are not limited by range times either.

[Spacebus]

.357 caliber is a tall order just to shoot at the range for fun.  I do it with a .357 Slayer slinging my own 155gr cast slugs from two different NOE molds using a 60-minute SCBA tank. I shoot tethered after the tank reaches 3800 psi.  I can shoot for my full two-hour time slot which includes cold lines every 15 minutes.  I went to the range frequently when sorting out my casting but now mainly go just before deer season to make sure all is still well as it takes a lot to shoot .357 caliber just for fun.  I couldn't imagine trying to do this with a hand pump.  I can say you would have just as much fun punching paper with say a .25 or .30 caliber.  I cast for those as well and they take a lot less lead and air and can be typically shot from the backyard with the proper equipment and safety precautions.  You are not limited by range times either.

This is solid advice. If the ammo cost for .30 and higher calibers don't get you, the air consumption will.

[triggerfest]

Thanks for all the insights, I get it, and I will stick to .25 as being a great alternative. Or maybe even stick to my trusty caliber .22, but then I will opt for shooting slugs.