An interesting read. (Stolen from Albertaoutdoorsmen forum):-
Well got really interested in the hi power pellet guns this winter. Porky's, Coyotes, foxes all succumbed to a 30 cal pellet very quickly. I started thinking about hunting Big Game with one. In Alberta, as long as you are 45 cal and up you can hunt with them. I started looking for a big bore air rifle that would work and finally found an Airforce Texan in .457 caliber. The rifle is big as it boasts a 36 inch barrel, runs at crazy pressures and pushes very heavy bullets out at amazing air gun velocities. U-tube videos really got me excited so I ordered one along with a compressor to fill it's tanks. My first impression when it arrived was this ain't your grand dad's Red Ryder!!!
Holy crap....loud. Earplug loud and the recoil will open your eyes and make your nose run LOL. I experimented with quite a few bullets finally settling on a 525 grain cast flat point sized .458 from Jet Bullets. When run at max pressures, which are 3625 psi this bullet left the muzzle at a 804 fps avg. To give you an idea check this photo of it standing beside a 177 pellet.
The shot was at a 2 year old bison cow at 34 yards, slightly quartering away. At the shot the bison lurched ahead, crow hopping about 6 times to hit the earth hard. Much to my amazement she stood back up and went stiff for a few seconds only to hit hard a second time. A very lethal hit and extremely fast death with a friggin air rifle .When we dressed her out, the slug centered the heart and went through the off shoulder and exited for a complete pass through. I had no idea this combo would offer this much penetration. It totally exceeded all expectations.
From what I have seen, it is totally a lethal weapon on big game and I would not hesitate to use this on all big game within 100 yards. I guess you can kill a bison with a air rifle!!
Well got really interested in the hi power pellet guns this winter. Porky's, Coyotes, foxes all succumbed to a 30 cal pellet very quickly. I started thinking about hunting Big Game with one. In Alberta, as long as you are 45 cal and up you can hunt with them. I started looking for a big bore air rifle that would work and finally found an Airforce Texan in .457 caliber. The rifle is big as it boasts a 36 inch barrel, runs at crazy pressures and pushes very heavy bullets out at amazing air gun velocities. U-tube videos really got me excited so I ordered one along with a compressor to fill it's tanks. My first impression when it arrived was this ain't your grand dad's Red Ryder!!!
Holy crap....loud. Earplug loud and the recoil will open your eyes and make your nose run LOL. I experimented with quite a few bullets finally settling on a 525 grain cast flat point sized .458 from Jet Bullets. When run at max pressures, which are 3625 psi this bullet left the muzzle at a 804 fps avg. To give you an idea check this photo of it standing beside a 177 pellet.
The shot was at a 2 year old bison cow at 34 yards, slightly quartering away. At the shot the bison lurched ahead, crow hopping about 6 times to hit the earth hard. Much to my amazement she stood back up and went stiff for a few seconds only to hit hard a second time. A very lethal hit and extremely fast death with a friggin air rifle .When we dressed her out, the slug centered the heart and went through the off shoulder and exited for a complete pass through. I had no idea this combo would offer this much penetration. It totally exceeded all expectations.
From what I have seen, it is totally a lethal weapon on big game and I would not hesitate to use this on all big game within 100 yards. I guess you can kill a bison with a air rifle!!
