This is something I’ve been thinking about all year. I have more than enough for my intended use, BUT I’d like to go for something that will is well built, has a range of ammo (and molds) available, a gun that will not be dated in 5 years and will still have available parts and support, rugged and a reasonable fpe range from legal to very powerful (think from hogs to elk or black bear). I haven’t worked out a budget, I’d like to keep it under $2500 if I can.
I know I can grab an AEA Zeus .72 and easily be over 1000 fpe. I like what
@Cheplicki typed in his 24” Zeus post regarding tools having specific uses when someone commented on a .72 caliber airgun being overkill for hunting. Great reply. Anyhow, I usually hunt in the piney woods wheee most shots will be will be within 50 yards. I like to get in close to the animals, but I also hunt pasturelands. I also plan to get back into the mountains, so I can see some 100 yards shooting coming into play in the future.
So far I’ve been eying .45s and .35 calibers including:
1) Veradium Air Taurus (.357, but also waiting to see what’s going on with development of the .457)
2) AAA Slayer .452 (production on these appeared to have slowed due to increased demand for the Evol).
3) Western Bushbuck (the Buck and the Pig)
4) Western Rattler .357
5) Evanix Rex .45 (Ibex and another model whose name I don’t recall at the moment).
I’ve also viewed several AEA guns, but I’m unsure about the quality of them and how they’ll hold up long term. Comments and suggestions welcome on this list or other guns that you have experience with and recommend.