Hello there my airgun hunting experts! I’m new to airgun hunting, but not hunting in itself. Was hoping that some of you would be kind enough to give me your thought on what you would consider the best airgun (rifle) for deer and hog hunting. I’m currently looking at the Dragon Claw .50 cal and the Airforce Texan .357. Please educate me as best you can. Your time, knowledge, and experience are greatly appreciated.
Best Airgun for Deer & Hog
- Thread starter Branman08
- Start date
Airforce Texan in .457 would be my first tool of choice, but it we have big grain feed deer around here.
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SqrlHntr
Member
Not sure where you are hunting, some states have restrictions on caliber and fpe for hunting with airguns. Personally I do not hunt hogs or deer with anything smaller than a .457 to ensure a humane kill.
https://www.airgunnation.com/topic/ethical-hunting-with-a-big-bore/
As to your question, the Texan platform is a well liked performer. Personally I don’t care for the trigger, but they are popular. Never shot a Seneca.
https://www.airgunnation.com/topic/ethical-hunting-with-a-big-bore/
As to your question, the Texan platform is a well liked performer. Personally I don’t care for the trigger, but they are popular. Never shot a Seneca.
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There is a guy down here in Texas who is taking out hogs on his ranch nightly with the LCS SK auto in .25 believe it or not. He swears by it. That said, for me I'm reaching for my Bushbuck. No question about it.
Several videos in the South Africa series taking out bore, wildebeest, warthog, springbok, bush bore, etc.
https://www.youtube.com/c/AirgunOnlyAdventures/videos
It's a beast, and sounds like a bomb going off. If you use a DonnyFL and expansion chamber the fill port is a bit tight so I made an 90 degree adapter.
Several videos in the South Africa series taking out bore, wildebeest, warthog, springbok, bush bore, etc.
https://www.youtube.com/c/AirgunOnlyAdventures/videos
It's a beast, and sounds like a bomb going off. If you use a DonnyFL and expansion chamber the fill port is a bit tight so I made an 90 degree adapter.
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LCS SK auto in .25.... I just look that rifle up.... YIKES. $$$$$$$$
Nice lookin gun though!
Nice lookin gun though!
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The Benjamin bulldog is a 357 repeater that you should consider. I have not used it but there are several you tubes of it being used on deer and in Africa on similar sized game. FPE is only about 200 but the videos show good penetration and clean kills out to about 80 yards.
I like the looks of the Texan but a single shot bothers me. My fingers are not small and messing with pellets to get a follow up shot out is a concern. But a 45 caliber would be nice. It would make the airgun the practical equal of my old flintlock.
I like the looks of the Texan but a single shot bothers me. My fingers are not small and messing with pellets to get a follow up shot out is a concern. But a 45 caliber would be nice. It would make the airgun the practical equal of my old flintlock.
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The Benjamin bulldog with small mods, drilling the transfer port and valve will get you to 230 fpe which is legal in Texas ,probably the best bang for your buck.
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I actually have both the LCS SK-19 and the Bushbuck. I use and love the both. The LCS has the up-sized air bottle and a green laser on it too which is fun. The Bushbuck is just a beast. I do have the DonnyFL with an expansion chamber on it for shooting around the house, but it blows right through the target, a 3/4" piece of plywood, a pressure treated 2x12, and still sounds like a rocket when it hits the steel silhouette on the other side. When the lead shatters on the steel, leaves fall from the trees 15' above. Another favorite is the Daystate Wolverine Hi-Lite in .303. That is one of the sweetest shooters I have, but for hogs and big game I'd stick to the big bore.
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I went with the .457 Texan. As an engineer, I love playing with the numbers. A .357 that has expanded 50% has .166 square inches to create a wound channel. A .457 is .164 square inches (virtually the same) without any expansion. If it expands 50%, it is .246–thats a 48% bigger wound channel (not to mention higher kinetic energy) which equals animal down easier. So that silly tenth of an inch from .357 to .457 makes a big difference. If you were looking more towards coyotes or rockchucks, well that’s different!
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