I ask why?

[RoosterCogburn]

Ahhhhh not so fast Haaaa.
Let’s use the same bulletin weight. I don’t think the Texan would have the wins !
Besides I’ll bet theres black powder guys with very accurate guns. Technology
hit those Hawkins too…

I shoot BP. There is one major advantage of air. Fouling. Oh and Shot preparation And noise, and cost per shot. And the giant cloud of sulfury goodness.

Although, maybe I should take the whitworth or martini Henry pesting.

Head-to-Head Setup​

Spec	Texan .308 (Airgun)	CVA Paramount Pro .45 Cal (BP)
Projectile	150gr SFBT (pure lead)	280gr PowerBelt ELR
Muzzle Velocity	~1042 fps	~2320 fps
Ballistic Coefficient	~0.200	~0.333–0.452
Muzzle Energy	~361 ft-lbs	~1600–1700 ft-lbs

The Paramount Pro is arguably the most advanced production BP rifle today2—a true long-range beast with high-BC bullets and super-magnum charges.

Energy Retention @ 700–800 Yards​

Range (yds)	Texan .308 Energy	Paramount Pro Energy
700	~95 ft-lbs	~400–450 ft-lbs
800	~70–75 ft-lbs	~300–350 ft-lbs

• Black powder wins on raw energy, no question.
• But your .308 still holds ethical precision for small-to-medium game at 800 yards.

Drop & Wind Drift (Zero @100 yds, 10mph crosswind)​

Range (yds)	Texan Drop	BP Drop	Texan Drift	BP Drift
700	~250 in	~300–320 in	~55 in	~65–70 in
800	~340 in	~400–450 in	~70 in	~85–90 in

• Your Texan’s flatter trajectory and tighter wind profile give it a serious edge in precision.
• BP’s heavier slug fights wind better than lighter BP loads, but still drifts more than your .308.

Time of Flight​

Range (yds)	Texan TOF	BP TOF
800	~1.6 sec	~1.3–1.4 sec

BP gets there faster, but the Texan’s predictable flight path and ZULUS integration make it easier to correct mid-flight.

Tactical Takeaway​

• Paramount Pro dominates in energy, making it ideal for elk or large game at distance.
• Your Texan .308 wins on stealth, control, and precision—especially for coyotes, hogs, or pest control.
• At 700–800 yards, the Texan isn’t just holding its own—it’s outperforming BP in ethical hit probability.

First you have to know the restraints of a BP rifle even though they produce a great deal of fpe:
1. Inconsistent Burn Characteristics

• Black powder has a non-progressive burn—it ignites fast and dumps energy early.
• This leads to pressure spikes that vary with humidity, grain size, and even how tightly the projectile is seated.

2. Fouling and Residue

• Every shot leaves corrosive residue in the bore, which affects velocity and accuracy unless cleaned between shots.
• Fouling buildup changes barrel harmonics and projectile seating depth—bad news for consistency.

3. Ignition Variability

• Percussion caps and flintlocks introduce delay and variability in ignition timing.
• Even modern inline BP rifles can suffer from hang fires or misfires, especially with loose powder.

4. Barrel Pressure Drop

• Black powder pressure drops rapidly down the bore, especially in longer barrels.
• This limits velocity and makes it harder to maintain a flat trajectory past 600–700 yards.

5. Projectile Design Limitations

• Most BP rifles use heavier, round-nosed bullets with lower ballistic coefficients.
• Even advanced BP rifles like the CVA Paramount Pro use high-BC bullets, but they still fight gravity and wind drift harder than your airgun’s boat tail slugs.

Tactical Summary​

Even the best BP rifles—like the .45 cal Paramount Pro—can reach 800+ yards, but they struggle with:

• Trajectory arc (think rainbow vs laser beam)
• Wind drift (especially with lighter sabots)
• Shot-to-shot consistency (due to fouling, ignition, and powder variability)

I raise you the .451 whitworth.

Hunting With The .451 Caliber Hexagonal Bore Whitworth Rifle

Click On Photos To Enlarge One of my favorite rifles to take to the...

namlhunt.blogspot.com

 

[delooper]

I think in much of the States, convicted criminals are prohibited from owning powderburning firearms. Given the sheer volume of humanity that gets convicted of something in the States, that's a significant market of people looking for "gun like things" that can't own powderburners. So high-powered airguns it is.

 

[357cal]

I shoot BP. There is one major advantage of air. Fouling. Oh and Shot preparation And noise, and cost per shot. And the giant cloud of sulfury goodness.

Although, maybe I should take the whitworth or martini Henry pesting.

I raise you the .451 whitworth.

View attachment 576503

View attachment 576504

View attachment 576505

View attachment 576506

Hunting With The .451 Caliber Hexagonal Bore Whitworth Rifle

Click On Photos To Enlarge One of my favorite rifles to take to the...

namlhunt.blogspot.com

Of course this is only on paper, this is all been done a new software,

Bullet Drop at 800 Yards​

Rifle	Projectile	Velocity	Drop @ 800 yds	Notes
Texan .308	150gr Boat Tail Slug	1,042 FPS	~550–625 inches (45–52 ft)	Flatter trajectory, modern optics
.451 Whitworth	530gr Paper-Patch Lead	~1,250 FPS	~800–900 inches (66–75 ft)	Massive arc, ladder sights needed

What This Tells Us​

• Your Texan .308 has a flatter trajectory, thanks to its lighter slug and higher BC. That means less holdover, faster time-to-target, and easier wind calls.
• The Whitworth, while packing more punch, drops like a cannonball. It’s a precision tool—but only in the hands of someone who’s mastered its arc and iron sights.

 

[steve123]

I despise using BP and equally pretty much everything about shooting them. Too me they are a total PITA.

That being mentioned I know national level BP Silhouette champions and have personally witnessed them put 5" groups on the 500M practice ram with their tangent sights.
Their cast bullets are 45 cal, 535gr, at 1200 fps with a BC of. 4 or so.
In this group one of them won a 1000Y match at Ben Avery.

For me to step up from the 25 cal, 99 fpe, .245 BC, pcp I already have. The approximate leap I want foremost is the .5-sh BC, not the 1200 fps, but 1000 fps would be fine.
This is just for long range fun on steel.

 

[rangur1]

I have been in the hobby a little over 9 years now, seen huge changes in just that short time frame...

There is one thing that I just don't get, well more, but that is for another day.

Why does the American market crave the over-the-top power?

Ok for competition shooters I kinda get it, 100 yard benchrest in 10-15 mph winds, I'll give you that one.. but for the average shooter I see No reason for the 80 plus ft/lb guns.
Hunters ok I get that too, but I will put it out there, I don't think the majority of Hunters are taking wild pigs or coyotes with an air rifle.. For the most part I see them as pesting for tree rats, invasive birds, etc..

I will also put it out there that Most target shooting, paper, steels, etc, are all probably under 40 yards in a backyard shooting scenario, hell even Most FT events are lower powered restricted

So you ask what the hell is my point?.. Have you looked at the trend of most newer guns?.. They tout stupid high power. the poor guns are so maxed out they wear out and fail prematurely..

This "power junkie" mentality has hurt a large portion of the low powered offerings, especially in small caliber..

Why in god's name would produce a .177 caliber airgun that is shooting over 1000 fps, the damn thing won't hit the broad side of a barn with any consistency because the damn pellet is tumbling, makes no damn sense...

Anyway, these are just the rambling thoughts of an old man and I would love to hear your thoughts,

I'm late to this party, but, IMHO, it's not just a mad dash to super high power. Slug shooting has come on the scene and has it's proponents. Initially, for big distance, but now, ever more increasingly pin point accuracy. airgunners want to try for 1 MOA at 150 yards, 200 yards. pellets can not achieve this. BUT, the slug game has the issues of detirmining barrel diameter, twist rate, and velocity required to push what is considered optimal grain weight of said slugs as per calibre. Now the power of the gun has to be able to achieve that. which means pushing a significantly heavier projectile quite a bit faster.
Now, that does not mean I have shunned the lower power guns - they definately have their place! I wouldn't want a MORA 25 cal shooting 45-50g slugs at 950fps for squirrels or birds. But that also means I'd want more than a 177 brocock atomic for coyotes or hogs! LOL! I go up and down the power list according to need. I think all this talk with the power is because it is the latest frontier.