My new Old-School Big Bore Air Powered Arrow Shooter!

Way too much fun! Been meaning to get this “Airgun” for a while now. Tim Wells Big Bore Blow Gun. 
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No, I was pertaining to the razor darts being too hefty for target practice.

Those machine-turned bamboo skewer rods will fly like arrows though, although I favor carbon fiber shafts/rods.

I am looking for a .50 caliber 1-piece blowgun in 4' competition-sanctioned length but they are no more.

Have not used blowguns for a long time; the last time I did was about 8 (or even more?) years ago, if my calculation is correct.

I have killed approximately 1,600 rats in my lifetime with blowguns and airguns combined---majority of my kills were with blowguns though.

.50 caliber x 4' L is/was my choice for target practice while .55 caliber x 4.5' L to 5' L is/was for hunting.

I started with blowguns when I was about 12 YO--I am more than 50 YO now 😁

I was at my best back in 2006 - 2008, as I would practice for hours every day with no miss.
 
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The tri-disc dart is ultra accurate and caliber-specific.



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It also required lathed punch sets for every tube I had.

The most powerful darts though are the type (vinyl cone darts) akin to the topmost photo though.



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I do not use a funnel-type mouthpiece (I despise them) but mine had specifically-machined stainless caps and bushings, as I would cup my lips with my thumb and index fingers for maximum breath propulsion.

During target practice, I propel darts using only a fraction of my power for maximum accuracy, as a set sums up to 30 darts.

If you go full power you will suffer from vertigo, especially if you are not used to it.

At my peak, I can do hundreds of rounds without tiring or being out of breath.

It is a very good exercise and beneficial to your heart, lungs, tummy muscles, bowel, coordination, etc. ☝️


 
Wow! Those look like the real deal for sure. I have another one but never did use it seriously. It’s a small gauge one I got at a gun show many moons ago. I’m over 50 now myself, but I’m enjoying discovering these sports either for the first time or all over again. I hope to practice enough to be able to hunt with it. Will play with the steel darts a little later and see how well I can do. 
 
Your small one probably is a .40 caliber, sir.

At my peak, I could impale a cigarette butt with 3 darts in a row at 10 meters (official distance in a blowgun tournament).

In the right hands, a blowgun is a very serious weapon.

When I was still in Asia, I met a native old man in his 70s who was also very proficient with the aforesaid weapon.

He used his blowgun to hunt birds and monkeys.

He never did disclose to me what type of poison his tribe used for hunting big animals but they also used the same when they were up against other tribes.

It must be identical to curare.

I did buy his blowgun and gave it to one of my friends as a present.

It was made of Bagakay, a thin variety of bamboo.

Check out this guy's blowgun:



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His appears to be a .70 caliber.

I have tried this caliber before with footlong bamboo skewer darts attached to vinyl cones, and it beats the the .625 caliber in penetration and distance by a large margin.

The dart would make a very audible popping sound as it makes egress from the muzzle, sailing beyond 200 feet/66 yards with ease.

I am an accomplished blowgunner when it comes to power and accuracy but these natives' lung power would put mine to shame.

Btw, when I did rat-hunting, I would lace my tips with Siling Labuyo, a small chili with a Scoville unit of about 80k to 100k.

The pain would shock them senseless 👿

I would notch (multiple cuts like a fish scale) my bamboo dart tip section with a sharp blade so as to prevent it from dislodging when they try to escape into holes and tight spaces upon penetration--try to imagine being pricked by a Cactus plant with those miniature barbs, 😁

If you hunt big animals like a raccoon, try to Google Foxglove plant (the USA has them), as you can boil it, roots, stems, and all, until it becomes slurry.

It will cause paralysis if you dab your dart tips with it.

Take note: I am not condoning the use of poisons but it will lessen the suffering of your prey if you are unable to give them a killing shot with an untainted dart.

Foxglove is also dangerous when ingested.

Capsaicin, a spice that over a million Scoville units, is also a very good alternative.