Feeding large caliber airguns with slugs

En lille hilsen fra Danmark

It's a little older thread, but here's a mold with potential to try.

https://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=159623.msg155773025#msg155773025

Chickentheif here's the NOE mold I've been using it casts a 286-290 grain boolit using pure lead it's the HTC459-300-RF here's a picture of the bullet the one on the right I dug out at the range at 25yds the middle one at 50yds. 

Some guys go for the heavier slugs I like the flatter trajectory with these I've shot the NSA 350gr BTHP and they were really accurate but I had a looping trajectory out at a 100yds which is about max range for the woody places I hunt so I've gone back to the lighter boolits also I like to cast my own boolits probably the reason I'm in the $1000 club at NOE, by the way he makes some real quality molds. I've talked to Brent at Extreme big bore had one of his 50cals and he told me a 250gr bullet was what he shot because it would take any big game animal in North America except maybe a Grizzly bear.

So no heavys?

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I like to tune for the heaviest slug possible that will fit in my magazine and cycle well. That way I keep all the down-range power I possibly can for hunting. Another benefit is it rings steel louder too!

So noone cast their own and want to discolse what they run?

I have at least 11 .45 molds at hand but i wanted to "cheat" and hone in on what others uses.

Guess i'll do what everyone else does and make do (and keep) for himself?

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I don't cast them yet, but sent the link to you based on some recent research. I have a bunch of lead saved up for the occasion should I find the time to start though! I buy my slugs from NSA and am happy with them for now; as it is expensive shooting them here on this side of the pond too.

I've got a .457 Texan and have shot quite a few different bullets in it. It started out stock and I found that if I went heavier than 300gr I just didn't get the FPS I wanted and shoot count was too low (IMHO). But you seem to want a heavier bullet.

But both these bullets shot accuratly.

The NOE mold as HP casts around 328gr in 2% tin https://noebulletmolds.com/site/shop/458-460/sc460-350-rf-ae1/sc460-350-rf-ae1-rg2-cavity-gc-rd

The other mold here is an Accurate mold and is easier to load as it's a bore riding design specifically designed for the Texan. Unfortunately, Accurate doesn't do HP so I had to send it to Eric at Hollowpointmold who did a beautiful job and this bullet, as a HP casts 327gr and has definitely put some smack on the hogs and deer it's taken. As a solid it has even done well on a frontal shot on a 350 pound boars gristle plate.

Here's the links to both sites

http://www.accuratemolds.com/bullet_detail.php?bullet=46-364B-D.png

http://www.hollowpointmold.com/

My Texan has long been upgraded (three years) and I'm getting almost 90 FPS more than when it was stock at 3000 PSI fill but I can fill it to 3500 because long before the AirForce came out with the TX2 valve or the CF versions, Doug Noble had already opened mine up. That included removing the poppet spring and the brass spring retainer out of the valve which gives 50 FPS increase even in a stock valve. I used a TalonTunes carbon fiber bottle so I could fill to 3500. Doug put in a better hammer spring (which he sells, MUCH better for tuning for the higher pressure than the stock Airforce spring!!!) [AirForce must follow Doug's pioneer work because imitation is the sincerest form of flattery... ]

I would also suggest that you do this mod as described in this thread which as shown in the pictures really helps get the bullets property inserted for better accuracy in the barrel

https://www.airgunnation.com/topic/re-throating-texans-for-better-chambering-and-accuracy/

It's a little older thread, but here's a mold with potential to try.

https://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=159623.msg155773025#msg155773025

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Sorry, but let me update on that with my experience.

i bought that mold and after testing I sold it to a powderburner shooter. It's a powder coat bullet and because of the long sides it had a lot of bore friction and LOST 40 FPS compared to an equal weight bullet that had grooves and so less bore friction. Physics, you know.... can't be beat.

Anyone have thoughts on the extreme big bore for long distance bug game hunting such as elk? My texan LSS cf loves the neilson boat tails in 350, but it’s a looong gun to carry in the field for long periods of time 

Hmmmmm

I hunted elk for years in the mountains on the east Oregon/Washington border (out of La Grande) and I'd have had problems hunting with an air rifle because all my shots were over 180 to 200 yards. Hunted the woods there too but never got a close shot, they were always from one hill, ravine or mountain side to another. Even with my Doug Noble .457 Texan (what AirForce copied with their TX2/CF model) I'm not confident it would be adequate at the ranges I found the wapiti at. Remember, even the .457 long Texan is just below .45 Long Colt in power and they are big fairly tough animals. Maybe you are hunting where you will get a close shot, by that I mean 50 yards or less, yes?

I have no problem with deer or similar weight animals (although I have hunted 400 pound feral hogs with my Texan successfully at less than 85 yards) with airguns but I honestly question using airguns on larger game, even if there's some professional hunters that have done some impressive kills and put the videos on the Internet.

Shot placement becomes MORE CRITICAL and you need to know your targets anatomy better and have your guns trajectory at any range memorized. 

Just my two cents worth.

I used the Texan this past week to bag an 8pt at 140yds, dropped it in its tracks and the slug passed right through(350g). I only had the chance to run 50 shots through this gun before the hunt and was pretty confident at 100-150, but I’d like to be able to say that if I wanted I can hit something at 200yds. With that being said, when it comes to the elk I do plan on keeping my shots under 150yards, preferably 100yds or less. I’ll be hunting in the middle fork zone in September in Idaho. I’ve read that bow hunters find success here(with a few miles of hiking into elk country), so that gives me hope that I’ll find a decent shot if I’m lucky enough to come across some elk. Do you think it would be hard to stalk up on an elk to 100yds or less for a rookie? Outside of Louisana and Texas, I have no experience hunting, it’s been deer and hogs for me . If I don’t bag anything the first year out that’s ok, I’m there for the experience and journey. But if I can hedge my bets in any way, I’ll take all advice you can offer! 

Well if it's within bow range it woul absolutely be in big bore air rifle range. Depends on you stalking skills and the terrain.

I've hunted pronghorn in Idaho but never wapiti there.