First PCP is a AF Texan LSS .45 cal w/ CF tank; best Scuba tank & round ?

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lewis.rothman

lewis.rothman

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Apr 3, 2021
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Iowa, United States
So I just ordered my first PCP ever and figured I should get the best hunter I could afford/ kind of afford........ I will be using it primarily to hunt. Iowa does not have a season for these guns, so I will be traveling and some times to very remote locations in Texas, for now; pig hunting and in the future I will be looking to get, rams, elk and other large game. What is everyones suggestion on air tanks; CF - scuba type. Also, I am leaning towards the NSA 350 & 290 grain pellets; 290 for distance & 350 for nock down power. Any thoughts ?
 
you just about have to see how it shoots and 'where' you want to shoot to decide on round .. most people seem to focus on the 'thousand yard shot' seems like lol ... but in a real world hunting situation alot will depend on your style .. if your roaming around you'll likely want a lighter flatter shooting round, but if you know your distance in a stand a heavy hitter might be ideal ... tanks ... tank setup will depend on your finances .. you can get alot of money into a new cf tank and fancy valve setup, also how you gonna fill it ... a good setup for something like that that eats alot of air (to me) would be a young hen compressor, a couple of used 45 min scba tanks on ebay, and a cheap cga347 adapter ...
 
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Ordered it strait from Air Force - they have a great Veterans discount; plus the gal's that have answered the phone are well versed or read on their products. They only have the 265 grain in stock right now, but I'm not sure they can stay true with the CF tank, the aluminum would work, but I have seen reviews that state that they feel anything under 385 goes to fast and becomes inaccurate. I am leaning towards the 290 & 350 grain, just wanting to get all the opinions I can. I like what the Utah Air guy's have and their set up is all together nothing extra to get, unless I want to tether it and that does not seem necessary at the time.
 
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LOL thousand yard shot ---- I am setting up for 100 yard shots and once I get down to Texas, I might take some 150/200 yard shots, but the area I hunt in is pretty dense and when hunting pigs you can get within 100 yards; hell, I was at 15 feet with my cross bow...... We have a local dive shop/ $15 a fill. Not sure I am wanting a compressor right now. A 74cu ft. Tank can fill it about 13 - 15 times; that should be more than enough while out on a hunt. Used CF tanks ? ? ? Many folks have said that if the get scratched up, then they are a safety hazard and the only have a 15 yr life to them. Being it is my first one, I would like to go new for sure; though the budget is dwindling fast.
 
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While I don’t personally shoot with a Texan, my friend does. Nielson Specialty Ammo is top notch. Very well tested in the Texan and my hunting buddy swears by his rounds for his Texan. In my Piledriver ( yeah yeah, Hatsan be dammed, but I love it) they are superb as well. The Knurled BTHP puts a large hole in hogs and downright unfair to ‘yotes. The 350 bthp is superbly accurate in both guns. 

I stayed away from used tanks and coughed up the cash for new. Joe b at Airtanksforsale.com is awesome for tanks, many people order from him. I was just too skeptical of used but many have had good luck. Search around, I bet there are some good posts about used tanks, just was not in my interest. Whatever you get, make sure its DOT if you don’t have your own compressor. 



 
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I have been looking at tanks from Pyrimid, Airgun Depot, Utah Air and Airtanksforsale (Joe Broncoto). Being this is my first experience with PCP's, I don't know the lingo all that well so I was using "Scuba" tank as a generic turm (I scuba dive too), I do need to look and see what SCBA means; I know I need 4500 PSI and have looked into them a bit. I am just getting real confused how one carbon fiber 74cu ft tank could weigh 9 pounds and another 15 pounds and yet another 18pounds, with some not even stating the weight on the website; all with valves & hoses needed to fill my PCP. I guess I am really looking for finite answer's due to my lack of experiance and myriad of options and sales people trying to sell their products. Do you have any experiance with the differant 74 cu ft tanks and thoughts on which one is the lightest - most reliable - durable and such. I plan to hunt deep into the woods (for pigs at this time) and want something that will give me 5 or more fills; I have shot of as many as 5 pigs in a group with my crossbow. Having more range with the Texan, I am hoping to take multiple shots initially and then stocking them after that. Any thoughts on that ?
 
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I am trying to stay away from the compressers, being we have access to a good scuba diving shop and I just don't want to mess with them at this point. I don't plan on going to the range and shooting thousands of rounds ; so I figured a tank with 13 to 15 fills in it would suffice for my needs; yet a guppy tank is said to only provide one full fill in the CF tank on the Texan LSS. Do you know if I can load a guppy tank from a larger tank ? Right now, not having experiance with shooting PCP's and I am only going off my pig hunting experiance with crossbow; my thought process is looking for 10 to 15 shouts without going back to the vehicle/ camp. If I were just hunting for a single animal (mule deer, bear, elk etc...); all this would be mute. Ole Marine - one shot = on kill........
 
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IMO a guppy is too small for Big Bore using 4500psi unless you want one maybe two fills..Just my opinion... In Texas we can clear more than half a dozen hogs in one night and maybe a coyote or two. For the cost of a fill at a scuba shop it might also be more economical to use a bigger tank. My shop charges the same for a Great white 4500 fill as a small tank! I lug around a Tiger Shark on hunts, that way I have enough air to sight in as well. For bench shooting I’ll use the Great White to get a few hours of shooting, but its a beast to lug around. Great white is no cakewalk either, but it fits nicely in a backpack. I also have a 12v portable compressor which is great for individual fills. Sometimes I fill with that for pre hunt sight in and keep the tank for the hunt. Other times we are in a blind and I can just tether regulated. 

Also check out this great vid on big bore hunting. Very different than powder. https://youtu.be/rhB-0NlY8AE

Airguns of Arizona has a nice tank fill calculator on their website. This can help answer fills per tank based on capacity, fill pressure and refill pressure, all dependent on you rifle and tune. Chairgun app has one as well. 


Tons of great info and people on this site to help you navigate the big bore and airgun world. Keep searching the forums!
 
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IMO a guppy is too small for Big Bore using 4500psi unless you want one maybe two fills..Just my opinion... In Texas we can clear more than half a dozen hogs in one night and maybe a coyote or two. For the cost of a fill at a scuba shop it might also be more economical to use a bigger tank. My shop charges the same for a Great white 4500 fill as a small tank! I lug around a Tiger Shark on hunts, that way I have enough air to sight in as well. For bench shooting I’ll use the Great White to get a few hours of shooting, but its a beast to lug around. Great white is no cakewalk either, but it fits nicely in a backpack. I also have a 12v portable compressor which is great for individual fills. Sometimes I fill with that for pre hunt sight in and keep the tank for the hunt. Other times we are in a blind and I can just tether regulated. 

Also check out this great vid on big bore hunting. Very different than powder. 

https://youtu.be/rhB-0NlY8AE



Airguns of Arizona has a nice tank fill calculator on their website. This can help answer fills per tank based on capacity, fill pressure and refill pressure, all dependent on you rifle and tune. Chairgun app has one as well. 


Tons of great info and people on this site to help you navigate the big bore and airgun world. Keep searching the forums!
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Hey, great input....... Thanks for taking the time to share your knowladge. I am looking at a firemans backpack right now; to carry the tank. How heavy is your 74 cu ft tank and have you had any experiance with other 74 cu ft tanks from other companies ? I've seen guys shooting 300 yard (at targets) with the Texan LSS .45 cal carbon fiber that I have ordered; seen guys hunting at 190 yard and downing rams..... That is not my plan, I have shot pigs from 25 yards to 10 feet with my crossbow. So for now, under 100 yards is my plan. As for tethering, I am interested in getting the set up for that, but, I will have around $2000 with the scope - bi-pod - Rifle - tank & rounds. So,the $259 to $300 for the tether set up; SHOULD wait lol What do you think..... I mean I can cut another tree down or do a fence job and pay for it. But, I am also thinking of a .30 or .357 for iguanas, boa constrictors and other invasives in Florida and so my son will have a gun to hunt with. Thanks agian.
 
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Try both of the NSA offerings. My Texan is a full size, and shoots both lights out. I use a portable compresses, so no help on the tank.

I am in between chrono's so can't give you speeds, but it would be different for yours anyway.

290 should handle most anything but elk. Not sure how it will compare, but BC is a real thing. We'll just have to do our own workup.

FWIW, the 143 grain balls are a blast and give me a lot of shots. Accurate, and meet minimal Texas energy requirements. Not sure I would want to deer hunt with one, but if coyote hunting, or looking for other vermin and a hog walked out, I wouldn't hesitate.

Happy hunting
 
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Try both of the NSA offerings. My Texan is a full size, and shoots both lights out. I use a portable compresses, so no help on the tank.

I am in between chrono's so can't give you speeds, but it would be different for yours anyway.

290 should handle most anything but elk. Not sure how it will compare, but BC is a real thing. We'll just have to do our own workup.

FWIW, the 143 grain balls are a blast and give me a lot of shots. Accurate, and meet minimal Texas energy requirements. Not sure I would want to deer hunt with one, but if coyote hunting, or looking for other vermin and a hog walked out, I wouldn't hesitate.

Happy hunting
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I just purchased 200 - 350grain & 100 - 195grain NSA hollow points. I'll have to check out the ball rounds; are they 143 grain ? That seems light; being they are round "ball" does that mean they are not effected by the speed ? I read that some of the lighter pellets loose accuracy because they travel too fast. 
 
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Try both of the NSA offerings. My Texan is a full size, and shoots both lights out. I use a portable compresses, so no help on the tank.

I am in between chrono's so can't give you speeds, but it would be different for yours anyway.

290 should handle most anything but elk. Not sure how it will compare, but BC is a real thing. We'll just have to do our own workup.

FWIW, the 143 grain balls are a blast and give me a lot of shots. Accurate, and meet minimal Texas energy requirements. Not sure I would want to deer hunt with one, but if coyote hunting, or looking for other vermin and a hog walked out, I wouldn't hesitate.

Happy hunting
Click to expand...

I just purchased 200 - 350grain & 100 - 195grain NSA hollow points. I'll have to check out the ball rounds; are they 143 grain ? That seems light; being they are round "ball" does that mean they are not effected by the speed ? I read that some of the lighter pellets loose accuracy because they travel too fast.
Click to expand...


Never tried the 195's. 290 is very good. <75 yards is pretty flat and I don't need to compensate. The 290's are zero at 25, 50, and an inch low at 75. At 100 they are 12 inches low.

I haven't taken the 143 balls out past the 50 yard range, but they are using the same zero as the 290's. Balls are a unique customer. They are their own thing. Not bad, and have linear penetration, with some deformity, but not a lot. Kinda hard for me to put into words.

The 350's? I haven't shot one yet to 100, but need to get out and do that while I can still find them. Not sure If I'll use them for much, but would like to know if they are something I might have interest in.

Yes, some can lose stability at some speeds, Not sure you will have to worry about that, but something to think about. You can adjust the hammer spring to drop speed a bit if needed.
 
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Try both of the NSA offerings. My Texan is a full size, and shoots both lights out. I use a portable compresses, so no help on the tank.

I am in between chrono's so can't give you speeds, but it would be different for yours anyway.

290 should handle most anything but elk. Not sure how it will compare, but BC is a real thing. We'll just have to do our own workup.

FWIW, the 143 grain balls are a blast and give me a lot of shots. Accurate, and meet minimal Texas energy requirements. Not sure I would want to deer hunt with one, but if coyote hunting, or looking for other vermin and a hog walked out, I wouldn't hesitate.

Happy hunting
Click to expand...

I just purchased 200 - 350grain & 100 - 195grain NSA hollow points. I'll have to check out the ball rounds; are they 143 grain ? That seems light; being they are round "ball" does that mean they are not effected by the speed ? I read that some of the lighter pellets loose accuracy because they travel too fast.
Click to expand...


Never tried the 195's. 290 is very good. <75 yards is pretty flat and I don't need to compensate. The 290's are zero at 25, 50, and an inch low at 75. At 100 they are 12 inches low.

I haven't taken the 143 balls out past the 50 yard range, but they are using the same zero as the 290's. Balls are a unique customer. They are their own thing. Not bad, and have linear penetration, with some deformity, but not a lot. Kinda hard for me to put into words.

The 350's? I haven't shot one yet to 100, but need to get out and do that while I can still find them. Not sure If I'll use them for much, but would like to know if they are something I might have interest in.

Yes, some can lose stability at some speeds, Not sure you will have to worry about that, but something to think about. You can adjust the hammer spring to drop speed a bit if needed.
Click to expand...

How many shots are you able to get out of a tank using the 143 balls ? Do you power it down at 50 yards to get more shots and would you still be able to kill a pig at say 25 - 50yrds and get say 10 to 15 shots ? If I could get that many shots out of one tank with the 143 grain balls, that would solve my need to lug an air tank around with me through the woods, on pig hunts........ Maybe I should order some of those to plink with. Which brand are you haveing the best luck with ?
 
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