If you were going remote backpack hunting...

To the OP, I don't believe you mentioned what you are hunting. As a practical matter, I probably wouldn't use an air gun in this scenario, but knowing the game would be helpful.

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If I owned a Slayer, it would go with me into any hunting situation, practical or not..

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Here is what concerns me about the trend of game hunting with air guns. The .357 Slayer produces a ME of up to 275 fpe. A .357 handgun can generate over 500 fpe. Many people who would hunt with the Slayer, would believe the handgun was marginal in its effectiveness for humane kills on game, although it is twice as powerful. My point, a powerful air gun is not necessarily an adequate weapon for hunting medium-to-large game. It can be done, of course, but it requires conscientious use by the hunter.

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Don't really understand your point, OP has taken the time to plan his backpacking/ hunting trip. If they didn't feel comfortable in whatever they were after, they probably wouldn't be bringing the slayer.

Hunting with air power imo is similar to bow hunting, there's going to be times where you just don't have an ethical shot, so the hunt now turns into a long nature walk, which is fine by me.

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I didn't mean it critical of the OP. I am certainly willing to assume he is a conscientious hunter who knows the limits of his skill and weapon, and will not try to exceed them. But my point is simple. I have observed many people who hunt with weapons of limited power,whether bow, handgun, or air gun, and who are either not aware of the limits, or, do not adhere to them. Certainly the same can be said of any weapon. Maybe my observations are not representative, but I have seen a disproportionately larger number of hunters overestimate the effectiveness of their bow/handgun/air gun, when compared to those using firearms of greater power. Again, I mean no criticism of anyone specifically, and I probably should not have posted my comment. My apology to anyone offended. 

To the OP, I don't believe you mentioned what you are hunting. As a practical matter, I probably wouldn't use an air gun in this scenario, but knowing the game would be helpful.

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Here is what concerns me about the trend of game hunting with air guns. The .357 Slayer produces a ME of up to 275 fpe. A .357 handgun can generate over 500 fpe. Many people who would hunt with the Slayer, would believe the handgun was marginal in its effectiveness for humane kills on game, although it is twice as powerful. My point, a powerful air gun is not necessarily an adequate weapon for hunting medium-to-large game. It can be done, of course, but it requires conscientious use by the hunter.

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I didn't mean it critical of the OP. I am certainly willing to assume he is a conscientious hunter who knows the limits of his skill and weapon, and will not try to exceed them. But my point is simple. I have observed many people who hunt with weapons of limited power,whether bow, handgun, or air gun, and who are either not aware of the limits, or, do not adhere to them. Certainly the same can be said of any weapon. Maybe my observations are not representative, but I have seen a disproportionately larger number of hunters overestimate the effectiveness of their bow/handgun/air gun, when compared to those using firearms of greater power. Again, I mean no criticism of anyone specifically, and I probably should not have posted my comment. My apology to anyone offended.

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Howdy ele0102

It was probably just a timing thing haha, I am not offended at all . If it would have been a new topic and posted in a separate post on it's own maybe I would join in the fun discussing this view. But ===== you posted it in the OP hunting thread haha easily able to be miss interpreted as directed towards the OP lol. 

For instance a new post comes up and starts I drove to Palm Beach Airguns Today haha. Then you Post up I am concerned with all the driver's of cars now a day's and the ability to operate them safely while obeying the law . lol I have recently noticed a huge increase in people speeding and making unsafe lane changes at high rates of speed lately . (((( lol this is all being typed with a big happy smile and laughter hoping not to offend you in any way hahaha ))). Then the fellows trying to talk to the driver of said car say are you saying he can't drive lol I drive very safe and have had no tickets or violations in years. haha not everyone is unsafe. === All this while being listed on a driving your vehicle forum . Any way i am finished proving my ignorance now by typing this example haha. 

It is a pellet gun forum and people do hunt with them here so maybe just maybe things in that nature can get confusing sometimes about not hunting with one. and being ethical and timing maybe. lol

I sound like a goober haha oh well I wish you a very safe and happy holidays and also wished the OP a very successful, safe and fun hunt. 

Does any of my rambling ever make sense lol I mean really  lol

Thanks to all who have replied and showed what equipment they use and why. Because the Slayer is an air hog with a nice tight spread and high velocity as tuned, it may be best to have a 100ci tank and the long pump as well so as to add a little insurance into the excursion.

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What ever you decide we wish you the very Best . The slayer is awesome haha I can only drool for now. 

small air bottle...

Been there, done that. Hill MK4 for me. I figure the extra 1.8lbs over my 90ci tanks is worth the nearly infinite shot count. Plus, I feel a little safer only having to protect one high pressure cylinder than two.

The caveat is having to fill in a drier environment, not always easy in the PNW. I can't just setup the hand pump in the rain or snow, so I overcome this with my shooting mat as a ground mat for the pump and one of either my DD tarp or my dyneema pyramid tent as a rain shelter.

Quad82 said:

I carry a small 4500 72ci fill station in my backpack. Doesn’t way much at all and I can stash extra or slugs or pellets and such in the pockets. Gives me a couple top offs on my big bores. I always take it and leave in the truck when squirrel hunting. I have the intentions of taking it with me, but the small bores carry enough shots for most hunts. When up north hunting and camping I carry the tank.

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At what point does that 72ci balance with your rifle bottle and what size bottle do you have on your gun? I am looking for a refill system for the field and have a 580cc bottle on my FX, Thanks

Guppy tank. No way would I risk introducing dirt to to a hand pump. My understanding is that there's an oring between the inner and outer sleeves of the pump, which is way the inner body of the pump is supposed to be lightly lubricated. That lubrication will grab dirt/dust without a doubt.

Airgun-hobbyist said:

If you were going remote backpack hunting where compressed air was not to be had, but shot count would be low, which do you take along: a smallish guppy tank to top off the air cylinder or a good high-end hand pump to bring pressures up to say 3800 a couple times? This gun is an air hog...

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Definitely neither atank nor a High end pump.

It would be my 50 bucks China pump, smaller, lighter and way more reliable then any HILL pumps, even if I had a .50 cal I would be in hunting heaven/

UCChris said:

Guppy tank. No way would I risk introducing dirt to to a hand pump. My understanding is that there's an oring between the inner and outer sleeves of the pump, which is way the inner body of the pump is supposed to be lightly lubricated. That lubrication will grab dirt/dust without a doubt.

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My pumps live outside in my carpot where it's super dusty and stuff and do just fine, been living at this house for 8 months now.

elh0102 said:

Here is what concerns me about the trend of game hunting with air guns. The .357 Slayer produces a ME of up to 275 fpe. A .357 handgun can generate over 500 fpe. Many people who would hunt with the Slayer, would believe the handgun was marginal in its effectiveness for humane kills on game, although it is twice as powerful. My point, a powerful air gun is not necessarily an adequate weapon for hunting medium-to-large game. It can be done, of course, but it requires conscientious use by the hunter.

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Really ?......dang they forgot to tell me that been hunting big wild boars ( way tougher then any deer ) with airguns for over a decade and a half now and killed more then I can number,

Guess I'll take my firearms from now on

Airgun-hobbyist said:

If you were going remote backpack hunting where compressed air was not to be had, but shot count would be low, which do you take along: a smallish guppy tank to top off the air cylinder or a good high-end hand pump to bring pressures up to say 3800 a couple times? This gun is an air hog...

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An extra bottle might do the trick. One off, one on, boom, done. Extra shots in a jiffy. A Guppy bottle is light and handy too!

P

A good springer.