Long Range PCP

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mtnGhost

mtnGhost

Member
Dec 15, 2018
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Defected from the PNW, United States
I'm starting to gravitate towards spec'ing out a long range PCP. When I contemplate what it is that I'd want, here's the short list requirements:

  1. Accurate to 500-600y (with potential to reach out to 1K+
  2. Shot count - at least 4 consistent shots would be the min bar (5 would be ideal)
  3. Bolt action - very nice to have, not a requirement
  4. Suppression - as quiet as possible, without being 15' long
    [/LIST=1]

    Caiber - I'm beginning to really like the .257's. Spitzer-style slugs maybe? I'm not dead set on any caliber though, but I'd want the best B.C. possible as a strong characteristic of the build.

    Quality - I'd want the base platform to be solid, not something that would fall apart due to bad QC or poor design materials.

    What do you guys think? At this point I'm just trying to nail down some viable base platforms and the caliber / ammo that I should be gunning for (pun intended).

 
So I will be very interested to see what people say about the different platforms available. Frankly I keep hoping a better platform than the Airforce Texan or the American Air Arms that by some magic I just haven't yet heard of pops up. 



Either way though, while I don't have experience going much past 200 yards with an air rifle, I do have experience doing it with a .22lr (subsonic). I can tell you without a shadow of a doubt that, given the sorts of holdovers you're going to require, you'll probably want an adjustable mount or some other gizmo so you can actually aim at the target..... like one of these for example:
https://precisionrifleblog.com/2018/08/05/extreme-long-range-tips-optics-mounts/



I hope that helps. :) 
 
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Just ran a 200 yard target in ChairGun - Nearly a 4 foot hold over for a ,25 caliber 34 grain pellet at 950 fps.

1000 yards, according to Strelok is 8690 inches hold over (that's 747 feet hold over)

You'd have to switch to slugs, probably use helium, go with a heaver slug and aim like it's an artillery piece for 1000 yards

Sounds like an interesting project. Way out of my league. Do keep us posted.
 
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@STO I've been using a 20MOA rail for some time now. I have a decent amount of elevation clicks on my NF (but I'm still in the market for another spotting scope posing as a rifle scope :p). If I wind up needing even more clicks, I'll take the plunge and get an adjustable rail.

I'm looking at the 116FPE .22 Beaumont Grizzly, but it's not going to stretch out that far. I guess my vision for what I'm looking for would translate more towards a 6.5mm Grendel lol, but I'm trying to stack a list of options for something that can reach out to ~600y with consistency.
 
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I mean "consistency" is all relative, depending on what you're after, but if .22 caliber and ~100 foot pounds is your huckleberry, the Huben K1 seems like the obvious choice. Huben has its detractors, however for the cost of a custom built Beaumont you could almost consider the 1.5K Huben an appetizer. 



I guess I've just been having thoughts somewhat along the same lines as you, and reached the conclusion that something .30 caliber or below would be the only way to get a reasonable shot count. Most of the existing small-bore platforms just don't have the go juice to really take advantage of heavy high BC slugs, and if they do they're at their very limits. A Huben meanwhile can easily and efficiently generate that kind of power, and having FINALLY seen what is inside and how they work (link https://youtu.be/mI2MI5sv7w8) they're really actually not that complicated or scary. So perhaps something worth considering, especially since quality slugs are now widely available from a number of different manufacturers. 



Just a thought. 
 
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.257 pushing 195+FPE is my caliber of choice for long range airgun shooting There are several bullet molds available and I am casting my own bullets. It adds to the sport and is rewarding. The .257 is easy on air use compared to the larger calibers, and you can push bullets high into the subsonic speeds which helps the trajectory.






 
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.257 pushing 195+FPE is my caliber of choice for long range airgun shooting There are several bullet molds available and I am casting my own bullets. It adds to the sport and is rewarding. The .257 is easy on air use compared to the larger calibers, and you can push bullets high into the subsonic speeds which helps the trajectory.





Click to expand...

Good god man. That thing is beautiful.
 
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the texan can shoot 1200 yards in .308 with a cold shot 350 moa and a adjustable mount and dialing to max and using reticle also for holdover , this is what I know can do it .

My biggest air gun is 257 caliber custom condor I run 73 gr at 990 fps







1552692567_18364017195c8c3557b20199.45204907_14102699_1251608798205234_2436648417479303015_n.jpg

 
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Some food for thought: https://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=154376.0

https://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=154377.0
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Heh, I can't view. I guess GTA is a walled garden now for certain threads! I had an account several years ago, but I can't even remember which email alias I used 😢 

.257 pushing 195+FPE is my caliber of choice for long range airgun shooting There are several bullet molds available and I am casting my own bullets. It adds to the sport and is rewarding. The .257 is easy on air use compared to the larger calibers, and you can push bullets high into the subsonic speeds which helps the trajectory.





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Loren, you're a marvelous craftsman!!! I followed your threads and enjoy watching your creations materialize!

the texan can shoot 1200 yards in .308 with a cold shot 350 moa and a adjustable mount and dialing to max and using reticle also for holdover , this is what I know can do it .

My biggest air gun is 257 caliber custom condor I run 73 gr at 990 fps







1552692567_18364017195c8c3557b20199.45204907_14102699_1251608798205234_2436648417479303015_n.jpg
Click to expand...

There was a BEAST of a Texan for sale in the classifieds.. I'm not going to say that the Air Force guns would be "cheating" or me to hit my goals, but man they put out some power and have serious potential. How long do the internals hold up to the abuse btw? Are there any common wear parts that you'd want to stock up on?

I mean "consistency" is all relative, depending on what you're after, but if .22 caliber and ~100 foot pounds is your huckleberry, the Huben K1 seems like the obvious choice. Huben has its detractors, however for the cost of a custom built Beaumont you could almost consider the 1.5K Huben an appetizer. 



I guess I've just been having thoughts somewhat along the same lines as you, and reached the conclusion that something .30 caliber or below would be the only way to get a reasonable shot count. Most of the existing small-bore platforms just don't have the go juice to really take advantage of heavy high BC slugs, and if they do they're at their very limits. A Huben meanwhile can easily and efficiently generate that kind of power, and having FINALLY seen what is inside and how they work (link https://youtu.be/mI2MI5sv7w8) they're really actually not that complicated or scary. So perhaps something worth considering, especially since quality slugs are now widely available from a number of different manufacturers. 



Just a thought.
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Those Hubens are pretty scary (in a good way) on the performance fence. I have to pass on them for personal reasons though. .257 seems to be a GREAT caliber, I need to figure something out soon since spring is finally here, and I have the need for speed already lol


 
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They were expired sales ads for user rifle50 who has a video shooting one at 1065 yards. 

Airforce Condor. 25” Black Hole Weaponry https://columbiariverarms.com/rifiling-manufacturing-process/ 3 groove, Caudle Polygonal Rifled S.S. Barrel. 1-10” twist. I have one of these Barrels on a .257 Caliber AR-15, and liked it so much I ordered a blank, and Gunsmith fit to Condor, Chambered it and turned a Recessed CROWN. Doug Nobel Valve, 10.5# Spring, 115 Gram Brass Hammer. Maddog Ultima Stock with rear adjustable elevation screw, front mount for Bi-Pod. AOA SUPER SEAR, which lightens trigger pull nicely. Have on Texan too and really lightens and smooths trigger pull/action. Scope Mount included. Shoots very well. $1,300 to build, 


1552848344_13306209415c8e95d88aaef9.31006242_1.jpg
1552848357_19572092105c8e95e523ae54.34416794_5.jpg


Two TJ BARRELS in .257, 1-14" twist, drop in fit a Condor. One is 27”, other is 34”. I originally shot the longer BBL in my Video to 1065 yds. They have both been Carbon Sleeved. Then later a 1” Aluminum tube DRAWN over mandrel to just fit over carbon sleeved Barrel and chemically welded/Epoxy. They are STIFF. Also both Threaded and include AIR STRIPPERS. With the Drawn AL, Carbon Fiber Tubing, and Gunsmith Machining these BBL’s cost me $400 ea.

1552848470_10469369425c8e9656f2e0d7.08408994_IMG_0223a.jpg
1552848483_7671710625c8e9663c94e07.49244603_IMG_0224d.jpg
1552848500_4963204295c8e9674b80571.55663357_IMG_0229e.jpg



 
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@T3PRanch, I was up late last night and came across a few YT videos - one was a dude "UpNorthAirgunner" who had a Talon SS as the "base" for a build that looked almost identical to that one, that he modded with a similar barrel, identical stock, and mostly stock ring lock valve work / larger top hat. Super cool, but man - the chrono numbers don't seem to be very consistent.

I watched some other videos from another guy's channel that I'm sure some have one across before "shooter1721". This guy has a Texan that is reaching out pretty damned far (1000-1108y). At 1000y, I'd say his groups were probably somewhere in the neighborhood of 30" - he was using a table and a gun vise though, so I suppose that all folds back to what was said above about the gun being more like an artillery cannon at that range.

Now here's where I'm not real clear with these AirForce guns, are they only regulated with an external man in the middle type regulator (that would have to be tethered to the air cylinder) to get regulated pressure for each shot? If so, I'd probably want to lean more towards something with a larger, integrated reg instead of having to rely on an external reg. Here's my use case - hunting mountain goats in rough terrain. I'd want at minimum 4 long range, consistent shots with a lot of punch. I'd want to be able to scale the terrain without a big air tank (and table + vise obviously).


 
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Here's my use case - hunting mountain goats in rough terrain. I'd want at minimum 4 long range, consistent shots with a lot of punch. I'd want to be able to scale the terrain without a big air tank (and table + vise obviously).

Click to expand...

The Texan is not regulated.

What are you calling long range? At 400 yards the drop is going be in the neighborhood of 300 inch (25 ft) for a .257 Texan. Fun plinking....not so much for hunting IMHO


 
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Loren, that is one beautiful set you you have there!



the spire point at NOE that comes in at 105gr if I remember right is ultra accurate. Darned near as accurate as the old ideal 257388 or is that 257338. Man old age is rough. Arsenal has that at around 88 grains, and there is a heavier one as well. They are virtually non existent in the old Ideal mold, but the Arsenal offering is available in multi cavities where as the original was a one hole. 



Knife
 
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Here's my use case - hunting mountain goats in rough terrain. I'd want at minimum 4 long range, consistent shots with a lot of punch. I'd want to be able to scale the terrain without a big air tank (and table + vise obviously).

Click to expand...

The Texan is not regulated.

What are you calling long range? At 400 yards the drop is going be in the neighborhood of 300 inch (25 ft) for a .257 Texan. Fun plinking....not so much for hunting IMHO

Click to expand...

Anything under ~225 to hunt, and anything over for paper...
 
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