PCP bullet shooters

I can't speak for others, but only for myself. Hunting regulations in Arizona drive my desire for certain guns. If you have a good 25 caliber pellet gun, you can eradicate most small critters with it according to hunting laws. However, for larger game, the rules require 35 Caliber or larger. A .257 or .308 does not allow me to hunt any game which I could not already hunt with my 25 caliber pellet. I am categorized as a "method" hunter. I prefer to stalk closely to my game as a challenge. Shots at 100 yards or more are rare, which is where a .257 or .308 slug would really shine. 

"wyshadow"I have noticed most of the PCP makers who shoot cast bullets mostly make guns that are .357 or bigger. I have always wanted a bullet shooting PCP but I held back because it seems they all have very loopy trajectories. Their are few of them who make a .308 but no one makes a .257 unless it's a custom gun. Why does the .257 gun require a custom build? If a manufacture can make a PCP fling a 600 grain bullet .50 cal, I would think a production gun can easily push a 60-100 grain bullet 1100+ fps. Shroud the barrel and keep the bullet just under the speed of sound, one could have an ultimate silent long range varmint/pest killer.

I think if you want to shoot long range (100+ yards for airguns), a bullet shape is a much better design over the diablo pellet. Yes I know some of you will say just use a regular powder burner but a PCP does have its advantages over a PB. One advantage is someone doesn't have to wait months for a silencer for their PB. Another is the cost of a silencer for a PB. In most places, you just order what PCP you want and the gun will be at your doorstep in a week.

I have been doing a little bit of reading on speed of sound and correct me if I'm wrong but a person will only hear the crack of projectile if the projectile is traveling faster then the speed of sound by 1.2 mac. Would you still be subsonic if you could push a bullet 1360 fps (depending on elevation and humidity of course)? If you don't hear a crack and the compressed gasses is silenced, I would think it would be just like any other shrouded pcp. and

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The MAC 257 from Innovairtech is available as a 257 off the shelf. No custom mod needed. It can be converted to a 357 too, with a barrel kit. 

The extreme big bore guys also offer a 257 option. It's custom but so are all their other calibers.

I occasionally use regular 25 slugs (I.e. not 257) in my Career 707 which can send them out at 100fpe. The largest 25 cal cast bullets I have are 58gr though, a good bit smaller than some of the 257 slugs I've seen.

My issue with them is that any air gun that is powerful enough to shoot them well is usually so loud that it can only be used where you could use a firearm, which makes them pointless to me. They are typically single shot with a tiny number of shots per fill too. 

When you have air guns that get two shots per fill, hold one bullet and are 4 feet long, I start thinking things like "maybe an air rifle is not the right tool for this job". 

I believe WAR is coming out with both .257 and .308. Its a good question, one I also had, which is why my pursuit of a long range bullet shoot turned to .308. I actually ended up modding a Condor to a .257, which was actually quite easy with the after market mods, including a suppressor. Most every big bore can suppressed, just thread the barrel (well, bring it to a gunsmith). My first PBBA .308 was completely shrouded. The only one that cannot, effectively, would be shotguns. Yep, makes them long for sure, as many big bores capitalize on barrel length (directly relationship to increases in fps and thereby power) and not unusual for 24in+ barrels. Some are worse than others, my Texans measured out at around 5ft with the shrouds. However, these can be removed. Just depends on how much power and number of shots you need. For some folks, there are limits on game, such as deer. My Texans cpuld shoot 10 shots 2400 down to 1800psi with 143gr round ball, averaging over 900fps.

Some of these manufacturers do not like making this smaller caliber. They will do it at Extreme, but rather not, accoding to some discussions. Like Zebra, I can shoot a powerful .25 and get darn good fpe in that caliber, eg AF, Sumatra, etc. its easier to make bigger power with larger caliber projectiles, so not as much of a market with .257 given modern air rifles have such good power off the shelf. To get the same power with a .257 as a .308 and more, you obviously need a heavier bullet which also means longer. Wit larger calibers and given cross sectional area being pushed with air, they can ne more efficient as well as meeting potential ballistics easier, given sectional density. As already mentioned, some states have caliber requirements in airguns (as well as PB). 

Although there are a few good bullet options in .257, there are many in other calibers. Bullet casting is just another component to the hobby, and frankly I enjoy it a whole lot more that I ever imagined. In fact, it further perpetuates the addiction! As a result, I can enjoy more bench time for less money than a .25 pellet shooter because my lead is dirt cheap. That is probably likely for .357 and all for that matter, when shooting from the bench because of reclaiming the spent lead. I simply enjoy different calibers and bullet shooters for sure. Im in progress of building a .224, and likely no one produces thosefor similar reasons as .257.