Other Arrow slinger - help me decide

SakoSierra · Mar 30, 2025

Now that I have the main gun, tank, compressor, hand pump etc lol I’ve decided I might as well get something that shoots arrows and one of the members here recommended getting one of the big bores so it’s at least dual purpose…which makes sense.

I’m leaning towards a 45 or 50cal but I’m open to persuasion on a 357 as well.

Here are my top choices in order but if I’m missing something by all means let me know!

1. Western bush pig
2. Air Force texan
3. Umarex hammer
4. Airbow M600 (not dual purpose)
5. Western rattler 457 (rather not spend $3k)

Thanks for any input!

jpiperson2002 · Apr 1, 2025

You might also want to have a look at an interesting recent release from FX called the Redback over at Gogun.co (not .com)

It's an 8-shot repeating air bow with side lever cocking and 8 Gatling style barrels which rotate into place as the action is cycled.
It has the usual FX adjustable power options up to 150fpe at the top end, though I'm not sure how many shots per refill at that level.

I've always liked archery and crossbows. But I've never liked the idea of a slow reload in a hunting situation. Especially if it means an injured animal will get away or possibly turn and attack. So an 8-shot Redback airbow might make sense if a person planned to stalk a pest hog with one down Texas way.

I had an Airjavelin (C02) and an Airjavelin Pro (HPA) for a couple of years. Those were light carbines in the 35fpe power range and fun to shoot. Then had an Airsaber for a while it's a lot of power for the price. The Airsaber was very easy to shoot but (as was mentioned in detail in an earlier post in this thread) arrows going that fast still broke frequently and tore vanes or were difficult to remove even with the (necessary) high-velocity easy-release targets. And arrows were impossible to remove without breaking if they hit a tree, and they were easily lost by burying themselves into the ground at a shallow angle. OK, if I could have actually hit what I was aiming at more frequently, or been able to practice at longer distances where the velocity at impact had dropped off, then arrow attrition might not have been such a big $$$ deal.

Arrows with razor broadheads for hunting don't need nearly as much energy as a lead slug. There's a nice FPE for hunting different animals chart at the Airsaber product page. An arrow is just a flying dagger designed to cut and cause blood loss as they pass through and it doesn't take much power to cut through muscle and hide with a razor. Especially if a 1 ounce arrow is still going at over 400f/s (275mph or 440kph) when it hits the target.

So a 150fpe hunting arrow is a formidable weapon indeed. At least the FX can also be tuned down to much slower velocities for practice.
Some people might argue that it isn't sporting (meaning to give the animal a fair chance to get away in an actual stalk and hunt situation) to have eight 150fpe magnum-power arrows at the ready. That point of view depends heavily on whether a wounded hog is running away from you after being shot or is turning around to charge at you.

JP

SakoSierra · Apr 2, 2025

jpiperson2002 said:
You might also want to have a look at an interesting recent release from FX called the Redback over at Gogun.co (not .com)

It's an 8-shot repeating air bow with side lever cocking and 8 Gatling style barrels which rotate into place as the action is cycled.
It has the usual FX adjustable power options up to 150fpe at the top end, though I'm not sure how many shots per refill at that level.

I've always liked archery and crossbows. But I've never liked the idea of a slow reload in a hunting situation. Especially if it means an injured animal will get away or possibly turn and attack. So an 8-shot Redback airbow might make sense if a person planned to stalk a pest hog with one down Texas way.

I had an Airjavelin (C02) and an Airjavelin Pro (HPA) for a couple of years. Those were light carbines in the 35fpe power range and fun to shoot. Then had an Airsaber for a while it's a lot of power for the price. The Airsaber was very easy to shoot but (as was mentioned in detail in an earlier post in this thread) arrows going that fast still broke frequently and tore vanes or were difficult to remove even with the (necessary) high-velocity easy-release targets. And arrows were impossible to remove without breaking if they hit a tree, and they were easily lost by burying themselves into the ground at a shallow angle. OK, if I could have actually hit what I was aiming at more frequently, or been able to practice at longer distances where the velocity at impact had dropped off, then arrow attrition might not have been such a big $$$ deal.

Arrows with razor broadheads for hunting don't need nearly as much energy as a lead slug. There's a nice FPE for hunting different animals chart at the Airsaber product page. An arrow is just a flying dagger designed to cut and cause blood loss as they pass through and it doesn't take much power to cut through muscle and hide with a razor. Especially if the arrow is still going at over 400f/s (275mph or 440kph) when it hits the target.

So a 150fpe hunting arrow is a formidable weapon indeed. At least the FX can also be tuned down to much slower velocities for practice.
Some people might argue that it isn't sporting (meaning to give the animal a fair chance to get away in an actual stalk and hunt situation) to have eight 150fpe magnum-power arrows at the ready. That point of view depends heavily on whether a wounded hog is running away from you after being shot or is turning around to charge at you.

JP

Not going to lie, I dig your style lol! Sounds like a Gatling arrow gun would be a good time, regardless of its use! Unfortunately I already caved and bought the air saber. It’s so cheap at $270 that I will try that for a couple months or so and see where I am at.

I now need to read some posts regarding big bore, formulate a list, and ask you guys which way to go!

swNCsw · Apr 2, 2025

jpiperson2002 · Apr 8, 2025

SakoSierra said:
Not going to lie, I dig your style lol! Sounds like a Gatling arrow gun would be a good time, regardless of its use! Unfortunately I already caved and bought the air saber. It’s so cheap at $270 that I will try that for a couple months or so and see where I am at.

I now need to read some posts regarding big bore, formulate a list, and ask you guys which way to go!

The newer Airsaber Elite X2 airbow has two barrels instead of one. It costs about $450 US, compared to the single barrel Airsaber airbow at about $300 US.

I think that having a 2nd arrow immediately available is a big deal in a hunting situation. And the $450 cost of the Airsaber Elite X2 is only 1/4 of the cost of the new 8-shot repeating FX Redback airbow at $1,750. The biggest benefit of the Redback over the Airsaber Elite X2 is that the power on the Redback can be adjusted from 150fpe down to under 20fpe for quieter target practice that is also less likely to damage arrows.

The Redback Standard airbow is relatively large and bulky, and having 8 shots at the ready isn't necessary in most (if any) hunting situations.
But having 2x 160fpe shots available in a traditional rifle configuration like the Airsaber Elite X2, and at a cost of than $500 US, would seem to make it a strong contender in the airbow market.

I prefer compacts to full length airguns these days.

Here's a picture of an Umarex Airsaber with the rear end of the stock professionally removed (with a hacksaw) to make it into an airbow pistol.
It would have fit into an old-fashioned hogleg holster, though probably not a very practical way to carry one though the woods.

JP

Search

Search

Other Arrow slinger - help me decide

SakoSierra

Member

jpiperson2002

Member

SakoSierra

Member

swNCsw

Member

jpiperson2002

Member

Attachments