When are .30 cal air rifles the most effective option? Bore hunting? I have an FX MKII Impact .30 cal.
FX .30 cal Air Rifle Uses
- Thread starter Ari
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I like a .30 for lots of reasons. Long range target, long range pests, medium size game (raccoon, fox, coyote). Small game of with head shots or perfect broadside. Damage of meat can be severe if not head or ribs only. There's probably more but it's late and I'm tired... 
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I wouldnt boar hunt with a 30Cal air rifle. Not even legal in California, or ethical in my opinion. I agree with @thammer and @BlackICE and would use one for medium sized pests and/or for longer ranges 150+yds. I would consider taking down a coyote depending on its size and shot opportunity. But in most cases I would also be comfortable using a stout 25Cal like my Impact MK2 that does an easy ~80fpe. Nielsen 34.9g slugs at ~1005fps.
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30 cal can take kill any animal in the US with a well placed headshot up to 100meters with appropriate ammo. Nsa 60gr slugs shot at 950fps from a pcp are still traveling close to 900fps at 100 yards and retaining close too or over 100fpe giving them plenty of power to smash through an animals skull. Just get some good pellets that arent too soft and with a good ballistic coefficient.
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When the .30 caliber airgun produces as close to the 100 foot pound power limit in TEXtreme Field Target competitions shooting the highest ballistic-coefficient pellets made, AND is capable of the necessary 1 MOA accuracy to 100 yards. Said combinations have dominated the top podium placings all 2024 season; that being since I raised the power limit from 80 foot pounds.
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7 years using my FX Boss, .30 cal. for ground squirrels & rabbits. It's not overkill, the .30 is better for cutting through the wind, brush & branches & more easily makes the long distance shots (100+ yards).
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30cal is my favorite caliber. Probably the best if anyone only wants or can only carry one gun with them. Not overkill for most small game and enough power for mid game. Big game too but i would probably only do headshots on big game and take extra care to place it in the right spot. Especially with horn bearing animals since theyre frontal skull is much thicker than non horn bearing animals.
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