Brand new to this but want to get the most for my money

[cheez]

So I used an Airbow one and fell in love with almost everything about it (except the noise level). I was talking to someone about air rifles and was told that I should look into getting an air rifle and see about shooting bolts out of an air rifle. Then when I asked where to find out about my questions I was told to come here.

So now I'm here to ask questions and hopefully not annoy anyone with my questions.
So my first question would be, is it better to buy and arrow gun and shoot arrows or would I be happier if I bought an air rifle and figure out how to shoot arrows/bolts out of it?
And then how hard/expensive is it to convert an air rifle to an arrow/bolt rifle? And can they still shoot both arrows and slugs?
And then where do I start when looking for an air rifle that is able to shoot arrows?

Also I am looking to get this for cayotes and maybe deer as to size of animal.

 

[Chickenthief]

Nah mate!
I didnt say you needed it, i said thats where the grim reaper sticks his head out for you, and no matter what, problems comes galore.

 

[cheez]

Ok so last dumb (hopefully not) question. Can you use a silencer or anything with arrows?

 

[Chickenthief]

No way no how!!!
The fletches will expand in the silencer and rip it apart.

 

[Nomadic Pirate 66]

Ok so last dumb (hopefully not) question. Can you use a silencer or anything with arrows?

Zero chance ....with arrows is loud and proud baby.

 

[RM.510bigbore]

My airsaber is Twice as loud as my texan50 with emperor and extension.. The air bows like fx umarex and the bulldog are superior designs. The arrow is slid over the barrel the air hitting the front of the arrow. More accurate than putting arrows in rifled barrels

 

[Beer Nap]

Ok so last dumb (hopefully not) question. Can you use a silencer or anything with arrows?

Yes you can. You put ear plugs into all of the ears that can hear it.

 

[Beer Nap]

Look up the hunting laws in the state you live in, everything that you can legally do is based on them. In my state you have to be crippled to hunt with a crossbow. We can't even use a air gun for deer yet. https://www.pyramydair.com/airgun-map/#MT

 

[Nomadic Pirate 66]

The air bows like fx umarex and the bulldog are superior designs. The arrow is slid over the barrel the air hitting the front of the arrow. More accurate than putting arrows in rifled barrelsView attachment 313595

Really ?..... dang I had to stop shooting groups with the Dragon Claw and my REX rifles because I would just continually destroy arrows, guess they forgot to let me know that system wasn't as accurate

 

[Ezana4CE]

My airsaber is Twice as loud as my texan50 with emperor and extension.. The air bows like fx umarex and the bulldog are superior designs. The arrow is slid over the barrel the air hitting the front of the arrow. More accurate than putting arrows in rifled barrelsView attachment 313595

@Reedmosser For clarity’s sake the Benjamin Bulldog is NOT a dedicated arrow gun and the arrow/bolt does not slide over the barrel in this gun. It requires an entirely different type of arrow than the Air Saber or Pioneer. I also would not go so far to say that its design is superior to guns like the Benjamin Pioneer Airbow that is a dedicated arrow shooter similar to the Air Saber. BUT the Bulldog shoots pellets, slugs, and is capable of shooting air bolts (arrows). I like it because of this.

@cheez I suggest looking into the Seneca/Sam Yang air rifles for airguns that shoot lead and air bolts/arrows e.g. Drafon Claw .50, Seneca 909 44 (.45), Seneca Recluse .357. Here’s a package that Pyramyd Air sells of the Recluse with bolts/arrows and slugs.

Seneca Recluse Ultimate | Air Rifle Hunting Kit | Pyramyd AIR

We've got a great price on the Seneca Recluse 500cc Ultimate Hunters Combo. Get a great price and expert advice at Pyramyd for your next outdoor adventure!

www.pyramydair.com

You can also buy the gun and bolts separately.

Also check out the Rex line that @AirArcher66 has been telling you about.

 

[cheez]

Well now I turned one of the 14.5" REX back into pistol form, but yes I shoot arrows out of both the 19.5" barrel and the 14.5" ones.


Yes if you want to get the best bang for your buck get a gun that you can shoot both Arrows and Bullets one after the other.

I think Airbolts are made for a barrel of 22" minimal length and work well up to 26"-28" barrels ?
If you go to long then you just lose a lot of power ( the less ammount of space between your transfer port and the back of the arrow the better )

AirArcher66, I think I've decided on the Rex (This could change because I was told that my purchase now has to wait till after the holidays by the boss). My reply was that I will spend more at one time for more fun stuff with the rifle. Where is the best place to start looking for Mods for the rifle. All cosmetic for now unless there is something that you would suggest changing/upgrading right out of the gate. You seem to be the most knowledgeable on this platform with how much you've done with yours.

 

[RM.510bigbore]

The upside to a air bow like the original umarex airsaber compared to crossbow......1 Price. New Ravin crossbow 500 fps over $3500.00. My airsaber on clearance $230.00. 465fps 2 accuracy and longevity The cheapest air bow like the original airsaber will shoot with a the best crossbows made!!!!Many crossbows limbs break over 50 shots...air bow pretty reliable. 3 ease of use ...air bow no cocking or ratcheting or hurting your back cocking. My airsaber will hit the target at 120 yards with UTG 130 BDX crossbow scope 465 fps at 3400 psi. A $300.00 crossbow won't last very long in my experiences

 

[RM.510bigbore]

Sorry for mistake on Benjamin airbow...So many made easy to mix up. Either way all the more accurate designs work the same way. The arrow slides over the tube full length. Up north air gunner has been doing testing arrows in pcp rigs for a long time. He said the arrow over the air tube design is superior in accuracy. As expensive as specialty air bolts are im not interested in them. With broad head you over $30.00 A shot.....At 50 yards a hard shot for a arrow at under 500 fps is a easy shot for a slug at 800 fps. Lead a.dollar A pound makes A lot of slugs... I have both shoot arrows much less because of expense.. Shooting at over 100 yards you are going to loose arrows......

 

[cheez]

@Reedmosser this is pretty much why I want to switch to an air rifle. I messed my shoulders up a long time ago and never got them really fixed so I can't shoot a bow anymore. I tried a crossbow with the pull cocking and that is still hell on my shoulder, didn't like the cranking for sounds. I shot the Benjamin Airbow and fell in love with how it shot, the accuracy the reliability of it and of course how to cock the Airbow, something like 3 lbs of force to cock it. I now want an air rifle so that I can shoot arrows or slugs for whatever I decide. I just like having options.

On a side note is it just me or is the Rex very hard to find right now? I'm trying to find one, preferably the Rex - BA in .45 which has the mid length barrel (at 500mm) of all the Rex options and then I was going to try to get the shroud from the IBEX and think that would look good.

 

[Ezana4CE]

@cheez It’s not just you. They’re a bit hard to find in that caliber right now.

 

[Nomadic Pirate 66]

@Reedmosser this is pretty much why I want to switch to an air rifle. I messed my shoulders up a long time ago and never got them really fixed so I can't shoot a bow anymore. I tried a crossbow with the pull cocking and that is still hell on my shoulder, didn't like the cranking for sounds. I shot the Benjamin Airbow and fell in love with how it shot, the accuracy the reliability of it and of course how to cock the Airbow, something like 3 lbs of force to cock it. I now want an air rifle so that I can shoot arrows or slugs for whatever I decide. I just like having options.

On a side note is it just me or is the Rex very hard to find right now? I'm trying to find one, preferably the Rex - BA in .45 which has the mid length barrel (at 500mm) of all the Rex options and then I was going to try to get the shroud from the IBEX and think that would look good.

I don't think the BA has been made for some time now

New England airguns
Airgun Pro shop
Veradium
carry Evanix, there might be a few more

 

[Steelhead707]

I have a Sam Yang 909 .45 that I use to shoot both arrows and bullets. I do zero tuning or adjusting toggling between the two. My groups are @ 2.5" at 100 yards for bullets and my zero is set at 60 yards.

As far as arrows go, I'm shocked at how accurate and fast they go. I'm shooting 3" groups at 45-50 yards using the Air Venturi .45 caliber bolts.

I don't make any scope adjustments to my Bugbuster, just separate dope charts for arrows and bullets. It sounds too easy, but that's really it. I have used both high and reduced power and have best results on high power for arrows. I have heard that the .50 shoots better on low power, but range practice will dictate which works best for your needs.

One gun does it all with zero conversions. Literally two guns for the price of one. All that said, it's just one shooter's opinion and others experience may be different.

 

[Ezana4CE]

@Steelhead707 Have you chronographed your air bolt velocities? I’ve been curious about this rifle. Does it feel heavy to shoulder?

 

[Nomadic Pirate 66]

I have a Sam Yang 909 .45 that I use to shoot both arrows and bullets. I do zero tuning or adjusting toggling between the two. My groups are @ 2.5" at 100 yards for bullets and my zero is set at 60 yards.

As far as arrows go, I'm shocked at how accurate and fast they go. I'm shooting 3" groups at 45-50 yards using the Air Venturi .45 caliber bolts.

I don't make any scope adjustments to my Bugbuster, just separate dope charts for arrows and bullets. It sounds too easy, but that's really it. I have used both high and reduced power and have best results on high power for arrows. I have heard that the .50 shoots better on low power, but range practice will dictate which works best for your needs.

One gun does it all with zero conversions. Literally two guns for the price of one. All that said, it's just one shooter's opinion and others experience may be different.

Yeah agree 100% I love that I zero with the heaviest bullet I can get and then my arrows are hitting the same place at 20 yards, I am sure for longer ranges you need to play with holdover a bit but these AirBolts sure are awesome and I can still hunt with the guns using bullets if I don't feel like using the arrows,....two hunters in one

 

[Bowhunter73]

I have a Rex listed on here if anyone is interested

 

[Steelhead707]

I have not chrony'd the arrows. I should, but honestly it's pretty darn expensive to practice with airbolts and I haven't done it nearty as much as bullets. At @ $120.00 for 6 arrows it's not joke missing the target, burying them in the dirt, or in my case blowing through the Yellowjacket target and destroying the fletching. I burned through a few arrows (still have a couple left unshot) and made a dope chart, and that's about it. It's a novelty for me because I can't use airguns on big game in CA.

As far as easy tos houlder, it's hands down my most compfroable airgun. I have two Texans with custom stocks and an FX Impact as well, and the 909 is the most comfortable to shoulder and shoot, mostly due to it's traditional looking/feeling platform.