Guns .30 and larger that make 215 ft/lb out of the box for Texas Hunting.

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T3PRanch

T3PRanch

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Apr 22, 2016
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Post TX, United States
www.t3pranchags.com
As many are aware airgun hunting is now legal in Texas but the .30 caliber and 215 ft/lb requirement brings up an issue.

There are few factory guns that meet this requirement so lets make a list here of ones that do meet the requirement to make it easier on hunters to choose the right weapon.

AND PLEASE do not mention the Hammer since it is NOT available yet.

  • Benjamin Bulldog is 200 ft/lb Factory BUT can be modified to meet Texas specs. (mine has been modified with JSAR parts and now exceeds minimum hunting specs.) Also a candidate for Arrows.
  • Sam Yang and Sumatra Recluse. Not enough power from the box but probably can be modified to meet spec or can be used with Arrows.
  • ALL FX offerings with the exception of Arrow shooters are insufficient although I have dropped a bug in FX-USA's ear about producing a hunting rifle and suggest others do likewise because FX is very keen on supplying what the US market wants. (Wildcat is due out in .30 soon but power is insufficient)
  • All Daystate offerings are insufficient.
  • New Model 70 Winchesters in .357 and .45 (Evanix) are insufficient UNLESS shooting Arrows.

So what is left?

  • #1 best price at $800 is the Epoch Badger which is made by XP-Airguns in Kansas and sold by AGD and now also by XP-Airguns direct too with a better stock at additional cost. (Mad Dog).
  • #2 best price at $800 also Dragon Claw 
  • #3 best price is the Texans at around $1K
  • Hatsan Hercules in .45 caliber at $1K
  • Quackenbush guns go from $605 to $1100 but they are mostly unobtainable direct due to demand.
  • There is the PBBA line of guns at $1550
  • Bushbuck at $1895 to $2200
  • XP Airguns has calibers up to .72 and 1000 ft/lb for around $1800 to $2K.
  • Extreme Big Bore Air Rifles. $1700 – $2600
  • American Air Arms also has several models that meet and exceed requirements but they are also a very high demand product that is hard to get in hand.

Except for the Dragon Claw and the Hatsan ALL these are made in the USA.

Others?
 
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150gr at 800fps and 215ft lbs or some combination that produces 215 ft lbs. My question is how will TPWD determine this when confronted with a hunter using an airgun to hunt deer? If they go by standard advertised speeds it will make no difference if your gun has been modified to shoot harder. I somehow think they will not test your gun in the field. I will be interested to find out how they handle this and it will take a while to get feed back on this. 
 
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Maybe the Game wardens will carry handheld chronos and pocket scales. I doubt it but who knows. You could tell the warden he has to pump the gun up himself if he wants to test it 😉

At least they show some common sense in their approach to integrating airguns into the hunting laws. Someone with at least some practical experience was involved in the effort obviously. Here in you Western neighbor they apparently had the janitor write their first airgun inclusive legislation. They legalized airguns with no minimum requirements for most furbearer and non game species like Coyotes and Hogs. So you could hunt hogs here now legally with a .177 caliber gun. The only animals that are legal to hunt with airguns that have a minimum are Javelinas and Cougars Which require a minimum .22 Cal no energy minimum.


 
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Maybe the Game wardens will carry handheld chronos and pocket scales. I doubt it but who knows. You could tell the warden he has to pump the gun up himself if he wants to test it 
1f609.svg


At least they show some common sense in their approach to integrating airguns into the hunting laws. Someone with at least some practical experience was involved in the effort obviously. Here in you Western neighbor they apparently had the janitor write their first airgun inclusive legislation. They legalized airguns with no minimum requirements for most furbearer and non game species like Coyotes and Hogs. So you could hunt hogs here now legally with a .177 caliber gun. The only animals that are legal to hunt with airguns that have a minimum are Javelinas and Cougars Which require a minimum .22 Cal no energy minimum.

Click to expand...

Not sure how it would work out but I have a feeling shooting a large cat with a .22 springer will end up with stitches
 
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T3PRanch said:
As many are aware airgun hunting is now legal in Texas but the .30 caliber and 215 ft/lb requirement brings up an issue.

There are few factory guns that meet this requirement so lets make a list here of ones that do meet the requirement to make it easier on hunters to choose the right weapon.

AND PLEASE do not mention the Hammer since it is NOT available yet.

  • Benjamin Bulldog is 200 ft/lb Factory BUT can be modified to meet Texas specs. (mine has been modified with JSAR parts and now exceeds minimum hunting specs.) Also a candidate for Arrows.
  • Sam Yang and Sumatra Recluse. Not enough power from the box but probably can be modified to meet spec or can be used with Arrows.
  • ALL FX offerings with the exception of Arrow shooters are insufficient although I have dropped a bug in FX-USA's ear about producing a hunting rifle and suggest others do likewise because FX is very keen on supplying what the US market wants. (Wildcat is due out in .30 soon but power is insufficient)
  • All Daystate offerings are insufficient.
  • New Model 70 Winchesters in .357 and .45 (Evanix) are insufficient UNLESS shooting Arrows.

So what is left?

  • #1 best price at $800 is the Epoch Badger which is made by XP-Airguns in Kansas and sold by AGD and now also by XP-Airguns direct too with a better stock at additional cost. (Mad Dog).
  • #2 best price at $800 also Dragon Claw
  • #3 best price is the Texans at around $1K
  • Hatsan Hercules in .45 caliber at $1K
  • Quackenbush guns go from $605 to $1100 but they are mostly unobtainable direct due to demand.
  • There is the PBBA line of guns at $1550
  • Bushbuck at $1895 to $2200
  • XP Airguns has calibers up to .72 and 1000 ft/lb for around $1800 to $2K.
  • Extreme Big Bore Air Rifles. $1700 – $2600
  • American Air Arms also has several models that meet and exceed requirements but they are also a very high demand product that is hard to get in hand.

Except for the Dragon Claw and the Hatsan ALL these are made in the USA.

Others?
Click to expand...
this is a late entry but my AEA challenger .357 standard big bore is great in texas the power level is over 200fpe for most of your shots and the first 5 shots (out of 10rd mag) will be over 300fpe with any weight 125gr or more. and tops out somewhere between 230grain and 245 grain at a speed above 800fps (my 200gr templars flew at 920 fps so go figure, this rifle is getting er done...
 
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silvershooter589 said:
AEA Challenger 30 with the 32" barrel will also make the cut
Click to expand...
yes with a heavy slug it can, i believe you can even find some.284diameter slugs that are upto 180grain at the reloading places. and .303 can be found as well upto 120grains.

but the tx airgun laws state .30cal and 160gr at 800fps which is like 227fpe so your .30cal can do it but only with the first few shots. if you went up to the .357 its about the same unless you get the big bore like mine . so yeah you are good. if i can find a .495 bullet mold that is not a round ball , id buy that big bore also.
airgun2.jpg


slugs2.jpg
 
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