I have been looking at airguns for... A long time. Well, I have an older single pump pneumatic target rifle in .177, but this would be a more general use PCP rifle.
I think I might finally jump in. One issue is I am interested in shooting lead free. Actually, specifically copper slugs. The reason for this is I shoot indoors. My plan is to swage them. Probably using a Corbin press. The setup is fairly insane in cost, so I have been avoiding it. I may offer the slugs for sale around cost, including machine cost, to help transfer the investment and allow purchase of copper at higher volumes. It seems like a Corbin press is very low maintenance. As much as I frown on anyone reloading while watching TV, it seems entirely reasonable to swage while doing so, so my labor cost would be minimal.
Anyways, I would also like the option of being able to shoot lead bullwts. I have cast lead bullets before, part of why I want to stay away from it now, but it may come back up. I also know I can buy an absolute ton of lead bullets for next to nothing from people I know who cast as a hobby. I will just have to shoot outside and go through a very very detailed cleaning before shooting indoors again if I switch to lead.
So, this leads me to: are there any airguns that can handle a common firearm bullet? Firearm bullets of the same diameter seem to run a higher volume(longer with no cavity), but pure copper v. Lead should eliminate most of the weight difference.
I know one can shoot 357/9mm soft lead out of some and it will more or less swage to correct size in the barrel since it is so soft. It seems that is less likely to work with a pure copper slug.
I am not terribly worried about barrel wear. I shoot enough volume barrel changes are part of the deal. Despite what I saw posted here in a tangent thread, copper is definitely going to wear a barrel more than lead even if it is substantially softer than steel. An hardened steel ax still dulls when cutting a tree. I am just concerned about squibs and other safety concerns or damage to the airgun.
I think I might finally jump in. One issue is I am interested in shooting lead free. Actually, specifically copper slugs. The reason for this is I shoot indoors. My plan is to swage them. Probably using a Corbin press. The setup is fairly insane in cost, so I have been avoiding it. I may offer the slugs for sale around cost, including machine cost, to help transfer the investment and allow purchase of copper at higher volumes. It seems like a Corbin press is very low maintenance. As much as I frown on anyone reloading while watching TV, it seems entirely reasonable to swage while doing so, so my labor cost would be minimal.
Anyways, I would also like the option of being able to shoot lead bullwts. I have cast lead bullets before, part of why I want to stay away from it now, but it may come back up. I also know I can buy an absolute ton of lead bullets for next to nothing from people I know who cast as a hobby. I will just have to shoot outside and go through a very very detailed cleaning before shooting indoors again if I switch to lead.
So, this leads me to: are there any airguns that can handle a common firearm bullet? Firearm bullets of the same diameter seem to run a higher volume(longer with no cavity), but pure copper v. Lead should eliminate most of the weight difference.
I know one can shoot 357/9mm soft lead out of some and it will more or less swage to correct size in the barrel since it is so soft. It seems that is less likely to work with a pure copper slug.
I am not terribly worried about barrel wear. I shoot enough volume barrel changes are part of the deal. Despite what I saw posted here in a tangent thread, copper is definitely going to wear a barrel more than lead even if it is substantially softer than steel. An hardened steel ax still dulls when cutting a tree. I am just concerned about squibs and other safety concerns or damage to the airgun.
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