Well. I would disagree about them not being out on hunting trips. This year's Pork Slam at Ted Nugents ranch saw a lot of animals harvested with AEA rifles, last year and the year before as well...
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Most reliable Big Bore?? Long Term Use
- Thread starter RM.510bigbore
- Start date
AEA big bores are good guns. It's those piece of poop semi autos that have them their bad name.
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I've taken deer with my original .357 bulldog. I don't have the pitbull upgrade or nothing like that and it's power is still more than enough. So the .457 would do anything you want and Benjamin quality is top notch. Me and my dad have put 1000's of pellets and slugs though it and have not even had to change a O-ring.
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I'm not into PCPs, YET. This is an interesting thread spanning several years. One question that occurs to me is, "How much tuning would a $1000 powder burner need to be an accurate, reliable meat producer?" Can't see why a PCP should need that.
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I think it’s really more about the type of person this hobby attracts. Seems to be very engineering/mechanically minded people so the tinkering is basically part of it. And then you’re factoring for the people who are interested enough to participate in an online forum.
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Some powder burner folks like to tinker and want to get every ounce of performance everywhere, whereas some just want to buy something and buy cheap ammo and go with whatever they end up with. So it is hard to say what a powder burner owner would want to take on to become a 'reliable meat producer' as this is an individual preference to anyone, with all kinds of individual variables and costs. This is the same with any airgun owner too, regardless of cost to manufacture and/or supply and demand, or an individual's desires in accuracy and/or performance. As for airguns, any pellet or slug shooting airgun is made more accurate by finding a compatable ammo and power level for the action and barrel, just as done with powder burners (only a different process).
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I have a non magnum Bulldog .357.
Opened the valve and barrel port and I sling 150 grains out for a high of 860 feet per second.
Custom made front barrel support and ditched the factory barrel support and installed a carbon fiber sleeve.
At 50 yards 5 shots fall in a 3/4" group
Had it a few years now and shot hundreds of pounds of lead with on a breach of ring failure.
Very reliable in my book.
I shoot deer in the brain.
An instant lights out.
Before the carbon fiber sleeve with the same home casted ammo groups at 50 yards were 1.5"-2"
Still acceptable for my 30 yard hunting.
Opened the valve and barrel port and I sling 150 grains out for a high of 860 feet per second.
Custom made front barrel support and ditched the factory barrel support and installed a carbon fiber sleeve.
At 50 yards 5 shots fall in a 3/4" group
Had it a few years now and shot hundreds of pounds of lead with on a breach of ring failure.
Very reliable in my book.
I shoot deer in the brain.
An instant lights out.
Before the carbon fiber sleeve with the same home casted ammo groups at 50 yards were 1.5"-2"
Still acceptable for my 30 yard hunting.
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Agree, the mindset of an avid airgunner is much different than avg. Joe who only fires his 30-30 at deer and the occasional target to sight in.
My mental image of the typical forum member is white male, late middle age or older who would probably be into model trains or RC airplanes had they not speant all their disposable income on silly airguns and accessories.
oh, and the most reliable BB is the AF Texan. and if a Texan does fail, it's simple and there are millions of parts out there for it so you know anything can be corrected
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I have — since a few months — with the help of an AGN member — upgraded my shooting to what I thought for years was "big bore".
Well, I guess nowadays in people's minds "big bore" begins with .35cal / 9mm.
And for that caliber, the new RTI Mora is the one I would like most!!
Matthias
Well, I guess nowadays in people's minds "big bore" begins with .35cal / 9mm.
And for that caliber, the new RTI Mora is the one I would like most!!
Matthias
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I looked at all of the offerings at the time, and the only rifle with the foot pounds I required for feral hogs was the AF Texan LSS CF in .457. Unfortunately, it looks like something I bought at Clown Supply.
As I usually hunt hogs at night (11 PM - 2 AM) and am stalking them while walking my property, I need a super reliable rifle. While I have taken over 30 hogs with the Texan utilizing neck shots in the last two years, reloading in the dark is not the best option should a boar decide to charge. I still carry a cocked and locked .45 pistol on my thigh for just such an event, but I would rather just have a reliable .45 big bore repeating air rifle. Like many here, I am still searching for that unicorn.
I have a bit of experience hunting dangerous game and have always followed the adage of 'Using Enough Gun'. I think the same should be applied to air rifles and for the ethical and quick dispatch of our prey.
Although I am still using the Texan, I find that I am grabbing one of the suppressed Daniel Defense AR's topped with a thermal more often. I like the safety factor of multiple kill shots should they be required.
As I usually hunt hogs at night (11 PM - 2 AM) and am stalking them while walking my property, I need a super reliable rifle. While I have taken over 30 hogs with the Texan utilizing neck shots in the last two years, reloading in the dark is not the best option should a boar decide to charge. I still carry a cocked and locked .45 pistol on my thigh for just such an event, but I would rather just have a reliable .45 big bore repeating air rifle. Like many here, I am still searching for that unicorn.
I have a bit of experience hunting dangerous game and have always followed the adage of 'Using Enough Gun'. I think the same should be applied to air rifles and for the ethical and quick dispatch of our prey.
Although I am still using the Texan, I find that I am grabbing one of the suppressed Daniel Defense AR's topped with a thermal more often. I like the safety factor of multiple kill shots should they be required.
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Back on track to "Most reliable Big Bore?? Long Term Use"...
Overall reliability and therefore lack of customer issues goes to very few manufacturer's brands and models of big bore. No manufacturer should be in the list with "hit or miss" purchases, just "most reliable big bores". The list is relatively short really, as shown in the previous responses to this valuable thread. Last edited:
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There is nothing thin about my big bore, 8.5 lbs that's heavier than a 30-30 and the barrel of an air gun doesn't have to be all that thick as a PB because of the speed difference. PB barrel's heats up after x number of shots, an air gun can shoot all day long and never heat up. At $3220.00 for a paper puncher? here are some better choices and cheaper. FX Impact M3 RAW HM1000x Chassis is for 2024. Prices can vary based on configuration and accessories, but it generally falls within $2,000 to $2,500 USD. I know people who have taken deer out over 100 yards easily with a big bore. If you're looking for super precision big bores unless regulated, don't fit the bill.
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For hunting just about anything it's hard to beat a Texan and as for accuracy they have one of the best barrels. my .308 is a sub-MOA at 100 yards
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I too dont care for the look of bullpups of any kind but to each there own.I am a little disappointed at the offerings in the big bore department.
For every caliber from .177, .22, .25, and .30 the airgun industry produces bullpups* (with tactical looks).
But when I'm looking for a .35 or larger — I have almost no options in these styles.....
➠ Anyhow, I'm hoping that Eastern European bullpup manufacturers will offer larger calibers in the near future!
Are you reading this, RTI?
Matthias
* (If I apply the term "hideous shape" to the Benjamin Bulldog bullpup I hope you will forgive me, it's just my very own and personal opinion.)
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For your Texan to become accurate you have to find the right psi for the ammo you are using and then work with the power wheel until your shots tighten up, I learn what that is and i stick with that weight slug and psi. My .308 likes 150gr at 930 fps but I now have Mad Dog stock so that may change.
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Adding to this list of "Most reliable Big Bore?? Long Term Use" is a manufacturer with a relatively new model, the Western Airguns Rattler Semi Auto in .357 and .45 caliber's. There are very few threads on AGN or elsewhere where the Western semi-auto has had mechanical issues, and especially so for these two big bore's. As with any new model they didn't come with no issues; in the beginning mainly having worked through slow air leaks covered under warranty. These big bore's have proven TJ's and Sub-MOA barrels installed for accuracy, make great power and speed for hunting medium and big game, and they just plain cycle and work as intended for thousands of rounds.
I have put around 800 heavy slugs through my Western Rattler 45 Long Strike. It has operated flawlessly.
I have put around 800 heavy slugs through my Western Rattler 45 Long Strike. It has operated flawlessly.
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@Airgun-hobbyist Do you think that the Western Rattler Long Strike has been out long enough to determine its long-term reliability?
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My big .510 Texan does not make 200-500 shots before eating up some sort of Airforce parts..I just average parts and repairs into yearly expenses..I cast my slugs for free soo $100.00 to $200.00 for parts isnt that bad..Im changing the Aluminum carrier tube on my .510 now.. I wonder if the new T-rex .510 has a upgraded steel carrier tube..I have learned alot with big bores in my years of use and hunting with my .510 Texan..
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That's a fair point, but I did consider the criteria of "long term use" based on the amount of shots put through the thing before adding to the list. It doesn't have the thousands of rounds that typically are shot through small caliber's, but it is getting there and quickly. Most big bore owner's of any platform shoot them very little compared to small caliber's because of air consumption, ammo size, and their weight is bigger. I also considered that it is the same platform as the Rattler and Sidewinder versions only bigger, and especially so before purchasing and running it through it's paces. Further, none of the folks buying them have posted up failures, which is traditionally how and why we see what issues a particular airgun model or even brand has going on with it's design or function.
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@Airgun-hobbyist the amount of rounds shot I’d imagine equate to mileage on a car. Aside from the smaller Sidewinders, I’m not sure how much lead the average Rattler owner is putting down range. Factoring in pellets, I can shoot 200-300 shots in a full day if I really put the time I’d like to in order to get better acquainted with the rifle. I actually expect people to have issues or at least maintenance questions over time. If you don’t shoot the gun much I guess you have little to say.
Personally, as you already know, I’m already encountering cycling issues. If they cannot be rectified or take some sort of extraordinary rebuild, then it’s not what I would consider reliable air gun long-term. When I press the trigger, I expect a shot to follow. This could be a one off or maybe it happens to others, but time will tell. Ultimately time is the metric that separates long-term from other timeframes. I am interested in reading about the collective experiences of Western Rattler/Sidewinder owners.
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