Why is it so hard to explain to powder guys hunting with air can be done on larger game?!

[_CTAIRGUNNER_]

So I got my buddy into airguns, hes an older guy (56) , he is shooting an akela. I have expressed time and time again I want to coyote pest as I have the opportunity for two coyote permissions (recently acquired an uragan 30 for this job). I also explained id like to take a deer with an air rifle.

99% of hunting here in NE is in the bush and is under 100 yards on these particular animals. Coyote sometimes longer range on the farms they wreak havoc on but Ive talked to more than enough farmers who have taken them the majority of the time under even 80 yards.

He continuously shakes his head and just says "powder guns are used to hunt these animals and make 3000 fpe and shoot way faster obviously for a reason. No air rifle is going to make that energy."


I tried explaining how they are finding that this isn't necessary with air , especially as of late as it becomes more popular and he just isn't having it.

He is a smart guy, I guess the only way for me to prove this is to take an animal ethically and cleanly while recording.

 

[beerthief]

Most PB guys and gals tend to think "BB GUN" and .177 weak springer "kid guns" YEs you have to demonstrate , and even then they give you that look .

 

[_CTAIRGUNNER_]

Most PB guys and gals tend to think "BB GUN" and .177 weak springer "kid guns" YEs you have to demonstrate , and even then they give you that look .

He has shot every air rifle I have owned, he knows they are not bb guns. He thinks its not sensible. Its just frustrating, looks like my sightmark 4k mini might go on the uragan just for a night time yote shot to the dome with my new .30

 

[beerthief]

yup! at my range PB people shoot my guns and still say "why do you shoot ""BB guns ? I also shoot 50 yard bench rest with my daystate and place at least above the middle of the pack . They are impressed but still that same look of BB gun question mark

 

[dizzums]

theres nothing wrong with hunting larger game with an airgun .. defending your farm and livestock is alittle different, its not 'fun time' .. and id like to be there with a cam when you try to defend your campsite from a bear, and pop him with a pellet gun lol .. thats the stuff good youtube vids are made of ..

 

[_CTAIRGUNNER_]

theres nothing wrong with hunting larger game with an airgun .. defending your farm and livestock is alittle different, its not 'fun time' .. and id like to be there with a cam when you try to defend your campsite from a bear, and pop him with a pellet gun lol .. thats the stuff good youtube vids are made of ..

Nobody said anything about DEFENDING anything. As a matter of fact when it comes to bear , I am the biggest proponent for self defense is best done without a gun and done with spray.... Ask me how I know, Ive been face to face with a second year black bear, I wouldn't even wanna think about pissing of a grizzly bear with a gun.

Pesting is not defending, its preventing, being out and doing preventative maintenance is not defending live stock... for that I 100% agree, Id likely not use an airgun unless it's all I had.

 

[dan_house]

" he just isn't having it."

Stop trying. You will most likley never change his mind. I get the same thing here in Montana..... and Ive stopped trying to convince people. Time and energy better suited elsewhere.

 

[luckybuckeye]

A lot of hunters I know are set in their ways and think they know everything. But without fail every two years they buy a new gun in the new cool caliber that can do it all better than the last cool caliber. People are set in their ways and hang on to misconceptions like it’s the Gospel. I tell folks if a wooden arrow fired from a long bow can kill a Buffalo I think an air rifle with 10x the energy will be just fine. I look at air rifle hunting like the challenge bow hunting. Speaking of bow hunting most bow hunters I know just look at firearms season a way to fill their tags.

 

[L.Leon]

I can see it somewhat from the other perspective. Can these higher power PCPs take medium and big game? Yes, it has been proven so, over and over. But it really boils down to the hunter/shooter. Too many wrongly believe that if the tool is capable, so are they. A select few with lots of hunting knowledge and experience could probably get it done with a pointy stick. For certain animals I would only use firearms. But that’s base on knowledge of my shooting limitations, particularly afield. The higher energy dumps of firearms is added insurance for medium to big game for the average hunter/shooter. So maybe your friend is looking at it from that perspective?

 

[_CTAIRGUNNER_]

I can see it somewhat from the other perspective. Can these higher power PCPs take medium and big game? Yes, it has been proven so, over and over. But it really boils down to the hunter/shooter. Too many wrongly believe that if the tool is capable, so are they. A select few with lots of hunting knowledge and experience could probably get it done with a pointy stick. For certain animals I would only use firearms. But that’s base on knowledge of my shooting limitations, particularly afield. The higher energy dumps of firearms is added insurance for medium to big game for the average hunter/shooter. So maybe your friend is looking at it from that perspective?

You may be right, I also just recently thought after posting this that it may be that he will not be able to participate with me due to not having an airgun capable. Matt can shoot a bow, airgun, powder gun all very well. Hes a true ballistics nerd. He just doesn't see the sense in it but doesn't see anything wrong with bow hunting.

Our discussions usually revolve around yote and deer when we debate this.

Jim Chapman nailed it in an article I read, "If you want the challenge of having to get closer and wait for the right shot , airgun hunting is for you"

 

[Geezerhood]

Just show them some YouTube videos of wild hogs dropping with one shot.

 

[Gerry52]

Probably because it's out of their frame of reference. AIRGUNS conjures up images/ideas of BB guns or old pumpers for most people. WE here know that the truth about airguns is vastly different.

 

[Vetmx]

It’s understandable. He favors the simplicity and effectiveness of a firearm over the complexities and limitations of an airgun. When most hunters go hunting, they choose to take to most effective weapon they have to get the job done ethically. Killing a deer or coyote under most hunting conditions is hard enough without crippling yourself by having to shrink your kill zones, projectile flight time and lack of hydrostatic shock. I’ve been an avid archery hunter for 42 years and have zero interest in shooting a deer with an airgun. If I have to gun hunt, I grab 4 shells and go put in some work. Most lifelong hunters aren’t going to be swayed in their choice of tools for certain jobs by a Johnny come lately pellet gun pester in a YouTube video.

 

[_CTAIRGUNNER_]

It’s understandable. He favors the simplicity and effectiveness of a firearm over the complexities and limitations of an airgun. When most hunters go hunting, they choose to take to most effective weapon they have to get the job done ethically. Killing a deer or coyote under most hunting conditions is hard enough without crippling yourself by having to shrink your kill zones, projectile flight time and lack of hydrostatic shock. I’ve been an avid archery hunter for 42 years and have zero interest in shooting a deer with an airgun. If I have to gun hunt, I grab 4 shells and go put in some work. Most lifelong hunters aren’t going to be swayed in their choice of tools for certain jobs by a Johnny come lately pellet gun pester in a YouTube video.

I have never owned powder, have never shot a bow. My very first experience with a powder gun was being trained along with many others along side me how to shoot to kill people. I have zero interest in owning a PB, I love the liesure of air guns and when I learned about PCP I was all in because I missed shooting. However I don't get why there is no sense in "hunting with an airgun", isn't that subjective to each individual? Just because he doesn't want to doesn't mean its unethical or not sensible.

I am also not swaying him in such debates but trying to understand his negativity toward a personal choice of mine to want to do so.

 

[JEFFPPC]

As a long time competitive shooter (centerfire) I have found this out. If they approach you, you may be able to get them hooked. If your trying to recruit them, well my time and effort is worth more to me than wasting it on recruitment to the shooting sports.

 

[Struckat]

I am not a big bore air gun guy but enjoy reading the adventures of those that do hunt with them.

Like deer hunting. Correct me if I am wrong, but It seems to me that the FPE of some of the air guns people use to hunt deer is in the range of 38spl or 45acp.

Now I would not hesitate to take a deer at 25y or so with my 45acp, but even that thought draws criticism from friends. So the thought of 75 or 100 yards is difficult form some to understand.

It’s about shot placement, and I am not that good.

 

[Vetmx]

The difference is he doesn’t care what you do. But for some reason you care about what he does. You even started a topic about it. I’ll bet he didn’t. Just do what you like to do. There’s no need to be a pellet gun missionary spreading the gospel to what you feel are unsaved souls. Just do your thing.

 

[delooper]

It's just like anything. If you try to explain the advantage of a Japanese motorcycle to a "Harley Guy", more often than not you're just talking to a brick wall.

Once you invest in something (and guns are often a significant investment), people often lock-in and try to rationalize their decisions. Not all people are like this, but it's fairly normal human psychology, like "loss aversion" and other wonky phenomena.

 

[_CTAIRGUNNER_]

The difference is he doesn’t care what you do. But for some reason you care about what he does. You even started a topic about it. I’ll bet he didn’t. Just do what you like to do. There’s no need to be a pellet gun missionary spreading the gospel to what you feel are unsaved souls. Just do your thing.

You've got it 100% backwards.

But to be fair you did not kno these discussions started due to him questioning my choice..

 

[Pale_Rider]

Always better to prove a point with actions than words. People can rebuttal all they want with words but when you drop that yote with a well placed shot, there’s no rebuttal for that lol.

Also I think it’s a good idea to get your friends into airguns. Online airgun buddies are cool but there’s nothing like having a buddy you can go shoot airguns with.