Airgun for deer

[cbashooter]

Shot capacity, large diameter, shots per fill...apparently none of you live near an Indian Rez where most of the deer are taken with 22's of all type. And, yes that includes shorts and lr's. I guess that the Big Bang theory hasn't hit my area yet.

I do live by a rez and have property adjacent to one I hunt on. Most of those guys hunt with larger calibers like the 308,30-30,SKS’s and quite a few 223’s with ball ammo. Sure some are shot with 22 lr but it doesn’t mean it’s a good idea. Just because I tackled one from behind and cut its throat with a plastic fork don’t mean that’s any other way is just overkill<G>

[tallpaul]

I read on another site that the Benjamin Rogue .357 is avail.? Again?....If this gun works out, it would be the ultimate cast boolit airgun.

"ultimate" Not even close... plenty of other big bore airguns of decent power and ease of use available... with less to go wrong!

[tallpaul]

You had better have a lot of time or luck to get a Quackenbush. Tried for 2 years and gave up.

Not really- they show up all the time on the secondary market- just saw one the other day NIB even, they cost more than from Dennis but they are easily available- no luck involved- just bring cash!

I got mine on the second hand market- at a cheaper price than from Dennis even... bit I did luck out!

[HollowPoint]

The quakenbush air guns pack a good amount of power but the ergonomics of their form just seems to be overly cumbersome to me. Of course this is a mute point since I'm not the one buying or carrying one.

I've heard and read alot of reports from those who are extremely happy with their ownership experience with these big long heavy air guns. More power to them. It's the owners satisfaction that's important; not my opinion or the opinions of those who've never even fired one.

I am of the same opinion of the Benjamin Rouge. At the rate that air guns are evolving, it won't be to long before the air guns we're debating about here will be relegated to the antiquities pile, just like the Giardoni air gun. Big power, but at what cost?

Just not my cup of tea, that's all.

HollowPoint

[jhalcott]

I asked the DNR people about hunting deer with an air gun. "It has to have the SAME muzzle energy as a center fire rifle, 1200 foot pounds!" For small game and varmints there is NO limit! When Isaid bows do NOT have 1200 fpe! They replied BOWS ain't GUNS!!!

[HollowPoint]

In Arizona, our game and fish department did studies that indicate what muzzle energy is needed to humainly bring down various game animals at air gun hunting ranges. I still don't really understand their final decisions about "Pneumatic Weapons."

It's strange because they determined that it only takes a certain amount of muzzle energy to take down a coyote but it's illegal to hunt them with a break-barrel air gun of 22 caliber unless it's a PCP; even if the break-barrel air rifle generates just as much, if not more muzzle energy than some PCP's of the same caliber.

There are some .257 through 30 caliber Big Bore air guns that generate the muzzle velocity to humainly bring down a deer but, our Game and Fish Department has limited the taking of deer with a "Pneumatic Weapon" to .35 caliber or bigger.

I guess they're making policies erring on the side of caution. Otherwise we might have guys out in the field trying to bring down deer with their Daisy Red Ryder BB guns and claiming it to be OK because their Red Ryder is technically classified as a "Pneumatic Weapon."

HollowPoint

[MaLar]

Air guns are not my game but I do come here and read you guys. Never know what you'll learn.
Just to mention Quackenbush. I have a good friend who bought one of his rifles. Main spring broke soon after he got it and that was the end of gun.
Denis Quackenbush doesn't stand behind his guns. What a waste if you ask me about my friends gun.

[cody9999]

I know Mr. Quackenbush pretty well and find that real hard to believe. He is A man of very high morels and have never seen him turn down someone who needed help. Unless of course you bother him on Sunday, that is his day off.

Air guns are not my game but I do come here and read you guys. Never know what you'll learn.
Just to mention Quackenbush. I have a good friend who bought one of his rifles. Main spring broke soon after he got it and that was the end of gun.
Denis Quackenbush doesn't stand behind his guns. What a waste if you ask me about my friends gun.

[MaLar]

On that note I'll ask my friend to give him another try. Ron (my friend) is a reasonable and friendly fellow.

[bearcove]

They still seem underpowered to me. I've shot deer with a 357 mag and that was marginal.

I do know of someone who shot a 700lb Brown bear with a 22 mag rimfire. It was following him up a tree though.

[HollowPoint]

This is slightly off subject from air rifles for deer hunting but still on the subject of "Under Powered" for deer hunting. I read a post on this very forum of a guy who used a 380 caliber to stop a bear from attacking him.

It seems that he and his girlfriend were out in the woods when they came across a charging bear. Just before turnning to run away, he wooped out his little 380 and shot his girlfriend in the knee-cap with it, allowing him to get away clean while the bear focused his attention on his ex-girlfriend.

Similar to using a 22 RF to achieve success, shot placement is everything.

HollowPoint

[bginvestor]

Not really- they show up all the time on the secondary market- just saw one the other day NIB even, they cost more than from Dennis but they are easily available- no luck involved- just bring cash!

I got mine on the second hand market- at a cheaper price than from Dennis even... bit I did luck out!

I owned a DAQ bandit and sold it! Not worth over $650 IMHO.

[bginvestor]

There are a couple of BB makers that produce rifles that reach up to 1000 fpe . I am not sure what the top energy of these rifles are . I have not talked to them recently . But I know in the past he has filled his orders in a timely fashion . Not like some that place you on a list and you wait for years . The thing to remember is when it comes to these makers other than DAQ it is a second business and when the primary business picks up the rifle making just does not get done . GL Marvin
http://www.extremebigboreairrifles.com/Home_Page.php

I currently own an Extreme in .308. I ordered it at the end of Oct., finally got it in Jan.

[grizzlyadams]

there is no denying that more deer have been taken with a 22 rimfire than any other caliber, but, it is a question of legality. the states that allow airguns for deer usually have a minimum on caliber. also, they dont always present the perfect shot...i can take them with my .25 condor with ease if i need to, but i prefer something larger if available.

[357maximum]

Airguns for deer? ...real men use a wrist rocket

[Marlin Junky]

I don't know about taking deer with an airgun (I watched that UTube video of the bison hunt and it appears the bison final died of lead poisoning); however, I'd love to have a dependable, accurate airgun that will take birds and furry pests out of fruit trees at up to approximately 100 yards (probably would need to be larger than .22 caliber).

MJ

[Smoke4320]

25 Cal Benjamin Marauder will do the trick

[Marlin Junky]

25 Cal Benjamin Marauder will do the trick

With pellets or castings? If castings which mold?

Thanks,
MJ

[jmorris]

I have bagged many deer with different single shot rifles and pistols with success. In my life time of hunting deer, I have never fired more than 3 shots back to back and that was only one outing.