Traditional Muzzleloading on the Cheap

General Information => Open Topics => Topic started by: Da Backwoodsman on July 12, 2008

Title: .50 cal air rifles
Post by: Da Backwoodsman on July 12, 2008
I know we are all bp fans, but I recently read an article in may/apr-08 backwoodsman on big game air rifles? the picture showed a guy next to a 2000 lb. bison holding a .457 safari air rifle. the article went on to talk about a .308. Now thats saving propellant as air is free but you have to lug around a supersized bike pump to get the required 3000 psi needed about 300 strokes! whats next?
Title: Re: .50 cal air rifles
Post by: Mr Woodchuck on July 12, 2008
what s next ... hittin em over de head with clubs and catchin lightnun bolts with ya finger tips so ya kin make fire ta eattum... huntin critters like that wiff a big o pellet rifles aunt right.
Title: Re: .50 cal air rifles
Post by: Da Backwoodsman on July 12, 2008
who you telling, couldnt imagine you'd ever get a second shot! unless you bought 2 of them lol :o
Title: Re: .50 cal air rifles
Post by: RoaringBull on July 12, 2008
I guess we could just sneak up on them and yell "BOO" real loud and hope to scare them to death
Title: Re: .50 cal air rifles
Post by: Ironwood on July 12, 2008
Backwoodsman.... Haven't you ever taken two muzzleloaders to your stand?
Title: Re: .50 cal air rifles
Post by: Mr Woodchuck on July 12, 2008
The boy kilt a groundhog once wiffa pellet rifle ... to me that wuz pushing it ...
dang thing took 100 yards to bleed out...
   walk softly n carry a big stick
Title: Re: .50 cal air rifles
Post by: Da Backwoodsman on July 12, 2008
reckon we could wait till they bed down and I will jump on them and hold them while you negotiate their surrender!
Title: Re: .50 cal air rifles
Post by: Da Backwoodsman on July 12, 2008
no sir ironwood cant say that I have, But When I get to the point I'm doing my big game with an air rifle, Imma get me several and employ ranger to help me haul all the stuff to the blind!
Title: Re: .50 cal air rifles
Post by: Ironwood on July 12, 2008
Backwoodsman,   (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v68/Ironwood/Emotes/rotf.gif)
Title: Re: .50 cal air rifles
Post by: fd-ems-emt on July 12, 2008
You only need one shot !!!!

Sam Yang Industries Big Bore .44 909 Testing

I got the Sam Yang Industries Big Bore .44 909s from Pyramydair about 3 months ago.
First impressions of the gun was quite nice. The fit and finish of the gun was more than on par for the price range. The 909s weighs in at around 7.5 lbs, and balances quite nicely for easy shooting.
Barrel is rifled. Very nice wood and engraving on receiver.

Shooting components:
I bought a used Scuba tank (3000 ftp) for filling, because I heard it goes through a lot of air. I will be  able to fill the rifle to 3000 psi and the gun showed no lockups at that pressure.
I bought Round nose Pellets in the 170 gr. weight to do my testing.
I Micââ,¬â,,¢d a few of the Pellets and found them to be .4565 to .457 in size.
Manual state I can use any .457 Roundball or Lead Bullets and Pellets in the .456 - .457 size.
I barrowed a friends Chronograph to check velocities so I could get some numbers for this testing session.

Shooting comments:
I did all my shooting using a sitting bench and sand bags for support.
After zeroing the rifle at 25 yards,  I  refilled (3000 Ftp) the tank to start with a fill tank and planed to only shoot in 5 shot grouping. The plan was to refilling it after each 5 shoot grouping  so all the groups would be is the same velocities range..


Accuracy is good. At 25 yards, all holes 1 1/2 inch grouping.
At 50 yards out was getting about 2 1/2 inch groups. See pictures belowââ,¬Â¦.

For the penetration test, I used a 2x4 post at 25 and 50 yards.
The 170 gr. Round nose Pellet  pulverize a 2x4 post at both ranges. 

Here are the numbers:
Velocity average was 710 fps ( 5 shots, used the Chronograph for this findings )
Muzzle Energy was a average of 189 fpe ( I used bullet calculator for this findings )

I will be trying some 190 gr. Round nose pellets on my next trip. These should increase the Muzzle Energy..

Being a air rifle, I was surprised the gun is quite loud.
The gun has a fair amount of recoil to it, so you should use good mounts, if you decide to use a scope.
But, being I will be shooting mine under 50 yards, I will not be putting a scope on.

The only bad points to this rifle is that the trigger has a fair amount of creep and the loading port is a bit awkward and will take a little time getting used of.

If your going to put a scope on it, you will need high mounts.
The rear sight sits fairly high and your going to have to plan on taking it off.
I'm not sure that I'd want to take anything pass 50 yards with it.
So using it within that range, the regualer sites should do just fine for game up to the size of deer.

Comments after this shooting session:
I found this rifle to be Powerful and Accurate.
I think it was worth the funds I put into it..
The real test will be this coming Deer seasonââ,¬Â¦

Here is the Rifle and the last targets at 25 and 50 yards..

(http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/Sam_Yang_909.JPG)

(http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/25_yrds_45_airrifle.JPG)

(http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/50_yrds_45_airrifle.JPG)
Title: Re: .50 cal air rifles
Post by: Da Backwoodsman on July 12, 2008
FD I should have known you would be the one to own a big game air rifle and to shatter mine and bulls fun poking at the seemingly far fetched contraption, Now i done let the boys talk me into a smoothie but I'm sticking my fingers in my ears behind this air rifle...

You are hereby forbidden to mention anyhting else good about them air rifles.
Title: Re: .50 cal air rifles
Post by: fd-ems-emt on July 12, 2008
I will be using it on a Deer hunt this coming season during the regular gun season.

It has more than enough power to take and game under 50 yards..



Title: Re: .50 cal air rifles
Post by: Da Backwoodsman on July 12, 2008
FD you're one more post away from standing in the corner!
Title: Re: .50 cal air rifles
Post by: Mr Woodchuck on July 12, 2008
be a lil worried itd freeze upp in cold weather ... I think FD has a big room full of weird toys... hey  He is my bestist fryend in de whole world...
biggest air rifle on the block too !
Title: Re: .50 cal air rifles
Post by: fd-ems-emt on July 12, 2008
Only if I get to wear a a pointed hat..

I love to hunt and will use anything that is legal to get out into the field..

Title: Re: .50 cal air rifles
Post by: Da Backwoodsman on July 12, 2008
I thought ny had restrictions on air guns? maybe its only for the lower part of the state near new york city
Title: Re: .50 cal air rifles
Post by: fd-ems-emt on July 12, 2008
There is no regulation on Air Gun use..

Being a Hunter Safety Instructor for NYS I know the regulation very well..

Title: Re: .50 cal air rifles
Post by: Da Backwoodsman on July 12, 2008
had a cousin get his confiscated going through the city on the way to the catskills is the only reason I ask, he stated that the officer told him air guns were illegal in the state of new york and he would not be able to get it back.
Title: Re: .50 cal air rifles
Post by: fd-ems-emt on July 12, 2008
?????? 

Were was this ????

You can not shoot them in the city limits,  But you can own them..

There must be more to that story than your cousin stated.

Dose he have a Gun License to own fire arms??
Why was he pulled over in the first place ??
Title: Re: .50 cal air rifles
Post by: Da Backwoodsman on July 12, 2008
well being Virinians we dont have to have a gun permit to possess a firearm as long as it is in plain sight, not uncommon to see fully stocked gun racks in back windows of pickups in VA
Title: Re: .50 cal air rifles
Post by: fd-ems-emt on July 12, 2008
Dose he a live in NYS ??

Was he carrying on a gun rack in the open??



Title: Re: .50 cal air rifles
Post by: Da Backwoodsman on July 12, 2008
Not a resident of New york, my aunt, his mother owned a cabin up there, and according to the story the probable cause for the stop was that the gun was displayed in the rack.
Title: Re: .50 cal air rifles
Post by: fd-ems-emt on July 12, 2008
Your cousin is lucky he did not spend a year in jail..

If you come into others states with any type of gun,
You need to follow the state laws of the state your in....

Transporting any firearms need to be in a lock case!

Title: Re: .50 cal air rifles
Post by: Da Backwoodsman on July 12, 2008
Wow I never lock My guns and almost always cross statelines without consideration to the laws of the state, I guess I always thought if my possesion had a legitimacy I would avoid any trouble. I will begin to check the state laws if I hunt out of state.
Title: Re: .50 cal air rifles
Post by: Ironwood on July 13, 2008
Here's what the State of Texas says about hunting with an Air gun or Pellet gun.

Firearms
Game animals and game birds may be hunted with any legal firearm, EXCEPT:

white-tailed deer, mule deer, desert bighorn sheep, and pronghorn antelope may NOT be hunted with rimfire ammunition of any caliber.

shotguns are the only legal firearm that may be used to hunt Eastern turkey during the spring Eastern turkey season (see County Listing). Rifles and handguns may not be used to hunt Eastern turkey.

pellet guns and other air guns are NOT LEGAL.

fully automatic firearms are NOT LEGAL.

firearms equipped with silencers or sound-suppressing devices are NOT LEGAL.

a shotgun is the only legal firearm for hunting migratory game birds and lesser prairie chicken (see Definitions - Legal Shotgun).
Title: Re: .50 cal air rifles
Post by: Da Backwoodsman on July 13, 2008
one would think texas would have air guns as legal considering there historic support of fireams
Title: Re: .50 cal air rifles
Post by: fd-ems-emt on July 13, 2008
NYS REGULATIONS::

It is unlawful to hunt big game with:

A firearm or bow aided by any artificial light or a laser that projects a beam toward the target.
An autoloading firearm with a capacity of more than 6 shells (one which requires that the trigger be pulled separately for each shot), except an autoloading pistol with a barrel length of less than 8 inches.
A firearm using rimfire ammunition.
A shotgun of less than 20 gauge or any shotgun loaded with shells other than those carrying a single projectile.
A bow with a draw weight of 35 lbs or less.
Arrows with barbed broadheads; arrowheads less than 7/8 inches at the widest point or with less than 2 sharp cutting edges.
Dogs.
Aircraft of any kind.
Bait.
Title: Re: .50 cal air rifles
Post by: RoaringBull on July 13, 2008
I found an air rifle from the late 1800's last night that I lost the link for.... I'll find it again..

Evidently the stock was an air reservoir and the rifle came with a tire pump.


Found it.  Here is the text of the ad and a link to the ad and pictures.

A VERY RARE 18TH CENTURY GERMAN or AUSTRIAN RESERVOIR-BUTT AIR GUN w/ ITS ORIGINAL PUMP, ca. 1780-1800: Complete and original throughout. In overall very fine untouched condition with all of its original components. The round, smoothbore, .38 caliber, sighted, blued, steel barrel with smooth untouched surfaces and 85% of its finish: fine bore with light streaking and missing its rear sight. Exposed cocking "hammer" with an external mechanism and sculpted mainspring: matching, smooth, blued surfaces and in functional order. Complete with its original air release lever. Leather wrapped, conical, hollow, steel buttstock/air reservoir with very fine untouched surfaces and 97% of its leather: some very minor scuffs and light abrasions. Complete with its original, bicycle-type, steel, air pump (leather seals worn). The pump with matching surfaces and a mated thread aperture for attachment to the butt-stock. In overall very fine untouched condition. The barrel with smooth surfaces, light discoloration and 85% of its original bluing. Matching mechanism with all of its original components, a strong mainspring and air release valve. Very fine stock with virtually all of the original black Moroccan leather wrap. A very nice and complete example of a rare late 18th century German or Austrian Reservoir-Butt Air Rifle, with its original Pump and iron cleaning rod. Overall length, 42 1/2".

Price: $5,275.00


http://www.ambroseantiques.com/flongarms/airgun.htm

http://www.ambroseantiques.com/flongarms.htm



There are some really remarkable firearms on this site.  There is an interesting camel gun up the page from this ad.
Title: Re: .50 cal air rifles
Post by: Mr Woodchuck on July 13, 2008
   Long are the days gone hittun a dog in the butt wiffa daisy cub bb gun.
and I am still a wanted man fot the 1968 shooting of a street light...
they'll never take me alive.
  Told ya buddy Tony ... he knows hizz stuff.
Title: Re: .50 cal air rifles
Post by: Da Backwoodsman on July 13, 2008
that 19th century isnt as purty as fd's
Title: Re: .50 cal air rifles
Post by: Mr Woodchuck on July 13, 2008
FD'S got all the nice stuff ... he is my best friend ... his bb gun kin kill bears.
Title: Re: .50 cal air rifles
Post by: Da Backwoodsman on July 13, 2008
he's a good guy
Title: Re: .50 cal air rifles
Post by: Mr Woodchuck on July 13, 2008
I heard he was thinkun about running for president ... whutIhurd.
Title: Re: .50 cal air rifles
Post by: fd-ems-emt on July 13, 2008
The Lewis and Clark Air Rifle

William Clark, August, 1804

Clock and gun maker Isaiah Lukens of Philadelphia, PA, provided Meriwether Lewis and William Clark one of his air rifles for their 1803-1806 expedition to explore the northwest. Unlike most rifles which used black powder, the air rifle used compressed air to shoot its .31 cal. bullet.

Unlike black powder rifles, an air rifle made little noise when fired. It did not make smoke and had very slight "kick." And, you didn't have to "keep your powder dry!"

The butt of the rifle is actually a metal canister designed with a needle valve to hold compressed air. The air was stored under pressure --between700 and 900 pounds per square inch! (A modern car tire carries a pressure of 35 pounds per square inch.) When the trigger is pulled, just the right amount of air is carried from the butt to the bullet chamber and the round leaves the barrel with a whish.


This is an air rifle butt reservoir screwed to the pump used to compress the air. The auger end (to the right) could be screwed into a tree. A few hundred strokes on the pump and you were ready to go hunting.

Although the rifle was used in hunting, its main purpose was to impress the Native Americans Lewis and Clark would meet. Upon returning home Lewis and Clark presented the history making air rifle back to Isaiah Lukens.
Title: Re: .50 cal air rifles
Post by: RoaringBull on July 13, 2008
COOL!
Title: Re: .50 cal air rifles
Post by: Chaffa Hosa on July 13, 2008
Quote from: RoaringBull on July 13, 2008
COOL!

And most people thing an air gun is a modern invention
Thanks for the info Tony
Title: Re: .50 cal air rifles
Post by: Da Backwoodsman on July 14, 2008
there's a real nice article on the lewis and clark airgun in nov/dec issue of backwoodsman mag.