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VinceInJax posted this 29 December 2019

Hello Everyone,

My name is Vince Edwards and I live in Jacksonville, Florida. I have been shooting big bore airguns for the past year and I had no idea of this sport until my airgun tuner introduced me to it. I plan on shooting some postal matches with a soon to be purchased Bergara HMR .308.

Are there any cast bullet shooters in my neck of the woods?

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RicinYakima posted this 29 December 2019

Welcome Vince, Teach us about casting for big bore air rifles.

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Ken Campbell Iowa posted this 29 December 2019

..big bore airguns ...

hey, maybe we could learn something useful that applies to our hot gas guns ...  

like:  what the he** goes wrong in that first 1 inch .

can we put a krieger barrel on a big bore air gun ?

welcome from balmy iowa ( 68 on christmas day )  ....

ken

 

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VinceInJax posted this 29 December 2019

Thanks for the welcome! I've been casting for .308 and .457 big bore air rifles for about a year now and from what I can tell, its a lot simpler than the type of casting you guys are into. Air rifle projectiles do not have gas checks but many are of boat tail design. I shoot a 135-grain BTSP in 308 but my .457 bullet of choice has a flat base. The trick with air rifle big-bore accuracy is proper sizing. 

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VinceInJax posted this 29 December 2019

Hi Ken,

It was 81 degrees here in my part of Florida today...unbelievable! I'm a total newbie to casting for gas guns from what I can tell its more complicated. One large difference I've noticed so far is the inclusion of gas checks, although I understand that certain bullets can be used without a gas check. Yes, gas gun barrels can be cut to fit big bore airguns. 

Vince

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JeffinNZ posted this 29 December 2019

Welcome aboard.

Cheers from New Zealand

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Coydog posted this 29 December 2019

Welcome to the fun. 

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Bud Hyett posted this 29 December 2019

Welcome from the magical Pacific Northwest. Your input will be interesting. 

Farm boy from Illinois, living in the magical Pacific Northwest

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Ross Smith posted this 29 December 2019

There's lotsa us down inflorida everytime theres a freeze so we can shoot frozen iggywannas.

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Squid Boy posted this 29 December 2019

Welcome Vince, air guns are something we don't get to discuss here much so I am looking forward to your posts. A friend shoots an Air Force Texan in 357. Amazingly accurate and powerful. Happy New Year, Squid Boy

"Squid Pro Quo"

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JBinMN posted this 30 December 2019

I am new here as well, but wanted to Welcome you here as well.

I am interested in reading about these larger caliber air rifles too, since I am only familiar with the .177 & .22 ones.

If you get the time & have the inclination, Please consider taking the time to post up a bit of a description of the larger caliber airguns & how things work out for you on using them when casting projectiles yourself, instead of just buying "ready made" ones.

I think it would be very interesting to read about the differences you find, just like the differences between jacketed & cast bullets that many of us other shooters of powder using firearms experience. At least I think it is interesting anyway.

:-)

 

Once again, "Welcome" !

JB

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Brodie posted this 30 December 2019

Welcome aboard Vince:

It is really a nice Christmas present to get two new members.

B.E.Brickey

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cfp4570 posted this 31 December 2019

Welcome from southern Illinois! I too would like to hear more about casting and shooting large bore air guns. Looking through the catalogs of custom mould makers, I'm seeing more and more airgun designs all the time.

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VinceInJax posted this 01 January 2020

Thanks for the welcome! I'm looking forward to learning about this fascinating sport.

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VinceInJax posted this 01 January 2020

 

Thanks for the warm welcome! While I own several air rifles in the .177, .22, and .25 calibers I have been bitten hard by the big-bore bug. I currently shoot and AirForce Texan .308 set up for long-range (out to 500 yds), and AirForce Texan .457 which is set up as a feral hog hunting gun, and a soon to be acquired AirForce Texan in .257 which I will use as a medium-range (300 yds or so) plinking gun.

Although I've only been shooting big bores for about a year now, I'm lucky to have the opportunity to shoot at least 3 days each week and have put 1,00 rounds through the .308 and about 750 through the .457. I will be happy to post about my big bore journey particularly its relation to shooting cast bullets which is a lot closer than one thinks. 

I'll start with this: if you are transitioning from powder burners to air rifles, pellet shooters will not scratch your itch. No matter what you see on YouTube, big bores are not tack-drivers out of the box. While a stock Texan will serve admirably in a hunting role, a consistently accurate Texan will require 2 modifications: barrel tuning by Hunter's Supply (www.hunterssupply.com) and a Mad Dog stock (www.maddogdcrs.com). You will also need either a high-pressure air (HPA) compressor or access to a big air source as big bores consume a large quantity of air. Pair these mods with a good cast bullet and the results will amaze you. Ok, spoiler alert: my cast 135 BTSP zips at 1070 fps at a 270 bar fill. I 

More to come!

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VinceInJax posted this 01 January 2020

Thanks for the warm welcome Brodie! I'm looking forward to learning more about this interesting sport.

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Paul Pollard posted this 01 January 2020

Hi Vince,

‘Welcome to the CBA. What fill source do you use for your big bores? Hill hand pump? (ha!).  You’ve already put up the links for useful information. 

Paul

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VinceInJax posted this 01 January 2020

Hi Paul, in my opinion the most important purchase a big bore air gunner will make is a compressor as hand pumping a 480 to 500cc tank is really not a comfortable option. Unfortunately, high-end compressors start in the $3,000 range but picking up a serviceable unit will run you about $1,400. I use the Air Venturi (https://www.pyramydair.com/s/a/AirVenturiAirCompressorElectric4500PSI310Bar110V/7458). Mine has provided 2 years of trouble-free service but I’m anal about oil and filter changes.

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Ken Campbell Iowa posted this 01 January 2020

... back when we played with the 17 cal. match air rifles, we had scuba shops supply us with the portable cannisters and also they refilled the cannisters ...  is that still an option ? ...

ken

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VinceInJax posted this 02 January 2020

Thanks for the welcome! The Texan series of big-bore air rifles are examples of impressive technology. I use my .257 for a medium long-range target rifle out to 500 yards, the .308 bucks the wind better and out to around 800 yards is money, and the .457 is set up for hunting...North Florida hogs being the primary quarry.

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VinceInJax posted this 02 January 2020

Welcome Vince, Teach us about casting for big bore air rifles.

Ricin, casting for big bore air rifles and what you guys do here is strikingly simular. Air rifles don't require gas checks and the most critical aspect of a cast bullet for an air rifle is correct sizing. One method many air gunners use is "slugging" their barrels. This entails pushing a bullet (slug) throught the barrel from the rear using a cleaning rod and measuring the diameter of the bullet once its passed through the barrel. Then its a process of selecting a sizing die which will give you the desired results. I'v used Lee sizing dies but the NOE sizing system is more flexible.

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