Comments on calibers and makes

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  • shootnfishndorf

    Active Member
    Mar 17, 2016
    338
    Waldorf
    I've been looking at reviews and doing some online research on .357 PCPs. I keep coming back to the Benjamin bulldog...I'm trying to stay at or under 1K....with that rifle, I know I will be spending more with accessories, because I will add a moderator....I keep getting side tracked by the Seneca dragon though...larger caliber, but able to shoot arrows too...I don't really shoot arrows (I have cold steel 130 crossbow for that)....but the what ifs creep in....what if I decide I want to, or may as well go full big bore if I'm spending the money...main use is punching paper at whatever distance I feel the urge to, and occasional critter dispatching. I have a compressor and a high pressure hand pump. Currently I have a air Venturi Avenger and a stoeger x20s, both in .22...If things were to degrade, I'd like an air option to take game for the table. Is the .357 the correct option with it's foot pounds and accuracy? I really don't want to keep buying more and more, but we all know that's a lie we often tell ourselves...just one more and then I'm really set...

    Sent from my Armor 8 using Tapatalk
     

    BigTinBoat

    Active Member
    Jan 12, 2016
    335
    Eastern Baltimore County
    For me, being in Maryland also, the .357 is pretty much useless for "game" as I see it. Sure you an shoot turkey, but not deer (legally). You can shoot turkey with a .25 too. If I were going big bore for game it would be .457, .50 or an arrow shooter. Otherwise .357 gets expensive plinking unless you are pouring your own. I did wind up with a .30 barrel on a gun I picked up. I will likely sell, but the other option is a NOE .30 mold when they come available. Heck I can get .22lr rounds cheaper then .30 pellets.
     

    shootnfishndorf

    Active Member
    Mar 17, 2016
    338
    Waldorf
    Thanks guys. We are purchasing land (closing this month) in Tennessee. As a relative novice compared to the knowledge of the members here, I'm collecting the ideas and opinions shared to make a better informed decision for when I pull the trigger on an order. Keepm coming.

    Sent from my Armor 8 using Tapatalk
     

    John from MD

    American Patriot
    MDS Supporter
    May 12, 2005
    22,726
    Socialist State of Maryland
    I have to agree with Bigtinboat as to caliber. I think the .457 support will grow more so than the smaller calibers. For molds, NOE, Africanairordnance and MP are all making molds for them now. I would suggest casting your own if you want to do a lot of shooting with it.
     

    Vic

    Ultimate Member
    Jul 2, 2010
    1,454
    Whiteford, MD
    I have a Texan 45. I like it. Uses lots of air, but whacks really hard. It is large enough for deer, pig, etc. So I use my .22 for plinking/squirrel. I use my .25 for mostly hunting squirrel and other small game. I use the .45 for large game. I've kill turkey, deer and boar. I think a .357 will kill large game, but in some states is considered too small.
    V
     

    ohen cepel

    Ultimate Member
    Feb 2, 2011
    4,509
    Where they send me.
    Run some calculations on what you are looking to buy and compare them to common handgun calibers for your info.

    I did this a while back and was rather surprised. Even a "powerful" PCP is about in line with a 45acp IIRC. Not trash talking them but worth doing for your own expectation management.
     

    BigTinBoat

    Active Member
    Jan 12, 2016
    335
    Eastern Baltimore County
    You can only shoot turkey in Md with anything other than shotgun or archery tackle in in the fall season and only the the three westernmost counies.

    Your point? I do know there are specific dates and locations for Turkey with an air rifle........just as they are with most other game/weapons.

    But it's looks as though you are unaware that there is a Winter season, statewide, and air rifles ARE legal. The winter season this past year was January 21-23
     

    outrider58

    Eats Bacon Raw
    MDS Supporter
    Jul 29, 2014
    49,810
    Sorry, it's one of my pet peeves. Hate it when people post stuff, trying to correct someone, but using incorrect information.

    Firstly the PCP part got by me and "Topics of Interest" doesn't show up on my cell phone so I mistakenly thought we were talking about center fire.
    I wasn't correcting you, only filling in the blanks I thought you left.
    As for wrong info on the internet, it happens. That's why you can't trust most things you read on the internet. :)
     

    Biggfoot44

    Ultimate Member
    Aug 2, 2009
    32,877
    ( Just like muzzleloaders, and certain revolvers ) Ft Lb vs Ft Lb isn't the best comparison . Momentum , cross sectional area , and penetration are the relevant factors .

    Due to the inherent physics involved ( max 3K psi min 2K psi , air volume per trigger pull such to get +/- 10 shots per fill ) , you will get more ( Umpppuf ) from heavier bullet than trying to bump up velocity . Doesn't look as impressive on a pocket calculator , but with low velocity big bores , it's creating large diameter deep holes in game that gets it done .

    With that background , the .357 PCP will be similar to .38 Special revolver , the .45 similar to SASS level .45 Colt .

    Leaving aside for the moment Maryland Hunting Regulations , can a properly placed .38 Special be fatal for Bambi ? Yes . A 250- 300gr .45 Colt ? Yes , with more margin of error .
     

    shootnfishndorf

    Active Member
    Mar 17, 2016
    338
    Waldorf
    Good stuff...having been a firearms instructor on the LE side of the house, I'm a big fan of shot placement...too many tragic stories of good guys killed by smaller calibers for me to ever think larger is better. My off duty for years was a Sig.Sauer .380...loaded with alternating hollow points and ball...I could carry it everywhere wearing anything and I practiced religiously with it....my main use will be targets and plinking...but with the end result being having a dependable non firearm that is accurate and lethal if needed.

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    shootnfishndorf

    Active Member
    Mar 17, 2016
    338
    Waldorf
    ...and they do make arrows for the .357 caliber...just watched a YouTube video of a guy shooting them at about 400fps from the Benjamin....

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    Vic

    Ultimate Member
    Jul 2, 2010
    1,454
    Whiteford, MD
    I got into PCPs because O came in and I wasn't sure what they were going to try with firearms. Also, I am big on built in suppressors. My 2 small caliber guns are very ear friendly and still whack hard. My 45, though not real quiet, doesn't make a gun type noise and most would probably ignore. Plan to use it more on large game soon. Shot placement is critical, but margin of error also. A .357 in maryland won't be legal for deer, just won't make ft lb. However the .45 does, barely. Do you need all that 400 ft lb to kill a deer, probably not, but it is in the laws. Also, when I shot the bullput Benjamin, the ping was quite loud in my ear. Maybe not an issue to you. Neat gun though. Let us know what you buy!
    V
     

    Biggfoot44

    Ultimate Member
    Aug 2, 2009
    32,877
    The sub topic of the absolute minimum to be fatal to a deer can be carried to absurdity , and ft lb per se is a poor measure .

    That said , several nearby states set minimum of 350 ft lb for handguns , and that is realistic in real life , so 350- 400 ft lb is a useful yardstick .

    Now that 400 ft lbs appears in Md Regs , it would be a good goal to get that adopted for Handgun also .
     

    shootnfishndorf

    Active Member
    Mar 17, 2016
    338
    Waldorf
    I got into PCPs because O came in and I wasn't sure what they were going to try with firearms. Also, I am big on built in suppressors. My 2 small caliber guns are very ear friendly and still whack hard. My 45, though not real quiet, doesn't make a gun type noise and most would probably ignore. Plan to use it more on large game soon. Shot placement is critical, but margin of error also. A .357 in maryland won't be legal for deer, just won't make ft lb. However the .45 does, barely. Do you need all that 400 ft lb to kill a deer, probably not, but it is in the laws. Also, when I shot the bullput Benjamin, the ping was quite loud in my ear. Maybe not an issue to you. Neat gun though. Let us know what you buy!
    V
    Got into PCP for similar reasons. I have a break barrel stoeger with the internal...and have a few printed ones for the avenger...I haven't shot the Benjamin myself, but have heard about the ping....I'm still a few weeks out from making the purchase. So far, it is the front runner. I'm not a hunter, but I love shooting. This is another just in case.

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    John from MD

    American Patriot
    MDS Supporter
    May 12, 2005
    22,726
    Socialist State of Maryland
    My Prod has the ping but it is less noticeable with heavier pellets. For my .22, I use Exact Jumbo Heavy 18.3 grain pellet or H&N Barracuda Hunter 18.52 grain pellets and they seem to tone it down. The CP 14.3's ping the worst.
     

    JRisBundyboyz

    Active Member
    Nov 23, 2007
    142
    Bel Air
    I know a few brits who run a baby bottle brush in tank. Boss at work was going to try it, I doubt you’d miss the volume unless your shot count is substantial.
     

    BigTinBoat

    Active Member
    Jan 12, 2016
    335
    Eastern Baltimore County
    My Prod has the ping but it is less noticeable with heavier pellets. For my .22, I use Exact Jumbo Heavy 18.3 grain pellet or H&N Barracuda Hunter 18.52 grain pellets and they seem to tone it down. The CP 14.3's ping the worst.

    I'd almost think, with the ping changing based on weight, that it could be spring twang you are hearing. Never heard of the ping changing based on the pellet weight. True ping comes from the air rushing thru the cylinder.

    To me this Hill design works pretty well and doesn't take up much room at all. You could actually 3D print one if you had a printer.

    https://hillairgun.com/product/hill-airgun-pcp-depingers/
     

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