In this field test we find out if a modern .45 caliber air rifle has the power to achieve an effective killing range of 600 yards. Posted on 08/10/2017 5:43:13 AM PDT by w1n1
In this field test we find out if a modern .45 caliber air rifle has the power to achieve an effective killing range of 600 yards.
Iraqveteran8888 takes a .45 caliber Air Force Texan air gun, heralded as the "world's most powerful production air rifle," and attempts to see if its effective killing range can reach out to over 600 yards.
It's a fun test, as we get to see, and hear, the slugs hit a 4×8 foot sheet of plywood downrange.
After connecting on the, I think, third shot, Eric laughs and says, “How about that time of flight, people?” You can just hear the slug hitting the board after, I’m guessing, around five or six seconds.
The projectiles used were – 405gr and 350gr lead bullets – are traveling at around 900 feet-per-second.
600-plus yards is a long way for an air rifle to effectively hit a target, but the Texan reaches that distance with little trouble.
After going down range to examine the holes in the plywood board, Eric asks, "The question is, how far will it kill?"
He answers his own query: "What we're really finding out with a lot of these videos and the data we’re collecting, and the sort of things we're showing off, is, more or less, pretty much as far as the bullet will go it can remain deadly."
"The bullet has to go somewhere." – so probably the range could be farther, accuracy is a different matter. See the full Air Rifle effective range footage here.
Worth mentioning that the Lewis and Clark expedition demonstrated their Girandoni repeating air rifle to Indians along their route. It probably kept them from being slaughtered.
That is roughly equivalent to a 45-70.
I switched over from .22lr to .22 air when .22lr was outrageously expensive. It was enlightening, to say the least. The current air rifles are not my father’s air rifles. Accurate to surprisingly long distances with enough power to take small game.
They are a good substitute for the .22lr.
Very cheap ammo.
Why are they using such a heavy bullet?
They’re all single shot aren’t they?
The length of the bullet probably has to be at least twice the diameter for in-flight stability at the desired range plus being lead = significant weight. Even in a standard handgun .45ACP, 230 grain is the usual weight so a rifle round being heavier is not surprising.
The Air Force Texan used is single shot. Many other similar rifles are repeaters, such as models from Evanix.
Ok...so for you and me...
Benjamin Regal NP - .22
Typical shot for rabbit is 55 yds. because that’s where they sit in front of the barn.
Longest successful attempt was about 70 yds. (toward the back of the barn.)
I seriously don't think I'd want to try killing something at 600 yds with an air rifle.
Is that an air tank in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?
My son found out the effective range of his air rifle ended at the other side of our neighbor’s window.
I wouldn’t trust my Gamo Varminter over 50 yards. :-)
I live in a crowded city.
My air rifle is a Gamo Whisper Cat, in .177.
I am super careful about using it.
Muzzle velocity breaks the sound barrier, and I have yet to find a method of suppressing it.
ping
I have never heard the concept that lead pellets won’t break the sound barrier.
Pretty sure all mine, of different weights, are lead.
After reading reviews I bought the heaviest rounds I could find.
I have about two dozen pellet rifles including a few gammos. Several of them will break the sound barrier with pba or alloy pellets, none of them get close to the sound barrier with lead pellets. I would recommend a gammo big cat whisper, it is extremely quiet with led ammo right out the box. With pba ammo it sounds like a 22lr. The gammo big cat is also very inexpensive, I think I paid about $130 for it. Fortunately for me my neighbors would not care if I were shooting in my yard, and I see them plinking some times. Have fun shooting.
Please excuse the post to an old thread, but I’ve been wondering about the possibility of paper- patching 25 grain .17 cal. Spritzer in a Gamo Whisper. Any thoughts?
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