AirForce Texan: Ethical Deer Hunting Shot Distance with Big Bore Air Rifles?

While shooting with my AirForce Texan - I have been getting lots of great conversation coming off of the 350, 423, and 600 yard shots I hit during the AirGun Depot.com Long Ranger competition - but.... If you think you should be taking such long shots at game - THINK AGAIN! Even with the powerful AirForce Texan .45 - you need to understand the trajectory and margin of error with these guns.
Watch this video for some good information and will hopefully make you think twice at taking potentially risky shots while hunting. Protect the integrity of our sport and be mindful of the capabilities and effective range of your equipment.

[@backspin6698]

Great video. And important. Thank you for sharing.

[@HajimotoProductions]

Great video and chocked full of useful information to help folks understand the dynamics associated with ethical hunting strategies that are applied everytime a consciencious hunter walks into the woods. Nicely done Chris.

[@UpNorthAirGunner]

Hajimoto ECWC Thanks Haji! I hear AGD is coming out with round 2 for Long Rangers! It will be fun to see what they come up with next. Loved watching your submission videos! You're a true airgun sniper!

[@HajimotoProductions]

I will be picking up a couple of larger bore rifles this season so I will be ready. Will I be 350 freaking yards ready?? Not sure anyone will be LOL. Thanks for the kind words man, it is much appreciated. Be sure to swing by and watch my latest video, even if it's only the first 2 mins 😉

[@UpNorthAirGunner]

Hajimoto ECWC I just checked out your channel and glad I did! This is genius! kzbin.info/www/bejne/sKrKooqoppp2fs0. I'm going to set up my Texan with this recording device for hunting footage where fumbling with camera equipment isn't all that great when trying to be stealthy in the woods.

[@HajimotoProductions]

UpNorthAirGunner are you sure you watched the first 2mins of Chipmunk Smackdown #6? kzbin.info/www/bejne/h3SVnJ6Fpc1jf7s

[@UpNorthAirGunner]

Hajimoto ECWC Ha! That's awesome! I just responded. Lets keep pushing the envelope man!

[@dwaynefick6947]

Thank you . i hope all big bore airgunners see this video . its vital to know the max yardage capacity to still be ethical effectiveness on game . i recomend a range finder as a bowhunter would use .

[@nealtressler1661]

Great video

[@maryokelly9674]

It's really nice information about I'm new doing this hunting I just bought my texan LSS .457 Like he said about the weight of each pellets Yeah each with diferent weight will hit on different places But what i do is if i want to shoot a 300 or 350 Grains at 60 or 100 yards I take my time before go hunting And setting my scope for any kind of grain And how far i want to do the shoot Like that doesn't matter which grain you shoot You can't setting up your scope with a 300 grain at 60 yards and later shoot a 200 grain at same 60 yards because you will hit more high That is why you need to know how many Grains you want to shoot and how far! Then you can be almost 99% sure you'll hit the animal you shooting!! Just take little of your time and you good to go!!

[@donwilson350]

You know I totally agree with all of this I have been deer hunting since I was 15 years old and I am 53 years old today and anything 50 yards out or better with a compound bow crossbow or probably even The Airgun the deer have opportunities to move when they hear things but sometimes when the deer are out there a ways say 60 hours 80 yards they may hear noise and they don't react the same way because it's not threatening to them because it's too far away they may hear it and they may look over they may think it was a limb broke snapped from a tree really anyting but anything I would say 40 yards in closer with my experience with a crossbow and compound bows now my crossbows shoot-around 492 II and I also have a couple that you 380 and 390 feet per second and I have never had a deer jump a string or squat a string when the ball goes off I have always had them look behind them after the boat goes off because I believe they hear the arrow hit the ground after it's already went through the animal that's been my experience hunting with a crossbow or a compound bow

[@mattandrews8528]

Around 100yds is the max distance for all subsonic loads in most calibers for an ethical kill shot imo. A 4500 psi modded Texan LSS in .457 and .50 could probably take up to around 200yrd shots I would think. But for what I do in Florida I use .300blk and have a .308 Texan LSS, it’s possible to get a deer within the subsonic round range most of the the time. One day I’ll upgrade to a fully modded out .457 just for those increased ranges.

[@lindseyzacek5211]

I have the aea Challenger 50 caliber and I would not recommend shooting over 50 yards they have videos of deer killed 110 yards that's great but 50 yards is what I like I also have the Benjamin Bulldog 357 I wouldn't recommend shooting a deer at all with it just saying you shoot five you get one... just not an ethical gun bullet wound is too small and zero Blood Trail plus not the takedown power you're looking for but what do I know I'm a girl

[@UpNorthAirGunner]

You are spot on! Those guns are 50 and closer big bores for sure. We need more women in the sport!

[@nunya6874]

Hey brotha. Really appreciate the vids! This may be a little off topic as far as the particular gun but it is the same subject. I watched your dragonclaw vids and have even talked to the guys that did your mod, asking them if they might be looking into doing something similar woth the doubleshot or wingshot. I have been looking at those 2 weapons BcAuse I primarily small game and pheasant hunt. I am looking at coyote and white tail hunting as well and like you said in this video, most of my shots will be 25-40 yds. I have seen VERY inconsistent reviews of the the slug and or round ball accuracy coming from both of those guns....and that’s only In the comments on forums. I’ve seen no one do a video on those guns used in that way. Do you have any experience in shooting ball or slugs out of them? If so I would love to hear it.....and if not, is it something you would be willing to do a video on? Thanks In advance for anything you can provide PA hunter

[@troyandskyelar9588]

When he said “they’re going to dodge, duck” did anyone else think he was going to say “they’re going to dodge, duck, dip, dive and dodge!”?

[@UpNorthAirGunner]

LOL!

[@rebelfromva]

So for hunting deer do you site your scope in at 50 or 100 yards

[@maryokelly9674]

It's really nice information about I'm new doing this hunting I just bought my texan LSS .457 Like he said about the weight of each pellets Yeah each with diferent weight will hit on different places But what i do is if i want to shoot a 300 or 350 Grains at 60 or 100 yards I take my time before go hunting And setting my scope for any kind of grain And how far i want to do the shoot Like that doesn't matter which grain you shoot You can't setting up your scope with a 300 grain at 60 yards and later shoot a 200 grain at same 60 yards because you will hit more high That is why you need to know how many Grains you want to shoot and how far! Then you can be almost 99% sure you'll hit the animal you shooting!! Just take little of your time and you good to go!!

[@michaelfrancisgilligan9071]

powder burner or not ,really dont take a shoot more then 80 yards 100 at best but great video,will be taking deer with mine at the same time,look forward to taking the fun shots over cold stream ponds my self.

[@Physics072]

I got two bucks this year at 155 and 185 yards with a 450 bushmaster. It puts out almost 3,000 ft pounds and I needed all of that to kill them. Around 1000 ft pounds is considered what you need in Michigan for clean kills. So shooting a deer with 300 ft pound gun is really borderline. I know it can be done, can kill one with a .22 LR (120 ft pounds) if perfect head shot. I have PCPs and look at them as 50 yard guns. I can shoot 100 but accuracy falls off. I've shot a Texan an it was not even close to being as accurate as my Daystate in .22 caliber at 50 yards. I'm like 1/3'' groups vs 1.5 to 2" of the texan and it gets worse at 100 yards. I can shoot 1/2" groups at 100 yards with my 450 bushmaster and Texan is going to be 3-4" So I would have to say its a marginal 50 yard gun on Deer. I love PCPs just don't think they are the right tool for big game.

[@troyandskyelar9588]

You’re going wayward by comparing a powder burner and how it kills to an Airgun. Airguns behave more like a bow where you’re punching a hole through the animal instead of getting the impact effects of a powder burner.

[@thomasmuhl7340]

In eastern hardwood hunting the average distance is 40 yrds..... Get a life ..... Anything from a 30 to .45 will Destroy a whitetail deer.... Within that range....FYI I have hunted with Muzzleloader in .58 flintlock and 45-70 modern (old ass) cartilage weapons... Never an issue within reasonable Common sense range.... An air rifle will never be a Barrett Light 50 or a .338 Lapua...... However within basic hunting situations a large caliber / big bore air rifle will do an incredible job.... Just like my friend nailed a monster Bull Elk with his bow..... Every weapon has its strength and weakness.... After 55 years of experience in hunting/ professional/ crop damage... Let me say everything can happen.... I have despatched deer with 30/30 win 243 30-06/.308/.303 Brit/ 45-70 /20 + 12 ga shotguns....oh and .45 Air rifles........ The real difference is Professional Skills regardless of the weapon used...... Perhaps people need to understand an air rifle has been out before ( Lewis and Clark) .... So pitiful you people who have not a clue about real hunting. The real difference is confidence and professional Skill.....

[@UpNorthAirGunner]

Not sure the point of your comment here, but thanks for watching!

[@El_hombre1965]

More than 100 yards is not hunting, it's shooting.