| You might think that air rifles are nothing more | | | | there. With a big bore you are limited to around |
| than toys. You had one when you were a kid | | | | 100 yards and even 100 yards can be pushing it. |
| right? You'd shoot cans in the backyard are | | | | Hunting big game at these distances requires a lot |
| practice target shooting to improve your aim but | | | | of stealth. Some hunters find the thrill of hunting |
| you would never hunt with an air rifle right? You'd | | | | with an airgun more appealing than that of a |
| be surprised what air rifles today are capable of. | | | | regular firearm because of the considerable skill it |
| A friend of mine recently told me about a hunting | | | | takes to track and stalk an animal to get into |
| trip he took to South Africa. The unique aspect of | | | | range. |
| this trip was that it was an airgun only hunting trip. | | | | You can also hunt smaller game and pests such |
| They were going to South Africa to hunt big | | | | as rabbits, squirrels, raccoons and birds with the |
| game with air rifles. The modern airgun is capable | | | | smaller .22 caliber air rifle. There are many |
| of much more than was once possible. On this | | | | affordable options in this caliber and recently |
| hunting trip to Africa the group had several | | | | Crossman has introduced the new Benjamin |
| different types and calibers of air rifles ranging | | | | Discovery and Marauder series of pcp air rifles. |
| from the awesome .50 caliber Dragon slayer to | | | | The Marauder and Discovery have a built in |
| 9mm and .45 caliber air rifles. | | | | compressed air tank and can propel a .22 cal pellet |
| When I first heard that there was a .50 caliber air | | | | up to 1000 FPS. The nice thing about these |
| rifle on the market I didn't really believe it until I | | | | hunting rifles is that you can shoot up to 40 full |
| saw it. The bullet is massive and can easily take | | | | power shots before having to refill the |
| down big game in the right situation. Air rifle | | | | compressed air chamber with a hand pump or |
| hunting with big bore airguns poses some unique | | | | scuba tank. |
| challenges over regular hunting. The first being | | | | If you enjoy hunting take a air rifle with you on |
| distance. A .300 win mag (standard cartridge used | | | | your next hunt. In you down time you can target |
| in deer hunting) has an effective range of around | | | | shoot or hunt small game. It's cheaper and makes |
| 1200 yards. That means you can get off a kill | | | | less noise so you wont' have to worry about |
| shot without the animal even knowing you are | | | | scaring game away. |