Big bore air rifles offer airgunners the option to hunt big game with air. But what’s the “best” big bore caliber? If you had to choose between .30, .35, .45, and .50, which do you think would be optimal for taking game? As with most things, it all depends. It certainly depends on what you are hunting, and more importantly, it really depends on your local regulations. More and more states are allowing airguns for taking game and many have set caliber and/or power minimums. Where Texas may allow down to a .30 caliber, provided it can produce the required energy, other states like Arkansas require you to have at least a .45, hitting the required minimum energy output. So, there’s more to it than just caliber or energy. In many cases, it’s both. Before you make a purchase or head out to your deer stand with your brand new big bore airgun, please review your local regulations and make sure that you are acting within the guidelines.
.30, .35, .45, or .50
Let’s take the assumption that your state allows “airguns” to be used for hunting. What caliber would you choose? You may be able to guess by the title of this article that we would suggest you pick a .45 caliber airgun. But why? There are many factors, but it mostly comes down to physics, research, and product availability. While we love .30 and .35 caliber airguns for predators, they can be less than ideal for larger game like deer and hogs. They are certainly viable, but it takes more skill and ability to hunt successfully with them, given their smaller diameter and limited (by physics) energy output.
.50 caliber has become the “darling” amongst most big bore airgun buyers and there’s certainly some logic to their choice. .50 caliber is bigger and bigger is always better, unless it isn’t. Just hearing .50 cal gets most folks excited, and when you combine .50 caliber with “airgun” you just ramp things up further. The Seneca Dragon Claw is a great example. It’s an iconic .50 cal airgun for sure, but the Seneca .45 909 Light Hunter may actually be a better option for most hunters. They each produce about the same energy, but the .45 caliber has many more options in the way of ammo, and the higher velocity extends the useful range.
Some .45 cal Options
Options are good. And the .45 caliber offers great options in both airguns and ammo. Additionally, there are many great molds available for folks that want to cast their own bullets, making the .45 an ideal choice for preppers and survivalists.
If you take a look at .45 cal big bore airguns on our site, you’ll find a decent selection. The most represented brand would be Air Force. The single-shot Air Force Texan, and its related variants, hit the market many years ago and broke the traditional thinking of what kind of energy an airgun could push, putting out well over 600 foot pounds, unheard of for a mass produced airgun. Air Force continued the trend creating shorter versions, suppressed versions, and even higher power models featuring carbon fiber tanks. The rear bottle and inline valve technology completely transformed the market and they have not diverted from that amazing design.
Perhaps the most interesting .45 cal big bore is the Benjamin Bulldog. Resembling a blaster from Starship Troopers more than an airgun, the compact multi-shot Bulldog pushes 450 foot pounds from a side lever action. It’s not only very fun to shoot, but also very effective delivering 50 and 75 yard hunting accuracy with ease. It also has the unique full length top rail that can take standard picatinny flip up sights, making it one of only a couple of big bore airguns that work well with open sights.
Lastly, we have the Seneca .909 Light Hunter II. The new model shoots round ball at over 879
FPS, generates over 300 foot pounds of energy, and has beautiful traditional styling for airgunners who prefer the old-school look and feel. Like the Air Force Texan, the Light Hunter II is a single shot breech loader. But unlike the Texan or the Bulldog, it ships with open sights and also features a two position hammer for high and low power settings. Out of the box, and without any user modification it can shoot lighter round ball ammo or heavier slugs simply depending on how far you want to cock the hammer.
Are You Ready for Your .45 cal Big Bore?
There are yet more options that we didn’t get to in this article. If you are looking to get your first big bore or add a .45 big bore to your collection, then please give us a call. We are always ready to help you get just the right gear to meet your needs and exceed your expectations.
