When you think of a .50 caliber gun, what images come to your mind? You’ll probably think of the Barret .50 cal that’s featured in sniper movies and possibly some other guns out there as well. My guess is that you won’t immediately think of an airgun. But, there are many great .50 cal airguns, and they deliver some of the best big game hunting performance airgunners can find. In this article, we’ll take a look at a few specific models, but before we do, let’s talk about why the .50 cal airgun has become so popular and what it brings to the table.
Why the .50 Cal Airgun Exists
So bigger is always better, right? While that is the general train of thought, it’s not always the case. In the case of airgun calibers, some may argue that the .45 caliber is better and more efficient, but it’s not a .50 cal, and that makes all the difference in the world because 5 is bigger than 4! Just kidding.
But, in all seriousness, .50 cal airguns represent a milestone in airgun engineering, delivering consistent accuracy and serious power without the need for specialized equipment or gasses like helium. Airguns like the AirFoce Texan, Umarex Hammer, Hatsan Piledriver, and others are reaching incredible levels of power, some over 800 foot pounds. It was just 10 or 15 years ago that airgunners were awed by the Seneca Dragon Claw and its 230 foot pounds. We’ve come a long way in a short time.
A .50 cal airgun slug is big and heavy, and it does a lot of damage on impact, which is why it’s become the de facto favorite of serious big game airgun hunters. Here are some specific .50 cal airguns that can certainly get the job done, but you can check out our complete list of .50 cal airgun offerings for more.
Seneca Dragon Claw II (Standard and Tactical)
The Dragon Claw has been around for many, many years. The lure of a .50 cal airgun was fostered in no small part due to the .50 Cal Dragon Claw. The original model produced about 230 foot pounds with a 336-grain slug. Having personally seen this slug in action against hogs using the original Dragon Claw, I can only imagine how the new Dragon Claw II would fare. Now producing 340 plus foot-pounds, it only makes its traditional styling and handling even more appealing.
Airforce Texan (various configurations)
We can thank Airforce Airguns for bringing us a serious leap in airgunning power with their Texan line. The original Texan was released in .45 and immediately became a favorite of big-bore airgunners, producing 450+ foot-pounds. There was nothing else being mass-produced that could touch it.
AirForce Airguns continued to drive the industry, releasing the Texan line in multiple calibers and topping out with a .510 version. This .50 cal produces 600+ foot pounds without breaking a sweat. It’s easy to handle, fun to shoot, and deadly accurate for big game hunting.
Umarex Hammer: A quantum leap forward
Our last .50 cal airgun for this article is the Umarex Hammer. The Hammer spent many years in development specifically because Umarex rewrote the book on how to create a big-bore airgun. First of all, the Hammer is regulated. Secondly, it uses a multi-shot magazine. There were other big bore airguns with magazines, but they fell WAY short of the 700 foot pounds the Umarex Hammer is able to produce.
The Hammer is an AR-style airgun that’s relatively compact, given its performance. It’s lightweight at just over 8 pounds, and is easy to cock and shoot. The trigger breaks at around 3 pounds and it puts a variety of lead slugs on target. It’s been tested with slugs as light as 200 grain, traveling 1000 FPS and generating almost 500 foot-pounds, all the way up to 550 grain slugs traveling 650 FPS and producing over 700 foot-pounds.
It’s not just the form factor and power but also its flexibility that truly sets the Hammer apart from the pack.
What’s Next for Ultra-Powerful Airguns?
While we have a solid variety of airguns at Airgun Depot, we are pretty sure that there are going to be more to come. And while .50 cal airguns are very popular, the reality is that .45 cal airguns keep pace with them for power, range, and accuracy while providing more continuity and availability in ammo options. If you are looking to get into big bore airgunning and need some help getting started, please feel free to give us a call. We are always eager to help.
