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Fellow smokepole enthusiasts:
I've recently spent quite a bit of time with the Airgun crowd doing some R&D related to hunting with airguns. In part, this was to propose or change legislation in some states regarding the use of airguns for hunting.
In partaking in this effort I could not help but see a lot of similarities to traditional muzzleloader hunting.
The airgun crowd is using .30 caliber, .35 caliber, .40 caliber, .45 caliber and .50 caliber rifles for big game hunting. Projectiles vary from 95 grain in .30 caliber to 425 grain in .50 caliber. Velocities run from mid 600 fps to as much as 1200 fps muzzle velocity. In the TDPW research hunt, whitetail deer were taken at 100 yards with a .30 caliber rifle and 110 grain lead conicals. Of the two deer, both were one-shot-kills with short tracking jobs and shoulder to shoulder penetration. There are plenty of examples that are similar. On the Michigan elk "hunt" a bull elk was shot with a .452 conical weighing 350 grains with a MV of close to 900 fps. The shot took both lungs and lodged in the off-side of the animal. It went less than 50 yards and piled up dead.
We are using similar bore diameters and similar lead projectiles. Most of our MV's are higher than the airguns, often twice as fast. How many times have we read about "inefficiencies" of round balls, traditional muzzleloaders in general and black powder capabilities.
I found it interesting that the same crowd that cheers on the airgunner in Africa taking game as large as Blue Wildebeest with a 143 grain .357 slug at 800 fps is often quick to lecture on the poor proposition they make traditional muzzleloaders to be under the same circumstances. There is not much cheering for the use of 38 Special for big game hunting, but the projectile is nearly identical from the 38 special and the air rifle. How can one be "just the ticket" while the other is woefully lacking?
Seeing big game including bull elk, large African plains game and black bears taken with airguns was enlightening. Frankly, it did not make me want to run out and get a big-bore airgun, but it did give me a lot more overall confidence in my traditional muzzleloader choices!
A very popular .50 caliber airgun bullet was 255 grain and traveling 860 fps MV. It was impressive and effective on the big game. How can anyone say a .50 cal 240 grain (conical) 300 grain (powerbelt) or even 370 grain (Maxi-ball) at twice the velocity of the airgun would not be effective?
I'm just rambling here, but if you ever have reservations about the capability of your muzzleloader load, just look at what people are doing with airguns! The <a href='/tags/1' rel='nofollow' title='See all tagged subjects with: #1'>#1</a> factor remains to be accuracy. Hitting the right spot is where it all starts.
I've recently spent quite a bit of time with the Airgun crowd doing some R&D related to hunting with airguns. In part, this was to propose or change legislation in some states regarding the use of airguns for hunting.
In partaking in this effort I could not help but see a lot of similarities to traditional muzzleloader hunting.
The airgun crowd is using .30 caliber, .35 caliber, .40 caliber, .45 caliber and .50 caliber rifles for big game hunting. Projectiles vary from 95 grain in .30 caliber to 425 grain in .50 caliber. Velocities run from mid 600 fps to as much as 1200 fps muzzle velocity. In the TDPW research hunt, whitetail deer were taken at 100 yards with a .30 caliber rifle and 110 grain lead conicals. Of the two deer, both were one-shot-kills with short tracking jobs and shoulder to shoulder penetration. There are plenty of examples that are similar. On the Michigan elk "hunt" a bull elk was shot with a .452 conical weighing 350 grains with a MV of close to 900 fps. The shot took both lungs and lodged in the off-side of the animal. It went less than 50 yards and piled up dead.
We are using similar bore diameters and similar lead projectiles. Most of our MV's are higher than the airguns, often twice as fast. How many times have we read about "inefficiencies" of round balls, traditional muzzleloaders in general and black powder capabilities.
I found it interesting that the same crowd that cheers on the airgunner in Africa taking game as large as Blue Wildebeest with a 143 grain .357 slug at 800 fps is often quick to lecture on the poor proposition they make traditional muzzleloaders to be under the same circumstances. There is not much cheering for the use of 38 Special for big game hunting, but the projectile is nearly identical from the 38 special and the air rifle. How can one be "just the ticket" while the other is woefully lacking?
Seeing big game including bull elk, large African plains game and black bears taken with airguns was enlightening. Frankly, it did not make me want to run out and get a big-bore airgun, but it did give me a lot more overall confidence in my traditional muzzleloader choices!
A very popular .50 caliber airgun bullet was 255 grain and traveling 860 fps MV. It was impressive and effective on the big game. How can anyone say a .50 cal 240 grain (conical) 300 grain (powerbelt) or even 370 grain (Maxi-ball) at twice the velocity of the airgun would not be effective?
I'm just rambling here, but if you ever have reservations about the capability of your muzzleloader load, just look at what people are doing with airguns! The <a href='/tags/1' rel='nofollow' title='See all tagged subjects with: #1'>#1</a> factor remains to be accuracy. Hitting the right spot is where it all starts.