.458 - Ain't No Firearm
 

I received this special rifle a short while ago and thought I would share the photos for those interested. Who can tell me what it is? :)

RE: .458 - Ain't No Firearm
 

It looks like it is a single shot bolt action rifle. I am not an expert but I don't know what that stuff is under the barrel. Is it a muzzle loader? The stock looks real nice though.

RE: .458 - Ain't No Firearm
 

air rifle.

RE: .458 - Ain't No Firearm
 

Ask the person who you received the rifle from... they should know what it is.
Looks like single shot pellet gun to me.

RE: .458 - Ain't No Firearm
 

Pre-charge type air rifle????

RE: .458 - Ain't No Firearm
 

It looks like uncle mike is right. It's a pre charged air rifle. I hope you got the pump or attachment to charge it as well. It's useless without it.

RE: .458 - Ain't No Firearm
 

I know perfectly well what the rifle is guys. Just wanted to see who here would also. It's a Quackenbush Long Action Outlaw.458 cal air rifle. It'll produce 500-600 FPE for two shots before recharging from an SCBA tank. Grade is 'Select' with a laminate stock. Got on the list and waited more than 6 months for it. He doesn't produce many more than about 50 rifles per year and are very desireable in the airgunners world.

RE: .458 - Ain't No Firearm
 

I hear those are pretty bad a$$-
I have had my eye on a Daystate for some time now.... but the price.... I mean, damn....

Anyway, I like those bigbore air rifles.

RE: .458 - Ain't No Firearm
 

Uncle Mike. Thanks.

If you'd like a high quality adult air rifle look at the Air Arms S410 series. A lot less expensive than the daystate line. Very popular. Very accurate. Great for hunting or target.

RE: .458 - Ain't No Firearm
 

I hope to share some game taken with the rifle in the future. Stay tuned.

RE: .458 - Ain't No Firearm
 

Looks like a pellet gun......so is it a pneumatic shotgun?

RE: .458 - Ain't No Firearm
 

eldeguello... it's a pneumatic rifle. The machinest rifles his own barrels and incorporates a twist rate acceptable to fire slugs that you might use to reload the .45-70 cartridge. The rifle will fire 510 grain slugs at about 700 fps or you can step down to roundball that will travel more than 1000 fps. I have started casting my own slugs from a Lyman 330 gr. hollowpoint mold.

RE: .458 - Ain't No Firearm
 

Python, have you cast projectiles from 'lighter' materials yet.

We used to cast from manganese...you get the diameter without the weight.
Manganese is hard to cast, gives you fits sometimes...

RE: .458 - Ain't No Firearm
 

I saw the charge valve on the front and right away knew what it was. What kind of pressure does it operate at?

RE: .458 - Ain't No Firearm
 

The heavier the better. More energy. At the ranges you'd be using such a weapon there really isn't a need for anything lighter. It is possible to use helium as propellant rather than compressed air. Helium delivers more energy relative... something like near 50% more actually. They're designed to be charged to 3000 PSI. Some get better strings out of them charing on up to 3400 or 3800 psi. Regular old SCUBA tanks don't hold enough air for one, must have 4500 PSI 88 CF SCBA.

RE: .458 - Ain't No Firearm
 

I guess it would be ok for something to tinker with or where you cannot use regular firearms. I'll just stick to reg firearms, bow, blackpowder myself-seems like a lot of trouble to go to just to shoot.

RE: .458 - Ain't No Firearm
 

We hear the same thing all the time from dedicated firearms users. I love firearms myself also, but you really learn to appreciate the fun of using something such as air to take game. It has it's advantages as well as disadvantages; just as high powered rifles, muzzleloaders, handguns and bows do. I'd bet that if you were to get some good trigger time in with some high quality, high powered air rifles... you'd want one too (just as many other converts have). It's the love of the sport and the outdoors, it all flows together. There do exist small bore (.177-.25) air rifles and shooters that can and will out-do rimfire benchrest shooters up to 100 meters.

You could consider hunting with big bore air rifles such as this a mixture of bow and rifle hunting. Generally you need to get in close, 50-70 yards. At that distance with a the right slug it'll generally stop just under the skin on the opposite side of a bison. Know your gun and your ammo and it's possible to cleanly take smaller game at 200 yards and beyond. The energy is not lacking. If you should be shooting game at that distance with an air rifle, your skill is not lacking either.

RE: .458 - Ain't No Firearm
 

You would have to prove it to me that an air rifle will outshoot a fine target rimfire out to 100 yards. I SERIOUSLY doubt that part.

RE: .458 - Ain't No Firearm
 

How do you prove anything on the Internet?

I'm not the person to ask for those groups, I haven't and probably can't shoot anything close. I can tell you that I've seen 1.45" 5 shot groups at 183 yards. I've seen just slightly over 2" from the same man and same gun at 200 yards. It would be a false statement to say that an airgun is not accurate. I'm sure better have been shot that I have not seen, but thats still acceptable in my book.

Added content:

These groups were shot by the same man. He does a lot of testing and his postings on the airgun forums are always very nice to read.

All at 101 yards. Two are under 1/2".

RE: .458 - Ain't No Firearm
 

More?

Same guy mentioned above, same gun (BSA Hornet). 5 shots at 55 yards (50 meters). This was shot during a rimfire competition.




Different guy, different gun. 100 yards.

RE: .458 - Ain't No Firearm
 

The Quackenbush guns are the top shelf in the air gun world. I own a much less expensive but still pricey Korean PCP rifle in .45 cal. I use .45 acp slugs cast in pure lead and bumped up to .457. It is a hoot to shoot, though less powerful than the Qbsh rifles at about 160 fpe.
I haven't shot it at 100 yards but it will hit what I aim at at 50, shooting offhand. Unfortunately, in the state where I live, air guns are illegal for hunting.
Pete

RE: .458 - Ain't No Firearm
 

Pete, it's illegal here also to take large game animals with airguns. There are no laws however governing the taking of exotic animals.

RE: .458 - Ain't No Firearm
 

stalkingbear, I took the time to obtain photos of fine groups with air rifles, and you have no statement regarding? Rimfire groups anyone?

RE: .458 - Ain't No Firearm
 

For what it's worth, airguns were used during the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

RE: .458 - Ain't No Firearm
 

You're correct UncleNorby. Airguns were used during the L&C Expedition. You can read more on that at the link I provided below. They used it to take food, including deer. In those days airguns were also used in battle against human ememies. The rifles they used would have even been MUSH LESS powerful than today's big bore air rifles.

Generally air rifles are under-rated. Some... such as GAMO are OVERRATED. GAMO makes a poor product and has poor advertising tactics. Some of you may have used one in the past and that's the only airgun experience you've had. If so, your view on them has been tainted. Get yourself a DECENT air rifle and don't think twice about it. Most are quiet enough that you can shoot them in your back yard without the neighbors even knowing. No need to get to a range. Ammo is extremely cheap. Cast your own slugs for big bores if you wish, for even less money. No hassle with brass or powder. They're quiet, accurate, safe, fun and more than powerful enough to take game...

Airguns bring something new to the sporting scene... Why hunt with a bow? Most would agree; for the sport. Get in close, and get a perfect shot on a record animal. Why not do the same thing with AIR? It's no more trouble than reloading your own ammunition or getting set up for black powder.

http://www.quackenbushairguns.com/
http://www.bigborebob.com/
http://www.beemans.net/lewis-assault-rifle.htm
http://www.air-arms.co.uk/
http://www.fxairguns.com/
http://www.daystate.co.uk/
http://www.network54.com/Forum/79537/

I leave you with some pictures of air rifles that have been through my hands.