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Post by stevein on May 13, 2016 11:52:42 GMT -5
They do not pattern at all. Fun to shoot but not capable of hunting with a round ball, great gun with shot in it for birds and squirrels. I am planning on going squirrel hunting with my airrifle this fall, head shots only. I just hope Indiana will in the near future permit us to use them for turkeys. I have a lot of education to do with NRC. There is more to shooting a round ball out of a smoothbore than a rifle. I loaned my Navy Arms 12 SxS to a buddy and he had no problem killing a nice doe with it. The only challenge with traditional muzzle loaders is most folks do not want to spend the range time needed to learn how to make one shoot. I do not know the man's name but he is making some awesome muzzle loading air rifles. I saw a couple of them at the Kalamazoo show a few years ago and he has been written up in MUZZLE BLASTS mag. They ain't cheap. I am not opposed to the use of air rifles for turkey hunting but I would not support it either. I think there are states where you can use them.
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Post by airgun on May 13, 2016 16:14:12 GMT -5
stevein, I was talking about shooting round balls out of a 12 gauge ball and cap shot gun. 75% of my guns are muzzle loaders (flintlocks and cap locks). My best friend and I were NMLRA members for years, he still is but no longer shoots. When I was shooting at NMLRA I would go home after work and would should at least five shots every night, neighbors loved me. I like hunting with different things. I have a bow that can shoot a 26" arrow all the way down to a 3" arrow. The 3" arrow is only good at short distances then it tumbles. So the air rifle is my next challenge. I am shooting 5 shots at thirty yards that a quarter can cover, ten yards a dime can cover so harvesting a turkey would not be that hard (at least at the shooting part). These air rifles are NOT your Grand Fathers Red Riders.
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Post by nfalls116 on May 13, 2016 18:53:48 GMT -5
stevein, I was talking about shooting round balls out of a 12 gauge ball and cap shot gun. 75% of my guns are muzzle loaders (flintlocks and cap locks). My best friend and I were NMLRA members for years, he still is but no longer shoots. When I was shooting at NMLRA I would go home after work and would should at least five shots every night, neighbors loved me. I like hunting with different things. I have a bow that can shoot a 26" arrow all the way down to a 3" arrow. The 3" arrow is only good at short distances then it tumbles. So the air rifle is my next challenge. I am shooting 5 shots at thirty yards that a quarter can cover, ten yards a dime can cover so harvesting a turkey would not be that hard (at least at the shooting part). These air rifles are NOT your Grand Fathers Red Riders. I think the trend would be to "educate" your legislators create a hunting group (dont need a significant amount of members) and say you are the head of it and you represent hunters from all over Indiana and see if they will slide the bill through?
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Post by airgun on May 13, 2016 20:56:09 GMT -5
Nfalls116, I would rather work with DNR than go around them. It may take time but it's worth the effort. I also may ask if we can hunt with a air bow, they have air rifles that shoot arrows. We already know we can hunt with bows and arrows. Having legislators going around DNR is bad news for hunters and the wildlife.
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Post by throbak on May 14, 2016 6:23:07 GMT -5
I know it's been said but you can't hunt Turkey with a .22 !!!why then with a air rifle ?? I would be ok with squirrel and Rabbits but not Turkey
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Post by airgun on May 14, 2016 7:19:20 GMT -5
throbak, Indiana is behind the times on air rifles, there are several states that currently permit the use of air rifles in hunting turkeys and Indiana should be the next one. 22 rim-fires bullets travel longer ranges than air rifles. 22 rim-fires bullets can go as far as one mile or longer, a “springer” is depleted within 150 yards. Safety is another concern with 22 rim-fires, being shot with rim-fire is more serious than with a 22 air-gun. However, the air rifle at close ranges like what turkey hunters will see makes them a perfect tool for harvesting turkeys. They even have 20 gauge Air shotguns. See: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDyLc3OHBFoThis shotgun would be fun to hunt with, don’t you think?
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Post by throbak on May 14, 2016 7:44:24 GMT -5
How many states allow singe projectile weapons for turkey ?
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Post by airgun on May 14, 2016 8:24:03 GMT -5
throbak, I am not sure on that one. I believe it's around a half dozen or more right now. I will need to do some research.
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Post by stevein on May 14, 2016 11:15:11 GMT -5
The last I heard was somewhere around 15 states allow rifles for spring turkey. You will probably find the biggest group opposed is the NWTF. If I was determined to turkey hunt with a rifle, air, cartridge or muzzle loader I would travel to a state where it is legal.
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Post by airgun on May 14, 2016 12:34:20 GMT -5
stevein, The National Wild Turkey Federation is NOT opposed to air rifles being used in turkey seasons. I have spoken to several NWTF biologists who owns and shoots air rifles and board members, and I NEVER got one single bad comment on air rifles. The NWTF tries to stay on the fence on issues like tools for hunting; they want each state’s natural resource department to make their own rules.
As far as traveling to another state is not the issue here. I want my home state to permit the use of air rifles for turkey hunting. It’s that simple. Air rifles are extremely capable of harvesting turkey with little or no crimpling losses.
Nice picture of The Damm Theatre in Osgood Indiana.
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Post by GS1 on May 14, 2016 15:04:54 GMT -5
I don't see a DNR that wouldn't push for an expanded rifle selection for deer pushing for allowing air rifles for turkey. I hope not at least.
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Post by airgun on May 14, 2016 15:56:41 GMT -5
GS1, it will take time but it could happen. Several years ago I started a similar push for muzzle loading hand guns. I provided DNR with a pistol and support and after two years it was passed by the NRC and today we can hunt with a muzzle loading hand gun (see the regulations). I am doing the same thing with the air rifle calling and talking to DNR staff to help educate them on the “new” generation of air guns. I know that DNR is not aware of air shotguns with screw in chokes but they are out there and they are legal to use in Indiana under the current way the turkey rules are written. That also could be a challenge.
See: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDyLc3OHBFo
p.s. I will NOT go around DNR.
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Post by jackryan on May 17, 2016 11:46:34 GMT -5
Thanks jackryan for your comment. I personally believe it's time to let air guns in Indiana. They are great tools capable of cleanly putting a turkey into the freezer. I do understand it's not for everybody but for a few sportsmen and sportswoman it would create another challenging opportunity. Happy hunting. So is a 22-250. Doesn't mean it's time to start hunting turkeys with them just because some kid wants to. I could kill a turkey off a neighborhood bird feeder with a golf club, doesn't meant it's time to start hunting them with golf clubs. Turkey hunting is about turkey hunting. Just because an airgun enthusiast want's something new to put a notch on their air gun doesn't make them a turkey hunter or mean the people who ARE turkey hunters need to bend to suit the latest craze. Why don't you take up deer hunting or golf.
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Post by airgun on May 17, 2016 16:03:04 GMT -5
jackrayan, that's so funny. With your respective on hunting tools we would be using rocks and sticks. Your correct turkey hunting is about the respect of the game and art of hunting and hunting with a air gun to me would take more skills in shooting and calling than other ways of turkey hunting. Hunting with a high power rifle could kill a turkey, however it would greatly destroy the meat. Besides the bullet could travel too far specially here in Indiana making it dangerous to other hunter and other game. Where as with a 22 caliber "springer" the pellet is depleted within 150 yards making it a VERY safe for hunting with.
Air rifles today ARE NOT THE AIR RIFLES that you had as a child (I am assuming your parents let you have one). take some time to research air rifles and you will see high power air rifle have been used in war back into the 1780. Lewis and Clark even had one when they travel the west part of our country. It was a 46 caliber that could shoot 10 round balls at fifty yards that a quarter could cover, on one charge (800 psi). Oh by the way if your saying bull**** look at the NRA museum (online) under Lewis and Clark air rifle.
Oh by the way I am a deer hunter with one in the Hoosier record book. I also would like to be able to use a air rifle to hunt deer here in Indiana. But I am not a golfer I find it boring. Please do not look down on deer hunters and golfer they are good people.
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Post by schall53 on May 17, 2016 17:54:47 GMT -5
OK guys, play nice.
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Post by airgun on May 17, 2016 18:50:47 GMT -5
schall53, your correct. I am sorry if I have offended anyone.
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Post by jackryan on May 17, 2016 20:10:27 GMT -5
jackrayan, that's so funny. With your respective on hunting tools we would be using rocks and sticks. Your correct turkey hunting is about the respect of the game and art of hunting and hunting with a air gun to me would take more skills in shooting and calling than other ways of turkey hunting. Hunting with a high power rifle could kill a turkey, however it would greatly destroy the meat. Besides the bullet could travel too far specially here in Indiana making it dangerous to other hunter and other game. Where as with a 22 caliber "springer" the pellet is depleted within 150 yards making it a VERY safe for hunting with. Air rifles today ARE NOT THE AIR RIFLES that you had as a child (I am assuming your parents let you have one). take some time to research air rifles and you will see high power air rifle have been used in war back into the 1780. Lewis and Clark even had one when they travel the west part of our country. It was a 46 caliber that could shoot 10 round balls at fifty yards that a quarter could cover, on one charge (800 psi). Oh by the way if your saying bull**** look at the NRA museum (online) under Lewis and Clark air rifle. Oh by the way I am a deer hunter with one in the Hoosier record book. I also would like to be able to use a air rifle to hunt deer here in Indiana. But I am not a golfer I find it boring. Please do not look down on deer hunters and golfer they are good people. I'm not saying "bull anything". I'm waiting for you to tell me something I DON'T know.
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Post by airgun on May 17, 2016 20:28:22 GMT -5
Back on topic Here is a nice video of a successful turkey hunt with a air rifle, hoping to be coming soon to Indiana season. youtu.be/NCI1n6NwztQ
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Post by GS1 on May 17, 2016 20:55:31 GMT -5
Back on topic Here is a nice video of a successful turkey hunt with a air rifle, hoping to be coming soon to Indiana season. youtu.be/NCI1n6NwztQI hope you're a young person. Would definitely increase your chances of seeing an air gun season in Indiana. They say it only takes one pellet to kill a turkey.... And it also only takes one pellet to make a turkey a coyote meal.
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Post by greghopper on May 17, 2016 21:23:37 GMT -5
Back on topic Here is a nice video of a successful turkey hunt with a air rifle, hoping to be coming soon to Indiana season. youtu.be/NCI1n6NwztQWhat season would you want air guns for Turkey in??? Its NOT a Firearm or Archery..... Maybe its own season & own Tag ?
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