Install the app
How to install the app on iOS

Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.

Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.

What'cha doing air gun related today?

A/C tech at house for system checkup. Saw the targets and airgun videos I was watching. Him, being a firearms for hunting guy, was intrigued. Demonstrated the Sniper XR. He was impressed. Asked questions on air rifle hunting capabilities. Showed him small game hunting videos. Left with some serious thoughts about getting into the sport. We may just have another convert.
 
A/C tech at house for system checkup. Saw the targets and airgun videos I was watching. Him, being a firearms for hunting guy, was intrigued. Demonstrated the Sniper XR. He was impressed. Asked questions on air rifle hunting capabilities. Showed him small game hunting videos. Left with some serious thoughts about getting into the sport. We may just have another convert.
Great job man! We've got another one about to fall in the rabbit hole. 😆
 
Today I’m working on getting a budget-friendly slug to perform right alongside the top-tier stuff in my .357 AEA big bore. I’m not knocking the premium makers — their prices make sense when you consider the tooling, time, and consistency they deliver. I just wanted to see if I could get similar results without beating up my wallet.

I kept seeing folks talk about pellet sizing, and that got me thinking: why not apply the same idea to slugs? So I started putting together a simple sizing setup. First step was a single-stage press — grabbed a Lee for about fifty bucks. Next, I ordered two .3575 sizing dies from NOE, which should be here in a few days.

Today I picked up the last pieces of the puzzle: silicon-carbide wet/dry sandpaper (600–2500 grit), a 0–1" micrometer with 0.0001" resolution, a ratchet thimble, carbide anvils, and some ¼" × 12" wooden dowels. Once the NOE dies arrive, I’ll polish one out to .35775. That should give me very consistent slugs — and in turn, much more consistent shot-to-shot performance.

When the time comes, I’ll get out and test everything, but it’s still too cold here right now. We’re sitting around 23° during the day and it’s going to be real cold tonight. I’m going to wait until it’s actually fun to be outside — at least into the 40s up on the hill, which is about 800 feet higher than where I am.

If this works the way I expect, I’ll have a cheaper slug running right up there with the high-end stuff, tuned specifically for my barrel and my AEA.


I’m extremely interested in the results. Please keep us posted… the Umarex Tusk has me thinking I should take a look at .357 😂😂😂
 
Research. Lots and lots of research, for the past couple of months. I have been trying to come up with a new project and it has been slow going. The first thing that I had to do was figure out what I really wanted and why, and what could get that done and how. Then how to optimize the purchase through a myriad of choices that would leave me with parts for other projects. I really don't have a brand bias, though I historically prefer simple purpose built guns designed to shoot one projectile perfectly forever, that has gotten a little boring and I am ready to buy a test bench gun that will never be finished, but rather used to test new projectiles, barrel twists, optics, whatever. The only company that really switches things around quickly enough to keep a project like this interesting is FX, so that's where I'm looking. Really looking at the product lines and all the nuances is a hobby in itself. I further narrowed it down to using a Dynamic block as the base. At least I'm starting to have a plan and that's has fun as anything. Executing it is going to depend on things out of my control but I have another plan firmly in place too, perhaps more so because I don't have to worry about tariffs for that one. That's the Gen 3 Marauder. I have been after them for so long about updating that gun that it was already a done deal once announced.

So, TL; DR: I've been scheming! :unsure:

Ohhhh yeah this sounds awesome! Really excited to see what you end up with/building!
 
This past few days I find myself digging into slug and pellet ballistics - as you can imagine, the rabbit hole is deep.
It can seem like a pain in the butt but I promise it’s worth it. For me ultimately it gives me confidence to make longer shots because I know the slug will fly as intended and once you know your “real” BC you can calculate how much power you’re actually carrying.

Plus it’s just fun to flex sometimes! Some dude was like “I’d at least be shooting a .22LR instead of the Airgun.” So then I pulled out the BC app and showed him how a Winchester 37gr Varmint HE does 189fpe at the muzzle but only 85fpe at 100y and 55fpe at 200y…. The I showed him that my 71gr boats are only 128fpe at the muzzle but 109fpe at 100y and 93fpe at 200y!

He was like “wtf how?” 😂😂😂… to be honest I wasn’t expecting that result so I just played it off like “ballistic coefficients are a hell of a drug Charlie Murphy.”

Nah but for real I was blown away and secretly did a little jig in my head.


So then yesterday on a literal 10 hour coyote hunting adventure where my 2 wheel drive little Ford Edge spent significant time on 3 wheels trying to maneuver her through some ROUGH country… and before you ask, yes I’m exceedingly dumb….. but on said trip I tried to do a little plinking and managed to hit a specific rock 3 times in a row at 308y!

I don’t care who you are but when you can hear your slug hit a rock with authority at 300y away that’s just exciting haha.
 
Spent my overnight seeing if the "new to me" RAW HM1000x .357 and BM500x would hold air. The HM leaks out the quick fill ring. That uses a 21x1.5mm (or sae equivalent). Dont have any so Amazon is delivering this morning. The BM leaked out the fill Foster. It uses a 5x1.5mm oring which I dont have. Also being delivered this morning. Swapped fitting from HM to BM and the BM has been holding 200 bar of air for several hours.

Mounted a CVLife BearMight 5-25x56 scope on the BM but won't be shooting it until the 5/8-18 to M18-1.0 adapter arrives from France.

The HM has a cracked stock that they ran a bolt down from inside the stock. Was still flexing at the crack so I glued and clamped it. Hope I got enough glue in the gap.

Then I realized that the HM1000X has no serial number and has the same regulator as the HM1000. Which entailed an email to Martin Rutterford at airguns-usa.com who probably built this gun. I am guessing this is an early production ir prototype RAW.

Seal the HM up when Amazon delivers. But the moderator adapter is going to be custom. Shroud has an M30x1.0 end cap. There is an m30x1.0 to 1/2-20 but that is too small for .357. Ordered it anyway. Drill it out and find a m18x1 male, hopefully.

Then if I can moderate it, probably sell it. Nephew has stated an interest in the BM for target shooting.
 
It can seem like a pain in the butt but I promise it’s worth it. For me ultimately it gives me confidence to make longer shots because I know the slug will fly as intended and once you know your “real” BC you can calculate how much power you’re actually carrying.

Plus it’s just fun to flex sometimes! Some dude was like “I’d at least be shooting a .22LR instead of the Airgun.” So then I pulled out the BC app and showed him how a Winchester 37gr Varmint HE does 189fpe at the muzzle but only 85fpe at 100y and 55fpe at 200y…. The I showed him that my 71gr boats are only 128fpe at the muzzle but 109fpe at 100y and 93fpe at 200y!

He was like “wtf how?” 😂😂😂… to be honest I wasn’t expecting that result so I just played it off like “ballistic coefficients are a hell of a drug Charlie Murphy.”

Nah but for real I was blown away and secretly did a little jig in my head.


So then yesterday on a literal 10 hour coyote hunting adventure where my 2 wheel drive little Ford Edge spent significant time on 3 wheels trying to maneuver her through some ROUGH country… and before you ask, yes I’m exceedingly dumb….. but on said trip I tried to do a little plinking and managed to hit a specific rock 3 times in a row at 308y!

I don’t care who you are but when you can hear your slug hit a rock with authority at 300y away that’s just exciting haha.
Heck yea, brings shivers down your spine! 😆
 

Create an account or login to comment

You must be a member in order to leave a comment

Create FREE account

Create a FREE account on our community. It's easy!

Log in

Already have an account? Log in here.

Trending in this forum

Back
Top