Big Bore Air Rifles

How to choose a big bore

Big bore starts around .338 here and runs up to .72. The jump isn't linear either. A .357 still behaves a lot like a magnum airgun, while .45 and up throw a heavy slug slowly and work through momentum rather than speed, which is what puts big bore airgun deer hunting on the table at all.

Then there's how it feeds and how much air it carries. Bolt actions are the simplest and usually the most accurate. Semi-autos give you a fast follow-up, which counts on hogs. Pump actions sit in between. Big bore burns air quickly, so a 7000 PSI gun with a large bottle buys shots a 4500 PSI setup won't, as long as you can fill it.

Shot counts drop hard once you're past .45, often to a handful per fill, so sort out your fill source before you buy the rifle. And check what your state actually allows, because airgun hunting laws vary by state more than anything else in this category, right down to season dates and minimum caliber.