Helped to tame the wild wild west.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pqFyKh-rUI

Lewis and Clark's secret weapon - a late 18th Century .46 cal. 20 shot repeating air rifle by Girandoni , as used bin the Napoleonic Wars. A Treasure Gun from the NRA National Firearms Museum. See more at http://nramuseum.com. Narrated by Phil Schreier.


http://www.beemans.net/Austrian%20airguns.htm

Glenn, I just got a link to that video yesterday and was amazed. I never knew that an air powered rifle existed back then. I bet if you were under fire that 1500 pumps to get it up to pressure wouldn't take as long as one would think! Gives new meaning to smoke poles and non-smoke poles.
Tickhill

That 1500 pumps stored enough power for a lot of shots it looks like.  I would not want to stand in front of it wondering if it was up or not.

It was sent to me by a senior lady rebel down the road a ways. 

Interesting; thanks for the history lesson! I wonder why they weren't more popular..

Seems they would be a lot better than having to stop and reload a black powder rifle at just the wrong time... [ouch]

Makes more sense.  When going into uncharted territories with almost no access to the modern manufactured good of black powder this is what you want.  I'm surprised these weren't more popular with the survivalist or end of the world folks.  I wonder if there are any modern manufacturers of something similar. 

There are some pellet guns but most are a bit disappointing.  CO2 and pump action with the pump action being stronger but slower.

I saw something about stronger ones too though and would rather have something with more power.

Wonder if there was any danger of blowing your shoulder off if you accidentally gave it a couple hundred too many pumps..

I read of a replica maker who is worried about users getting it, not wanting to pump - making an adapter and exploding it with a 3500 psi cylinder while filling.  Yes - it would be shrapnel time,  but I don't know if it is possible to over pump it by hand.

Quote from: Squirl on February 23, 2011, 12:03:21 PM
Makes more sense.  When going into uncharted territories with almost no access to the modern manufactured good of black powder this is what you want.  I'm surprised these weren't more popular with the survivalist or end of the world folks.  I wonder if there are any modern manufacturers of something similar. 

Actually there are. I don't have the names and web addresses handy but a couple of years ago I made an arrow gun and contacted one particular smith who was making and using a .50. He had taken several Deer and one client had taken an Elk with one. He tokld me to use a pressure washer handle for the trigger assembly. It's rated for 3000 PSI and worked like a charm.

The better ones can be either pumped up with a special pump, or charged with a SCUBA tank (That's what most people used including me).








0

This one is interesting

http://www.pyramydair.com/career-dragon-slayer-review.shtml

Very Cool.  I saw the pump they pump them up with too.  Not bad.  The article says there is no exact justification to owning one other than it is your right.  I also was wondering if traveling across state lines is a benefit.  Are air guns covered under FFL laws?

I'm not overly educated on ballistics, does anyone know what equivalent power this has to a black powder caliber or cartridge this has?

Quote from: Squirl on February 24, 2011, 12:02:34 PM

Very Cool.  I saw the pump they pump them up with too.  Not bad.  The article says there is no exact justification to owning one other than it is your right.  I also was wondering if traveling across state lines is a benefit.  Are air guns covered under FFL laws?

I'm not overly educated on ballistics, does anyone know what equivalent power this has to a black powder caliber or cartridge this has?

Air guns are exempt from Federal GCA laws but be careful. Certain dictatorial states like Mary Land may have state laws against possession.

The DragonSlayer that Glenn linked to has a muzzle velocity of 570 ft/sec but they didn't say with what ammo; 200, 225 or 250 gr. And it is discontinued.

This one is rated at 730 ft/sec in a 45 cal; looks like 200 gr. lead. 3000 psi

the pumps are not cheap either



air guns are available mail order. . Local restrictions do apply in some places, as peter noted

The average .45ACP 230grain FMJ load is around 800FPS, If IIRC.

The average hunting compund bow flings arrows at around 320-350 FPS.

Nice gun, Don.  Thanks for the link.

Found good info if anyone gets one of these.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=496920