In the powder burning world of firearms, having a .50 caliber rifle or handgun is big news. If it isn’t big news to you, a .50 caliber firearm will certainly leave a big impression if you are able to shoot it. Anyway you slice it, a projectile that measures ½ of an inch in diameter is something to reckon with. Some jobs are best handled with something, well, proportionately powered. Just like you would not use a finish trim hammer to drive a 20 penny nail, hunting with an insufficient caliber is an equally poor choice.
While using a centerfire .50 caliber rifle for hunting most game species is indeed too much tool for the job, hunting large game with a .50 caliber air rifle is the right tool for the job and I will show you how.
Modern Airguns Are Different
There’s no kidding around with modern air rifles. They make more power than older airguns could ever dream about and they are available in larger calibers than were historically available, as well. The reason for this growth in projectile diameter and weight is thus: Practically speaking, there’s only so much compressed air pressure that can be directed behind an airgun projectile. This is the main difference between firearms and airguns. Firearms are able to produce 35,000, 45,000, 55,000 or more pounds per square inch of chamber pressure. Airguns are generally limited to 4,500 psi in the fill tank.
Since there are some physical limitations to shot pressure, the only way to compensate, or even try to approach the level of power generated by a firearm, an airgunner must increase the volume of air that pushes the projectile. The airgunner must also increase the weight of the projectile in order to make big power. The resulting changes, increasing the diameter of the projectile and making it heavier, can take what was a normal pre-charged pneumatic airgun and transform it into a real beast. This is what Umarex had in mind when we created the Hammer .50 caliber PCP slug gun.
Bullets over 1/2 an Ounce?
This PCP air rifle shoots slugs that weigh from 250 grains (0.58 of an ounce) to 550 grainsv (1.26 ounces). Any of these weights is suitable for harvesting a North American whitetail deer. In fact some of these slugs have been used to harvest dangerous game in Africa with the Hammer!
The original Umarex Hammer isn’t the only .50 caliber airgun Umarex makes. Umarex also offers the Hammer Carbine for those looking for a more compact design for brush country hunting. With either rifle you will find hard hitting, accurate performance. Both rifles take .510” slugs and can produce well in excess of 600 FPE and at velocities that vary commensurately with the weight of the projectile between 650 FPS and 1050 FPS.
The Umarex Hammers have been many hunters' first and only choice when it comes to airgun hunting. The Hammers use a patented 2-shot magazine making it one of the first big bore air rifles to be a true repeater.
So now you know a little about why .50 caliber air rifles exist, and why Umarex makes their Hammer PCP big bore air rifles.