Umarex Prostaffer, Eydin Hansen and the Hammer 50 Caliber Big Bore PCP at the 2021 RMAC competition.
The Premiere Big Bore Slug Target Challenge
Eydin lines up his shot for a sighter on the berm. His Umarex Airguns teammate, Todd Bruner by his side spotting for him. His spotting scope of choice is a Vortex Razor HD. Eydin, the TXHogDude on Instagram puts the projectile firmly in the center of his target. He’s ready for the RMAC Big Bore Slug Challenge.
Shooters on the lane are divided into squads. There are five shooters in his squad and four squads. The competitors are spread out with about 45 to 50 yards between the far-left bench and the one at the far right. There’s a target placed on the hill to the right which means the distance will vary for each shooter.
A Rifle for Big Game and Big Competition
Eydin is shooting the Umarex Hammer in .50 caliber topped with Sightmark Pinnacle scope that has 3x18 magnification and a 44 millimeter objective. Holding it steady on the long Picatinny rail are Contessa scope mounts. “I’m zeroed at 100 yards,” said Eydin. “I’m not going to dial, just hold over and hold for the wind.” Eydin later said he did it that way so he could both read the wind and see the “splash” of the round on the target. He’s got a big carbon fiber tank from the Airgun Scientist feeding the Hammer with high pressure air and a second one as a backup for the super powerful yet air hungry air rifle.
First two shots are on a steel plate shaped like a lifelike size strutting turkey placed at 100 yards. He squeezed the trigger and a burst of air pushed the 255 grain lead slug through the barrel and then the clang of the colorful steel!
Send it! The .50 caliber Hammer can reach out there if you know your dope.
His second target is the sasquatch steel at 200 yards. Eydin and Todd discuss the shot. He skips the option of a sighter, squeezes the trigger and nails it. His second shot fell just slightly low for a miss. He held true to his early statement and didn’t do any scope adjustments (dialing).
Mental Mistakes Can Derail an Airgun Adventure
His next shot is a cougar-shaped steel plate. “I’m used to a cougar,” said Eydin. Liz, Eric Henderson’s wife is heard in the background saying, “I think it’s a tiger actually.” Turns out the target is a honey badger at 75 yards. The tiger will be up next. The air is released and then CLANG! On the second shot the slug falls just short of the target because the rifle released the air in its tank as the projectile exited. Eydin had forgotten to open the valve all the way up on the tethered air tank. That’s the nature of a mental mistake and of the Hammer—it’s the pressure of the air within the innovative lightspeed valve mechanism that holds it shut waiting for the trigger.
The fourth target is a steel tiger at 200 yards just over the dirt berm. He sends it and the spotter calls “high!” The pressure of the competition and the technical mistakes rattle him a little. That combined with his inability to see color he was aimed at the wrong target. He corrected and sailed the slug just barely over the top. Eydin shook it off in preparation for his next shot.
It’s only 279 yards! When you aren’t behind the trigger, talk is cheap!
Up next is a coyote target positioned on the hill at 2’oclock and ranged at 189 yards. From the rock-solid concrete bench that Eydin is shooting on he sends the 255 grain slug and Todd feeds him intel on his shot placement. It was a miss. He patiently waits on the wind and when he sends it the clang of the bullet is heard and called by the spotter, “right between the ears!” Spectators clap and a second spotter yells out, “That would’ve been a dead yote.”
The Elevation of Airguns and Targets
High up on the mountain side is the Utah Airguns logo that’s at 279 yards. “I love the elevation. Significant elevation changes. 200 feet over your head down to flat land. It looks a lot further than it really is when it’s at elevation,” said Eydin Hansen. “For example, the raccoon was three foot wide but from the bench it looks like a one-foot target because it was up on a mountainside. Plus, there’s multiple wind angles you have to account for. It comes through this valley, crosses, then goes up. You gotta know your holds.”
Eydin’s first shot on the Utah Airguns big bore airgun target is sent. Both spotters see the steel move but agree it was not a hit. The official spotter says it could have been rock. Nothing definitive. Eydin adjusts and the second shot is sent. It went just over. Eydin immediately contests because his adjustment sent the bullet over his target. This would not have been the case had the previous round actually hit dirt as the spotters had agreed. It would have been dead-on. He trusted his spotter as he should have but making the adjustment based on what was agreed as a miss meant that the trajectory of the second shot had no chance at hitting the target.
Rock Solid footing courtesy of Accu-Tac's Bi-Pod.
The next target up is in the shape of a mammoth but it’s only an eight-inch plate hanging on a T-post at 130 yards. The target is red in color with a dirt berm beyond another 70 yards. It’s not easy to see with the naked eye. The first member of his squad took a shot with a .257 that went just a little low. Eydin sent two and nailed the target both times.
Raccoon is up next at 288 yards. Again, up on the hill in a small clearing. It’s an oversized steel for this shot. If it had been an actual size target it’s not likely many would hit it due to the varying winds. Welch, the first squad member, sent a shot that hit the rock just below the target. Second hit was fairly close to the same spot. Now it’s time for the .50 cal Hammer. Eydin inserts the dual-shot magazine loaded with the 255 grain air gun slugs and settles in behind the scope. His first shot goes and hits the raccoon just above it’s right shoulder! A faint clang is heard and the electronic sound of a raccoon chatters. Utah Airguns had installed devices that when vibrated by a round hitting the target sent a signal back to a hand-held device to play a noise associated with the animal the steel was shaped like. It was a clear indication of a solid hit.
The entire relay finishes the course and it’s all smiles. Eydin feels good about his finish but the range stays hot for five additional minutes and he wants redemption on the tiger. Needless to say, he gets it, so then he’s back up the mountain to the Utah Airguns target. CLANG! In the end, any trigger time is a good time, especially with Umarex Airguns.