Is an “Arrow Gun” for you?

Is an "Arrow Gun" for you?

Dan Neuland, Hunter Safety Coordinator for Maryland’s DNR, demonstrated a numatic rifle that shoots arrows.  The Umarex Airsaber is one of the “guns” that Neuland uses in his hunter safety program, and he volunteered to bring it to the annual meeting of the Mason-Dixon Outdoor Writers so that members could experience the product firsthand.

Speed and Power

At first glance, the Airsaber appears to be a muzzleloader with a barrel on top and a tube of the same diameter underneath.  Actually, the lower cylinder holds air, which can be forced in with a hand pump.  The Airsaber launches arrows up to 450 per second and is legal for deer hunting in 10 states, including Maryland.  It handles like a traditional firearm and features a scope for accurate aiming.  We practice at 35 yards, and the Airsaber was quickly sighted in and proved to be very accurate.  A downside of the airgun process is the pressure decline.  After each shot, air pressure is reduced due to the first shot and will decline accordingly with repeated shots.  A second negative is the sound upon launch, which is substantial and could easily cause a deer to duck the point of aim.

Hollow Nocks

Arrows for the Airsaber resemble those for a compound or crossbow, except for the reinforced “nock,” which is hollow and integral to the launch system.  Air bows have been slow to gain popularity, despite their impressive performance, with some models capable of firing arrows at speeds exceeding 600 fps.  It appears that hunters either prefer a firearm or a bow and arrow, including crossbows, which still retain some of the characteristics of a recurve or compound bow. For more information on the Airsaber, click here.

Source: Is an "Arrow Gun" for you?