AirForce Airguns just dropped a game-changer at SHOT Show 2026 with the Tex-Rex® Brush Gun in .510 and .457 calibers—a compact beast packing a 16-inch barrel and over 700 foot-pounds of energy. This isn’t your grandpa’s air rifle; it’s a pneumatic powerhouse engineered for brutal, close-quarters hunting in thick brush where traditional firearms might snag or over-penetrate. President John McCaslin nailed it when he emphasized the rifle’s modern optics compatibility, turning what could be a niche tool into a precision platform for hog eradication, predator control, or any scenario demanding quiet, repeatable shots without the bang of gunpowder. At a time when airguns are shedding their pellet-gun stigma, the Tex-Rex screams legitimacy with big-bore calibers that rival .50 BMG in energy delivery, all while being unregulated in most states—no ATF paperwork, no NFA hassles.
For the 2A community, this debut is a sly win in the ongoing battle for expanded self-defense and hunting options. Airguns like the Tex-Rex bypass ammo shortages, suppressors mandates, and powder restrictions, offering a stealthy alternative that’s perfect for urban-rural interfaces or properties with noise ordinances. Imagine dropping feral hogs at 50 yards with subsonic thwacks that won’t spook the herd or alert the neighbors—it’s suppressible out of the box and tunable for power via AirForce’s legendary pump systems. Critics might scoff at just an airgun, but with 700+ ft-lbs, it’s punching above its weight class, akin to a .45-70 lever gun in a fraction of the recoil and cost. This positions AirForce as innovators pushing boundaries, reminding us that Second Amendment freedoms thrive on ingenuity, not just cartridges.
The implications ripple wide: expect these brush busters to flood the market for training tools (mimicking rifle ballistics without live fire), youth introductions to marksmanship, and even international exports where firearms are restricted. If SHOT attendees’ buzz is any indicator, the Tex-Rex could spark a big-bore airgun renaissance, challenging makers like Umarex or FX to up their game. Pro-2A folks, keep an eye on AirForce—they’re not just building guns; they’re fortifying the right to bear arms in every form. Pre-orders can’t come soon enough.
