![You'll definitely want a large air reservoir like this Omega Air Cylinders 75 cubic-foot, 4,500 psi tankto keep the TC-45 happy.](https://52.86.253.82/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/IMG_2571-1024x768.jpg)
Thud.
That’s not a sound generally associated with airguns, now is it? However, it was precisely that noise that had the whole rifle line laughing hysterically at my local range recently. I was there lobbing large lead slugs with the Gamo TC-45 big bore air rifle. Initially, the space-age looks and shockingly quiet operation (compared to the fire and brimstone boomers) commanded full attention from the range crowd. What made them giggle was the sound of 411-grain lead slugs (would those be classified as bricks?) hitting the 100-yard berm. Thud. Imagine the sound of whacking a sofa cushion with a shoe; then you’ve about got it.
What’s the Gamo TC-45?
The first thing you’ll notice about the Gamo TC-45 is its long and slender contemporary appearance. As the air reservoir doubles as a buttstock, there’s no bulk up front in the handguard area. In fact, the spiral-fluted guard is a bit under 1.6 inches in diameter. Forward of that is a segment of exposed barrel capped with a permanently attached sound moderator.
![The cocking lever doubles as a trigger guard, thereby keeping the overall form factor of the TC-45 slender and sleek.](https://52.86.253.82/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DSC0003-1024x682.jpg)
The trigger is two-stage and adjustable to preference. I didn’t mess with it, but if you want to, you can. Above the receiver is a 9.5-inch rail segment, placed high enough to give you proper eye positioning when using the air cylinder buttstock as a cheek rest. I mounted a Hawke Optics scope using low rings, and the height was perfect relative to my natural eye position.
![The TC-45 uses a standard Modern Sporting Rifle grip so you can easily swap that out with your personal favorite grip type.](https://52.86.253.82/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/IMG_2588-1024x768.jpg)
Got Air?
The 480cc carbon fiber air cylinder housed under the buttstock comb can handle up to 250 bar. That’s a hair over 3,600 pounds per square inch. As this rifle is designed to shoot a wide variety of .45 caliber projectiles (one of the reasons for its single-shot design), it likes to have lots of air at its disposal. Depending on shape and weight of your projectiles, you can get maybe five full-power shots per fill and stay consistent enough with the resulting velocity to keep on target. Bottom line: you’ll want either a compressor or reasonable capacity air cylinder to keep this beast topped off. You can pump it up by hand if you wish but you’re going to burn a few billion calories. In the name of science and honest reporting, I did just that but lost 17 pounds in the process.
![The TC-45 uses a Foster connection for filling (good!). On the opposite side is a manometer to monitor tank status while filling and shooting.](https://52.86.253.82/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DSC0007-1024x682.jpg)
Ammo
I wanted to test a variety of “pellet” types with this rifle, so I called the folks at Hunters Supply. In addition to making lots of lead projectiles for centerfire and muzzleloading rifles, they make a variety of pellets and slugs optimized for airgun use. I got my hands on several different .45 caliber projectiles, all of which measured .457 inches in diameter. Their weights ranged from 138 to 411 grains. That’s an extreme spread, so I started with some velocity measurements using a chronograph placed about 15 feet down range. I shot multiple times with each projectile type and averaged the results.
138-grain Flat-point Pellet: 882 fps
147-grain Round Ball: 859 fps
150-grain Flat-point Pellet: 728 fps
250-grain Hollow-point: 769 fps
310-grain Flat-point Slug: 722.9 fps
411-grain Flat-point Slug: 636.7 fps
So what does that velocity and projectile weight combination do for you regarding energy on target? Let’s find out.
![The Gamo TC-45 shoots, ummm, .45 caliber "pellets."](https://52.86.253.82/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DSC0031-1024x682.jpg)
Serious Energy
Using those velocities, I calculated the actual kinetic energy of each projectile type.
138-grain Flat-point Pellet: 238.4 foot-pounds
147-grain Round Ball: 240.9 foot-pounds
150-grain Flat-point Pellet: 176.6 foot-pounds
250-grain Hollow-point: 326.6 foot-pounds
310-grain Flat-point Slug: 359.8 foot-pounds
411-grain Flat-point Slug: 370.0 foot-pounds
According to Gamo, you can break the 400-foot-pound barrier with 350-grain cast bullets. I didn’t have any pellets (bricks?) of that weight, but given that I was rapidly approaching that energy number with both lighter and heavier slugs, I believe it. 350-grains must be the sweet spot in the weight vs. velocity balancing act.
![I tested the TC-45 with a wide variety of projectiles from Hunters Supply.](https://52.86.253.82/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DSC0022-1024x682.jpg)
Accuracy
While some of the lighter “pellets” will extend useful range out to 100 yards, I did accuracy testing at 50. I also fired three-shot groups as the velocity starts to taper off after that and shots four and five would almost always print a bit lower on the target due to velocity loss. Those last shots were still perfectly usable for hunting purposes, but I was trying for small group size, not “minute of beast” accuracy.
138-grain Flat-point Pellet: 2.55”
147-grain Round Ball: 2.75”
150-grain Flat-point Pellet: 0.87”
250-grain Hollow-point: 1.55”
310-grain Flat-point Slug: 1.22”
411-grain Flat-point Slug: 2.01”
![I had no trouble recruiting others to test the TC-45 - including my range officer buddy.](https://52.86.253.82/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/APC_0634-1024x768.jpg)
The Bottom Line
At appropriate ranges given the energy level of the various loads, it’s plenty accurate enough for hunting use. Those big, fat slugs will take down most four-legged creatures, and there’s enough shot capacity to give you some backup for a miss or follow up shot. List price on the TC-45 is $995.95.