looking for a new rifle, your opinions

limit time

limit time

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So here's the deal, i'm looking to buy a "big bore" rifle. But i'm not sure what to get?? I dont care about weight, price of bullet ect. It will be used for every thing.
should I get a 375? .338? 45-70?? I'm not sure!! what I do know is I don't want a 50 cal.
What do you guys suggest?
Thanks!
(pics would be nice)
 
Getting opinions on picking a rifle would be akin to having the guys at "Divorcees Anonymous" picking your wife. Studying ballistic tables, reloading books, and experimentation with various rifles will gain considerably more insight.
Since you mentioned .338 that does not specify anything specific anymore that Federal, Provincial or Municipal. There is considerable difference between the .308 necked up and the .338 Ultra Mag.
 
Do you reload? cause the max potential of 45-70 is when you reload.
but 375HH you cant go wrong if you want a big bore with large bullets
I went for a 338 lapua in an hunting rig
 
You are too vague on your question. All are great calibers. If you reload, the 45 70 will do it all. The 375 H&H is a classic, and will also do it all. Every 338 that I had prefered real hot loads, kicked like a Missouri mule and shot well, only when loaded to the gills. I love my 45 70.
 
When did a 338 or 375 become "big"? "Big bore" traditionally is over .400 I thought?

Anyway, the real question is what distances you plan on shooting at? The 338 or 375 rifles are all easy to shoot at 300, and good to even further distances.

On the other hand, the bigger calibers have more of a rainbow trajectory (except the Weatherby's). They are excellent up-close boomers, but for shooting at extended distances, you really need to put in a lot of time learning your rifle and how she shoots.

Figure out what kind of hunting/distances you'll be doing, and then we can better answer your question.
 
grijim said:
Own all three , no idea what you are planning on doing.
Click to expand...

But if you reload, you can own only one. The .375 H&H is remarkably versatile. It's a fun economical plinker with cast bullets and if you really really want to thump and bump, it can do that too. I also have a .45-70. It's an almost perfect calibre except for trajectory issues at modest velocities. And unless lead becomes free you'll quickly find that you're sending a fortune downrange.

Anyway, as others have said, you will enjoy a big bore far more if you reload. A calibre with a history that catches your fancy will add to the romance and yes romance is part of the big bore world. If you desire less oomph, a .38-55 or a 9.2x63 both have a special cachet.

and a relatively mainstream calibre is easier to deal if you change your mind.
 
To all the above, sorry the question is to vague. I will use it for plinking, a little hunting and plane ol shooting. I most likely wont be reloading so the ammo will be store bought.
I put up the three calibers as examples, i will look at any size but a .50. And it can be single shot or mag fed,
thanks
 
Well in my own interest I would get a 338-06. Considering your not a reloader it probably will not be the best option. I would be a great catridge if you wanted to get into it, 30-06 brass is everywhere
 
Factory ammo for most bigger bores, will get costly fairly quick. I would stick to a small bore for plinking, and get a 45-70 for hunting.

.338WM and .375H&H are expensive to shoot factory in, with even the cheapest loads being $40-$50 per box. Not even sure if you can get H&H for under $50, which will lead to not shooting it much, which defeats the purpose of buying it. :)
 
:)If you want big then buy big. .300 are not big IMO. Plinking with a big bore is not cheap unless you cast and load. If I were looking for big I would start with a good looking rifle that was not overly common maybe a Ruger No.1 Tropical 416 Ruger Single-Shot Rifle or an old .458 Lott something or other with a super long barrel or better yet a side by side Krieghoff's in .470 Nitro :D
 
Silas said:
:)If you want big then buy big. .300 are not big IMO. Plinking with a big bore is not cheap unless you cast and load. If I were looking for big I would start with a good looking rifle that was not overly common maybe a Ruger No.1 Tropical 416 Ruger Single-Shot Rifle or an old .458 Lott something or other with a super long barrel or better yet a side by side Krieghoff's in .470 Nitro :D
Click to expand...

I do like the single shot Rugers!
 
limit time said:
To all the above, sorry the question is to vague. I will use it for plinking, a little hunting and plane ol shooting. I most likely wont be reloading so the ammo will be store bought.
I put up the three calibers as examples, i will look at any size but a .50. And it can be single shot or mag fed,
thanks
Click to expand...

For "plinking, a little hunting and plane ol shooting" I'm not sure why you want to use something with expensive ammo. As far as plinking goes, where I come from, we use a .22 I really like the Ruger 10/22 semi auto. They're great for shooting gophers, tin cans or dirt lumps and don't cost an arm and a leg to feed (let's face it, you'll never get any highpower shells for $25 for 500 rounds).

My suggestion would be, by a good all-around hunting rifle, say a 30-06 or 308 and a good semi-auto .22.

Using any highpower for "plinking" just makes no sense.
 
Providing "big bore" means over .30cal.
In this case, I would suggest a .35cal for an intro..
Try the 358Norma or an STA. Lots of nuts and reach for the aminals on this continent.
Dwayner
 
My first thought is, have you ever shot anything bigger than a 300 WM?

Using 165 or 180 gr. ammo in my 300 WM, about ten rounds off the bench at the range and I'm pretty much done with that nonsense for the rest of the day! (I've switched to 130 gr Barnes from Federal, which has tamed the recoil considerably.)

I once shot a Sako .375 Ouch & Ouch off the bench...and once was enough, thank you very much!

I've heard and/or read many times that the .338 Win. Mag is similarly punishing.

I only mention this 'cause you use the work "plinking"...which I generally don't equate with self-abuse. :)
 
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