Big Bore (.375 and up) Bolt Action Rifle ####

Beautiful pictures Mr. Trapper and thanks for sharing.
You do have some memories tied up in those two.
If you haven't shot the 458 much you are in for a treat, remember with it you do not need to load it to the hilt all the time and since you already handload you can use any bullet meant for a 45-70 whether its cast or jacketed.
Those are two very nice rifles..
 
Technically I think the mid bores start at 33 and run to 40. Although Taylor considered the 416 Rigby as a medium bore so nothing is written in stone...............In his dissertation on the subject, I believe he had set the bottom of the biggies at 45 cal.
 
Superbrad said:
Lol..... And I understand the principle..... But what is the max bore, and what is the smallest bore..... And what is the median?
Click to expand...

Well, traditionally the "Big Bore" rifles were 8, 4 and (gulp) 2 bore rifles. When cartridge rifles came along the qualifier dropped as well and things such as .600" and .577". When magazine cartridge rifles appeared they really gave the threshold a ####kicking and it was knocked down all the way to 40 caliber. Nowadays the diameter has shrunk yet again and most people consider the "big" 375s as the line for "big bore". Some nouveau-purists (like me) still like to use 40 caliber as the demarcation point, but it's hard to argue against the 375 H&H/Ruger/Weatherby/378WBY which can be used against the heaviest game given the availability of modern projectiles.

Really, the history of the "big bore" is more linked to advancements in propellants and bullet construction than anything else.
 
BigUglyMan said:
Well, traditionally the "Big Bore" rifles were 8, 4 and (gulp) 2 bore rifles. When cartridge rifles came along the qualifier dropped as well and things such as .600" and .577". When magazine cartridge rifles appeared they really gave the threshold a ####kicking and it was knocked down all the way to 40 caliber. Nowadays the diameter has shrunk yet again and most people consider the "big" 375s as the line for "big bore". Some nouveau-purists (like me) still like to use 40 caliber as the demarcation point, but it's hard to argue against the 375 H&H/Ruger/Weatherby/378WBY which can be used against the heaviest game given the availability of modern projectiles.

Really, the history of the "big bore" is more linked to advancements in propellants and bullet construction than anything else.
Click to expand...

That makes sense..... Modern chamberings really muddy the waters for me..... When I hear "big bore", my thoughts drift to dangerous game rifles.... But by some people's definition, the .375 is not a big bore, yet the .45-70 is..
 
There is another way to determine big bores from medium bores...........I don't remember where I read it or who said it but a medium can be pressed into dual purpose and be used on both light and heavy game, where as a big bore is designed for close in use on the largest game. This would put the 375 and 416 in the mid bores with velocities over the 2400 fps mark but then the 458 @2150 and so on starts to designate the true big bores where one would not intentionally take them, planning to shoot plains game with them as well. The true big bores are designed for shots not extending beyond 50 mtrs or so...........of course there are exceptions...........460 Wby comes to mind, however it's intent is still the worlds largest game at close range. The increased velocity in this case was not so much to improve trajectory as it was to increase kinetic energy, it is still loaded with RN bullets......

SB........in the true sense of the meaning and the context in which these terms are used the 45-70 was never really considered a "Big Bore", it does not meet the energy criteria needed to cleanly and effectively take large and dangerous game. This is also a fuzzy grey line but has been arbitrarily set somewhere in the 5000 ft/lb area, again possibly in Taylors writings. This was Winchesters minimum threshold when they designed the 458 was a 500 gn bullet at a velocity (2150 fps) great enough to produce 5000 ft/lbs of energy.........Taylor however, did not believe that the kinetic energy produced by a projectile told anything about it's effectiveness on heavy game so he developed his own comparison criteria known amongst the PH dangerous game people as the TKO chart where Taylor rates cartridges he used on their ability to flatten an elephant.....His data although highly subjective does probably give one a better insight into a cartridges effectiveness on heavy game than does the purely scientific number known as kinetic energy. He also had a lot to say about projectile weight, shape and construction.
 
Last edited:
CZ550 Magnum .375H&H.

8cnt.jpg

ifr4.jpg



Old Navy Arms Siamese Mauser conversion in 45-70. I had the barrel cut down then fabricated my own custom bolt handle, drilled and tapped it, bedded it, and added a trigger. 405gr Woodleigh Weldcores at just under 2100fps right around an inch grouping.




I also have a Ruger Alaskan in .416 Ruger but don't have any pics. I'm headed up to the bear stand with it tomorrow so maybe I'll try to take a few pics of it in the bush. Hopefully with a bear.
 
Wiki: Small-bore refers to calibers with a diameter of .32 inches or smaller.[1] It may also refer to small-bore rifle competition. The medium-bore refers to calibers with a diameter between .33 inches up to .39 inches and large-bore refers to calibers with a diameter of .40 inches or larger.[2] Miniature bore historically referred to calibers under .22. There is much variance in the use of the term small-bore which over the years has changed considerably with anything under .577 caliber considered small-bore prior to the mid-19th century.

Now I need a .600 NE :)
 
There's a special old world beauty to these rifles that sends the imagination to the exciting places pictured earlier in the thread.

Particularly enjoyable in a time of generic everything and the general "pussification" of society.
 
I have a well traveled .375 that was the subject of a well-worded write up by another member on here a few years ago....I'll try and get some pics up eventually.
 
Just because Kevan is so prominent in this thread. My first true big bore, although not technically >.40 was my Rem700LSS in 375 Rum.....sort of like a chevrolet in a sea of cadilacs for the rifles in this thread.

Just recently bought off Kevan and his son Chuck is Charlie P.....g's ....Kevan's late brother's Buffalo rifle a M1917 in 416 Rigby. They gave me a smoking deal. If i ever sell it (insert video of Charlton Heston) it will be back to their family. All of Charlies rifles fit me like they were made for me, and this one has a Bevan King barrel and brake. No open sights. I have not shot it yet. My reloading gear is now 10 ft deep in a semi trailer while i move from the valley to the coast.

I bought a Nikon Monarch 3 1-4x20 with a #4 reticle from Prophet River for it. Mounting, shooting, and making something leak with it will have to wait. Almost seems wrong to show pictures until i do......not a pretty rifle, has some battle scars, and has lost blueing from carry>>>>>so it fits my terms of use....good gear that i am not afraid to use, and will get used.
 
nowarningshot said:
Just because Kevan is so prominent in this thread. My first true big bore, although not technically >.40 was my Rem700LSS in 375 Rum.....sort of like a chevrolet in a sea of cadilacs for the rifles in this thread.

Just recently bought off Kevan and his son Chuck is Charlie P.....g's ....Kevan's late brother's Buffalo rifle a M1917 in 416 Rigby. They gave me a smoking deal. If i ever sell it (insert video of Charlton Heston) it will be back to their family. All of Charlies rifles fit me like they were made for me, and this one has a Bevan King barrel and brake. No open sights. I have not shot it yet. My reloading gear is now 10 ft deep in a semi trailer while i move from the valley to the coast.

I bought a Nikon Monarch 3 1-4x20 with a #4 reticle from Prophet River for it. Mounting, shooting, and making something leak with it will have to wait. Almost seems wrong to show pictures until i do......not a pretty rifle, has some battle scars, and has lost blueing from carry>>>>>so it fits my terms of use....good gear that i am not afraid to use, and will get used.
Click to expand...

Somewhere we have a picture of Charlie and a Bison he took with the 416, this first thing you notice is the grin on his face and this rifle he is holding that looks like a Selkirk chimney with a stock.
Oh yeah, there is also a big Bison in the picture, I'll see if I can find it and figure out how to post it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom