Big Bore Appreciation Thread

N

Northern Shooter

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Location
North
Let's see those big bore rifles as well as those monster cartridges. I'll add some photos when I figure out how to do so.

1. What big bores do you own?

2. Which are your favourite?

3. Which do you plan on adding to your collection?

4. Do you hunt Canadian game with them?

5. Any African Safari's under your belt or planned for the future?

6. What's the cheapest you can get your ammo costs down to with reloading? (Yikes at those retail prices).

-------------------------------------------------

1. Started off with a CZ 550 in 375 h&h, Yes I know technically it's not a big bore but it's always in the same conversation as them. Love the CZ, classic design, hefty stock and rifle weight, express sights etc.

Own a Marlin 1895 in 45-70 that has been my lightweight, backwoods moose gun for the last 4 years. I love how handy it is.

I just picked up a Model 70 in .458 WinMag. Havent shot it yet but I assume this will be a considerable step up in recoil (as well as ammo costs).

2. I enjoy each for their own reasons, havent shot the 458 yet so can't really comment there but I do love how much more "wieldy" the model 70 feels compared to the CZ550.

3. I would still like to add a .416 rifle to the collection and that's what I was searching for when I came across the .458. I'm open to any of the .416's but since I just grabbed a Model 70 I likely won't be buying another (in 416 Rem Mag). I'd love to find a Rigby for the nostalgic value but finding a new production rifle in .416 Rigby for less than $10,000 seems to be a challenge. I'm also considering the Ruger Guide Gun in .416 Ruger for a compact thumper with semi-affordable ammo.

Following the .416 I have my sights set on a nice German Double rifle in 470 NE, considering Merkel, Kriegoff and Heym. Need to save up for this one.

4. I've taken the 45-70 and the 375H&H moose hunting and plan on doing the same with the .458. Also going to bring them out for elk, bear and bison.

5. No Safaris yet but I'd like to do a plains game hunt as well as cape buffalo.

6. I can find factory for the 45-70 at $3/round, 375H&H at $4.50/round and .458 at $9.5/round. Reloading is definitely in my future.
 
I like the romanticism of big bores but for me (and most Canadians imo) they’re range toys/novelties.
I hunt regularly with a 375 though.
I took one moose with a model 70 .458, he took the hit and walked a few yards and laid down, about like if shot with a 308. I think it was Dogleg that said “moose are easy to kill, hard to impress”. The 350 tsx actually makes a pretty versatile load, about like a 308. Who wants to hunt a lousy 308.
 
starvin said:
I like the romanticism of big bores but for me (and most Canadians imo) they’re range toys/novelties.
I hunt regularly with a 375 though.
I took one moose with a model 70 .458, he took the hit and walked a few yards and laid down, about like if shot with a 308. I think it was Dogleg that said “moose are easy to kill, hard to impress”. The 350 tsx actually makes a pretty versatile load, about like a 308. Who wants to hunt a lousy 308.
Click to expand...

That was part of the appeal of the 458 to me, how versatile it can be when you handload. 300grain up to 550grain.
 
nowarningshot said:
I guess, first define big bore. One definition uses 1 Oz projectile so about 450gr. By that definition I don't own any.

375rum
4570 guide, typically 350gr
416 Rigby

Honorable mention, 338win Browning Bar, and 340 Weatherby mark v.
Click to expand...

I consider today's big bores as >0.40 cal with an honorable mention to the 375s. I've used the term interchangeably with some medium bores 338/35/375 but those wouldn't be correct. The 375s are putting up greater numbers than many American 40s like the .44, 444 Marlin, 450 Bushmaster, 45-70 etc.

So I'm talking
416s
404s
450/400
458s
500s
505s
577s
600s
700s

Etc.
 
Here is one of my big bores, this one is a muzzle loader 8 bore, beside a T/C Hawken

Bore is .835, and i shot a .820 ball in it with 120 grains of 2F powder, where i live our big game is deer and it works fine on them
The gun is about the same weight as the T/C and was likely made in England by WW Greener and sold in Capetown buy J.S.F. Botha

IMG_9542.jpg

IMG_9543.jpg

IMG_9544.jpg
 

Attachments

  • IMG_9542.jpg
    IMG_9542.jpg
    146.4 KB · Views: 634
  • IMG_9543.jpg
    IMG_9543.jpg
    96 KB · Views: 637
  • IMG_9544.jpg
    IMG_9544.jpg
    37 KB · Views: 630
I've got an older Marlin 45 70 and a CZ 550 magnum in 416 Rigby. I find the 45 70 fairly soft shooting but the Rigby with a full load and a 400 grain bullet will really get your attention. Shot a few bears with both, both work, but nothing I have used or seen used puts a bear down quicker that Rigby.

The CZ came with a nice set trigger (go figure) and is actually a pretty accurate bomber - even at distance the drop is not extreme.

The goto hunting load is IIRC 120 grains of H4831sc under a 400 grain Swift AFrame. Again, IIRC this getting about 2600fps at muzzle.
 
westcoaster said:
I've got an older Marlin 45 70 and a CZ 550 magnum in 416 Rigby. I find the 45 70 fairly soft shooting but the Rigby with a full load and a 400 grain bullet will really get your attention. Shot a few bears with both, both work, but nothing I have used or seen used puts a bear down quicker that Rigby.

The CZ came with a nice set trigger (go figure) and is actually a pretty accurate bomber - even at distance the drop is not extreme.

The goto hunting load is IIRC 120 grains of H4831sc under a 400 grain Swift AFrame. Again, IIRC this getting about 2600fps at muzzle.
Click to expand...

With CZ and now Sako no longer offering 416 Rigby rifles it's very hard to find a new production rifle that doesn't cost a fortune.
 
I'll post a quick reply as I'm between work, but oh boy do I like these threads!

1. What big bores do you own?

I own a "mid bore" Sauer 90 in 9.3x64 Brenneke, a Ralf Martini-built Santa-Barbara Mauser 98 in 416 Ruger, and a Steve Holborn-built Ruger RSM in 505 Gibbs.

2. Which are your favourite?

I very much like the 416 Ruger, but if I could only keep one, it would be the Ruger in 505 for the sheer novelty and not leaving myself wanting more for a big bore. The Ruger is also a real working gun --- it's got some "character" marks.

3. Which do you plan on adding to your collection?

I had no plan when I picked up any of my rifles; they were "luck of the moment" impulse purchases as I knew I'd not have the funds (and quite frankly the inclination) to have them built or sourced for myself. That's not to say I don't really like owning them, it's just that of my priorities for purchase, they are not at the top of my list.

4. Do you hunt Canadian game with them?

Not yet, but that's simply because I haven't had an opportunity to use them in a hunt where they might make sense, and I don't get out hunting enough to want to be experimental and try something unusual for our small Island blacktail.

5. Any African Safari's under your belt or planned for the future?

None at the moment, but I did lend out the Ruger 505 to our CGN member Ardent for IIRC an elephant or rhino hunt that he'd planned, but unfortunately fell through.

6. What's the cheapest you can get your ammo costs down to with reloading? (Yikes at those retail prices).

I'm lucky in that I bought 6 boxes of factory 416 Ruger on closeout for about $1.50/round and picked up quite a few factory rounds of 505 Gibbs for ~ $4/piece. I have all the dies and brass and moulds to reload my own for a reasonable cost, but again, haven't had the need yet.

I posted about my rifles in this thread: https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/for...amily-portrait?highlight=Bore+Family+Portrait

... but will re-show the pictures here because who doesn't like pictures of rifles?

Hi all,

I was doing a safe cleaning/inspection today, and thought I'd post up some pictures of three rifles that I feel very fortunate to own. I've been lucky over the years to find some interesting and beautiful custom rifles on the used market that I would have never been able to entertain purchasing at bespoke prices. I'm also a collector and reloader, so I have troubles turning down a reason for getting into yet another cartridge.

From left-to-right is a Sauer 90 in 9.3x64 Brenneke, which I believe was built by Ed LaPour in Washington State, a Santa Barbara Mauser 98 in 416 Ruger built by Martini and Hagn in BC, and a Ruger Safari Magnum in 505 Gibbs built by Steve Holborn in Ontario. The 9.3x64 Brenneke came with a Zeiss 1-4x20 scope in Warne QD mounts and the 416 Ruger came with 2-7x32 Kahles scope in Recknagel pivot mounts.

There are inlayed silver markers on the 9.3x64 Brenneke's rear sight leaves and the Ruger 416 has has some very tasteful (IMO) engraving and timed screws. The 505 Gibbs has an extended magazine and is a working rifle, but it's got character!

I hope you enjoy the pictures!

HIe0HQIh.jpg
sb2P3Azh.jpg


oIDIxcoh.jpg
EAGfGD2h.jpg


JtMQ5Fsh.jpg


1YFZHMzh.jpg


ayQcewWh.jpg


56Nxq4wh.jpg


tYpm4R3h.jpg


lDlqK3wh.jpg


JUw2OQdh.jpg


yNq2ylHh.jpg


3M93lyDh.jpg


utXA1iCh.jpg


wRp5joRh.jpg


6WgiZ1Kh.jpg
 
WR1894 said:
Here is one of my big bores, this one is a muzzle loader 8 bore, beside a T/C Hawken

Bore is .835, and i shot a .820 ball in it with 120 grains of 2F powder, where i live our big game is deer and it works fine on them
The gun is about the same weight as the T/C and was likely made in England by WW Greener and sold in Capetown buy J.S.F. Botha
Click to expand...

I like your style! Nice 8-bore and love that pic of the lead ball!
 
Beautiful rifles Stickhunter!
How does a guy follow that????

The big ones in my collection:
Ruger guide in 375 Ruger
Winchester 1895 in 405 Winchester (Let go of a CZ550 in 416 Rigby for it)
Marlin 1895G in 45-70
Pedersoli 1874 Sharps in 45-70
Ruger No.1-H in 458 Winchester Mag
Rossi 92 in 454 Casull (Does this one even count?)
 
Last edited:
My largest caliber was 45-70 and I also had a few 375 hh. I ended up selling them off and currently loving my Winchester .416 rem mag. Currently shooting 300gr tsx at 2800 and 400gr at 2450. I really enjoy shooting the 416 in the safari express. Thstock really does a great job absorbing recoil.
 
That ruger and the eight bore are some really cool guns!

I’ve been wanting a 458 wm m70 for years; why I could not tell you…
 
I can’t claim membership; only a 375 H&H in the safe. I do want a big bore, just cannot justify the full price. When one comes along with dies and maybe some brass for a good price I may succumb to temptation.
 
Just a 375 Ruger right now but have owned many. Used a 416 Rigby as my only rifle huntng for six years. Shot a lot with it. Elk Moose deer. I shot a deer with a 460wby. Killed it. Haha. Wish I still had my 510 Wells and want to own a 416Wby. My most interesting big bore was my 404 Jeffery. My most fun was the 460wby. Everyone who shot it walked away giggling.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom