The Big Bore Dilemma

[steve white]

Miss the brain with a .416 and one gets the same result. One has to get much heavier than a forty for KO to be a consideration on dangerous game if the shot misses what matters.

I also think your .410 analogy is wrong. It truly is a gun for experts when used on game like quail. However, the .375 will do anything a .40 will do if a premium 300 gr bullet is placed in exactly the same place - solid or SP. I know that is annoying to the forty owners (I would add that I own a .470, .404, and 500/416). Unlike a .410 in an inexperienced wing shooter's hands, the .375 is ideal for the client transitioning from his scoped deer rifle to something that will cleanly kill a buffalo or an elephant.

If you want to use a shotgun analogy, I would say that the .375 is more like a 1 ounce load from a 12 bore when used on upland game. The short shot string makes it just as effective for everything but waterfowl as a heavier load but in most shotgun configurations is far easier to use effectively. I should note that I base that on thousands of pheasants taken with an ounce of No. 6 shot.

Two years since my last post and I have effectively changed my mind...what was it you once said, "broadsword vs rapier?"

 

[colorado]

I believe Jim Corbett used a 450-400 double, also a 275 Rigby (7x57mm Mauser). Of course very few men have the sand and the steadiness under stress of the legendary Jim Corbett

 

[DrBob]

.375H&H is the ultimate all-rounder, the bigger stuff just lets you feel a little more secure if something jumps out to give you a fright.

Dare I say it? Yes. The 375 H&H is the GOAT African calibers.

 

[Tiger2001]

So I sold a .458wm to fund a .375H&H and now I see a .458Lott at a good price.
Do I buy it? Do I need a stopper? I can only carry one and don’t have the hunt planned yet but can someone try describe the difference in recoil. I know it’s hard but any thoughts?

Benefit of the Lott is that you shoot both 458 Lott and 458 WM ammo from it.

 

[Pole Pole]

Recoil! Someone please explain why numerous videos of hunters, including light weight ladies and PH shooting large bore doubles do not seem to suffer from recoil. The guns don’t seem to rise and their bodies remain stationary as if shooting a small bore. I know skill is required but just don’t see it in the videos. Why?

 

[VertigoBE]

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Recoil! Someone please explain why numerous videos of hunters, including light weight ladies and PH shooting large bore doubles do not seem to suffer from recoil. The guns don’t seem to rise and their bodies remain stationary as if shooting a small bore. I know skill is required but just don’t see it in the videos. Why?

Stock fit and good technique starting from the feet and up.

 

[grand veneur]

Recoil! Someone please explain why numerous videos of hunters, including light weight ladies and PH shooting large bore doubles do not seem to suffer from recoil. The guns don’t seem to rise and their bodies remain stationary as if shooting a small bore. I know skill is required but just don’t see it in the videos. Why?

Interesting observation. I rarely watch hunting videos for many reasons and I have never noticed anything like this. Perhaps there is a lot more staged in such videos than expected. I have also participated in promotional videos about hunting and fishing worldwide and that's why I know that not everything really happened as finally represented.

 

[Frederik]

Recoil! Someone please explain why numerous videos of hunters, including light weight ladies and PH shooting large bore doubles do not seem to suffer from recoil. The guns don’t seem to rise and their bodies remain stationary as if shooting a small bore. I know skill is required but just don’t see it in the videos. Why?

You also learn the rilfe as you go you could start with the rifle lifting up high after a shot and then grip the rifle different to stop it from happening.
But Fit is key and standing properly anticipating what is to come and following up on the shot.

 

[grand veneur]

No matter how well trained you are, when you shoot with a big bore rifle everyone can see that the recoil is strong. If it looks like you are shooting with a rifle of smaller caliber, it's a reduced load or it's not a big bore rifle.

 

[Frederik]

@DWB please post a video of you shooting the 450 Rigby and the 500 jeff

Here I am shooting my stock standard 458 Lott CZ550 no recoil reducers.
500Gr Impala Solids at 2300fps.

Now, I am sure DWB will show his video of the excat range shooting a 500Jeff with 525gr Impala solids at 2280fps. The way he handles his 450 Rigby and 500 Jeff is something to see.

 

[DWB]

Here you go. 500 Jeffery.
535gr @ 2280fps

 

[IvW]

Where do "big bores" start?....

 

[TOBY458]

Where do "big bores" start?....

243

 

[grand veneur]

243

In some shooting associations such cartridges are already referred to as "big bore" cartridges. In France, many shooters say that they shoot with une arme de gros calibre when referring to the cartridge 7,62x51mm NATO. The hunters see it a little differently, but the term big bores remains very vague. Despite everything, big bore is a very imprecise term. The terminology of Taylor would be more appropriate and from caliber 45 upwards, we would speak of large bores. When I use the term big bores, I also mean cartridges caliber 45 & up and rather 50 and above.

 

[TOBY458]

In some shooting associations such cartridges are already referred to as "big bore" cartridges. In France, many shooters say that they shoot with une arme de gros calibre when referring to the cartridge 7,62x51mm NATO. The hunters see it a little differently, but the term big bores remains very vague. Despite everything, big bore is a very imprecise term. The terminology of Taylor would be more appropriate and from caliber 45 upwards, we would speak of large bores. When I use the term big bores, I also mean cartridges caliber 45 & up and rather 50 and above.

I was just joking about the 243. My definition of big bore is also 45 and up. But the 243 gets so much hate here, I like to stir the pot a bit. Hahaha!

 

[Flewis]

I was just joking about the 243. My definition of big bore is also 45 and up. But the 243 gets so much hate here, I like to stir the pot a bit. Hahaha!

You have the right numbers but in the wrong order. 423

 

[Forrest Halley]

Here you go. 500 Jeffery.
535gr @ 2280fps

This is an amazing display. I love the smooth cycling from the shoulder. This is nearly as cool as @Aussie_Hunter, but to be fair he had an R8. Very impressive!

 

[AZDAVE]

My definition is that 9.3-375 is small medium bore, 40-416-423 in big medium bore, big bore is 45-50 and very large big bore is 577-2bore.

 

[Northern Shooter]

My current dilemma. Do I top out at 470NE or keep climbing this ridiculous ladder and buy a 0.500 of some sort?....just because.

 

[ftrovato]

My current dilemma. Do I top out at 470NE or keep climbing this ridiculous ladder and buy a 0.500 of some sort?....just because.

I decided to go to Africa last fall with the 500 NE.

Boddington's input resonated with me. "70 grains more bullet, bigger diameter, and more energy for a little difference/more in recoil over the 470 NE.

I own both rifles and they both shoot great but I went with bigger.