I fell into the Big Bore pit several years ago but my brother had yet to experience the thump of a "real gun".

So this past Christmas I bought him a Ruger #1 in .458 Lott and loaded up a batch of bullets of various types.

He was very pleased with his new toy and we spent most of the day after Christmas watching Africa videos, practicing with the snap caps I provided him, and enjoying the fruit of the hops.

During the evening I went through the cartridges...."these are reduced loads if you want them ......these are full power....."

"REDUCED I want the full power loads."

"I thought you might want to get used to the gun before you tried those..."

"Hell no, I want this SOB to kick me hard, I want to feel it." as he took another shot at the Buffalo on the screen....Sullivan looked like he could use the help,...

"OK, if you are sure you can handle it"....The hook was set.

Now my brother fell into the deep end of the gene pool when it comes to strength, size and stubborness. He would rather die than admit he was injured or in pain.


The next day we went to the farm and set up some targets.....
I tried to explain the importance of a slow exhale as you touch one off and how to stand more square of your target than with a 30/30 or 30-06. He didn't seem to think it was necessary....I also stressed the importance of keeping the butt off of your arm and completely on the shoulder.

On about the third shot I thought I noticed some severe flinching developing.

On shot # eight I slipped in a pre fired case. When he pulled the trigger on the empty round I asked him if he always closed his eyes and moaned like that.

Later he tried to reload via the school of Quigley.

The first shot and the reload went well but on the quick second shot some of the butt was touching arm.

It was beautiful watching a grown 250LB man slowly curl into a ball and turn white.

That night as we sat finishing off the hops from the previous evening we discussed future hunts..... and he still practiced with the snap caps.......but I don't think he made any more requests for having the crap kicked out of him.
"Mission Accomplished"

Very good story .44. It did make me laugh and brought up memorys of long ago, as a 12 year old working my way into a .375. My uncle slipped in a unprimed round (sans powder) and i did the same thing you brother did. Sometimes we all must learn the hard way. Charlie

.375 at 12?? what a man.
I don't think I could bring myself to try that on my son when he is 12.....then again it was your uncle, ...yeah I could do that to a nephew, what else are uncles for?

Really good story! Actually, it is the big ol' boys who get hurt the most when shooting such a beast! The reason is they have a lot of inertia and their bodies don't move with the recoil. They just stay in place & get smashed!!



Kinda reminds me of the time, at age 15, that I pulled both triggers on my grandfather's SXS 12-ga at the same time, believing it would "simulate" the recoil of a .470 Nito or some such. Well, it did!! It was loaded with slugs, and after I recovered from the stun it gave me, I noted that the gun was on top of my shoulder, pointing straight up in the air, and I was holding the detached forend in my left hand! Never tried that since!

If only you had captured it on video! Can you say BLACKMALE?

.44,




Hog Killer

Just to clear things up, my Uncle Bob was only fullfilling a boy hood dream of going on Safari with him. I stated shooting at 8 and by 10 or so was not bad with a .275 Rigby. He told me if and when i can handle the .375 i may go. I just bit off alittle too much gun at that age. 12 year old's logic isnt the best but you have to start the dream sometime. Great story. Charlie