Are there any good reference books that cover all the British and European big bores? I know COTW gives some cursory data on many of the rounds, and there have been some Handloader and Rifle articles on a few rounds. That said, it would be nice if there were a book that really went into depth on all the NE's, the magazene rounds from isles and the continent, and would also cover the US offerings and wildcats.

Heck, maybe this would be a worthwhile project for one of the itineret gun nuts here, say covering everything 40 caliber and over, but sporting cartridges.

Paul,

Do you have a copy of the A-Square reloading manual?

Paul H,
That is a great idea for a book. I will buy it if you publish one. The A-Square manual is good, but only covers the tip of the iceberg. The various big bore books I have collected over the years are all similarly lacking. Maybe you have given me a calling. What better setting to include the "Bwana Saeed Index/BS Inhibitor" exposition? Again. LOL.

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Good huntin' and shootin',
RAB

Ron,

I would love to tackle such a project, but have not the time, nor patience it would take to do the research and writing. I do enough writing at work, and find it a challenge. I see you know exactly what it is I'm thinking of, and as I expected, no such text exists. I started penning some stuff for the Accuratereloading book, but it wasn't nearly as thorough as I'd like.

500, I don't have the A-square manual, though have flipped through a few, it is not exactly what I'm thinking of. It would not cover just loads, but history of the rounds, weapons chambered in, and perhaps use in the field. I know there are quite a few rounds that are very obscure, and it would be nice to see some more mention of them.

Paul,

I have read from time to time that places like Hollands and Westlye Richards have lots of details. I suspect a fair of cartridges of the world has come from there.

Geoff McDonald (Woodleigh) and Bruce Bertram would probably havea bit of good information.

I guess it comes back to correlating it all and that is the hard part.

By the way, there still seems to be some varying opinion as to whether the 500 Jeffrey and the Schuler are exactly the same.

Mike

Paul,
This link led to some good information and one can peruse the archives for sources.
.450/.400, .450 N.E. +++

http://www.african-hunter.com/site/archive_classcart/archive_africancart_part07.htm

Try Graeme Wrights, "Shooting the British Double Rifle, ist and 2nd additions...From Huntingtons..

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Ray Atkinson

ray@atkinsonhunting.com
atkinsonhunting.com

I have just ordered, from Safari Press,
a book titled, The Rifle its Development for Big-Game Hunting,,,,by S.R. Truesdell
This is the full story of the development of the big game rifle from 1834 to 1946 and includes fnformaation about what guns and calibers the early jAmerican Asian and African hunters used. TELL..800-451-4788
George

Mike, Nick, Ray, George,
Those are all good sources. The enormity of the project Paul has suggested would require that all those be digested.
I have the books that Ray and George suggested. John Taylor's works would also have to be in the bibliography. Also the metric European/German stuff, and the modern stuff, like the .416 Hoffman, and Bwana George's experiences would contribute....it would be a big undertaking, but not a "big bore" at all, this compendium of big bores.

P.S.: George, the check is in the mail.
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Good huntin' and shootin',
RAB

[This message has been edited by R. A. Berry (edited 06-02-2001).]

Ron,

You are correct, it would be a signifigant undertaking. I suppose it could easily become a multi volume set. Perhaps one volume of NE cartridges, one volume for British and continental magazene rifles, and a 3rd volume for American cartridges.

To really do this justice would be a full time job. If anyone is willing to underwrite this venture, I'm all ears ;-)