45/70 that was old and beat up, and kicked the crap out of me at 12.

Ruger no 1 in .450-400 and .450 3 1/4”

Several .375’s in h&h and ultra mag.

Still saving for a double, either in .450-400 3” or .450 no. 2.

The first big bore I ever fired was my father’s 375 Chatfield-Taylor at the age of 12. That rifle taught me a lot but I dreamed of bigger things.

My first big bore of my own was a 416 Remington on a Bauska Ultra-Mag action I bought from a forum member here in about 2003. It has recently been rebarreled and restocked to 505 Gibbs. I still need to install the sights and blue.

Since 2003:
458 Win Ruger #1, converted to
458 Lott Ruger #1, then traded away...

375 H&H BRNO ZKK-602
470 Nitro 1956 Belgian double
416 Rem Frank Wells Mauser
577 Nitro 3” on an SSI-One set up for 650gr @ 1950fps

505 Gibbs Bauska and
8-bore double in the works...

Some day I will build a nice 500 Nitro or 450/400 sidelock double.

RC

I came of age just in time for the resurgence of the .45/70, and so I had to have one. I bought one of the earliest Marlin 1895's.

Forty five years later I still have it. It's a great little rifle, well-suited to its cartridge and purpose.

I'm another who started with a 45-70. It was in a Remington rolling block that belonged to a coworker. That old gun bellowed and made a satisfying thump when the bullet hit the target. So I bought a Marlin 1895 not long after. Others followed but now it's mostly a .375 H&H that gets the call.

Had my M1892 .357 forever, but since Big Bores start at .458 caliber, my first was my .45-90 aka .458 2.4. It has been around and been there done that: