45/70 Govt. -- Because it's what they used in the US West on the buffalo in the 19th Century. Not that I'm particularly fond of the US buffalo slaughter in the 19th Century, but the Sharps and Springfield are interesting historically.

And so I got a Ruger No. 1 -- Because the Marlin 1895 won't handle the larger bullets.

Now I'm thinking seriously about a 50 BMG. Not for hunting, I just like shooting large caliber guns. It would be nice to have a scoped rifle with a range of a mile or so --

Question:
Did you buy your big bore gun for Africa?

Choices:
Yeah, sure -- Man's gotta have a dream.
There are big game in North America.
I just really like large caliber firearms.
It was this or a 50 BMG.
You need to read my post herein!

 

Is this poll about the .45-70 Gov't. , .50 BMG, or about hunting Africa with a big bore?

George

only have 1 45-70 at the moment.... and its in a '86 winchester.... octagon barrel... full length magazine.... awaiting $$$ for restoration...'cause it burned hard in a shop fire in 1985.... gun hhas been in the family since the late '40's.... checked the s/n and it was made in 1891....my big-bore-itis is kind of being held in check by my 375, 416 and 458... depending on my g/f's health, a DG trip to oz or zim in the next 5-6 yrs... but i'll have a double in 470ne or 500ne for that....

As I was saying, in the late 70's that Capstick chap got the fires of Tarzan and John A. Hunter stirred up in me again. By the early 80's my .30-06 was just not enough to feed the fantasy of Africa. A Ruger No.1 in .458 WinMag provided a first step toward conditioning of my shoulder for African arms.

Yes Africa was the reason. Big bores were initially a means to an end, the end being the first African safari.

With that in the bag, big bores now seem to be no longer a means to an end, but rather an end in themselves ... and may become an end to my means.

GeorgeS ..... and others. Took me a minute to find the question too.

quote:

Question:
Did you buy your big bore gun for Africa?

Well,I guess my first "big bore" was a Marlin 45-70 which I got to shoot deer with "on stalk" down here in Fla and Ala. That hunting fell through, and the rifle has never been "blooded."

My first true "big bore" was a 375HH which was purchased for a buffalo hunt, and that experience led rapidly to acquisition of a 416 Howell and a 425 Express. Kudude

heh.. the 45/70 gov't isn't a big BORE, it's a bigbore

I got my first big bore on a lark... and then proceeded to take everything from squirrels to boars and deers with it... 416 rem .. i don't count my 45/70 springfield as one

jeffe

My first big bore was a 375 H&H and I built it sole because I had the '17 Enfield action that was too heavy for anything else. Seemed it needed to be a 375 H&H.

Since then I've owned two more 375 H&H and a 404 Jeffery. The last two are meant just for Cape buffalo...one has to have a dream don't he?

I spent my first two year in Africa shooting a borrowed 303. Shot everything fom Hippo down to Impala, including a Lion.

Then I was given a 404 Jeffery by a Missionary going home and have been in love ever since.

I never thought about a Big Bore before that.

quote:

Originally posted by jeffeosso:
and dears with it... jeffe

There are a few "old dears" here for you, one's whinging about my dog digging up her garden.
My little big bore was a sort of mid life crisis. It was either a .458WM or a Harley. I thought the .458 would be a bit safer for me.

quote:

Originally posted by Mickey1:


Then I was given a 404 Jeffery by a Missionary going home and have been in love ever since.

In love? I hope that missionary was female.

quote:

Originally posted by 500grains:

quote:

Originally posted by Mickey1:


Then I was given a 404 Jeffery by a Missionary going home and have been in love ever since.

In love? I hope that missionary was female.

With the rifle. Geez.

Mickey1,
That is a heartwarming story for any rifle looney. Thanks for sharing.

And I thank you for training this grasshopper in the ways of The Force .404, of 1905. It was FIRST and still is. It is indeed peerless.

but, but, my brother's Shiloh Sharps 50-90 has a 1:18 twist and it shoots a 750gr cast bullet at 1400fps under 1 moa out to 500M and all of the bullet holes are exactly round. How can that waaaaaaaaaaay too slow twist handle that 1.55" long bullet at that slow MV?

Just curious,

Rich

quote:

Originally posted by RIP:
Mickey1,
That is a heartwarming story for any rifle looney. Thanks for sharing.

And I thank you for training this grasshopper in the ways of The Force .404, of 1905. It was FIRST and still is. It is indeed peerless.

RIP

I thank you for the kind words but you have long since reached the exhalted staus of Jeffery Master Ripper.

You have surpased your teachers Jeffery Master Mickey and Obe Ray.

May all your cartridges feed and all of your bullets spin. Even at 1:10

quote:

Originally posted by GeorgeS:
Is this poll about the .45-70 Gov't. , .50 BMG, or about hunting Africa with a big bore?

George

Yeah George, where ever you wanna go with it. "BIG Bore" -- Mine's a 45/70 Govt. which I realize is a "pussy" cat . . .

Seems like the other poll was closed.

I got the Harley last spring. That lasted about four months. It kept trying to kill me, and every time I turned around, it seemed like she needed something for about $300.

"Harley is like keeping a French whore in lingerie."

Seriously considering a 50 BMG.

I suppose my 54 cal. BP doesn't qualify as "big bore" -- although it's the "BP elk cal." locally.

I closed my poll because people were going off on tangential topics.

The .45-70 isn't a 'pussy cat'; it's a damned fine handgun round. I just don't have much use for it in a rifle.

George

quote:

I closed my poll because people were going off on tangential topics.

That's what you get for opening the door a crack! As soon as I saw you post a reply on your poll thread with 10" twist in it, I knew it would only come on like a monsoon after that.

Cheers,
Canuck

quote:

Originally posted by Canuck:


That's what you get for opening the door a crack! As soon as I saw you post a reply on your poll thread with 10" twist in it, I knew it would only come on like a monsoon after that.

Cheers,
Canuck

Guilty as charged!

George

45/70 Govt. "handgun round" -- *LMAO*

I'm gonna cut you some slack because my name is "geo" too. And French-Canuck, so I've been known in some circles as "Georges" -- the French spelling.

So lookie here. I'll put this on a shoulder stock and invite you over for beer and bruises. *S* 1" bore, 800 grains BP. We'll go with 6 oz. of lead. Or, I could make a handgun out of it.

I kid you not. I have fired the .45-70 in a Contender handgun several times. I own 14" .309JDJ and .375JDJ barrels, so I know a bit of what I speak.

Using the .45-70 in a single-shot, especially one throated for long bullets makes for better ballistics.

George

I would love to have a 45/70 in a BFR! In a rifle, only the 450 Alaskan would do! Sorry boom, but facts are facts.

There's a Contender Encore at the shop, two bbl. -- 45/70 Govt. w/ muzzle brake, and a 44 mag.

$750 out the door, comes with a pistol case and second case for the second barrel.

But then there's the Marlin 1895 stainless steel, longer bbl. at Sporty's. 45/70, $600 new. But the Marlin's don't manage the long bullets, which is why I got the Ruger No. 1.

Oh yeah, and a Handi-Rifle in 45/70 at the shop. Lot's of meat in the breech to rechamber for something interesting.

quote:

Originally posted by Mickey1:

quote:

Originally posted by RIP:
Mickey1,
That is a heartwarming story for any rifle looney. Thanks for sharing.

And I thank you for training this grasshopper in the ways of The Force .404, of 1905. It was FIRST and still is. It is indeed peerless.

RIP

I thank you for the kind words but you have long since reached the exhalted staus of Jeffery Master Ripper.

You have surpased your teachers Jeffery Master Mickey and Obe Ray.

May all your cartridges feed and all of your bullets spin. Even at 1:10

Obe Mickey One,
There are some untrained in the ways of The Force that fear that aspect of it: The Twist. They claim it is of The Dark Side. They can only hope someday to become as grasshoppers on the path to enlightenment such as yours.
I go now, lest this thread be locked, as they seem to be doing a pretty good job of digressing without any help from me.