This question has probably been asked? But, I am curious.

What was your first big bore?
What was your impression of it?
How old were you when you became interested in big bores?

Mine was a Ruger 77 in 458 Magnum. The year was 1979 I was 25 years old and I thought the 458 was
the biggest badest cartridge ever invented. OK, I led a sheltered life.

At the time I was primarily interested in big bore revolvers and pistols. I did own a 12Ga and a Remington 700 in 7mm Mag.for hunting.

I remember I bought the rifle and 2 boxes of ammo(solids don't remember the brand).

I took the rifle up into the woods and wired a 3 lb coffee can to an old snag. I stepped back about 60 yds., and with all the courage I could muster fired the first shot. The sights were dead on and the bullet completely penetrated the snag and kicked up dirt on the off side. Wow!

My first impression was thinking that the 458 didn't kick all that bad. Not much more than the 7mm. I found out different later when I sighted the rifle in with a new scope off of the benchrest. I did, however, shoot all forty rounds that afternoon.

My second impression was one of awe. I could not believe the raw horsepower the catridge generated. I thought I had found the hammer of Thor. I was instantly hooked on big bores. I have done without a big bore since then, but not for long.

I am interested in your story. Take a minute to tell it.

My first was also a 458 win mag that I bought at a gun show in Austin, Texas in 1980. The rifle was a Ruger #1 and I got six boxes of ammo with it when purchased. My brother and I took it to a local "unofficial" shooting range and proceeded to shoot solids through railroad ties; the soft points would move the railroad tie but not plow through the other side like the solids. Of course, we invited friends to shoot this rifle, nicknamed the "weenie shooter" and we all were just amazed at the recoil however we still shot it alot. I wish I never traded that rifle, it would have become a 458 Lott or a 450 Ackley someday and would have accompanied me to Alaska KMule

Mine was a Remington 700 "Safari Grade" in .458 Win. Mag. that came with a beautiful Walnut stock that split at the tang after only 40 rounds. I replaced it with Tupperware and am still shooting it. It was purchased new in 1977. Bill T.

My first was a .416 Rigby on a 1917 Enfield action. It was 1981 and I was 28 years old. I grew up reading Ruark,Stigand,Newman and ,Selous.I knew I would never be able to afford an African hunt, but could at least own the hardware. But guess what ,16 years later, in 1997 I made my first trip to The Dark Continent. Killed an old Buffalo. Dreams do come true! My old .416 is still wih me. I'e killed about 30 game animals with it ,now. 3 African trips. I own more large bores and have just completed a beautiful .450 Rigby, but old "Nate" will always have special significance that I doubt any other rifle will equal.

Does a 45/70 count? I've owned 3 now. If so my 1st experince with a big bore was kinda disappointing. Back in 1990 I bought a NEF 45/70 and a box of Remington factory 400gr ammo at the gunshop and went off to shoot it with some friends. I was expecting massive recoil and mounds of loose mud to fly up in the air when the 1st shot went into the creek bank. My friends gathered behind me with great anticipation as I shouldered this newly acquired "monster." I squeezed the 8lb trigger with rifle tightly snugged against my shoulder and the rifle went "plop" a bullet went into the mud bank and hardly threw any mud at all. I went to the bank and dug the bullet out of the mud, It had hardly mushroomed! Everyone, especially me was disappointed by the anemic performance of the 45/70. One thing we all thought was pretty neat though, was after firing a round, you could hear the bullet going though the woods breaking limbs that got in it's way for a long time.

The next day, I went back to the gunshop where I had purchased the rifle. I told the owner how dissapointed I was with the 45/70. The rifle was OK (I only paid $100 for it) but the bullets it fired didn't have any power. He explained factory ammo had to be loaded light because there were still a lot Springfield trapdoors around and they would blow up if the ammo was loaded to it's full potential. He suggested I get a Lee reloading kit and "roll my own". Well, that's what got me into reloading and I made some pretty stout rounds for that old handi-rifle and it would churn up some serious mud from then on. I've had a lot fun with the 45/70's but have never hunted with one.

I'm in the process of putting together a .375 H&H now and have a Montana PH action on order for something really big, I haven't decided what yet. Where I hunt, nothing requires a bigbore, but they are a lot of fun to play with.
Terry

[ 07-13-2003, 20:09: Message edited by: TC1 ]

I can't remember that far back, but it was probably a 45-70, 45-90 or 50 Sharps if they count...otherwise I suspect a 375 H&H Win. M-70..

My first was a marlin 45/70 and I thought that this was a monster I was 25 or 26. I bought a .416 Rigby cz soon after and now that has some power.

My first deer hunting rifle was a Ruger 44 Mag Deerstalker, though I would not call that a true big bore in the AR sense. That honor goes to a 458 Win Mag in a Winchester Mod 70.

BROWNING SAFARI bolt gun in .458 in 1972.
Sent it off and had the G&H quick detatch scope mount added.
very impressive when before that a .358 Win was the "biggest" had fired to date.

Put 700-800 rounds through it before someone wanted it more then I did.

So many good posts.

It looks like 45-70 and 458 seem to rule the roost for the first time buyer.

I'll bet it would be different now versus 25 years ago. There are many more options now. More rifles of 40 caliber that's for sure, both English and American. 375's are more accessable also.

[ 07-14-2003, 04:11: Message edited by: Scrollcutter ]

My first one,was one that actualy belonged to my grand mother, it was a Sharpes in 50-90 straight that had been cut down to 24" bbl, the ole man loaded the shells and we went to Texas in 62 and killed a fat ole doe on the King ranch. Still have it and it has taken several deer and pigs now

My first big bore was a 416 Taylor that started out as a Ruger Mk1 338 Winchester. After the stock split it was put into a Bell Carlson stock and wears a Leupold 2.5 to 8 scope. It has a couple of Moose to it's credit and is a favorite up north gun.
Take care,
Dave

460 wby.

Until then my collection had been high capacity shotguns and semi auto rifles.
I was seduced by the ballistic figures in a magazine.

I sold that first 460 after 26 shots or so

Karl.

My only big bore is a stainless Win 70 in 416 Rem. I bought it last year through GunsAmerica website. I thought it would give a little more umph than a 375 H&H. Yeah, I was right. I bought a couple boxes of 400 grain Barnes solids from the local FFL dealer where the gun was delivered. He had an over supply and only wanted $20 a box. All I can say is that load kicks like the dickens! A quicker slap then shooting 2 1\4 ounces of copper-plated #4 shot from my Browning 10 guage BPS Stalker. As there isn't much call for solids hereabouts I pulled them, dumped the powder and now practice over the shooting sticks with Speer 350 grain Magtips. I'm saving up for a buff hunt where I think it will work just dandy.

My first big bore was a Whitworth 375 H&H purchased in 1971 when I was 20 years old. Up to that time my biggest rifle was an FN Musketeer in 300 Win Mag. I had wanted a big bore since reading Ruark's Use Enough Gun in grade school.

I definitely knew that I was playing in a different league when I sheared the "ears" off two Redfield rear rings from recoil. I switched to Weavers on the advice of a friend who worked in the shop where I bought the Whitworth, and they are still there after all these years of use .

Jim

Roger.

Have you wore out the 505 Gibbs case I gave you last year?

Perhaps in a couple of weeks when you get down here, I will take you out and dust off the Gibbs.

I still have those ASq solids that chrono at 2500 fps, just not much to shoot at in my backyard any more.

Until next time, Jim Wisner

I wanted a "big bore" when I was 14. My dad didnt mind guns, but didnt think a boy should own a big bore, at least not with his money, and bought me a 280 winchester featherweight(what didnt help my cause was when the gun store owner walked up to the clerk and said "your selling him that 280!!You just lost us a customer!! he will never want to buy another caliber again!!") yeah my dad ate that up.
Though they seemed like long long years to wait, by 16 I was able to use a 375 H&H pre 64. I knew nothing of how special this 375 was, and never cared for it much because I was young and it "wasnt mine", I had to ask to borrow it, because it was the Darrows gun, a friend of the family. (I now own this gun and I am restoring it myself, I could kick myself today for being so dumb, and it wasnt even that long ago ).
My first "REAL" rifle was a .458 winchester magnum. I was 18, bought it myself, and it was a winchester 70 push feed with worthless folding sights, WHY DO WE FOLD SIGHTS THAT ARE SINGLE LEAF? (its ok they broke after about 150 rounds). I bought this rifle because I was young, and it was cheap, compaired to what I really wanted, and at the time I was moving to Alaska with a friend and NEEDED a REAL RIFLE!... Uhh right? Well I hauled the rifle out to the desert, the day after, with my older brother and shot off 30 rounds of 510s RNs. My target was dirt and a old washing machine motor, in which it was penetrated but no exit. The recoil was there but not very impressive to a kid that wanted to be hammered into the ground, I just bent like a reed when I fired it and took a step back at times(I guess that happends when you are small).

That rifles life was short fammed, as by luck I got a hold of a 700 push feed 450 ackley, but the 458 still shot deer,halibut, bears, a couple of moose, grouse, lots of coyotes. It kinda became a truck gun, and I carried it alot when fishing in and around streams. The winchester 510 sp is a VERY serious deer and black bear bullet. I really wish winchester would sell this bullet to handloaders, but I cannot see it being very good on a big cape buffalo (anyone experianced with it on them?).
I would never buy a 458 again... not with the 458 lott factory avaliable, the lott just makes more sense. Even when you load the lott or ackley at 2150-2200 on the low end, they are honest 200 yard cartridges with 500 grain round noses (I do not recommend hitting even deer with a non expanding ROUND nose at velocities below 1500 FPS at impact, unless the nose has radi of 1/2 the diameter or greater).

Not counting the Marlin 45/70, my first big bore would be my A. Hollis and Son 450/400 3 inch double.

I guess I started late at 31yrs with my first rifles a pair of Whitworths, 375HH and 458Wmag. Cannot remember, but must of fired the 375 HH first. Pretty rifles but the 458 barrel is mighty thin at the muzzle.

regards,

steve

I first was interested in big bores and Africa after reading John Hunter's Hunter in the 7th grade. I did get to Africa while in the Navy, but I never had any time to hunt then(Ethiopia, Djibouti, Sudan, Somalia, Kenya).

A Navy Chief I new had Sharps build him a .50-140-3.25" because his grandfather had one. He asked me to make cartridges; I did so, but that was a hunt and a half just finding some brass and a set of dies. I ended up loading a box of cartridges, and taking him to the range to shoot. Three shots was enough, and he later offered to sell me the rifle. I kept it as a wall-hanger until another BPCR shooter needed it. Cleaning it with boiling-hot water from a coffee can was an education in simpler solvents too.

After some while I graduated to .375 H&Hs, .416 RM and a .450 Ackley, but the .50 Sharps was the first.

jim dodd

My first bigbore was a 458 Lott. I don't recall exactly what lit the big bore fire, but part of it was moving up from a 308 win to a 35 whelen ackley, and since I'd found the whelen wasn't that bad, I figured I could handle more.

Anyhow, the lott had been on the shelf at a pawnshop up the street from where I worked, and I'd check it out every once in awhile. I came to an agreement on a price, and took it home. I had to put in a session or two with acraglass to put the stock back together, and added a piece of 3/4" ply to increase the length of pull. With the addition of a second recoil lug on the barrel, I figured I was good to go.

I put together some loads with RL 15 and 500 gr hornadies, I couldn't imagine starting with ligher bullets. First shot was a big grin maker, and since I was shooting standing with my forearm rested, recoil wasn't that bad. I finished up the 9 rounds I'd loaded, and that set the hook for big bores.

I subsequently sold the lott to have a 500 Jeffrey assembled and also came across some Ruger #1 458 takeoff barrels, so will be building another lott in the future.

not counting the 45/70 sharp calvary carb. My first was a 458lott ruger #1. Would have been the m77 in lott but they is still hard to find. I was 39 the recoil was brisk but brought big smiles to mine and the boys face.
Next came an interarms 458win. The boys have shot her but wont shoot the Lott yet.
I look forward to a 416 or 450 rigby and a 404 jeff some day. Want to build the last 2 myself.
dean

Marlin 444SS and then a Winchester classic stainless .375H&H

my first.... dad's trapdoor in 45/70... blomp! was the noise...

jeffe

current ones
376
416s
458
45/70
500 jeffe
58 cal double BP

jeffe

Mine was a Model 70 winchester,458. Had the bbl cut to 20",williams reciver sight. This rifle shot 1" groups at 100yds with hornady 500 gr FMJ.Really wish I still had it!

First was a 375 Whitworth, which I traded for a Brno ZKK-602 375, which I traded for my current 375, a pre-64 M-70. Then a 45-70 Marlin, which I sold. Then a 460Wby, a 416Rigby and a 510Wells, all Brevex Mausers. Most recent big-bore acquisition is a Ruger #1 458Win which is being restocked, customized and rechambered to 458Lott. Should be a real beauty. Love 'em all!

my first was a thomson center contender carbine, with a 16 inch barrel in 45\70. I used absolute max handloads in that little rifle. It might have weighed 5 1/2 pounds.
it was a scary thing to pull the trigger on.

My first was a .358 Norma, although not a true big bore, it was the biggest thing I had fired to date. I was 16 and looking for a moose and bear rifle, and I just fell in love with it when I picked it up the first time. Also my first introduction to the price of exotic ammo,$ 50 a box. Damn can that thing kick like a mule. Soon afterwards the lady I bought the Norma from sold off the rest of her ex-husbands guns and in there was a 1917 Enfield in 375 ICL, Its the largest to date I have fired with the exception of 50 BMGs but thats a story for another day.

My first was one I inherited from an uncle. Does a Winchester M1876 Deluxe in .50-95 count? It has a 24" barrel with a full magazine. The original buyer/owner was my great grand uncle that bought new in Sacramento, Calif. in 1884. I’ve fired this rifle three times and this is a MAN’S rifle. Due to it’s value now I just take it down and admire it. My next big bore is my Sharps in .45-110 but the one I shoot the most is the one I built next. A Ruger No. 1 in .450 Marlin. This is my modern day buffalo gun and is a pleasure to shoot along with being accurate. Lawdog

Yep another 458. This one was a 458 Lott when I was 16. I bought it with about 30 loaded rounds. Once these were finished I sold it as I didnt reload back then. It got used on tree stumps, ant hills,cactus,s and one small to medium sized wallaby.

The 416 Remington and a 400gr bullet drops 5" at 200 yds. I like the 416 doesn't hurt when you shoot it.I bought it about 5 years ago. It is my first big boar rifle if the 375 H&H doesn't count.

.458 Win yet again. Bought it because it was a near-mint Ruger #1 for $400. Kept it because it is fun to shoot and I can hit my target with it!
(It's not "near mint" any more, but still doesn't look bad! Hunting rifles are SUPPOSED to have a few dings and scratches!)

Does a ten guage double barrel shooting 1 7/8 oz handloaded slugs count? Shot those out of a 32 inch barreled 3 1/2 Inch chamber 13# gun that had the chokes open up from "duck full" to improved. Shot either 2 1/2 ounce buckshot loads or the handpoured slugs. My Great Uncle's "Deerslayer". He never fired it at a deer that he didn't kill. If that one doesn't count; It's a Ruger #1 458 Win Mag.

Here's another vote for the .416 Taylor. Growing up in Queensland (Australia) in the late-fifties and sixties, the standard 'big-bore' was an ex-military .303! When I moved to Darwin, the .303 was not quite up to the big buffalo wandering around at the time, so I had the local gunsmith knock me up a .416. 1942 BRNO Mauser fitted with a Walther barrel, and I did the stock work myself. Absolutely paralyses buff with Woodleigh bullets.

It was my first and last heavy bolt-gun, since I was smitten with the dreaded 'double-rifle' disease shortly after!

Living in Canada's Northwest Territories in 1970, aged 27, I had the privilege of hunting Woods Bison just by buying a $25.00 tag. The bison's environment was very different from that of the plains bison, being thick bushland with some open grass areas mixed in. A wounded animal could EASILY be lost.

We had quickly found that "normal" North American-type calibers did not work all that well on these animals. They'd die, all right, but it often took a long time.

Visiting the old Custom Gun Shop on Jasper Avenue in Edmonton Alberta, I got into those musty, fusty old used-gun racks way in the dimly-lit back of the store, and found a short-barreled (21") Cogswell and Harrison Mauser 98 in .404. I didn't even know what a .404 WAS, so after getting home I checked "Cartridges of the World", and a week later had the rifle shipped to me in the North.

This cartridge introduced me to the joys of reloading with Berdan primers, etc., and the difficulty of finding dies, brass, bullets and so on for an unusual caliber. It also introduced me to REAL effectiveness on big critters, because I cleanly killed about ten or so of the bison before the hunting opportunities were curtailed. I still have the rifle, though it now sees use mostly as a cast-bullet shooter these days. (Not much game in Nevada that "needs" a .404 to kill cleanly, anyway.)

Regards from BruceB (aka Bren Mk1)

an 1863 .58 caliber Springfield. With 80 grs of 2FG and a 600 gr Minnie Ball, this thing would shoot damn near through anything. With 100 grs of 2fg it would nearly take your shoulder off. Considering that I weighed about 110 lbs back in 1967, it was a trip. I also learned to really shoot offhand with this thing and this has kept me in good stead all these years.-Rob

My first was probably at 23, not very many years ago, a Ruger No. 3 in 45/70. I had been watching for a number one or no. 3 at a good price for a while. Walked into the shop one day and they had 3 rifles in there that I needed, one of them the no.3, beautiful rifle, aftermarket wood, maybe fajen, with good figure in the butt, saddle stock type (without pistol grip). And had a 1.5-4.5 (I think) scope on it.

Used some 300's for sighting and to make some brass to use. Then loaded up some 350g Hornady's from load data that said specifically just for no. 1 and 3. They rocked! Still have not chronographed them, but in that rifle, with 22" barrel, light weight, they sure pack a wollup. Nobody but me likes to shoot that rifle very much. Some guys like to shoot it a couple of times, they love hitting things with it.

I guess that is why when I shot the .458win on the 1917 I wasn't disturbed by the recoil. Now that one is still being finished, might end up a Lott.

Now that I have the bug though I am thinking 375. I just saw a barreled action in 375 h&h. hmmmm....

Red

My first big bore was a 45-120-3 1/4 Sharps.
Started with a chamber reamer I bought and progressed into a single shot built on a Mosin-
Nagant action. Worked the 300 grain bullet up
to 2850 fps. What a thumper on both ends.
That's when the locals started calling me magnumjim

416 Remington mag Remington M700 Safari, which in no time flat became a 500 Jeffery.

Kent

If .50 BMG rifles don't count, then I'd have to say the Ruger bolt gun in .375 that I picked up this morning.