I am curious as to what the muzzle engeries for the 4 bore and 8 bore rifles are. Does anyone know? From what I have read these two were the quinessential elephant guns of the black powder era and were in turn replaced by the 450 NE and 500 NE.

Thanks,
Casey

A 4 bore shoots an 1882 grain conical bullet at 1300 fps.

An 8 bore shoots a 1200 gain conical at 1300 fps.

I think that momentum (mass x velocity) and bullet diameter are more important than kinetic energy (mass x velocity squared) when looking at big bores. For animals above 300 pounds, energy seems relatively unimportant.

I have a real love for these old behemoths. I really want to build an 8-bore single shot someday.

Seifred says that the old heavy 4-bore, 16 dram loading yeilded closer to 1500 fps with that big conical. What a stomper!

The 1250 grain conical in the 8-bore could also acheive similar speeds.

To answer the question:

4-bore: 1882gr @ 1500fps = 9405fpe

8-bore: 1250gr @ 1500fps = 6247fpe

All that horsepower with blackpowder,...amazing isn't it?

Have fun, and if you decide to build one, let me know,

-Catter

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Shoot the largest caliber you can shoot well, and practice , practice, practice.

hello all i am new here so bear with me

i have both of these calibers and both a are extreamly effective when used correctly

remember its better to have a 8 bore ball placed correctly than to have a 4 bore ball in the animals hams.anyways

i have 1 8 bore it is a double 8 made by october country i am haveing a second 1 made by a gun smith a i know it will be a 8 bore german jeager rifle flint lock with a 30 inch tapered barrel and figured walnut.

the 4 bore is a german jager configuration i use a 1380gr round ball with 450grs of fg powder it is a .989 its not a true 4 bore but close enough.

i am also having a 2 bore made by the same smith it shoots a 3500gr round ball with a 500gr charge of fg powder.

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black powder rules

[This message has been edited by black-powder-big-bore (edited 01-31-2002).]

Black Powder,

What kinda muzzle velocities do you get with those cannons? Also, what is the recoil like? I know that my 58 cal Springfield can kick pretty good with a stiff charge of ffg.

Casey

black powder dude,

I would love to see you shoot those rifles, but I would be a bit afraid myself.

Someone posted this site in another thread thought you guys might be interested.
A beautifull looking double this guy has made

http://african-hunter.com/site/firearms/4bore_part01_01.htm

[This message has been edited by 416SW (edited 01-31-2002).]

the 4 bore gets 1475 fps with 437grs of fg powder.

the 8 bore gets 1575 with 300 grs of ffg powder.

recoil is stiff but not really that bad

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black powder rules