I looked at the many pages of information on the 12 ga FH, and Ed Hubel's other big bores, but that is a lot to look through.

is there a summary somewhere?

I am interested in a low-budget big bore. would something built on an inexpensive NEF single shot be the way to go?

Thanks

You need to decide how big you want. Say 1/2" caliber.
Hubel has the very powerful 450 No.2 opened up to
fire .499 diameter bullets. LONG LASTING brass! It
is called the 499 HE. It is rimmed so not ideal
for a bolt action rifle. He's got the .585 HE, a
belted giant magnum again with brass that should
be long lasting as it is straight tapered. Then
you are going up to the 700 HE Belted then the
12 GFH if I have my facts right. I am a fan of
the .585 diameter myself. It just has magic for
me. Maybe you would like an NEF with a 577 NE bbl?
Have fun making your decision...

The simplest and cheapest REPEATER big bore is a cz 550 in 458 lott. period -- price can't be beat

458 bullets have the cheapest choices of ALL big bores.. used 7 years ago, rem 405gr were less than 12 ¢ but are now 44¢. but 35¢ bullets abound

brass - hornady basic brass is 84 ¢

you can load down to 45 colt powder, and up to 600gr at 2100 or 500gr at 2300

there is ZERO true gunsmithing required, though I do recommend dual cross bolts, axial wrist pin and bedding

nil wait time to receive, cheap dies, no barrel/reamer/gunsmith/bluing to deal with, no brass to form, no VERY expensive (2-3 bucks a bullet) bullets just to shoot it... no BMG primers to deal with.. etc etc...

The 12GFH is amazing - it is NOT cheap

want THE cheapest big bore rifle, bar NONE?

rechamber a handirifle from 45/70 to 45/120 nitro .. cheap brass, bullets, and dies .. it will be VERY light, btw, but your gusnmithing charges would be a reamer rental and a rechamber ...

FOR the really big size...

Building first 12ga FH gun on a NEF isn't too bad, just ream chamber
to take long cases , but the cases are expensive $10 at RMC and a long wait.
And more for the ones made from BMG brass, and a wait,
plus getting expensive dies made. Unless you just shoot 3.5" plastic,
And good full bore slugs hard to find unless you set up to cast.
so it isn't the easiest. It does have a big hole in the end.

But I think the 58cal size is easiest and economical, either 585HE in Enfield or
other bolt gun or a 24ga FH in break action, 24ga same bore as 585HE.

For the price of 50 of those RMC 12ga brass cases and expensive dies, etc, you can
have a 24ga FH in a break action with.. 50 drawn cases and regular off the
shelf dies and shellholder, and you can shoot easy to get and cheap minie
bullets, many are on gunbroker, as well as jacketed and solid 585 bullets.
And a 585HE enfield bolt gun a just few hundred bucks more,
And we have barrels of 585 cases, no wait..Ed

How about a Ruger #1 in 458 win mag or lott, 450/400 nitro or similar caliber?

The NEF or 12gaEncore is the easiest conversion to 12gaFH. You then need to buy some .50BMG cases, have them modified a rim added and fire formed to 12gaFH. Out of a NEF I was able to get 1850fps with 1000 gr bullets. If enough people want them I would do a run of cases and bullets. -Rob

I've got 850 unfired bmg cases to sell.

And got about 30 already expanded out straight ready

to be machined and put 12ga rim pieces on.

But the 585HE is cheaper, as cases are a fraction of
the cost, dies already made, barrels half the cost of
12ga rifled barrels, if using a bolt gun needing
heavy barrel..Ed

quote:

Originally posted by jeffeosso:
The simplest and cheapest REPEATER big bore is a cz 550 in 458 lott. period -- price can't be beat

458 bullets have the cheapest choices of ALL big bores.. used 7 years ago, rem 405gr were less than 12 ¢ but are now 44¢. but 35¢ bullets abound

brass - hornady basic brass is 84 ¢

you can load down to 45 colt powder, and up to 600gr at 2100 or 500gr at 2300

there is ZERO true gunsmithing required, though I do recommend dual cross bolts, axial wrist pin and bedding

nil wait time to receive, cheap dies, no barrel/reamer/gunsmith/bluing to deal with, no brass to form, no VERY expensive (2-3 bucks a bullet) bullets just to shoot it... no BMG primers to deal with.. etc etc...

The 12GFH is amazing - it is NOT cheap

want THE cheapest big bore rifle, bar NONE?

rechamber a handirifle from 45/70 to 45/120 nitro .. cheap brass, bullets, and dies .. it will be VERY light, btw, but your gusnmithing charges would be a reamer rental and a rechamber ...

jeffeosso, thanks for that info, truly very helpful. The hidden costs KILL "affordability" every time. You've given me some very good direction and I didn't even ask the question!