Central Oregon Shooting Sports Association in Conjunction with the High Desert chapter of SCI held it's first ever Big Bore/Double rifle shoot on Saturday August 30, at the COSSA range 24 miles East of Bend, Oregon. There were nineteen registered shooters representing Oregon, Idaho, California and Alaska. The Minimum caliber was 9.3 for Elephant, Lion; one running, one stationary, a Leopard in a tree from a blind, a running Impala and two cape buffalo and any double or single shotgun for running Duiker and Sand Grouse four shots each.

The over all top shooter was Joe Cullison shooting a 9.3x62 bolt action. The top shooter of the double rifle portion was Eldon (Buck) Buckner.

Pictures of the shoot are posted on the COSSA web site at Oregonshooting.com go to the bottom of the home page and select photos and then safari shoot.

COSSA plans on holding the shoot again in 2010.

The 9.3 is not a big bore, except maybe in Europe; they must be short of REAL big bores in Oregon.

George

GeorgeS;
I agree that 9.3 is not a true big bore, but that did allow more people to shoot, have fun and meet interesting new people. IIRC there were two 9.3 x 74's and one 9.3 x 62 out of twenty some rifles that were used. There were lots of big bores to be held and fondled, some were even for sale. I'll even agree that there is a shortage of big bore rifles in Oregon, but there's also a shortage of suitable (meaning things that bite back)live targets to use them on. We only have deer, elk, bear ect. to shoot at and a 270 or 30-06 seems to be adequate most of the time, perhaps it is different in Metro NYC where you live. I've heard stories about Central Park.

Zeke; It seems that the pictures on the Cossa web site either eluded or disapointed you. In either case I'm truly sorry for posting such a worthless thread.

Thought you might post a few here

The 9.3 is not any kind of 'big bore'. It is a medium-bore, no matter what its proponents would like to believe.

And, yeah, it's different here in the Metropolitan NYC area.

We know what a big bore is, and we look for a reason to own, shoot, and hunt with them. The lack of Cape buffalo, elephant, hippo, etc. is addressed by traveling to where they are.

George

quote:

Originally posted by elk hunter:
GeorgeS;
I agree that 9.3 is not a true big bore, but that did allow more people to shoot, have fun and meet interesting new people. IIRC there were two 9.3 x 74's and one 9.3 x 62 out of twenty some rifles that were used. There were lots of big bores to be held and fondled, some were even for sale. I'll even agree that there is a shortage of big bore rifles in Oregon, but there's also a shortage of suitable (meaning things that bite back)live targets to use them on. We only have deer, elk, bear ect. to shoot at and a 270 or 30-06 seems to be adequate most of the time, perhaps it is different in Metro NYC where you live. I've heard stories about Central Park.

Zeke; It seems that the pictures on the Cossa web site either eluded or disapointed you. In either case I'm truly sorry for posting such a worthless thread.

Despite the negative comments by some the 9.3 is allowed on dangerous game in parts of Africa and they work..

Zeke;

Sorry, but I don't have a picture hosting site. You should have registered and come to the shoot then you could have seen it first hand. There may be some room left for new shooters in 2010, but everyone said they wanted to come back and the limit may be have been met as it took all day to get everyone through.

GeorgeS;

It isn't that people out here don't like big bores, there are a few of us. We don't have to travel to enjoy hunting, but the elephant ect have been pretty scarce for the past ten to twelve thousand years, I haven't even had a rino in the cabbage patch for I don't know how long. I have been looking though as I do have a few big bores that I would like to exercise on something other than paper. I did use my 500-450 on a deer once and it did the job, but it did seem a bit much. If I ever hit one with my 6.5 x 55 and all I get is a puff of smoke and hair I'll go back and get my 375 H&H, 416 Rigby, 458, 500-450, 577 or horror of horrors my medium bore 9.3 x 74.