Big gun poll

[Southern]

I'll be scanning the classifieds for one ".577 TRex. Slightly scuffed and cracked stock with a few dings and bends in the barrel from being constantly dropped. No more than 15 careless owners. "
Its a bit like a modern " Sword in the stone" or Odysseus' bow.....do you win a Kingdom or a crown if you can shoot it and not flinch?

This gun store owner I used to know, before he sold out and retired, used to have these honking big double rifles for sale from time to time. I asked about one in there one day, and he said, "Oh, I have sold that .470 NE four times in the last ten years. Some doctor thinks he has to have it for safari, buys it and a box or two of ammunition, shoots it a few times, and sells it back to me when he returns. They usually give me back the unused cartridges in the deal."

One cool big bore I handled, but did not get to shoot, was a .400 Whelen by Griffin & Howe, which had with it a matching .35 Whelen, built as a set long ago. They belonged to a serious hunter who had used them a lot, but taken good care of them. They dripped of an era gone by.

 

[Greener Jim]

I must admit I do like Griffin&Howe's work. Mainly as it reminds me on Hemingway and his 1903.

Cant belive that doctor just kept selling and buying the same rifle! If I had something like that i'd hang on to it like it was a part of me.

 

[Southern]

No, this was not the same doctor buying and selling the same rifle. He was saying that he got a lot of big bore rifles which clients bought for one hunting trip, then sold back to the store, which sold it again to another hunter.

I met a huge optics dealer at a gun show years ago, who had the same situation. He would sell a pair of Zeiss or Swaro binoculars to some couple for a trip to Africa or Alaska, then they would never use them again, and he would buy them back, sell them, buy them back, sell then 3 or 4 times. He also took trade-ins. I wish I could find him now.

 

[Monkey Spanker]

Don't see the point really. Dead is dead! There are also safety issues when so much energy is still retained with an exiting bullet. Higher cost, possibly more meat damage and higher risk?
Ok on the range if that's what floats your boat, but not ideal for most UK deer species.
It's a 'No' from me!
MS

 

[CWMMAN3738]

have 375H&H but will prob get a 416 at some point so a definate yes from me i love using mine as theres no question of stopping them wit it.

 

[Coolhand]

Wasn't there once an Association or Club where Big Bore 'African' Rifles were used, or have I been Eating too much strong Cheese before Bedtime again?

Yorkie.

Yorkie , we have a Big Bore Club down here run by the Sporting Shooters Assoc of Australia, National headquarters are in Victoria but most States have one as well. If memory serves Graham MacDonald of Woodleigh Projectiles is/was heavily involved. Search for SSAA Big Game Club.
Btw , those of you that own doubles or even if you don't you should have a copy of this Book , and no I am not his agent/publisher.

Perhaps Yorkie you could start your own Big Bore Club ....... minimum calibre to join ......... 8 to the pound !!

Mike.

 

[Greener Jim]

Don't see the point really. Dead is dead! There are also safety issues when so much energy is still retained with an exiting bullet. Higher cost, possibly more meat damage and higher risk?
Ok on the range if that's what floats your boat, but not ideal for most UK deer species.
It's a 'No' from me!
MS

Meat damage and cost are personal things. For me I'd be cool with it. Obviously roll me own. I'd just budget ammo costs in to a hunting trip.

Safety wise, it's a definite consideration. High seats and/or very sound backstops would bring the risk down considerably.

It's very much a personal thing as it is with all rifle choices.

 

[Gunner971]

I seem to remember an 'Express' rifle club being formed about twenty years ago, I'm not sure it ever took off as such. My .375 H&H is enough for me!! Five or six shots rapid starts both my ears ringing and shoulder hurting. But, when an angry pig is coming at you it's very reassuring.

 

[Sidewinder]

Too many people with way too much time on their hand.....

 

[Selous]

My big regret about the handguns I owned was wsnting but not owning a 44mag. If you transpose this to rifles, yes I would like to own a 375h&h and a 416 rigby

 

[Greener Jim]

Too many people with way too much time on their hand.....

And why is that?

 

[bruce w]

Meat damage and cost are personal things. For me I'd be cool with it. Obviously roll me own. I'd just budget ammo costs in to a hunting trip.

Safety wise, it's a definite consideration. High seats and/or very sound backstops would bring the risk down considerably.

It's very much a personal thing as it is with all rifle choices.

looking at the .577 being let off ,sat on a ladder a long way off the ground is not good for your health ,especially if you have your back towards a tree trunk ,though the shot will be safe just hope there isnt a follow up shot needed

 

[Greener Jim]

You can have standing high 'seats', like a tree stand. Ways around it if you wanted a 577 bad enough

 

[bruce w]

fair comment hadnt thought about standing ,and a good way to get conkers down for the kids at the same time ,back on topic, what is the report like on .577 and its bigger brothers .

 

[Greener Jim]

Biggest I've heard is a bunch of different .458's so can't help I'm afraid.

 

[rabbitter]

Too many people with way too much time on their hand.....

Do you mean we have too much time on our hands because we are commenting on a thread on a forum? Hmmmm, hang on.......

 

[welshwarrior]

I have a 375 H&H and did own but could not justify anymore a 450 no2 double a 458 WM and a 338 lap mag.

Still feeling the gap of a nice heavy rifle in the cabinet probably a double.

 

[Greener Jim]

Sounds like one hell of a collection.
You don't happen to have any phots of the 450 No2 double by any chance do you?

 

[sir-lamp-alot]

would i want to have a go on a massive rifle? yes deffinatly, would i want to own one? no it would be absolutly pointless

 

[Monkey Spanker]

would i want to have a go on a massive rifle? yes deffinatly, would i want to own one? no it would be absolutly pointless

Yup, that's how I see it too!
I even ditched the 30.06 as it was just too much gun for general use. Great fun to fire, but not entirely practical for what I require.
I did fire a 450 ft/lb air rifle once which was novel, but bugger all use for anything in the real world!
MS