Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Express Rifles and Big Bores Only what's a big bore?

kinda curious! only my opinion but or./wa. seems .338 or up. elk, or black bear is the biggest we've got. even so not many people buying .338 or above unless their goin' to africa. is the .338 past its prime, or just to small for this forum.

The .338 Winchester is far from past its prime! It is perhaps the best medium bore ever (I'd give it a tie with the grand ole 375 H&H---but I'd lean more in the direction the 375 for one looking towards Africa with just 1 weapon... but this is more to do with govt requirements). For the North American hunter with elk, moose and the biggest of the bears on the target list, I'd say it has few peers. But, as I've already said, the .338 is not a big bore. It is a medium and a damn fine one at that.

yes, .338 IS only a medium, so .35 or .375 or .458 or 4 bore, at what point dose it become a big bore?

I personally like ... 30 and under (small), 8mm to 375cal (medium), 40 to 44 (large mediums), 45cal to 48cal (bigbore), 50cal upwards (large bores).
Cheers...
Con

small .17-.257

medium .264- .338

big bore .358- .500

small .17-.257

medium .264- .338

big bore .358- .500

What's a big bore?

These threads

22 to 30 Tiny bores (childrens' rifles)
30 to 375 Small bores (Slightly larger children)
375 to 458 Medium bores (Young men and women)
458 t0 50 cal Medium large (skirt or student ID no longer required)
50 cal and up Yes you can smoke a cigar and have a scotch after ...

Tongue firmly in cheek,

Regards,
Chuck

OH boy oh boy oh boy. I always love this one. This ones better than sex ecspecially if you do it over at AR forum.. You'll find that most consider any 375,400 or 416 a big bore if their in a magnum case....YET the 45/70 is not.....HHHHMMMMM. I'm going to stop right here for a while cause I think everybody realizes the next thing I might do is something silly Oh like 458-375=X bigger. Short answer to your question is, a big bore is somebody like Cliff Claven.. Sadly enough that sideways answer is the straightest you'll get..
IMHO anything thats above 375 in BORE diameter, irregardless of case capacity is a big bore. I wish purdey woulda reinvented the 45/70 in a double gun, called it the "457 mini express" or some such thing, so as then its bore diameter rather than case capacity would be what classed it as a big bore by those with their snoots in the air

Technically the 416 and up are big bores, the 375 is a medium heavy, the 338 is a medium..but who cares is my opine!

The .338 is a grand caliber and has earned itself a near the top of sales reputation over the years and it just keeps proving itself...I have shot chucks to Cape Buffalo with it and it worked real well..I can't think of a better caliber for all NA game and most of Africas game..With a solid I would not hesitate to shoot an elephant with it, as it sure has a lot of penitration. I really like the 210 Noslers at 3005 FPS and the 300 gr. Woodleighs at 2400 FPS, how could it get any better than that for practical purposes.

45 and up is a big bore. I love my 416 but it's no big bore.

Big bores are usually found with big sows. Aint you learned to read yet. LOL
Seriously I agree with you and I might add-most anything that a woman wouldn�t shoot could be classified as such.

thanks guys, big bore to me is .35 and up (35rem .358 not included). every thing else is just a good thumper, though the guys at work think otherwise. every one's in to the "super duper zapper mags". .338 is still a great cal. but i'm thinkin' about a 458 lott. biggest i currently own is the 9.3x62. great thumper but bigger just seems to be the way i'm goin'; besides, why not. haven't shot any thing w/ the 9.3 but it just seems so small.

Dont think lott, do it. You wont be sorry. If you do 458wm you will be. I've tried them in lovely custom guns and their all gone. Even though the lott is in a plane ruger 77 it aint goin no where... I kinda struggled a tiny bit on another post to get over 2300 with 500's. With a 458 wm you wont just struggle, you'll remove it right out of the DG category

I like my lott, I like it a lot, but not green eggs and ham

I can never resist that one

In his book - African Rifles and cartridges - John �Pandoro� Taylor used the following classification of rifle calibres:

The Large Bores: .450 and up.

Large Medium Bores: No less than .400 nor greater than .440. (.440 to ..450?)

Medium Bore. No less than .318 nor greater than .375. (.375 to .400?)

Small Bore: Less than .318!

So according to Taylor the British .303 and the .30-06 are small bores!

Today, however, I think general consensus would consider .400 and up as being large bore.

caliber, bullet weight and energy levels all need to be considered in my opinion.
you can,t just say for example, 35 or 40 caliber in a rifle, and up or a 357 mag and 41 mag pistol caliber carbine fit the criteria,
you can,t, just relie on velocity/energy simply because theres calibers like the 300wby that while a bit smaller still pack a noticable punch
when you start throwing 40 caliber or larger bullets over 300 grains and over about 2000 fps your getting into the BIG BORES, personally I think of BIG BORES as the class of calibers suitiable for breaking down a determined charge from large game like cape buffalo,lion,grizzly and elephant.
now ID be the first guy in line to say my 378 wby with a good 300 grain bullet packs a noticable punch, but I feel its on the upper edge of the medium bores, sure its more powerful than many of the larger calibers and might be superior in stopping a charge, but its still a medium bore not a true BIG BORE like a 416 rigby,458 win or 505 gibbs

I have a Lott.
And it's been out
And shot.
Some say it has a lot of clout;
I'd say a whole lot.
I've a notion
That when you pull that trigger
You'll be in motion.
It's the kind of fun that's hard to figure.

...Is like a pretty gal, YOU WILL KNOW ONE WHEN YOU SEE ONE.

Yes, but there is, never the less, a difference between an A cup and a D cup!!

Let's just say a 35 Whelen is the only medium bore. Everything less is a small and everything greater is a big.