Home Forums Lever Action Central Big Bore Levers calibers considered big bore

I own a lot of big bore lever guns including ruger #1`s up to 458 lott. my question is do many of you guys consider brownings BLR 300 WIN. MAG a big bore ? I kinda do and really like its longer range accuracy and its power even at close range, its such a simple gun to load and unload too. just wondering ?? Pete53

I consider big bores to start once you get past .375", using the bore diameter as a measure instead of case capacity.

No doubt the .300 WinMag is a powerful round, and I consider it a big case but a mid bore.

Just my thoughts on it.

I've used rifles in .348, .444, 44 mag, and .45-70. Though the .348 is a mid-bore, it is powerful!

Since we're talking lever actions, anything 35 and up is ‘big bore’....to me. On the other hand, 44 mag and 45 colt in rifles isn’t considered ‘big bore’, outside of lever actions.

No. For me big bores start a .40 cal.It's just about the hole in the barrel. A .375 is not a big bore to me but a .44-40 is.

ok I kinda agree, what there should be is a thread that states somehow lever magnums or something ? I know some feel bigger bores may be better , ,I feel its more raw power ,you take a 300 win. mag. with a 220 grain bullet that is a nasty powerful load in a lever. I just purchased this Browning BLR in a 300 win. mag. I do own many levers but this 300 win mag in a lever is unbelieveable in long range accuracy off a bench but yet if forced to use this 300 for close range for protection its got a lot more power than many other levers I own.

My thinking as well though I'd have said 'over' 35 caliber.

The .348Win and it's wildcats is a lot of power in a lever action. I would start there as far as BB levers. You mention the BLR. The Model 71 is big medicine. The 1886 is too.

the nice thing about the BLR Browning it has a clip and does not wreck bullets like a tube feed and BLR `s do have the bigger bore cartridges too ,but the best part of the 300 win mag shells : can be found any place in the world ,can be shot out to 500 yards accurately with power,or be used in close range with a lot of power too. the levers you mention model 71 and 1886 can`t handle a 300 win. mag.,those actions are not strong enough . i got a 348 model 71 ,also a couple 45-70 one in a guide gun ya they work but give me the BLR 300 win mag with 220 grains that's a nasty bullet with plenty power at any distance.

Levers for 500 yards shots. Your a better man than I am pete.

I use a bi-pod lay`n down you would be surprised how accurate a person is .

I did look up in a sierra reloading manual fps/ft.lbs.

358 win 225 grain bullet 2450 fps/3000 ft.lbs at the barrel at 100 yds= 2200+fps/2420+ft.lbs at 500 yds. = 1490 fps/1115 ft.lbs.

300 win. mag. 220 grain bullet 2750 fps/3700 ft.lbs at the barrel at 100 yds = 2500 +fps/2950+ft.lbs at 500yards= 2050fps/2040 ft.lbs

I see a huge advantage with a Browning BLR 300 win mag I never seen before ,the accuracy of this BLR lever is very impressive,i plan on buying a 358 win
BLR also.i have already a BLR 308WIN and that shoots great also.

What kind of 100yd groups you gettin out of your BLR .308 Win?....Hb

with barnes 130 gr.bullets and lee neck crimp die as barnes recommends ,3-9 leupold off my cement bench under 1/2 inch all day long even had some other friends try it,my son shot groups closer to 3/8`s,son also shot a nice 4x4 mule deer at 250 yards no bipod just holding gun laying down with this load.

I have one of the early BLR in .308 Win. It is not that accurate. Kicks harder than my .300 Weatherby Mark V.

I attribute it to excess drop at comb. Comes up as well as a skeet gun though.

IIRC the way it used to be was .30 cal. and under was small bore, .31 to .400 was medium bore and above .400 was considered large bore.

That's still where I'm at.

after the black powder era the 375 was considered the "baby" of big bores. that is where i always started considering them big bore.
back during the BP era .577 was the start.

For me big bores start at .375

well if your on this post you must enjoy lever rifles too ? with todays much better ammo,powder,bullets,even some newer type levers and the ability of handloaders to build some great ammo for their lever guns too. i break it down into 3 bullet sizes for levers that can hold more than one cartridge: #1 small bore up to .243 caliber, # 2 medium bore .257 - .308 > " .308 caliber bullet 165 grain and below ", #3 .308 and bigger > " .308 caliber bullet grain weight above 165 grain and up" with the ability of the .308 that has so many different grain weight and types of bullets it belongs in 2 classes. just because some feel its bullet diameter, but to many of us its power/foot pounds too of the caliber not just the size of the hole. 3OO WIN.MAG. with 220 grain bullets R.N. is a very powerful cartridge and with other .308 grain bullets it can do what most bigger bores can`t do that`s why our U.S.A. military " SEALS" use it with 190 grain bullet. we all have our favorite calibers and that is great ,but that dang 300 win. mag no matter what I think or what you do it is just a great old cartridge that you can buy ammo at a ma-pa grocery store,gas station,just about any place in the world and probably be able to get a few rounds from a U.S.A. soldier/sniper . I wish you all a great hunting season,Pete53

I like leverguns and I like lever action cartridges. The .300 Win Mag isn't one though.

I think he really likes the .300 WinMag.

I do, too, but found out I can get anything I want done to 500 yards with my .308, so I've sold the two I had.