Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Cal Pappas- How do you reload for a 4 bore?

Cal recently had an article in African Hunting Gazette on a hunt using a 4 bore. I'm curious what kind of dies and press are used to reload a cartridge of that size and where you get brass?
Also what does it feel like to light off something with 4 tons of energy, seems like even if it's just a push it would be a helluva push.

Only 4 bore I ever handled was a SxS double rifle Ken Owens was building in his shop....it weighed close to 25 pounds. I think he said the projectile weighed about 1700 grs....I asked Ken how could you hold it up to shoot it.....he said you shoot it off sticks....my next question was how could you keep it on your shoulder when you set it off....his reply was you don't....When you fire it the muzzle rises almost vertical the butt drops and ends up down by your waist.

Shooting a 4 bore sounds like a good way to get PTSD....couldn't pay me enough money.

Yeah. Pass on that.

See "Mountain Gun"?

Too much of a good thing.

Wheels, wheels would be good.

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger...and probably also gives you a bruised shoulder

When I got home from yesterday's IDPA match at my club, my right wrist was a little swollen and the thumb joint somewhat painful. That was after in the neighborhood of 100 rounds of 124 grain 9mm out of a Beretta 92. In a number of ways, I find myself making payments on some of the "fun" I had when I was younger. My point being, at 73 I'm looking to extend the mileage a little, as long as it's still fun. I don't think I could generate much interest in a 4 gauge rifle.

Here is mine that Ken built for me in 2007..Been to Africa with it Twice...
The "Mastodon" took almost 2 years to build and the after the first Safari I had it full Deep Relief Chisel engraved..300 hrs of labor!
Full covered 100% with Jurassic Scenes, Volcanos and all kinds of period foliage and Dinosaurs and reptiles too!
27pds (empty!)🤣 22.5" barrels and Hurled 2000 grain custom Jacketed Softs or Solids at 1400fps...
Recoil was not as bad as my 600s or 700s...more like a Big Shove!
(Like a Grizz gently pawing your shoulder)😱🤪
I have many photos of it but here it is in Action ...

What a beast!

So what's the point of a 4-bore?

It's 2000 grain bullet has less sectional density than a .458 500 grain bullet and won't penetrate as deeply at the same velocity. But 1400 fps is a pretty low velocity while an ordinary .458 Winchester can easily get 2200 with a 500 grain bullet.

still no answer to the original question