Big Bore Addiction Group

[BourbonTrail]

You need to try my 8-bore double rifle! It was an 8-bore double that sent me spiraling down the path of addiction... so I feel obligated to use mine to drag others down with me.

I found the 8-bore cartridge to be the perfect balance of size and recoil. It dances on the line of being "too much for me" without crossing it. When I feel the "large bore itch" come on, all I have to do is send a couple 1200gr pills into a target and I'm satisfied.

You need to bring that thing to our big bore shoot next year. (I know that’s quite a haul for you, but it doesn’t hurt to put in a shameless plug)

 

[Brian]

colorado, Perfect. I will be 85. I'll take it. brian

 

[odonata]

Hello. My name is Darryl & I have a pepper problem that has morphed into a big bore problem. I keep trying hotter & hotter sauces trying to find one that's "too hot". Instead I just keep finding more brutal sauces that I really enjoy eating. A parallel problem has appeared in my gun safe.

I didn't realize I was falling into a trap when I bought my Ruger No. 1S in 9.3x74r. At the time, I wasn't going after anything that required a chambering like that. I just wanted one & unfortunately I fell in love with it. Being particularly fond of the classics, I added a Winchester 1885 Safari Octagon in 375 H&H followed by a Winchester M70 Safari Express in 375 H&H as well. A pattern of increasing bore sizes started to develop when the 405 Winchester 1885 Traditional Hunter with a metal butt plate appeared.

In an effort to cure myself of this self-diagnosed chronic disease, I decided to build a 458 Win Mag because I had a high level of confidence that having a filling knocked out of one of my teeth would finally temper my enthusiasm for rifles like this. Wrong! The 458 WM rockets to the top of the list of rifles I look forward to shooting every time I go to the range. Then Arkansas implements a straight-wall season this year so I'll probably wind up taking my frustration out on some poor whitetail by shooting it with a 404gr Shock Hammer. I've been trying really hard but I can't stop smiling every time I pull the trigger.

Is there any known cure for this? If running out of space, money or enthusiasm is the only solution, then I might need to brace myself for a long convalescence. Hopefully the fact that my current rifle project is a 35 Whelen is a sign that this fever is trending in a downward direction back to more practical calibers.

Both of these are visible signs of an ongoing problem...

 

[VertigoBE]

Hello. My name is Darryl & I have a pepper problem that has morphed into a big bore problem. I keep trying hotter & hotter sauces trying to find one that's "too hot". Instead I just keep finding more brutal sauces that I really enjoy eating. A parallel problem has appeared in my gun safe.

I didn't realize I was falling into a trap when I bought my Ruger No. 1S in 9.3x74r. At the time, I wasn't going after anything that required a chambering like that. I just wanted one & unfortunately I fell in love with it. Being particularly fond of the classics, I added a Winchester 1885 Safari Octagon in 375 H&H followed by a Winchester M70 Safari Express in 375 H&H as well. A pattern of increasing bore sizes started to develop when the 405 Winchester 1885 Traditional Hunter with a metal butt plate appeared.

In an effort to cure myself of this self-diagnosed chronic disease, I decided to build a 458 Win Mag because I had a high level of confidence that having a filling knocked out of one of my teeth would finally temper my enthusiasm for rifles like this. Wrong! The 458 WM rockets to the top of the list of rifles I look forward to shooting every time I go to the range. Then Arkansas implements a straight-wall season this year so I'll probably wind up taking my frustration out on some poor whitetail by shooting it with a 404gr Shock Hammer. I've been trying really hard but I can't stop smiling every time I pull the trigger.

Is there any known cure for this? If running out of space, money or enthusiasm is the only solution, then I might need to brace myself for a long convalescence. Hopefully the fact that my current rifle project is a 35 Whelen is a sign that this fever is trending in a downward direction back to more practical calibers.

Both of these are visible signs of an ongoing problem...
View attachment 643604

You are only at the beginning Darryl. You should get a taste of some .50 Caliber...

 

[odonata]

You are only at the beginning Darryl. You should get a taste of some .50 Caliber...

That is not helpful at all.

"I was out hunting with my 505 Gibbs the other day..." has such a nice ring to it.

 

[BeeMaa]

@odonata - Give this one a try. It’s the 525 Weatherby Magnum (if they ever made one) of the hot sauce world. Nothing but hate and pain in that bottle.

 

[Frederik]

I wonder if my 550 Magnum project comes to light in a few years time will I be satisfied?????

 

[MS 9x56]

Hello. My name is Darryl & I have a pepper problem that has morphed into a big bore problem. I keep trying hotter & hotter sauces trying to find one that's "too hot". Instead I just keep finding more brutal sauces that I really enjoy eating. A parallel problem has appeared in my gun safe.

I didn't realize I was falling into a trap when I bought my Ruger No. 1S in 9.3x74r. At the time, I wasn't going after anything that required a chambering like that. I just wanted one & unfortunately I fell in love with it. Being particularly fond of the classics, I added a Winchester 1885 Safari Octagon in 375 H&H followed by a Winchester M70 Safari Express in 375 H&H as well. A pattern of increasing bore sizes started to develop when the 405 Winchester 1885 Traditional Hunter with a metal butt plate appeared.

In an effort to cure myself of this self-diagnosed chronic disease, I decided to build a 458 Win Mag because I had a high level of confidence that having a filling knocked out of one of my teeth would finally temper my enthusiasm for rifles like this. Wrong! The 458 WM rockets to the top of the list of rifles I look forward to shooting every time I go to the range. Then Arkansas implements a straight-wall season this year so I'll probably wind up taking my frustration out on some poor whitetail by shooting it with a 404gr Shock Hammer. I've been trying really hard but I can't stop smiling every time I pull the trigger.

Is there any known cure for this? If running out of space, money or enthusiasm is the only solution, then I might need to brace myself for a long convalescence. Hopefully the fact that my current rifle project is a 35 Whelen is a sign that this fever is trending in a downward direction back to more practical calibers.

Both of these are visible signs of an ongoing problem...
View attachment 643604

There is a name for that. I believe it is masochist. Welcome to the fraternity.. if it ain’t at least 35 caliber it don’t get shot much from my range.

 

[matt85]

@odonata There is an upper limit to everything, it's just that ceiling can be hard to reach sometimes .

When it comes to hot sauce, I'm happy up to habaneros. Beyond that all I get is burning without taste.

When it comes to guns, I'm happy up to around the 8-bore or 577 NE. I found guns bigger than that are either too heavy or beat me up too much. A shoulder injury at work did me no favors either.

 

[odonata]

@odonata - Give this one a try. It’s the 525 Weatherby Magnum (if they ever made one) of the hot sauce world. Nothing but hate and pain in that bottle.
View attachment 643660

I think that's the sauce that they use on the YouTube show, Hot Ones. They put it in the 8th out of the 10 positions in the lineup. Eating a hot wing with that sauce on it is usually where the guest comes unglued & has trouble talking. Seems like something I would enjoy.

Something I did not enjoy was when I was surfing around earlier this evening and had a rare unicorn almost send me into a big bore relapse. As a left-handed shooter, I can sometimes avoid temptation because there are fewer African rifles to tempt me. I made the mistake of looking at Rock Island's latest auction & there was one of rifles I don't need, I can't justify buying but I still want it anyway: A left-handed 404 Jeffery with a Swarovski z6i 1-6x24 EE. Not the kind of thing a big bore addict needs to have dangling in front of them when there's a zero balance on the AmEx...

 

[BeeMaa]

I think that's the sauce that they use on the YouTube show, Hot Ones. They put it in the 8th out of the 10 positions in the lineup. Eating a hot wing with that sauce on it is usually where the guest comes unglued & has trouble talking. Seems like something I would enjoy.

Something I did not enjoy was when I was surfing around earlier this evening and had a rare unicorn almost send me into a big bore relapse. As a left-handed shooter, I can sometimes avoid temptation because there are fewer African rifles to tempt me. I made the mistake of looking at Rock Island's latest auction & there was one of rifles I don't need, I can't justify buying but I still want it anyway: A left-handed 404 Jeffery with a Swarovski z6i 1-6x24 EE. Not the kind of thing a big bore addict needs to have dangling in front of them when there's a zero balance on the AmEx...

View attachment 643824

That looks like an AHR upgrade #3 on a CZ550. Wayne does incredible work. Let us know how well you are able to resist...or not.

As for the hot sauce, I know about Hot Ones. I've even had DaBomb once, it was not a good experience.

 

[odonata]

Let us know how well you are able to resist...or not.

I tried to inoculate myself from this scenario a year ago when I got into a bidding battle with someone over an equally rare Ruger No. 1 in 404J. I have a 6.5x55, 275 Rigby RSI, 303 British & a 9.3x74r so I'm fond of No. 1's. My thinking was that owning one might prevent me from being lured in by the Sirens' song of something even more expensive (i.e. a bit of defensive preventive maintenance to protect me from the inevitable). Unfortunately the other guy was loonier than me. I might have to rely on the craziness of strangers to save me from myself again this time.

The problem with owning a 303 and then acquiring a 404 is that it almost forces me to buy the 505 to continue the series. I'd eventually have to wildcat a 204 Ruger & call it the 202 OCD so the series would be complete & I could stop thinking about it.

 

[Northern Shooter]

375HH—> 416 Rigby —> 458WM —> 470NE —> ________?

 

[matt85]

375HH—> 416 Rigby —> 458WM —> 470NE —> ________?

Not much difference between a 458 WM and a 470 NE, it would really be a question of bolt gun or double gun. Next would be a 50-caliber rifle of some flavor, again the question of bolt gun or double gun. Things get very expensive after 50-caliber, but the 577 NE is a wonderful cartridge!

 

[Northern Shooter]

Not much difference between a 458 WM and a 470 NE, it would really be a question of bolt gun or double gun. Next would be a 50-caliber rifle of some flavor, again the question of bolt gun or double gun. Things get very expensive after 50-caliber, but the 577 NE is a wonderful cartridge!

Yeah not much difference between the two. My 458 is like a bolt action 470NE, and vice versa.

I’ve made several threads now exploring the ideas of the heavy hitters and 50 cals. Not sure if I’ll go any bigger at this point, I may be “done”.

 

[BourbonTrail]

Yeah not much difference between the two. My 458 is like a bolt action 470NE, and vice versa.

I’ve made several threads now exploring the ideas of the heavy hitters and 50 cals. Not sure if I’ll go any bigger at this point, I may be “done”.

I’m content with a 416, but I really like the idea of a double in 500NE. I will probably get a 458 WM just because, but the 505 Gibbs has always been on my bucket list.

 

[matt85]

Yeah not much difference between the two. My 458 is like a bolt action 470NE, and vice versa.

I’ve made several threads now exploring the ideas of the heavy hitters and 50 cals. Not sure if I’ll go any bigger at this point, I may be “done”.

The three main 50-caliber cartridges are very nice, but each has a bit of a "downside".

• 500 NE This is probably the "best" of the 50-caliber cartridges in that its only "downside" is the cost of the firearm.
• 505 Gibbs It is difficult to get magazines to hold the large cartridge reliably. The unique bullet diameter limits options. Brass is very rare and often unavailable. To top it all off, the cartridge is not easy to hand load for.
• 500 Jeffery This cartridge is a little more manageable than the 505 Gibbs but still has a history of feeding/extraction issues caused by a rebated rim. Brass is also very rare and often unavailable.

In most cases I would recommend someone get a double rifle in 500 NE. Merkel makes an affordable double rifle chambered for the cartridge. Factory made ammunition is usually available. Brass is easy to find, bullets are easy to find, and the cartridge is relatively easy to hand load.

 

[Northern Shooter]

The three main 50-caliber cartridges are very nice, but each has a bit of a "downside".

• 500 NE This is probably the "best" of the 50-caliber cartridges in that its only "downside" is the cost of the firearm.
• 505 Gibbs It is difficult to get magazines to hold the large cartridge reliably. The unique bullet diameter limits options. Brass is very rare and often unavailable. To top it all off, the cartridge is not easy to hand load for.
• 500 Jeffery This cartridge is a little more manageable than the 505 Gibbs but still has a history of feeding/extraction issues caused by a rebated rim. Brass is also very rare and often unavailable.

In most cases I would recommend someone get a double rifle in 500 NE. Merkel makes an affordable double rifle chambered for the cartridge. Factory made ammunition is usually available. Brass is easy to find, bullets are easy to find, and the cartridge is relatively easy to hand load.

I've recently considered all three quite extensively and had decided on the 500NE and even started buying ammo for it. My deal on a Heym 500NE fell through (the same rifle was recently re-listed on AH) so I ended up going with a Merkel 160 in 470NE instead.

Now I'm not sure there would be much point in owning doubles in both 470NE and 500NE so the 500 Jeffery and 505 Gibbs start to sound more appealing in that class.

I like the concept of the 500 Jeffery matching the larger 505's performance with less powder in a shorter, more efficient cartridge.

 

[Daniel Cary]

That 550, 500 MDM, sounds menacing.

Post the resurgence of the 500 J, 505 .. things seemed to get bigger commercially.
700 AHR 600 OK, 585's, 577 T's, etc.

585 VH, GMA's

 

[matt85]

I've recently considered all three quite extensively and had decided on the 500NE and even started buying ammo for it. My deal on a Heym 500NE fell through (the same rifle was recently re-listed on AH) so I ended up going with a Merkel 160 in 470NE instead.

Now I'm not sure there would be much point in owning doubles in both 470NE and 500NE so the 500 Jeffery and 505 Gibbs start to sound more appealing in that class.

I like the concept of the 500 Jeffery matching the larger 505's performance with less powder in a shorter, more efficient cartridge.

Having a 470 NE and a 500 NE makes just as much sense as having a 458 WM and a 470 NE. They all perform the same roll. The 500 NE will have a slight edge over the others in performance. Then again, nothing wrong with owning one of each!

The 500 Jeffery would be easier to hand load to "normal pressures" due to the smaller case capacity. Using standard loads, both the 505 Gibbs and 500 Jeffery offer the same performance. The 505 Gibbs can be loaded much hotter if you feel like pushing it (thanks to the larger case capacity). Honestly though... a 570gr 50-caliber bullet at 2000+ fps is probably going to be plenty to get you out of most kinds of trouble.