Big Bore Addiction Group

[ActionBob]

Cory;
No I got one of these newer Dodge so called Ram Pickups... Best part is the ram box to lock guns and ammo and tools in.

The damned thing has all sorts of neat comfort things.. Thought I would spoil myself as I'm getting older and my back bothers me a lot. So now that is cold, of course the heated seat broke down..... second time, had it fixed last April after suffering through last winter without it, (it was in the shop while I was in RSA). And that nifty 12 way electric adjustable seat, well that was blowing $8 fuses so the fixed that, so far still working. Then the backup camera fizzed out in a rain storm, guess that is why they test these things in the desert? It seems to want to nickel and dime me, except it is $500's and $1000's. Eats tires and has had more alignments than the last 3 Fords I've had.

Get's the rated 20mpg with the wife driving down hill with a tailwind... Put a skid loader behind it or drive 80 down the freeway into the wind... 8.

It similar to that fancy thing (well mine is dirty with a few dents) that was at the DSC show... The cute girl asked me to register for the $45,000 to go towards a new truck and I started complaining and she said "oh well you can buy any vehicle with the money if you win, it does not have to be a pickup truck! So I said "wow not that does sound great... So I can buy a Ford!?" It was like I just let all the air out the tires on that fancy Ram.... She hung her head and said "well no, a Jeep or something from Chrysler Corperation......"

Reality is I am not sure how many pickup trucks I own total... something in range of a dozen and a half??? But I do know two of them are Dodges. That to far left for you?

 

[Bullthrower338]

Cory;
No I got one of these newer Dodge so called Ram Pickups... Best part is the ram box to lock guns and ammo and tools in.

The damned thing has all sorts of neat comfort things.. Thought I would spoil myself as I'm getting older and my back bothers me a lot. So now that is cold, of course the heated seat broke down..... second time, had it fixed last April after suffering through last winter without it, (it was in the shop while I was in RSA). And that nifty 12 way electric adjustable seat, well that was blowing $8 fuses so the fixed that, so far still working. Then the backup camera fizzed out in a rain storm, guess that is why they test these things in the desert? It seems to want to nickel and dime me, except it is $500's and $1000's. Eats tires and has had more alignments than the last 3 Fords I've had.

Get's the rated 20mpg with the wife driving down hill with a tailwind... Put a skid loader behind it or drive 80 down the freeway into the wind... 8.

It similar to that fancy thing (well mine is dirty with a few dents) that was at the DSC show... The cute girl asked me to register for the $45,000 to go towards a new truck and I started complaining and she said "oh well you can buy any vehicle with the money if you win, it does not have to be a pickup truck! So I said "wow not that does sound great... So I can buy a Ford!?" It was like I just let all the air out the tires on that fancy Ram.... She hung her head and said "well no, a Jeep or something from Chrysler Corperation......"

Reality is I am not sure how many pickup trucks I own total... something in range of a dozen and a half??? But I do know two of them are Dodges. That to far left for you?

A guy just doesn't know what he is missing with those heated seats up north till they don't work! Need air conditioned ones here in Houston. You could always tell the wife that you got the Big Bore option instead of the Hemi and it included a Ruger RSM. BTW, wasn't sayin anybody on here leans left>LOL

 

[ActionBob]

Yea got the ac in the seats as well... So does my wife's Jeep... I tell her she used to have a hot ass when she drove a Ford!

That damned Jeep went through the set of Michelin's in 20'000 miles. Took it in for an alignment and they asked her if it had been in a crash... She told if it was, it had been in factory... We bought these Mopars because of all tne features and price but they sure are expensive to keep em workin.

I do like the GPS and the radio!

 

[Royal27]

This is the Big Bore, not Big Block, thread!!!

I think I'm so dang funny.....

 

[ActionBob]

Damn you almost might be! And, maybe not. Ha ha

 

[sandman0921]

Guys thanks for the kind words regarding my AHR rifle. It's set to arrive tomorrow, and I can't wait............like a kid on Christmas morning. From the get go, Wayne has been a pleasure to work with in building the rifle. I certainly hope it won't be the last AHR rifle I own.

IdaRam - when it comes to guns my wife has just about given up. She knows I'm afflicted and I can't help it! When it comes to fine rifles, I'm like the old woman that has a bunch of stray cats......It's just so hard to turn away a stray when all it needs is a little cleaning up... If this rifle did end up between my wife and I in the bed it probably wouldn't surprise her in the least...

ActionBob, I have an affinity for Ruger rifles as well. I've got a few of them. I'll try to get the pics of the laminate stocked Ruger Hawkeye (375 Ruger) loaded up soon. As far as the Winchester M70 375 H&H, currently it's getting a new stock by the guys at Accurate Innovations. That's one I can't wait to see, and as soon as I get it back, I'll definitely get pics up for it. They've done a couple of projects for me so far, including a Remington 700 30-06 in a beautiful piece of Claro walnut. Their process is really neat, and Wes at Accurate Innovations is a true artist with wood.

matt85 - I do have a question. At the risk of derailing this thread.........I would prefer to use Barnes TSX's in this rifle, and Wayne at AHR sent me some loads utilizing these bullets. I'm sold on Barnes bullets, and use them in every application I can. The effects of a 225 grain 0.338 Barnes TTSX (338 Win Mag) on a big UT bull elk this past fall were nothing short of devastating and spectacular. At 200 yds, the TTSX bullet hit this big bull square on the closet shoulder and broke it, drove clear through the chest wrecking lungs, heart, and everything in it's path, and broke the offside shoulder before exiting the animal. I never found the bullet, but the bull took all of 5 steps, and dropped in his tracks and never moved again. My guide was amazed to say the least. In my opinion, a bull elk is pound for pound, one of the toughest animals on the planet. We estimated this elk to be well over 600 lbs on the hoof. However, I digress....

The only reason I wasn't going to use them (TSX) in the this rifle was because I had no solid counterpart to go behind them. Now that the BATFE, in all it's infinite wisdom, has declared them "armor piercing" projectiles, you can't find the Barnes Banded Solids anymore. I don't know if there's been any challenge to this, but I do know Barnes is not making them anymore, at least as a component bullet, unless something has recently changed. Supposedly, at least according to Barnes, there was very little change in point of impact with the solids vs TSX. I simply chose the Hornady DGX/DGS because I wanted to minimize POI shift. My plan was to load a DGX, followed by DGS's in the rifle when hunting buffalo, or solids only if I ever got to use this on elephant. Anyway, I'm probably over thinking it because at the range we're talking (< 100 yds/m) the POI shift will probably be negligible anyway, but......

I love the Swift A-frames as well, and have used them to great effect on big feral hogs out of a Ruger Hawkeye in 358 Win. But again, what solid do you use with it..........I did see on another AH thread that Swift debuted a Swift solid at SHOT Show 2015? So maybe that's an answer. Again I love Swift bullets, both A-frames and Sciroccos.

So I guess my question is, if I decide to use either Barnes (.458) TSX - 500 grain or Swift (.458) A-frames - 500 grain, what solids do any of you recommend to compliment these bullets? Has anyone shot say a Swift A-frame and a Nosler monolithic solid to a similar POI?

I know this subject has been beat to death on other threads, but I'd appreciate any advice more experienced big bore shooters can give me.

Again, this is why Africa Hunting forums are so great. So many hunters, PH's, etc., that have "been there, done that".

 

[ActionBob]

Sandman I would by no stretch of the imagination claim to be an experienced big bore guy... and I don't reload so I suppose I'm venturing on getting kicked out of here on that alone!

However, I used Woodleigh hydro solids and swift A frames on my buffalo and at the range they were regulating very close at 100 yards. But it was a Federal Premium solid and a Remington Premium a Frame. So far my 375 H & H is shooting my tightest patterns with the Federal Premium Trophy Bonded Bear Claws and that is what I am thinking to use on lion this spring. But the above mentioned combination yielded the best regulation in both my M70's, one in 375 and the other in 416 Rem mag.

Having said that, I wish I would have taken and loaded only TSX's for my buffalo... You cannot be prepared for exactly every contingency and I expected a first shot in very thick bush to be followed by the South end of a North bound buff so loaded solids behind the A Frame... But after the first shot, he quartered closer and to our right (not directly at us). And he was in herd so I held back a few seconds with the second shot so as not to blow a solid through hand wound another animal....

Just this morning I ordered a couple boxes of Barnes TSX's and a couple boxes of Barnes banded solids, loaded in factory ammo.. From Cheaper than dirt... And 4 boxes of DGX's for practice... For this "new to me" 416 Rigby RSM.

I was thrilled with the performance of the hydro solid on my elephant. Devastating penetration and wound channel, for a solid. And appeared to travel pretty straight line through the beast!

My recommendation is to try them in combo with A Frames or go with TSX only on buffalo (best ask your PH). I would not hesitate to use hydro solids on another elephant in a 375 or 416. They also feed great, which is no small thing when hunting DG!

 

[jeffpg]

Hey fellas, help me figure out what I need to do here...

I have found a couple of rifles that I am considering buying. At first, I was DEFinitely gonna buy them, as they were presented as being pre-64's at a very reasonable price, and I automatically thought they were both pre-64 Winchester model 70's chambered in 375 H&H and 458 Win Mag.

Well, it appears that they are both pre-64 but only the 458 is my beloved model 70. The 375 is a Browning Safari in a Mauser action. Both are old one owner rifles, hunted and with the normal battle scars to prove it, but not abused or rusted, etc. They have vintage Leupold low power scopes (not sure exactly what yet) and everything is said to be ready to hunt.

I have the one pic that I'll share below and I am awaiting more and better photos that should come tomorrow.
I am thinking that the Browning may not be quite the disappointment that I initially felt in learning it wasn't a Winchester....

The pre-64 Model 70 in 458 Win Mag has been confirmed to be the real deal and I'm thinking I may want to upgrade it to 458 Lott if I decide to get it and keep it.

What say ye Gentlemen?

 

[ActionBob]

I've recently looked at a few very nice Browning Mausers and really liked them.

 

[vette447]

OK. I know this is long overdue but I was finally able to snap a few pics of my 460 Weatherby and .500 Jeffery that I recently picked up. I mentioned them several pages back. Sadly, I still have not had a chance to shoot either of them yet.

Safari Custom .460 WBY:




CZ 550 Safari Classics .500 Jeffery:

 

[enysse]

jeffpg, you can always get the stocks redone. I would go for it, I love the crossbolts. I think they will be good shooters for you!

 

[IdaRam]

Jeffpg, this seems like one of those opportunities you have to ask yourself "will I regret it more if I do, or more if I don't"? You mentioned they are offered at a very reasonable price. Seems like very little financial exposure if you decide they are not "keepers".
Probably not much question about the Model 70. Everybody wants pre 64 M70's, right? As far as the Browning Mauser goes, i have always liked them. My brother has one in .375 H&H and it's a nice rifle. Not in the same league with the model 70 though. Just my opinion. I am not a fan of the trigger on them. It would probably get replaced with a Timney if the rifle were mine. I will go way out on a limb here and speculate on value, or maybe a better way to put it, what I would pay for the Browning. Just to help maybe give a very general idea of value. Very good condition $1200 tops. Can't really make a determination from the photo, but it looks like the rifle has some wear/use but no way to know much more than that. If the bore is good and the rifle just has cosmetic wear from use, but has been properly cared for and no problems or damage, I'm going to say $800-ish. Wood can always be refinished and steel can be re-blued.
Take that with a healthy dose of salt, just my opinion from a photo There are some folks around here that are probably more knowledgeable than I on the subject.
Good luck and let us know what happens.

 

[enysse]

vette447, beautiful guns, way too much power for me but to each his own. I like the way you have them set up for shooting.

 

[vette447]

vette447, beautiful guns, way too much power for me but to each his own. I like the way you have them set up for shooting.

Thanks. I don't disagree about them probably being too much power. I don't really have any specific plans to hunt with either. If/when I go after buff again, it will be my 416 Rigby that gets the nod and if I ever get to hunt elephant, my 500 NE double will earn the duty. I am just a sucker for a nice big bore with good wood.

 

[IdaRam]

vette447,
Those are a couple of very fine looking rifles. The timber on the Weatherby is gorgeous! The very best reason for owning any gun; Because I wanted it!
Well done!

 

[jeffpg]

Thanks for your insight IdaRam.

vette, that Weatherby is magnificent!

 

[matt85]

matt85 - I do have a question. At the risk of derailing this thread.........I would prefer to use Barnes TSX's in this rifle, and Wayne at AHR sent me some loads utilizing these bullets. I'm sold on Barnes bullets, and use them in every application I can. The effects of a 225 grain 0.338 Barnes TTSX (338 Win Mag) on a big UT bull elk this past fall were nothing short of devastating and spectacular. At 200 yds, the TTSX bullet hit this big bull square on the closet shoulder and broke it, drove clear through the chest wrecking lungs, heart, and everything in it's path, and broke the offside shoulder before exiting the animal. I never found the bullet, but the bull took all of 5 steps, and dropped in his tracks and never moved again. My guide was amazed to say the least. In my opinion, a bull elk is pound for pound, one of the toughest animals on the planet. We estimated this elk to be well over 600 lbs on the hoof. However, I digress....
The only reason I wasn't going to use them (TSX) in the this rifle was because I had no solid counterpart to go behind them. Now that the BATFE, in all it's infinite wisdom, has declared them "armor piercing" projectiles, you can't find the Barnes Banded Solids anymore. I don't know if there's been any challenge to this, but I do know Barnes is not making them anymore, at least as a component bullet, unless something has recently changed. Supposedly, at least according to Barnes, there was very little change in point of impact with the solids vs TSX. I simply chose the Hornady DGX/DGS because I wanted to minimize POI shift. My plan was to load a DGX, followed by DGS's in the rifle when hunting buffalo, or solids only if I ever got to use this on elephant. Anyway, I'm probably over thinking it because at the range we're talking (< 100 yds/m) the POI shift will probably be negligible anyway, but......

I love the Swift A-frames as well, and have used them to great effect on big feral hogs out of a Ruger Hawkeye in 358 Win. But again, what solid do you use with it..........I did see on another AH thread that Swift debuted a Swift solid at SHOT Show 2015? So maybe that's an answer. Again I love Swift bullets, both A-frames and Sciroccos.

So I guess my question is, if I decide to use either Barnes (.458) TSX - 500 grain or Swift (.458) A-frames - 500 grain, what solids do any of you recommend to compliment these bullets? Has anyone shot say a Swift A-frame and a Nosler monolithic solid to a similar POI?

I would only use the DGX/DGS if NOTHING else worked in the gun, just about every premium bullet is better. if you want a lead bullet with a matching solid use Woodleigh's. if using Woodleigh's in the 450 Rigby, id use the 550gr soft/solid at 2150fps (you don't want to push Woodleigh bullets hard). at 2150fps these 550gr bullets will kill anything!

second, for buffalo the Barnes TSX does not need to be followed by solids. the TSX will penetrate plenty by its self. this info comes to me from a number of PH's including mine (Marius of KMG Safaris).

as for Swift solids, I got a chance to look at them yesterday at the SCI show and they look great! I picked up a box of them for my 416 RM but he was already sold out of the .458" solids.

another great option is North Fork. they make some of the best bullets in the world! take a look at all the options you have for the .458": http://www.northforkbullets.com/magento/products/bullets/?bweight=6

-matt

 

[ActionBob]

http://www.ruger.com/service/productHistory/RI-M77MarkIIM.html

Bob, go to this link, check where your serial number falls and it will tell you the year your new rifle was made.

Thanks David;
That particular link has all numbers starting with 750 and mine starts with 780...... It looks to be a 1990 model.

 

[sierraone]

Thanks David;
That particular link has all numbers starting with 750 and mine starts with 780...... It looks to be a 1990 model.

Used it for my RSM last summer. If you go to that link, and hit the back button, you can go to different charts for any Ruger. Used Ruger #1 chart in the past to look up my 1H in .416 Rigby.
You Are Welcome!

 

[ActionBob]

OK Bob, judging by what I can see from the pics that is an early model RSM. Ruger made 3 generations and yours looks like Gen 1. The Gen 1 guns had 24" barrels, but that was changed to a 23" barrel in Gen 2 & 3. Also, the barrel band location was changed which is the best indicator of a Gen 1 gun. Yours appears to have the barrel band under the fore end as opposed to just in front of the fore end. Gen 2 & 3 the barrel band is completely exposed and not partially covered by the fore end.
If I may, I would offer this advice. Take the gun apart completely before firing ANY rounds through it. The RSM's are somewhat unique in the way they are put together and bedded / inlet. You gun may have the slight cracks in the stock because the prior owner(s) weren't careful about having things assembled properly and screws properly tightened. There' a little bit of a methodology to properly assembling and tightening stuff so that recoil is properly managed and distributed specifically so the stock won't split. It is very simple and pretty self explanatory, but VERY worthwhile to give her a little love before heading to the range.
If ya need anything, just give me a shout. I really think you're gonna like it

@IdaRam I got her all stripped down naked and it actually looks pretty good for gun that I suspect is 25 years old.

The screws were not really tight. That is something I always check on my new guns and I doubt these were ever checked. To me it does not look like it was fired much. A few oil and grime stains in the wood on a couple edges, I doubt it was ever taken down before. Still had burs on the wood from original cutting. There was several little gobs of gunk that look like accumulated oil or grease with accumulated dust mixed in. The bore looks great to me once I got the dust out. I brushed and swabbed it several times but it was not as dirty as my guns get from one good practice session. The bolt looks new and the bolt face in particular shows no wear or use. I'm sure the gun was used because of the dings in the wood...

The gun was cleaner inside than my 416 Rem Mag was after I got back from Zimbabwe.

Those little cracks seem very shallow and I cannot see them inside.

@Bullthrower338 gave me some advice on gluing them but I don't have the tool right now.. So may just leave it apart and look into that farther.

I ordered some ammo, 4 boxes for general practice and 4 for hunting and final sight in... 2 each of barns solids and TSX. That cost almost as much as the gun! In fact I wanted 6 boxes of the practice stuff but they must not have had it as the site would not let me order that many? That would have put me way over the cost of the gun!

Bob