Big Bore Addiction Group

[ActionBob]

Matt;
You've got to just go for it sometimes... I didn't say ask her out, just get her number. "hey want me to call you up when I get my 505 back and you can try that one out as well?" Just don't make it sound to gay when you tell her you have an even bigger gun back home! LOL

Ya know if you wait too long, all the good ones are gone and then you might have to compete!

 

[ActionBob]

"Youth is wasted on the young."

Phil I bet he's scratching his head wondering what that even means! LOL Oh if we knew back then what we know now, eh?

My son's are the same way, can't take good advice, they have to make their own mistakes.

 

[Royal27]

Matt;
You've got to just go for it sometimes... I didn't say ask her out, just get her number. "hey want me to call you up when I get my 505 back and you can try that one out as well?" Just don't make it sound to gay when you tell her you have an even bigger gun back home! LOL

Ya know if you wait too long, all the good ones are gone and then you might have to compete!

An offer like that is just being "helpful" after all....

 

[gizmo]

Ya, I'd be carefull asking her if she wants to try out your "really big one"

 

[Velo Dog]

VD, when you work a gun show, are you working for a gun shop or are you just trying to move some of your inventory to invest in something else. The reason I ask is that I have never tried selling at a show although I probably have enough hardware that I could. A problem here in my part of the country is at least in the local shows, it seems most everyone is interested in ARs and the toys to bolt on to them. I personally have no interest in ARs. Is it the same in AK, everyone other than the old guys want ARs? And most of them don't hunt.

Sierraone,

No gun shop action for me these days, just trying to divest myself of things that I'm bored with, and put the $ toward my next safari.
Yup, Alaska must be similar to your area (culturally stunted), in that Rambo guns and other embarrassing Rambo accessories as well, are immensely popular here, especially with the camo-pants/ponytail hairdo guys.
That is not to say I think they should be outlawed, because I feel the opposite, since history proves; Every Government disarming it's working class has always soon thereafter raised the tax burden on them and many have seized their land.
It's just to say that it seems comical to me when I watch some of these Rambo types swaggering about, with their pimped-up ARs, when it is fairly obvious that most if not all of them, would probably wet their camouflage pants in the event that some enemy soldier or local criminal actually fired a shot at them.

Cheers,
Velo Dog.

 

[gizmo]

Sierraone,

No gun shop action for me these days, just trying to divest myself of things that I'm bored with, and put the $ toward my next safari.
Yup, Alaska must be similar to your area (culturally stunted), in that Rambo guns and other embarrassing Rambo accessories as well, are immensely popular here, especially with the camo-pants/ponytail hairdo guys.
That is not to say I think they should be outlawed, because I feel the opposite, since history proves; Every Government disarming it's working class has always soon thereafter raised the tax burden on them and many have seized their land.
It's just to say that it seems comical to me when I watch some of these Rambo types swaggering about, with their pimped-up ARs, when it is fairly obvious that most if not all of them, would probably wet their camouflage pants in the event that some enemy soldier or local criminal actually fired a shot at them.

Cheers,
Velo Dog.

So true, tough as hell until the shit hits the fan.

 

[matt85]

enough about my love life or lack thereof.

we are here to talk about large bore guns and dislodging of retinas.

-matt

 

[sierraone]

Sierraone,

No gun shop action for me these days, just trying to divest myself of things that I'm bored with, and put the $ toward my next safari.
Yup, Alaska must be similar to your area (culturally stunted), in that Rambo guns and other embarrassing Rambo accessories as well, are immensely popular here, especially with the camo-pants/ponytail hairdo guys.
That is not to say I think they should be outlawed, because I feel the opposite, since history proves; Every Government disarming it's working class has always soon thereafter raised the tax burden on them and many have seized their land.
It's just to say that it seems comical to me when I watch some of these Rambo types swaggering about, with their pimped-up ARs, when it is fairly obvious that most if not all of them, would probably wet their camouflage pants in the event that some enemy soldier or local criminal actually fired a shot at them.

Cheers,
Velo Dog.

VD
I agree 100 percent. I just can not understand why so many (usually young people, but not always) are so infatuated with AR type weapons. Why don't they join the army, navy or marines? I realize that I am jaded since I carried one directly and indirectly for nearly 30 years. But I still deer hunted with a M70 3006. My son knows many of these guys and he tells me hardly any of them hunt. It was while I was still working overseas
that someone came up with that "modern American sporting rifle" name. I guess I 'm just too old to understand. Anyway, hope you are successful with your divestment strategy!

 

[matt85]

i know alot of the guys at my work are big into the AR-15 tacticool stuff. i dont mind shooting auto-loaders every now and then but i always find myself going back to my heavy hitting bolt guns such as my 416. i currently have two auto-loading guns, an RPK and a MP5K-PDW (currently waiting on BATFE tax stamp to go threw).

those small bore guns just dont have the same feel as 40+ caliber rifles. something about squeezing the trigger and feeling a rush as the gun pushes your body backwards until the muzzle is pointed skyward! ive said it many times before but i liken the experience to a sudden launch on a roller coaster.

my 416 is really getting too small for me though... MRC needs to hurry up and get me the 505 Gibbs.

-matt

 

[gizmo]

I agree, I have several autos one of which I use for work (rock river m4), I enjoy shooting them. Imo the 223 is about as useful as a poopie flavored lollipop for anything other than coyotes and such. I really enjoy shooting my 240,27,30 and 40 cal guns. I'm starting to learn to shoot my 416 w/out the break. My ph put the kibosh on the whole break thing for the lion and buff hunt this summer so I'm having to put my purse down and man up. It's not too bad and I think the more I shoot it the more comfortable I'll get with it. Who knows maybe one day a 505 Gibbs won't be outta the question. That 4 bore is a beast though. You can have it, I'll keep the fillings in my teeth thanks.

 

[gizmo]

BTW any advice on learning to shoot big bores will be much appreciated.

 

[ActionBob]

Gizmo there is nothing your going to hunt that a proper 416 is not big enough for!

Matt is the man to go to for advice on how to shoot it, control it, and hit your mark.... The kid does seem to know what he is talking about when it gets down to that!

 

[gizmo]

Gizmo there is nothing your going to hunt that a proper 416 is not big enough for!

Matt is the man to go to for advice on how to shoot it, control it, and hit your mark.... The kid does seem to know what he is talking about when it gets down to that!

I have a feeling once my 375 comes in and I play with it for a while I'm going to want the CZ in 458 Lott too. I'd proally be done after that though.

 

[sierraone]

I have a feeling once my 375 comes in and I play with it for a while I'm going to want the CZ in 458 Lott too. I'd proally be done after that though.

Can't comment on the .458 Lott, but when you receive your .375, you'll find it to be a different animal than the .416 Rigby. I can shoot my .375 off of a bench for 12 rounds or so before I start flinching. The Rigby, it's standing or sticks only, no bench for me. I have a .458 Win Mag with a little more kick than the .416. I am so impressed with the .416 Rigby, I am considering selling the Win Mag just because! The .375 is something else. I plan on using it to hunt a few plains game animals next year, (my first hunting trip to Africa). Not because that caliber is necessary for what I plan to hunt, but because the .375 H&H along with the .416 Rigby are African hunting. I would add .275 Rigby (7mm Mauser) and .404 Jeffery, but I don't own either of those rifles. The history of these calibers and the original rifles built for them is such that every African hunter or dreamer should strive to own and shoot them. AR 15s and all their variations have a place in this world, just not here!

 

[gizmo]

Oh I agree completely. I love my AR's and AK's and they have a place just not in hunting Africa. H&H and Rigby is definitely the quentisential African calibers. My 416 is Ruger though. I really like it. It's not a Rigby but I was impressed with the cartridge reviews.

 

[ActionBob]

AR 15s and all their variations have a place in this world, just not here!

I completely agree and may get scolded by Matt again for not keeping to calibers that can give you the what for.....

But when we drove past a whole hillside covered in baboons, After they woke me up an hour early several days in a row and scared off a 50 inch cape kudu in a river valley (or so said the tracker who saw it running), I could have had a great time with my Sig 556 and a couple 60 round mags!

 

[ActionBob]

H&H and Rigby is definitely the quentisential African calibers. My 416 is Ruger though. I really like it. It's not a Rigby but I was impressed with the cartridge reviews.

gizmo you are correct about the H&H and Rigby, However your 416 Ruger will do just fine.

 

[matt85]

BTW any advice on learning to shoot big bores will be much appreciated.

short of showing someone it can be a little difficult to explain the best way to shoot a heavy recoiling gun. but here are some important tips off the top of my head:

1. lean into the shot, how much depends on the cartridge. for a 416 it doesn't have to be dramatic just have you weight centered over the foot you have forward. you want to allow your spine some travel distance and also be able to maintain balance under recoil.

2. pull the rifle firmly into your shoulder with as little clothing or soft padding in the way as possible. the object is to have the stock firmly against bone so your body moves with the gun. excessive soft padding will allow the rifle to gain speed before your body begins to move. I do not like "sissy pads" or what ever those shoulder pad things are called as they actually can increase felt recoil.

3. its more important to grip the gun firmly and pull it into your shoulder with your trigger hand then it is with the hand on the for-grip. I actually shoot my 416 RM one handed, the front hand just acts as a stable rest with my elbow against my rib cage. with more powerful cartridges (500 NE, 458 Lott, 505 Gibbs) you will likely need both hands to pull the rifle into your shoulder and to keep hold of the gun.

4. if it hurts, odds are you did something wrong! heavy recoiling guns are very unforgiving when it comes to poor shooting. the more recoil a gun has the less it will tolerate mistakes such as not pulling the gun firming into your shoulder or not leaning into the shot. pain is just the gun telling you that you made a mistake, allow the gun to teach you and learn from your mistakes.

5. muzzle breaks are rude, if you cant shoot a rifle without a muzzle break then:
A. your not shooting it right. (poor technique)
B. the gun doesn't fit you correctly. (check your technique before assuming this)
C. the cartridge is just too big for you. (your a wimp)

-matt

 

[Pondoro]

I think many big bore rifles built today are just too light, bolt guns and double rifles alike. Firms like Merkel use the same action and barrels for .470 and .500 and just bores out the .470 barrels to .500 NE.

That does not work. The rifle just become to light..

I had my ZKK 602 .375H&H restocked, went through a storage room with wood and chose the heaviest most dense grained plank I found and had my gunsmith make a new stock. That rifle weighs in at 10,8 pounds with a 3-12 scope, a tad heavy but a dream to shoot...and it fits me like a glove...and the weight does not bother me.

I shot oryx at 300 metres in Namibia with it..,and Zebra at 230 metres from wiggly-wobbly bamboo sticks...a keeper.

I think that a double rifle in the .450 - .476 should be at least 10,5 pounds to be really manageable to shoot..

A friend just got his .450 NE round action V-C double home from France...what a rifle.....very impressed I am...proper weight at 10,6 pounds and properly balanced..look forward to shoot it..

So there it is...it boils down to proper weight and fit. Fit is equally important and often overlooked..!

Just my 2 cents..

 

[matt85]

Im with you Pondoro, many guns these days are way too light. the stock Winchester M70 in 416 RM is 9 pounds flat unloaded which is much too light for the cartridge. I put a heavy scope (Leupold VX6) on it which brought it to 10.5 pounds which is perfect. in general id say 10.5 pounds is ideal for rifles chambered in most of the standard heavy hitter cartridges. for guns chambered in 458 Lott, 500 NE, and 505 Gibbs id suggest at least 11 pounds.

you could however argue that they make modern guns too light because they anticipate that you will mount some form of optic on it. if my M70 came at 10.5 pounds naked then it would be 12 pounds scoped which is too heavy for the cartridge.

note: at 9 pounds the 416 RM is still shootable but expect fairly violent recoil that takes some getting used to. I often shoot the gun without a scope when shooting with other people to prevent them from getting hit by the scope.

-matt