Big Bore Addiction Group

[Fatback]

Prior to the fall of 2022, the largest caliber rifle I owned was a 300 Win Mag. The rifle I had in that caliber served me very well all over the world, accounting for about 90% of the big game animals I’ve killed, to include some DG like a leopard and brown bear. That all changed for me in the Caparivi strip on a buffalo hunt. When I booked the hunt I thought it would be a “one and done” type deal, so I rented a CZ550 in 375H&H.

I couldn’t have been more wrong. Since that hunt I hunted another buffalo and an on land hippo and have 2 more buffalo hunts booked for 2025 and 2027. The 2025 hunt will also be for elephant and the 2027 hunt will include a lion and probably hippo for bait as well. So I knew I needed my own DG rifle and the quest began for me as soon as I got back from my 2022 hunt.

Since I was brand new in terms of looking for a DG rifle/caliber I began researching pros and cons of the available options out there. What a grand and expensive world I found to explore. The folks here at AH were a great asset in my research. I’ve learned a not here about DG rifles, bullets, etc…

As I reflect on the rifles I’ve purchased over the last 2 years while I am very pleased to own them all, I realize I’ve got more than I’ll ever “need” but I don’t know that I’ll ever sell any of them either. I had one of my 375s up for sell here on AH but to be honest I am glad it didn’t sell. The fact that I’ve been able to get the rifles I have, all left handed, is somewhat of an accomplishment, I feel like. Some of these are re-barreled into their current configurations and all of them feed and preform well.

In Winchester M70s I have 458 Win, 404Jeffery, 416 Rem and 375 H&H, the 458 has taken a buffalo and the 404 has taken a hippo. The 375 has accounted for a handful of PG. the 416 Rem hasn’t drawn blood, yet….

In CZ 550s I have 404Jeffery and 375 H&H. Have not shot anything with this 404Jeffery yet but have killed a few deer and pigs with the 375. I am sure the wise decision would be to actually get serious about selling some of these rifles as there is obvious overlap in what they are capable of. At some point I may do that but for the time being I quite enjoy having them, shooting them and hunting with them. I think I am going to wait till I become a grandpa to see if there is a chance that my grandchild is also a lefty shooter and then I’ll have somebody to leave these rifles to. In the meantime, I think I am done adding to this collection and I don’t really have any interest in owning a double rifle and 458 seems to be about all the recoil I can manage and still enjoying shooting the rifle.

So as it relates to this particular thread, I’m sure my 2 year “bender” could be seen as a sign of some type of addiction but it is one that I’ve quite enjoyed. Now the questions becomes can I “stop anytime I want.” With my last big note purchase being in April, I am 6 months, “clean” but I do find my self still looking here and at the auction sights regularly for LH rifles, and I seem drawn to the bigger calibers for sure. What’s a fella to do??

 

[cajunchefray]

Damn son! You got it bad. Personally barring a detached retina I fail to see a problem. Myself being a 35 caliber aficienado have been able to fend off the dark side excepting a dalliance with a CZ 550 FS in 9.3x 62. I have handled and fired a 470 NE side by side Boss rifle. You are right about the CZ550 being a gateway rifle. Thank goodness they discontinued it.

It’s Okay. We can help you out.
You can find a used CZ 550 on the used market.
Just trying to help

 

[Brian]

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.

Matt85

I think that you are out of my league with that 8 bore. I would sure like to see that rifle work on buffalo. Must be very satisfying.

( I say this in the best possible way as I never "take another man's inventory", Maybe you should think about going in a treatment centre. LOL) Brian

 

[Brian]

Recoil,

The first time that I shot my 577NE I went out in the bush where there were no witnesses, just in case. I asked my son to come with as my cut man.

I fired it with moderate loads a few times a nearly drupped it twice because I wasn't holding it properly. I quickly caught it both time in my arms like baby that was tossed out of a second story window.
True story, I know that I can trust you to keep it between us. Brian

 

[Hunting Hitman]

Well my own journey started with a 416 Rigby which I only shot a few times at the range. About 5 years later I purchased a 470 Nitro Express and fell in love with big bores. Since then I finally purchased my first 375 H&H when I was going Bongo/Forrest Buffalo hunting in Cameroon. Coincidentally that was also my first Blaser R8 (Synthetic stock).
I then progressed to a 505 Gibbs for a few safaris then the 458 Lott for a couple more. Most recently purchased Heym 404 Jeffrey and 577 Nitro Express for some upcoming safaris.

Needless to say my addiction is alive and well!

HH

 

[cajunchefray]

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!

I can help.

Hot Pepper Puree (not sauce, just fermented mash). Check out Louisiana Pepper Exchange Scotch Bonnet. It's on amazon. I don't sell for them, just know these folks and buy their products.

Yellow Scotch Bonnet is my favorite flavor; Red Scotch bonnet may be more available. Flavor and the heat of capsicums. Some hot sauces just burn with no flavor.

Some past girlfriends are like hot peppers and rifles, maybe a lot of heat (recoil) and less soul (effectiveness). Like a .500 caliber rifle all recoil, and no soul.

Moving on from a CZ .500 Jefferey, my next venture (rifle, not girlfriend) is a single shot .500 Nitro 3", on a Browning/Winchester 1885 HiWall. Miroku BPCR, (with pistol grip stock), 26" barrel, NECG red recoil pad, set up for aperture sights.

Cheaper than a Heym or Krieghoff Double.

 

[cajunchefray]

Recoil,

The first time that I shot my 577NE I went out in the bush where there were no witnesses, just in case. I asked my son to come with as my cut man.

I fired it with moderate loads a few times a nearly drupped it twice because I wasn't holding it properly. I quickly caught it both time in my arms like baby that was tossed out of a second story window.
True story, I know that I can trust you to keep it between us. Brian

What does your 577 NE weigh?

 

[Brian]

cajunchefray.
My 577 NE weighs 11.5 lbs. I soon made friends with it and we killed a lot of buffalo together . Brian

 

[Brian]

I can help.

Hot Pepper Puree (not sauce, just fermented mash). Check out Louisiana Pepper Exchange Scotch Bonnet. It's on amazon. I don't sell for them, just know these folks and buy their products.

Yellow Scotch Bonnet is my favorite flavor; Red Scotch bonnet may be more available. Flavor and the heat of capsicums. Some hot sauces just burn with no flavor.

Some past girlfriends are like hot peppers and rifles, maybe a lot of heat (recoil) and less soul (effectiveness). Like a .500 caliber rifle all recoil, and no soul.

Moving on from a CZ .500 Jefferey, my next venture (rifle, not girlfriend) is a single shot .500 Nitro 3", on a Browning/Winchester 1885 HiWall. Miroku BPCR, (with pistol grip stock), 26" barrel, NECG red recoil pad, set up for aperture sights.

Cheaper than a Heym or Krieghoff Double.

Yes. that Hiwall is an excellent plan. Much finer rifle that the clunkers I used, I might have done it if I hadn't got into the H&R and TC single shot plan.

Let me mention that I went with a 26.5" heavy barrel { Still as short OAL as a bolt action magnum.) and a straight stock and a LimbSaver Nitro pad and the recoil wasn't so bad after I figured learned to shoot it. Had to relax and not fight it.

I have seen the Browning Hiwalls with a higher cheekpiece and they look pretty good for a big bore.)
Brian

PS. I like your aperture sight plan, ideal if your eyes can read it.

 

[Bandera]

I just had to get the 458 Ruger No.1
The 458 is on the left the 450-400 on the right.

 

[spike.t]

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

Just buy it...no point thinking too much....then you can move up to a 500 jeff or 505 gibbs....no point pissing around...you will be sorted...and can then just decide which ones you want next....just saying....

 

[Brian]

Cayjunchefray,

Correction on the weight of my 577NE. single shot.

It weighs 12.5 lbs, not 11.5.
Sorry about that, I must have vapour locked.

Brian

 

[DIRTYHARRYBALLISTICS]

My 8-bore got its first public debut today! My neighbors threw a small party down at the river. A proper party for our little nook of the forest with a fire pit, music, charcoal grill, and guns.

The original plan was to load up a bunch of cartridges with a ball over smokeless powder... but then I looked at my dwindling stock of Blue Dot and the plans changed. So, a ball over black powder was the order of the day! My load was an 85 caliber ball and a 1/2-inch 8ga fiber wad over 274gr of FFg black powder (with plenty of lube over the wad).

Now sadly only a few people were brave enough to pull the trigger on my rifle. But the few who did, found it to be a surprisingly enjoyable gun to shoot! The 24-inch gong we had set up at 30 yards was easy to hit and a 900gr ball made a satisfying sound. This wasn't meant to be a challenge; it was meant to be fun. I really wish the others had been willing to give the gun a try!

My hope is that someone throws a proper large bore shoot in the near future so more people can experience the joys of a traditional English 8-bore double rifle.

I'm not sure where you're located, but that sounds like my kind of party. I have an english 6 bore double that would like to play! Lol

 

[DIRTYHARRYBALLISTICS]

Hello, my name is V. and I'm a big bore addict.

I fell in with the wrong kind of people you know. Bunch of enablers from a little known gang called AfricaHunting...

I was previously such a content school choir boy, happy with my little sins in the form of a 300WM, a bit like a weekly calm beer, but then these guys took me in, in a low point of my life. I had tasted a bit of Africa and suddenly I needed more of this rush caused by recoil. So one of their 'fixers' got me onto some .375H&H and wow it was like a world went open. Talk about mind altering... Ever since I've been chasing the rabbit down the hole... All hope is lost now, they got me hooked up on some .500NE and I remain in agony until my next shot of blissful nirvana.

So when you see me walking down the street with a vague look in the eyes, corner of my mouth turned into some kind of smile, you now understand why you need to cross the street to avoid contamination.

Where will it stop??? There are rumours of a few of the gangmembers having found even stronger doses than .500NE. Something something bore.. seems to be a low figure in front of it... We shall see who will survive in the end, the man or the addiction...

Sir, i have a .500 Bushwhacker, which is a handgun with the same spice as the .500 Nitro you seek. We chronographed a 400gr copper solid, at 2526.7fps on the Garmin. Which is a very enjoyable 5,669ft/lbs of muzzle energy. I would love to have you out to shoot it. Its about as enjoyable as it gets.

 

[hoytcanon]

Sir, i have a .500 Bushwhacker, which is a handgun with the same spice as the .500 Nitro you seek. We chronographed a 400gr copper solid, at 2526.7fps on the Garmin. Which is a very enjoyable 5,669ft/lbs of muzzle energy. I would love to have you out to shoot it. Its about as enjoyable as it gets.

What barrel length? What action? How do you get 5600+ ft/lb without blowing it up?

 

[DIRTYHARRYBALLISTICS]

What barrel length? What action? How do you get 5600+ ft/lb without blowing it up?

Its a Magnum Research BFR, 14" barrel. 85gr of powder, and they've actually used 87gr of powder for the same bullet, so there's still some spice left on the table. I'll likely be testing that 87gr load in the near future.

 

[matt85]

I'm not sure where you're located, but that sounds like my kind of party. I have an english 6 bore double that would like to play! Lol

I live up in WA, but do have family down in AZ. Perhaps I'll bring the 8-bore with me next time I go visit them.

 

[DIRTYHARRYBALLISTICS]

I live up in WA, but do have family down in AZ. Perhaps I'll bring the 8-bore with me next time I go visit them.

Sounds like a good time! I'll be sure to have the cigars and whiskey out!