Big Bores for small things

[Badboymelvin]

I’m not sure a .458 WM counts as a big bore.

But I took my 1903A3 in .458 WM with 500 grain solids out plinking this morning and jumped some rabbits. Shot the first one loping along slowly in some briars.

Then found the second in thin brush and grass. I shot him with a frontal brain shot at around 15 yards. Nice warm sunny day for plinking. And bunny hunting. View attachment 660923View attachment 660924View attachment 660925View attachment 660926View attachment 660927View attachment 660928View attachment 660931

l think that the .458 certainly counts as a big bore

 

[hoytcanon]

I’m not sure a .458 WM counts as a big bore.

But I took my 1903A3 in .458 WM with 500 grain solids out plinking this morning and jumped some rabbits. Shot the first one loping along slowly in some briars.

Then found the second in thin brush and grass. I shot him with a frontal brain shot at around 15 yards. Nice warm sunny day for plinking. And bunny hunting. View attachment 660923View attachment 660924View attachment 660925View attachment 660926View attachment 660927View attachment 660928View attachment 660931

I usually gear guys for not smiling in game pictures, however the grim look seems appropriate for a guy with a skunk on his head.

 

[Altitude sickness]

My wife and daughter tell me to smile all the time. and I tell them. “I Am” this is my smile.

 

[Altitude sickness]

My daughter did catch me smiling on one

 

[Forrest Halley]

My daughter did catch me smiling on one.

This is pretty awesome. Clearly demonstrates the control of the energy transfer on such a small and delicate animal.

 

[redriverjake]

"Use your big rifle for everything and count it as practice for when it matters." Anon.

Sound advice if dangerous game is ever your intention.

Rifle: Heym 89b .577 Nitro Express
Bullet: Barnes TSX 750gr @2050

 

[hoytcanon]

My daughter did catch me smiling on one View attachment 660953

There ya go... much better!

 

[Desaad]

A number of people have used big bore guns on small game. So you aren’t the first. There might be something to it though. If your bullet lands a little low, the shrapnel kicked up could stun or injure or kill the small animal too. Even the recochet of the bullet would work.

When I was a teenager there was a guy who used a .458 Win Mag for rabbit hunting to good effect. He got a lot of meat for the freezer. They even wrote a gun magazine article about him small game and deer hunting with it.

That inspired me to use one of my .45 cal muzzleloaders for small game hunting too. I don’t remember them making and selling a lot of guns larger than 44 or .45 that were rifled way back when I was young. I don’t remember seeing any larger caliber ones that were not smoothbores.

 

[ChrisG]

A number of people have used big bore guns on small game. So you aren’t the first. There might be something to it though. If your bullet lands a little low, the shrapnel kicked up could stun or injure or kill the small animal too. Even the recochet of the bullet would work.

When I was a teenager there was a guy who used a .458 Win Mag for rabbit hunting to good effect. He got a lot of meat for the freezer. They even wrote a gun magazine article about him small game and deer hunting with it.

That inspired me to use one of my .45 cal muzzleloaders for small game hunting too. I don’t remember them making and selling a lot of guns larger than 44 or .45 that were rifled way back when I was young. I don’t remember seeing any larger caliber ones that were not smoothbores.

That is probably the worlds most expensive Hasenpfeffer!

 

[CBH Australia]

I think this link is appropriate here.

One for the Sambar hunters out there.

I believe this bloke guides in Victoria and puts Sambar on the ground. His last comment intrigues me.

I think the bigger calibres are popular with Sambar stalkers to stop them in their tracks in the thick stuff. There is a minimum requirement of .270” diameter projectiles for Sambar in Victoria,

 

[Green Chile]

Not really a big bore but I took my honey badger with a 375 H&H. Actually shot it 2x as the first time it just skimmed his back and he came back to bone pile and I shot him again. Tough buggers.

 

[Green Chile]

Have taken numerous animals of opportunity with 416's because that's what I had available...

Shot him through a big bush...PH said you've got a four-one-six...just shoot him. The bush exploded into shrapnel and the bullet still exited the nyala. He went 20 feet.

Checking waterholes and found this old man blue...416 chopped a big hole in his heart and he laid down in the road and closed his eyes. Ancient blue. They are as tough as woodpecker lips.

Posted this story already but this was an old bush pig that had been hunted and shot at more than once over a few seasons. Walked in to him in the pitch dark with thermals and put him to sleep with the 416.

 

[Fatback]

I hunt whitetail deer quite often with my 375H&H. I use 260 grain Accubonds or Partitions when I deer hunt. This combo has accounted for quite a few deer and pigs. I’ve got a 416 Rem on the way and plan to hunt with it as well here at home. Nothing like building some confidence in your hunting rifle before looking at an elephant, hippo, buff, lion, etc….

 

[Green Chile]

That's a nice buck. I didn't know you are left handed. If I deer hunted more often or had my own place with deer, I would love to do the same as you; hunting at home with 375 and accubonds, etc. I like the muscle memory and confidence it builds for other hunts. There's nothing quite like using a rifle that you KNOW how it performs on game.

 

[Fatback]

Yes sir, left eye dominant so shoot left handed. Also, in my experience, I loose less meat to blood shot damage with the 375 then I do with a 25-06,270, etc..

 

[towserthemouser]

I love my 416 Rigby. After several trips to Africa and different rifles and calibers….I have fell in love with this cartridge, maybe it’s nostalgia or maybe the 416 offers a nice balance between both worlds… but for what ever reason this CZ550 in 416 Rigby fits me perfectly. I have considered it my do all gun. I have taken everything from Hippo to Klipspringer with it, and I can shoot it very well. I decided I could use solids on small game and softs or solids on larger …..and this is the gun I took my klipspringer with my 416 Rigby. I hunted for this guy 4 days straight. I walked and tracked and walked and finally the day my flight was leaving… we decided to take one more small hike before I left, and I saw him. He was larger than I had imagined, he had positioned himself on a rock standing broadside to me… I raised my rifle up and shot him free hand about 50 yards. Any one who has hunted these animals knows they can disappear like a ghost into the mountains never to be seen again. I gave the rifle trigger a slow steady squeeze and then watched him disappear…. My heart dropped as I thought I had missed. But as we climbed to his ledge on top of the Mountain we seen a blood trail. The trail only went about 40 ft and there he laid this old fellow, this monster of a klipspringer. This possibility could be the new World Record. He is still at the tannery. I will keep you all posted. But as far as I am concerned “big” bore rifles do have their place in the world of smaller game. Proper bullet choice is key. I was using a 400g Solid.

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I don't know if he's a world record, but that is the biggest klipspringer I've ever seen, without a doubt. Just WOW.