Who else shoots BIG bore?

[Bushfire]

On this side of the pond in the UK there is no restriction on bore size we can still use the big bores .The big 4 bore and the 6 are heavy and a lot of people think that they will kick like a mule but if they are loaded with the standard load for each bore size then the guns weight absorbs the recoil My days for the big bore fowlers are past it is because of he weight .Enclose are images of my collection for which I used to shoot in days gone by
FeltwadView attachment 147082
View attachment 147083View attachment 147084

If I can get back to the UK in the near future to hunt roe I'd sure love to catch up and fire a couple of those!

 

[pheenix99]

Looks like they are using a P.A.S.T. recoil absorbing, strap on pad after a while in the video. GOOD choice for a heavy recoiling gun!

Gus

My good shouldier cried out when I saw that video.

 

[kemart17]

My sxs six bore..View attachment 146961Twelve gauge sxs on the bottom for scale
Mine is a Belgium made sxs smooth bore sold by Wm. Read and sons, Boston ma. It weighs in at about 20 lbs (unloaded)!
Let’s see pictures of your 4&6 bores!!!View attachment 146963

ouch, on shoulder....and wallet

 

[SciAggie]

My 8 bore modern version...

That rifle is a beauty.

 

[snoutsugar]

Nice big guns fellas....
I shoot 4bore, 5bore, 6bore, 8bore and most of the smaller.....bores, lolol
Remember, if you don't shoot the correct amount of powder and lead, then you're firing nothing but a extra heavy, won't shoot worth a darn gun.
Some folks here fire their guns at 30 yards and swear they are "deadly accurate". Powder loads are HALF of recommended. Large guns don't work well with heavy balls and small (I can't take it) powder loads.
Talk the talk but don't walk the walk.......
But, they are still fun to look at and let folks ASSUME you fire "proper" loads....

Billraby , I like your thoughts. A MAN who fires proper loads in a proper gun.
No assuming here....

 

[snoutsugar]

James Forsyth said it best about underpowered rifle loads, here about the 8bore...
That makes an 8bore perform like a bad shooting 58 caliber rifle.........
Cheers to all

 

[Bushfire]

I believe Frederick Selous did his early elephant hunting with a 4 bore. Lot of gun!

 

[snoutsugar]

He did indeed. He fired full loads and he got performance in return.
Billraby shoots that big load, lots of powder at 450 grains.
All I can handle is 360 grains 2f Swiss, with a ball conical weighing 2,136 grains, just over 1/3 of a POUND. (the slug is from a 4bore cartridge gun) It's a fair blast. I use a Past recoil pad, same as a slip on but more area to spread the recoil over. My gun twist is 1in104. Gun weighs 19lbs.
Greener prints his double barrel 4bore inside a dinner plate at 60yds......
We talk the talk but we walk the walk. Lolololol
Pics below are the 4bore 2,136 grain ball conical and a 50 caliber ball-et. Last pic, 50 caliber round ball in 4bore muzzle.
Cheers

 

[billraby]

The whole point of shooting historic guns is to get some sense of what it was like for the people that originally used them. Of course it is mostly all fantasy, especially with a 4 bore. I am not going to go elephant hunting. I am certainly not going to go elephant hunting in 1840! Thing is I read too many adventure stories when I was a kid. I was always fascinated by the guns they talked about and had to have one some day. Most of those old time elephant hunters admitted that they were afraid of their guns.
Shooting these big guns with a small powder charge just takes away the whole point of having one in the first place. They really do need a patent breech and massive powder charge. If the gun is designed well you won't need a recoil pad and it won't be painful. But you will need a lot of practice with high recoil guns. 8 bore rifle has more recoil than any modern rifle produced today. 4 bore has a lot more. They will injure you.
For anyone interested here is link to the first in a series of videos about building one.

 

[Bushfire]

The whole point of shooting historic guns is to get some sense of what it was like for the people that originally used them.

I agree, I feel like somewhat of a sissy now in present company but my greatest hunting idol is Jim Corbett. So much so I had a 275 Rigby made for myself that I use to hunt open sights with. Mind you I'm hunting deer not man eating leopards and tigers.
One day I would love a 450/400NE just like he had also.

On the black powder front I take possession of my fusil de chasse today, not big bore but a part of history that fascinates me because of my French heritage.

I think whatever your interest it's great to keep history alive.

 

[snoutsugar]

Billraby you are most correct.
What a joy to hear common sense muzzleloading......
The metal butt plate might feel a little worse without a pad....I know my Pacemaker likes the pad, it sputters some if I don't....keep in mind I'm receiving over 200 ftlbs of recoil.....and the hospital wonders why my Pacemaker records seismic events.....300 Weatherby is 31ftlbs recoil I think....
Y'all welcome to come shoot...free powder and lead. No replacement shoulders or collar bones available. Please bring your own. Ambulance only 5 minutes away so no worries, COME GET SOME......

The Pics show a guy almost losing control over the 4bore rifle. Will make for a good nose job.....if you're scared don't fire them.....common sense prevails always!

 

[stikshooter]

On this side of the pond in the UK there is no restriction on bore size we can still use the big bores .The big 4 bore and the 6 are heavy and a lot of people think that they will kick like a mule but if they are loaded with the standard load for each bore size then the guns weight absorbs the recoil My days for the big bore fowlers are past it is because of he weight .Enclose are images of my collection for which I used to shoot in days gone by
FeltwadView attachment 147082
View attachment 147083View attachment 147084

WOW now them's guns/Ed

 

[Sean E Bug]

I just noticed rice barrel offers an octagon to round smoothbore up to 8 gauge. Might have to talk to them.

 

[billraby]

The octagon to round barrel from Rice looks like a fowling barrel. You can shoot a single ball from it but if you want to use the heavy charges it would be best to get a barrel from Oregon Barrel. They make the heavy rifled barrels. The 4 bore barrels I have gotten from them weigh over 12 pounds.

 

[earlwb]

The biggest I owned was a 10 gauge double that I sold in a moment of weakness. Now when I was young Dixie Gun Works sold a 4 bore smoothbore. But by the time I had saved up the money to buy one, they had sold out and discontinued it. They sold a big fishing weight ball Mould to make the huge bullets for it too.

 

[nkbj]

The .696" bore Fremont is my biggest.