Author Topic: Best Caliber for someone new to big bore? (Read 2617 times)

Bob Baker · « **Reply #30 on:** February 21, 2006, 01:16:19 PM »

Rocky,

For hunting deer I would suggest either .41 Mag. or .44 Mag. Good ammo is available for both if you don't handload and both have manageable recoil in the Model 83. Later after you have gained some experience you can look at moving into a bigger caliber.

Questor · « **Reply #31 on:** February 21, 2006, 04:15:27 PM »

Bob Baker:

I've been shooting 44 magnum for years and have had no desire to move to anything larger. That 454 is pretty attractive, but I just haven't seen a reason to get one. Aside from the folks who want the biggest, what kind of applications do you see people using the 454s and 475s/480 for?

Bob Baker · « **Reply #32 on:** February 22, 2006, 05:54:36 AM »

I see them used for everything from shooting paper to shooting elephant. A few are used to enhance ego but very few from what I see. Most are for future planned hunts or that someday they may be able to go on their dream hunt. Some are bought with no intentions of ever hunting anything, they are strictly to improve ability and gain experience. One individual I know has several of our revolvers ranging from .32 to .500WE. His goal in life is to be able to shoot nice tight groups with every caliber and he does really well. He has sent me some targets that make me wish I could shoot that well.

Questor · « **Reply #33 on:** February 23, 2006, 01:45:08 AM »

Bob Baker:

Thanks for the thoughtful reply, and thanks for building guns with such high quality in mind. I don't own one, but do admire them. I've been shooting long enough to painfully understand that quality is something you can't take for granted, even with custom guns. In my opinion, Freedom Arms guns are true value for the money.

Old Griz · « **Reply #34 on:** February 25, 2006, 08:21:05 PM »

Quote from: 454PB

You can always drive a Corvette slowly, but a Civic can't be reved that high.

:cb2: Obviously you don't have many "Rice Rockets" in your neighborhood. There is just something unnatural about these little Japanese cars outrunning big American muscle cars, but they do so all the time. When I was in high school we all wanted Vettes, Camaros, Firebirds, Roadrunners, GTOs, et al., but the kids I teach today are buying Hondas and Toyotas and trying to break the sound barrier in them. Amazing.

Back to the ORIGINAL question (before folks woke up on the grumpy side of bed): Best caliber for someone new to big bore?

I think that a .454 or .475 is not the way to go for someone just starting to shoot big bore guns. You don't learn to drive in an Indy Car, so why learn to shoot with an elephant gun?

A .44 or .41 would be the best for someone new to big bore guns. Some folks here obviously have never felt the need to go with anything bigger. Personally, I will never go hunting in Africa, and probably not spend very much time in Grizzly territory, so the .44 fits my needs. (I do have one .45-70, but I normally don't shoot hard kicking rifles either. A 6.5 Swede or a .30-30 will kill anything here in Tennessee.) Naturally, if there wasn't a market for bigger guns, they wouldn't make 'em. To each his own.

Once you've mastered the .44 or .41, then you're either happy with what you've got, or, you have something else to look forward to.

OK, I've rambled on enough. It's past my bed time and I probably didn't make much sense anyway. Sorry.

swampthing · « **Reply #35 on:** February 26, 2006, 01:48:57 PM »

I have ,3, 44mag statements.
1: 280g LBT WFNGC, hardcast, @1300fps. My inside 100yds; deer, hog, black bear, and moose load.
2: 240g hardcast SWC @1200fps. My plinking/practice load.
3: 350g LBT WLNGC hardcast @1450fps. My "Do you feel lucky punk!" load.