I need a “big bore” rifle
Warbirds
Member Posts: 16,943 ✭✭✭✭
I am afraid I will have to scale back my pistol shooting for a few months or a year. We don’t know what we don’t know.
I do have a good surplus of large rifle primers which I have accrued over time but my current inventory isn’t complimentary to getting the most out of rifle shooting.
I have an old 30-06 which was my first rifle and I would prefer to keep it as it was when I bought it (ok Dad) @15.
Then I have a Savage 110 in 300WM again more of a mento than tack driver.
I know there are lots of opinions- Im looking for a bolt gun, lefty is OK, that eats a bullet with large rifle primers.
Maybe a rifle with glass/rings in the 2k-2,500 budget.
No interest in a safe queen.
The downside, my range where I am a member only has a 300m range - so looking to hammer nails at that distance with a big bore.
exotic or path less traveled cartridge is OK.
It is really just to fill range time during the pistol primer depression.
Comments
I am well stocked with 22LR. Meaning years worth.
Also have 10k or so rounds of 8mm Mauser.
And at least 20K of 7.62 x 54 to feed Mosin’s (weird deal- bought all that ammo before I even had one rifle!😳)
I want a few hours a week in evenings to reload. -I can also shoot big bore rifle matches at my range.
Not throwing any stones or anything, but I thought I was the only one that did things like that. (I want to buy a gun because I like the looks of that particular cartridge - .17 HMR.)
My reloading/ammo situation is a little weird. My S-I-L was a lead sales rep for Ellett Brothers (hey where’s Select Fire?) I was in a position to make a large buy from them as they went bankrupt and did so. Lots of people went after their firearms- I bought their ammo and reloading supplies. Then I got a little bit lazy and didn’t appropriately replenish my small pistol or small rifle primers over the years. I’m not dry by any means but I am at the point where I will be very deliberate with every round fired for pistols and small rifle. Meaning - if I’m not also paying a coach, I’m probably sending very few pistol rounds down range for a while.
Maybe it’s time to buy a boat and give shooting a rest but I could keep myself occupied for a while with a big bore rifle, even though its not my game per-say.
My reloading press is the only place I really unwind these days.
Does it have to be a bolt gun I have a blast with my 1885 Win. Taking a 38-55 with peep sights out to 300 yds is quite challenging and brass can be made from 30-30 cases
.257 wby, 30-378 wby, 338-378 wby all flat shooting rounds.
when I was about 14 maybe 15 some how I came into possession of a remington ammo info booklet
dreaming of all the calibers I went to the back page at the bottom of there list ranked by power . there it was a 458 win mag
at that time had no idea of gun shops even existing or gun shows , most people I knew had a 22 and a 12 ga shotgun and they were traded for or passed down thru family / friends never seen a center-fire maybe a 30-30
later on I was 20 yrs old or so , by then I did discover both gun shops and shows but in the back of mind that 458 was always there ( think pf Ralphy and the red ryder BB gun movie )
one day while wondering the isles of a gun show with mostly empty pockets ( a trend I still carry on today ) I seen a box of 458 ammo 20.00 wow a dollar a round crazy , about four aisles over glanced down, wait what is that? looks like a cannon it was a ruger 458 win mag with magna ported barrel (at that time I had no clue it was done aftermarket )
with about 150.00 to my name i did my best sales pitch to the rifle owner to do some trading with guns I had at home 50 miles away so we worked out a deal sigh unseen based on my descriptions if I was right when he seen the rifle he wanted I was trading in he would do it . so I went back bought the box of ammo drove home and back to the show
and took home the 458 , I still have it and it always been a great rifle every one wants to shoot when they come by
now looking back I was way over board in my excitement and sure it showed big time I do doubt there was not much demand for the big rifle here in Ohio and sure the dealer seen he had one on the line including the hook and sinker LOL
but I still have a fondness for it it was like a kids dream coming true . other than the old 22 I got from dad it means the most to me
oh the trade in was a ruger mini 14 with several magazines I do not recall the specifics of the trade but who cares LOL
now my youngest son and a nephew had picked up the ball and ran with it over the years as out doing me my son just recently bought a Barrett 50 cal semi auto and my nephew just bought a 300 wetherby and a 460 weatherby my youngest son became a FFL dealer but even at cost the ammo is bit pricey LOL for the big boomers
A purchase I am considering for my 21 yo son is a Mossberg bolt gun in a 375 Ruger. He loves shooting something with heavy recoil. Best part is you can buy one of these Mossies for under or around $350.
My Armalite AR-50 in .50 BMG is one HEAVY rifle. I still have not found a sling for it (not that I am looking that hard). The weight and the muzzle brake all but eliminate any recoil.
Of course, my cannon is my largest caliber but technically not a rifle (smooth bore). It has no felt recoil, if you discount the overpressure from the muzzle blast.
Yes, I like big bore guns. Of course, there is that .17 HMR, but I do like reactive targets. I suppose an Oreo cookie could be a target.
Edit: You want to drive tacks at 300m so the 45-70 lever may not be the best option.
Warbirds,
Might consider something in a 12 ga (it doesn't get much larger big bore. It would be challenging at 300 yds but won't help with your itch to reload or use up your LR primer supply. Use some 3"slug loads (not #9 shot). Schedule a doctor appointment in advance for the shoulder damage.
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/875807193
525gr at 2275fps folding leaf sights