New bigbore shooters attention!

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Some new threads about new bigbore shooters coming out lately, first off I'll say welcome you've come down a rabbit hole you'll never crawl out of. The old 9mm and even the .45 in acp configuration will never take the place of your new love I promise that. Since there are new shooters out there getting into big bores I thought I'd give them some links to the greats of the past.
Elmer Kieth, Skeeter Skelton, John Taffin to name a few. Look up their works guys and youll appreciate the hours and the gunpowder these men burned to give us the knowledge and even some guns we know and love today.

Darkcanyon.net for Skeeter's works

sixguns.com for Taffin

Go to Amazon and order "sixguns" by Kieth you won't out it down.
 
The old 9mm and even the .45 in acp configuration will never take the place of your new love I promise that.

I was taught that .45ACP uses a bigger bore than .44 by about .020", give or take a few thousandths. Is there something else subjectively you are using to denote what a " True Big-Bore" is?

Not trying to be argumentative, just curious.
 
I was taught that .45ACP uses a bigger bore than .44 by about .020", give or take a few thousandths. Is there something else subjectively you are using to denote what a " True Big-Bore" is?

Not trying to be argumentative, just curious.
Great question, When you to talk to me specifically about big bore I take it to mean .41 magnum or above in caliber, the .45 ACP was referenced not to say its not a big bore but to denote that in revolvers with .44 spl or another cartridge I believe the excitement and joy factor to be multiplied, I love the 1911 and in autos ( man this is gonna catch me some flak) I feel its the greatest system ever devised, but when I look at my safe and see which is coming with me on the trail hunting or hiking the revolvers get first pick, even so when heading into town.
 
I have taffins books and read the others, but if you are new i would suggest the gun digest book of hunting revolvers by max prasac. Full of great information and a really really nice book full of great pics. Its quite frankly got more info for the new shooter and is more current than any of my other books. Check it out.
 
Great question, When you to talk to me specifically about big bore I take it to mean .41 magnum or above in caliber, the .45 ACP was referenced not to say its not a big bore but to denote that in revolvers with .44 spl or another cartridge I believe the excitement and joy factor to be multiplied, .

But with similar weight bullets, standard loads for .44 special are slower than even the lowly .45ACP standard loads. What is it that produces more joy and excitement then, the name .44 special? Or is it just the platform of a revolver over that of a Semi? Again, not trying to be argumentative. Just trying to figure out where you are coming from. IMHO, the phrase "Big-Bore" is highly subjective. Like the phrase "Hi-Power", it's original definition has been clouded by years of being a subjective adjective. Some say anything with the number .4 as the first number in it's caliber is a big bore, while other's insist it must be .44 or larger. Some even consider a .38/.357 a "Big Bore" handgun. I think many think any "Magnum" handgun is what makes for a Big Bore.

I, like you, prefer my revolvers to my Semis. Even those with a smaller diameter barrel than my 1911s. I also enjoy readin' Elmer Kieth, Skeeter Skelton, along with others. I personally think they are a good read whatever caliber trips your trigger.
 
But with similar weight bullets, standard loads for .44 special are slower than even the lowly .45ACP standard loads. What is it that produces more joy and excitement then, the name .44 special? Or is it just the platform of a revolver over that of a Semi? Again, not trying to be argumentative. Just trying to figure out where you are coming from. IMHO, the phrase "Big-Bore" is highly subjective. Like the phrase "Hi-Power", it's original definition has been clouded by years of being a subjective adjective. Some say anything with the number .4 as the first number in it's caliber is a big bore, while other's insist it must be .44 or larger. Some even consider a .38/.357 a "Big Bore" handgun. I think many think any "Magnum" handgun is what makes for a Big Bore.

I, like you, prefer my revolvers to my Semis. Even those with a smaller diameter barrel than my 1911s. I also enjoy readin' Elmer Kieth, Skeeter Skelton, along with others. I personally think they are a good read whatever caliber trips your trigger.
Factory Standard ACP loads are indeed better than factory .44 spl, .44 spl when handloaded blows it out of the water a sentiment shared by Keith,Skelton, and Taffin, a warm .44 spl just flat out outperforms it without getting into crazy recoil ala some of the bigger rounds. Eh to me the .357 is a good cartridge just when compared to others like the .44 spl or .45 colt Id choose them first.
 
It's all semantics, and generally so unconsequential. Pick up a book about dangerous game rifles and a "big bore" denotes something very different than the same moniker in the context of handguns. Technically, using the paradigm of dangerous game rifles in which 375-416's aren't yet "big bore," I have a "mid bore" pistol, a .416 Rigby custom bolt action CZ550 - does that mean a "big bore" 45acp 1911 is more formidable? Hardly.

I know I often use the term "big bore revolvers," which is a bit more descriptive than to say "big bore handguns." I also use the monikers magnum and super magnum, typically suffixed by revolvers again rather than handguns.

It's always funny, however, after all of these years, when some 45acp or 10mm guy gets huffy about revolver guys looking down at their "heavy hitter" in conversation. But it really is an entirely different class, baby pistol cases need not apply.
 
IMHO, the phrase "Big-Bore" is highly subjective.

I'll agree.

I consider "big bore" just that, a large diameter bore. It does not have any indication to the power of the cartridge/gun combination.

As my age advances, I'm more than happy shooting "mild" cartridges like 45 ACP, 45 Colt, 44 Special, and similar performance cartridges. 45 Colt worked well during the "wild west" era so anything similar will work perform well within the limitations of the targets expected.

There are more powerful cartridges available for more dangerous game.
 
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I think we re nit picking choices of words. He's just trying to be helpful. Pretty easy to surmise he meant the larger magnum handgun calibers like 41 mag and up.
 
I just haul out the X frame 500 S&W and say "you were talking big bore?".:D I have always gone with the "4" or larger in the caliber to denote big bore myself but there is a caliber range that some view differently. The private range where I shoot denotes .17/.22 rimfire as small bore while anything center fire is big bore. I always wondered about 204 Ruger, 22 Hornet, and the like, as being big bore though.:scrutiny: YMMV
 
It's always funny, however, after all of these years, when some 45acp or 10mm guy gets huffy about revolver guys looking down at their "heavy hitter" in conversation. But it really is an entirely different class, baby pistol cases need not apply.

Your first statement in the post explains it.


It's all semantics

The OP starts a thread on "Big Bore" handguns. Isn't until several posts later he explains to us, his interpretation of a "Big Bore" handgun is really a magnum revolver. In your quoted post above, you allude to, that a "Big Bore" is determined by case size/capacity and platform. It is this whole highly subjective variance in what folks tend to believe what denotes a "Big Bore" is why I asked the questions I did in my first post. As one can tell from my user name, I am no stranger to what either you or the OP subjectively refer to as a "Big Bore". Still, in reality, the word "Bore" is defined as the inside diameter of a hole, tube, or hollow cylindrical object or device, such as a bushing, engine cylinder, or barrel of a gun..

Again, I have no problem with what folks have in their head constitutes a "Big Bore" handgun, nor have I defended or tried to explain/ justify my own interpretation. Only wanted to know from the start, what exactly we were really talking about.

Yeah the thread kinda got hijacked my only intention to provide links to historical articles that really changed the game when it came to big bore revolvers .

While those books and the authors of them did indeed influence the advancement of magnum type revolvers, the idea of the effectiveness and the popularity of guns with large diameter bores had been around long before they were. During the Civil War, one of the most prevalent rifles used was of .58 caliber. In the 1850's Colts most popular handgun was in .44. The infamous .45 Colt was developed in 1872. Again, 20th century gun enthusiasts did indeed bring about chamberings in magnun revolvers. But even some of the heaviest hitting "Big Bore" magnum revolvers, the .454 Casull and the .460 S&W mag, use the parent case of the archaic .45 Colt.
 
Your first statement in the post explains it.




The OP starts a thread on "Big Bore" handguns. Isn't until several posts later he explains to us, his interpretation of a "Big Bore" handgun is really a magnum revolver. In your quoted post above, you allude to, that a "Big Bore" is determined by case size/capacity and platform. It is this whole highly subjective variance in what folks tend to believe what denotes a "Big Bore" is why I asked the questions I did in my first post. As one can tell from my user name, I am no stranger to what either you or the OP subjectively refer to as a "Big Bore". Still, in reality, the word "Bore" is defined as the inside diameter of a hole, tube, or hollow cylindrical object or device, such as a bushing, engine cylinder, or barrel of a gun..

Again, I have no problem with what folks have in their head constitutes a "Big Bore" handgun, nor have I defended or tried to explain/ justify my own interpretation. Only wanted to know from the start, what exactly we were really talking about.



While those books and the authors of them did indeed influence the advancement of magnum type revolvers, the idea of the effectiveness and the popularity of guns with large diameter bores had been around long before they were. During the Civil War, one of the most prevalent rifles used was of .58 caliber. In the 1850's Colts most popular handgun was in .44. The infamous .45 Colt was developed in 1872. Again, 20th century gun enthusiasts did indeed bring about chamberings in magnun revolvers. But even some of the heaviest hitting "Big Bore" magnum revolvers, the .454 Casull and the .460 S&W mag, use the parent case of the archaic .45 Colt.
Yeah I know all that this thread was for people to look at some of the articles that helped define these revolvers. Seems like you can't spread any info out there without people trying to twist words and get things out of order.
 
Yeah I know all that this thread was for people to look at some of the articles that helped define these revolvers. Seems like you can't spread any info out there without people trying to twist words and get things out of order.
... but don't let it discourage you. Thanks for providing the info! :)
 
I'm a great fan of the Colt .45. I have two, a Ruger Blackhawk with a 5 1/2" barrel, and a Colt New Service made in 1906. The latter gun I got cheap -- it had been reblued and vigorously buffed and was no longer a collector's model. I cut the barrel to 5 1/2", put on adjustable sights and added Herrett's Shooting Master grips -- it's an awesome revolver!
 
Over the last 60 years, I’ve read Keith, Skelton, John Taffin and others that slip my mind at the moment. Later, Ross Seyfried, Lee Jurras, John Linebaugh, Larry Kelly and J.D. Jones among others. Seyfried and Linebaugh took it to another level with the introduction of the truly Big Bores -.475 & .500. And more recently Brian Pearce and Max Prasac. All good reads, lots of different perspectives. A couple of internet forums have some incredible individuals with a ton of experience with guns, target/combat shooting and hunting. We live in an age where shared information is abundant – if read enough, you will be able to separate the wana bees from the folks that have been there and done that.


Keith, Skelton, Taffin are good places to start. Seyfried is a wealth of knowledge/experience – world combat pistol champ, African professional hunter, BIG game hunter on several contents, firearms experimenter, and entertaining writer (wish he was still actively writing). From what I understand, along with his extensive hunting experiences, Max P has interviewed as many folks (including Ross Seyfried) as possible in putting together back ground for his book(s) and they are a good read.


The reality is that deer, hogs, an occasional black bear will be the largest game 90 + % of handgunners will ever have a chance to hunt. Some will add elk, and moose (if lucky enough to draw a tag), and maybe a bison. Others who live in or can afford it will hunt moose and brown bears (griz or coastal) along with caribou and maybe muskox in Canada/Alaska. A very small percentage of dedicated handgun hunters will hunt exotic species on other continents and larger “bovines” in the US. Lots of room for different calibers and handgun platforms.


I’ve been down the rabbit hole and thoroughly enjoyed the journey. It started with the .44 Mag, then, spurred on by Ross Seyfried’s writings, progressed thru the .45C/.454 Casull, 480 Ruger, .475 Linebaugh and the .500 JRH. Today, I’ve come full circle and mostly enjoy shooting 22s, 45 ACPs, and .44 Mags with an occasional moderatedly loaded 475/500 thrown in.


It is interesting and informative to see the evolution of handgun hunting and more powerful handguns starting with those early writers. All those that came before (and some that are still with us) have given us the golden age of handguns/handgun hunting. Not much you could want or dream of that can’t be bought off the shelf or built by one of the custom gunsmiths available to us today.


Big Bore or otherwise, enjoy reading about the world of hanguns, how we got here and if you are fortunate enough, your foray into that world.



Paul
 
The Evangelist Cowboy

Thanks for the darkcanyon.net link. Sure do appreciate reading Skeeter Skelton's articles again.
 
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