Want a big caliber - what are my options?

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Thanks for all the advice. And I like what Freedom Fighter said 'Big boy toys usually have a big boy price attached to them.' :) Which is why in my original post I said I might be dreaming looking for a big caliber at a cheap price.

I'm definitely going to do some research on everything mentioned, and I'll probably pick up a 45-70 to start with. (It's not like I said I was only going to buy ONE :) )
 
I have a Ruger #1 in 458 Lott. Picked it up used for $650. Can't get much cheaper than that for an actual elephant gun. I would recommend you start reloading though. Any factory ammo is going to be really expensive in a caliber like that.

As a side note, why does everyone think 45-70 is a powerful round? Even with hot loads for lever actions it's still less powerful than a 30-06 and about half the energy of even the 458 Win Mag.
 
I was thinking the same thing 56hawk but defer to the experience of the other members here :)
 
Like someone else already said, a handi rifle in .45-70 or .500S&Wmag. Either gun can be had for $250-$300. Factory ammo is cheaper for .45-70, but the 500 is more powerful and makes bigger holes.

You can get bullets as heavy as 700gr for the .500mag. The hottest load I shot through the one I had (energy wise) delevoped over 4400 ft. lbs with a 350gr bullet. You have to either get a siamese mauser or ruger no.1 and use max loads in .45-70 to beat the .500, and for what a ruger no.1 or .45-70 mauser cost, you can just buy a .458 instead, which is more powerful than either.

3.5" 12ga shotguns are cheap too. The lightfield commander IDS slugs develop 4800 ft. lbs IIRC, but they're tough on the wallet, and even worse on the shoulder.
 
Even with hot loads for lever actions it's still less powerful than a 30-06 and about half the energy of even the 458 Win Mag.
Depends on where you buy the ammo, or whether or not you reload.
If you compare standard pressure 45-70 Trap-door, 30-06, and .458 loads, you are correct.
But if you have a modern single-shot or lever action, not so much.

Buffalo Bore 45-70 Lever-gun ammo:
405 gr. J.F.N. bullet - (2,000fps / M.E. 3,597 ft.lbs.)

Winchester factory 30-06 load:
180 gr. Silver-Tip (2,700 fps /M.E. 2,913 ft.lbs.)

Winchester factory .458 Mag load
500 gr. Solid bullet -(2,010fps/M.E. 4,485 ft./lbs.)

That doesn't seem like "half the power of a .458", or "less powerful then a 30-06" to me.

And I can guarantee you, if you shoot the BB load in a 6 1/2 pound Marlin, you will think again about how powerful it is!

rc
 
Depends on where you buy the ammo, or whether or not you reload.
If you compare standard pressure 45-70 Trap-door, 30-06, and .458 loads, you are correct.
But if you have a modern single-shot or lever action, not so much.
rc

This is what I was looking at:

Buffalo Bore 45-70 Lever-gun ammo:
500 gr. FMJ bullet - (1,625fps / M.E. 2,931 ft.lbs.)

Buffalo Bore 30-06
180 gr. SPTZ bullet - (2,850fps / M.E. 3,245 ft.lbs.)

Hornady 458 Win Mag
500 gr. Solid - (2,140fps / M.E. 5,084 ft. lbs.)

Like you said, it depends on what ammo you are comparing. Regardless the 45-70 is really close to the 30-06 in terms of energy and a lot less than the 458 Win Mag. 58% by my calculation (about half). :neener: Anyway, my point was that the 45-70 is a lot less powerful than people make it out to be.

As far as recoil goes:
Winchester Model 70 30-06 7lbs. (26 ft. lbs.)
Marlin Guide Gun 45-70 7lbs. (48 ft. lbs.)
Ruger #1 458 Win Mag 9lbs. (66 ft. lbs.)
Ruger #1 458 Lott 9lbs. (76 ft. lbs.)

Also just because it's my fun gun to take to the range:
Weatherby Mark V 460 Wby Mag 9lbs. (113 ft. lbs.)

Maybe a 45-70 out of a light weight rifle would be enough of a step up from the 7.62x54R for Ryanxia, but I still think the Ruger #1 in 458 Lott would be the way to go.
 
45-70. It can be whack the target (and the shooter) like a jackhammer has the added advantage of being easy to reload.
 
I'm biased but a nice used Controlled Round Feed (CRF) rifle in .458 Winchester Magnum would meet your criteria. Interarms Mark X/Whitworths can be found online as well as Remington 798's. Winchester Safari Express and CZ550 Safari Classic are available both new and used. Wisconsin Cartridge Corp (405gr RNSP @ 2200fps) and Hunting Shack Munitions (350gr FPSP @ 2500fps) both offer non-premium 458WM loads at non-premium prices starting at ~$2.00/round. You can buy premium elephant stompers or handload 45/70 level lead round nosed "fun" loads.


http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=614570
 
Good buddy of mine has a Marlin 450, and it is very accurate and really packs a punch, but if you looking for a large caliber I might recommend a Thompson Center Omega Muzzleloader. It is the first muzzle loader that shot 3 shots into the X ring at 100 yards I have ever owned or shot. Very good rifle with 2 pellets of triple 7 and Honady 45 caliber XTP with black sabot, and this is with open sights. Not a repeater, but I am sure the .50 cal shooting .45 caliber sabots would do just as much for you as a $600-$700 rifle. I am a Marlin fanatic also, but this ML really shoot good. I can't wait to put glass on it, but I don't know if I ever will.

Could be a cheaper option for you, and give you the accuracy and knock down you are looking for.
 
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Don't forget the one that started it all, the 50 GOv't or 50-70. Trapdoors, Rolling Blocks and Sharps are still available in that chambering. I have a Trapdoor and will be building a Rolling Block. A lot of fun and not too much cost.
 
458 win mag with full house loads in a ruger 77 african, is all the rifle I ever want to shoot, and more than i ever want to shoot again.
 
How about listing prices you have paid for your said rifle caliber? I buy 50 bmg API ammo for $225/100 rds linked for my belt-fed. That's $2.25 per round.
 
Ole Humpback Quote:
Don't forget the one that started it all, the 50 GOv't or 50-70.

And don't forget the original "Big Fifty" the 50-90 Sharps.

I believe Big 50 refered to the 50-70 compared to the smaller flatter shooting 45-70. Either way, a 50 caliber blackpowder cartidge is a lot of fun.
 
375 H&H Mag in pretty much any manufacturers bolt action rifle offering. This will stop anything short of a charging elephant and certainly kill anything on the planet.


Tens of thousands of elephant have been killed with the .375H&h over the years, including charging ones. A .375H&H will most defiantly stop a charging elephant with good 300 gr solids. They just leave you a lot less room for error than the big bores. A .375H&H is a medium bore rifle whence we are speaking of DG rifles.

A .458 of some flavor would be a nice toy for someone wanting to experience big bore shooting and all of the fun stuff that comes with it. I would suggest reloading however as any and all big bore DG capable rounds are going to be EXPENSIVE if you buy factory ammo.
 
There are Enfields that were converted by Navy Arms in 45/70 floating around too, these have a pretty good rep for working and accuracy...

The Siamese Mausers are excellent as well and both can be found for 6-700.
 
If you want to go on the "Cheap", a H&R Handi Rifle in 45/70 and handload you own ammo. Use lead bullets and you can keep the costs down. Still won't be cheap but reasonable.
 
ruger #1 in 458 Lott, learn to hand load and it will absolutely give you all the thrills you seek (and the people at the neighboring shooting positions). heeheeha
 
I am going to double my opinion about a Thompson Center Omega .50 caliber ML. Less than $300, and can be loaded with 300 grain bullets. Will shoot 150 grains of black powder or black powder substitute. One-hundred fifty grains of powder and a 250 grain bullet is moving about 2000 fps. That is a pretty big punch on whatever you are shooting at, and I guarantee the receiving end isn't going to be very happy.
If you don't own a BP rifle, you should :), and the T/C Omega is a good rifle. You can get it from Wal-Mart for $273.00 out the door.

P.S. If you use 777 powder the cleanup is quick and easy. My load is Hornady cheap boxed 240 grain XTP HP, 2 pellets of Triple 7, Winchester 209 primer. It is dead on @ 100 yards. Which is about as far as I can shoot in the woods. Most of the deer in my life have been killed under 50 yards.

Whatever you go with let us know. So many to choose from in the Big Bore category the list could go on for awhile.
 
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