If you own a big game rifle how often do you shoot it?

[neededausername]

Just curious, all of you who own big game rifles .416 Rigby, .460 Weatherby, the various Nitro Expresses, etc. How often do you actually shoot them? And when you do take them out to the range how many rounds do you fire? From what I understand the ammunition price and recoil are both prohibitive. Personally I don't like a lot of recoil so I will never own one, but more power to those of you who enjoy shooting them.

 

[Welding Rod]

I don't have any cannons, but I have a few bigger guns. I think they should be shot at least once or twice a year. After firing a box of 416 Ruger or 375 H&H Hornady HM loads a guy can really focus when shooting the smaller guns like a 7mm Rem Mag or .30-06 as they almost feel like .223s by comparison.

 

[TGReaper]

My heavy rifle would be properly be described as a medium bore, however the caliber has been used with enough success to be arguably the best all around cartridge in the world.
I own and shoot extensively a Winchester Super Express in .375 H&H.Unfortunately time only allows me to shoot 200 to 250 rounds /year.
I load all the ammo for this rifle which keeps costs reasonable and allows me to tailor the load to the game or range.
The only time it is not my rifle of choice is when the weather is bad,or I'm going to be doing a lot if walking,the little sweetheart is a bit heavy.
RGR

 

[Welding Rod]

Speaking of bigger guns, that new Winchester M70 Safari in 458 Win Mag looks like a real winner. I would be happy to shoot that one of those regularly!

 

[firearmnut]

I shoot my 375 H&H mag about 2-3 times a year because of the expensive factory ammo but i just got in to reloading. So that will probably change this year.

 

[snake284]

Living in Texas all my life, the biggest thing I have ever hunted is whitetail deer and wild hogs. Some people go to places like the King Ranch to hunt Nilgai and other exohtics but to hunt on the King Ranch requires a King's Ransom so I don't go there. The biggest guns in my safe are 30-06s which I shoot pretty regularly. I worked up a load that consists of a 200 Grain Sierra Game King over 56 grains of IMR 4831 at about 2650 FPS. It whacks me pretty good on the bench. My dad had a 7 Rem. Mag. I shot a few times, but when he died he gave it to my oldest Nephew. I have shot a couple 300 Mags and one .338 Win Mag a friend had. They both rocked me pretty good but it wasn't anything I couldn't handle. But I have sense enough to know that those were nothing compared to a .378 or .460 WBY. Those are brutal.

 

[Dr.Rob]

I have a .375 H&H in my safe that I've never shot. I know, for shame.

 

[BigN]

The biggest one I have is a 7 mag. It does crack your shoulder pretty good but I shoot at least a thousand rounds a year through it. I wouldn't own a gun I never shoot, no point...

 

[FoMoGo]

I shoot full power, not trapdoor... but not ruger level either, .45-70 and .300 WM every chance I get.
I LOVE a hard hitting rifle and WILL be buying more powerful in the future.


Jim

 

[dirtyjim]

my 375 h&h goes to the range at least every other month & i usually put about 20 rounds down range, i also try to take my 10,75x68 along too but i only shoot it 5 or 6 times since i'm running low on ammo for it.
when i done with the big bores i put about 20 rounds through a 22lr.
i was going to build a 550 express this summer but now i'm going to see how the 577AccRell works out before starting that project because i may do the 577 instead

wouldn't own a gun I never shoot, no point...

i would & i do. i have a unfired & papered nm garand that was bought as an investment and shooting it would seriously lower the price when i decide to sell it

 

[MMCSRET]

My personal goal is a hundred rounds a year; but I've got way too many to be able to do that plus I have my favorites that just get used more than the others. As an example; I have a new Interarms Mark X, 30-06 dated 1989 that I have never fired. I bought it with every intention of using it, even put a new B&C stock on it in 1990 and a new set of Millet bases and rings in 1998. It still has never been fired. I dunno!!!!!!!!!!!