Largest caliber you own?

[Trey Veston]

Before my dad passed, I had no reason to own anything bigger than a .35 Whelen or .30-06 AI. Elk was the biggest thing I would ever shoot and I never got the thrill of shooting something that hurt you. But my father, who hunted dangerous game in Africa, Alaska, and Siberia, had such a need for some serious calibers. His Africa days long since passed, he got rid of his double rifles in 416 Rigby, .458 Lott, and .505 Gibbs.

All that was left when he passed was a Ruger #1 in .375 H&H Ackley Improved, built by Al Biesen, and a Sharps rifle crafted in Oregon in .50-90. I fired the Ruger, got a mild concussion, and gifted it to my brother for Christmas, lol.

The Sharps is now the largest caliber rifle I own, and I will keep it until I die. I have fired hundreds of rounds of .45-70 govt. in BPCR competition, and plenty of .45-90 as well. So the thought of shooting a rifle in .50-90 did not seem all that intimidating.

Until today. When I went to my storage container to scrounge up some ammo to shoot this weekend. The recipe I found was 91grs of black powder, with a .030 plastic wad, and 600gr flatpoint lead bullets.

I checked the ammo for condition, then compared it to my normal .45-70 competition ammo...



The .45-70 looks downright tame compared to the .50-90!

Typical Idaho Spring weather with snow, hail, rain, sunshine and high winds all in one day has prevented me from any rifle shooting, but this weekend is supposed to get near 80 and be calm, so will hopefully shoot the Sharps and do a YouTube review of it.





I'm sure other folks on here have similarly giant calibers. Probably a few .50 BMG owners. Curious as to what other dangerous game calibers folks have and what they use them for. My Sharps may someday take an elk, but it definitely isn't needed for one.

 

[Anchorite]

375 H&H (Ruger #1) and a 500 JRH (Ruger revolver) are my largest. Just paper killers now. I’ve other choices for hunting, but these two do draw admirers at the range.

 

[Chevelle SS]

I have a few 45-70s and a 375 H&H so nothing crazy. Used to have a 460 Weatherby but sold it a few months ago.

 

[Varminterror]

By caliber, 458WM now, was meant to be a Lott originally, but I'm on a shorter receiver and wasn't wanting to do a second lug on the barrel into the stock. I suppose my 45-70 and 458socom are technically the same caliber as my 458wm though, but obviously smaller and less potent cartridges - and my 475 Linebaugh is actually bigger caliber, but since it's a revolver and this is the rifle section, I assumed it's disqualified, and again, less powerful. No more 50BMG, think it has been... 16 years now? My most powerful rifle currently is my new 375 Cheytac, which eclipses my 458wm by over 50% in muzzle energy - and weighs almost 3x as much AND is almost 2ft longer, obviously not in the same application class.

 

[JmacD]

I have nothing “big” now, but a 460 s&w mag is in the works a the handgun side. I’m looking at possibly doing a dangerous game rifle at some point(thinking 375 Ruger) Biggest thing I have is a 50 cal muzzleloader. I have been given the chance to shoot a 50-110, but(I was much younger) I chickened out when I saw it next to a 45-70…

 

[LV Gun]

Don’t have any big caliber rifles the biggest handgun caliber I have is a Magnum Research BFR revolver in 45/70 , I had a S&W 500 magnum but sold it to my brother who is a bear hunter.

 

[earlthegoat2]

Biggest I have ever owned was a 4 bore “smooth rifle”. So a smoothbore with iron sights. Im pretty sure it was a naval “wall gun” converted for mobile use. It was only 16 lbs though. 3 oz of #1 buckshot made quite a pattern.

Right now, a 75 cal Hawken.

And yes, both of these are black powder muzzleloaders.

My largest caliber smokeless cartridge is 50 Beowulf. My hardest hitting is likely my 454 Casull Browning 1885 with an off books handload I cooked up using a 275 gr Barnes XPB crimped in the second groove. It’s scary accurate.

 

[Armored farmer]

.45-70 is my biggest.
Unless you want to consider my .54 Hawken

 

[American_Fusilier]

My biggest caliber is 30-06. No big deal, but that'll work if I ever decide to go hunt elk.

Biggest pistol caliber is .45acp. Again nothing special.

 

[troy fairweather]

458

 

[entropy]

8x57 Mauser.

 

[Eutycus]

Blackpowder -.50 Smokless-.44

 

[jmr40]

The .45-70 looks downright tame compared to the .50-90!

It is.

I've owned 3 different Marlin 45-70 dating back to the 1970's. I had a 1st year production 1895 right after Marlin reintroduced them in the early 70's. A standard 22" pistol gripped gun and a Guide gun. I sold the last one about 10 years ago.

Black Powder equivalent 45-70 loads are quite mild with recoil in the 30-30 range. Most common modern loads recoil very similar to 30-06. But some of the upper end loads will rock you pretty good, especially from a lightweight Marlin lever gun. Never had the opportunity to shoot a 50-90, but that's about 25% more powder and 30% more bullet weight.

I just don't need anything very big. I experimented briefly with 35 Whelen and 338-06 but eventually concluded my 308 is the biggest gun I'll ever need. I still have a 30-06, but rarely use it anymore.

I have had an opportunity to shoot a 416 Rigby and a 375 H&H. That was fun and recoil was tolerable.

 

[Gerd33]

Currently 444 Marlin,

In addition I also have a .50 cal black powder inline, and while they probably don't count here a few slugs for the 10gauge



I have had a couple of 45-70s including one of the BFR revolvers but let them go,

 

[.308 Norma]

I have a .45-110 Sharps, but I guess my largest "caliber" firearm is my 50 caliber Hawken.

 

[NorthBorder]

My biggest are 2 45-70s. One is a ruger marlin trapper. The other is a Sharps that I had custom ordered from C Sharps about 5 years ago.

 

[Jimster]

.62 Jaeger flintlock.
45-70 Sharps.

 

[Walkalong]

.458 Win Mag, fun caliber.

 

[Random 8]

A 4" bore muzzleloading cannon.

 

[cfullgraf]

Handgun - 460 S&W Mag.

Rifle - 30-06.

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

Two in 45/70, one a Pedersoli Sharps the other a Uberti trapdoor carbine.
I also have a couple 58 caliber muzzle loaders.

 

[Wildfan99]

.45-120 Sharps
.338 mag rifle
.44 mag revolver

 

[Lennyjoe]

.50 Beowulf and 45-70.

 

[Buckeye63]

30-30

It works fantastic

 

[codytrucker]

I've got a .404 Jeffery . Only thing I've killed with it so far are rocks .

I have a good friend who took a 50-110 to Africa , he shot a hippo , out of water , with it .