What...............

[mcrae555]

Hello gentlemen

     I am relatively new to the big bores.  I hunted with 450 Marlin for a year and got talked into getting rid of it because I didn't need it.  I regretted that sale every day afterwards!  I have a 7mm-08 and I like it just fine but I felt like I needed something bigger.  I went to the .338 Win Mag and liked it just fine but decided maybe something just a little bigger!  I have a custom built 375/338 at the moment and I absolutely love this thing!  I live in Southern BC and bears are fact of life so its nice to know I have enough gun!  I spend most of my time hunting bigger critters anyway so I figured a bigger gun would do a better job.  I have been labeled as someone who can't shoot because I need a big gun and it does get tiring explaining the concept of bigger hole more power as my personal preference to the guy with his old 30/06.  I shoot allot and I practice allot and I can outshoot allot of guys out there but still as soon as I mention I have 375/338 it must be because I can't shoot straight so I need a big gun!  My attraction to big bores is because I get told I don't need it!

McRae

[Lawdog]

McRae,

Welcome to the World of Big Bores.  I have found that big bores are addictive.  Kind of like eating salted peanuts - one just won't do.  As far as other shooters telling you the only reason you shoot big bores is because you can’t shoot is as old as big bores itself.  I have been told that many times too.  I just let them fire a few shots thru whatever one of my big bores I am shooting and let them see for themselves that big bores are just as accurate as their favorite deer rifle.  By doing so I have turned a few of these guys into big bore shooters too.  Small groups and tight lines to you.  Lawdog
 

[Coyote Hunter]

Got a Marlin levergun for fun.  Wanted something with more oomph than a .30-30 and less recoil than a .45-70, had a .307 in mind.  Found a nice Marlin 375, bought it, and was hooked.  Immediately started looking for a used 450 or .45-70, found a 2 year old .45-70 for $249.95 in near perfect condition.

In the first year I worked up 17 loads for the .45-70.  Here's a sampling:

300g Hardcast @ 1167fps -- fun, accurate, very cheap pllinker load
300g Barnes X @ 2061fps
300g Speer UHCP @ 2247fps -- Practice load for hunting
305g Hardcast GC @ 2073fps
350g Hardcast @ 1566fps
350g North Fork Bonded FN @ 2183fps -- Hunting load
350g Speer JFN @ 2191fps
350g Hornady JFP @ 2200fps
405g Rem JSP @ 1732fps
405g Rem JSP @ 1982fps
460g Hardcast @ 1812fps -- "Rhino Blaster"
500g Speer Tungsten AGS @ 1332fps -- Just because