It seems like big bores are ramping up again for popularity, and it might have you wondering what their purpose really is. Are big bores even useful, and if they are, for what? Why are they even a thing when there are perfectly capable smaller cartridges on the market? We’re going to answer your big bore questions and get into the pros and cons of running big bores on a regular — or semi-regular — basis.
What are big bores?
This might seem obvious, but first let’s consider what calibers are considered big bores. There’s no specific rule regarding what is and isn’t a big bore, but generally speaking, calibers with a bullet diameter above the 0.400 inches of .40 Smith & Wesson would be considered a big — or at least bigger — bore. Of course, that calls something like 10mm into question. Many people refer to 10mm as big bore, but is it? Its SAAMI (Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturer’s Institute) bullet diameter is 0.4005 inches. This is a cartridge that’s a bit of a gray area for inclusion into the wide world of big bores, but many — if not most — gun owners see it as one.
When it gets right down to it, the calibers and guns you consider big bores are a matter of personal preference. No, we aren’t suggesting you call a 22 LR or a 223 Remington a big bore — because those clearly are not — but when something’s right on the line, it comes down to how you think of it. This leads us to our next point: felt recoil.
How much felt recoil do big bores have?
Felt recoil varies wildly by caliber. And while there are ways to specifically measure recoil itself, felt recoil is a bit subjective. How much felt recoil you perceive depends on the gun, specific ammunition, and your grip, stance, and experience. A 500 Linebaugh might feel a lot more manageable to someone who’s used to big bores but feels overwhelmingly strong to a new shooter who’s only run 22 LR. So while recoil can be measured, the felt recoil has a bit to do with perception. It’s certainly accurate to say certain calibers produce greater felt recoil than others, but just how that affects you is a personal thing that requires many factors to be taken into consideration.
What are big bores used for?
Sometimes big bore handguns and rifles are simply used for fun, but they’re also useful for things like hunting. And if you’re into bowling pin shoots, you’ll find the larger calibers — big bores — are more effective at knocking pins down (in fact, many smaller calibers just can’t do it). You’ll also see certain big-bore rifles used by snipers and sometimes by precision shooters looking for that perfect long-range shot. Bigger bores have the benefits of more propellant to send the bullet down range and that can translate to greater reach at longer distances.
What calibers are big bores?
There are more big bores than you might realize. This is not meant to be an exhaustive list, but some popular big bores include:
- 500 Smith & Wesson
- 45-70 Government
- 45-70 Auto
- 500 Linebaugh
- 450 Bushmaster
- 44 Magnum
- 44 Special
- 50 Beowulf
- 50 BMG
- 458 SOCOM
- 444 Marlin
- 50 AE
- 429 DE
- 454 Casull
- 450 Marlin
- 458 Lott
- 460 Weatherby Magnum
- 500 Nitro Express
- 416 Rigby
There are magnum loads that are often included as big bores, and understandably so. This includes cartridges like 338 Lapua Magnum, 300 Winchester Magnum, and 375 H&H Magnum. Do they produce significant felt recoil? Yes. Is their bullet diameter smaller than 0.400 inches? Also, yes. They’re not technically big bores but due to the fact that they’re magnums, they’re often lumped into the big bore category.
What are the pros of big bores?
From the perspective of a hunter, big bores are fantastic because they deliver enormous energy transfer and create large wound cavities, meaning animals drop faster. That’s both helpful because it means less need for tracking, and ethical because the shots are more effective, faster. Long-range shooters — whether they’re snipers or shooting steel — often like big bores because they’re more capable of impacting a target at longer distances.
A few pros of big bores include:
- Greater energy transfer on target.
- Larger wound cavity, even at longer distances.
- More propellant often—but not always—means greater reach.
- Fun to shoot.
- More effective for bowling pin shoots and similar shooting sports.
What are the cons of big bores?
The most obvious con of big bores is the felt recoil, which can be quite substantial. Aside from that, hunters using big bores need to be aware of the rapid drop rate many have compared to smaller calibers. Big bores like 450 Bushmaster can be limited quite a bit by drop rate, so it’s important to be familiar with what the big bore can do before venturing out on a hunt. The same goes for long-range shooters. Drop and drift do matter and heavier bullets tend to do those things significantly faster. Other cons of big bores include:
- Cost (both the guns and the ammo cost more).
- Felt recoil and muzzle rise.
- Difficulty with rapid fire and/or follow-up shots.
- Risk of arthritis and other high-use-related injuries.
- Potential meat loss on game animals.
- Louder than many smaller calibers during live fire.
Are big bores useful for self-defense?
Using a big bore for self-defense depends on a few things. While it’s certainly possible to do so, you have to be mindful of over-penetration. It’s true that any caliber on the market could over-penetrate, but some are more prone to it than others, and that’d be the true big bores. If you intend to use a big bore for defensive purposes, familiarize yourself with its penetration and overall performance in advance. As always, remember that you are responsible for every bullet that goes down range.
Should you get a big bore?
It’s been a long time since Dirty Harry proclaimed the .44 Magnum the most powerful handgun in the world. While his claim isn’t entirely true, the 44 Magnum is a fantastic gun for entry into the world of big bores. While the .44 Magnum is usually associated with revolvers, you can also get a .44 Magnum Desert Eagle or lever-action rifle, among others. And if you’d like to work your way up to that, start with 10mm. There are endless options on the market for 10mm handguns, so odds are there’s one you’d find useful and enjoyable to shoot. Also, 10mm doesn’t produce the recoil many people anticipate.
Whether or not you decide to add a big bore to your gun collection is up to you, but I’m here to tell you how much fun they can be. Sometimes they’re best relegated to range use but they’re also great while hunting, especially if you’re after predators or feral hogs. They do cost more to run than the average gun, and consistent high round count use might cause you some issues in your thumbs and wrists if you’re not careful, so it pays to be mindful of the frequency of use. But if you want a gun that can make bigger holes or hit steel with enormous impact, you might consider a big bore.
Big bores definitely have their place in the gun world. What’s your favorite big bore cartridge? Tell us about it in the comments
