{"id":409098,"date":"2023-09-13T07:00:40","date_gmt":"2023-09-13T12:00:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gunmagwarehouse.com\/blog\/?p=409098"},"modified":"2023-09-11T14:12:03","modified_gmt":"2023-09-11T19:12:03","slug":"big-bores-are-they-useful-and-why","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gunmagwarehouse.com\/blog\/big-bores-are-they-useful-and-why\/","title":{"rendered":"Big Bores: Are They Useful, and Why?"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\u2019re going to answer your big bore questions and get into the pros and cons of running big bores on a regular \u2014 or semi-regular \u2014 basis.<\/p>\n

\"Nighthawk
Big bores come in every platform. (Photo credit: Nighthawk Korth)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What are big bores?<\/h2>\n

This might seem obvious, but first let\u2019s consider what calibers are considered big bores. There\u2019s no specific rule regarding what is and isn\u2019t a big bore, but generally speaking, calibers with a bullet diameter above the 0.400 inches of .40 Smith & Wesson<\/a> would be considered a big \u2014 or at least bigger \u2014 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\u2019s Institute) bullet diameter is 0.4005 inches. This is a cartridge that\u2019s a bit of a gray area for inclusion into the wide world of big bores, but many \u2014 if not most \u2014 gun owners see it as one.<\/p>\n

When it gets right down to it, the calibers and guns you consider big bores are a matter of personal preference. No, we aren\u2019t suggesting you call a 22 LR or a 223 Remington a big bore \u2014 because those clearly are not \u2014 but when something\u2019s right on the line, it comes down to how you think of it. This leads us to our next point: felt recoil.<\/p>\n

How much felt recoil do big bores have?<\/h2>\n

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\u2019s used to big bores but feels overwhelmingly strong to a new shooter who\u2019s only run 22 LR. So while recoil can be measured, the felt recoil has a bit to do with perception. It\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

\"magnum
Desert Eagles<\/a> are pretty well-known big bores and actually come in a variety of calibers. (Photo credit: Magnum Research)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What are big bores used for?<\/h2>\n

Sometimes big bore handguns and rifles are simply used for fun, but they\u2019re also useful for things like hunting. And if you\u2019re into bowling pin shoots, you\u2019ll find the larger calibers \u2014 big bores \u2014 are more effective at knocking pins down (in fact, many smaller calibers just can\u2019t do it). You\u2019ll 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.<\/p>\n

\"50
50 BMG is one of many big bores on the market. (Photo credit: Hornady)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What calibers are big bores?<\/h2>\n

There are more big bores than you might realize. This is not meant to be an exhaustive list, but some popular big bores include:<\/p>\n