Big Rifle that doesn't break the bank

[RenoF250]

I am kind of hankerin for a big rifle for blowing the crap out of stuff at 50 yards or so. The .375 Ruger looks good but .375 bullets are expensive. A .338 RUM would be okay but the brass is expensive and I am not sure how long that caliber is going to be around. Not many guns chambered for it and I think .338 Edge is eating up most of its following. Is there a big hard hitting round that does not cost a ton to shoot? I thought a 45-70 would do the trick but it just doesn't seem to have the uuummph I am looking for.

[freakshow10mm]

Big rifles cost money either way you look at it. Brass or bullets. Pick one. One is going to be more expensive than the other or they are going to be the same. There is no cheap over .30 caliber rifle.

[MakeMineaP99]

How about a double rifle in a Nitro Express?

The RUMs will be around for a while, since you have Remington to back them. They'll always be wildcatters out there, since something can always be improved.

[RenoF250]

Yeah, the .375 isn't looking too bad, $22 for 50 bullets isn't horrible especially considering you don't just sit and plink with it.

[MakeMineaP99]

Do you want to shoot long range or are you just looking for something with knock down power?

[RenoF250]

Do you want to shoot long range or are you just looking for something with knock down power?

Both if possible but knock down power is clear #1. The range near me (gravel pit) is only ~70 yards. There is a regular rifle range but it only get out to 200 yards. I don't get much chance to shoot at stuff real far away. I was getting ready to buy a 22-250 and then realized it would be pointless where I shoot.

[MakeMineaP99]

What most folks don't realize about the big magnums is they offer short range knock down power, not long range, which is where 338 RUM/L and 300 RUM fit the bill nicely.

I'd do some research, there's plenty out there from H&H class calibers to Nitro Express. Keep in mind this stuff ain't going to be cheap. I think you'd really be hard pressed to beat 375 H&H. If that doesn't work for you, get that 416 Rigby from BGGB before he sells it.

[RenoF250]

What most folks don't realize about the big magnums is they offer short range knock down power, not long range, which is where 338 RUM/L and 300 RUM fit the bill nicely.

I'd do some research, there's plenty out there from H&H class calibers to Nitro Express. Keep in mind this stuff ain't going to be cheap. I think you'd really be hard pressed to beat 375 H&H. If that doesn't work for you, get that 416 Rigby from BGGB before he sells it.

BGGB is on the phone now and says the 416 is going to a family member.

I am really leaning towards the .375 Ruger. I really like the gun and it is $810 new. Brass is expensive but not horrible and bullets are tolerable. Also pretty accurate and good energy. Supposed to duplicate the .375 H&H in a shorter case but it is actually a bit better.

[MONTEGOD7SS]

I bet your shoulder would give out before the gun would if you were pushing a .45-70 for all she's worth out of a Ruger #1. Unless ya already have a .50 I don't see the point of these other magnums really. Surplus brass and bullets are good, and neither of those are going to happen in any of the super magnums. Heck, ya might as well just get a .460 Weatherby and be done with it.

[MakeMineaP99]

BGGB is on the phone now and says the 416 is going to a family member.

I am really leaning towards the .375 Ruger. I really like the gun and it is $810 new. Brass is expensive but not horrible and bullets are tolerable. Also pretty accurate and good energy. Supposed to duplicate the .375 H&H in a shorter case but it is actually a bit better.

I knew that before I asked the question. ;)

[BIGGUNGOBOOM]

Knowing RenoF250, I think that the 375 Ruger would be a good choice, it would match his personality well. I say get the 375 Ruger, and have fun. good short range knock the crap out of anything gun, it will defenetly tame any wild bear or sasquatch's up there in the hills for sure

[Dark Horse]

if you going short range why not 458Socom? 150yds and its done. but it throws a hurting in them 150.

[RenoF250]

Knowing RenoF250, I think that the 375 Ruger would be a good choice, it would match his personality well. I say get the 375 Ruger, and have fun. good short range knock the crap out of anything gun, it will defenetly tame any wild bear or sasquatch's up there in the hills for sure

Match my personality? What? Short and to the point?

[MONTEGOD7SS]

The M77 Hawkeye African is the one I had looked at before and seems like a nice gun. Controlled feed, 23" barrel, and more power than a .375 H&H.

[RenoF250]

if you going short range why not 458Socom? 150yds and its done. but it throws a hurting in them 150.

Not enough energy, similar to the 45-70.

[MONTEGOD7SS]

Match my personality? What? Short and to the point?

I think he's trying to say you can handle a .375 and don't have to settle for a .338. Maybe I'm misunderstanding him. :)

[RenoF250]

The M77 Hawkeye African is the one I had looked at before and seems like a nice gun. Controlled feed, 23" barrel, and more power than a .375 H&H.

I am looking at the Alaskan because I want stainless. If the African was some fancy coating that would be okay but it appears to be regular bluing which rusts too easily. BGGB can testify that I have a problem leaving guns out in the rain.

[RenoF250]

I think he's trying to say you can handle a .375 and don't have to settle for a .338. Maybe I'm misunderstanding him. :)

Actually I think a .338 is a bit beyond BGGB's capabilities. I told him to stick with .22 shorts.

[MONTEGOD7SS]

Shazaam!

[BIGGUNGOBOOM]

funny, how yall be talking smack !!!! but when it comes right down to it you'll be begging to shoot the 338 lapua. I understand, that's fine. just don't count on shooting my toys.

AND IF I MAY POINT OUT !!!!! I am the only one in the group with two MAGNUM, MAGNUM handguns. 454 & 500, 44 mags don't count in the MAGNUM,MAGNUM categories, and IF I remember correctly someone out of this group has been putting off getting the 460S&W that hes ran his mouth off about for several years, mostly cause hes claiming that hes waiting on a deal. BUT I think that hes scared of the recoil !!!!! PLUS I AM BIGGUNGOBOOM

[MONTEGOD7SS]

How you gonna shoot it with no brass? Probably be good at propping a door open I bet.

[Glooooock]

If you can get close 20 - 30 yd ,, 98% of all critters can be dropped with a hot 12ga slug .:yesnod:

[Tailgunner]

The stocks are kind of chunky, you can carve them down, but one of the best bang for the buck big bore rifles out there is the CZ-550 Safari series.
Any big bore factory ammo is expensive, but they also show the greatest savings when you reload them.
Now, if you want to go "over the top", AHR (American Hunting Rifles) does a CZ conversion to "600 Overkill" (honest, that's the name of the cartridge), which is a 600 Nitro class round, or you can convert a few single shot 12ga's to the "12ga From Hell" (convertability depends on barrel thickness/strength)

[craig110]

If you can get close 20 - 30 yd ,, 98% of all critters can be dropped with a hot 12ga slug .:yesnod:

That is what I was going to suggest, but to make it sound more like a big-bore rifle I was going to call it the .729 Versatile. :43: Brass (i.e. hulls) is dirt cheap, you can cast your own slugs (I like the 525 gr. Lyman) and if you get a rifled barrel you get nice accuracy. Plus, of course, you get all the other shooting options that a ".729" gives you that you can't get with a traditional rifle.

[Rollis]

Gloooook bet me to it, the 12ga. slug is a great 50-100 yard big bore gun, and if you fill really randy try a 10ga. 3" "qurter stick o' Dy-no-mite".
The Foster type slug's are about $4.25 a box of five, they can be reloaded, but you will have to cast them your self.
I have an 870 with open sight's and a rifled chock for home, the house, and an 11-87 with a four power scope for the field.

[Tailgunner]

How's this for a ballistic tip?
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j212/Tailgunner1954/3-21-09014.jpg


Or how about a 700 cal (the small ones are a 28ga From Hell and a 585 Hubel Express, there's also 2 of Ed Hubel's 700's and a 12ga FH sabot load)
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j212/Tailgunner1954/Misc022.jpg


3 577's (including the T-Rex), 2 600's and a 700 Nitro
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j212/Tailgunner1954/Cartridges003.jpg

[Glooooock]

That is what I was going to suggest, but to make it sound more like a big-bore rifle I was going to call it the .729 Versatile. :43: Brass (i.e. hulls) is dirt cheap, you can cast your own slugs (I like the 525 gr. Lyman) and if you get a rifled barrel you get nice accuracy. Plus, of course, you get all the other shooting options that a ".729" gives you that you can't get with a traditional rifle.

Yup , there is a story of an African restaurant owner , who had every type of game mounted on the wall of the place . Customers wondered whats he use - .600 nitro express -.475 jeffery's -. They called the owner out to ask him . The little thin guy said , OOOH that's all done with a 12ga 870 I got when I was 16.

[MONTEGOD7SS]

I was gonna suggest a 12ga FH chambered on a Savage 210 action, but I think he wants to just go buy something at the store. Tell us more about the 28g FH.

[CZ93X62]

Late for the party here.

Two rifle calibers suggest themselves STRONGLY to me as stoppers that are relatively cheap to run--35 Whelen and 9.3 x 62. 30-06 case-based, 5 rounds on board instead of 3, fits standard 30-06-length actions. Brass is EVERYWHERE, in the form of 30-06 casings that are easily reformed or as factory calibers.

Both are EXTREMELY cast bullet-friendly (so is the 375 H&H, BTW), and by using cast bullets my 9.3 x 62 is VERY cheap to run. Spending a bit more money and burning a bit more powder, Nosler has 2 GREAT bullets for the caliber--250 grain Ballistic Tip (to 2600 FPS in my rifle) and a 286 grain Partition (2425 FPS). All three bullets--the Noslers and my 270 grain castings--can print 1.5" groups at 100 yards all day long, and often meet or beat 1" at that range.

Both calibers are a bit less than a 375 H&H, but only a bit--and the targeted critter won't know the difference.

[Brass Nazi]

What exactly are you looking to blow up at 50 yards?

The CZ magnum rifles are the best bang for the buck when it comes to magnum rifles. You can get them in .375 H&H, .404 Jeffrey, .458 Win, and .458 Lott. You can even special order one in .505 Gibbs of I remember correctly. I have a .458 Lott and it is fun to put a few rounds through it.

I prefer to shoot the big bores as opposed to the fast medium bores. The 7mm magnums are easy to shoot. Even the 7mm RUM which is way overbore. The 300 magnums are managable but the .300 Weatherby and probably the .300 RUM feel like someone is punching you in the shoulder. The .338 WIN feels softer than the .300 magnums and has more killing power to boot. I once shot a .338 RUM and it was pretty brutal but I really do think that the .300s feel worse. The 300s recoil impulse is sharp.

In contrast the recoil impulse of the big bores feels softer to me.

[RenoF250]

I think he wants to just go buy something at the store.

Am I that transparent? Actually, if I could just go buy it at the store I probably already would have. The idea of ordering waiting etc. is slowing me down.

[Tailgunner]

I was gonna suggest a 12ga FH chambered on a Savage 210 action, but I think he wants to just go buy something at the store. Tell us more about the 28g FH.

Cases were made by RMC (Rocky Mountain Cartridge), and it's another development of the guys that created the 12ga FH. They hang out at www.AccurateReloading.com (http://www.AccurateReloading.com) on the "big bore" forum.

I do see that Ed Hubel has a TC Encore, chambered for the 12ga FH, for sale on Gunbroker

[RenoF250]

I think it is time to quit screwing around:
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=125415404

[Anvil]

Not enough energy, similar to the 45-70.

What are you trying to kill that can't be taken with a 45-70 govt?

[craig110]

I think it is time to quit screwing around:
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=125415404

That certainly should satisfy your desire to have 50 yard stopping power! :party:

[AlPackin]

That certainly should satisfy your desire to have 50 yard stopping power! :party:

not too sure about the "without breaking the bank" part though

[alank2]

Hi,

I've got a Marlin guide gun in 45-70 and I shudder to think of the pounding my shoulder would take at pressures it could handle. You can get bullets fairly inexpensively as well, 500 of them (berry's 350gr plated but they HAVE a cannelure) at tjconevera for $96 shipped. Brass isn't cheap, but it is of course reuseable. Straight wall case is pretty easy to load. In a Ruger #1 you can go to the highest pressure level.

Good luck,

Alan

[RenoF250]

What are you trying to kill that can't be taken with a 45-70 govt?


Not anything that needs to be killed just stuff to blow up.

45-70 was my original plan but after shooting it it doesn't whack as hard as I would like. BGGB says the loads were weak but the ballistics only show it around 2,400 ft./lbs, the .375 Ruger is up at 4,600.

[alank2]

Hi,

Not anything that needs to be killed just stuff to blow up.
45-70 was my original plan but after shooting it it doesn't whack as hard as I would like. BGGB says the loads were weak but the ballistics only show it around 2,400 ft./lbs, the .375 Ruger is up at 4,600.

I know there are plenty of people who load the 1895 with a 300grain @ 2200 fps which is 3225 ft./lbs and this is at Marlin power levels and NOT ruger #1 power levels. You don't see the heavy ft./lbs with most 45/70 because it is usually loaded with very heavy bullets which favor a high power factor (momentum) and not a high energy (ft./lbs).

If you are looking for high energy though you probably would be happier with the .375 Ruger!

Good luck,

Alan

[BIGGUNGOBOOM]

the 45-70 would be a lot darn cheaper, thats for sure.

[MONTEGOD7SS]

The highest .45-70 loads I have seen top out between 4000-4100ft-lb at the muzzle. That is definitely enough to wake you up, especially in the Ruger #1 that you'd be shooting them out of. Marlins need not apply for loads like that. Ya gotta realize that energy is easier to get with speed, but momentum is king for shooting through stuff that wants to eat you. I bet a max load for BGGB's Marlin would have you reconsidering the .45-70 as weak.

BGGB, you need to load up some 3031 slammers and I wanna see him shoot a mag full. :)

[BigSlick]

Why won't a BMG work for you ?

Brass is cheap, bullets are commonly available in various offerings and powder and primers are easy to find too. Lotta long range match shooters like it, the ballistics an performance are there, what's not to like ?

Higher end match bullets are a little more expensive than resized surplus pulls of course, but, they are very accurate. Hornaday AMAX bullets weigh out within ½ % right out of the box, most are close to ¼ % variation.

Of course you can load it up to max, or way down to get the performance you want. Endless load data out there and if ya buy in some decent quantity, you can find powder for pre-ripoff inflation launch prices of a couple years ago.

[MONTEGOD7SS]

I think the $2500-$8000 buy-in might be a factor. Plus having to buy a new press to handle a real cartridge. Someday I really wanna whack a pig at a couple hundred yards with a .50, just to say I have hunted with one.

[freakshow10mm]

Monte, just put an order in for a Bohica upper. They run $1250. Slap it on your AR lower and getcha some.

[MONTEGOD7SS]

I have looked at those too. Are they the ones that make the lower with no magwell? What do ya do to protect the lower from wearing out the pin holes, or do ya just consider it'll wear it out at some point?

[creophus]

50 BMG for the win!!!

ETA: Curse you Freak for suggesting that Bohica upper!! Now I want one. :(

[CZ93X62]

Uh, hang on.

50 BMG uses 235 grains of WC-860 or IMR-5010 powder PER SHOT. How does that sort of "fuel economy" NOT "break the bank" in short order?

[freakshow10mm]

I have looked at those too. Are they the ones that make the lower with no magwell? What do ya do to protect the lower from wearing out the pin holes, or do ya just consider it'll wear it out at some point?
They have the complete rifles with no mag well or just the uppers.

I'd have to get a hold of a CAD file and run it through a stress test, but I don't really think it will wear out in, say, less than 1,000 rounds. It's different getting knocked real hard a few times than several small taps, but I really don't think the pin holes see much wear at all. There is some force exerted there but not as much as is straight back through the stock.

50 BMG for the win!!!

ETA: Curse you Freak for suggesting that Bohica upper!! Now I want one. :(
Sorry Creo. I'm just excited about mine on order. Can't wait.
Uh, hang on.

50 BMG uses 235 grains of WC-860 or IMR-5010 powder PER SHOT. How does that sort of "fuel economy" NOT "break the bank" in short order?
Now we're splitting hairs and taking off the gloves?:biggrinjester:

[CZ93X62]

Now we're splitting hairs and taking off the gloves?:biggrinjester:

Your call. Way too expensive to run for me. AND way too heavy to drag around for hunting. A truck-axle-barrelled 308 was enough fun for me and I was a lot younger when I dragged it over hill and dale to hunt evil-doers and malefactors. After 4 miles of brush-busting at 1 A.M., I'd sell my soul for a Win 70 Featherweight in 30-06 or 308, at age 29.

Be careful what you wish for.

[BoltNut]

12 gauge is thee #1 choice in Florida, and in many places now... MANDATORY! There is all kinds of power and cheap shooting to be had right there. :yesnod:

If I'm not mistaken, this month's American Rifleman issue has the .375 write-up that is quite good. :patriot:

[freakshow10mm]

If you choose the .375 H&H, I've got fired brass available. I think last count was over 800 pieces.

[MONTEGOD7SS]

You not have the single shot pistola thing anymore?

[freakshow10mm]

Sold it when I got my 07 FFL in June. Had to get rid of luxury guns to fund the business. Seems to be a cycle these days. Only luxury gun I simply can't get rid of is the Desert Eagle.