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How big is "big bore" ?

I have a built 338 RUM by Savage Gunsmithing up in Driggs ID. Strictly a bench gun @20 pounds. Shoots 1/2 moa out to 600 (farthest tried) with 300 gr Bergers, lots of RL 33 and Tula LRMs out of it's 36" 3 groove nitrided bbl @3000+ fps. Okay to post about it here ? Thanks!

338rum.JPG

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Big bore for most conversations is anything larger than .358 but it is not a hard fast rule. My 35 is my big bore gun but there are a lot of bores bigger and more popular than the 35s.
 
Big bore is a relative term. In the US BP era it used to be anything over 45 caliber. Then came WWI and it became anything over 30 caliber. British rifles, in the BP days anything over 12 bore.

The post WWII days, the 375 (as in H&H) has been where the line is drawn.

That is a very nice looking 338.
 
I am thinking anything over 275 grains or so...ain't seen many 17 cal 250 grainers out there!

That is certainly a boomer in my mind
 
You had to ask eh ?? My first thought was Big Bore Rifles Start at the 375 H&H..I'm kind of old school..Then I thought about it for awhile, maybe it is bullet weight..My 35 caliber Whelan shoots 250 grains ? Wait, the 338 shoots those bigger fancy 300 grain slugs..OK now it is getting complicated..stop, start thinking again...The operative word here is "BORE".. Big bore rifles, start at .375 diameter...mike in ct
 
Most folks (including me) are scared of big rifle recoil. Many of these folks have no fear of 3.5" 12 gauge waterfowl or turkey loads. If we did not shoot these big rifles from the bench we would not be so wary. The double standard is amusing but real. A 3.5" lead turkey load has more recoil energy than all but the craziest big rifles.
 

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