MCorps0311
US Veteran
I just got into buying rifles three months ago,what is the smallest caliber of a big bore caliber rifle?
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Is a 30.06 a Big Bore Rifle?
- Thread starter MCorps0311
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squidsix
Member
"big bore" is a nonsense term. .243 is "big bore" compared to .17 Rem, and .348 Lott is "big bore" compared to .243, etc.
There's no definitive number or magic diameter that makes a rifle "big bore".
In pistol terms, lots of folks say the caliber has to start with a "4" to be "large caliber" but a .40S&W pistol has nothing on 9x25 Dillon, for example, or even .38 Super.
So the term is nonsense and relative from one discussion to the next. In my collection it would be 45/70, but before I had that it was .32 Special, which was a monstrous thumper compared to most of my other rifles.
Maybe we should talk "big bore" in terms of bullet weight. Anything over 210 grains, in most collections, is a whopper.
There's no definitive number or magic diameter that makes a rifle "big bore".
In pistol terms, lots of folks say the caliber has to start with a "4" to be "large caliber" but a .40S&W pistol has nothing on 9x25 Dillon, for example, or even .38 Super.
So the term is nonsense and relative from one discussion to the next. In my collection it would be 45/70, but before I had that it was .32 Special, which was a monstrous thumper compared to most of my other rifles.
Maybe we should talk "big bore" in terms of bullet weight. Anything over 210 grains, in most collections, is a whopper.
USN Admiral Dalgren (?sp) had .69 caliber rifle-muskets with huge clip point Bowie knife bayonets manufactured to arm his sailors. He ordered his sailors to wear the bayonets every time they stepped off their ship so that word of their .69s would spread. He wanted southerners to know they would not be facing the US Army's small bore .58 caliber rifle-muskets if they dared running his blockades.
It's all a matter of perspective.
It's all a matter of perspective.
mrchuck
Member
Any 30 caliber rifle is considered MEDIUM BORE....
Under 30 caliber is considered small bore, like the .243.
Large bore starts with a .400 bore.
This is my own judgement.
There are many gun magazines out there with articles about what is what.
I have a large stack of old gun magazines with authors that specialize on this subject.
At Walmart, these magazines can be found.
Under 30 caliber is considered small bore, like the .243.
Large bore starts with a .400 bore.
This is my own judgement.
There are many gun magazines out there with articles about what is what.
I have a large stack of old gun magazines with authors that specialize on this subject.
At Walmart, these magazines can be found.
gwpercle
Member
If you can shove your pinky finger all the way into the muzzel end call it a big bore.
If your head will fit into the muzzel call it an even bigger bore.
There are a few guns on the USS Alabama that fit the definition of "bigger Bore".... bigger bores are cool !
In my book a 30 cal. , like the 30-06 , is a medium bore...but it's just a terminology not really engraved on any stone tablet I know of .
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If your head will fit into the muzzel call it an even bigger bore.
There are a few guns on the USS Alabama that fit the definition of "bigger Bore".... bigger bores are cool !
In my book a 30 cal. , like the 30-06 , is a medium bore...but it's just a terminology not really engraved on any stone tablet I know of .
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Gotta get above .30 caliber to be considered “big bore” in my world. Kinda like you gotta get above .38/9 mm to be considered a “large caliber handgun.” .357 Magnum counts, but just barely . . .
I have to agree with Muss Muggins on that brief but accurate analysis.
I think of my .35 Whelen custom Mauser and even my .375 Winchester* Model 94 and, of course, my .45-70 Marlin Guide Gun, as big bore.
*Heck, that's why Winchester named it "Big Bore"!
I don't think of any of my .30 caliber rifles as big bore. 180 grain pills from my .308 doesn't make it a big bore rifle.
I think of my .35 Whelen custom Mauser and even my .375 Winchester* Model 94 and, of course, my .45-70 Marlin Guide Gun, as big bore.
*Heck, that's why Winchester named it "Big Bore"!
I don't think of any of my .30 caliber rifles as big bore. 180 grain pills from my .308 doesn't make it a big bore rifle.
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austintexas
SWCA Member
30-06 will kill anything in the states I want to shoot
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DWalt
Member
No rules on what constitutes a big bore, but I'd say the term would probably be most applicable to anything .375 or larger. Most of the African calibers (old or new) would fit. Back in the late 1970s, Winchester brought out their "improved" Model 94 "Big Bore" (which was none too successful in the marketplace) in .307, .356, and .375 Winchester. So I suppose they felt that a .307 was a "Big Bore."
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John Taylor, the professional hunter and authority on African rifles, considered anything of .30 caliber (and smaller) to be a "small bore." This included the 30/06 and the .300 H&H Magnum. He didn't use the term "big bore" but considered the "large bore" to be everything from the .600 Nitro on down through the .50 calibers like the .500 Jeffery and the .505 Gibbs. Cartridges down to about .40 caliber were "medium large bores." All this shows is that the term is relative to where you are and what you, and others, do with a given cartridge. I wouldn't consider a 30/06 a "big bore" myself, given my experience with a number of bigger cartridges, but would probably give that honor to the .375 H&H and larger cartridges.
Small bores are .30 caliber and under. I'd include the .308"-.312" diameters as ".30 caliber" but I'd also include the 7.92x57 Mauser round as it was a .30-06 class battle rifle round as well.
The .30 caliber distinction is based in large on the NRA "small bore" rifle target being used for matches where .30 caliber rifles were common.
.375" is where "big bore" starts, that's also dependent on the cartridge. For example, the .30-30 is a small bore round, while the .380" diameter .38-55 and the .375" diameter .375 Win are both medium bore rounds. They are based on the same parent cartridge, they just use a larger diameter bullet and are "medium bore" rounds.
The .35 Whelen is another "medium bore" round. It's based on the .30-06 case, just necked up to .358". I would also classify the .375 Whelen (.375-06) as a medium bore round. It's a substantial round, but it launches a 275 gr bullet at 2,475 fps and a 300 gr bullet at 2,110 fps compared to the .375 H&H mag that launches a 235 gr bullet at 2,895 fps, a 300 grain bullet at 2,645 fps and a 350 gr bullet at 2,325 fps.
IMHO, the floor for "big bore" rounds is the .375 H&H Magnum.
The .30 caliber distinction is based in large on the NRA "small bore" rifle target being used for matches where .30 caliber rifles were common.
.375" is where "big bore" starts, that's also dependent on the cartridge. For example, the .30-30 is a small bore round, while the .380" diameter .38-55 and the .375" diameter .375 Win are both medium bore rounds. They are based on the same parent cartridge, they just use a larger diameter bullet and are "medium bore" rounds.
The .35 Whelen is another "medium bore" round. It's based on the .30-06 case, just necked up to .358". I would also classify the .375 Whelen (.375-06) as a medium bore round. It's a substantial round, but it launches a 275 gr bullet at 2,475 fps and a 300 gr bullet at 2,110 fps compared to the .375 H&H mag that launches a 235 gr bullet at 2,895 fps, a 300 grain bullet at 2,645 fps and a 350 gr bullet at 2,325 fps.
IMHO, the floor for "big bore" rounds is the .375 H&H Magnum.
ExRanger714
Member
30 cal. equals big bore until the fangs and claws come out: then it's not.
Echo40
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Not by my definition.
Granted that smaller bores are more common in rifles, but that still doesn't make .30cal "big bore" by my definition, especially when actual big bore rifle cartridges exist like .45-70 Govt, .50 BMG, and .700 Nitro Express.
Granted that smaller bores are more common in rifles, but that still doesn't make .30cal "big bore" by my definition, especially when actual big bore rifle cartridges exist like .45-70 Govt, .50 BMG, and .700 Nitro Express.
LittleCooner
Member
30-06 is not a big bore. Big Bore starts with the 416 size. the 338-375 size in medium bore. This is my idea, I have been reading and playing with these centerfires for over 50 years and this is how I see it, but then I developed this from decades of reading what other though.
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