The Firing Line Forums

Go Back   The Firing Line Forums > The Hide > The Art of the Rifle: General

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old November 15, 2012, 11:54 PM   #1
Deja vu
Senior Member
 
Join Date: March 14, 2010
Location: Border of Idaho & Montana
Posts: 2,584
What classifies a small/medium/large(big) bore rifle?

The other day I was at the range and a guy said his 338 was a big bore rifle. I did not say any thing but I thought that it was a very powerful rifle but in my mind a big bore rifle has a caliber that starts with a 4. While Medium bore starts with a 3 and small bore starts with a 1 or 2.

So is there a definition of "big bore" Vs Small bore?

__________________
Shot placement is everything! I would rather take a round of 50BMG to the foot than a 22short to the base of the skull.

all 26 of my guns are 45/70 govt, 357 mag, 22 or 12 ga... I believe in keeping it simple. Wish my wife did as well...
Deja vu is offline  
Old November 16, 2012, 12:11 AM   #2
kilotanker22
Senior Member
 
Join Date: October 14, 2012
Location: North Central, PA
Posts: 2,117
I consider 17 through 264 small bore 277 through 338 medium bore and up from there big bore
kilotanker22 is offline  
Old November 16, 2012, 01:21 AM   #3
sc928porsche
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 29, 2008
Location: now living in alabama
Posts: 2,433
Most consider 6 and below to be small bore, 6.5 to 375 medium bore and above that large bore.
__________________
No such thing as a stupid question. What is stupid is not asking it.
sc928porsche is offline  
Old November 16, 2012, 01:51 AM   #4
FrankenMauser
Senior Member
 
Join Date: August 25, 2008
Location: In the valley above the plain
Posts: 13,392
Everyone has a different idea of how to define them, including me.

My own opinion:
up to .20 = Small caliber (or "sub-caliber" - even though it's improper use of the term)
.22 to .257 = Small bore
6.5mm to .375 = Medium bore
.40 and up = Big bore



But, you may notice that most "official" references to the term 'small bore' are almost universally citing .22 rimfire rifles. They aren't necessarily defining the term, but setting standards or rules for a type of competition or event.

Likewise, most references to 'big bore' are almost universally citing .40+ bores, but not really setting a hard limit; and they generally don't include cartridges like .44-40.
__________________
Don't even try it. It's even worse than the internet would lead you to believe.
FrankenMauser is online now  
Old November 16, 2012, 07:49 AM   #5
Bart B.
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 15, 2009
Posts: 8,927
In NRA competition, small bore refers to .22 rimfire rifles.

Years ago, a neighbor who hunted big game in Africa said the British system called small bore anything below 30 caliber. Medium bore was 30 to 40 and big bore was any caliber over 40.

There's probably a few different naming conventions. Different strokes for different folks. . . . . .

http://www.chuckhawks.com/medium_bore.htm

http://www.chuckhawks.com/intro_big_bore.htm

Last edited by Bart B.; November 16, 2012 at 07:56 AM.
Bart B. is offline  
Old November 16, 2012, 07:51 AM   #6
B.L.E.
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 20, 2008
Location: Somewhere on the Southern shore of Lake Travis, TX
Posts: 2,603
I think a better way to classify them is

small game calibers
deer calibers
American big game calibers
African big game calibers

It's bullet energy as well as bore. A .44 Magnum is certainly not a African big game caliber.
FWIW, Africa has small game also and calibers such as the .22Hornet are actually quite popular there.
B.L.E. is offline  
Old November 16, 2012, 09:11 AM   #7
Rifleman1776
Senior Member
 
Join Date: April 25, 2010
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 3,309
The beauty of the American system for designating caliber is there is no system. It doesn't make sense and that is the way it is. It is also what makes a lot of our discussions fun. Americans like to do what they want the way they want. Europeans like everything neat and welll organized. I call that boring.
Small, medium, large? Pick yer pizzen and enjoy.
Rifleman1776 is offline  
Old November 16, 2012, 09:20 AM   #8
alex0535
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 4, 2012
Location: Georgia
Posts: 908
Quote:
I think a better way to classify them is

small game calibers
deer calibers
American big game calibers
African big game calibers
This seems like a good way to look at things.
alex0535 is offline  
Old November 16, 2012, 04:15 PM   #9
FrankenMauser
Senior Member
 
Join Date: August 25, 2008
Location: In the valley above the plain
Posts: 13,392
Quote:
Quote:
I think a better way to classify them is

small game calibers
deer calibers
American big game calibers
African big game calibers
This seems like a good way to look at things.
That's essentially what the old European system was designating.
With black powder as the most common propellant, and a major limitation to cartridge performance, all that really mattered was "how big and how heavy".
Bullet diameter and weight determined what the cartridge was good for.

Later on, you had terms like "Express" added to some cartridges, to designate light bullets at higher velocity (rather than the "standard" for the cartridge).

With the introduction of Cordite and Smokeless powder and expanding jacketed bullets, most of the small/medium/large-bore references fell apart. It was a new era, where each cartridge could be judged on its own merits, rather than just bullet diameter and weight.
__________________
Don't even try it. It's even worse than the internet would lead you to believe.
FrankenMauser is online now  
Old November 17, 2012, 11:41 PM   #10
Deja vu
Senior Member
 
Join Date: March 14, 2010
Location: Border of Idaho & Montana
Posts: 2,584
Quote:
I think a better way to classify them is

small game calibers
deer calibers
American big game calibers
African big game calibers
I like that as well.

Quote:
Years ago, a neighbor who hunted big game in Africa said the British system called small bore anything below 30 caliber. Medium bore was 30 to 40 and big bore was any caliber over 40.
that is the way I have always thought of it. It is a fine way to compare the bore but just because gun has a bigger bore does not mean its more powerful. The 50GI is 50 caliber but it is a pretty weak round compared to other handgun round even more so when you include rifle rounds.
__________________
Shot placement is everything! I would rather take a round of 50BMG to the foot than a 22short to the base of the skull.

all 26 of my guns are 45/70 govt, 357 mag, 22 or 12 ga... I believe in keeping it simple. Wish my wife did as well...
Deja vu is offline  
Old November 18, 2012, 12:28 AM   #11
Jimro
Senior Member
 
Join Date: October 18, 2006
Posts: 7,097
8 mm and below is small bore. The German 8x57IS was the biggest of the cartridges allowed in "small bore" competitions. I guess since the competition rules have moved on the definition may have changed.

8 to 10 mm is medium bore. You will find a lot of reference to the 375 H&H as a "medium bore" round.

Over 10 mm is big bore.

In America small bore is now synonymous with rimfire, although I don't know how that developed. In some countries "fullbore" refers to a service rifle competition (in 308 Win).

Jimro
__________________
Machine guns are awesome until you have to carry one.
Jimro is offline  
Old September 30, 2018, 10:55 AM   #12
Savvy_Jack
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 4, 2018
Posts: 220
Yeah, this is an old topic but I am famous for searching and bringing them back.

BORE is the result of a measurement when manufacturing a barrel. Classifications can change pending what you are trying to accomplish. Do we include tanks and battleships?

So for general firearms discussions we seam to keep the cal. between the .17 HMR and the .50 cals. So why not do basic math. 17 thru 45 divided by however many categories and then a little bit of common sense. Small, Medium and Big....1-29, 30-39, 40-50. The power each cal can produce has nothing to do with the measurement of the bore!
Savvy_Jack is offline  
Old October 1, 2018, 07:47 AM   #13
Ballenxj
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 15, 2006
Posts: 312
How about a system that rates by recoil, instead of just bore size?
Examples,
.22 CB caps to .223 = No recoil.
.243 to .308 = medium recoil.
7mm Mag, 375 H&H or better = Kicks like a mule.
600 Nitro Express? = Hold onto your hat, this is going to be rough.
Ballenxj is offline  
Old October 1, 2018, 03:47 PM   #14
J.G. Terry
Senior Member
 
Join Date: January 24, 2014
Posts: 577
Caliber classifications

Caliber classifications: Another source has this system. Small bore would be less than 27 caliber. Medium bore would be between 27 and 336 caliber. The big bores are 375 upward. This is FYI. No dog in this race.
__________________
Intentionally Antagonizing Another MemberInsults and Ad Hominems
J.G. Terry is offline  
Old October 1, 2018, 08:29 PM   #15
B.L.E.
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 20, 2008
Location: Somewhere on the Southern shore of Lake Travis, TX
Posts: 2,603
When we say "caliber" what we really mean is cartridge. Nobody would consider a lever action Henry chambered in .44 Magnum a "big bore" rifle, even though the bore is .429 in diameter. It's basically a deer rifle. It doesn't even kick that hard.
__________________
Hanlon's Razor
"Do not invoke conspiracy as explanation when ignorance and incompetence will suffice, as conspiracy implies intelligence and organization."
B.L.E. is offline  
Old October 1, 2018, 10:58 PM   #16
44 AMP
Staff
 
Join Date: March 11, 2006
Location: Upper US
Posts: 28,617
Quite a few people are just referring to bore diameter, when saying caliber. Doesn't Henry call their .44 a "Big Bore"?

Winchester named their revamped model 94 in .375 Win the 94 Big Bore.

In general big bore is applied to anything over .35 caliber, though some put the line at .37caliber. And it doesn't matter if its a powerful big bore, or not.

In pistols, .35s are considered medium, 40 and up is big bore.

Big bores can be deer rifle power level, or more, or in some cases, even less.
__________________
All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.
44 AMP is offline  
Old October 2, 2018, 05:09 PM   #17
B.L.E.
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 20, 2008
Location: Somewhere on the Southern shore of Lake Travis, TX
Posts: 2,603
In the days of Davy Crockett, a .36 was considered a squirrel rifle.

Now when it comes to shotguns, a .410 is "small bore"

THIS.............is a big bore.
__________________
Hanlon's Razor
"Do not invoke conspiracy as explanation when ignorance and incompetence will suffice, as conspiracy implies intelligence and organization."

Last edited by B.L.E.; October 2, 2018 at 05:19 PM.
B.L.E. is offline  
Old October 3, 2018, 09:51 PM   #18
Model12Win
Junior member
 
Join Date: October 20, 2012
Posts: 5,854
.950 JDJ.
Model12Win is offline  
Old October 3, 2018, 10:05 PM   #19
B.L.E.
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 20, 2008
Location: Somewhere on the Southern shore of Lake Travis, TX
Posts: 2,603
Four gauge muzzle loading shotgun.
__________________
Hanlon's Razor
"Do not invoke conspiracy as explanation when ignorance and incompetence will suffice, as conspiracy implies intelligence and organization."
B.L.E. is offline  
Old October 4, 2018, 04:34 AM   #20
briandg
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 4, 2010
Posts: 5,468
Quote:
small game calibers
deer calibers
American big game calibers
African big game calibers
Best way to see it.

Since a 6mm round is rarely used on small game and mostly on medium game it fits into medium bore.

elk or moose aren't commonly hunted with anything bigger than a thirty caliber, thirty tops out medium.

The really big american game is rarely hunted with a .375 round or larger, so medium to large goes up from thirty to the .375. Big bore is anything that size or bigger than that.

I find it hard to slip the light weight large bore rifles in with the thumpers. someone's .44 magnum lever is big in bore size only.

Yep, I find bore size to be a vague question and it seems kind of unimportant. I think of the things by whether I would take them after a deer, squirrel, coyote, bear, bison, etc.
__________________
None.
briandg is offline  
Old October 5, 2018, 10:42 AM   #21
Sure Shot Mc Gee
Senior Member
 
Join Date: January 2, 2012
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 3,876
For game purposes in this State. No doubt is the bases of my opinion.
{Anything larger than 32 cal is a big bore in my book.}
Mountain dwellers & cajun fellows I await y'll's response.

Rim fire 22 LR I consider small bore
Sure Shot Mc Gee is offline  
Old October 5, 2018, 02:08 PM   #22
Dufus
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 10, 2014
Posts: 1,965
My thoughts are that anything smaller than 30 caliber is a small bore.

30 caliber thru 375 is medium bore.

Greater than 375 is large bore.

I would enjoy a BP 4 ga. shotgun.
Dufus is offline  
Old October 6, 2018, 05:54 PM   #23
briandg
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 4, 2010
Posts: 5,468
How many here actually own a seventeen caliber in either rimfire or centerfire, and where, oh where, would we stick that darned .204? Three microbores. one can blow a squirrel's head to pulp. Another can blow the squirrel to pulp. The third can blow a possum's innards into soup.

I've seen some interesting things about the 17 hmr. Literal destruction of some things, and other objects that barely felt a thing. A study of kinetic energy vs momentum.
__________________
None.
briandg is offline  
Old October 8, 2018, 05:51 PM   #24
marlinguy
Member
 
Join Date: November 26, 2014
Posts: 16
I've always felt anything above a .38 was a big bore. .40's and above for me are big bores.
marlinguy is offline  
Old October 8, 2018, 05:52 PM   #25
marlinguy
Member
 
Join Date: November 26, 2014
Posts: 16
Quote:
Originally Posted by briandg View Post
How many here actually own a seventeen caliber in either rimfire or centerfire, and where, oh where, would we stick that darned .204? Three microbores. one can blow a squirrel's head to pulp. Another can blow the squirrel to pulp. The third can blow a possum's innards into soup.

I've seen some interesting things about the 17 hmr. Literal destruction of some things, and other objects that barely felt a thing. A study of kinetic energy vs momentum.
They are all smallbores. Doesn't matter if it's a .22 or anything smaller. And I own a .17 HMR, plus a .17-223 CF.
marlinguy is offline  
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:20 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
This site and contents, including all posts, Copyright © 1998-2021 S.W.A.T. Magazine
Copyright Complaints: Please direct DMCA Takedown Notices to the registered agent: thefiringline.com
Page generated in 0.08770 seconds with 10 queries