Small Bores Versus Big Bores

posted on December 2, 2010
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
201012210395-smallborebigbore_f.jpg

Original date of publication: December 1954

I suppose there are few more hotly contested subjects than that of the caliber of rifles for use against large game, especially against that considered to be dangerous. Ever since man began to walk erect-even before that, I expect-this controversy probably raged as freely as it does now, if not about rifles then about clubs, bludgeons, battle axes, and bows. It may in fact be stated, with fair reason, that bored of all kinds have existed in great numbers since the word go.

It will be observed that it is almost invariably the Big Bore who attacks the Small Bore. Why this should be so is at first not apparent. It can be stated with very fair accuracy that the Small Bore does not usually bear any ill will towards the Big Bore. I should say that, on the contrary, the Small Bore rather commiserates with his brother Bore for having to burden himself with his heavy equipment.

On the other hand, the Big Bore will take every opportunity to attack the Small Bore. He will perjure his soul by declaring the smallbore rifle to be unsporting. He will even go so far as to declare that the use of smallbores should be made illegal. Why should the Big Bore get so hot under the collar about the number of thousandths of an inch that constitutes the difference between, say, a .270 and a .375?

Latest

Beretta 1301 A300 Comparison 1
Beretta 1301 A300 Comparison 1

Beretta's 1301 Tactical vs. A300 Ultima Patrol Shotguns: Which Should You Choose?

Ever since Beretta launched the A300 Ultima Patrol shotgun in 2024 as a less-pricey alternative to the 1301 Tactical, shotgunners have debated whether the 1301 is worth the extra cost. Let's examine them both.

ZEV Technologies Escaping Washington State’s Hostile Political Climate

ZEV Technologies announced it is moving its headquarters and manufacturing operations out of Washington state to Utah’s Second Amendment-friendly business climate.

U.S. v. Hemani Arguments

On March 2, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in U.S. v. Hemani. The case involves a defendant who is fighting a federal indictment for possessing a firearm while being a marijuana user.

Will Canada Attempt a Door-to-Door Gun Confiscation?

Whether, after Oct. 30, 2026, the federal government in Canada will escalate to door-to-door confiscation or whether they will be forced in the courts and legislatures to confront the failure of a policy that trades liberty for an illusion of control remains to be seen.

Rifleman Review: Federal 7 mm Backcountry

Unlike other recent cartridge launches, the key to Federal Ammunition's 7 mm Backcountry wasn't just in the design of the cartridge but also the type of material used in its case construction.

Big Bite in a Small Package: The Henry Repeating Arms Bear's Leg

Henry Repeating Arms is stepping up its lever-action game with the addition of its Bear's Leg design, a tactical lever-action that provides power and versatility in a compact platform.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.