Marrakai is right of course that "Baby" was a four bore shooting those 1/2 pound exploding conicals of Baker's own design and I think Reilly manufacture. As for recoil, I have no doubt it was nasty considering the AMAZING powder charges that Baker used to advocate! While he notes in one area that firing with "only" 10 drams (273 grains) spins him "round like a top", he also talks about firing a 22 pound rifle (presumably "Baby") in "Wild Beasts and Their Ways" with conical bullets pushed by 16 DRAMS of powder. OUCH! In another portion of Bakers writing he describes the four and eight bore rifles as being used with 14 drams of powder. Again, OUCH! Consistency ,apparently, wasn't Baker's strong suit when it came to powder charges. Now according to the ballistic information published by Holland and Holland in the 1800's regarding the 8 bore in particular, they used a 26" barrel and regulated them for 10 drams. At the muzzle and with a conical, velocity was 1500 f/s yielding 6273 f/# from a 1257 grain slug. Using a round ball, the same 10 dram charge brought 1654 f/s and 5232 f/# from an 892 grain projectile. The above October Country data is dubious at best unless they happen to be reaching those levels with "non traditional" powder charges. My own new manufacture eight bore front stuffer uses an .820 diameter 830 grain (wheel weight) round ball (itself, a bit non-traditional). According to the gunsmith who kindly provided me the new rifle as well as the above data, muzzleloader figures, as mentioned above, are going to drop a bit below those of cartridge rifle statistics.

Having fired this 16 pound weapon repeatedly with the standard 10 dram charge under round ball, I can say that (while it is an experience) it isn't too bad. It surely doesn't kick THAT much more than my .416 and I'm not sure recoil is distinguishable from the likes of .470s I have fired. Now, up that to 14-16 drams and I would probably be spinning like a top. As an aside, relating to the .577 discussion, it is important to remember that Baker considered the .577 BPE to be a "medium" bore AT BEST and suitable for buffalo only "in a pinch".

Best,

John