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Mini Compendium of Big Bore Cartridges

by Daniel McCarthy
© 2004

Summary of Big Bore Cartridges

A table for use in comparing the various big bore cartridges discussed in this article is shown below. The velocities listed are generally the upper limit of what a normal human would want to fire from these rounds, although most of the cartridges will permit even more velocity without excessive pressure, but there are few humans who would want to endure the rather punishing recoil that results.

Cartridge - Bullet Diameter (inches) - Bullet Weight - Velocity (f.p.s.) - Typical Weight of Rifle - Recoil Energy (ft. lbs.) - Recoil Velocity (f.p.s.)

505 Gibbs - .505 - 525 - 2350 - 12 pounds - 84 - 21
505 Gibbs - .505 - 600 - 2400 (with reloads) - 12 pounds - 106 - 23
500 Nitro Express - .510 - 570 - 2150 - 11 pounds - 77 - 21
500 Jeffery - .510 - 535 - 2400 - 10.5 pounds - 92 - 23
500 Jeffery - .510 - 570 - 2400 (with reloads) - 10.5 pounds - 103 - 25
500 A-Square - .510 - 600 - 2400 - 11 pounds - 107 - 25
550 Express - .550 - 600 - 2400 - 11 pounds - 107 - 25
550 Express - .550 - 650 - 2200 - 11 pounds - 98 - 24
550 Express - .550 - 700 - 2100 - 11 pounds - 101 - 24
550 Magnum - .550 - 600 - 2500 - 12 pounds - 113 - 24
550 Magnum - .550 - 650 - 2400 - 12 pounds - 112 - 24
550 Magnum - .550 - 700 - 2300 - 12 pounds - 113 - 24
577 Nitro Express - .585 - 750 - 2050 - 14 pounds - 95 - 20
585 Nyati - .585 - 750 - 2300 - 13 pounds - 129 - 25
577 Tyrannosaur - .585 - 750 - 2500 - 13 pounds - 172 - 29
600 Nitro Express - .620 - 900 - 1950 - 16 pounds - 104 - 20
600 Overkill - .620 - 900 - 2400 - 14 pounds - 189 - 29
700 Nitro Express - .700 - 1000 - 2000 - 18 pounds - 115 - 20

From this table it is easy to see that increasing the velocity of a heavy bullet increase recoil very substantially. Personally I find anything with recoil energy above 100 pounds difficult to shoot. And when recoil velocity exceeds 25 f.p.s., the recoil has a very sharp jab to it. But with the appropriate stock design and some mercury tubes in the stock, the edge can be taken off the recoil so that pulling the trigger does not cause quite as much physical trauma as having an auto accident.

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