Enormous 4-bore gauge used in early African and Asian dangerous game hunting; typically loaded with a single ball or slug for elephant; made by specialist ammunition makers only.
Type: Shotgun
Introduced: 1850, United Kingdom
Standardization: Proprietary
Rim type: Rimmed
Primer: Shotgun
Production status: Discontinued
Also known as: 4 bore · 4-bore elephant gun · 4 bore double rifle
History: The 4 bore represents the pinnacle of Victorian-era dangerous game ammunition. A 4-bore ball weighs approximately 4 ounces — a quarter pound of lead. These massive guns were used against elephant, hippopotamus, and Cape buffalo in Africa before the development of modern nitro express cartridges. A functional 4-bore gun firing a full charge is among the most powerful shoulder-fired firearms ever…