2 bore

Two bore or 2 bore is a mostly obsolete firearm caliber.

Specifications

An historical two bore fired spherical balls or slugs of hardened lead or, in the modern metallic cartridge, additionally a solid bronze projectile. The nominal bore is 1.326 inches (33.7 mm), and projectiles generally weigh 8 ounces (225 grams; 3500 grains). The velocity is relatively low, at around 1,500 feet per second (460 m/s) at the muzzle, but develops approximately 17,500 ft·lbf (23,700 J) muzzle energy.

History and background

The largest size ever created for a shoulder rifle and used mainly in the 19th century for hunting large dangerous game animals. This caliber was used by European hunters, notably the British, in tropical climates of Africa and India. Loaded with black powder, it was unpopular due to thick smoke and excessive recoil. The rifle was fired from the shoulder by one person. Larger guns existed, such as the punt gun, but these were only fired supported and generally from a prone position. Sir Samuel White Baker, British explorer and hunter of the Victorian era, was impressed by its power, but heavily disapproved of the recoil. He narrates dashing adventures with his two-bore rifle, which he affectionately referred to as "Baby":

Among other weapons, I had an extraordinary rifle that carried a half-pound percussion shell—this instrument of torture to the hunter was not sufficiently heavy for the weight of the projectile; it only weighed twenty pounds: thus, with a charge of ten drachms [270 grains] of powder, behind a half-pound shell, the recoil was so terrific, that I spun around like a weathercock in a hurricane. I really dreaded my own rifle, although I had been accustomed to heavy charges of powder, and severe recoil for some years. None of my men could fire it, and it was looked upon with a species of awe, and it was named "Jenna-El-Mootfah" (Child of a Cannon) by the Arabs, which being far too long a name for practice, I christened it the "Baby;" and the scream of this "Baby" loaded with a half-pound shell was always fatal. It was far too severe, and I very seldom fired it, but it is a curious fact, that I never fired a shot with that rifle without bagging: the entire practice, during several years, was confined to about twenty shots. I was afraid to use it; but now and then it was absolutely necessary that it should be cleaned, after months of staying loaded. On such occasions my men had the gratification of firing it, and the explosion was always accompanied by two men falling on their backs (one having propped up the shooter), and the "Baby" flying some yards behind them. This rifle was made by Holland & Holland, of Bond Street, and I could highly recommend it for the Goliath of Gath, but not for the men of A.D. 1866.^[1]

— Sir Samuel White Baker

Schroeder & Hetzendorfer cartridge

Schroeder & Hetzendorfer 2 Bore Metallic Cartridge
2-Bore and 45-70
Type	Rifle
Place of origin	United States
Production history
Designer	Rudolph Schroeder
Manufacturer	Schroeder & Hetzendorfer LLC
Variants	2
Specifications
Parent case	Proprietary
Case type	Semi-rimmed
Bullet diameter	1.326"
Rim diameter	1.490"
Rim thickness	.125"
Case length	3.50"
Case capacity	935 gr H2O (60.6 cm3)
Rifling twist	1:48"
Primer type	35 arsenal
Filling weight	700 grains ffg
Ballistic performance
Bullet mass/type Velocity Energy 3,500 gr (227 g) Brass FNTC solid 1,500 ft/s (460 m/s) 17,500 3,350 gr (217 g) Lead round ball 1,200 ft/s (370 m/s) 10,700
Test barrel length: 28" Source(s): Design and test data

See also

• 4 bore
• Gauge (bore diameter)
• Holland & Holland

References

• "Internet article on 2-bore cartridges". 
• "Stolzer & Son's Gunsmithing".