# Question for gun enthusiasts. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 21, 2008, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-gun-enthusiasts/468948 "2008-10-21T21:30:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2008, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-gun-enthusiasts/468948/1 "2008-10-21T21:30:45Z")
What kind of rifle is this and what is the point of having a weapon that one can barely hold on to? [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VVOH7Ep_8w) Or is that it’s name, The T-Rex Rifle? ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2008, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-gun-enthusiasts/468948/2 "2008-10-21T21:37:03Z")
I know bugger all about guns, really, but I’m thinking that what we’re seeing here might be more attributable to the configuration of the specific ammunition in use, rather than the gun. Is it possible that the purpose of ammunition made this way is, in part at least, to provide amusing failure? ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2008, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-gun-enthusiasts/468948/3 "2008-10-21T21:42:00Z")
Without even looking at the video, I’m guessing it’s the [.577 Tyrannosaur](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.577_Tyrannosaur), which is a seriously high-powered big game cartridge. It packs one hell of a punch, but if it’s the one I’m thinking of, the guy in the video is just failing to control his weapon properly. Anyway, read the wiki article for more info. ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2008, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-gun-enthusiasts/468948/4 "2008-10-21T21:47:09Z")
So, it’s the cartridge that is a monster? Assuming you managed to fire it accurately, what sort of damage would it do to a Grizzly at 20 yards? What about a rhino, or an elephant? ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2008, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-gun-enthusiasts/468948/5 "2008-10-21T22:04:49Z")
I’ve never seen anything quite like that. Whatever it is, it has incredible “kick”. Still, I note that several of the shooters are not braced to resist the kick, which makes the result a little more dramatic. Can’t say I can think of much short of a dinosaur that really takes that much killing, though. That gun can probably kill cars, speedboat motors, tractors, etc. Also can’t say I want to shoot one of those twice… ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2008, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-gun-enthusiasts/468948/6 "2008-10-21T22:06:04Z")
A few things come to mind: 1. The rifle doesn’t appear to have a muzzle brake. A muzzle brake that is designed for this round would probably go a long way in reducing recoil. 2. The rifle looks light. A heavier rifle would reduce recoil. 3. Many of the shooters in the video looked inexperienced, and don’t seem to have a good grasp of the rifle. FYI, a .50 BMG rifle with a muzzle brake can be easily shot from the offhand position. ---
**Author:** ![T\_SQUARE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9de053/32.png) [@T\_SQUARE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/T_SQUARE)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2008, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-gun-enthusiasts/468948/7 "2008-10-21T22:19:14Z")
I think the idea of the .577 is it’s a gun of last resort for a charging rhino, buff, hippo, or elephant. The guide would carry it to use when his client messes the shot up with a more conventional hunting rifle and you have a big angry wounded animal in a charge situation. That said, I don’t know if any P.H.'s in Africa are actually using the darn thing. I’ve seen this video before, and have always wondered about the setup. It looks like some rich guys in the UAE (a guess) built an awesome indoor range and got a bunch of expensive guns for people to shoot on video. You can buy these for $40 a round from the manufacturer here: [http://www.ammo-one.com/A-Square577Tyrannosaur.html](http://www.ammo-one.com/A-Square577Tyrannosaur.html) ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2008, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-gun-enthusiasts/468948/8 "2008-10-21T22:51:35Z")
> [@T\_SQUARE](#): > > I think the idea of the .577 is it’s a gun of last resort for a charging rhino, buff, hippo, or elephant. If the gun is uncontrollable, then it’s basically useless as a safari gun regardless of the “bigness” of the caliber. ---
**Author:** ![puppygod](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@puppygod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puppygod)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2008, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-gun-enthusiasts/468948/9 "2008-10-21T23:12:18Z")
.577 is for sissies. Real men shoot [that thing](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyAl9qK3Rlg) 😉 ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2008, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-gun-enthusiasts/468948/10 "2008-10-21T23:13:42Z")
Well, according to Wikipedia, the .577 Tyrannosaur hits with 10180 foot lbs of force. The 50 BMG hits with 11419 with a 700 grain bullet. The recoil ought to be similar- the main difference would be the weight of the rifles the rounds are fired from- the heavier, the less felt recoil. ---
**Author:** ![T\_SQUARE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9de053/32.png) [@T\_SQUARE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/T_SQUARE)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2008, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-gun-enthusiasts/468948/11 "2008-10-21T23:45:41Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > If the gun is uncontrollable, then it’s basically useless as a safari gun regardless of the “bigness” of the caliber. That’s certainly true, but I have seen videos of people firing it without the funny results. You said yourself that they looked inexperienced. That being said, I have no idea if the .577 has ever been used by a PH in Africa. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-gun-enthusiasts/468948/12 "2008-10-22T00:14:07Z")
> [@bump](#): > > The recoil ought to be similar- the main difference would be the weight of the rifles the rounds are fired from- the heavier, the less felt recoil. You’re forgetting about the muzzle brake. All shoulder-fired .50 BMG rifles have a muzzle brake. And for good reason. > [@T\_SQUARE](#): > > That’s certainly true, but I have seen videos of people firing it without the funny results. You said yourself that they looked inexperienced. Note I said **if** it was uncontrollable. If the gun is uncontrollable, then it’s basically useless as a safari gun. FTR, I have not seen any evidence or proof that it _is_ - or is _not_ - uncontrollable for seasoned safari hunters. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-gun-enthusiasts/468948/13 "2008-10-22T04:48:39Z")
It’s definitely not uncontrollable. Watch the OP’s video to the end; the last guy doesn’t get knocked off his feet or lose his grip on the rifle at all. That’s the difference between an experienced high-caliber shooter and a neophyte.