What is a High-Powered Rifle?

[BarePaw]

When people talk about a high powered rifle, what exactly are they talking about? The way some people talk, anything bigger than a .22 is "high powered". Usually, I hear it in reference to guns that can easily take big game (.30 and up). How do you use the term?

[James B]

To me it means centerfire rifles. Some of the smaller ones like the 22 Hornet may not be considered by many to mean high powered rifles but in my neck of the woods, centerfire are considered high power rifles.

[mavwreck1975]

I generally feel the same way. High power goes hand in hand with center fire.

[Aught Six]

Ditto...

I don't like the term because it's usually not clearly defined outside of the shooting community. If you mention "NRA High Powered Rifle Competition" to the average non-shooter, there's a good chance that pictures of mustachioed men in camo firing Barrett 82A1's at targets two miles away will pop into people's heads. Casual and informal use of jargon is probably one ofthe gun-grabbers'best techniques for spreading ignorance among the general public.

[eldeguello]

ORIGINAL: BarePaw

When people talk about a high powered rifle, what exactly are they talking about? The way some people talk, anything bigger than a .22 is "high powered". Usually, I hear it in reference to guns that can easily take big game (.30 and up). How do you use the term?

The "official definition" of high-powered rifle is any rifle that has a muzzle velocity of 2000 FPS or higher. Yet when a MV of 2500 FPS or more is reached, the proper term is then "high intensity" rifle.....

[mavwreck1975]

Thats very interesting, thanks.

[metaldonnieg]

I'm with the guys that thought it was a centerfire. I've never actually put much thought into it...

[eldeguello]

ORIGINAL: metaldonnieg

I'm with the guys that thought it was a centerfire. I've never actually put much thought into it...

There are MANY centerfire cartridges that never reached 2000 FPS.

[younggun308]

Like, the .30 Carbine?