For those of you who shoot big bores like 58cal and up what do you hunt with them?
Anything I want to hunt...
Just because you're throwing a large chunk of lead does not mean you are going to blow up what you shoot. Granted you will do more damage since you're shooting a larger projectile. But you could hunt squirrel with a .58 if your good enough a shot to pluck their heads.
How well will they put something down?
As well or better then something smaller will put them down. You're pushing a larger projectile with more energy. That means more damage to the target when you place it where it need to be.
Also how heavy is recoil and how far are you good to?
That will depend on how hard you load it. With 70 grains and a patched ball the .58 is very comfortable to shoot. It is plenty for any Whitetail deer say out to 100 yards. On the other hand if you load a minnie and stick 80 grains of 2f under that, it will shake your teeth a little if you're not holding on good. Also the kind of rifle and stock design play a big part. The Hawkins rifle for instance has a much more controlled recoil the the Renegade. I shoot my .58 caliber out to 100 yards. Where I live and hunt, that is for ever....