Do the 577 and 600 nitro really offer anything?

[grand veneur]

In order to stay in the upper caliber class, whether the cartridges 577 Nitro Express or 600 Nitro Express work better than a cartridge 500 Jeffery for example, will remain questionable. None of us have shot enough big game with various big bore rifles and cartridges to be able to say with certainty which really works better. We can only quoted hunters and authors who have done it, but they also give often multiple cartridges a clear advantage.

 

[IvW]

Many died failing to stop elephants with 577.....600 is way too heavy and at 1950 fps I am not interested anyway....

For bolts 500 Jeff and 505 Gibbs are the ultimate for doubles 500 NE is the one......

 

[375Ruger416]

I am reading John Taylor’s book at the moment. ‘African Rifles and Cartridges’. He opines that the 577 and 600 have their place, but it is mostly as a stopping rifle for elephant and rhino. He recommends using them as a backup rifle, carried by someone else if you have to follow a wounded elephant or rhino into the thick stuff. He says they are too heavy and have too much recoil for primary use [sic].

 

[rookhawk]

fellas I have often wondered if the two biggest elephant guns of the smokeless era offeered anything or whether they were again more marketing for the safari crowd who A wanted the biggest and B, weere used to calibres so large like 10, 8 and 4 bores they felt a 577 and 600 in a smokeless guise would be a gfreat seller, or maybe just a psychologival benefit.

Obviously shooting thick skinned game you arent trying to shock the animal to death but I have always wondered if the 577 and 600 nitro with their actual velocities probably down to 1850-1900fps impact are actually better or worse killers/penetrators/shockers/stoppers than a fast loaded 500 or 458 cal?

If I was going to buy a stopping rifle, I'd custom order a 600/577 REWA.

1.) It's a very cool cartridge.

2.) It's better than a .577

3.) It is VERY traditional, invented for the Maharajah / Nawab / Emir of Rewa a century ago.

4.) It's just a 600NE necked down to the common and easier to find .577 bullets

5.) Recoil is no less/more manageable than a 577NE

6.) You're getting better penetration than the 600 and 700

7.) It's weight is reasonable, in the 13.5lb range like a good 577

 

[IvW]

Personally I would like to see something like a 500 No.2 3 1/2 NE.....massive strong case firing a 600gr .510 bullet at 2150 to 2250 fps.....for me that would be the ultimate double rifle cartridge......