With respect, and without any prejudice, judging by the table given, the ballistic drawbacks are following, in my view.
In Africa (speaking of Namibia, after my three PG safari) you can expect shots up to 200 meters, but shots up to 300 are not uncommon. I had shots just over 200 meters.
So, I would say, bullet drop is considerable, and will have to be taken into account. In the field this is liability.
Legal caliber limitations in Namibia:
Minimums allowed for various species are:
1350 joules (995 foot pounds) for springbok, Impala, Blesbok, Gray Duiker, Steenbok, Ostrich, Caracal, Black-Faced Impala, Red Lechwe, Damara Dik-Dik, Klipspringer, Black-Backed Jackal, Warthog, Cheetah, Nyala, Chacma Baboon, Game Birds, etc.;
2700 joules (1991 foot pounds) for Greater Kudu, Cape Eland, Oryx / Gemsbok, Red Hartebeest, Blue Wildebeest, Black Wildebeest, Hartmann's Zebra, Burchell's Zebra, Giraffe, Sable Antelope, Roan Antelope, Waterbuck, Tsessebe, Leopard, etc.;
5400 joules ( 3982 foot pounds) for Elephant, Cape Buffalo, Rhino, Lion, etc.
So, basically legal limits for Namibia set this caliber (8.6 blk) maximum up to smaller game.
South Africa has more flex caliber limitations.
I would strongly advise to discuss all details with your outfitter and PH, and choose wisely your hunting area and terrain (and country), which will allow you shots at closer range, or to consider PG safari from a blind, where an accurate shot at closer range can be taken with some reliability.
I understand that various laws do not follow advancements in technology, this round is designed just recently in 2022, and respective laws decades earlier
So, we are actually talking of introduction of something new into African hunting fields. And new technology introduction brings its own risks.
There have been examples of success and examples of failures with new ammunition's introduction to Africa. Most famous cases:
280 Ross (first worlds 3000 fps, flat shooting magnum), history has placed as failure on a dangerous game hunt, particularly lion, when after wounding a lion, a brother of then prominent British politician was mauled by wounded lion and died few days later. (mr gray and lion story)
As example of success: 7x57, in the hands of WDM Karamojo Bell, hunting ivory.
More then 100 years passed, and history, common sense, collective experience, and ethics has established by now some legal guidelines on caliber minimums.
So, thus, legal requirements not to be disregarded. As mentioned, I understand that legal requirements took in considerations many factors and knowledge of the time when laws were introduced, and certainly not latest technological advancements, such as slow velocity versus spin rate of a new bullet, but above are just some of my observations made in good faith.
And history records both: success and failures...
but let's hope with the right ammo & shot placement we can get the job done! 2025 for results, so it'll be a hot min. Maybe someone will beat me to it.
