In giving additional thought to the OP’s question, it occurred to me that we as hunters probably overlook what could be a really important factor in making a decision about how large of a DG cartridge we use (or can use)….and that is how fit and in-shape our bodies are when shooting. We spend lots of time and effort (rightly so) analyzing rifle manufacturers and models along with cartridge specs such as velocity, bullet weight and type, and actual/felt recoil. Yet it seems to me that we don’t take into account how in-shape and fit our bodies are to handle the carry weight and recoil impulse of a particular DG rifle/cartridge combination.
I could be wrong on this but it stands to reason that if the same DG rifle/cartridge combination is fired repeatedly the recoil curve and amount of actual recoil is going to be the same from shot to shot, all else being equal. Perhaps one key factor on how large of a DG rifle a shooter can handle is the actual physical conditioning of the shooter. Take two men of equal weight and structure, the first man does not workout with weights and has soft muscles. The second man works out with weights and his body is fit and muscles/connective tissues are tight and firm. It seems reasonable to me to conclude that, all else being equal, the physically fit man can handle a larger, heavier DG rifle/cartridge combination and the recoil generated by it than the non-physically fit man can. This is because the physically fit man’s well-conditioned body (especially upper body) can absorb and/or handle the DG rifle’s weight and recoil much better and with less pain. If this conclusion is true, then strong physical conditioning may, by itself, allow an individual to move up to larger DG rifle/cartridge combinations than he would otherwise not be able to handle with a weaker, less in-shape body.
For me, I go to the gym 5-6 days a week even if it is only for 20 min. While I do engage in overall physical conditioning, I expressly focus on the muscles that I need to carry, raise, steady, and shoot my Heym 89 500 Nitro Express…..biceps, upper chest, deltoids, triceps and forearms. I also focus on abs because I’ve learned that if you clench your abs when shooting the 500NE, clenched abs actually help control/absorb the recoil impulse of the rifle as well as prevent the muzzle from climbing as high since the upper body does not rock as far back.
In sum, if a hunter wants a larger DG rifle (for whatever reason is fine) but currently can’t handle the weight and/or recoil of that specific rifle, perhaps he can handle it after a few weeks/months of proper physical training. If consistent physical training helps to satisfy a man’s desire for a specific DG rifle and gets him into the fields of Africa, then why not do it?