The "Best" big bore cartridges ever created!!!

[Tug]

The Best, is easy for me
500 A2-simple. 460 Weatherby brass (which is great) fire-form, load 98-100 grains of Varget, 570 grain Barnes X
My rifle BRNO 602, mine started as 458 Win, action needed no work, Bell & Carlson stock, steel picatinny rail, TPS rings, Nikon Slughunter scope

Did you have to change the bolt face diameter?

 

[MLindsay]

Did you have to change the bolt face diameter?

yes, did not have to do anything for action to feed cases

 

[Northern Shooter]

I wonder how the 450gr 458WM (Barnes) load compares to the full power loads? Velocity is 2,240 fps, energy is 5,115 ft-lbs.

Here is loading data.

Barnes Powder Charge

 

[skydiver386]

Ballistic studies are always enjoyable and there is plenty to learn if you approach things with an open mind.

Whenever you put the word "Best" into any discussion, it helps to narrow things down to not only specify game species, but what type of shot, ie Elephant brain vs body shots.

The .375 H&H is always going to be a favorite for Dangerous Game, and easily the best all around cartridge for hunting Africa, but would not be the first choice of many on this forum for body shots on Elephant.

Another factor mentioned by @Mark A Ouellette is the particular bullet used. When manufacturers design a bullet, they often have no idea what cartridge it will be loaded in, what game will be hunted, at what distances, or any other factor that will effect it's performance. In the .308 dia., factories tend to use 30-06 velocities a baseline for designing that caliber. Their Premium 150 grain bullet may be used by handloaders in a 14in 30-30 T/C Contender pistol, or a 26in 300RUM, yet customers will expect equal performance from both.

Selecting the "Best" should obviously start with the species being hunted, then the recoil that particular hunter is capable of shooting accurately, then the bullet most suitable for that game under conditions of that hunt if possible.

 

[Tug]

Ballistic studies are always enjoyable and there is plenty to learn if you approach things with an open mind.

Whenever you put the word "Best" into any discussion, it helps to narrow things down to not only specify game species, but what type of shot, ie Elephant brain vs body shots.

The .375 H&H is always going to be a favorite for Dangerous Game, and easily the best all around cartridge for hunting Africa, but would not be the first choice of many on this forum for body shots on Elephant.

Another factor mentioned by @Mark A Ouellette is the particular bullet used. When manufacturers design a bullet, they often have no idea what cartridge it will be loaded in, what game will be hunted, at what distances, or any other factor that will effect it's performance. In the .308 dia., factories tend to use 30-06 velocities a baseline for designing that caliber. Their Premium 150 grain bullet may be used by handloaders in a 14in 30-30 T/C Contender pistol, or a 26in 300RUM, yet customers will expect equal performance from both.

Selecting the "Best" should obviously start with the species being hunted, then the recoil that particular hunter is capable of shooting accurately, then the bullet most suitable for that game under conditions of that hunt if possible.

For some reason, people are quick to jump up and tell me my premises are flawed—mainly because they think I forgot about bullet selection, which they argue is the most important factor. Then, of course, the hunter’s skill and experience become the most important aspect, too. So what’s the point?


At least, that’s how it comes across to me.


What I want to clarify—hopefully once and for all—is that I do agree that the bullet, the hunter, the animal, and the type of hunting being done are all more critical considerations than just cartridge selection.


However, people need to recognize that:

• The animal you’re hunting is a personal consideration.
• The bullets available to you are a personal consideration—I have no idea what your local gun store stocks.
• Your recoil tolerance is also a personal consideration.

My table exists to demystify cartridge performance (assuming an adequate bullet of your choice) and to help people compare options logically for their specific needs. It’s meant to provide a clear, simplified foundation for understanding cartridge performance—without anecdotes or personal stories muddying the analysis.


And as for the word “Best”—it’s in quotation marks for a reason. The answer is inherently subjective.

 

[Uncontrolled_round_feed]

Agree.......strange what the 458 wm guys cime up with to justify the round......

500 Jeff with 570 or 600gr bullets is devistatingly effective......so is a 505 Gibbs with 600gr bullets. Cannot even start comparing them to the 458 wm as there is no cimparison......

When the Gibbs enters the locker room, the 458 changes in the stall…

 

[Hunting Hitman]

Love the effort but I can think of a dozen calibers I would prefer to hunt DG with over the 375 H&H….also keep your voices down as I don’t want to upset my 505 Gibbs aka “Thor’s Hammer”. He can be moody when people start criticizing his ability to take a life.

HH

 

[Northern Shooter]

View attachment 670927
When the Gibbs enters the locker room, the 458 changes in the stall…

What a beast!

You don't happen to have a 450 Rigby or 416 Rigby on hand do you to show the visual comparison vs the Gibbs?

 

[Uncontrolled_round_feed]

I do not…but could do a 375H&H and a 416 Rem if that’s worthwhile…

What a beast!

You don't happen to have a 450 Rigby or 416 Rigby on hand do you to show the visual comparison vs the Gibbs?