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

[Northern Shooter]

The fashion in Botswana is .450 Rigby loaded with 600grns .
Solids will reach the vitals of a big bull elephant from any angle.
Never tested this personally but that’s the talk around the campfire..

I wasn't aware 600gr class projectiles were available for 458 calibers.

That has an impressive S.D. of 0.409!

 

[Uncontrolled_round_feed]

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

458WM, 375H&H, 416Rem, 505Gibbs

 

[Uncontrolled_round_feed]

500 Jeff with 600gr premium bullet is the ultimate big bore rifle cartridge

A respectable choice. I like the Gibbs design (esp no rebated rim) more than the Jeff’s but there is room for all around the campfire.

 

[Tug]

G'day guys here is my final revision, I've included more load and calibres and done all the calculations for recoil energy and recoil velocity myself. When I wrote my first version was quite tired and some parts of it was crude and hard to read. Hopefully this version will be a marked improvement.

please enjoy

Also is there any way I can edit my first post to replace it with the updated version?

 

[Northern Shooter]

G'day guys here is my final revision, I've included more load and calibres and done all the calculations for recoil energy and recoil velocity myself. When I wrote my first version was quite tired and some parts of it was crude and hard to read. Hopefully this version will be a marked improvement.

please enjoy

Also is there any way I can edit my first post to replace it with the updated version?

Where is the updated version?

 

[Tug]

Rationalizing Big Bore Cartridge Performance: A Data-Driven Analysis

Choosing the right big bore cartridge for hunting can be a complex decision. Often, discussions are dominated by personal preferences, anecdotes, and emotional arguments, making it challenging to objectively assess cartridge performance. To address this, this article presents a data-driven analysis of popular big bore cartridges. The aim is to rationalize cartridge performance by objectively evaluating key variables, enabling hunters and shooters to make informed choices based on their specific needs and priorities. While performance is central to this analysis, it's important to remember that personal enjoyment and historical significance are also valid aspects of cartridge selection.

Methodology: A Consistent Data Framework

For consistent and comparable analysis, factory load data serves as the default data source for this study, unless explicitly stated otherwise for specific cartridges. The data presented will focus on maximum powder loads for consistency.

Key Performance Metrics:

The following metrics were selected to provide a comprehensive assessment of cartridge performance. These metrics are crucial for understanding a cartridge's capability in big game hunting scenarios:

• Bullet Type and Weight: Specifies the bullet type used in the factory load and its weight in grains.
• Powder and Charge: Indicates the type and amount of powder used in the load (by weight).
• Maximum Velocity: The muzzle velocity of the bullet, measured in feet per second (fps).
• Energy: The kinetic energy of the bullet at the muzzle, measured in foot-pounds (ft-lbs).
• Energy Efficiency: This metric, calculated as a percentage, represents the efficiency of the cartridge in converting the chemical energy of the powder into kinetic energy of the bullet. A higher percentage indicates more efficient energy conversion.
• Momentum: Bullet momentum describes the bullet's impetus, its forward force of motion. Crucial for penetration, momentum dictates the bullet's ability to maintain forward motion as it encounters resistance. Higher momentum contributes to deeper penetration.
• Sectional Density (SD): Sectional Density is defined as the ratio of a bullet's mass to its cross-sectional area. A higher sectional density signifies a greater concentration of bullet mass within a smaller frontal area, resulting in less resistance and improved penetration through tissue and bone.
• Sectional Area (SA): This metric quantifies the bullet's cross-sectional area, determined by its caliber. Sectional area is indicative of the potential size of the wound channel created by the bullet. A larger sectional area may contribute to faster incapacitation through increased tissue damage.

Why am I not using "Taylor's knock out factor" to indicate terminal performance?

While metrics like the Taylor Knock Out factor (TKO) exist, they can be misleading. TKO can overemphasize factors like bullet mass and caliber, potentially masking deficiencies in crucial areas like sectional density. For example, a bullet with a high TKO score due to large mass and caliber might still exhibit poor sectional density, hindering its penetration capability and ultimately its effectiveness on game.

Therefore, this analysis treats Momentum, Sectional Density, and Sectional Area as independent and equally vital variables. Their functions in incapacitating game are distinct and non-overlapping:

• Low Sectional Density: Impairs bullet penetration, limiting the bullet's ability to reach vital organs.
• Low Momentum: Results in rapid deceleration of the bullet upon impact, reducing penetration depth and potentially hindering vital organ damage.
• Low Sectional Area: Restricts the size of the wound channel, potentially slowing incapacitation due to reduced tissue damage area.

Secondly, Managing recoil is crucial for accurate and comfortable shooting, especially with powerful cartridges. Here are some key factors to consider:

• Recoil Velocity:
  
  • Velocities below 15 FPS are generally considered safe for extended shooting sessions with proper technique.
  • Velocities exceeding 15 FPS increase the risk of developing a flinch, with cumulative effects over time, and present a small risk of headache with prolonged use.
  • Velocities above 20 FPS significantly increase the risk of severe headaches, also with cumulative effects.
  • The U.S. military restricts personnel to weapons generating no more than 60 ft-lbs of recoil energy, deeming higher levels unacceptable.
  • Cartridges producing over 50 ft-lbs require significant preparation and mastery of recoil management techniques.
  • For cartridges generating over 70 ft-lbs, a heavier rifle (over 10 pounds) or recoil mitigation devices (e.g., muzzle brakes, specialized clothing) are strongly recommended.

Personal Analysis: Evaluating Big Bore Cartridges

The .458 Caliber Group

The 458 Caliber Group consistently demonstrates high performance across key metrics. The .458 Win Mag and .458 Lott, in particular, achieve exceptional energy efficiency while maintaining strong killing potential and moderate recoil. This balance explains their popularity among game rangers and for culling operations in Africa. Similarly, the .450 Rigby and .460 Wby Mag offer impressive performance, with their terminal effectiveness often rivaling, and in some cases even surpassing, certain .50 caliber cartridges. However, the increased recoil of the .450 Rigby, and especially the .460 Wby Mag, may exceed the physical tolerance of many shooters. Notably, the .458 caliber group stands out for its strong performance across all metrics (indicated by green color-coding), reflecting a well-rounded and highly effective cartridge design for hunting large game."


The 50 Caliber Group

The .505 Gibbs and 500 Jeffery boast impressive killing power and are a serious step up from the 458 Winchester Mag and 458 Lott in terminal performance and are best described as stopping cartridges designed to fit in a versatile bolt action rifle, primarily driven by its large sectional area and momentum values.

However, this performance comes at a significant cost, and the recoil energy for both the 500 Jeffery and 505 Gibbs are beyond the capabilities of most shooters. While the 500 Jeffey has significantly less recoil energy than the 505 Gibs up to 15 ft Lbs less. Due to its reduced powder charge because of its impressive cartridge efficiency (31 percent).

The 505 Gibbs exhibits the lowest energy conversion efficiency among the cartridges analyzed with (525gr bullets), raising questions about whether the substantial recoil generated is fully justified by its relative performance gains compared to more efficient cartridges.

The .40 Caliber Group​

The .404 Jeffery, while some factory load data reflects performance close to its original design, other loads demonstrate greater potential with either increased power or reduced recoil (42 ft-lbs) by lowering the ejecta mass of the powder charge, all while maintaining impressive terminal performance.

Meanwhile, the .416 Rigby, originally designed for use with cordite propellants, exhibits lower energy conversion efficiency—a common trait of cartridges developed for early smokeless powders. However, its 450-grain load represents a significant improvement, offering better terminal performance while also reducing recoil by 8 ft-lbs from 55 ft-lbs, making it a more manageable option for shooters seeking a balance of power and comfort.

The .405 Winchester, despite achieving a high Taylor Knock-Out (TKO) factor, is poorly suited for thick-skinned dangerous game due to its limitations in momentum (leading to quicker loss of forward motion) and sectional density (reducing penetration). Lastly, the .416 Weatherby Magnum stands out for its high momentum and sectional density, but its comparatively lower sectional area may contribute to excessive penetration, increasing the risk of wounding animals beyond the intended target.

The .358 to .375 Caliber Group​

Cartridges in the .358 to .375 caliber range generally exhibit lower sectional area and momentum compared to larger caliber groups. However, with the exception of the last three cartridges in this group, they offer the benefit of significantly reduced recoil compared to their larger counterparts.

The .375 caliber group, in particular, retains significant value due to its versatility—excelling in plains game hunting with good ballistic trajectories and a wide selection of bullets suited for both dangerous game and standard hunting applications.

Within this group, the .375 H&H Magnum presents a balanced performance profile with manageable recoil, widespread popularity, and ammunition availability, making it a well-rounded choice. Similarly, the .375 Ruger delivers commendable performance, especially given its optimized design for shorter, 20-inch barrels, making it a more compact alternative with similar ballistic effectiveness.

The .35 Whelen, while exhibiting high energy efficiency, lags behind the other cartridges in this group in overall killing power metrics and is included primarily for illustrative purposes.

The Double Rifle Cartridges Group

The analysis of double rifle cartridges offers valuable insights, particularly highlighting the .500 Nitro Express with outstanding terminal performance values. It surpasses the .470 Nitro Express in key performance metrics, delivering 16% greater sectional area and 11% higher momentum. This represents a significant improvement in stopping power, explaining why it's a favorite among elephant hunters, making it a more efficient option. However, this success comes with the downside of producing 12 to 19 more ft-lbs of recoil energy, depending on the load, than the .470 Nitro Express.

Among these traditional big-game cartridges, the .450 Nitro Express emerges as a well-balanced choice, combining strong energy efficiency, excellent terminal performance, and more manageable recoil. Its effectiveness during the golden age of African hunting cemented its reputation, and even today, it remains a highly capable and versatile option for hunters seeking a potent yet controllable big bore cartridge. Given its historical significance and practical advantages, a renewed appreciation for the .450 Nitro Express should encourage greater availability of factory double rifles chambered in this caliber.

The .450/400 Nitro Express 3" is a highlight among these cartridges for being the only one close to producing under 15 fps of Recoil Velocity and 36 ft-lbs of recoil energy. Its excellent terminal performance, combined with its "shootability", allows hunters to hit their intended target zone with quick follow-up shots, something that cannot be matched by any other double rifle. This makes it an outstanding option for hunters who prioritize accuracy and speed while still demanding powerful performance from their double rifle.

One Cartridge to Hunt the World?

When considering the best all-around cartridge for hunting a wide range of game, the strong contenders are the .375 H&H and the .416 Remington Magnum. The .416 Remington Magnum excels in terminal performance, especially with 400-grain bullets, which show a notable advantage in momentum (25%), sectional area (25%), and sectional density (10%) compared to the .375 H&H. However, with the introduction of new 350-grain .375-caliber bullets, the performance gap between these two cartridges has narrowed significantly.

As Dr. Kevin Robinson points out, the 350-grain .375-caliber bullet now performs nearly as well as the 400-grain .40-caliber bullet on large game. The numbers between the two are very close, with the .40-caliber round having slightly more momentum and a larger sectional area, while the .375-caliber round has a notably higher sectional density (0.356 compared to 0.33).

Additionally, the .375 H&H offers two advantages over the .416 Remington Magnum. First, it benefits from a wider availability of high-ballistic coefficient (BC) hunting bullets, making it potentially more suitable for long-range hunting, such as sheep hunting. However, with advances from Cutting-Edge Bullets, this advantage may soon diminish.


The second advantage of the .375 H&H is its significantly reduced recoil—up to 20 to 30 percent less recoil energy compared to the .416 Remington Magnum, depending on the load. This makes the .375 H&H a more attractive option for recoil-sensitive hunters or those who need to shoot larger volumes, as the reduced recoil can make the shooter more comfortable and effective.

This concludes my analysis. What aspects of the data did you find most surprising? Has this analysis shifted your perspective on which cartridge you would choose for your next hunt?

 

[Tug]

"The accompanying table presents a comprehensive evaluation of various big bore cartridges, employing a weighted scoring system to balance desirable attributes against the detrimental effects of recoil. To ensure objective comparisons, raw data was normalized using Z-scores and subsequently shifted to positive values. Weights were assigned to each attribute—momentum (1.3), sectional density (1.45), sectional area (1.2), recoil velocity (1.2), and recoil energy (1.0)—reflecting their relative importance in the context of dangerous game hunting. Sectional density (1.45) received the highest weight, as its role in deep penetration through thick hides and bone is considered paramount for reliable and ethical performance. Momentum (1.3) was also highly weighted, as it ensures the bullet maintains its drive through dense tissues. Sectional area (1.2) was weighted to acknowledge its importance in creating a significant wound channel for rapid blood loss and tissue damage. Recoil velocity (1.2) and recoil energy (1.0) were both included as counterweights, reflecting their combined impact on shooter control and fatigue. Recoil velocity, specifically, was given a high weight due to its direct impact on shooter control, specifically its ability to cause the development of a flinch and induce headaches. Recoil energy was included to reflect its impact on both shooter control and fatigue. The resulting 'Cartridge Score' provides a comprehensive metric, allowing for direct comparisons and highlighting cartridges that offer an optimal balance between terminal performance and manageable recoil."

This graph was just a bit of fun, I wouldn't put much stock in it.