Man, is this a thread from the dead, or what?

To me, Weatherby calibers (in their factory loadings) represent the ultimate extension of the obsession with velocity.

Works well enough in the small/medium bores for flat trajectory, but in the big guys (460, .416 even .378) look out! Killers on both ends, but maybe more likely to stop a second shot by the hunter than a charge by the hunted.

Personally I think the British back at the end of the 19th century figured it out pretty well. Get a big heavy bullet with good SD moving at 2150 or so FPS and it will git 'er dun within the ranges at which dangerous game is hunted.

If you want that kind of recoil/noise, I think you are better off trading velocity for greater bullet diameter/weight, as per Mr. Shakari above (of course for all I know, he is shooting 600 grainers at 2500 FPS)! Otherwise I think handloading down to at least .416 Rigby ballistics (I would more likely approximate the .400 Jeffery) makes a lot of sense.

Just my $.02. But maybe I am just getting old...