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Thinking of penetration, JPK, 450-grain .416 bullets should have have more sectional density than 500-gr .458s.

The matter of increased velocity giving deeper penetration of course assumes we have tough, full-patch bullets. With soft-points it is usually the other way round in big-game calibres.


PS: If any Aussies can part with a small handful of FMJ 300-grain .338 slugs, please let me know. They might help in case I'm caught by something tough and nasty while armed for plains game, since some .338 solids have been said to penetrate the head of an elephant.

- Paul

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Wasn't intending to include softs in the discussion.

Yes, the .416" 450's have higher SD than the .458" 500's, but not the 550's!

SD .416" 450gr = .371. SD .458" 500gr = .341, 550gr = .375.

The 550's are of no use in the 458wm, but they are the cat's meow in the 458Lott, Ackeley, Rigby,... all the big case .458" rounds. The Lott will push them to 2150fps without trouble. Memebr 456H&H reports excellent penertation in elephants with the 550's at 2150fps mv, in the range of +70". BTW, he has more extensive elephant experience than I do, by a good bit.

JPK