The 470NE is the most popular cartridge for double rifles today! That is a popularity that is not deserved, for a strictly performance stand point. Like many other cartridges, it is because of several reasons they seem to be a little nebulous, at best. The 470NE class of chamberings were only brought about because the .475 bore was the nearest diameter that could be used to re-bore the many double rifles in the hands of customers all over the world, and the 500NE case would clean out the chambers of all the different 450s around, when the .450 bore was outlawed by the British Government, for the Sudan, and India. That is where most double rifles went after they left the makers. This re-boreing, and sometimes re-regulating, was quicker, and more cost effective than making complete new barrel sets so the customer would have his rifle back quickly, and at less cost.

The re-bored doubles to .475 needed a slightly heavier bullet to balance the cartridge better, the bullet weight was moved up from 480 grs, to 500grs. Performance wise, the 470NE class cartridges do not produce better results, in any real way, over the 450s.

Before the outlawed 450s the spread was light rounds like the various .400s and some old black powder rounds like the EXPRESS TRAIN rounds like the 500/450#1 Express, black powder rounds use mostly for deer, and stag. However, the NITRO powdered 450s was bottom for dangerous game, with the space between the 450s, and the 500NE with it’s 570 gr bullets being the start of the real Elephant cartridges, and at the time considered by the old ele hunters of that time to be a light rifle, some preferring a 10 bore up for elephant hunting. This was caused more by the quality of bullets, and powder than the bore size.

Today, anything from 9.3X62, 9.3X74R, up can be successfully used for the “HUNTING” of even Elephant. Admittedly, my choice for ele hunting would begin at the .400s on the low end, and better would be the .450s, but from there MY CHOICE would jump to the 500NE. I would by-pass all the cartridges between the .450NE rounds, and the 500NE. Either one of these paired up with a 9.3 or 375 would be a very well balanced African battery!

Let me say I own many of the chamberings between the .9.3 , and the 500NE, and the availability of 470NE ammo in most safari countries is comforting, if that were the only thing that qualified the .470NE, it would not be enough to make me use it over the better .450 cartridges, or certainly not better than a 500NE.

A large number of double rifles, in large chamberings never see the African shores, and the double rifle is, by it’s very nature , a handloading proposition, to get the best it has to offer, so as long as brass is available ammo is no problem. I’m basically a Cape Buffalo hunter, and I too, just like the 500NE double rifles. Though I have a 470NE that shoots very well, and is very reliable, I’d rather have 500NE double on the top, and a .450NE , or even a 450-400NE 3” than the 470NE.

I say there are no rules that say you must use one chambering over another, as long as both are legal for the game you are hunting. Buy the 500NE if that is what you want, and be happy, it will get he job done!