I have shot more than a few elephants. My double rifle is a 458wm, substitute its performance for the 450NE - actually my 458wm outperforms the 450NE 3 1/4", giving greater velocity with a 500gr Woodleigh solid than the 450NE gives with Woodleigh 480gr solids. Even with the better peformance of my 458wm, greater velocity and greater bullet weight, the additional penetration provided by the flat nose solids is a welcome boost in performance.

For most shots on eles, my 500gr Woodleighs at 2145fps provide sufficient penetration with a margin, but there are shot where more would be welcome and may make the difference. Frontal shots where the ele has it head up, awkward angle frontal brain shots, all heart and lung shots are shots where you wish for more velocity with the round noses than the NE provide, or alternatively, a flat nose solid.

I'll add though that a 450NE with round nose Woodleighs is a well proven commodity. But with elephants, a bit more is welcome and sometimes required.

JPK