You heavy nitro big bore {.400 PLUS} gurus, some questions...

Who bought such guns? How popular were they?

And...why?

Was it really that Mausers in the heavier calibers weren't trustworthy and doubles were too expensive?

Curious why a guy in the 1890-1920 era would put up the substantial money for a buffalo/elephant gun in a single shot caliber when other guns were available.