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Assuming that the bullets remain in the elephant and relying on factory ammunition data, the energy transfer from a 410gr solid fired from a 416/500 or 416 Rigby, 410grs at 2300fps, is less than that transfered by any of the 458wm (some factory ammo but not all), 458Lott, 450NE, 450NE No2, 450/500, 465H&H, 476WR, all of the 475NE's and the 500NE. This is simply because all of the big bores have more energy than the medium bore 500/416 or the 416 Rigby.

The 500/416 and 416 Rigby, 410grs at 2300fps = 4702ft/lbs energy.

The least energy produced by any of the others is 4930ft/lbs produced by the 450NE 3 1/4" and the 465H&H(except some weak 458wm factory ammo; 458wm solid bullet ammo can be found from lower than the 416 numbers up through 5570ft.lbs.)

Sectional density numbers for the standard bullets are as follows, in order:

458wm 500grs .341
458 Lott " "

500/416 410grs .338
416 Rigby " "

476WR 520grs .328

All 450's 480grs .327

470NE 500grs .318

465H&H 480grs .313
500NE 570grs "

Yes, a 416 Rigby or 500/416 would be expected to penetrate more than any of the other rounds except the 450 Lott, which has equal velocity and greater sectional density.

No the stopping effect will not be that same between the big bores and the 416's unless the brain or spine is hit. Yes the big bores have proven over the last century and more that they are more reliable for stopping elephant charges. Not all elephant charges are stopped by a brain or spine shot, I'd venture that most are stopped with a missed brain shot. And the stopping reliability goes up as calibre, bullet weight and energy go up, as proven repeatedly for more than a century. An opinion shared by Nychens, Taylor, Harlan, Thomson, almost every experienced elephant hunter who has voiced an opinion, even including Ganyana.

But don't believe me or history, just watch Buzz Charlton's DVD "Hunting the African Elephant" and count how many times he says, "...if the hunter had been using a rifle that shot a 500gr bullet, this elephant would have gone down..." BTW, Buzz shoots a 416 Rigby.

As I wrote in my post, the more experience you have the more likely you will encounter trouble, and the more likely you will go looking for it as well, with a desire to close closer, and to hunt in thick bush. That is why consideration should be given to what the rifle will be used for.

BTW, I know five guys on this board who have stopped elephant charges. So it isn't uncommon to have to. Not all of those elephants stopped were brained, about half that I know of were stopped with imperfect brain shots by big bore rifles. And anyone who thinks their shooting will be perfect everytime an elephant is bearing down is just kidding themselves.

JPK

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