As regards rifles, I will simply state that I have tried the following: .416, .450/.400, .860, .350, .318, .275 and .256. At the time I possessed the double .400 I also had a .275. Sometimes I used one and sometimes the other, and it began to dawn on me that when an elephant was hit in the right place with the .275 it died just as quickly as when hit with the .400, and, vice versa, when the bullet from either rifle was wrongly placed death did not ensue. In pursuance of this train of thought I wired both triggers of the double .450/.400 together, so that when I pulled the rear one both barrels went off simultaneously. By doing this I obtained the equivalent of 800 grs. of lead propelled by 120 grs. of cordite. The net result was still the same. If wrongly placed, the 800 grs. from the .400 had no more effect than the 200 grs. from the 275. For years after that I continued to use the .275 and the .256 in all kinds of country and for all kinds of game. Each hunter should use the weapon he has most confidence in.

The 0.860 I think is a misprint.

The .303 is printed as .808.

Saeed, I didn't know there was a 200 grain bullet made for the 275, Rigby I assume.

The “right place” for Bell was always the brain.

Penetrate the brain with any bullet of any caliber and it’s necessarily equal to every other bullet and caliber?

I don’t think so, especially when the best “right place” available is not the brain.

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed: As regards rifles… Each hunter should use the weapon he has most confidence in.

I think this pretty much holds true even today.

There was well known museum animal collector many years ago that used only his .256 to collect all sorts of game including grizzlies and found it to be ample for his needs. That happened a lot in the old days once smokeless cartridges became available.

quote:

Originally posted by rolank:
There was well known museum animal collector many years ago that used only his .256 to collect all sorts of game including grizzlies and found it to be ample for his needs. That happened a lot in the old days once smokeless cartridges became available.

Clueless arm chair experts don't want to hear this.

I have been hunting all my life, and if there is one thing I have learnt, it is where you place the bullet.

Not the size of it.

AR is full of so called "hunt reports" of what I mean.

Use the biggest gun made, wound animals and chase them all day.

quote:

Originally posted by rolank:
There was well known museum animal collector many years ago that used only his .256 to collect all sorts of game including grizzlies and found it to be ample for his needs. That happened a lot in the old days once smokeless cartridges became available.

Are you speaking of Carl Akeley?

No, It wasn't Carl Akeley but another whose name I can't remember now but I do remember reading of his exploits.