In many endeavors there are increments too small to be noticable.

Or the increments are such that many replications with careful notes are required in order to notice the real change in outcome.

What size increments are needed in rifle cartridges, bullet weights and construction, velocities, etc in order to notice the effect on Cape Buffalo ?

Hammer

A friend who was Ph'ing in Tanz said, on large game
"there's no real difference in killing from a 7x57 to a 338 win"

"the effect of the 9,3 through the 404 is more or less the same, it all depends on shot placement"

"The 458 Lott is the most penetrating round on the planet" (and he shoots a 577 NE)

"The 45s and 470s have about the same effect, the 500s are noticably more, but NOTHING smashes game like a 577" (jeffe's note - the nytai is amazing, and the 550 epress (not used on buff) just can't be beat)


My opinion, for big game
there's the 30's .. 9,3 through 375.. good stuff
the low 40's .. 405-423 -- more of the same, a 416 AINT a stopping rifle
the big 40s, 458, 475, 483 -- GOOD stuff... and can be mastered by just about anyone willing to try

470-510 -- NOW you have a stopping rifle, and should consider it such.. it's a 100 yard in rifle.

Over 510? TRAIN TRAIN TRAIN with it. It will smash anything you hit, including the GROUND.

In big bores, I think that 50gr and/or 50fps is noticable on the shooter, but once you hit sd+.300 and bullet eweight +400, you are in high cotton

jeffe

I've always held that a new round must surpass the old one by a 10% real improvement in velocity. This has made sense to me for a long time.

Then one must have the courage to stand up and say, "This is all I can handle"
For me the 416 rounds are that, "all I can handle"!

If I have a 30-06 and am looking at a 300 Magnum, then that 300 must launch a 180 grain bullet at 3,200 or so to be considered an "improvement"! Here again one must ask if "I'M good enough to use the improvement.

Sorry friend but the answer mostly lies in your capabilities. Can you, personally, use the "so called" better round?