I have been shooting 50 Alaskan for a long time now and I would not think twice of using it on any DG around . It is even better now with great bullets that are a round now. I have a hand loaded 570 grain HC to 1800 fps with no problem and could do a 500 grain around 2000 plus fps. I have punch bullets which will penetrate like mad and the CEB bullets which make the round even more deadly

I think these will qualify as Dangerous Game.... 50 B&M Alaskan 405 #13 Solids and 365 #13 HP NonCons....

I am a Lever gun enthusist, and I have shot a lot of DG in my lifetime..but never with a lever gun. I have reserved that to the USA, Canada, and Alaska..

I like the idea or a BLR in either 375 or 416 Ruger as you can use 300 and 400 gr. bullets respectively. Makes perfect since for DG in Africa....A 400 gr. bullet in a 416 is an awesome penetrator as is the 300 gr. in the .375. The .375 Ruger or the 9.3x62 are good minimum DG calibers for me, the 416 is hands down the best. Another option is the mod. 95 Win in a 9.3x62 with the right loads its as good as the .375. I have a 9.3x62 wildcat thats as good as either.

I do not like the idea or a short stubby 400 gr. bullet in a 458 caliber, monolithic or not the shorter the bullet the less SD and less penetration and I have seen a lack of penetration with 400 gr. monolithics in a 458 caliber rifles from time to time and depending on how much resistence they met. and velocity plays a big role in penentration with monolithics..I'm not sold on that therory for DG, however it does work in lighter plainsgame calibers on plainsgame.

Its easy and popular these days to use light fast bullets on DG and some seem to think a 350 gr. 458 bullet at sizzling velocity is the same as a heavy bullet at the less velocity, and they display a picture indicating the caliber is all thats needed, and by golly most times it is...

IMO, a 500 gr. 458 bullet at even 1800 FPS is a better killer and more dependable than a 400 gr. bullet at any velocity..My personal limit on say buffalo or elephant and even Hippo for body shots is a .40 caliber 400 gr. bullet at 2100 to 2200 FPS or a 500 gr. 458 bullet at 2100 FPS, these are proven killers, and 2300 to 2400 FPS can sure come in handy when you need it, more velocity than 2400 FPS is not needed under any circumstances that I know of.

2000 to 2100 FPS with 40 caliber and a 400gr. bullet can be accomplished some lever guns such as the modified mod. 95 Win., and that is the best route to take IMO, and a 500 gr. or larger bullet in a 458 could probably be accomplished in a 50-110 or 120, and it a sharps rifle..

I have seen buff killed with 7x57, 8x57 and 30-06s, and have done so, but all this means zilch when things go wrong and you see one of those hurt bulls with eyes as big as tennis balls and he is pissed, and his blood shot eyes are looking for the SOB that just shot him or a lion roaring as loud as a fright train coming at you, ducking and diving through the high gras with hism eyes fixed on you and no-one else and he is coming so fast he is a blur, and you know he hates you with a venom, he is full of adrenalin and hard as hell to kill...Therein lies the differenc between a caliber and bullet combination that will kill a DG animal and one that needs to stop the animal cold with one shot and if not the results are well known, as it happens every year in Africa, someone gets killed or maimed by some wounded animal.

A close call or two can really change ones mind on what it takes to kill a charging animal...

Just my opine and I'm not the caliber cop, and whatever one uses is up to that individual. I belive in "Use enough gun".

Although other better options have been mentioned, the seldom seen .510 Kodiak Express would certainly handle most DG, provided the rifle was tuned well for reliable feeding. 400 @ 2445 fps. (Or a 453 @ 2323 fps).

.510 Kodiak Express

If the BLR was the candidate, I would likely opt for a .416 Taylor or the aforementioned .458 (if feasible).

The 1895 has been offered in .270, and at those pressures it should be able to drive the 400 SN in a .405 to Ray's recommended 2100 fps -- figures John Taylor also recommended as minimum for dangerous game under all conditions. It may take metal work to get the full 3.3 COL available in the action.

There's also the .400 Whelen and a modern variant developed by Z-Hat, their .411 Hawk; they've tested it to 2150 fps with 400 gn. Along similar lines, a fellow on these forums uses a longer case made from cylindrical brass. It allows a full 3.3 COL while crimping into the cannelure of the 400 SN bullets. With the original Whelen, one might have Lee make a collet crimper to ensure a good grab when at the full cartridge length. At -06 pressures, any of these should be able to make 2100 fps in the 1895.

For the '86 series, a .348 blown out for .366 bullets should be close to the 9.3x74R in performance, but that's getting down to bare minimums for the game in question. The .450 Alaskan with 450 gn copper alloy solids will go at least 1900 fps. That's below the classic 480 gn steel jacketed solids at 2150 fps, but a few reports I've come across say it will do. Turnbull offers '86s in their .475 Turnbull with 450 gn at a claimed 2050 fps, and that's not far behind the .475 NE's 480 at 2100.

Other than that, it's the BLR. It's action is a combination of two 1800's ideas: turnbolt breeching and a rack & sector to move the bolt. It's said to be a pill to take apart in the field, and the factory doesn't offer cartridges optimum for such game. A custom job in .375 or .416 Taylor or .450 Win Mag is possible.