Most powerfull lever action cartridge & rifle?

Ds J · Dec 04, 2024, 08:35 AM

I read somewhere that the smaller big bore cartridges like the 45-70 and 405 can adequately kill the pachyderms of Africa. They have sufficient penetration to deliver reliable kill shots.

The downside is to stop those pachyderms when they come at you with speed and serious intent. Then these smaller big bore cartridges do not necessarily stop them. That is where the "magical minimum" of a solid bullet of 450gr at 2250fps came into being; that proved to stop charges reliably.

oafpatroll · Dec 04, 2024, 10:10 AM

A great many large animals, including a lot of elephants were killed by hunters with voorlaaiers that had ballistics near equivalent to my pet 12G slug load, i.e. 15-1600fps 550ish grain projectile. They probably felt more than sufficiently gunned back then as that was what there was.

Ds J · Dec 04, 2024, 11:49 AM

Quote from: oafpatroll on Dec 04, 2024, 10:10 AMA great many large animals, including a lot of elephants were killed by hunters with voorlaaiers that had ballistics near equivalent to my pet 12G slug load, i.e. 15-1600fps 550ish grain projectile. They probably felt more than sufficiently gunned back then as that was what there was.

They used horses to get away, especially due to the poor penetration of the round balls. Ride close, take the shot (or dismount to take it), then charge away to prevent getting trampled. It usually took three to six shots to take down an elephant, which is why they started using very large bore guns. If memory serves correct, Frederick Selous owned a 2-bore.

An old-timer told me about a horse who got whipped by the trunk of a elephant. The horse who go into shock as soon as it smelled or heard elephants afterwards.

oafpatroll · Dec 04, 2024, 12:05 PM

The balls on those guys must have made walking difficult!

Ds J · Dec 04, 2024, 12:38 PM

Quote from: oafpatroll on Dec 04, 2024, 12:05 PMThe balls on those guys must have made walking difficult!

The world is heading downwards. We will soon be back there, then those tough ones will come out of hiding.

oafpatroll · Dec 04, 2024, 01:39 PM

Quote from: Ds J on Dec 04, 2024, 12:38 PM
Quote from: oafpatroll on Dec 04, 2024, 12:05 PMThe balls on those guys must have made walking difficult!

The world is heading downwards. We will soon be back there, then those tough ones will come out of hiding.

Of that I have no doubt. The veneer of civilization and 'sophisication' we have is new and very thin. Humans will be back to humaning as they do Syria, South Sudan etc before long.