The Cannon Myth: Why I'd Rather Hit Than Bruise

My daughter is working towards her FGASA SKS Dangerous Game Trails guide qualification.

She has a Diploma in Game Farm/Reserve management and a whole heap of the required training done.

Yesterday she started her 3 week advanced rifle handling training.( She has completed her first 4 weeks trail guide training). She has quite a few encounters and hrs logged but after this she will begin as Trails guide second rifle and build up the required hrs, encounters and experience before attempting the final evaluations.

She is proficient with 375 H&H, 404 Jeff.

Her weapon of choice 404 Jeff....I wont be trying to convince her to change to the 375 H&H.....

You are only permitted to use solid ammunition no expanding ammunition.
You are only permitted to palm operate and reload the rifle.
It is a very rigarous course of the highest standard.

You have to be re assest every 3 years to remain qualified(a ph once and done).

An SKS Dangerous Game (SKS DG) Trails Guide is the highest tier of professional walking guide qualification awarded by the Field Guides Association of Southern Africa (FGASA). Standing for Special Knowledge and Skills, this elite certification denotes a master-level guide who is extensively trained and assessed in tracking, interpreting, and managing on-foot encounters with Africa's potentially dangerous wildlife (the Big Five, hippos, and crocodiles). [1, 2, 3]

Requirements to Become an SKS DG Guide
The road to achieving this pinnacle qualification is incredibly demanding, requiring years of active bush experience and rigorous testing:

• Prerequisite Qualifications:
  
  Candidates must already hold a Professional/Advanced Trails Guide Certificate, a Specialist Level 3 Guiding qualification, and a Wilderness First Aid Level 2 certificate. [1, 2, 3]
• Tracker III or Higher: Guides must hold at least a Tracker Level 3 Certification, which thoroughly tests their skills in both identifying animal tracks (Track & Sign) and trailing animals on foot. [1, 2]
• Massive Field Experience: Candidates must log a staggering 1,200+ hours walking on dangerous game trails and record at least 600 dangerous game encounters across multiple categories—such as elephant breeding herds, lions, leopards, rhinos, and buffalo bulls. [1, 2]

• Mentorship: A minimum of 100 mentored hours must be completed under at least 5 different SKS DG mentors (including 3 assessors). [1]
• Advanced Assessments: The final hurdles include passing a highly restrictive FGASA SKS Dangerous Game shooting assessment and successfully completing a multi-day practical backpacking/primitive trail assessment in a Big Five wilderness environment. [1]

We are currently working on a Trail guide specific bullet design. Heavy for caliber(sd has to be .330 or higher), meplat 75% and experimenting with a 45 degree hole in the front.
For 404 Jeff that would be a 420gr solid brass bullet.
We want to achieve maximum straight line penetration for frontal brain shots on elephant but also maximize damage for stopping buffalo or lion.

Rifles are zero'd at 12 meters.

Any serious DG hunter, PH or guide needs to practice, a lot to become proficient with a rifle.
It takes dedication and time.
the rifle has to fit properly and be balanced correctly.
From there you get your recoil tolerance level.

There are many other factors to consider....
99.9% of trails guides use bolt actions....
Recovery time after the first shot....
Use of solid brass bullets voids the quarantee on some rifles....

If you cannot hit the brain at 12 meters with a 404 Jeff you think you will with a 375 H&H???

The 375 H&H is a wonderful caliber and can do it all but it is not necessarily the best choice for all..

To each their own....

SStomcat said:

Let me preface this by saying that I'm not planning to have a fist fight here I tend to sometimes think and act differently to conventional wisdons - Carry enough gun, Bigger is always better ...

The Canon Myth: Precision over power.​

Let’s talk about the biggest flaw in dangerous game hunting: the "bigger is always better" mentality. We’ve all seen it a hunter turns up with a massive, shoulder-bruising canon 577, 600, Overkill ..only to develop a terminal case of the flinch and unable to place a shot accurately and recycle.

A perfect shot from a .375 H&H or 9.3×62mm beats a flinched, gut-shot from a .460 Weatherby
It’s not about the biggest stick, I know Teddy said that, it's about carrying the right caliber and bullet for the specific game. There is no universal "unicorn" load. If you skip the elephant cannons, you can absolutely hunt safely with smaller calibers, provided you adapt your strategy.

The great Karamajo Bell.​

Iconic hunter W.D.M. "Karamojo" Bell harvested hundreds of elephants with a tiny 7×57mm Mauser (.275 Rigby). He succeeded because he used heavy, non-deforming military solids that drove deep and straight, relying on anatomy over raw horsepower.
Translating that to a modern .375 platform means matching rifle to the animal -

- Do not use a 300-grain expanding TSX on an elephant. It acts like a parachute and halts penetration prematurely.
- Scale down the caliber, but keep the bullet structure rigid. Pushing a 300-grain Barnes Banded Solid .375 easily achieves the straight-line penetration needed to reach an elephant's brain.

The Trade-Off: Margin for Error​

Let’s bust the myth: no bullet instantly drops an elephant with a body shot. However, going with a lighter, shootable setup changes your safety net.
When a charge happens, a 500-grain solid from a .416 or .458 delivers a massive shockwave. It has a much higher chance of breaking heavy shoulder bones or knocking the animal off balance to buy you time. Opting for a lighter setup means your margin for error shrinks. You must be more disciplined, wait for the perfect angle, and rely entirely on surgical precision rather than brute force

What say you, gentlemen?
Are you trading the heavy "safety net" of a punishing .458 for the laser-like placement of a manageable .375?

Let’s hear your thoughts below!Be gentle. My shoulder isn't the only thing that's sensitive.

Click to expand...

I am in a reasonable part of "bigger the better" group.

History and collective knowledge in last 100 years pushed WDM bell aside, and went along with with national regulations of minimum caliber, 375 or larger

While precise shot with smallish calibers and proper bullet from 7mm up, to brain will bring elephant down, marginal shot to head is problematic.

How big bullet do you need to stun the elephant, to give you the time for second shot?

John P. Taylor tried to describe and define this in his "Taylor knock out formula".
This had been disputed ever since.

But the terminal ballistic is not definitive science and there is no formula to define ideal bullet and caliber for specific game.

Everything can be disputed.

Terminal ballistic is fragmented, and works with trial and error principle.

Fragmentation of terminal ballistic is like this:
We know about energy, but energy is not definitive answer.
We know about sectional density, but SD is not definitive answer.
We now of possible hydrodinamic shok, but that is not definitive answer.
We know about impact speed but speed it is not definitive answer.
We know about bullet weight, but it is not definitive answer.

Definitive answer for bullet type and calinber is balance off all known factors, plus exeperience and common sense.

375 to brain will bring elephant down instantly.
Thats fine.
All you need is precise side brain shot, or precise frontal brain shot
But my nightmare for this scenario is diagonal brain shot on elephant, margin of error, and stunning effect which for 375 - 300 grainer, should be minimal comparing to other larger calibers in elephant caliber group.

Modern safari is also not a classic safari of ivory hunters era.
The first difference is time.

You will pay today for short time hunt: 10 days, 2 weeks. That will be your time alloted
Will you take marginal shot on elephant on a last day, with smallish caliber in 375 class?
Or you will take the same with 577 for example?

WDM Bell in his time, did not have time constraines.
He had all the time in the world. He lived there.

If he could not take precise shot at elephant with 7x57, he would leave it for next day.
WDM Bell was never under pressure to shoot elephant on a "last day". And we dont have that luxury.

This greately changes the perspective of modern day sport hunter.

My own:
This is where I diverge from my own principle due to my own local realities.
So, I bought my 375 H&H as my "big game gun".

Relying on precise shot in perfect conditions (Side brain shot, or frontal brain shot, or side heart-lung shot, with solids, 300 grains).
And hoping not to be under pressure of last day to fire marginal shot.
That was my compromise

In my small country, without much of a safari culture, sourcing out ammunition and sourcing out a gun in caliber larger then 375 is night mare.

Economy: I also thought of practicality having one safari rifle for all, and 375 H&H is ultimate overall safari rifle, with application globally and in my home country as well for European game (up to moose).

So, anything larger would be impractical for me.
And buying somethig in 416 or larger for very few safaris I will take on pachyderms is out of question

On the end, I took my 375 H&H on PG hunt (2022), and on Buffalo hunt (2024).
Twice.
With absolute success.

When elephant hunt came up, in Zim (2025), I took rental rifle in 416 Rigby, due to difficulties of bringing my own rifle from europe to Zim.

And as it turned out, and the god having a kind eye on me, I had perfect side brain shot (on second day).
But for that one, I am certain, there would be no difference in effect with 375 as well. Sometimes you need luck.

If I were to hunt multiple elephants each year, for next 20 years. My dedicated elephant gun would be bolt action in 416 rigby.
(bolt action only, because I am too clumsy with double rifles, and I am too old to learn new tricks)

325gr 375 H&H
420gr 404 Jeff
600gr 500 Jeff

They will be solid brass in these weights with a 70% meplat and a 60 degree cone(hollow) cut into the nose.

I am receiving the first prototypes next week thursday for testing.....

IvW said:

I am receiving the first prototypes next week thursday for testing.....

Click to expand...

What is the method of testing?
Gel?

mark-hunter said:

I am in a reasonable part of "bigger the better" group.

History and collective knowledge in last 100 years pushed WDM bell aside, and went along with with national regulations of minimum caliber, 375 or larger

While precise shot with smallish calibers and proper bullet from 7mm up, to brain will bring elephant down, marginal shot to head is problematic.

How big bullet do you need to stun the elephant, to give you the time for second shot?

John P. Taylor tried to describe and define this in his "Taylor knock out formula".
This had been disputed ever since.

But the terminal ballistic is not definitive science and there is no formula to define ideal bullet and caliber for specific game.

Everything can be disputed.

Terminal ballistic is fragmented, and works with trial and error principle.

Fragmentation of terminal ballistic is like this:
We know about energy, but energy is not definitive answer.
We know about sectional density, but SD is not definitive answer.
We now of possible hydrodinamic shok, but that is not definitive answer.
We know about impact speed but speed it is not definitive answer.
We know about bullet weight, but it is not definitive answer.

Definitive answer for bullet type and calinber is balance off all known factors, plus exeperience and common sense.

375 to brain will bring elephant down instantly.
Thats fine.
All you need is precise side brain shot, or precise frontal brain shot
But my nightmare for this scenario is diagonal brain shot on elephant, margin of error, and stunning effect which for 375 - 300 grainer, should be minimal comparing to other larger calibers in elephant caliber group.

Modern safari is also not a classic safari of ivory hunters era.
The first difference is time.

You will pay today for short time hunt: 10 days, 2 weeks. That will be your time alloted
Will you take marginal shot on elephant on a last day, with smallish caliber in 375 class?
Or you will take the same with 577 for example?

WDM Bell in his time, did not have time constraines.
He had all the time in the world. He lived there.

If he could not take precise shot at elephant with 7x57, he would leave it for next day.
WDM Bell was never under pressure to shoot elephant on a "last day". And we dont have that luxury.

This greately changes the perspective of modern day sport hunter.

My own:
This is where I diverge from my own principle due to my own local realities.
So, I bought my 375 H&H as my "big game gun".

Relying on precise shot in perfect conditions (Side brain shot, or frontal brain shot, or side heart-lung shot, with solids, 300 grains).
And hoping not to be under pressure of last day to fire marginal shot.
That was my compromise

In my small country, without much of a safari culture, sourcing out ammunition and sourcing out a gun in caliber larger then 375 is night mare.

Economy: I also thought of practicality having one safari rifle for all, and 375 H&H is ultimate overall safari rifle, with application globally and in my home country as well for European game (up to moose).

So, anything larger would be impractical for me.
And buying somethig in 416 or larger for very few safaris I will take on pachyderms is out of question

On the end, I took my 375 H&H on PG hunt (2022), and on Buffalo hunt (2024).
Twice.
With absolute success.

When elephant hunt came up, in Zim (2025), I took rental rifle in 416 Rigby, due to difficulties of bringing my own rifle from europe to Zim.

And as it turned out, and the god having a kind eye on me, I had perfect side brain shot (on second day).
But for that one, I am certain, there would be no difference in effect with 375 as well. Sometimes you need luck.

If I were to hunt multiple elephants each year, for next 20 years. My dedicated elephant gun would be bolt action in 416 rigby.
(bolt action only, because I am too clumsy with double rifles, and I am too old to learn new tricks)

View attachment 797667

Click to expand...

Fair enough and well said. I like your reasoning and how you weaved the time factor. It adds a new dimension.

@SStomcat

I forgot to say:
My compromise was 375, but in my DG hunts, and before the hunt I cleared with my PH for him to fire instant second shot if he thinks it is necessary, to back me up.

In fact I instructed them to so so.
Some clients do not do that.

In my case PH did not back me up, as it was not needed.
Sometimes, you need luck as I said.

But loosing high value animal due to my poor shooting would be disaster.
That was my main compromise with going in with smaller caliber

One Day... said:

"however the main discussion point was or is whether one is ok to trade off the safety net of a 458 or higher for a perfect shot from a 375"
View attachment 797621

I was wondering when this would come up again... for the umpteenth time...

OP -- who apparently has not shot the big guns nor hunted DG -- has still not understood, after 9 pages of folks -- who have shot the big guns and who have actually hunted DG -- telling him otherwise, that his basic premise is wrong

-- for those who can shoot the .45+ well, there is nothing to trade along the lines of power vs accuracy, as the .45+ provides just as accurate a shot as the .375.

-- for those who cannot shoot the .45+, there is nothing to trade along the lines of power vs accuracy, as they MUST go down to .375.

-- for those who can shoot the .45+ well, but who choose, regardless of any stopping power consideration, the .375 for one-rifle safari convenience; of the joy of carrying a lighter rifle in the bush; etc. there is nothing to trade along the lines of power vs accuracy.

It reminds me of public group discussions where the facilitator has no idea what is being discussed and does not realize that people who actually know what they are talking about have long ago dismissed his interventions

Oh well...

At least, reading posts from folks who actually understand the discussion is valuable

Click to expand...

You really are a class act- "one of a kind", really.

You are persona non grata in this thread, yet you keep coming back with your self-professed wisdom, apparently unable to resist rubbing it in.

To me, you’re a wannabe hunter who shoots what you like. Fair enough. But that doesn’t make you the self-appointed adjudicator of what is right or wrong, or give your opinions some special authority over everyone else’s.
And what’s with all the ridiculous emojis? Don’t you have anything better to do than spend your time here trying to soothe that rather inflated ego?
Do yourself a favor stay away. No one is waiting for your next contribution, and trust me, you won’t be missed. ROFL

mark-hunter said:

@SStomcat

I forgot to say:
My compromise was 375, but in my DG hunts, and before the hunt I cleared with my PH for him to fire instant second shot if he thinks it is necessary, to back me up.

Click to expand...

That is a wise decision point.

mark-hunter said:

@SStomcat

In my case PH did not back me up, as it was not needed.
Sometimes, you need luck as I said.

Click to expand...

Yes, you need luck just like on anything

mark-hunter said:

@SStomcat

But loosing high value animal due to my poor shooting would be disaster.
That was my main compromise with going in with smaller caliber

Click to expand...

Thanks for explaining with rationale.

matt85 said:

I would say in modern times, the "bigger is always better" idea is incredibly rare. Ive spent the last 12 years as an avid member of the "large bore community" and have yet to hear a single person honestly say "bigger is always better" in a manner that wasn't a "straw man" to prop up their own argument for using smaller guns.

Id wager more than 90% of hunters follow the "use the smallest gun legally allowed" philosophy. The 375 H&H is the most popular largely because its the legal minimum. If people were allowed to hunt cape buffalo with a 338 WM, most would.

Click to expand...

Ah well. I will be taking my 470 for buff hunt next year, along with my 338 will for PG and few baboons. Initially it was supposed to be either a 9.3 or my 30-06 but my PH recommended otherwise.
375 HH stays in the safe itching for next time.

IvW said:

We are currently working on a Trail guide specific bullet design. Heavy for caliber(sd has to be .330 or higher), meplat 75% and experimenting with a 45 degree hole in the front.
For 404 Jeff that would be a 420gr solid brass bullet.
We want to achieve maximum straight line penetration for frontal brain shots on elephant but also maximize damage for stopping buffalo or lion.

Rifles are zero'd at 12 meters.

Click to expand...

First of all, sincerest congratulations to that young woman. You must and should be very proud of her. That mentorship requirement alone puts most PH programs to shame. Obviously, with a rifle sighted in at 40 feet, that is also the intended engagement range - or closer. She obviously will be using open sights of some form. Curious if any instinctive shooting is taught. We no longer use the technique in the US Army, which was taught to many infantrymen in Vietnam, because of the now universal use of optical sights of one form or another with single aimpoint alignment which allows target-focused aimed fire which is very quick for close quarters engagement. That is much more difficult with traditional iron sights.

The requirement you describe is essentially the same as that for a classic stopping rifle. Due to the restrictions put on the use of such a firearm by trail guides, it is even more likely that the rifle will only be employed at close quarters, unlike a PH trying to drop or slow an escaping elephant or buffalo at eighty to a hundred yards.

In that situation, with those two choices, and limited to solids, I would opt for the .404 as well, and pray I hit the brain whatever engagement technique or bullet design I was employing. I personally would prefer a 500 for such duty.

But I am not. I am a client. As much as I may fantasize about going to Africa and steely-eyed standing the charge of an enraged buffalo or elephant, that is very much my secondary responsibility. The actual mission I am required to fulfill to the best of my ability is placing that first shot - not the last one - exactly where it needs to go. The rifle with which I can do that most consistently is a scoped .375 or 40 something. I personally find the .375 so much more versatile for the rest of the hunt, that I prefer it.

I personally see no difference between using a 300 or 325 gr solid from a 375 or a 400 or 420 gr bullet from a 400 should things go south. None of those bullets is likely to turn a buffalo or an elephant. The thing needs to be brained or in the case of a buff, perhaps have its neck broken. With my illuminated scope turned to zero, I have an excellent close engagement system. With the 375, I also might just get off a second indexed shot a tad quicker than I could with the 404.

I wish your daughter every success. That is a calling which carries enormous responsibility, and is in many ways, far more dangerous than the typical PH with a big game ticket in his pocket.

The problem with stepping up the weight per caliber of copper bullets is 1) it makes an already long bullet longer = less space available in the case for powder = difficult to maintain or increase velocity and 2) less muzzle velocity = less impact energy, especially as distance increases and 3) we all know copper bullets require more energy on impact than lead to achieve the desired expansion. Some copper bullets are designed to "shed petals" which may mitigate #3 but bullets that shed weight are obviously bound to lose inertia after impact, especially if velocity is reduced. Lost inertia might be compensated by increasing velocity but that can be difficult per #1. Also, bumping up the gas on overweight bullets is bound to excessively punish the shooter and/or his rifle.

IvW said:

325gr 375 H&H
420gr 404 Jeff
600gr 500 Jeff

They will be solid brass in these weights with a 70% meplat and a 60 degree cone(hollow) cut into the nose.

I am receiving the first prototypes next week thursday for testing.....

Click to expand...

So, how does this relate to the thread?

The 600 gr will have most impact and lowest penetration, with 375 otherwise and 404 something in between.

Ontario Hunter said:

The problem with stepping up the weight per caliber of copper bullets is 1) it makes an already long bullet longer = less space available in the case for powder = difficult to maintain or increase velocity and 2) less muzzle velocity = less impact energy, especially as distance increases and 3) we all know copper bullets require more energy on impact than lead to achieve the desired expansion. Some copper bullets are designed to "shed petals" which may mitigate #3 but bullets that shed weight are obviously bound to lose inertia after impact, especially if velocity is reduced. Lost inertia might be compensated by increasing velocity but that can be difficult per #1. Also, bumping up the gas on overweight bullets is bound to excessively punish the shooter and/or his rifle.

Click to expand...

Agreed, point well taken.

mark-hunter said:

I am in a reasonable part of "bigger the better" group.

History and collective knowledge in last 100 years pushed WDM bell aside, and went along with with national regulations of minimum caliber, 375 or larger

While precise shot with smallish calibers and proper bullet from 7mm up, to brain will bring elephant down, marginal shot to head is problematic.

How big bullet do you need to stun the elephant, to give you the time for second shot?

John P. Taylor tried to describe and define this in his "Taylor knock out formula".
This had been disputed ever since.

But the terminal ballistic is not definitive science and there is no formula to define ideal bullet and caliber for specific game.

Everything can be disputed.

Terminal ballistic is fragmented, and works with trial and error principle.

Fragmentation of terminal ballistic is like this:
We know about energy, but energy is not definitive answer.
We know about sectional density, but SD is not definitive answer.
We now of possible hydrodinamic shok, but that is not definitive answer.
We know about impact speed but speed it is not definitive answer.
We know about bullet weight, but it is not definitive answer.

Definitive answer for bullet type and calinber is balance off all known factors, plus exeperience and common sense.

375 to brain will bring elephant down instantly.
Thats fine.
All you need is precise side brain shot, or precise frontal brain shot
But my nightmare for this scenario is diagonal brain shot on elephant, margin of error, and stunning effect which for 375 - 300 grainer, should be minimal comparing to other larger calibers in elephant caliber group.

Modern safari is also not a classic safari of ivory hunters era.
The first difference is time.

You will pay today for short time hunt: 10 days, 2 weeks. That will be your time alloted
Will you take marginal shot on elephant on a last day, with smallish caliber in 375 class?
Or you will take the same with 577 for example?

WDM Bell in his time, did not have time constraines.
He had all the time in the world. He lived there.

If he could not take precise shot at elephant with 7x57, he would leave it for next day.
WDM Bell was never under pressure to shoot elephant on a "last day". And we dont have that luxury.

This greately changes the perspective of modern day sport hunter.

My own:
This is where I diverge from my own principle due to my own local realities.
So, I bought my 375 H&H as my "big game gun".

Relying on precise shot in perfect conditions (Side brain shot, or frontal brain shot, or side heart-lung shot, with solids, 300 grains).
And hoping not to be under pressure of last day to fire marginal shot.
That was my compromise

In my small country, without much of a safari culture, sourcing out ammunition and sourcing out a gun in caliber larger then 375 is night mare.

Economy: I also thought of practicality having one safari rifle for all, and 375 H&H is ultimate overall safari rifle, with application globally and in my home country as well for European game (up to moose).

So, anything larger would be impractical for me.
And buying somethig in 416 or larger for very few safaris I will take on pachyderms is out of question

On the end, I took my 375 H&H on PG hunt (2022), and on Buffalo hunt (2024).
Twice.
With absolute success.

When elephant hunt came up, in Zim (2025), I took rental rifle in 416 Rigby, due to difficulties of bringing my own rifle from europe to Zim.

And as it turned out, and the god having a kind eye on me, I had perfect side brain shot (on second day).
But for that one, I am certain, there would be no difference in effect with 375 as well. Sometimes you need luck.

If I were to hunt multiple elephants each year, for next 20 years. My dedicated elephant gun would be bolt action in 416 rigby.
(bolt action only, because I am too clumsy with double rifles, and I am too old to learn new tricks)

View attachment 797667

Click to expand...

Those tusks looks impressive. The lower one approx 60 pounds each or more?

Ontario Hunter said:

The problem with stepping up the weight per caliber of copper bullets is 1) it makes an already long bullet longer = less space available in the case for powder = difficult to maintain or increase velocity and 2) less muzzle velocity = less impact energy, especially as distance increases and 3) we all know copper bullets require more energy on impact than lead to achieve the desired expansion. Some copper bullets are designed to "shed petals" which may mitigate #3 but bullets that shed weight are obviously bound to lose inertia after impact, especially if velocity is reduced. Lost inertia might be compensated by increasing velocity but that can be difficult per #1. Also, bumping up the gas on overweight bullets is bound to excessively punish the shooter and/or his rifle.

Click to expand...

Have you heard of faster modern powders like RL 15? It mitigates the case capacity argument. @michael458 created the whole line of B&M cartridges to go along with shorter case length (cut down .300 RUM case) using CEB brass bullets he helped design. Those cartridges do NOT punish the shooter or the rifle and are very effective.

Edit: The book “Shooting the British Double Rifle” has a multitude of examples of fast vs slow powders with quantities while having the same velocity. BTW, fast powders generate less recoil due to having less powder in the case. I am sure a welcome thing for those that think big bores cause bruising.

Tanks said:

Have you heard of faster modern powders like RL 15? It mitigates the case capacity argument. @michael458 created the whole line of B&M cartridges to go along with shorter case length (cut down .300 RUM case) using CEB brass bullets he helped design. Those cartridges do NOT punish the shooter or the rifle and are very effective.

Click to expand...

I had few interactions with the mentioned user. When I asked if his ammo was field tested in Africa, he obviously did not like it and said no. I therefore presume it was Gel tested, leading to a short conversation and a quick decsion point for me. I do not beleive in these modification of shortening lengthening, changing case diameters, neck shoulders to make things work. I have used RL15 for load devlopment on multiple newer cartridges, it come with its own set of attachments and just like any powder has some deficiencies when used for large calibers.

Now you’ve gone off into the weeds. @michael458 has forgotten more about bullets and their performance than you’ll ever know.