.600 N.E. Load Data

The .600 Nitro Express, often abbreviated as .600 N.E., is a legendary big-bore cartridge that holds an iconic place in the history of dangerous game hunting. Developed by W.J. Jeffery & Co. in 1903, the .600 Nitro Express was designed during a period when the British gun trade led the world in producing rifles for African and Indian safari hunters. Its creation was driven by requests from renowned hunters who demanded a cartridge with unmatched stopping power for use against the world’s most formidable game. With its massive brass case and heavy bullet, the .600 Nitro Express quickly gained a reputation for delivering tremendous energy and deep penetration, making it the ultimate tool for professional hunters and those seeking the absolute maximum in big-game performance.

In terms of practical applications, the .600 Nitro Express was specifically crafted for the hunting of dangerous game animals where stopping power is paramount. Its use is most prevalent among big game hunters who pursue elephants, Cape buffalo, and rhinoceros. The immense energy and large-diameter projectile are capable of breaking heavy bone and achieving deep, straight-line penetration, essential for halting a charging animal under the most dire circumstances. While modern hunting practices and regulations have reduced the widespread use of such large calibers, the .600 N.E. remains a favorite among collectors, enthusiasts, and those engaged in the most demanding dangerous game hunts, especially where local laws permit.

The primary target species for the .600 Nitro Express have historically included African elephants, as well as other members of the dangerous game "Big Five," such as cape buffalo and rhinoceroses. In India, it was sometimes used for tigers in exceptional circumstances. The remarkable power of the .600 N.E. allows for reliable performance on thick-skinned and bone-heavy animals, providing peace of mind to professional hunters and their clients when confronting wildlife with immense mass and potential lethality. While the cartridge is overkill for most other game animals, its role in the historical context of elephant hunting is unmatched, and it continues to be used occasionally in Africa by those seeking to honor the traditions of classic safari hunting.

Typical bullet weights for the .600 Nitro Express are substantial, generally featuring a 900-grain projectile (approximately 58 grams), which is far heavier than the bullets used in most modern sporting cartridges. Bullet construction has evolved over time; early projectiles were often solid lead, but modern loads feature jacketed solids or monolithic designs to ensure maximum penetration and structural integrity on the world’s toughest animals. The .600 N.E. cartridge boasts a large case capacity to hold the voluminous powder charge required to propel such weighty projectiles at velocities averaging around 1950 feet per second, producing energy levels in excess of 7,000 foot-pounds at the muzzle. The combination of heavy recoil and intense muzzle blast means that the .600 N.E. rifles are typically custom-built, robust double rifles with correspondingly hefty weight to help manage the cartridge’s formidable force. For ammunition reloaders, the .600 Nitro Express poses unique challenges and rewards; brass and projectiles are specialty items, and careful attention to assembly is essential to ensure safe and reliable performance befitting one of the most legendary cartridges ever conceived.