Question:

It seems the .450 Marlin meets the requirement for Cape buffalo, i.e. large enough to launch a 400- to 405-grain bullet at 2,023 fps or a 350-grain (larger than the standard 375 H&H bullets) at a respectable 2,223 fps. Tell us what you think. Does the .450 Marlin pass muster for buffalo?

Answer:

No, it does not, in my opinion. To be “buffalo suitable” a caliber/cartridge/bullet combination MUST have all the following attributes:

1.  About 4,000 ft-lbs of muzzle energy
2.  About 100 lbs-fps of momentum
3.  A bullet sectional density of at least .300
4.  At least 2,000 fps of muzzle velocity

The .450 Marlin is OK with most of the above, but it falls short on No. 3. A 400-grain .458-caliber bullet has a SD of only .272, and this is too low, in my opinion, for buffalo. A 300-grainer is even worse at .256. Sectional density is the single best predictor of bullet performance when buffalo are on the menu because of its influence on penetration, KO, and wound-channel size. This is borne out with the super-heavyweights as well.  As SD increases, so does bullet effectiveness, within reason. If you want to hunt a buff with a lever-actioned rifle, the .475 Turnbull is the way to go, and then only just.