Rifle · SAAMI
.600 Nitro Express
The largest practical hunting cartridge.
- Caliber
- 0.62″ · 15.748 mm
- Introduced
- 1900
- Case
- Rimmed
- Primary use
- Dangerous Game
- Status
- Active
- Introduced
- 1900
- Type
- Rifle
- Origin
- United Kingdom
- Inventor
- W.J. Jeffery
- Manufacturer
- Kynoch / Hornady / various
- Standard
- SAAMI
- Status
- Active
- Availability
- Common
- Case capacity
- 211 gr H₂O
- Twist (typical)
- 1:26
- Primer
- Large Rifle Magnum
- Case type
- Rimmed
- Max pressure
- 35,534 psi, CIP transducer
- Eff. range
- 75 yd
- Max range
- 4900 yd
- Recoil
- 90–130 ft·lb
Ballistics
Published velocity/energy data isn't available for .600 Nitro Express.
Performance
Dimensionscase measurements · scale drawing · size vs familiar rounds
Case dimensions — the scale drawing at the top of the page is built from these.
CIP TDCC · approximate| Measure | mm | in | ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bullet ⌀ | 15.75 | 0.620 | ✓ |
| Neck ⌀ | 16.46 | 0.648 | ✓ |
| Shoulder ⌀ | n/a | ||
| Shoulder angle | n/a | ||
| Base ⌀ | 17.78 | 0.700 | ~ |
| Rim ⌀ | 20.57 | 0.810 | ~ |
| Belt ⌀ | n/a | ||
| Rim thickness | 1.65 | 0.065 | ✓ |
| Neck length | n/a | ||
| Case length | 76.20 | 3.000 | ✓ |
| Overall length | 93.98 | 3.700 | ✓ |
Size vs familiar rounds
Drawn at true 1:1 — every case is accurate relative to the others. Absolute size depends on your screen's pixel density, so measuring one against a real ruler may be off. .600 Nitro Express is highlighted below.
Factory loads
Being verified
Advertised FPS, energy, and BC are withheld until loads clear verification.
Suitable powders
1 reloading powder listed for .600 Nitro Express, fastest to slowest. Cross-reference in the finder →
Reloading costestimate cost per round vs factory
Estimate your cost per round and how it compares to factory. Inputs are yours — nothing is stored.
Cost estimate only — not load data. Charge weight is your input; follow published manuals for safe charges.
Firearms chambered in .600 Nitro Express
Lineage
Connected reference
History
W.J. Jeffery introduced it in 1903 as the ultimate dangerous game cartridge. Recoil is approximately equivalent to firing twelve 12-gauge shotgun shells simultaneously. Professional hunters used it for rogue elephant control — animals that had become threats to villages. Production is extremely limited; a .600 NE double rifle typically costs $100,000-$300,000.
FAQs
- What twist rate does .600 Nitro Express use?
- .600 Nitro Express typically uses a 1:26 twist rate.
- What bullet diameter is .600 Nitro Express?
- .600 Nitro Express uses a 0.62″ (15.748 mm) diameter bullet.
- Is .600 Nitro Express still in production?
- .600 Nitro Express is active; typical availability is common.
- What is .600 Nitro Express used for?
- .600 Nitro Express is primarily used for dangerous game.
- What are the best powders for .600 Nitro Express?
- Reloading powders commonly listed for .600 Nitro Express include Reloader 25.
Sources & provenance
- Standard C.I.P. — C.I.P. TDCC datasheet — 600 N.E. (TAB. II, rev. 02-05-15) · grain_ballistics, representative_gun
- Standard C.I.P. — C.I.P. TDCC — Tables of Dimensions of Cartridges and Chambers
- Manufacturer Kynoch (Kynamco Ltd) — Kynoch .600 Nitro Express — factory ballistics table · grain_ballistics, representative_gun
- Manufacturer Buffalo Bore Ammunition — 600 NITRO EXPRESS (3-Inch) 100 solid — product page · representative_gun, grain_ballistics archived
- Manufacturer Buffalo Bore Ammunition — 600 NITRO EXPRESS (3-Inch) 110 solid — product page · grain_ballistics, representative_gun archived
Data & sources. Specs compiled from the Lindcott Armory reference; availability counted from 21 live factory loads; the trajectory is modeled (point-mass), not measured. See methodology. Spotted an error? Report it →
