It is a dangerous-game cartridge intended for the hunting of heavy dangerous game such as elephant and African Cape buffalo.
Beginning in the 1960s and through the 1970s, safari hunting in Africa was on the decline, and in turn demand for big-bore cartridges waned.
To accomplish this task Weatherby relied on one of the largest commercial sporting cartridge cases available.
The case design was inspired by the .416 Rigby cartridge and features a belt and Weatherby’s signature double-radius venturi shoulder.
This is arises from the CIP's treatment of the double-venturi case, shoulder and neck area of the cartridge.