Original sabinajiles
You still have to look at the factor of how much energy from the projectile is transferred to the animal, how it is transferredand how much is noteven utilizedwitha projectile that passes completely through an animal. If you read about the professional hunters of Africa, in the 19th century, you will find that most wrote that they preferred the large roundball, over a conical, for their rifles.
I think I would too for the same reasons I've already mentioned. First the load is more than enough, even forelephant, even in the way we judge modern centerfire rifles appropriate for elephant. Going to a conical twice its weight is only going to reduce velocity and require a reduction in charge. And the extra recoil, as if there isn't enough already, I wouldn't want it either.
But then, what if you were told you must hunt that elephant with a .70 caliber rifle?Do you think you would prefer the roundball (weighing only 480grains)still? It all boils down to what you want to deliver to the animal. The roundball, or any other projectilein and of themselves are just chunks of lead. Each possessing there own set of physical properties. There is nothing mystical about the properties they possess. The calculation of the elephant load shows us this.
It is clear that hunters as a group would approve of the 5-bore for the purpose of hunting elephants, it meets all standards. Though the same can not be said of the .45 RB for deer at a range of 100 yds, not saying the standards are necessarily fair, mind you. Keep in mind, I am the person who said that I
now consider the roundball a choice I can make for hunting.
Earlier I said that the properties (weight - momentum- energy- taylor - etc.)of the roundball
extrapolate exponentially as the bore size increases. The opposite is true if the bore size decreases. So if we start with the 1" ball as a very awesomeprojectile for elephant,and then interpolate exponentially as the bore size is decreased, then by the time we get to .36 cal we have a very limited weapon (less than 1% the weapon), even though the bore size is still a third of the 1" ball we started with.
As the bore size decreases, the conical begins to offer something which the roundball can no longer deliver. So I am not the least surprised that an elephant hunter using 5-bore would prefer a roundball. What I would disagree with, is if one draws the conclusion that because a 5-bore roundball is preferable to a conical, then it must also be the case, that for all other uses, the roundball is preferable.
Happy Hunting, Phil