"Siblings", is that the best you can come up with?? Wow man that is a pretty weak argument. "Siblings".

OldElk by bullet construction I am speaking of a heavier jacket because of the larger diameter. IMO this heavier jacket is what makes the big difference. Again IMO this is why premium bullets are made. The jacket in the lighter caliber's is not as thick and allows for more rapid expansion. The way bullet design was explained to me was that a thicker jacket would hold together better and allow more penetration. Again IMO this is why you have premium bullets-the premium bullets are "supposed" to be of better constructin, so they will hold together better for better penetration. I am sure you have heard of light, fast, small caliber bullets blowing up on a shoulder. I realize part of this is bullet tip design. But a lot of it has to do with the jacket to allow further penetration.

That is why I believe a $10 box of 30-06 shels with a plain old core-lock bullet is a better choice than a $40 box of Federal Premium in a 243. Plus you can buy 4 boxes of ammo instead of one, soa new shooter can get out and practice.

Far the average hunter who never shoots over 200 yards, and almost always less than 100 yards, the bigger slower bullet is better. And if recoil is an issue then slow the large bullet down some more, and you can attain recoil equilibrium with a larger bullet.

I recommend you start casting your own bullets. You can slow down a cast bullet, get great expansion and penetration, attain low recoil, and have a blast making your own bullets. It is a hoot when you make everything yourself and hunt with it. A 45-70 at 1200 fps has low recoil, the bullet is deadly on deer, and as stated long ago-"You can eat right up to the hole". Tom.