well, I suppose that bullet type, weight, and caliber would have a lot to do with the effectiveness of a cartridge.

I like to hunt with 45 calibers these days.

With a good 45 caliber 405 gr. Hard cast bullet, for deer I think you need about 300 lbs. For black bear, I think you need about 500 lbs., and for elk, I think you need about 800 lbs.

These are small numbers, but this load will penetrate very deeply, with a very wide wound channel. And once the heart or lungs are taken out, what else do you need.