No NO NO NO NO! (did I mention "NO"?)

Too many other factors must be taken into account. Primary among them is the shape and composition of the material being used.

Tight though a buck shot pattern may be, it is still not a solid object, and will deform (as a whole), before exacting the required damage. This is precisely why buck shot is not used in self defense against bears.

And this is precisely why a hardened slug is.

If you're able, try this experiment at home. Take a five gallon metal bucket, and fill it to the rim with sand. Now fire your buck shot into the side of the bucket from 10 yards away.

Now do the same thing with an arrow, sporting a very sharp, two edged broad head.

This little experiment will show you the difference between surface damage, and penetration.

While your at it, fire one of my "bear loads" for the .44 mag into the same bucket. Then tell me which penetrated more, the buck shot, or the .44

In short, more power does not equate to more penetration or more bone breaking ability. More power combined with the right projectile does.

Oh, and before any of you say it…I already know that no one has ever been attacked by a mad bucket of sand (unless it had a mad person behind it)

<img src=icon_smile_tongue.gif border=0 align=middle> If You Ain't Hunted Alaska, You're Still Just Practicing <img src=icon_smile_tongue.gif border=0 align=middle>