Desertscout. I didn't mean for my post to be a flame or putdown. I've been hunting deer and elk for better than 40 years. I lost confidence in all those formulas, whether it was the foot/pounds theory based on velocity, or Elmer Keith's pounds/feet theory, or Taylor's knockout theory based on personal experience. It's a pretty well known fact that Taylor was a bit prejudiced towards any big bore designed by the British, and down on cartridges made elsewhere, or at least damning them with faint praise. I've read his AFRICAN RIFLES AND CARTRIDGES many times over, so I am familiar with his theory.
By his reckoning, W.D.M. Bell was a fool for using the 7x57 to kill almost 1100 elephants for their ivory. Bell was an extraordinary shot, able to hit flying geese with a rifle out past 200 yards, witnessed many times.
Like I said, I don't take much stock in all those theories, or formulas, if you prefer.
The important point is to put the bullet in the right place. The world record grizzly bear was tied by a man with a 30-30. It was not placed in the book, because he shot it in the head damaging the skull, which by the way, only had a .30 caliber hole in it. I have seen pictures of the skull.
I've killed deer at 25 and 75 yards with a .44 magnum. Both never went very far. Maybe 15 feet or so. I've shot others at distances between those mentioned.
As I grow older, I'm trying out somewhat larger cartridges. Larger in caliber, not so much magnums. I've taken a great liking to the .35 Whelan and .358 Win. It is too bad the shooting public hasn't been more responsive to those two rounds. The .358 has been discontinued, and Remington has dropped the rifles in that caliber. The ammo can't be far behind. Pity.
BTW. The .35's don't tear up as much eating meat.
Just one other point to ponder. In the last 40 plus years, I have had the opportunity to own rifles in many different calibers, and shoot other rifles in many more. Even though John Taylor lived in Africa and India, and did a lot more hunting than you and I combined will ever do, I don't believe he used all the rifles and cartridges he claimed to have done. At least, not in hunting situations. Just my thoughts on the matter.
Paul B.