JimBob86 said:
....Dunno .... I have seen more than one "moonscoped" AR in western NE during deer season ..... maybe that's just my perception, though ......
I believe it IS a matter of perception.
For instance, I don't know many people who would proclaim a 357mag with a 10" barrel to be a marginal deer gun. It produces 1590fps with a 158gr slug for 887 ft/lbs.
The "mighty" 44mag with a 10 inch barrel produces right around 1200 ft/lbs.
A 223 with 55gr SPs can do 3,350fps from a 24" barrel, 1370ft/lbs, 20" barrel might be 3150, 1212 ft/lbs.
Now, that 223 only has about 1/2 the momentum of the 44mag at the muzzle but the sectional density is pretty close.
No doubt that 44mag load is going to blow right out the other side at any reasonable distance.... wasted energy.
Actually, I'd be surprised if the 223 didn't exit also, if you used a proper big game bullet at reasonable ranges but more of it's energy will be used IN the animal rather than the tree on the other side.
Also, keep in mind that while the 44mag and 223 are about equal at the muzzle, the 44 loses it's energy MUCH faster. By the time it's at 100 yards, the 44 is down to 825 ft/lbs, the 223 still at 1035.