Having a passing interesting in terminal ballistics I've come to what I consider an astounding conclusion: all bullets are deadly.
There is no "more lethal" or "less lethal" bullet. There are just impacts on the target that killed, and impacts on the target that didn't kill. It isn't even a question of lethality of the bullet, it is a question of accuracy. Did the shooter put the bullet in a place to achieve the intended effect?
http://www.frfrogspad.com/terminal2.htm
A 30 Carbine with a soft point bullet leaves a wound much like a 357 Magnum in ballistic mediums. I have no doubt that if sufficiently shot with either I would die.
The question about how quickly I would die is also up for debate. The AR-15 is a proven manstopper, except if you listen to all the stories about how it would take five or six shots to put down an underfed middle eastern terrorist. Lots of stories out there how the 9x19 was designed to wound Europeans but the mighty 45 ACP was a sure one shot killer. They are just stories.
There is a reason, even with high power rifles and soft point expanding bullets that ethical hunters need to know how to track a blood trail. Death will come, but how quickly is always a question.
In a combat situation I'd rather have an M1 carbine than a 1911. More ammo, more accurate. Beyond that I'd rather have an M4 or M16.
But all of them will kill just fine.
Jimro