No question as to the effectiveness of GOOD jacketed bullets in a big bore. Not one!
In fact, I am a Nosler Partition fan since the 60s.
But, and I guess in truth this took a bit of faith in the writers and what I was reading before I started hunting with cast bullet in my 45/70, but the hard cast bullets from the larger bores, and medium to heavy bullets for bore size, cast with a large flat meplat, are every bit as effective as what the writers would want you to believe.
In fact my first critter, taken 3 seasons ago, with a WFN cast of 355gr at a muz velocity of just over 2300fps was waaaay too much of a good thing. Over the top wound channel to say the least.
My current 45/70 hunting load is a cast 465gr WFN at 1650, and to state it as simply as possible, it is awesome on deer and elk.
That non-expanding Wide Flat Nose meplat provides a would channel which is not only big, but very long!
As per velocity, I believe it is on the Beartooth Bullets Forum that links can be found to the testing which pretty well proves the fact that with cast bullets at least, wound channels are longest/deepest with bullets in the 1500 - 1700fps range rather then with loads exceeding 2000fps.
I understand that quality jacketed bullets need at least a thresh hold level of velocity to get them to upset and expand. NOT SO with the WFN cast, as it is creating a large wound channel from the instant it touches the critter's hide, and just keeps doing so for a long ways.
Now, I'd want to do a lot of expermenting with alloy before heading to a place like Africa, but there is simply nothing in North America which I'd fear to put this load and bullet up against.
Please hear me, I'm in no way attempting to down play the quality and usefullness of the large dia. and well constructed jacketed bullets against big game. Not at all.
However, and I don't think I'm all that different then most other old high velocity and jacketed bullet shooters/hunters. I'd say until we personally see the results from a heavy and large bore, cast WFN bullet we won't really believe the results from this non-expanding bullet.
Afterall, good and controled expansion from a quality jacketed bullet has been where, "it's" at for most of us alive today.
Anyway, as said, not down playing the great jacketed bullets used in the big bores, but I think for those who have not already done so, many folks would find there to be much interesting reading and information to be found on forums such as Beartooth Bullets Forum, Marlin Owners Forum, the Cast Boolits Forum as well in the cast bullet section here on Graybeard.
There are a number of African hunts spoken of on the Marlin Owners forum, and likely on the others as well.
Check out the information provided by Veral Smith of LBT (Lead Bullet Technology)fame, here on GB.
Cast or Jacketed, enjoy those big bores!
Crusty Deary Ol'Coot