The wound channel of the projectile should figure into the analysis. Elmer Kieth reckoned the lead round ball to be then best killer of man or beast for a reason. Round lead balls make wicked wound channels.
In an article written on "one shot stops" in actual shootings recorded from history some revelations appeared.
If I remember right the 1860 Army Colt had a one shot stop "percent of 67" compared to the 45 Long Colt with a "54 percent" one shot stops.
It'sjust that figuring power on paper with vel. and ft/lbs is leaving something out....the effects of the projectile on human tissue.
The round lead ball is a very good incapacitor.
I've read stories about the 36cal. Colt incapacitating an antaganist and ending a fight even though the antaganist took a day or two to die. Read stories about the thick buffalo hide coats minimizing the effects of the wound a 36cal. makes. Distance is a real important consideration.
One may be surprised at the info in the article that showed the ballistic geletain penetrated much further with the Walker Colt and the lead ball than by the 44 Magnum jacketed hollow point.
One may be surprised that the 36cal. lead ball from a Colt 36cal. had more one shot stops than the 38 Special lead round nose bullet from a cartridge 38.
The 36cal.Navy is touted as being about like a .380 auto but......in terms of effects on humann tissue that ft/lbs and vel. data doesn't show the whole picture. Colt Navy revolvers are able to end fights shooting the proverbial lead round ball.
Sure there's all kinds of variables involved but info taken from recorded shootings shows the percussion revolvers in a different light.
A more recent story I heard about was one where a person was being robbed at gunpoint in the city. The person had the opportunity to draw and fire one shot from a brass frame cap&ball Colt. The antaganist was bent over incapacitated as the victim being robbed threw down the revolver and fleed never to be found and questioned. Wittnesses were there to substantiate the story or evidence. The brass frame cap&baller ended the robbery and probably saved the victims life and ....the cap&baller revolver wasn't able to be traced back to anyone.
The state of Michigan banned "cap&ballers" for years since "murders were done with them" in that state and the guns weren't tracable.
SIDE NOTE.......I have two ugly trucks that run and run and run (thru the woods and plowing thru multiflora rose fields and the like)since if they don't I make them run. Same with my cap&ballers Colts. I make them as accurate as any Remington type and make them as reliable as can be ..........since I have to stave off marrauding racoons in the barns and ferocious rabbits in the brush and killer squirrels bounding from the trees. That isn't considering the dangerous game like coyotes and feral dogs and ......the most dangerous of all....the proverbial ground hogs making boobie traps to break my legs in the woods and fields(holes to step in). Of course I'd never go to huntin and campin with a bunch of buddies and "cases of beer". Alcohol and guns....don't mix. The beer.....that's for the back porch and me and my hound dogs and my rocking chair. (Old guys like rocking chairs, backporches and ole hound dogs).ha ha ha
I have to make a note here.....as far as cap&baller revolvers and shooting ground hogs......the freakin things can be gut shot clean thru and entrails dragging two feet behind and...still get back in their holes after being shot with a 38 revolver,a Sharps 45cal. rifle or a Winchester firing a 45 Colt bullet. Put a lead ball in the ,"Hawken or the Walker revolver", and they don't go anywhere after being shot with one(within decent range limitations).
