The Sporting Rifle and Its Projectiles, Lt. James Forsyth,1863, available from abebooks for around $7 - 15, makes an interesting distinction between a military rifle and a sporting rifle.
In battle if your rifle wounds an enemy, well, he is out of action. However when hunting in India it is not at all advisable to wound a tiger.
With respect to projectiles - ". . . any surface sharper than a hemisphere reduces the shock given to an animal very much, although the actual diameter, and consequently the striking surface, of the ball be the same . . . I do not approve of the sharp pointed cone; it does not produce sufficient concussion, but enters the animal more like the thrust of a sword than the blow of a bullet; there is not sufficient shock; there is as much difference between the blow of a hammer and the thrust of a dagger ..."
I'm not much of a hunter, just recall being amazed at the instant effect of a body hit with a .42 cal ball on a squirrel vs attempting to bring one down with a .22.
For those who are serious hunters, and have ever considered any bullet other than round ball, this book is a good education. By a man who hunted in India.
Oh, yeah he has a lot to say about rifling, twists and groove design. Would make for a fine argument/discussion. If you like to hunt very large animals you might want to get this book. A sportsman's experience, not theory.
