Why do you think solid to near solid bullets are preferred for head shots on elephants? Because they expand the fastest and penetrate the most?
Maybe it's because they have the smallest frontal diameter?
Well, most of the elephant guns are medium to big bores. But I imagine that the reason for using a solid bullet is so it does not expand and fall apart when it hits the skull.
I imagine that the reasons for loading handguns with hard-cast instead of defense ammo are similar (what you want the most is penetration, not expansion)?
Pretty simple...less frontal AREA = more penetration all things being equal. As for hard cast bullets in handguns. They are used over expanding bullets because expanding bullets don't work well at and can't be counted on to expand at hand gun velocities. A wide meplate cast bullet provides for cavitation which an un expanded expanding bullet doesnt. Cavitation influences wound size so the cast bullet kills much better. Added penetration also favors the cast bullet. Much of that added penetration is because unlike a jacketed handgun bullet that doesnt expand, a cast bullet doesn't yaw after striking flesh. The frontal diameter is also less when compared to a jacketed bullet that actually expands.
