Big bears in this question are kind of beside the point, since the question involved elk and kudu in one class of cartridges, the 6.5x55 - 30-06. Still, there are places where grizzlies and elk co-exist, and a bigger bore could be useful there, maybe bigger than the '06. Also, gemsbok have been known to charge, and I do plan to use the '06 there, if and when, so the charging issue isn't completely out of the question.
Okay, I'm answered - the bigger bore tends to be able to break bones better and will tend to leave a larger blood trail. The "bone break" thing is a little bit of a surprise, though, based upon my reading of the dry newspaper penetration test results, but since it was Mule Deer's tests I was reading, I have to assume I misunderstood their results.
Thanks.
Jaywalker
