So for me there are two answers:
1) SHORT ANSWER yes. Yes it can
2) MUCH LONGER ANSWER, depends
I have seen Elk shot with a 30-06 at less than 100 yards and it not kill the animal. Partly because of bullet construction and partly because of shot placement.
Some, myself included, will go down the energy path and and say "for that load, what is the energy left in that projectile and what are you shooting at?" Energy and velocity but I break it down to these questions
Will I be hunting a thin skin animal?
Average range for the in the terrain?
Anything in the deer family under 200 lbs I can look at the remaining energy at range and say...yeah that will work.
Hope this helped
