Bore diameter doesn't matter as much as the EXPANDED diameter of the particular bullet--which is often not closely related to bore diameter.
This can also apply to so-called "solid" bullets, depending on the nose-shape of the bullet.
John,
Depending on the thicknness of the critter and where you hit it first, is most of the damage kind of done before the the expanded diameter of the bullet really means anything? Inasmuch as lets say you hit a deer/moose broadside with a 308 win and the bullet expands to .6", the lungs and heart certainly have a lot more cavitation than a .6" hole going through them.
Or....is the expansion part of that equation and more is more, period?
I know what you mean about the solids....wide meplat definitely works better than pointy. But I just kinda figure unless you, lets say, hit a bigass shoulder first and it soaks up all the drama, the final diameter of the bullet aint the primary wounding mechanism unless you're shooting a sloooowww bullet like a pistola?
Or I could be way off here. Certainly wouldn't be the first time.
