Here is a study I did last summer. Gives some comparitive data using the 410 from the great M6.
Went through about 75 pounds of newsprint today. Soaked it and put it in the bullet box. I utiulized an airspace to stress the bullets at 4" and 8". I wanted to test some of the firearms I take canoeing to evaluate for black bear defense.
I tested bullets from the following Firearms at 5 yards.
M6 22 Hornet 410 Scout
44 Magnum Ruger Carbine
450 Marlin Guide Rifle
12 gauge 12.5" 870 Clone.
First up was the M6
In 22 Hornet mode I have used heavy bullets at moderate velocities to take game. I have also reasoned that such an approach will increase penetration for taking a caribou if need be. I use to use 45 grain X bullets but though fairly accurate they became unstable on hitting game and tumbled creating unpredictable wounds. I settled on 50 grain Sierra SemiSpitzers and 55 Grain Rem as these are both short for weight.
50 Sierra 2121ft/sec Penetrates 8" Retained weight 47.5 Grains expanded to 37x43 caliber and creating a hole in the media that averaged about .60 caliber
55 Rem 2111ft/sec Penetrated 8.1 Inches but fragmented. Evidence of tumbling in the newsprint very inconsistent wound diameter.
410 1/4 oz Federal Slug 1662 ft/sec Penetrates 5.5" with .50-.90caliber expansion and 100.3 grain retained weight. Hole in newsprint averages .75 caliber
410 Win 5 Slugs 000 Buck 1117 Ft/sec Penetrate 6"-10". 5 Slugs turn cylyndrical and weight an average of 69 grains. Print into a 2" circle.
Not sure I would want to run into a black bear with any of these combinations but the 5, 000's are pretty fair. Despite the deformation they stay in a 8" circle for 15 yards in the M6
44 Mag ( In a 1962 Ruger Carbine)
240 grain American Eagle 1753 Ft Sec 11 inch penetration. .76x.80 Expansion and 236.4 grain retained weight though the jacket almost split to the base so separation was close.
Average wound channel about 1"
250 Grain Nosler Partition 1586 ft/sec. Penetration 14.5" Expansion 60x61 RW 240.0 Grains. Average Wound about 0.90"
450 Marlin
405 Grain Rem FP 1807Ft/Sec 15" Penetration. .91x.93Xpansion. 390.6 Grains RW, Average Wound 1.25+"
350 grain Hornady 2007ft/sec. 15.5" Penetration .71x.91 Xpansion, 272.8 grains RW, Average Wound 1.25+" with bigger wound in front half than Rem and less in second half.
12 Gauge Shorty
1 OZ Fed Slug 1378Ft/Sec 9" penetration. .91x.93 Xpansion, 434.7 grains RW Average Wound is 1.5" with huge entrance wound. 3x4"
1 OZ Win 1351ft/sec, 9.2" penetration 421.5grains RW. Average wound as above. Slug is more brittle than above and had one crack that could lead to fragmentation.
15 OO Buck (WIN 3") 7-12" penetration. RW 51.4 Average. .30x.36 diameter. 3X2" entrance that creates gaping wound for first three inches then separate wound tracks.
Based on experiments on wood with harder targets the slugs will penetrate farther than the buckshot. Harder slugs would likely give better results but are not widely available.
Feel free to evaluate the results.