Daryl, I completely agree with you that you MUST have a bullet that will penetrate, then must place it when penetration will do some good. Sometimes folks blame the bullet, other times the cartridge, and seldom themselves. 500gns' example of 4 shots missing the brain doesn't necessarily mean the 700 is a poor penetrator (although I've heard the stories too), just that that guy didn't place his shots. If that's the case it doesn't really matter what you're shooting. I wouldn't condemn the cartridge until I knew what solids were used, where in the head they hit, etc. DGJ had an article a few years back about a gent using an 8 bore Holland with round balls on elephants and penetration wasn't an issue despite what some armchair experts would have you believe.

I think hard round balls over 7-10drams should have plenty of penetration, though I haven't tried it myself. Perhaps the real reason the 12 worked back in the day was the men who used them. They got close because they had too, hunted for months on end, and got more experience and days afield each season than most modern 700 nitro elephant hunters get in a lifetime. In Alaska I always get a kick out of hunters who start rants with "I've been to AK 5 times and hunted 54 days there, and I.....fill in the blank."

I have had a 180gn partition blow up hitting the point of a moose's shoulder and have since switched to 220s in 30-06 and had no issues. Having said that, I plan to use my 10 5-dram gun with balls for moose this fall. I can't wait.

Bob