Many people don't realize how much effect a slow moving projectile has over a super high speed magnum. Back in the 1800s, the trappers, hunters and explorers had only the black powder, large caliber weapons. The old 45/70 was a huge round, and although it didn't have the range, anything you hit was "lights out". Hitting a person with that round was like smacking them with a cement block. I had to carry a 357 magnum, but off duty or doing security work, I preferred my 44 special or 45 long Colt. The knockdown power was definately there without the worry about it going through your target and killing someone a couple hundred yards away. That's what makes the ol' M-1911A1 45 pistol so lethal. You have a huge bullet going out there at a relatively slow velocity and the kniock down punch is amazing. The old wild west 6 shooters had the same effect for the same reason. But back then, we didn't have armor plate and kevlar to worry about.

Lewis & Clark also had the world's first air/BB gun with them and the indians thought it was magic because it didn't use gunpowder and worked as well in rain. The air was supplied from the stock which you had to pump up with a bellows, then screw it into the gun. It was good for a dozen shots and was used for hunting small game at short ranges. The slow BB had enough energy to kill a small animal and was quiet. We have that gun at the SC Military Museum here in Columbia.