Do stories like these kinda make you cross your fingers and pray for the development cheaper, reduced recoil, big bore guns and ammo? Elephant guns were only for the incredibly wealthy a hundred years ago, now CZ makes decent ones under 2K. Not really needed for cougars, but whenever dangerous critters are brought up and you may only have the ability to get off one shot...
I think you're describing a 12 gauge slug gun. Fine at close range on soft skinned game. Stuff like elephants, rhinos, and cape buffalo, I'd still want a .416 Rigby with solids.