Before modern trauma units, it was powerful enough to ensure the well-shot perp would eventually die, but a light enough load to ensure they suffered for a long time before they did.
No good for a bad gator, but not much less than a 12 Ga. is.
An adequate delay in calling the ‘authorities’ will guarantee the same results. I would understand if someone told me that they were “too stressed” to place a call immediately after a shooting.