It's grade 5 physics... The bullet pushed the rifle into your shoulder with the same force it left the barrel with. So how much "knockdown" power with your rifle have, less than what it left the barrel with, and since you were likely not knocked on you butt...
Damaging vital organs is what kills, and loss of blood pressure from that damage. The damage needs to be large enough to bleed out or drop blood pressure low enough to cause brain asphyxia. The size of the temporary and permanent wound channels and the location of damage is critical.
Gel tests and other test media, are interesting and show what the bullet can do, but the bullet still needs to hit the right spot. I stick to dry newspaper, only as it's cheap (free) and easy to handle and cleanup.
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