I've been thinking about this thread all night and this morning decided to take a look at my hunting diary, yes I kept a diary of every big game animal that I've shot since my first in 1974. I've been fortunate enough to have been able to hunt mule deer and pronghorn every year since 1984 (my addiction). According to my diary I used a 30-06 from 1984 to 2000 loaded with either Rem. core-lokts or Hornady interlocks in 150 gr. Then wishing to hunt with a lighter gun I switched to a 6mm Rem. loaded up with 100 gr. interlocks, that combination proved quite deadly. Then in 2005 I shot a big mule deer buck standing broadside at 435 yds and although he dropped at the shot I was a bit disappointed that the bullet did not pass through but was recovered under the hide on the off side. So looking for an excuse to purchase a new rifle I bought a 25-06, used that rifle from 2006 up to 2014. My go to bullet for that rifle was the 100 gr. interlock at a muzzle velocity of 3250 fps. On close shots it proved to be devastating and on further distant shots I was getting exit wounds. I bought a Ruger Guide Gun in 2014, it is a 30-06 model and just for the heck of it I took it along to WY to hunt muley's. She really likes Speer 165 gr. BTSP's, they're not the fastest bullet out of that short barrel but the groups I was shooting were amazing. My diary says that I have taken 3 muley's and 3 whitetail bucks so far with the Guide Gun and Speer bullets and all with 1 shot, not bragging just letting you know what can be done with crappy old technology cup and core bullets. Over the years I have taken many people along to WY to hunt deer and pronghorns, some were good shots, some were great shots, and some weren't so good at shooting at all. Some used old style bullets like I use and some came with the latest, greatest bullets and you know what? The only critter that was ever wounded and not recovered was shot with a Berger VLD hunting bullet. That pronghorn doe was shot at about 250 yds. broadside, she was hit a bit far back, not too far behind the lungs, but just far enough to miss them. As she ran off I could see the slightest bit of blood on both sides of her ribcage, she was out of sight in seconds so we left her go for a while and then tried to pick up a blood trail. No blood, no hair, just tracks from a her and dozen or so antelope that she was running with. We spent hours trying to locate that doe to no avail. We even went back the next day and searched some more with no luck, the female hunter that shot her was pretty upset and did not want to continue hunting. After a long conversation I convinced her that it happens sometimes to the best of us and she agreed to try again. This time using a 270 and 130 gr. core-lokts she knocked the next doe over in her tracks. That hollow point on that VLD for whatever reason failed to open up. I'm sorry to say that I have seen more then one deer or antelope gut shot, but there is usually enough damage done so that the animal can be found and dispatched rather quickly. After that little ordeal I must say that I am done with hollow point bullets for big game hunting.
Sorry about the rambling on, think what you want, use whatever bullet that you want. I just wanted to share some of my experiences with you. And one more thing for you young guys just starting your hunting careers, keep a hunting diary. You might think that you will never forget about this critter or that critter that you took here or there, but trust me after 30 or 40 or 50 years memories get a little fuzzy.
