Like a previous poster, I've never recovered one. I've been fortunate enough to take a few elk with 180gr Failsafes and couldn't ask for a better bullet. I bought a new 30-06 a few days ago and will use the Failsafes (if they are the most accurate in this rifle) in it for elk this Nov in NM. Never used one on deer, but a buddy of mine shoots a 7RemMag with 160gr failsafes, and kills elk and deer with the same load. Everyboby is a little different!