All I shoot for whitetails is Ballistic tip style bullets. I used 130GR Nosler Ballistic tips out of my 270. Only one time did I have a poor result on a large buck, I hit square on the shoulder. It busted the lft shoulder and bone fragments got the lungs...he traveled about 300 yards, after being pushed up twice. But bedded 75 from the hit sight, so had i waited he probably would have died right their. this year I tore the shoulder on the exit side darn near off with a 154Gr SST out of 7 Mag. 125 yards shot, angled to the left shoulder, trashed the H/L region before coming right throw the left shoulder. Dropped on the spot.

4 other deer were killed with 06 150 gr sst (factory loads). Doe #1 through the ribs, pinky entrance and 4' exit went 70 yards...blood trail was emense and one lung had a hole and the opposite was jello..100 yard broad side. Doe #2 150 yards broadside, one lung and liver went 100 yards. entrance was pinky and exit was 2" but plugged up with tissue, causing the animal to bleed less and possible go a bit further. Buck #1 75 Yards, broadside both shoulders and took out the lungs. deer made it about 10 feet on it's nose. Bullet never exited but it really trashed his 2 front shoulders. Buck #2 in the pooper..yeap the texas lung shot. 200 Yards fleeing shot (missed a 125 yards broadside...ooops). Bullet hit the femral and busted the right hip joint deer, travelled 100 yards and then feel and couldn't get up. Required a finishing neck shot. The hole in was 11/2" and exit was 5". Blood trail was emense. (Does were probably 150 on the hoof and the bucks 250)

Just some variety of the SSt on many different shots, but the results were dead deer within 100 Yards.

Now if I always aimed for shoulders I would go with 165 SST or BT. More sectional density and expansion wouldn't be as quick due to FPS being lower. (Although thinking about it if the wheels was my target of choice I would probably opt for 150 GR bullet like a barnes x, failsafe, part, etc.) If my aim point was H/L I would opt for the 150's SST. I am a firm believer through experience that the more energy you can place in the animal the quicker the spin you'll put on him. But at the same time shot placement is a key...so if your a bone aimer the SST/BT might work but why chance it!!! Use a bullet that is meant to do what you want it to do. If you bust up his wheels he can't go far and you'll get the lungs for sure in the front end. I just hate to waste all that meat, when I know I can put the bullet in the ribs and waste none!

Bullets are made to do different things, so use the bullet that is best suited to your situation and that flys the best out of your gun. Confidence is huge factor in success.