awesome deer dude!!!! theres no doubt a ballistic tip will kill them dead. two deer ive taken one year I shot with BT's (168 grain CT ballistic ST's winchester loads in 308 win) dropped them on the spot and the rounds did leave exit wounds, just IMO the ballistic tips tear up tomuch meat atleast thats how I felt about the two I shot with bt's but... they both were fairly close range too both were shot at less than 75 yards. I think at further ranges the bullets would have held together better