ORIGINAL: Solitary Man
Using my .300 Wby I once shot a deer at about 15 yards with a 180 gr. Scirocco. The bullet flattened out tremendously and lodged under the hide on the offside. It was right in the boiler room where you're supposed to hit 'em. So, a theoretical 2 tons of energy transfered, yet this deer managed to run 75 to 100 yards. On the other hand, except for one deer I gut shot accidentally, I've never had one run that far after being shot with a bullet that exited. What does that mean and what's it worth? Maybe nothingsince some folks will report different results. I just know for sure that I prefer exit wounds.
Nobody ever said you would have instant knockdown on every shot. That is the ever elusive "knockdown power" that everyone keeps talking about. It's almost impossible to measure but you sure know when you see it happen. But, it's better than blowing straight through, blasting a huge hole while ruining a bunch of meat and
then running 75-100 yards. Which I've seen BTs do time and time again.
People seem to think they need a giant exit wound so they can have lots of blood to trail the animal. I never understood that. I don't want to chase my animals I want them anchored. Almost everything I ever shot didn't have to be trailed and I want to keep it that way.