yes the big hole is the exit wound... i took her on her left side.. you can barely see the entrance through the fat... you can see what looks like a round circle inside the cavity where the bullet entered... right behind the front shoulder... she was apparently facing me slightly as you can see the exit wound is further back... it was a pass through shot.... the big .358 BT didn't expand upon impact but once inside it did a real number and it took out some ribs upon exit leaving the large exit hole... i was very surprised when i skinned her and didn't find a bruise on each side the size of a frisbee... which is usually what i see with my smaller zippity duda calibers....

now i must say that smaller 150 grain 7mm BT's have given me issues in the past... erratic performance in terms of wound path and bullet travel changes inside the body cavity as well as lack of expansion at close range (~30 yds) on a couple of animals....

Therefore I am just trying to comment on the larger heavier jacketed BT's (338's 35;s 375's) for deer performance.... In all honesty, the ONLY reason i shoot the 225 BT from my 35 Whelen AI is because i am being a real cheapass... they perform well, shoot exceptionally, are long and i can seat them out to the rifling easily, are very (or were) affordable and i was convinced this is the kind of performance i'd see on deer and i am pretty sure, on elk... i'm just one of those practical engineer type fellas...

I don't particulary care for pass throughs as i like to recover and inspect bullets... but every broadside shot (except for one with the 280) i've taken whether it be with my 270, 280 or the 35 whelen AI, have all passed through... and every deer shot in this manner has gone down within sight... a good portion in their tracks... furthest traveled was 30 yards...

So, it's my opinion, from experience, that for larger caliber rounds, meant for deer, the BT is quite acceptable and quite capable in the performance department. Don't shell out 40 bucks a box for partitions or trophy bonded bearclaws or other "Premium" bullets because you "think" you need them.... in all honesty if hornady made a 225 interlock with a larger aspect ratio i'd probably be flingin those.. cause i've seen what they'll do firsthand... from an '06.... and i am sold on their performance...

anywho... hope that all makes sense...

J