There are several good bullet/sabot combos out there, and there may be one better than shockwaves. But, I have killed 1 deer,5 bucks and5 does, in the past three years with the 250 grain shockwave pushed by 110 grains of 777. I tried 125 grains of 777 and my accuracy went bad, so I went back to 110. The latest one was sunday afternoon. A big ole Nannygoat at 175 yards, my furthest yet. The second furthest was a 7 point buck. While I am not disputing reports of no expansion, The deer I have shot with these bullets have been from around 40 to 175 and the damage I am seeing is perfect. I recovered three bullets so far (on quartering shots) and despite bones and running almost the length of deer, the bullets had a great shape and retained great percentages of metal.

Last Thursday, one of our more seasoned hunters shot a doe with a PB from about 40 yards. I was slightly quartering away and he hit it just a bit back behind the lungs and into the liver. We looked and looked for blood and sign of where she went. Nothing. Looked for several hours on Friday as well. Nothing. Found her sunday about 400 yards away, bloated and nasty. The PB went in, blew up and didn't make it out the other side. Liver and stuff filled the entrance wound so no blood made it out. If he had used 75 grains of Pyrodex instead of 125, I don't think he would have lost the deer. More is not always better.

My kids are using 75 grains of 777 under a 250 grain XTP. Of the four deer they have shot, every one a passthrough with good blood and either dead in the immediate area or close by. These huge magnum loads really are not needed unless you intend, or are capable, to shoot 150 yards or greater. Many of the bullets just were not designed for this type of velocity and energy.

Hank