WIth results like these, I'm not sure a blood trail is a critical part of the operation. You might try the Nosler partitions if you want a lethal bullet that will always exit and create at least some sort of blood trail. The 260 gr. Partition handgun bullet, with a HPH or Harvester sabot, would be such a bullet. And not real expensive to shoot either. Personally, I like the Shockwaves - for all the reasons you have stated - and don't care much about a blood trail if the animal goes down very quickly. I guess if I hunted in the swampy jungle instead ofout west, it would be a different story.