You knowchap, I've hunted with GP 385 conicals for a number of years. I have a couple of friends who hunt with them also for elk. I've charged as high as 90 grains 2f BP with them. Talk about a balance between expansion and penetration. MyGod these things knock the crap out of deer. My friends say they do the same on elk, a very popular bullet here in colorado. Frontier gander hit a 130 lb doe with one. Busted right through the scapula and lodged on the far side (80 grains the charge). I've also shot alot of maxiballs made with dental xray lead. Just punches a hole right through a deer without hardly any expansion. Expansion isn't required, but if you saw the golf ball sized exit wounds that a 385 GP conical makes in deerand watch the incredible BOOM! FLOP you get with them, you may change your mind. There islittle difference between a 348 PB and a 385, they both have generous hollowpoints. Evidently your brother poorly placed it because the "typical" experience isn't what happened to your brother.

Using no more than 80 to 90 grains, I personally think nothing is going to smack a deerany harder than a 348 or heavier full lead conical, especially one with a hollow point. A person needs to place them just like he should, like he would ANY bullet. FYI, I'm not fond of the philosopy that a bullet is going to correct a missplaced shot, or of taking less than ideal shots because you "trust" the bullet. I say, if the conditions are not favorable, pass on it, or get closer, hell, hunt, that's want hunting is, don't be an idiot and gut shoot a hapless deer in a 10 mph crosswind.

I'm gonna tell you the mistake you are making Chap. You are trying to get everyone else to cater to your whimto accomplishwhatever is motivating you. Changing yourself is sufficient. Its still the all or none and there isn'tany responsibility you or your brother will share in wounding those deer.It's always gonna be the Powerbelts fault and ifits the lastthing you do, you aregonna make thempay for your lack of understandingofhow tohunt with them.

I personally wouldn't choose a 348 PB for elk. But it illustrates perfectly to me, that there is no guarantee you brother or you would have harvestedthe deer you wounded using a different bullet. I know what they are capable of, and I trust the comments of someone who successfully hunts with them more than one who is unsuccessful. Primarily because, the one who is unsuccessful, is completely, utterly, and totally responsible for the outcome.