I am a neophyte compared to people posting on this thread, and I have some questions.

I simply just don't understand all this talk about ML bullets expanding, or how people are not recovering deer hit with 250 and 300 grain bullets. I saw a bunch shot just this year and none of the deer went anywhere. All were hit with good shots in the vitals. I later learned the same thing from everyone at my gun club - no issues with recovering deer. I have shot some deer with my 30-30 and 170 grain hollow point bullets, and I have long been told this gun/bullet is responsible for many thousands of deer. The exit holes look like the entrance hole from a 300 grain ML bulllet. When I was younger I used to work in a butcher shop, and I was always amazed when the ML guys brought their deer in. Again, entrance holes that were bigger than exit holes on deer hit with centerfire rifles.

I have seen a few deer that were not recovered, and they were from bad shooting. The shooters all claimed they made perfect shots, only to be overruled by the evidence we later found (stomach contents on the ground). These fellows are great from the bench, but never practice with open sights (much to my annoyance) and it cost them in the field.

I keep reading stories about people making good shots on deer with appropriate loads and bullets and finding no trace of blood, hair, etc. I have simply never seen it in the field.

Can anyone post pictures and measurements of recovered bullets from centerfire rifles for comparison?

Also, for the folks who didn't recover their deer, can you explain the circumstances? Distance, shooting position, etc. Were you able to 100% confirm the deer in question was shot in the kill zone?