RE: poor blood trails, switch gun/ammo?
You can buy more expensive bullets, but the Core-Locts and Winchester Power Points work just about as well 95% of the time! My two Winchesters love Core-Locts as much or better than the high dollar stuff and they perform well on game too! If you are not getting good accuracy with them, I'd try something else. If you are getting good groups at the range, I'd work on shot placement instead of new ammo!