ORIGINAL: lemoyne

I started out using cast and sized lead bullets with my first inline, then went to 250 gr XTP, iwent to the Gold Dot 250 gr and the 200gr SW[50/40] for the last 3 years. During the time I used the cast lead I took 6 deer had to trail all of them between 50 and 150 yds, I took over 20 animals with the XTP and had to trail one bear over 100yds with the SW and Gold Dots the 7 kills I have made were all bang flops. My own conclusion is accuracy and placeing the hit in the right place has at least as much to do with how far the animal goes after being hit as the bullet as far as deer and boar go when you get into animals over about 350 pounds it is more difficult to get enough of what ever it takes to get a bang flop. A good example is the 380 pound bear shot 2 inches over the top of the heart [my normal bang flop shot] and still had to track him 130 yds. I think accuracy ,then knowing exactly where to place the shot, then the bullet and then the speed and energy of the bullet are all important and in that order. I took 7 deer in our town hunt with a bow that does not develope 25 foot pounds and never had to track any of them 50 yds. Sorry for being so long winded but we talk a lot about bullets and powder and I did not want the newer people to get the idea that the expensive bullets or powder were a cure all. Lee