Killed threewhitetails this year with a .50 prb. All heart/lung shots, all went down in sight. Ranges were ~20, ~40, & ~50 yards. All were passthroughs. The 40 yard shot punched a hole through the edge of a shoulder blade going in. Used 80 grains Goex fffg for all.

To echo what nchawkeye said- Elk, bison, & wolves were pretty much wiped out in the eastern U.S. before conicals were widely used.