How did you verify that the bullets did not expand? Unless it is recovered it's very difficult to tell what is happening from just looking at the exit wound. I recently posted a pic of an XTP I found that had exited a deer and was laying on the snow behind. The exit wound was relatively unimpressive and one could have argued the bullet did not expand but in fact it did, I only know because I recovered it. I've seen a lot of SST/SW wounds and I can't say I've yet seen an exit hole that looked 40/45cal and nothing more. I've also seen some of the smaller exit holes have phenominal damage inside the animal. I can't explain the performance of every bullet shot by everyone here, but I am surprised by the disparity between some people's experience with this particular bullet and what appears to be most of us having fine luck. Sometimes I wonder if it's just a result of the fact that this bullet is probably being used by more people than other options?

Depending on the exact bullet you are talking about, I've heard more complaints personally about the 250s blowing up than not expanding.

I'm a little confused on your point with the varmint bullets. It looks like you are implying that they are a different animal because they're traveling faster, but you think an SST will perform better if you shoot it SLOWER? That strikes me as opposites.

My point by bringing them up is that plastic tips are often used in designs to aid in expansion. As someone shares earlier, I think it was Hornaday is coming out with modified XTPs that utilize a plastic tip to keep the hollowpoint from filling up with clothing and not expanding. Indeed, Corbin sells polymer balls you can swag into the tips of the bullets you are making to help them open better. Those poly tips are actually harder than the lead behind them, and drive backwards to force the bullet to open outwards.