Lee
well actually I have only shot at game at the 200yd + once, it was wide open field with no wind and the last afternoon of hunting season, and I dropped him on the spot with a Hawken side lock 54 cal and PRB.
Well that statement right there pretty much tells you how important ballistics are to 200 yards... BC really does not make that much difference, if the hunter can shoot. What is the BC of the 54 cal Round Ball? Could your pointy, high BC bullet done any better that. If you are doing that with a 54 cal PRB - then I should be OK with a .175 -.200 BC copper clad (or brass) bullet - but it should shoot to the target easier...
Shooting gongs, knock downs, and clay pigeons beyond 200 would be a good place for SST/SW's... but to expensive for me...