This bullet (250 gr) has my head spinning after two different results on three seperate shots. Early in the season, I shot two deer on stand, both at around 45 yrds. The first deer I hit behind the shoulder on a quartering away shot. I followed the minimal blood trail for over 100 yrds then it dried up. Never found the animal. I suspected the angle was too much and the bullet just pissed clean through the animal, following the contour of the body and never hitting any vitals. I'm partly to blame as I should have aimed more for the last rib. The bullet definately passed through the animal as I found the hole in the ground it made after it exited the animal (it was standing on a steep hill).

From the same stand the second shot was broadside this time but a hang-fire caused me to flinch and I'm almost certain, given the way the animal took off, that it was a gut shot. Again the bullet passed cleaned through (another hole in ground). No blood at all on this one. Another lost deer.

At the end of the season I shot a doe at 200+ yards and dropped her on the spot. The season ended on a good note but the earlier lost deer are haunting me.

I love the accuracy of the Shockwave but I'm questioning the terminal performance of this bullet at short ranges. Has anyone had good long distance accuracy with Barnes expanders or Nosler Partisions?