The reason I brought up shape is that if you don't care about BC and don't plan on shooting much over 100yds, why is a SW/SST/FTX on the top of your list anyways? They are my main bullets but when I'm hunting closer situations there are other better options.

I'm just trying to put some real-world experience with the bullets on game into the discussion here. I've shot dozens and dozens of deer with these Hornaday bullets, I'd conservatively estimate 40, may be as high as 60 as I quit counting a long time ago. Typically 3-5 per year. I'm just saying your concern about their ability to fail and do a poor job putting down game don't manifest themselves in my experience. I have never lost one, and never had one go over 150 yds. I cut one's heart in half this year and because he was so close he covered about 100 yds at a dead run on adrenaline alone.

I'd be much pickier as to what I throw at an elk, but I have yet to find a ML bullet that would really cause me concern on deer. I think most of it is marketing and us trying to judge a bullet's performance based off tests that don't really replicated shooting animals very well (very tough to do!).

With so many good bullets, if you don't trust Hornadays you have plenty of options left ;D