The best bullet for deer... first off it must be accurate. The best bullet in the world is no good if you can't hit where you aim. Second it should match the hunting conditions you face. Are you shooting long range, short range, open woods, brush. Third, the bullet must preform the way it was intended. You hear stories of people shooting a powerbelt and it explodes on the deer. Is this because of the amount of powder? Last it must be one you are confident will do the job. This takes range time and a little testing into some media does not hurt. Does the bullet expand well? Does it stay together? All these things come into play.

For instance, when I hunt from a tree stand in my woods, a 460 or 500 grain conical or even a roundball will plant deer just fine. When I head out into the fields, then I want something very accurate, expands well, and has a good flight trajectory. So I usually hunt with a Barnes or a Shockwave.