I use a 30-06 with 165 gr Federal Premium Nosler Partitions and they almost always drop a deer in their tracks. The few that run don't get out of site. And they always pass through. Not sure what happened in your case though.

My father-in-law put a bad shot on a deer this year with a 150 gr 270. Not sure the brand or bullet, but the bullet is a big, fat bullet that looks like the African big game bullets. It has a very rounded nose instead of being pointy. Anyway, it went through the near side leg, including the bone, up through the hip and out the other hindquarter. He had someone tell him that wasn't a good bullet but it sure did the job.