Nearly 20yrs ago I had a fluke happen, I was sitting on stand early one morning & felt the urge to move. I climbed down & started easing around. 30 mins later I snuck down a weedline on a terrace in a field, as I peeked thru the weeds there 95yds away stood a great 8ptr. My Model 7 Mtn Rifle 7-08 was stoked with 140grn Nolser Parts I had handloaded. A "baby pizz shot!" I thought. I placed the crosshairs on the shoulder & let fly!

The buck jumped 6ft into the air, landed flat on his belly, wheeled around & headed for the woods on his three remaining, operating legs. I knew this was going to be a simple tracking job... an hour & 500yds I later I lost the scant & very infrequent bloodtrail. I'm STILL baffled to this day as to what happened but the evidence sure seems to suggest the NP came apart as it went thru the shoulder & probably only took out 1 lung, otherwise I just dont believe he wouldv'e made it that far nor would it have left such an iffy bloodtrail had it taken out both lungs.

Prior to that I had taken ALOT of deer with bullets that were considerably less "well constructed" than the NP, but I sure couldn't understand why this day was different when conditions were otherwise PERFECT! THAT very day I began my search for a better bullet... & ended up eventually becoming a "lover of all things Barnes".

I can vouch that a 250# whitetail is just flatout tougher to kill than a 150# whitetail! My west TN swamp has plenty of both & my boys & guests have drilled the does & smaller bodied bucks with NO problems with their 243s. But when the body weights go over 220 their 243s (shooting TSXs) WONT fully penetrate a true swamp monster! (Both of my sons now sport new iron for this fall, for my 12yr old a 7-08 & for my 16yr old the grand ol 45-70)

The 7-08 is a GREAT cal & all one needs for ANY deer ANYWHERE but I recommend you feed it well. I'd stick with solid copper/gilding metal bullets. Essentially every bulletmaker now offers a Barnes style copy so if you are brand loyal you still have plenty of options if you reload & MANY choices exist OTC as well.

http://www.federalpremium.com/produc...le.aspx?id=711

http://www.barnesbullets.com/product...tx-ammunition/

http://www.shopcorbon.com/DPX-Rifle/...20/400/Product

http://WWW.cpcartridge.com/cpcart/in...82elc62vke57t7

http://www.hornady.com/store/7mm-08-...Superformance/

The 7-08 doesn't kill with dazzling, double ought warp speed. (tho it's surprisingly flat shooting!) But it is typically SCARY ACCURATE & most rifles it's offered in cary VERY well. I think you'll enjoy it if you properly feed it!
HL