The mast crop has been good, and we had a mild winter last season. It has been my observation (after taking 7 deer this season) that they seem to be "fat and healthy". Maybe this has effected the penetration.

As for blood trails, I have had very little. One dropped almost right away, but the other two did the "death run". I found little blood for the first 50-75 yards before finding the deer over 100 yards away.

My bullets were mushroomed, no as symmetrically as the picture posted, but expanded and retained mass.

I would hate to learn my lesson the hard way. I'm new to slug guns so I don't have the experience that many of you have.