Same here.

The 250 grain SST bullet has a soft plastic nose: The 250 grain Shockwave has a very hard yellow "polymer" nose. For years i used them interchangeably on deer and hogs.

Came to the realization there was sometimes a difference in their performance. The Shockwave did not always expand, especially on smaller deer and hogs where bone was not hit. That's most of my shots since i avoid shoulder shots except in a couple places close to property lines.

Year before last i shot a 110 pound doe at a range of about 80 yards: High shoulder shot. The powder charge was 100 grains of 3F Goex Pinnacle. The deer went down like a rock, layed there for about 30 seconds, jumped up and took off. Tracked that deer down the trail for about 300 yards, almost no blood. Finally jumped and killed her. That Shockwave bullet was about two inches further back than i like but it never expanded.

After another similar experience on a 150 pound hog i stopped using the Shockwave bullet.