I got out of patched round balls a while back in my sidelocks and started using maxi balls. Accuracy increased, for me anyway, and they seemed to do a good bit more damage out to 100 yards. Only one of my sidelocks will accurately shoot saboted bullets worth spit, it's actually pretty good with the 250 grain XTP's keeping inside of an inch and a half at 100 and I have yet to have to track a deer further than 50 yards with either the Maxi balls or the XTP's. I tend to agree with Muley Hunter and the others on taking double lung shots over a shoulder shot. Less resistance and taking out both lungs will tend to put the drop on an animal quicker with the shock value. Not to mention less meat damage. Lots of good jerky meat on them shoulders.