Can't let pricing effect performance when it comes to slugs. It's not like he is out at the range every week shooting them. If those STX's performed, then he should stay with them. My slug barrel likes the Rem Acutips and they make a mess of a chest cavity as long as I stay within range limitations and put the bullet where it belongs. I won't say all slugs perform on deer the same as some do open up too easily and don't penetrate well but for the most part, most of them will kill a whitetail easily as long as you stay within the design limitations. An ounce or so of bullet hitting anything whitetail size is a devastator all by itself. Add in the opening and energy transfer of that opening of a quality controlled expansion bullet and you have something that not much on this earth can withstand.