Bill, I've used SSts and Ballistic tips in other calibers and can tell you that they're both fine bullets for deer and are roughly equivalent.

In a letter from Nosler I was told that the Ballistic tip was designed to dissipate 80% of it's weight in the trauma channel....and that it does however, it often don't leave an exit wound.......and often don't need to because the animal often drops in it's tracks.

The frustrating thing is when the animal don't drop immediately and runs off a ways leaving nothing to very little blood trail. For this reason I've starterd using heavier and better constructed (bonded) bullets.

Both the SST and the Ballistic Tips however have great reputations for accuracy and game getting abilities.

As to manuals, I like the Hodgdon hard cover book the best...make sure it has the data you want before you buy it.