Ive only shot one deer with this load and it went a total of 75 yards, the first 60 without a drop of blood, after that the blood was spotty at best. I found the deer bedded down looking at me, so I shot it in the neck. Now Im not saying that barnes bullets wont kill deer, however I am saying that the 7mm 140gr XLC isnt disigned to expand on whitetail deer. HAd the conditions been different (no snow) I may have had a very tough time finding this deer.