Up until last year, I was using 240Gr Hornday XTP's and 100Gr 777 loose with very good success, but found that more often than not without a head or neck/spine shot, the deer would run anywhere from 25-80 yards and not always leave a blood trail. In fact the one deer that ran 80 yards had a nice hole through the bottom of the heart and lung.

I hunt right next to a swamp/bog here in Michigan that is close to 1500 acres in size which is the perfect sanctuary for deer. Every deer I shot, that also ran, headed right into the swamp. About 3 of the years (including this season during regular firearm and opening of ML) had little or no snow. Which makes it really tough to track trough this same swamp where the deer have been running all over anyway.

Even lost a boot in the muck of the swamp last year tracking a deer for a friend that was also using the same 240Gr XTP with two 777 50Gr pellets. Been doing this for years. Lot's of deer. Usually bag from 3-6 every year for the past 12 years, but a royal effort to drag from the swamp. I know several guys that are shooting the lighter projectiles with very high accuracy and success. But the deer do tend to run a ways after being shot.

Frankly, I was getting tired of slogging through 2-3 feet of water and muck to drag out the deer.

Thus, I increased the odds a bit in my favor. I don't want the deer to run - at all.
This year using a T/C Omega;
I switched to the T/C Shockwave/Hornady SST in 300Gr flavor on top of 120grains of Black Mag'3 Powder.
Super hot load - Really lays the lumber to a deer. Very accurate.

Shot a large doe last Saturday 12/18/04 with the 300Gr SST/120Gr BM'3 at 60 yards and literally lifted the deer off it's feet over backwards. Deer ran 0-yards. One shoulder was hamburger (entry) and there was a 3.5 inch hole in the rib cage on the same side as the entry and the heart was Swiss cheese. Four exit holes on the opposite side.

I also like the Hornady XTP in 300Gr as well. In fact, I hammered a really nice 8-pt a week ago with the 300Gr XTP at 50 yards. Deer ran 0-yards. Shot was down through the neck into the front of the rib cage and into the heart which was also Swiss cheese.

Huge fan of the 300Gr SST and XTP projectiles. If I had to choose, I would pick the 300Gr T/C Shockwave/Hornady SST as I believe they deliver a bit more knockdown power.

IMHO!

Best,