I have taken (or witnessed) over a dozen deer with the 300 grain XTP. Always with 80-100 grains of powder.

Last year we recovered a bullet for the first time. I shot a big doe (130 lbs field dressed, big for my area) in the front right shoulder at about 90 yards, we found the bullet just under the skin of her left leg. Perfect expansion and the bullet held together, and that sucker went through about every bone that critter had.

All the others were complete pass through, although I admit in past years we have had mild winters and thus a lot of deer - so we could be selective with our shots. Last year the hunting was much harder - hence the 90 yard shot.

I don't really experiment with bullets anymore because I don't have to. None of these deer needed to be tracked.

Nothing better then in the field reports. I have had the same results as you. Even with the 250grn XTP. My problem is, i still keep playing around with different bullets.

I have shot pretty much all there is to shoot and the Barnes Expander is the best in my opinion. I have yet to see any other bullet create a wound channel that the Expander does. They may all perform well as to kill capability, but I don't think I would ever loose an animal with the Barnes!!!

Agree about wound channel, a lot of expansion and excellent explosive penetration. If you shoot 300g XTP or Gold Dot for target, and then use 300g Barnes Expanders for hunting, to me that is the ultimate strategy that keeps shooting inexpensive and affordable. Most people are only killing a few deer a year, so a great bullet is not a huge expensive for hunting, also they are on sale at Knight:

http://www.knightrifles.com/productdetail.aspx?id=326469

Cutting up deer honestly is the largest expense for me every year, not bullets, I spend over $500/year on cutting up deer. For people who are trying to minimize costs, every component of hunting can be done quite cheaply if you buy in bulk and buy off season. Example stands are on sale every year for about 1/2 off at iDcks on National Hunt Fish Week 3rd week of Sept, I bought all mine over 3 years there, and then improved them. Powder at Walmart after the season can be stock up on. Bullets also at Walmart. 1000 primers at a local shooting club or skeet range. Cutting up your own deer. I believe Bullets are the most important hunting component in MLing, since they are the things that are doing the job of killing effectively. Just a few things you should think about as you choose MLing components and bullets in particular.
Chap

Well, i have to mostly agree with what you say; saving money on bullets isn't so very wise.

Where you seem to be a Barnes user, i am a Nosler user. However, this year i just have to try the .430 300g xtp on deer. Not to save money, rather to see for myself how they perform. I think they will really do a fine job. If not, it will only get one chance, and then maybe the Barnes TEZ will get a chance, or maybe the Speer gold dot. My baseline to judge the bullet performance by is the Nosler. If one wants to see real tissue damage, one should try the Nosler, even though it costs a little extra. As you mention, one can practice with the xtp, and then it should only take a small # of shots to zero the premium bullet for the hunt.

It would be nice to have to spend a lot of money on bullets whilst hunting, but alas we only get to kill a few, and then there are no more tags.

IMHO one of the most affordable that works would be the complete line of Hard Cast from Harvester, they are capable of anything on this planet and are very reasonable priced, they are less that $7.00 for 20 at Grafs and Sons, they can be bought at most retailers also. I do prefer to cast my own and that makes IMHO the best afordable is my cast for me.

I was a Nosler 300g Hg user for 3 years. I like them, they are an excellent bullet.You have an excellent baseline. I believe the Barnes MZ are a >>tad<< better because of wound channel. Example if you shoot behind to shoulder to minimize lost meat, the Nosler 300g would always shoot thru, but if you didn't hit a bone going in they would not exapand as much as a Barnes MZ does with the huge hollow point, that is the difference in my opinion of the two bullets--both produce dead deer, both are excellent---the wound channel on the Barnes MZ is larger because of the huge hollow point. I hunt on very small acreages (17a, 24 acres, 88 acres) in ladder stands, and I need to anchor a deer right there, going onto the property next door 20 yards away is not an option I desire, so I am searching for Dead Right There performance. Most folks do not need this DRT capability, dead within 50 yards is fine for them,cost is the biggest consideration, then they should use the XTP 300g or the 300g Gold Dot, they will perform very well for them. Each individualshooter really chooses what single variable is most important to them, some like cost as most important consideration, some like high BC and shooting long distances, some like easy loading and that is the most single important thing for them or easy loading of the 2nd shot and that is most important to them, some like shoot thru and that is most important for them, some choose accuracy over everything as their most important consideration. I choose DRT as my criteria for my bullet, cost in not considered. I do buy on sale, but DRT terminal performance on a good shotis what I am looking for, that is just me because of my unique hunting situation. Sorry I am getting off the thread topic of low cost bullets that do the job. Really what I am trying to say is low cost will work in most situations, but in other situations (like mine)that is NOT the primary factor to use for bullet selection.
Chap

At the end of hunting season. People can buy Shockwaves at walmart here in PA almost as cheap as XTP"S with sabots.keep that in mind as well.

Grouse45

Ya but! In the big picture how good are the new SST/SW's anyway. You hear that one both ways a lot. But again remember I am not a pointy bullet person.

SST/SW's have worked so well for me that I am starting a rescue mission. Anyone who has unwanted or abandoned SST/SW's can send them my way.

So many choices.... what a nice problem to have.