I would think you should be fine with either bullet. In theory, the design of the Nosler may give better penetration, but this is just speculation on my part. What happened with the 300 Deep Curl and the elk is a mystery to me, but strange things like that happen occasionally. It very well could have gone through a sapling or small tree first. My only experience with a Deep Curl so far was a 250 grainer moving at about 1600 fps that blew right through a doe standing broadside. Exit wound was about the size of a golf ball.