This year I used 150 grain Speer Grandslams in my 30-06. They did some good damage and exited. They left a good blood trail even though they only went about 30 yards. Both were hit through the lungs. Mine were factory loads from Federal.

I shot a good size doe at 150 yds and completely shattered the front shoulder and left a good blood trail. She ran fifty yds. I was using 150 gr Core lokts. I also shot a 165 lb buck at 40 yds through the heart and it ran 10 yds.

you say the "top" of the shoulder do you mean the point of his"elbow"? or the true top of his shoulder? if your shooting for the true top of his shoulder then your putting it a little to high. look at the pic posted earlier, the vitals are mostly in 1/3 of the chest(top to bottom) and start just a smidge above center and go down.