We started using the 160 gr XLC Barnes bullet this year . On the range it is great and the two elk we took were both one shot kills . We are loading 71.6 grs of IMR 4831 ,chronographs @ 3150 fps +

My reccomendation would be to return the bst's to the shop. I tried them in my 7-08AI. The rifle has a 26"tube and due to the velocities I have been able to get while still keeping pressures at a sane level it is considered to be a "fast" barrel. Accuracy was so so with the bst. But on game performance SUCKED. Bullet exploded on impact at 175yds. Deer was shot BEHIND the shoulder and bullet never penetrated. The blood trail resembled a deer shot with buckshot. Needless to say I never recovered that animal. Crappy part was it was a legit B&C buck. Now, I shoot barnes bullets only. Accuracy is great and on game performance is devastating to say the least. Lighter bullet weights can be used with out fear of bullet failure. I have never had a barnes fail to do its part if I did mine. The only negative point to the x bullet I have found is my tracking skills have gotten to be a little rusty. Havent had to track a single animal yet.

Since you never recovered the animal ,how can you be so sure of the bullet placement?I have heard similar stories many times and the amazing thing is that when the animals were recovered the bullet placement didn't match the original claims.

Kinda hard to mistake a growing crimson spot right behind the shoulder. I shoot 200 yard benchrest in the offseason. Questioning shot placement is not an option. Accuracy is my first priority. I do not hunt with a load without first achieving at least .5moa accuracy. And besides I smoked a yote at around 225yds a couple of hours before the buck came out. POA was between the eyes. Bullet impacted and removed nose and snout and lower jaw. Not trying to be a smart a** but thats how it is. I hunt from the ground and shoot off a bipod. And when the crosshairs are behind the shoulder, so shall the bullet be too. The visible crimson and the fact that after every third or fourth step he lost his front end are why I did not believe a second shot was necessary. With the x bullet I dont have that problem. One shot. One kill. No tracking.

You may see the blood at the entrance wound but without recovering the animal you can't be sure of the bullet path.The bullet may have struck the right location but the deer may have been at an angle that you did not realize that caused the bullet to miss the vitals.I have seen similar situations many times where the shooter was very sure of the shot but without recovering the animal you will never know how the bullet performed.

How hard is it to understand BROADSIDE? I have shot and killed enough deer to know what is going on. That is why I use the x. Bullet performance is NEVER an issue. The shot on that deer was as textbook as they get. The bst just dont do worth a crap at high velocities. Have even seen proof of that with 150grain in my 300wsm. If you want to take a chance, use em. I will stick with the x bullet.