I guess I wasn't really thinking about the possible differences in size after the bullet mushrooms. I use the 100 grain corelokt's and have never had to track a deer very far, and you're right, the exits can't really be described as "gaping" but, the deer my son and I have shot with it have usually died within immediate line of sight, so blood trails haven't been a real issue. I've seen pics on here of some pretty good sized exits from .243's, so maybe someone can give you advice on something a little more "explosive..."

My first deer was killed using a .30-06, and it left no blood trail whatsoever. Not even a drop.

Just curious do you hunt south texas? I have hunted down there with customer a couple of times. I have seen the racks on the deer there but how much does an average Buck or doe weigh. They look like small bodied deer compared to the huge rack on their heads. I hunted in Mason Texas about5 years ago and was not lucky enough to take a deer. I did see a nice 8pt that I could not get around on fast enough with my bow.

Anyone from .243 to .308.........

thats a dead deer running. If its dead i.e. heart not pumping there will be no blood trail. Heart shot deer do this a lot.
another thing there are no 90 gr core locks. 100 or 80 gr.
remington makes a 90gr swift sirroco bonded.

I have killed bucks dowm here that have gone 200lbs, average is probably 150 to 180 on a mature one. 120 on a young one. south texas they get a little over 200, mature.
does go from 80-150.

.243 with a nice quality scope. My grandsons use the 100 grain Hornady Lt Mag BTSPcartridges and have had very good success.

I have two boys 9 and 12. Both boys started hunting deer at 8 years of age. The older son has a .243. My youngest shoots a .308 with remington reduced recoil loads (less recoil than the .243). I would recommend the .243. Every deer we've shot drops within view. I liked the .243 so much I bought one for myself!

Zrex mentioned what I was thinking about here. We load our own shells, and we put the 90gr Sirrocco bullets in my daughter's .243. The exit hole was about the same size as one from a 30-06 on a doe that weighed 112 dressed. You could also look into the Winchester Supreme ammo that has the ballistic silvertips; actually Nosler bullets and much better ammo than any Remington IMO.

I've been hunting on a lease in Mason County, Texas, not far from Doss since 2004. As I understand it, our Hill Country deer aren't quite as big as the South Texas deer. The buck I shot last year weighed 158 on the hoof. He was a 5 1/2 year old 9 point. If you are on a South Texas ranch that has a supplemental feeding program and good management, I believe the deer reach the 200-250 lb. range.

I think that happens a LOT...