Morn'in cast bullet shooters,
I have read in times past of "eating right up to the hole" on game taken with cast bullets, so it seems clear the damage to usable meat will be very light when compared to expanding bullets.
For that reason, my hold is through the shoulders on a side to side as apposed to a behind the shoulders with my rifles.
On an angling shot, through the boiler room and braking down the running gear on the way out.
I have done little reading and less shooting of 44 special level loads, but on my "mag" with my 310gr LBT slugs I expect a complete pass through even at an angle.
With deer of the size you write of, your "special" will probably give equal proformance.
I recall my son taking a smallish deer with his 44 Blackhawk. The shot was front on and the slug passed on out the hind end, leaving only the gas check on the way out.
This was with a SWC slug of about 255grs.
I expect the energy to be much heavier with a good load behind the 310gr. slug.
I know with my swinging targets, ment for the 44 mag. I will no longer make it a practice to shoot them with the 310s as it is just overly hard on the targets.
Rather then just a "splat" of lead and the target swinging around to the other side, the 310 leaves a sizable impression of the bullets meplat upon impact. Figure continued use with that load will lead to short target life.
Take it for what it is worth, but you might want to read some of Veral's (Lead Bullet Technology - LBT) writings about the subject of bullet proformance.
He used to have a book, which was a good read. Don't know if it is still available, but he has info here on GB,
According to his information, the SWC profile will not transmit energy to the target as well as a bullet with a larger meplat. If this is true, a good custom bullet from Veral, even in a bullet of the 250gr range and at "special" velocities and energy levels, might be something worth exploring.
For shots where, for whatever reason, the shoulder is missed or the times when an angled shot requires the passage through lots of soft tissue before reaching the off side shoulder, a bullet which creates the best wound channel is desirable.
I have read in Veral's writtings as well as the writings of others, that the best bullet for delivering energy to the target is the "full wadcutter" style, the fly in the ointment being the lack of bullet stability at longer ranges.
The bullets designed with the wider meplats then those of SWC style, such as those from LBT are designed to give the best of both worlds.
Your ranges appear to be short/reasonable, and according to the posters who's experience far exceeds mine, your "special" seems up to the task as stated.
However, nothing like using the best bullets available for the job, and leaving as much energy inside the target as possible, and that appears to happen with bullets of other then SWC design.
Keep em coming!
CDOC
