I’ve had better exits/ blood trails with the solid bullets in the lighter weight class per caliber. Shot placement is most important obviously, but bullet weigh and construction are close behind. I shot a 11pt a few weeks ago with a 280, higher weight bullet for that caliber and with a bullet most people would swear by. Perfect shot. Deer died, but virtually no blood trail and a pencil exit wound. He ran 75 yards, I was expecting to see a bad hit when I walked up on him due to no blood and the distance traveled. Couldn’t have hit a better spot if I was standing next to him.
It happens regardless of bullet sometimes.
My cousin shoots a 30-06 pushing 180gr soft point around 3000fps. I know of two deer he’s shot within 200yds that ran off with almost no blood trail after hitting them in the boiler room. Neither was even a particularly big deer. I think it just happens sometimes.
