Scott,

A lot of my clients use the Barnes X bullet and I'm usually very impressed with it, however it seems to me that it's very speed sensative. Too fast and as you say it just punches holes and doesn't expand....... perhaps you should chronograph a few rounds.... if I remember correctly there is something printed on the box about optiminal terminal velocity.

I personally use my .500 Jeffery wherever I'm hunting and have found that with expanding bullets the Woodleigh range work very well but you have to have the right bullet for the right game to get best results. There's a big difference between the SP & PSP. I also like the Stewart bullets.

Regarding solids, I always use mono solids and won't use any FMJ solid but have just ordered some flat nosed mono's from GS custom to try.

All that said, there's plenty of good quality bullets out there nowadays so if you don't personally get on with one make part of the fun is trying others.......