Well I killed a 5X5 bull today. 2 shots, both hits.

One was through the liver and going forward through the chest, and the other was through the upper rear leg. The liver/lungs shot didn't put him down and he ran directly away. Was right at the top of a ridge and I didn't want him to dive off, so I shot the leg. I don't like to do that, but it worked, and kept me from having to carry him up that hill.

Anyway, I used the 8X57 with the Hornady 170 gr SSTs and the penetration is not all I'd like. Neither bullet exited. Both went into the organs and stopped.

I was not able to fine either one, so I have no report on the retained weight.

Neither bullet left so much as a mark on the inside of the body cavity, other than the one entrance. So even though I am very happy with their accuracy, I would have to hold off in recommending them for elk. I am pretty sure they would be fine for deer, but they would not get to the other side of the body cavity. The velocity is about 2640 FPS at the muzzle, and the shots were made at about 170 yards and 200 yards.

I will not have a chance to try the Speer 200 grain bullets or the Nosler Partitions (I am 100% certain the Noslers will do what they do so wall.) or the Hornady 180 Grain GTX mono-metal bullets until Christmas time, or maybe next year.

I may get to hog hunt this Christmas time, but if not I will have to wait until next season to try something else.