Well as irrelevant as you think SD might be, I've blown several 180 AB's through various part of bull elk and never found one. I think your results would have been different with a heavier bullet.
About the only bullet that seems impervious to lack of SD is Barnes, and even they are probably subject to the rule if I could find game big enough to shoot with them.
I agree a heavier bullet might (and probably would) have done better.
Unfortunately I didn't have a heavier load developed and thought 150g would be fine. Normally I run 165g NF and -168g TTSX in my .30-06s and have never had a problem with penetration.
Coyote Hunter - NRA Patriot Life, NRA Whittington Center Life, GOA, DAD - and I VOTE!
No, I'm not a Ruger bigot - just an unabashed fan of their revolvers, M77's and #1's.
