I've only taken two that way. One was an injured little doe that would not have survived the winter. My mercy shot was with a .308 and a 150-gr Nosler Solid Base. The bullet didn't exit but I never found it. The deer went straight down. It ended up being inedible, as everything inside sloshed.
The other deer was a long time ago. That one was with a 45 Colt and a 255 SWC cast bullet. The bullet did go lengthwise, exiting from the left ham. Perhaps three and a half feet of penetration - and may still be going for all I know. The deer went a few feet.
