The older XFBs I have recovered tended to open better. Petal loss while crushing big bone never seemed to be much of an issue, but back in those days, people whined about every detail since they often had trouble getting MOA groups from them - as if that is needed for most big game hunting!
I've shot elk with a 405gr projectile and had no exit and was underwelmed so big and heavy don't always win the race
Using that anecdote to suggest that a 185 would somehow be better than a 210 or other heavier slugs is a rather groundless argument even if that 405 was not a Remington bullet fired from a 45-70 or similar. Whether is was or not, however, imagine what that 405 would have done to the little piggy - and it didn't exit the elk? That should tell you something right there, though, not so much about bullets, but about the difference between smaller game and bigger stuff. Monos like speed, but a 210 out of a 338, especially with that tip, is going to have plenty at any reasonable distance.
