Yeah, a lot of people make a big deal out of TSX's losing petals, but I haven't noticed it making any difference. One shot a pre-TSX Barnes into the shoulder of a big axis deer and it lost ALL its petals, but the buck ran 38 yards and keeled over anyway. The bullet was a 120 6.5 and the petal-less front end had bulged to .41 inch in diameter, which apparently didn't do the deer any good at all.
It was found under the hide at the rear edge of the ribcage on the other side. In fact it was one of those found before skinning; when I saw it hadn't exited I felt in the area where it might be and located the lump.
The heaviest X-bullet I've recovered was a 168 TSX from a .300 Winchester Magnum that hit a big Sonora mule deer just in front of the left hip as it was running away at about 200 yards. Found it under the hide on the front of the chest, weighing 168 grains.
“Montana seems to me to be what a small boy would think Texas is like from hearing Texans.” John Steinbeck
