It's all guessing, by both you and myself, but once again I'd bet on clogged tip. VLD's will do the same thing, at least on some of the hogs we shot with them did when the hollow point was clogged/closed up.
No offense, but if I were after big mule deer it wouldn't be with a .224 anything. I've been after 'em since 1971, killed 47 of them, never a thought of that caliber.
None taken, at all. I have complete confidence in it, but maybe more in the rifle rather than the round.
This bullet pictured was an anomaly, and could have been caused by about anything. I have no clue.
The second shot put in nearly the same place made him instantly collapse, just like a head shot.
