I like the 170-grain Speer Hot Core best. I have not seen the newer Deep Curl.
I shot quite a few of the older smooth side Barnes 150-grain X bullets and these open up very quickly on our light frame deer. The older Barnes X penetrates well and leaves some interesting exit wounds.
I have shot the X bullet in the 16�, 20� and 26� 30-30�s and 20� 30-30AI�s and in the 307 Winchester. The smooth side bullet delivered accuracy to equal any other bullet I shot and was tied with the 130-grain Speer Hot Core for best accuracy.
The 150-grain Barnes X is long and this reduces some powder capacity. I found my best accuracy in Winchester rifles at 2.50� COAL which again reduces powder capacity a bit. I never found the Barnes X to be lacking in penetration.
Gunsmith Mic McPherson wrote that he set his daughter up with a Savage Model 170 in 30-30AI with the Barnes X and she took a cow elk with no difficulty.
I bought quite a stock of these on a one-time good deal and it will be awhile before I have them shot up.
