I believe the cast lead rifle boolit is the most effective projectile in the world.

[Firearm Nut]

I'm finally beginning to think that trying to get 2400-2600 fps out of my 35 Whelen is a waste of time and resources. I don't shoot long distances and a 200 or 235 grn chunk of repurposed WW ought to do just fine for TX deer and hogs at a much lower speed.

You most likely have a good point. I take the view that it’s not bullet diameter but rather bullet energy. How much energy does it take to effectively disrupt an animals life function. For deer I look for a minimum energy of 930 ft-lbs., if the deer is small possibly 800 ft-lbs.
I have a 85grain cast ,243 bullet which if pushed to 2000 fps yields about 755 ft-lbs for me that amount of energy is to low even starting at the muzzle. I have a 205 grain cast .303 bullet which I push to 2000 fps which yields 1,821 ft-lbs and I’ve proven to myself it can stop a deer. I load 200 grain cast bullet fot the 30-30 which runs around 1,800 fps and it yields 1,439 ft-lbs which should do the job quite well. If I drop to the 170 grain bullet at the same velocity I’m looking at 1,223 ft-lbs at the muzzle and something over 1000 ft-lbs at a 100 yds., which puts things still over the minimum standard I work towards.

[Firearm Nut]

I'm finally beginning to think that trying to get 2400-2600 fps out of my 35 Whelen is a waste of time and resources. I don't shoot long distances and a 200 or 235 grn chunk of repurposed WW ought to do just fine for TX deer and hogs at a much lower speed.

You most likely have a good point. I take the view that it’s not bullet diameter but rather bullet energy. How much energy does it take to effectively disrupt an animals life function. For deer I look for a minimum energy of 930 ft-lbs., if the deer is small possibly 800 ft-lbs.
I have a 85grain cast ,243 bullet which if pushed to 2000 fps yields about 755 ft-lbs for me that amount of energy is to low even starting at the muzzle. I have a 205 grain cast .303 bullet which I push to 2000 fps which yields 1,821 ft-lbs and I’ve proven to myself it can stop a deer. I load 200 grain cast bullet fot the 30-30 which runs around 1,800 fps and it yields 1,439 ft-lbs which should do the job quite well. If I drop to the 170 grain bullet at the same velocity I’m looking at 1,223 ft-lbs at the muzzle and something over 1000 ft-lbs at a 100 yds., which puts things still over the minimum standard I work towards.

[BrianL]

This is the bullet from my grandson's first deer 311141 ACWW at 1750 FPS. Quartering toward, took out two ribs behind the shoulder and was found in offside hip. Deer did a flip and took off into the giggly weeds and whips of a three year old cut. Spent the better part of the morning busting brush but not the fault of the bullet. Plenty of damage just not much blood without the exit and no easy access through the mess. Retained 115 .