Rifle in hand, meat in the freezer....sounds successful to me. I've taken many deer down through the years...mostly jacketed...some cast. The deer gets dead either way. If you wouldn't have told us you used jacketed and made such a big deal out of it...we'd have said "nice job" just the same.
Yeah...I know...it's a pride thing...I have that issue sometimes too.
I agree with your last statement...if the rifle is finicky with cast...keep at it and find what works. I think something in the 190-225gr for an '06 would be a great boolit. I have a 177gr Lovering that I would like to try in my '06...but I'm afraid it might be too light. (I like 'em heavy).
redhawk