Charles,
Excellent post! (the long one) I mean it; I enjoyed it and can find no fault with your logic or your story; it was a good read, and I appreciate the time you took to write it. We're way more on the same page than might be obvious. I too understand the difference between "hunting" and just shooting. It is the "experience" that drives me to the woods with the bow and with black powder gun instead of modern rifle. I enjoyed the above history lesson as well. I come here to learn; its that simple. I question and sometimes stir the pot a little, but I think it has been good for everybody. I appreciate the time and effort you and Rollingb have put into my quest for information here. I bet the three of us would have a great time around a campfire on a hunt somewhere and I would welcome both of you if given that opportunity assuming you think you could put up with me! :-)
Rollingb, Yes, we do have some small deer around here. A decent buck will be well under 200 pounds often under 150. A hundred pound doe is a pretty good size ole gal. Penetration tests......naw, I have not done any. I just kinda bought the conventional wisdom that .54 was on the bigger side of enough and I reckon it likely is if I would just put the ball in a better place.
RM, Come on now and let us play. The dead horse is dead and does not know we are flogging him! Besides we are just now all getting on the same page and getting all warm and fuzzy feeling! Judging from the views column there are almost a thousand folks who have been quietly enjoying our little rant! :-)