I have used the 250 and 300gr Gold Dot for several years, Sabot loader got me started on them. I have taken 6 deer and several hogs with them all the deer and most of the hogs {250 gr] were bang flops I messed up on a running shot on one of the hogs I took and hit a little further back than normal, I had a good blood trail and after waiting a half hour I tracked the boar about 60 yds and found him dead. I have tried the 300gr on several hogs they are very good on penetration and they expand well but not as fast as the 250 gr. I use the 250 gr now for every thing up to 400 pounds if I expect to get some thing over 400 I use the 300 gr GD.
They may call them the poor mans Nosler but I consider the 250gr GD more effective for Bang flops than the Noslers or the all copper like the Barnes when it comes to deer as I do not take the front end or back end shots if you are going to take marginal shots the 300 or Nosler is better. Lee