5.56 SMK will penetrate the rib cage then shrapnel inside the vital area. It actually does not ruin much meat at all compared to a 270 or 308/300 which usually destroys both shoulders and sometimes part of the back straps if hit high. Last season I had even more succees with the new 77 TMK in 5.56. Killed every deer I shot with it last year. I may have some photos of deer skinned out and what the chest area looked like after it was skinned. I think I have a pic of an elk killed with TMK also. Will post if I can find them. I was using 14.5 and 10.3 DD barrels suppressed and unsupressed.