Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles .44 mag carbines and big deer?

Finally got to try out my Ruger 77/44 yesterday. Shot this buck at 30 yards with a federal 240 grain JHP. He was slightly quartered away and I put the shot just behind the shoulder taking out the top of the heart and breaking the off side shoulder. The deer reared up on his hind legs and jumped straight up before taking off. He went about 25 yards before he started plowing snow, about 35 yards total. As far as I can tell the bullet didn't exit but I haven't skinned him out yet, hoping to find the the slug when I do.