Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Minimum for Whitetails

257 Bob or 250 Savage.I still look on the 243/244 as a woodchuck rifle

Funny thing is I was about to wack a nice 6 pt and I caught his movement out of the corner of my eye(s) lurking just beyond.

What does the larger wound channel actually do, other than maybe make the deer lose blood pressure quicker?

I would imagine that a larger wound channel could cause more damage to issue, muscle, organs and nerves than a smaller wound channel.

Look at it this way;

Although neither would be pleasant, would you rather have someone run a hypodermic needle into your stomach or have them do the same with a larger diameter ice pick?

Mind you I have no "proof", but a theory that I feel has been supported by years of experience shooting game.

From experience with trauma wounds in hospitals, I observed that one of the most dangerous (and if not treated almost always fatal) wounds was a "sucking chest wound" where air is introduced into the chest cavity. The reason is that without a seal in the chest, the lungs collapse as the diaphram can't pull air through the throat.....instead it pulls through the open wound and provides no oxygen to the body. Death soon follows.

A bigger wound (hole) in an animal's chest does not seal as well as a smaller wound and lets air in and blood out. A smaller wound can (and often does) close up due to shifting skin or fat. This stops the inflow of air and outflow of blood.

The lack of blood flow is less important as internal bleeding kills just as well as blood on the outside, but it does limit the blood trail you may need to find the animal.

The air flow into the chest cavity however is much more critical for a quick death. As long as oxygen reaches the brain an animal can (and will) keep going. Eventually (after enough blood loss) the animal will die.....but this may take a while. If the lungs collapse and air flow stops....death is almost immediate.

Think about the times when an animal died VERY quickly from a lung shot and you will find that almost every time a massive, open wound to the chest was involved. This CAN happen with a small bore bullet that expands, but not EVERY time. A bigger bore bullet will better guarantee the open, in-and-out wound I like.

As I said....just a theory of mine, but one that I've observed and thought about for many years.

The furthest deer I've ever taken was a large Ohio whitetail doe at 360 yards with a 22-250. The bullet passed through both lungs producing bilateral pneumothoraces and the deer went nowhere. The 22-250 isn't a marginal cartridge for deer; it's more than adequate.

The smallest cartridge I've ever used on deer was a 204 Ruger at a bit over 250 yards. That deer required more than one shot but didn't go more than about 15 feet after being hit. This was also a large Ohio doe unlike the dog size deer from further south that don't have the benefit of a diet of corn and soybeans.

I didn't think you were allowed to use a rifle on deer in Ohio...

Only at night.

bada bing

Those 243's and 6mm's aren't woodchuck cartridges with 80gr TTSX's out front..the 90gr Partition ain't no slouch either!!

So which is the better night hunting cartridge pat? Lol

TexasRick

Your observations regarding large calibre wounds and the intra thoracic wall/ pleuritic pressure are correct. A hemothorax is as deadly, but much slower. I use large calibre when bush hunting for those very reasons.

Just to argue for the other team, a high speed projectile sets up a larger shoch wave that causes massive tissue damage and collapse of or filling with blood of the alviolar spaces which has the same effect of no oxygen/CO2 exchange. When hunting open spaces I tend to use smaller ie. 30+ cal for that effect.

Think handgun vs rifle GSW in the ER. As a medic my experience is at the scene but we battle the same foes. Let me say thank you for being there for our patients at the end of the ride. We appreciate you all!

Randy

Black powder, the smoke hides your escape.

The one you don't mind throwing out of a truck window at 80mph.

Remington 710?

Medicman,

Where I plan on using the 44 at shots are under 50 yards. I would use my 25-06 or 7/08 if hunting an area with farther shots.I am just starting to play with the cast bullets getting 1525fps with 20 grains of H-110.

That is powerful medicine. Do some range work with it at distance, you will be surprised how heavy cast hangs in there. I also shoot small and fast but am not undergunned if the slow heavy is in my hands. Your load will be devestating on whitetail. Expect them to run a short distance. Unless a CNS hit is made they usually run 25/50 yds but the meat is well bled for eating.

Have fun with it.

Randy

Randy,

Thanks for the info. I am planning on shots through the shoulders with the 44. I wouldnt think penetration would be a problem.

What twist, may I ask? I can't get my 9 twist to stabilize the 70 TSX. Poor accuracy and oblong bullet holes at 100 yds.

Again, kindred spirits....