Originally Posted by T_Inman
I've got nothing of substance to add, so I figure I may as well post a pic of last year's WY mule deer, taken at 378 yards via 140 berger.
Broke the front onside shoulder, destroyed the lungs and he took a 100 yard death run before piling up. I never found a trace of the bullet, and the offside shoulder had zero indication of damage. This is the onside shoulder, and as some others have said, you'd have to part the hair to see the entrance hole. After skinning his shoulder didn't look near this pretty. Please take my word for that.
[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]

A week later this rag bull's shoulder stopped another 140 berger from the same rifle at 335 yards. Luckiy he stood still just long enough for me to put one more bullet in him, this time tight behind the shoulder. He then staggered a few yards and fell. That bullet didn't exit either, nor did I find a trace of it.
[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]


Take from this what you will.


I pretty much always get an exit on deer from the 140gr VLD launched at 3300fps or the 130gr VLD @ 2750, both 6.5mm.

Ribs on elk always get an exit and it's maybe 50/50 exits on an onside shoulder blade.

I always prefer the terminal results of the Berger that hits some bone on the way in and I purposely target the shoulder.

I think you might have a rough barrel or carbon build up in the throat that is damaging jackets.

This bull took a 130gr VLD straight on (at 80 yds) and the bullet broke his spine far enough back to drop his hind end and keep his front legs solid.

RTD hit him again as he turned and broke both shoulders.

[Linked Image from imagizer.imageshack.com]


John Burns

I have all the sources.
They can't stop the signal.