One weekends work with a .243, all DRT 1 did go about 10 yards backwards, I've posted this picture before, I've never had any trouble killing deer with a .243, I am not a fan of blood trails. Rio7
Jack rabbits ? LOL. I don't see many lung shots there. When you hunt them afoot in the woods like I do, you often don't get to put your bullet where you might choose and from the angle you'd prefer but rather you put it in the spot that is clear of obstruction from the angle that's offered.
That and a 40 yard death dash into a tangled hell of underbrush 25 minutes after sunset can make for a deer that's nigh impossible to find.
I'd put my money on RIO even though Blackheart "hunts them afoot."
I took my .30-30 out over the weekend and put a couple groups on paper from 50 yards. The first 3 shot group measured 1 1/4", the second 7/8". Nothing spectacular from a rest but I was shooting off hand. Some people could no doubt do better. Most can't.
Not doubt the 30-30 works but is about as slow of a killer as I have used when it comes to behind the shoulder, rear lung shots. Definitely nothing spectacular as I see when speeds get to 2700 or faster.
Not exactly large bore and sure isn't setting the world on fire as far as speed. I have seen several deer shot with one and all had the classic 100 yard death run, yes there was a blood trail and yes they died but I still scratch my head why some want to track deer while I could be busy gutting.
If I were to use it again I would be back at that high forward shot I use with a 223, 22-250, 243, 6mm, blah blah blah cartridge and would be finding the deer dead in their shadows.
Bloodtrails are overrated.
I've killed 90 deer with a .30-30 since I started using one in 1979 and haven't had one make 100 yards after a lung shot yet. In fact the vast majority have gone down somewhere between 20 and 60 yards, just about like they do with my .223, .243, .308 or .30-06. Hell, I've even lung shot a few with a .22 magnum and 5mm Remington magnum rimfire and none of those made it as far as 100 yards either. On the other hand, I shot one broadside through both lungs from 30 yards with a 12 gauge foster slug and watched it run 250 yards across a pasture before it went down. Which just goes to show there are no absolutes and there's always an exception to the rule. One thing the .30-30 has over the .243 is that in all those deer, shot from near every angle, including through both shoulders multiple times, I've only ever recovered a 170 grain bullet on deer shot lengthwise straight on into the brisket. All quartering shots, whether to or away and going through shoulders coming or going it exits.
![[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]](https://i.imgur.com/s4EwvYo.jpg)
