Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting Small Better Than Big ???

I believe you, but I shot a Buck this year at around 40yards, from above, facing, just above where the neck meets the shoulder. .308W-130gr ttsx. I looked, but couldn't find where it came out. Didn't hit spine anywhere along the back. Damned if I know where it ended up, because I also didn't find it on gutting. Stomach was not hit. ????

[quote= Once blew a buck's heart to mush with a 12 ga slug at 25 yards and had to track him 1/4 mile. He had thrashed out a place the size of my living room and was still thrashing when I found him. [/quote]--- That is amazing-- Web

Never had the pleasure to be on a guided hunt for big deer - only DIY. On mule deer hunts where the ranges can be long, I always shorten up the distance or don't take the shot. I am realistic about my long range shooting abilities and never would consider I am in that class of shooters here on the fire. Having said that, in regards to big Mule deer I have never felt undergunned with a 257 Roberts and 100gr Nosler Partitions.

---battue--- My son shot a 7 pt 135 lb buck this year almost exactly the same way you did. It was about a 100 yard shot in heavy brush. The .308--180gr RN Interlock entered the bucks lower neck. The perfect mushroomed projectile was found just under the skin at the hind quarter. Web

It's also very rare and he might have to shoot several hundred more deer before it ever happened again. I've only had two deer go more than 100 yards in my life after taking a good hit through the heart/lungs with anythging and I've probably killed over 200 by now. One of those was a doe that I plugged broadside through the lungs from only 30 yards with a 12 gauge foster slug. I could see the slug hit and I could see blood pouring out the hole in her side as I watched in amazement while she ran all the way across a 250 yard wide field before collapsing. Prior to witnessing that performance I would have thought someone a liar if they told me a lung shot deer could ever travel that far after taking a slug through the lungs. I will say that I also have no illusions that this was something that can only happen with a big, slow projectile either, as the second time I witnessed a very similar performance was with a .270 and 150 gr. Hornady interlock @ 2900 fps.

I've had more deer fall dead faster with my .243AI + 85g TSX's than anything else I've used on deer sized game ... and that range is from the .223 up to the .30-06.

I too have come to the conclusion that a very fast moving, well constructed bullet is the best of all the options ... and that caliber size has very little to do with anything. The bullet is either good enough to do the necessary damage, or it's not. After that, there really is no difference ... at least not to me.

Now, gimme my .243AI and get outta my way ... (grin)

Years ago I ran into a guy who told me about shooting a deer with a 22-250............I think it was............said the deer dropped straight away!


Someone also said that A deer is basically a glorified groundhog.......might some truth to that!

I think on shots that take out the running gear, size and speed really doesn't matter. Same to be said for CNS shots like the neck shot I'm a fan of.

For behind the shoulder lung or heart type shots I "THINK" but don't "KNOW" that speed is the better stopper.

If i'm hunting where I absolutely don't want to track a deer the CNS or high shoulder shot is the one I take. If in a open field where them running 100yds is not big deal than behind the shoulder it is.

Fear???? The point is why fix what ain't broke.

270

No, it's fear. Thank Christ we don't all come from a group of 'don't fix what ain't broke' else we'd all still be living in a cave and driving a buggy.

The only folks I hear that cliche from are those that don't know either how something works or are lazy.

To me, this is an ideal kill and what you get 90% of the time with a double lung shot regardless of what they are shot with. The deer lives long enough to bleed out which is going to make the meat taste better. As a meat hunter, this is important to me. So, I guess I better avoid one of those 22 caliber death rays.....they kill too darn fast

I drive a older model Ford F150 4WD 4.6 liter gas pickup. My neighbor, Lonn, is driving a 2010 Dodge Ram 2500 with a 5.7 liter Hemi V8. I know how his truck works so I am relieved to know I am not lazy.

Web,

The funny thing was internal damage pretty much ended at the diaphragm. Lungs were tore-up, but past that things were clean. In the scope I could see that the Deer just fell down and rolled over on its side.

I had a good haul to get out, so I didn't spend a lot of time looking other than to notice it didn't come out in the hams or belly. The lower chest is where I'm guessing it left and I just missed it.


That Deer I had processed by another since I wanted some sticks and rolls made up for family and friends for Christmas presents. I asked them to look for the bullet and when I picked it up they said they also couldn't find the bullet or an exit. 130ttsx bullets just don't disappear so I'm thinking it came out the front third and again I just missed it.

A Doe I shot later in the week-two shots-and both exits were obvious.

battue--- What you said about your buck is almost exactly what happened to my sons buck. In the photo you can see where the .308 entered the neck ( red spot)and was recovered near the hind quarter on the same side as the entry. I've shot deer with factory 8/mm 170gr RN and .308 RN. and 6/mm. I prefer the 170-180 gr RN in .308 or 8 m/m. --Web

I hope people on here don't read this and actually start shooting them in the brisket on purpose. Some of the worst tracking job I have ever done was on deer shot low in the brisket. miles

Gee, didn't know I'd been living a life of fear. Glad you straightened me out. What's your next stupid remark?

That's my thinking and experience as well.

While a small/fast might produce more satisfying results for the instant gratification crowd, I find that if you are unlucky enough to make a less than perfect hit, you will eventually recover more that were hit with the larger bullet. If the small/fast doesn't give you the DRT bang flop that you want, you are more likely to lose that deer in the end than the one hit the same way with a larger heavier round.

The constant need to ridicule others who disagree is a SURE sign of fear.