Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting Question about Deer ammo

I have killed a boat load of deer with plain jane 150 gr. Core-lokts. Switched to Federal Blue Box a couple of years ago and have had no issues with those either.

I have come to the 30 rather late in life and have killed two deer with it. First was drt from a horndy 165gr btsp and this year I used a 150 gr power point. Had an experience similar to goalie described above but mine did not fall at the shot and he only went about 30 yds but I too held my fire when I could see the blood gushing. A good cup and core bullet of appropriate weight is all you need.

The 45/70 was on my final list of possibles back when I went with the 444. At that time I didn't reload and the factory ammo for the 45/70 at that time was anemic or I might easily have settled on it over the 444. However the 444 performs so well on deer and bear I've never felt a desire to switch.

Took me a season or 2 to figure that out as a kid. Started to sink in in once we moved away form buckshot to slugs and especially ML (basically 44mag handgun ballistics at the time)

With big soft slow lead I shoot, aiming BTS/low lung, deer running more than 50 yards after the hit is very rare. Most being well under that. Blood trails are copious as a rule.

I think the last 4 or 5 have been DRT as I have been shifting POA up, trying out the shoulder shot.

Searched for 3 hours yesterday with a dog. Nothing. I hunted close to there yesterday afternoon and heard the coyotes about 600 yards from where we last spotted him. I'm thinking they may have gotten after him and caught him in the swamp. Going in at lunch where I heard the coyotes.
When I shot him, he hunched up and went 20 or so yards, then stopped and swayed. I was watching thru the scope thinking another shot wasn't necessary, that he was about to fold. After 30 seconds or so, I thought "let's end this now" and popped another in what I thought was lung. We got lung blood for a while, then all the blood stopped. I'm just sick. I'm no good at work, at home... just sick. Not so much for me, but the deer. I hate doing that to any deer, especially a trophy like this fellow.

Gutshot.

I've been using the win ballistic silvertip 150s in my .308 ruger compact with great results in accuracy and downed game. I've been told by some old timers that the 150s ruined too much meat, but I haven't noticed any more carnage than the 180s. Just gotta hit em where it counts. I'm a big fan of the .308 but just my humble opinion.

jmj,

I ain't shot a whitetail, but I'd like to get a crack at a huge northern buck. I have shot my share of Rocky Mountain mule deer. I can't remember how many. I've shot 'em with a .270 Win, 7MM Rem Mag, & .308 Win. They all ended up dead, which was predictable due to destroyed heart/lungs. Seems like it don't much matter what screws up their necessary organs, all that matters is that they end up not working; then have a real sharp knife on the ready.

I am not doubting a word you've written. God knows, learnin' is a lifelong process. But could it be that you thought you had lung shot that buck?

The reason I ask is that a .308 Win will reduce to freezer meat any North American big game animal. Keep in mind that afore all these super magnums came along to kill animals that will not give up their ghosts to anything but football-size cartridges, our northern brethren were killin' everything including griz with surplus .303 British Enfields.

The Canucks keep that .303 British killin'-prowess on the QT. Seems that they're 'fraid ghosts of all those dead big game animals that were killed by Canucks will take to gettin' pissed off that a cartridge 'bout as powerful as the then loaded '06 sent sent them to big game Valhalla.

jmj, there ain't nothin' bad about a .308 Win. You might as well chalk it up to a bad day. And we're all entitled to have one now-and-then.


Best of luck,

Tom

JMJ,

Have read all replies, to this point & agree with most posters.

I, too, think gutshot, by your description.

A question comes to mind ! Did you re-zero the rifle for the 2nd type of ammo ?

Been using the 165gr Fusion, in my .308, & have been happy with 3 years worth of results.

Paul.

I have been using the Nosler 130 gr Ballistic Tip in my .270 and the 150 gr Ballistic Tip in my .308 and 30-06. None have ever gone more than 10 feet

Sounds like a gutshot deer to me. FWIW, I shoot until the animal is on the ground.

Sounds like a gutshot deer to me. What made you think the deer didn't need another shot? FWIW, I shoot until the animal is on the ground.

I do know about whitetails, but I'll assume they react identically: when a buck arches his back upon impact, it's a good hit in the critical equipment room. When a buck arches his back, get your knife ready.

in 308

i recommend 180 accubond

Every arched back on any critter means gutshot to me....

I've experienced arched backs only with lung shots. I believe mammals with destroyed lungs arch their backs in effort to contract their diaphragms in order to breathe. But if you have found arched backs in gut shots, I'm good.

How many deer have you killed again?
Ok never mind.
Give this a Read

Why?

175 SMK

Thanks for all the replies. The gun was zeroed after switching. One inch high at 100 yards. It's basically an MOA shooter. Browning Ti with a Swarovski Z5 3.5 -18. First shot was in his shoulder. He couldn't put weight on his right leg. Could have been low, but I just can't see how. I keep going back replaying it, and I suppose there could have been a stalk of sage or something. I don't know if that would fragment a bullet or not. The reason I think I got lung is we were finding pink, frothy blood until the trail quit.
I'm not downing the 308 by any means, but I'll admit I've lost some confidence. I've switched to my 280 for the remainder of the year and will re-evaluate. There were 8 buzzards circling today close to where we last saw him. They never got low, so I will be back tomorrow to look for more buzzards... Thanks all for the comments.