Caliber vs. meat yield

Don't like shoulder damage don't shoot there. I shoot shoulder because some meat is better then no meat when hunting on thick public land. Planning on going to a bigger caliber next season.

Generally speaking?

No, a .243 will blood-shot and pulverize more meat then a larger slower caliber.

It's the speed and bullet expansion that does all the damage.

You can eat right up to the hole with a 30-30.

A 22-250, or 243 with typical SP hunting ammo in comparison will make hamburger out of at least one shoulder due to bullet blow-up and hydrostatic shock from the much higher velocity impact.

rc

Pick your bullet. Meat damage comes from overly expanding bullets, usually lighter weights at high velocity. My 7 mag load, 150 Game King is pretty wicked at short ranges, but with a 160 partition, even shoulder shots ain't so bad. And, I grind what's not damaged anyway.

I don't use that gun anymore, just don't need it in the woods. My 50 caliber chunks a 385 grain Minie at about 1500 fps and you can eat right up to the hole. Don't lose much with my .257 Roberts and a 100 grain Sierra at 3150 fps MV or my 308 (favorite cartridge gun) with a 150 Nosler BT at 2780 fps MV, either. The big 7 at short ranges, I just put it BEHIND the shoulder. DRT and not so much meat damage, just a hole through the ribs.

My experience equals MCGunner's. I've shot many deer with the .243 and the 7mm mag. Using quality bullets, like the partition and/or accubond, the 7mm damages less meat in my experience. The .243's meat damage is also reduced using a quality bonded bullet. Common cup and core bullets, at high velocity/close range damage far more meat in EITHER caliber than well constructed bullets.

It's the speed and bullet expansion that does all the damage.

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This 100%.
The most damage I've ever seen on a deer was made by a .223. Two things cause tissue damage, high velocity and fast expanding bullets. A controlled expansion bullet will generally damage less tissue than a fast expanding bullet like a ballistic tip or SGK BTHP.
It's all about what you're after really. If you want drop them in their tracks performance, a bullet that blows to confetti is the one to use, but don't expect to eat much of the shoulder if that's where you hit it.

I'm with frankenstein here... just don't shoot a high meat area. Neck shot or a vital shot, or if you are presented with a good enough chance, head shot.

however, we all slip from time to time and if you shoot enough deer, you'll eventually make a bad shot whether its operator error or a scope knocked off zero.

a .30-06 will blow a big chunk of meat out if you hit it in a large muscle though.

Go with a .30-30 if you're really worried about it, those are just about the ideal deer round

^ I would never advocate a head shot on a medium or large game animal.
Just last week a neighbor knocks on my door and says there is deer that was shot and they tracked it to our property. They wanted permission to go on the property and look for it, which of course we said was fine. I even offered to help look, as I had nothing else to do at the moment. It turns out it was a head shot and the deer had been running around for over two hours with half its face hanging off, hanging by a piece of hide.
Never did find it. I'm sure it died eventually from starvation. Not a pretty sight.

If you don't shoot Bambi in the eating part, it doesn't make a lot of difference what cartridge or bullet is used.

I hope to get a chance this month to get my first deer. I'll be using a .44mag carbine with 210gr Winchester Silvertips. Anybody know what kind of damage those might do?

Art Eatman said:

If you don't shoot Bambi in the eating part, it doesn't make a lot of difference what cartridge or bullet is used.

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As always, Art hits the nail on the head and does so in one short sentence.

35W

rondog said:

I hope to get a chance this month to get my first deer. I'll be using a .44mag carbine with 210gr Winchester Silvertips. Anybody know what kind of damage those might do?

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My guess is that bullet is designed to expand pretty violently at handgun velocities, so it will likely be a bomb at the higher velocities out of a carbine.

I would suggest, if you can find it, some sort of lead SWC or RNFP. I'm pretty sure Federal loads such ammunition.

This year I killed two deer with a .44 Special using a 260 gr. cast SWC at about 950 fps out of the handgun. PLENTY of velocity and penetration.

35W

I agree with several others who have commented. It's the type of bullet and velocity that matters not the caliber.

A shoulder shot is best as the front shoulder normally go into sausage or peper sticks as there is just too much tendons to deal with here.
I use a 30.06 and the amount of damage is minimal with a well placed shot.
My concern is more to making the kill fast and clean to reduce stress to the animal.
This year I used Federal ammo and I was happy with it.
Last year I used Remington Core Lokt and that made a mess and a lot of damage.

I am with the other guys. a larger more solidly constructed bullet is the way to go. If the shot is in the pocket the shoulder is not damaged much anyway. In line with the back edge of the front leg one third up the body. That will go straight through the heart and cause very little damage,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYTzWUWnzsI

have a look at this from about 19:20 min. The round is 184gr 30-06 rws factory. The presenter is not to everyone's taste... but the film is really work watching. the shot placement is spot on in the pocket.

rondog said:

I hope to get a chance this month to get my first deer. I'll be using a .44mag carbine with 210gr Winchester Silvertips. Anybody know what kind of damage those might do?

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A lot if you are close and hit bone.

I got two with a 16.5" handi-rifle this year. I used 240grain XTPs with good results.

Example: I've tagged a couple of dozen bucks with my .243. Unlike many, I use the Sierra 85-grain HPBT. That's a "blow-up" bullet which does horrible things to coyotes and feral cats.

So, probably 18 were neck shots. A couple of head shots into the ear hole. The other few were cross-body heart/lung shots.

All, repeat, all, fell right in their tracks. Didn't go anywhere.

Several off-hand shots. Mostly hasty field rest, leaning against a tree or some such. None of the shots were beyond maybe 125 to 150 yards. Few under 75 yards.

Plenty of good eating.

My guess is that bullet is designed to expand pretty violently at handgun velocities, so it will likely be a bomb at the higher velocities out of a carbine.

I would suggest, if you can find it, some sort of lead SWC or RNFP. I'm pretty sure Federal loads such ammunition.

This year I killed two deer with a .44 Special using a 260 gr. cast SWC at about 950 fps out of the handgun. PLENTY of velocity and penetration.

Click to expand...

A lot if you are close and hit bone.

I got two with a 16.5" handi-rifle this year. I used 240grain XTPs with good results.

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My shot, if I get the chance to do this, will be in a feller's backyard pasture on his 10 acre horse property, and there's quite a few houses in the area. Distances will be under 100 yds. So high-power rifles are out, and pass-throughs of bullets are not a good thing. Wide-open pasture, so tracking won't be necessary. Just pop and wait for the drop.

I have several kinds of bullets for the .44, lots of 240gr. LSWC's, but the accuracy of those is abysmal. I just scored a dozen 300gr. Buffalo Bore WFN rounds, but I'm afraid those would just blast right through and ricochet into the next county.

The Silvertips I mentioned are hollowpoints, but photos I've seen of them look like they just turn into mushrooms. I also have some very aggressive Ranger SXT/Black Talon type bullets, and I dread the thought of what those would do to meat.

I think I'll stick with the Silvertips and go for a behind the shoulder shot through the ribcage. I certainly don't want to ruin any meat, but in this area, safety is the main concern. Too many houses/people/horses around, but the deer are thick as flies and need to be controlled, so shooting them is common. My friend gets 10 depredation permits a season from the local Ranger to help thin them out some.

My philosophy. I'd rather lose some meat and put the deer down right now, than do less damage and risk losing the entire deer.

it doesn't have to do with smaller caliber, it has to do with how fast the bullet is traveling in addition to the caliber. a deer killed with a 9mm luger will result in a lot less ruined meat than a 243 despite having 3 1/2 times the diameter while at the same time a 7.62x39 will ruin less meat than a 30-06 despite both being 30 caliber bullets. prefer the 243 for hunting deer because it does very well over range compared to 30-30 and other heavier bullets and because even though it is higher velocity it still makes a smaller hole and tears up less meat.