Thanks folks, he was a hoss of a deer for the area I was hunting, fully mature 4.5 - 5.5yrs old. I hunt with a great close friend on his properties from time to time, and we normally don't see to many decent bucks on this particular place. Not that they aren't there, but it is simply so thick and overgrown, they usually don't even have to get up to eat, simply roll over and grab another mouth full. As such the better deer usually stick to stuff rabbits shudder to go through. This one just happened to have other things on his mind when he ventured out into the open. Since we haven't shot many deer off this place over the past few years we are starting to see some of these big straight six points show up and he decided to start culling them out as we can. It is all low fenced free range, so you can only do what you can do, but with 500 acres, and weeding out the ones we can we can still make a difference.
I'll try to get to everyones questions but might miss getting them in order.
The loads are running around 2750fps from the little Ruger 16.5" barrel. The first shot was around 65yds max, the second no more than 30. Both hit within an inch of one another but from two different angles, and both exited. Granted the exits weren't huge gaping holes, but the internal damage was more like one would see from a much heavier bullet. The shoulder blades were both penetrated in two areas, but not totally wasted, but the ribs under both sides were simply a 3+ inch wide path of destruction which I could easily shove my hand into from either side. Like I said, I and my bud were at a loss at why he was still hanging in there. The shots were both a bit higher than I had wanted, but they still both went right through the rear of both lungs. If looking at the diagram posted, more or less center straight up from the heart where the blue artery comes off, and about where the big red branch comes straight through the middle.
The brush he headed up and into was thick, and no way to manage even the shorter rifle. I had the 454 along for hogs and am easily good out to 100yds so figured that with the previous 243 experience it wasn't a bad choice. The finishing shot with it was high shoulder, breaking up all CNS neck and spine, with a 300gr RFN pushing 1450fps.
MC, in most cases I would agree that a bullet in that weight is a bit light. In some cases even for this caliber. I used the old 85gr Solid Base for years with no issues, but once I had issues, I switched. It wasn't because of the lack or penetration, or a loss of deer, but simply the areas I hunted changed and I was shooting further and they drifted in the wind a bit more than the heavier 100's did.
I figured I would give these a try since they were bonded, and also for the fact they were originally going to be used up close on hogs, just the ol buck came by first. I am still going to put them to use on a few hogs. My friend had been telling me since bow season opened to shoot one of the older big six's they had been seeing, if I saw one. Well I saw one that morning that didn't give me an opportunity and then this one on the evening hunt. The original use for these is for my middle grandson, but the ranges are going to be 50yds or less. He has a few years to go before I turn him loose on a deer.
I think if you hit a deer in the shoulder and it is not right there you missed the bones. Easy to miss vitals in the shoulder area. I feel a hit on the point of the shoulder is an exellent shot. Every deer I have put a bullet into shoulder bones was laying right close even if it wasn't dead. Glad you recovered him. I also like 95-100 bullets also for .243
I agree with hitting the major shoulder bone point on, but was a bit hesitant with these bullets as this was the first time I had used them. I figured that they would easily destroy the lungs if slipped in just, well where I put them. I do also feel that had the shot been simple an inch or two lower it would have been a done deal with only one. I accept the blame on the shot placement, and am not saying the bullets failed in any way as they did a hell of a lot of damage. Just every once in a while you find one that has a will to go on and this one had it for sure. I have hit them with bigger calibers and done way more damage and still had them try to leave the county, and also had WAY less damage than what I saw here, and had them pile up on the spot.
retrieverman, yes they both exited. If you look close at the picture you can see the exit holes. They are both together on the shoulder and only look like a little bloody spot. The lump in the hair just above and on the top edge of the shoulder, is the exit from the 454.
Like I said they didn't blow any wide gaping holes going or leaving the hide, but just under it was a total mess. Had it not been close to or right at 80 degrees, and us being in a hurry to get it dressed out and in the cooler, I would have taken plenty of pics. I usually like to do a very in depth necropsy to see just what all went down when using a new load or bullet. I simply didn't have the luxury of time to mess around.
