C-3 has dropped a lot of deer in their tracks for me with deer slugs, bolts, and a couple with arrows. It is a slight meat loss compared to a double lung but sometimes you don't want them to travel at all.
I am not anti 30.06 either lol I just like to be able to move around in the bushes easier. Opinions are like a$$holes everyone has them and they all stink lmao
Bout perfect. No meat ruined in catchin that deer.View attachment 48278 About there?
Bout perfect. No meat ruined in catchin that deer.
I’m done with SST’s as well, too many splash hits, I had the same problem with Nosler ballistic tips back in the day also, after tons of research and reading that nosler had beefed them up I tried them again last season, 7/08 with a 120 BT, complete penetration and 2 shots 2 dead mature bucks, they obviously changed something (Nosler), I’m on the Berger kick now, I have some 210 VLD’s loaded up for my 300 RUM, 185 Classic Hunters 300 Jarret, time will tell. My coyote rifle is a 22-250 loaded up with 52 grain Berger HP varmint, 3750 fps, every coyote is a bang flop with no exit no matter the distance, no spinners or runners just DRT, they pencil in and detonate like they are designed to do, the only noticeable entrance wound I had last season on a coyote is when I hit high shoulder using those 52 grain bergers which is expected, I am completely impressed so far with Bergers. Like you said bullet selection is just as important as shot placement and I agree.This is why I have many different guns that are plenty capable for deer hunting. I can choose the best gun for how and where I intend to hunt that day. There’s no one gun that excels in every situation. There’s definitely some that offer a compromise. I realize that not everyone is a gun nut like myself and can’t or don’t want to have many different guns. Besides all this, I honestly believe bullet construction and impact velocity has way more to do with dropping animals in their tracks than caliber alone, and even shot placement. Growing up I watched my dad and grandpa kill many deer, elk and even a moose. Most of these never took a step, including the moose. My dad used a 25-06 and my grandpa used a 257 roberts. Both shot 100 grain bullets at 2800-3100 fps and shot behind the shoulder. These bullets mushroomed well and Most of the energy was expended in the animal. Most would consider this combo too light for elk but it worked well for both of them for years. I think in this day and age gun and ammo manufacturers are advertising for extreme velocity and range. Many of the bullets that fit the bill for that don’t necessarily tend to be the most efficient at dropping game. I believe this is when people tend to start shooting mid or high shoulder. Some of these bullets need to hit some bone to deform enough to put animals down quickly, if they don’t hit bone they’ll pencil through with reduced damage. On the opposite end of the spectrum you can have too much velocity for the bullet. A few years ago I shot a yearling doe with a 300 Remington ultra mag. I was shooting a 180 grain hornady sst. Bullet placed right behind the shoulder at about 150 yards. The bullet came apart and failed to penetrate. It dropped the deer but the deer layed there and bellered. It fell behind a down tree so I had no opportunity for a second shot to finish it off quickly. I had to hurry up to it to finish it off. That will be the last time I shoot those bullets in that gun for hunting.
In the end I believe matching the bullet construction to impact velocity for your intended purpose is the most important factor in quickly dropping game.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
I am a firm believer in only taking the shots that you have the highest confidence in making. If a head shot brings more risk into the equation than you are comfortable with by all means pass that shot.I really don’t like a head shot on deer. The one exception may be if it is looking straight away from me. I’ve seen too many deer that have had their lower jaw hanging from what was most likely a slightly misplaced head shot. I’m confident in my ability to make a head shot but I’m not willing to risk having the deer die a slow painful death from infection or starvation if a slightly misplaced shot occurs.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
I agree bullet choice is a big factor. I've had 7mm rem mag perform horribly because it just zipped through deer. I've had .243 perform very well because I missed bone and that little 80 grain bullet was allowed to expand beautifully and just obliterated all the soft mushy bits forward of the diaphragm. I've also lost a deer when that bullet hit bone.This is why I have many different guns that are plenty capable for deer hunting. I can choose the best gun for how and where I intend to hunt that day. There’s no one gun that excels in every situation. There’s definitely some that offer a compromise. I realize that not everyone is a gun nut like myself and can’t or don’t want to have many different guns. Besides all this, I honestly believe bullet construction and impact velocity has way more to do with dropping animals in their tracks than caliber alone, and even shot placement. Growing up I watched my dad and grandpa kill many deer, elk and even a moose. Most of these never took a step, including the moose. My dad used a 25-06 and my grandpa used a 257 roberts. Both shot 100 grain bullets at 2800-3100 fps and shot behind the shoulder. These bullets mushroomed well and Most of the energy was expended in the animal. Most would consider this combo too light for elk but it worked well for both of them for years. I think in this day and age gun and ammo manufacturers are advertising for extreme velocity and range. Many of the bullets that fit the bill for that don’t necessarily tend to be the most efficient at dropping game. I believe this is when people tend to start shooting mid or high shoulder. Some of these bullets need to hit some bone to deform enough to put animals down quickly, if they don’t hit bone they’ll pencil through with reduced damage. On the opposite end of the spectrum you can have too much velocity for the bullet. A few years ago I shot a yearling doe with a 300 Remington ultra mag. I was shooting a 180 grain hornady sst. Bullet placed right behind the shoulder at about 150 yards. The bullet came apart and failed to penetrate. It dropped the deer but the deer layed there and bellered. It fell behind a down tree so I had no opportunity for a second shot to finish it off quickly. I had to hurry up to it to finish it off. That will be the last time I shoot those bullets in that gun for hunting.
In the end I believe matching the bullet construction to impact velocity for your intended purpose is the most important factor in quickly dropping game.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
They're boring ole fudd rounds, but I like the boring tracking jobs they make.
NopeWould u guys change ur answers if the 30/30 was swapped out for a non magnum .50 muzzleloader?
Nosir. Ive not found a 50 cal muzzleloader round that expands reliably yet. My exit holes are always about the same size as my entrance holes.Would u guys change ur answers if the 30/30 was swapped out for a non magnum .50 muzzleloader?
I am a firm believer in only taking the shots that you have the highest confidence in making. If a head shot brings more risk into the equation than you are comfortable with by all means pass that shot.