Question:
"Head on" is a tough shot. On that size of a deer, the chance of it being just a few degrees off from head on is big. My son shot his first doe in a similar situation. The bullet did strike very near the aim point, but ran along the rib cage under the sholder blade and exited at the diaphram. This was a 243 w/ 100 gr. Grand Slam bullets. She ran off, but stopped within my sight, if I stood up. My son was too short to see her over a small rise, so I finished her. I don’t know if a 7mm-08 would exit or not. I shot a large doe at 10 yards w/ a 7mm Rem Mag w/ 162 gr bullett and it didn’t exit. She didn’t go anywhere though! I don’t recommend this, makes field dressing a little revolting… If the deer isn’t spooked, a head-on shot will usually improve to broad-side if you can wait. Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/
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>7mm-08 is an awesome deer gun. I’ve owned two, loved both, >and been very effective with ‘em…..The cartridge you’re >shooting with the bullet you chose sure isn’t the problem. >It’s user error of some sort.
I’ve got to agree, the cartridge/bullet combo is so well-proven that there is absolutely no question as to its ability on deer-sized game. While it is hard to admit to not placing the bullet where you wanted, and that’s not what the poster wants to hear, it still remains the best explanation. A low shot just above the sternum inside the rib cage and into the paunch isn’t going to drop many deer at the shot, and the broken leg could have been hit when either too far forward or back ( as the leg swung in stride ). More than once I’ve been positive of the hit as I shot, only to find the animal with the bullet not quite where I thought. Lots can happen between the brain’s command and the bullet’s impact – and little of that is good. Jay T Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/
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>Last weekend on the Wisconsin opener I shot a 1 1/2 year old buck (about 110 >lbs). (plus one in the shoulder blade)…… but he kept running. >My questions. >Is a 7mm/08 not enough gun?
I killed two blacktail with a 7-08 this year. Both were one-shot kills. First was a spike uphill angling away a little at about 75 yards; the bullet went in behind the right shoulder and came out in front of the right shoulder up high. The deer deer spun, dropped, and died. The second was a nice 3-pt (8 eastern count) buck that I hith through the back of both lungs at about 50 yards. He ran about 100 yards. I think if I’d hit him even an inch further to the front he’d dropped in 25 yards; I only went through the back "lobes" of the lungs. >Is the Federal Premium 140 gr Nosler Partition not the right bullet?
It is a great bullet, although a little tougher than necessary for deer I think. FWIW, I was shooting Partitions in the above examples, although they were 150’s (my rifle won’t shoot 140’s well, which is too bad). But yes, it is the right bullet, or at least one of them! >Did the bullet blow up on contact?
No. >Did the bullet just punch a 7 mm hole through?
I bet the frontal shot actually penetrated the lenght of the deer or close to it. The shoulder shot broke whatever bones it hit and also passed through, would be my guess. The front half of a partition expands pretty quickly… it shouldn’t have just made 7mm hole in either case. On my spike, the exit hole was about an inch in diameter, and on the 3-pt it was about 1.5 inches; obviously the bullet did not expand that big so I guess it was bone chunks or debris that blew through along with the bullet. I don’t know what happened, but you were using an excellent deer caliber (one of the best IMHO) and an excellent bullet… -jeff Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->7mm-08 is an awesome deer gun. I’ve owned two, loved both, >and been very effective with ‘em…..The cartridge you’re >shooting with the bullet you chose sure isn’t the problem. >It’s user error of some sort. > I’ve got to agree, the cartridge/bullet combo is so well-proven that > there is absolutely no question as to its ability on deer-sized game. > While it is hard to admit to not placing the bullet where you wanted, > and that’s not what the poster wants to hear, it still remains the > best explanation. A low shot just above the sternum inside the rib > cage and into the paunch isn’t going to drop many deer at the shot, > and the broken leg could have been hit when either too far forward or > back ( as the leg swung in stride ). > More than once I’ve been positive of the hit as I shot, only to find > the animal with the bullet not quite where I thought. Lots can happen > between the brain’s command and the bullet’s impact – and little of > that is good.
Jay, I am starting to think the blood trail ended where I would have found foot prints. Ie someone is eating my venison sausage. I think you are right. The first shot was low. The second I am still sure was good. Saw the blood spot grow on his shoulder as he ran. What burns my but far more than someone eating my deer is not knowing for sure. Especially on the shoulder shot. Well, at least I know the caliber and bullet are considered a good fit for deer. Now I can use all the frustration on extra practice at the range. Thanks Henry Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Last weekend on the Wisconsin opener I shot a 1 1/2 year old buck (about 110 > lbs). Would have been the first one with the new rifle. 35 yard head on > shot centered between the leg about 5 " up from the brisket. Can’t verify > the hit but at 35 yards I would need strong proof to believe I was off by > more then 2". He took off running and at about 50 yards I hit him square in > the sholder blade (about 1/3 of the way up in the body). That leg stopped > working and I could see my hit, but he kept running. > Weak blood trail from the first to the second hit. Found bone fragments at > both locations. Blood trail kept getting better as I followed it. After > 500 yards it just stopped. No deer but there was a recently vacated ground > blind 60 yards from the last blood. > I have taken the head on chest shot before with a 12 guage foster slug. > Boom and the deer dropped, struggled for a couple of seconds and it was > over. The broadside sholder shot is of course text book. > My questions. > Is a 7mm/08 not enough gun? > Is the Federal Premium 140 gr Nosler Partition not the right bullet? > Did the bullet blow up on contact? > Did the bullet just punch a 7 mm hole through? > Henry > 7mm-08 is an awesome deer gun. I’ve owned two, loved both, and been > very effective with ‘em. I handload that same 140 grain partition and it works > great for me. The partitions seem to expand nicely at 7mm-08 velocities > and it’s impossible to blow ‘em up with that cartridge. > I’d suggest the second shot went low and only hit the leg, possibly the bottom > of the chest, but never even got close to the heart or lungs. I’ve seen that > happen. > I’d suggest the first shot went lower than you think. Was the deer below you, > or > at your level, but standing on a slope facing downhill toward you? It would be > very easy with the bullet hitting only 5" above the bottom of the chest, or > especially > if you shot just a bit low, for a bullet hitting that region to rake down > through the > brisket and exit the body without encountering vital organs. > It sounds a whole lot like either you don’t know how to sight your gun in, it > got > dropped and the sights got knocked out of alignment, or you got a bad case > of buck fever. The cartridge you’re shooting with the bullet you chose sure > isn’t the problem. It’s user error of some sort. > Tom
Tom, The gun was shooting fine that day (me also I would expect). The second shot which was about 50 yards was easy to see the point of impact because a small red spot formed and continued to get larger (for the second or so I could see) as the deer ran. The first shot could have been off. It wouldn’t likely have been a shoulder shot as the deer was running with all 4 legs until the second shot. I think it was likely low. I was about 40 feet above with the height of the tree stand and the slope I was on. I probably hit the brisket. A lot of bone fragments and not much blood at that spot. The deer ran about 300 yards with the last 200 showing some really good blood. I think the reason I did not find the buck was the 40 minute wait (being a bowhunter I usually wait 30 minutes) and someone else found him before I did. He made it that far due to the adrenilin (Sp?) in his system. I know he heard me reposition on the stand and was likely all pumped up before the first shot. I should have waited for a broadside for the 1st shot. That was my big mistake. And next time I will not wait more than about 10 minutes (if I think the shot is good). Thanks for the comments. Henry Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/
Response:
Last weekend on the Wisconsin opener I shot a 1 1/2 year old buck (about 110 lbs). Would have been the first one with the new rifle. 35 yard head on shot centered between the leg about 5 " up from the brisket. Can’t verify the hit but at 35 yards I would need strong proof to believe I was off by more then 2". He took off running and at about 50 yards I hit him square in the sholder blade (about 1/3 of the way up in the body). That leg stopped working and I could see my hit, but he kept running. Weak blood trail from the first to the second hit. Found bone fragments at both locations. Blood trail kept getting better as I followed it. After 500 yards it just stopped. No deer but there was a recently vacated ground blind 60 yards from the last blood. I have taken the head on chest shot before with a 12 guage foster slug. Boom and the deer dropped, struggled for a couple of seconds and it was over. The broadside sholder shot is of course text book. My questions. Is a 7mm/08 not enough gun? Is the Federal Premium 140 gr Nosler Partition not the right bullet? Did the bullet blow up on contact? Did the bullet just punch a 7 mm hole through? Henry Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Last weekend on the Wisconsin opener I shot a 1 1/2 year old buck (about 110 > lbs). Would have been the first one with the new rifle. 35 yard head on > shot centered between the leg about 5 " up from the brisket. Can’t verify > the hit but at 35 yards I would need strong proof to believe I was off by > more then 2". He took off running and at about 50 yards I hit him square in > the sholder blade (about 1/3 of the way up in the body). That leg stopped > working and I could see my hit, but he kept running. > Weak blood trail from the first to the second hit. Found bone fragments at > both locations. Blood trail kept getting better as I followed it. After > 500 yards it just stopped. No deer but there was a recently vacated ground > blind 60 yards from the last blood. > I have taken the head on chest shot before with a 12 guage foster slug. > Boom and the deer dropped, struggled for a couple of seconds and it was > over. The broadside sholder shot is of course text book. > My questions. > Is a 7mm/08 not enough gun? > Is the Federal Premium 140 gr Nosler Partition not the right bullet? > Did the bullet blow up on contact? > Did the bullet just punch a 7 mm hole through? > Henry
7mm-08 is an awesome deer gun. I’ve owned two, loved both, and been very effective with ‘em. I handload that same 140 grain partition and it works great for me. The partitions seem to expand nicely at 7mm-08 velocities and it’s impossible to blow ‘em up with that cartridge. I’d suggest the second shot went low and only hit the leg, possibly the bottom of the chest, but never even got close to the heart or lungs. I’ve seen that happen. I’d suggest the first shot went lower than you think. Was the deer below you, or at your level, but standing on a slope facing downhill toward you? It would be very easy with the bullet hitting only 5" above the bottom of the chest, or especially if you shot just a bit low, for a bullet hitting that region to rake down through the brisket and exit the body without encountering vital organs. It sounds a whole lot like either you don’t know how to sight your gun in, it got dropped and the sights got knocked out of alignment, or you got a bad case of buck fever. The cartridge you’re shooting with the bullet you chose sure isn’t the problem. It’s user error of some sort. Tom Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/
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