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Rifles, Reloading, Optics, Equipment
Reloading
im going to start another controversial thread
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<blockquote data-quote="benchracer" data-source="post: 853149" data-attributes="member: 22069"><p>This is an interesting discussion. My take on this is that bullet design/construction/composition may be a factor, but it is not the most important factor in terms of either the relative decisiveness of a kill or the amount of meat damage. Neither do I agree with the conclusion that greater penetration destroys more meat.</p><p> </p><p>In the last season that I was able to hunt (2010), I took two deer. The first deer was taken during modern gun season and the second was taken during blackpowder season. Both were taken at short range (12 and 30 yards, respectively). </p><p> </p><p>During modern gun season, I hunted with my .375 H&H loaded down to 38-55 level loads with hard cast lead bullets. I took the "meat saver" shot on a doe that was quartering away, placing my vertical crosshair on what I could see of the off side leg to angle my bullet for a pass through of the far shoulder. The bullet entered high behind the on side shoulder, took off the top of the heart, and exited the off side shoulder. There was NO meat loss on entry or exit, unless you count the caliber sized bullet hole itself.</p><p> </p><p>The buck I took during blackpowder season was hit at about 30 yards with a Hornady XTP pistol bullet. He was quartering toward me and I took the behind the shoulder shot (I realized afterwards that I should have moved my placement forward to account for the quartering angle). He went less than twenty yards and fell over. The bullet entered behind the shoulder, destroyed the on side lung, splattered the liver, and exited the ribs in front of the off side hind quarter. Again, no meat loss on either the entry or exit, except for the bullet hole itself.</p><p> </p><p>Neither bullet was recovered. There was very little evidence of expansion. The first kill was decisive. The second kill was not instantaneous (I believe that to be the result of my error in shot placement), though the deer didn't go far. In both cases, the impact velocity was well below 2000 fps. </p><p> </p><p>My hunting partner during modern gun season took a deer moments after I did with a 30-06 using a cup and core bullet. He lost meat, though the damage was not severe.</p><p> </p><p>I believe the difference in behavior of the respective rounds was primarily due to impact velocity rather than bullet construction. The decisiveness of my first kill was a direct result of shot placement.</p><p> </p><p>I am convinced that the most important factor in a quick kill is where you put the bullet.</p><p> </p><p>I am also convinced that impact velocity is the most important factor in meat conservation, with shot placement second on the list.</p><p> </p><p>I saw no evidence in either case that bullet composition or behavior influenced the outcome whatsoever. On larger animals that might be different. On deer sized animals, adequate penetration to and through the vitals is what allowed me to bring meat home. The rest is an exercise in hair splitting, IMO.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="benchracer, post: 853149, member: 22069"] This is an interesting discussion. My take on this is that bullet design/construction/composition may be a factor, but it is not the most important factor in terms of either the relative decisiveness of a kill or the amount of meat damage. Neither do I agree with the conclusion that greater penetration destroys more meat. In the last season that I was able to hunt (2010), I took two deer. The first deer was taken during modern gun season and the second was taken during blackpowder season. Both were taken at short range (12 and 30 yards, respectively). During modern gun season, I hunted with my .375 H&H loaded down to 38-55 level loads with hard cast lead bullets. I took the "meat saver" shot on a doe that was quartering away, placing my vertical crosshair on what I could see of the off side leg to angle my bullet for a pass through of the far shoulder. The bullet entered high behind the on side shoulder, took off the top of the heart, and exited the off side shoulder. There was NO meat loss on entry or exit, unless you count the caliber sized bullet hole itself. The buck I took during blackpowder season was hit at about 30 yards with a Hornady XTP pistol bullet. He was quartering toward me and I took the behind the shoulder shot (I realized afterwards that I should have moved my placement forward to account for the quartering angle). He went less than twenty yards and fell over. The bullet entered behind the shoulder, destroyed the on side lung, splattered the liver, and exited the ribs in front of the off side hind quarter. Again, no meat loss on either the entry or exit, except for the bullet hole itself. Neither bullet was recovered. There was very little evidence of expansion. The first kill was decisive. The second kill was not instantaneous (I believe that to be the result of my error in shot placement), though the deer didn't go far. In both cases, the impact velocity was well below 2000 fps. My hunting partner during modern gun season took a deer moments after I did with a 30-06 using a cup and core bullet. He lost meat, though the damage was not severe. I believe the difference in behavior of the respective rounds was primarily due to impact velocity rather than bullet construction. The decisiveness of my first kill was a direct result of shot placement. I am convinced that the most important factor in a quick kill is where you put the bullet. I am also convinced that impact velocity is the most important factor in meat conservation, with shot placement second on the list. I saw no evidence in either case that bullet composition or behavior influenced the outcome whatsoever. On larger animals that might be different. On deer sized animals, adequate penetration to and through the vitals is what allowed me to bring meat home. The rest is an exercise in hair splitting, IMO. [/QUOTE]
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Reloading
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