Ok so me and my wife have had a not so great experience with accubonds which is odd because they are our go to bullets. We both shoot fast loads and both shot twice each at the deer (two separate days). All the shots failed (we like exits) but keep in mind we were at extreme close range (inside 75 yards). The bullets did work and killed the deer but both needed 2 shots to put them down fast. In both instances the deer ran about 20 yards and stood there giving us enough time for a second shot. Yes I understand the deer likely were dead before they knew it but none of the 4 shots on the two deer exited. The insides of the deer were a mess. What I don't like is there was zero blood outside of the deer due to lack of exit. I understand some will say this is what they want, all energy dumped inside the deer, but it isn't what I want which is why I'm looking at hammer bullets. I'm curious what the short range performance of the hammer hunter and not the shock hammers would be as we still do hunt out to 600 yards with these guns so would prefer to use the regular hammer hunters. Anyone shoot deer at closer ranges with these? What were your results?
My .280 Rem shooting 140gr Absolutes has 5 consecutive 1 shot kills on deer this season. I'll share my observations, but this is a pretty small sample size so too early for me to draw any conclusions just yet.
While we did get exits every time, there seemed to be more hair than blood where the deer got hit. Not much blood at all. This was concerning to me at first, but it became quickly obvious these bullets kill so rapidly that for me the lack of blood trail became a non-issue.
Shot placement is the biggest variable. I am generally patient and typically wait for a double lung presentation to maximize the meat yield. This is not always practical or possible, but it means I'm used to animals traveling a little ways after they are shot. So far it's been a remarkably consistent thirty-something yards with the Hammers.
In a situation where I'm concerned about an animal crossing a property line, or running into a nasty gully or water hazard or something, I place my shot differently. Sometimes it's worth ruining a little meat to drop an animal on the spot. I don't think any bullet can guarantee DRT's, but certain shot placement can.
I'm not sure what cartridges you guys are using, but it may be worthwhile giving hammer bullets a call and getting their input.
In my limited experience the .284 Hammers have caused massive trauma to the lungs. When hit, they are totally deflated, and at closer ranges (higher velocities) liquified! Seems like it takes a few seconds for the chest cavity to fill up with blood, and by that time the animal is already on the ground, so to speak.
Based on what I have seen with the Hammers, if you need a blood trail, you might be disappointed. But just remember, deer generally travel in a straight line. If you can establish an accurate heading - which way the deer went after hit, you'll generally find it on that line. Probably within 100ft.
