Albritton
Well-Known Member
I purchased a Ruger ranch rifle in 450 Bushmaster, short, light and clover leaf accurate. I love carrying and climbing with it but I am use to using flinging light higher velocity bullets at White tails and learned a valuable lesson in slow large bore rifles. I decided to take my new "thumper" to a stand that I have that consistently produces big does for my freezer. I needed two does to meet my yearly venison needs. At first light a 145 lb doe showed up and as I usually do I placed a 250 grain bullet through the crease behind her shoulder. She hunched up, kicked and ran into the thick. decided to stay a while and see if the second doe I needed would show. 2 hrs later she did and I placed another 250 grn in the same place as the first one. she also ran into the thick. Expecting to find them both within 20 to 40 yds in the thick where most of my .308 shot deer fall I got down and walked into the briars. No deer. Good blood trais but no deer. I followed the blood trails and found them both about 50 yards apart.......................about 90 yds from where I shot em. Both rounds were dead on behind the shoulder and both passed through. Was like stabbing em both with a piece of #5 rebar LOL.
I am using Hornady black ammo with the 250gr FTX ballistic tipped bullets. If I was shootin bear I would have been happy with the penetration but the entry holes were basically the same as the exit holes in size.
Guess I am gonna have to find some hollow points for my Thumper if I am gonna continue to shoot shoot my meat deer behind the shoulder. I know I could shoulder shoot em and most likely they will DRT but don't like doin that on my meat does.
oh yeah the second drawback is this little rifle with its 16.5' barrel and needed muzzle brake is extremely hard on the ears. I am 63 years old and am already mostly deaf from a lifetime of huntin but I would not allow my grandkids to hunt with it without hearing protection LOL.
I am using Hornady black ammo with the 250gr FTX ballistic tipped bullets. If I was shootin bear I would have been happy with the penetration but the entry holes were basically the same as the exit holes in size.
Guess I am gonna have to find some hollow points for my Thumper if I am gonna continue to shoot shoot my meat deer behind the shoulder. I know I could shoulder shoot em and most likely they will DRT but don't like doin that on my meat does.
oh yeah the second drawback is this little rifle with its 16.5' barrel and needed muzzle brake is extremely hard on the ears. I am 63 years old and am already mostly deaf from a lifetime of huntin but I would not allow my grandkids to hunt with it without hearing protection LOL.