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Berger bullet tissue damage
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<blockquote data-quote="TexSavage" data-source="post: 1911902" data-attributes="member: 6245"><p>Up until 10 years ago I killed 95% of my deer with a 22-250 using a Sierra 55 grain BTHP. To say it was deadly would be an understatement. Never, ever lost a deer using the 22-250. The other 5% were taken with a 7MM Rem Mag. In Texas, the counties I hunt in, have a 5 whitetail deer harvest. It's a rarity for me to ever have tags left or meat left.</p><p></p><p>Along comes the urge to go "Long Range". The last 10 years I've been using a Savage 12 BVSS for both long range shooting, hunting and prairie dog extermination. I have used the Berger VLDs, 190 and now exclusively the 215 for the past 6 plus years, before that 190 JLK & 178 AMAX in my 300WSM. My hand loads double for hunting and banging steel at long distances. The bullets have never failed to drop game from DRT to maybe 10 yards. Impacts at 20 yards to 335 yards, always an entry hole of .308 and an exit hole the size of a tennis ball to the size of a grapefruit. Last fall it was a big oryx cow on a cull hunt. Distance was around 80 yards or just under. halk of one lung gone, massive damage to the remaining 1 and 1/2. Half the heart gone with massive hole to the other half, exit wound right at tennis ball size. Stood there for a few seconds, walked about 10 feet and fell down a small hill. DRT. An animal's will to live is voracious. </p><p></p><p>In all my years I failed to recover one deer, shot with the 175 AMAX at 215 yards. Thought I'd be Joe Cool and took a neck shot. Knocked the deer down, DRT. Waited 15 minutes, got down and walked to that DRT deer. I'll be danged right there, no deer. WHY would I change shot placement. Why, because I was DRT, dumb right there.</p><p></p><p>You know I been hunting for over 50 years. I've been reloading for 41 years. I've shot deer, antelope and oryx. I've used Sierra, Speer, JLK, Hornady, & Berger. I've killed em with pistol and rifle, wildcats & factory. I've shot factory ammo and handloads for hunting and practice. Not a single one ever blew up on impact, none. Every one of them at some point in time caused post entry tissue damage as well as exit damage that made me cringe. I've lost shoulders on occasion, as well as a backstrap and a few hind quarters. I hate wasting meat, I'm a meat eater, raised to not waste what I kill. Not a single one ever blew up on impact, none. </p><p></p><p>Yet, all the times I was disappointed there were 2 things in common. My shot placement and my ability or lack thereof. Placement, Placement, Placement. Me, Me, Me. I post this not as a ding or a tirade aimed at anyone. Just my own conviction of myself. I just know in my experience I'm the one that failed, every time. I am also still haunted by the deer I never found and it's a reminder to me that I make darn sure my own DRT, dumb right there, does not repeat itself.</p><p></p><p>Sorry for the length and it's a bit off post, which the moderator can move at their discretion.</p><p></p><p>Your mileage may vary.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="TexSavage, post: 1911902, member: 6245"] Up until 10 years ago I killed 95% of my deer with a 22-250 using a Sierra 55 grain BTHP. To say it was deadly would be an understatement. Never, ever lost a deer using the 22-250. The other 5% were taken with a 7MM Rem Mag. In Texas, the counties I hunt in, have a 5 whitetail deer harvest. It's a rarity for me to ever have tags left or meat left. Along comes the urge to go "Long Range". The last 10 years I've been using a Savage 12 BVSS for both long range shooting, hunting and prairie dog extermination. I have used the Berger VLDs, 190 and now exclusively the 215 for the past 6 plus years, before that 190 JLK & 178 AMAX in my 300WSM. My hand loads double for hunting and banging steel at long distances. The bullets have never failed to drop game from DRT to maybe 10 yards. Impacts at 20 yards to 335 yards, always an entry hole of .308 and an exit hole the size of a tennis ball to the size of a grapefruit. Last fall it was a big oryx cow on a cull hunt. Distance was around 80 yards or just under. halk of one lung gone, massive damage to the remaining 1 and 1/2. Half the heart gone with massive hole to the other half, exit wound right at tennis ball size. Stood there for a few seconds, walked about 10 feet and fell down a small hill. DRT. An animal's will to live is voracious. In all my years I failed to recover one deer, shot with the 175 AMAX at 215 yards. Thought I'd be Joe Cool and took a neck shot. Knocked the deer down, DRT. Waited 15 minutes, got down and walked to that DRT deer. I'll be danged right there, no deer. WHY would I change shot placement. Why, because I was DRT, dumb right there. You know I been hunting for over 50 years. I've been reloading for 41 years. I've shot deer, antelope and oryx. I've used Sierra, Speer, JLK, Hornady, & Berger. I've killed em with pistol and rifle, wildcats & factory. I've shot factory ammo and handloads for hunting and practice. Not a single one ever blew up on impact, none. Every one of them at some point in time caused post entry tissue damage as well as exit damage that made me cringe. I've lost shoulders on occasion, as well as a backstrap and a few hind quarters. I hate wasting meat, I'm a meat eater, raised to not waste what I kill. Not a single one ever blew up on impact, none. Yet, all the times I was disappointed there were 2 things in common. My shot placement and my ability or lack thereof. Placement, Placement, Placement. Me, Me, Me. I post this not as a ding or a tirade aimed at anyone. Just my own conviction of myself. I just know in my experience I'm the one that failed, every time. I am also still haunted by the deer I never found and it's a reminder to me that I make darn sure my own DRT, dumb right there, does not repeat itself. Sorry for the length and it's a bit off post, which the moderator can move at their discretion. Your mileage may vary. [/QUOTE]
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