assateague wrote:I disagree. I've shot maybe 110 deer with a .30-06, another 40 or so with a .25-06, and probably about 100 with my .35, and maybe 5 with a .243. The .35 wins hands down in the "drop them" category, but the .25 is a close, very close, second. The .30-06 and .243 had some run-offs, and while some of it is shot placement, not all of it is. On more than one occasion, I have shot large deer with the .30-06 from less than 80 yards, and had them go 100 yards through the woods, with literally no lungs/heart. Barring a gut shot, the .25 dropped every one in it's tracks. And the .35, it's not even that precise- if it hits anywhere near the chest, the deer drops.
I know there's a lot to it, including bullet, shot placement, lead, etc, but even perfect shots with the .243 and .30-06 I've had some tracking jobs. Never with the .25 or .35.
I have killed 12-13 deer with a .270 (.27) They were most always bang flops. The best one I shot was through the lungs, he went 30 yards out of the woods and laid down on the field road. The last 5-6 were DOA when they hit planet earth.
I shot one deer with my .30-06 that went 40 yards and fell over dead.
I shot another one that was a bang flop.
The black bear I shot in Canada was a bang flop. That was with a Nosler Partition bullet, I should add. (my hunting partner needed 3 with his .35 Whelen)
Oddly enough, I have never shot a deer with a .243. I have killed more than a few coyotes...and they ALWAYS go down for the count.
My cousin shot a 182 B & C Kansas buck with a .243. Bang, then flop.
Conclusion: IMO, shot placement is 98% of the equation. That 2% is the projectile speed and construction.
Not arguing or agreeing with you or Dan. There is a grain of wisdom in all 3 of our observations.
I am taking my .243 to Montana this fall to shoot an Antelope. I agree with Dan, the ballistic charts are not THAT much different between the two. I would rather do a better stalk and take a 200 yard shot than a 400 yard shot any day. I will probably use a realitively light bullet, too. The Sierra 85 gr HPBT has gotten high marks from people that have used it. I studied the BC (balasistic coefficient) on that bullet and its actually not bad. Field reports indicate that it delivers good results as far as controlled expansion on real world antelope shots.
AT, having said all that, I am really looking forward to shooting a deer with my .50 ML this fall. Its the other end of the scale- a big fat bullet with lots of weight, moving slower than the antelope bullet. Based on my experience with shooting shotgun slugs at hogs, I bet it knocks 'em down pretty good.