Considering a .35?

[Flightstopper]

That's why I like the neck- miss or dead.

Agreed, done the same ever since.

[Tomkat]

I aim for the heart. The majority of them bang flop if you hit them. I have had a few run 10-20 yards before they pile up.

I am not as big on the neck shot. I had one I knocked down like that get up and run away.

The quartering away is a great angle to take out all the important organs.

The head shot is a fools errand.



Blog- http://www.ksducks.com

[assateague]

I've shot around 500-600 deer. The only ones that I reliably get a flop from are neck shot or chest shot with the .35 only. Not saying it doesn't happen, just hasn't been the case for me. I've blown hearts completely out with a .30-06, and had to track them for 150 yards. And I've had them drop. Guess it depends on the type of bullet, also.

That being said, I've killed deer with a .22LR, .22-250, .243, .25-06, 7mm, .30-06, .30-30, .35, and a .45/70. The .35 is only one that reliably drops them where they stand for me (probably 90%), and within 20 yards (100%). I've never ever had to track an animal with that gun, so it's my favorite. I know you CAN get the flop with pretty much any caliber, but you DO get it with .35. That's all I'm saying.

And I still get excited every time

[rebelp74]

I aim for the heart. The majority of them bang flop if you hit them. I have had a few run 10-20 yards before they pile up.

I am not as big on the neck shot. I had one I knocked down like that get up and run away.

The quartering away is a great angle to take out all the important organs.

The head shot is a fools errand.



Blog- http://www.ksducks.com

The heed shot is money, ear hole that shit.

[NuffDaddy]

I go for the lungs. Lot bigger target, and you don't loose the neck meat.

[3legged_lab]

Out Texas friends go for the heart, via the butt.

[assateague]

I go for the lungs. Lot bigger target, and you don't loose the neck meat.

Anything over about 100, that's what I shoot for too.

[DeadEye_Dan]

Nice article on .35 caliber rounds in the new issue of American Rifleman

[Tomkat]

Dan whats the writer like?
If I was gonna hunt the big woods like AT and others I would go with a 45/70 only because I have been around a few of them. My friend that killed his bear on our trip with a .35 Whelen swore by it.

I am looking forward to using my first ever 50 cal with my muzzle loader. I bet its brutal.



Blog- http://www.ksducks.com

[assateague]

I will say this about the ML- the brand of sabot you shoot makes a HUGE difference. I shot some TC and Powerbelt, was nothing. Shot my first Hornady and busted the bridge of my nose open. Felt like I added an extra 50 grains of powder.

[assateague]

Dan whats the writer like?
If I was gonna hunt the big woods like AT and others I would go with a 45/70 only because I have been around a few of them. My friend that killed his bear on our trip with a .35 Whelen swore by it.

I am looking forward to using my first ever 50 cal with my muzzle loader. I bet its brutal.



Blog- http://www.ksducks.com

I've got nothing against the 45-70, either. The few deer I shot acted like it was .30-06, though. 2 dropped, but one ran almost 100 yards on his chest using only his hind legs. Couldn't believe it. And it was an ugly gun. Think it was a Henry, with that polished receiver and big ass octagonal barrel. Just not my cup of tea.

[rebelp74]

Dan whats the writer like?
If I was gonna hunt the big woods like AT and others I would go with a 45/70 only because I have been around a few of them. My friend that killed his bear on our trip with a .35 Whelen swore by it.

I am looking forward to using my first ever 50 cal with my muzzle loader. I bet its brutal.



Blog- http://www.ksducks.com

I've got nothing against the 45-70, either. The few deer I shot acted like it was .30-06, though. 2 dropped, but one ran almost 100 yards on his chest using only his hind legs. Couldn't believe it. And it was an ugly gun. Think it was a Henry, with that polished receiver and big ass octagonal barrel. Just not my cup of tea.

That doesn't sound like an ugly gun.

[assateague]

Eye of the beholder, and all that. I'm a simple guy- don't like all that "shine" shit.

[NuffDaddy]

I go for the lungs. Lot bigger target, and you don't loose the neck meat.

Anything over about 100, that's what I shoot for too.

With my .32 they almost never make it over 50 yards with a double lung shot. I love that little gun.

[Rick]

I aim for the heart. The majority of them bang flop if you hit them. I have had a few run 10-20 yards before they pile up.

Every deer I recall just hitting in the heart has taken off like I hit it in the ass with a hotshot. Some only made it a 100yds, others a whole lot farther before piling up, and that can really suck in some of the places I have to recover them. For quick drops, make mine double lungers, and I won't mind sacrificing a shoulder for added insurance if the location suggests. Also a huge fan of Nosler ballistic tips as deer stoppers.

[NuffDaddy]

The problem with heart shots, is little to no tracking blood. With a hole in the lungs, they start spraying it out their nose in less than 10 yards.

[assateague]

I assure you, with the .35 there is always blood.

[bill herian]

Looks like a good brush gun. Where I hunt, shots are seldom more than 80 yards but all the aspen whips and tag alder make it some tight shooting. Looks like a bullet that won't be thrown by an unseen twig or two.

[assateague]

I've shot a deer through a cedar tree with it before.

[jehler]

32 Winchester is a better round

[NuffDaddy]

32 Winchester is a better round

That's what I use. Seems to do some good damage. Shoots pretty flat to 150+ yards too.

[bill herian]

I've shot a deer through a cedar tree with it before.

It's illegal to attempt to take cedar trees with a centerfire rifle in Maryland.

[possumfoot]

300 win mag.. most never even flip.. just drop like a sack of taters.. 200gr sierra BTHP match..

exit is about the size of my fist.. insides look like they spent time in a blender. it will rupture the heart even if ya dont hit it..

only ever had one move.. big buck that was chasing a doe.. perfect hit, but he some how managed to run.. though i had missed him because he ran.. then it occured to me that the big floating cloud was hair.. he made it MAYBE 100 yards.. looked like someone had dumped a paint can the whole way.. since then, i shoot a little higher on a big buck.. and a lil forward.. hard to run with no lungs, a blown open heart, and two totally busted shoulders.

[waterfowlman]

I've shot a deer through a cedar tree with it before.

It's illegal to attempt to take cedar trees with a centerfire rifle in Maryland.

You're probably correct.

[Tomkat]

The problem with heart shots, is little to no tracking blood. With a hole in the lungs, they start spraying it out their nose in less than 10 yards.

I don't need to trail them, they go night night.

I know people have runners on heart shots. I have had good results doing it this way. Hydrostatic shock perhaps?



Blog- http://www.ksducks.com

[Rick]

The problem with heart shots...

One that hasn't been mentioned is that it spoils the very best tasting part of the animal.

[Flightstopper]

The problem with heart shots...

One that hasn't been mentioned is that it spoils the very best tasting part of the animal.

Even though it's not much meat, it jellies the front quarters as well.

[Tomkat]

Bang flop!

Heart shot has been a winner for me. I have done it with a 120 grn SP bullet from a .270 and a 150 grn SP bullet from a .30-06 on several occasions. I don't eat the heart and never noticed meat damage.

I just go over to my dead deer and get to work.



Blog- http://www.ksducks.com

[Rick]

Now I'm going to tell on myself, as this thread haunted me yesterday evening. This heartshot:


old gal didn't go "flop" but ran like a scalded-assed cat until a quick follow-up broke her back - and wiped out the lower portion of both backstaps and tenderloins in the process:


Yes, yes, I should have had more confidence in my first double-lung-intended shot, or simply done a better job of putting it where I wanted it. But I didn't. And truth be told, it wasn't the first time a followed-up heart shot cost me backstraps.

So I say again, fuck heart shots.

(TK would have been proud of me yesterday morning, though, when I ran across a pasture after a sick coyote and plugged him on the run with a .357.)

[waterfowlman]

Your little hunting buddy looks pretty happy there Rick.