So here's my story.
I used the 243 on the fallow which dressed at 158lbs (a real butterball). A 95gr NosBT / 43.5gr H414 at 3040fps. Wouldn't do it again I don't think. The bullet performed well. First shot broke the shoulders at about 50yds. Took a second shot at about the same distance from above (we were on a hill side and the deer was below us). Interestingly enough...the 2nd bullet entered where the shoulder and the neck meets and exited just behind the sternum. A real sharp angle was that shot. The 3rd shot was a finisher. Postmortem shows the 1st shot broke both shoulders and the deer ambled away, didn't run. The second shot (a top to bottom shot) deflated the lungs and the 3rd took out the heart (actually, it came out in three pieces). The bullet performed well, but, I'd like more shock that I think a larger diameter bullet would give.
The boar was a different matter altogether. It came out to the field from another impossible New England hillside. The shot was about 60 or 70 yards (see the pic). I took the shot because if he went across that field, he'd go over and down another hillside and gone I'm sure. I used a Ruger #1 in 45/70 w/ leupold 2.5x scout scope (350gr speer sp / 56gr IMR4895 at 1800fps. Amazing...hit him in the shoulders and he just rolled over. He got up on his back legs and began plowing forward (evidently his front shoulders were toast and hist front legs were folded underneath him). We ran towards and above him to close the distance. Shot #2, same deal. Shot 3 to finish. Impressions....I like the 45/70, seems to smack'm hard. This boar weighed about 400. Butchered yielded 200lbs of boned meat. The hide had a solid 2" of fat under it (I used a buck prince with 2" blade to trim the legs and cut the hide in half for transport as the butcher gave me the whole cape and I only wanted a shoulder mount).
I saw easily 35 shootable fallow of all SCI medal categories (a huge gold medal chocolate fallow was spotted after I shot mine), a couple herds of buffalo, several red stag and elk and quite a few goats, sheep and ibex. This is more game than I have ever seen here and I believe it was because I went so early in the season as I usually go when it's colder or there's snow. Except for the odor of the garlic boar sausage I had the butcher make up for me that continues to permeate my basement (even though it's in the freezer)...I had a great time!!!!!!
