I finally had the opportunity to field test my 6.8 SPC with the 110-grain Sierra pro-hunter bullet (spitzer #1810) with 24 grains H4198. I took 2 white-tailed doe deer and 1 bobcat in Texas…one shot each…this past weekend.
The 1st deer was at 75 yards; a quartering away shot hit behind the left rib cage at mid- height. The bullet ran through to the right front exiting in front of the leg. Entry hole was bullet diameter. Exit hole was slightly larger…nickel size. No bones hit. The bullet hit important arteries below the lungs. The deer ran approximately 50 yards. Slight blood trail. Little to no meat damage.
The 2nd deer was broadside at about 100 yards. The bullet entered left front leg behind bone, entered the rib cage striking one rib traveled through to the opposite rib cage missing bone and through the right front leg behind the bone. The entry wound was bullet size and the exit wound was again about nickel size. However the wound channel was large…not an expert…but the “damaged” areas through the rib cage were circular and about 2-inches in diameter with the holes about nickel size. This was a lung shot, significant shock damage to the meat covering the rib cage on both sides. Some meat damage to the leg on the exit side. No blood trail…deer ran about 30 yards.
The bobcat came on the scene at about 50 yards. Broadside hit through vitals…entry hole bullet size…exit hole was about quarter size. Nice blood trail…ran about 50 yards. I plan to have this one mounted…very pretty animal.
It took awhile to find the right bullet and load…about 300 rounds…to break-in this particular barrel. The barrel seems to like the starting loads the best with any of the bullets I tried, although the 110 Sierra seemed to like anything I dumped in the cartridge. I held the bullet about 0.025” off the lands…COL = 2.360” with consistent 1-inch groups at 100 yards.
I would have no problem using this setup on coyotes…my next adventure!
