Author Topic: Putty Soft Lead, Deer and Alabama (Read 1205 times)

Castaway · « **on:** January 13, 2004, 02:17:58 AM »

Headed to AL Thurs, for some deer hunting. Taking Thumper (#1, 45-70), loaded with 423 grains of putty soft lead, wrapped twice with 15# paper, sitting atop 52 grains of IMR 4895. Crony's around 1800 f/s and prints right at 1.5 MOA on a good day if I'm doing my part.

Cottonwood · « **Reply #1 on:** January 13, 2004, 02:41:17 AM »

Castaway

Let us know how you do, and if you recover your bullet and meat damage if any at all, and distance deer was shot at.

Castaway · « **Reply #2 on:** January 13, 2004, 03:18:56 AM »

You bettcha I will. Two years ago, I busted a doe, she ran, I whistled, she stopped, standing 30 yards away in tall grass with her head broadside to me. I thougt to myself, I know where your heart is and shot. Deer was facing away, bullet entered 1" right of dead center and stopped in her left shoulder under the skin. I lost 5 grains of lead and expansion was impressive to say the least. I've measured it more than once but forget the details, only that it was greater than an inch across.

Black Jaque Janaviac · « **Reply #3 on:** January 13, 2004, 03:54:13 AM »

Whoa! A 423 grain pill zipping along at 1800 fps doesn't fully penetrate a deer at 30 yards?

Just when I think I have a vague understanding of terminal ballistics I read something like this.

I would think that bullet and vellocity would definitely be elk medicine. But I would also think something that is sufficient for elk should pass-through a deer.

Maybe not. These shots that stop just under the hide; there must be a lot of energy soaked up by the hides.

Cottonwood · « **Reply #4 on:** January 13, 2004, 04:16:09 AM »

Black Jaque Janaviac

That is the differance when using pure lead when we want ALL the energy of the bullets impact delivered on the animal were shooting. Wether it is 30 yards or 100 or so. I have seen large game such as elk knocked off their feet and dumped because of this.

When you use a much harder lead with alloy, and get through and through passing, energy is lost and is expelled where ever the bullet impacts and finally rest.

That is why I use much less fps when even shooting my 45-90, but with a 530-gr paper patch bullet it still passed thru and the deer acted like she wasn't even hit, but was still just as dead on her feet.

I'm willing to bet that when Castaway shot his doe two years ago, she dropped like a rock or staggard and dropped within a few feet of where shot. The end result was just the same.... dead is dead.

JMHO

Castaway · « **Reply #5 on:** January 13, 2004, 04:49:19 AM »

This particular bullet travelled lengthwise through the deer for a good 4 feet. Pelvis was broken so I'm sure that 1" parachute was there from the moment of impact. On a broadside or quartering shot, there is no bullet to be found.

Black Jaque Janaviac · « **Reply #6 on:** January 13, 2004, 12:01:10 PM »

Castaway,

Oh, I see, it ran from stern to prow. That's good penetration.

I reread your post and I see where I misinterpretted your story. The deers HEAD was broadside, but the body was facing away from you.

Castaway · « **Reply #7 on:** January 14, 2004, 01:45:02 AM »

I see where the problem is. I reread my post and I didn't make it clear. You're right, her head was sideways, her behind was pointed toward me.

Castaway · « **Reply #8 on:** January 18, 2004, 10:19:54 AM »

Not much to brag about. Shot a doe Friday A.M. at 50 yards, 4 minutes after sunrise. Deer fell where it stood and from appearances, was dead before it hit the ground. Bad shot on my part, hit about 4 inches below the spine (explains why she dropped so fast). Can't complain about bullet preformance, dead is dead and what more could you ask for.