:-) Harvested 2 deer during our 4 day season. The 12 pointer I shot, opening morning, with a Savage in 7mm STW. One hit high through the lungs, another cliping the near side elbow and going through the heart.
Now that one is on the meat pole out comes my Marlin in 45-70 for the rest of the hunt. Third day a nice 6 pointer steps out a 125 yds., quartering away. Slipped a factory 300 gr Nosler partition right behind the near shoulder and out in front of the off shoulder. Went down like a ton of bricks.
Upon butchering these two the story was told.
The larger buck, I lost the entire onside shoulder, all holes very blood shot.
The 45-70 buck, you could litterly eat up to the holes, no loss of meat.
Now shot placement plays in here some but I've shot others with the 45-70, hitting bones, and don't get the bloody damage like my mag does.
I won't be giving up my mag anytime soon because of where my stand is but that Marlin is just too nice not to carry any place else.
Just spouting off, gota love those big bullets. Get plenty of static in camp for carring it but they don't see the meat after the fact.
Thanks Wayne