FOr me, last saturday was the start for my favorite season. Crop damage permit season.
Shot two deer, 1 @ 75 yards and 1 @ 275 yards.
The 75 yard shot was a chip shot and pretty much had the result that one would think.Dead on the shot. I used a Speer 260 grain HP reload. Shot was thru and thru with the entrance wound literally the size of a copenhagen can, centered on the shoulder. Exit wound was about an inch in diameter with multiple "shrapnel" exit wounds. Lots of damage, and not what Id consider for a hunting round where saving as much meat as possible is a consideration.
Second deer went about 50 yards, but I dont know how. Bullet placement was a little high and a behind the shoulder, but being that the deer as downhill and quartering away, I dont know what I could have done better. The factory bullet made about a 2 inch entrance wound and was beneath the skin on the offside and was picture perfect.
All in all, I am happy with the results, dead is dead. But, I im still lookin for reloads that are as accurate out of my rifle as the factory stuff. Truth be told I was using reloads for short range shots and the Ftx factory stuff for Long range, as they lend themselves very well to the BDC reticle on the nikon scope I put on my gun about a month ago.
One thing is for sure, I will have a camera next time, and I plan on trying partitions, and barnes bullets as well. Personally, I think its kind of a moot point, as I cant see how too many bullets wouldnt yield similar results.