AUSTRALIA: When You're Under-gunned But Bullet Placement Is Everything...

[Badboymelvin]

Hey guys,
It's been a while since I posted on here due to work commitments so I thought as my first post back in a while, I'd kick it off with a hunt report
The other week saw myself in the bush hunting the elusive Sambar deer.
I had found myself a nice spot overlooking a clearing and instead of my usual approach of trying to stalk them, I sat and waited to see if anything wandered in the clearing.
I waited for a couple of hours and it was ending up being a quiet morning with no Sambar spotted - but I didn't mind as it was just great to be back out hunting.
Just as I thought nothing was going to happen, suddenly a herd of Fallow appeared from the thick scrub.
They wandered behind some bush temporarily out of view, but as they didn't know I was here and they weren't spooked I assumed they would just casually walk out the other end in a short time.
I assumed right and in about 10min they slowly appeared from the other side of the scrub not the slightest bit alarmed.
As I'd seen no other deer all morning, I decided to bag a Fallow.
I left my spot and quietly stalked to about 80m from the feeding herd and picked one out that was feeding out on its own.
As I took aim, my deer suddenly looked up and saw me. I quickly fired and temporarily lost sight of it under the recoil but the shot felt good as I reloaded.
On this hunt I was using my Zastava M70 in .458 Winchester Magnum stoked with the 450gn Woodleigh Hydro that I was trailing for NT Firearms Gove.
These hydro's had a chronographed MV of 2300fps and were a formidable load.
As I walked towards where I had last seen the deer I was looking for a sign of a hit - and I quickly found it.
On the ground was a big patch of hair and as I walked a couple of steps past this patch I quickly saw the downed deer.
It had travelled approximately 10m before expiring.
I had hit the deer not quite centre of the chest and not surprising to anyone the bullet exited, just behind the ribs.
One thing that was interesting was between the entry and exit holes, the hair was missing along the path of the bullet. I had never seen this before.
So, in the end while it didn't end up being much of test of the bullet, it was an enjoyable hunt and I left with plenty of fresh venison for the freezer.
Cheers,
Russ

 

[crs]

I shoot Fallow here in Texas occasionally for meat, but last week it was Blackbuck, also for meat. My first shot at game with my 45-90 rifle and I nailed it at 100 yards. Big gun, little target, but very good eating meat.
Oh yes, my son shot two with his .308.
Since BBM showed a picture of his ammo, so will I:
Oopsie - damn pic hosting site on Cloudfare network failed.

45.90 (.458 2.4) cartridge with North Fork 350 SS at close to 2200 fps.

Will know velocity for sure soon as son just bought a barrel mounted chrony we can shoot at the rifle range.

 

[Wyatt Smith]

I would hate too see you over-gunned. The missing hair has me as confused as you.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Hey guys,

It's been a while since I posted on here due to work commitments so I thought as my first post back in a while, I'd kick it off with a hunt report

The other week saw myself in the bush hunting the elusive Sambar deer.
I had found myself a nice spot overlooking a clearing and instead of my usual approach of trying to stalk them, I sat and waited to see if anything wandered in the clearing.

I waited for a couple of hours and it was ending up being a quiet morning with no Sambar spotted - but I didn't mind as it was just great to be back out hunting.

Just as I thought nothing was going to happen, suddenly a herd of Fallow appeared from the thick scrub.
They wandered behind some bush temporarily out of view, but as they didn't know I was here and they weren't spooked I assumed they would just casually walk out the other end in a short time.
I assumed right and in about 10min they slowly appeared from the other side of the scrub not the slightest bit alarmed.

As I'd seen no other deer all morning, I decided to bag a Fallow.
I left my spot and quietly stalked to about 80m from the feeding herd and picked one out that was feeding out on its own.
As I took aim, my deer suddenly looked up and saw me. I quickly fired and temporarily lost sight of it under the recoil but the shot felt good as I reloaded.

On this hunt I was using my Zastava M70 in .458 Winchester Magnum stoked with the 450gn Woodleigh Hydro that I was trailing for NT Firearms Gove.
These hydro's had a chronographed MV of 2300fps and were a formidable load.

As I walked towards where I had last seen the deer I was looking for a sign of a hit - and I quickly found it.
On the ground was a big patch of hair and as I walked a couple of steps past this patch I quickly saw the downed deer.
It had travelled approximately 10m before expiring.

I had hit the deer not quite centre of the chest and not surprising to anyone the bullet exited, just behind the ribs.
One thing that was interesting was between the entry and exit holes, the hair was missing along the path of the bullet. I had never seen this before.

So, in the end while it didn't end up being much of test of the bullet, it was an enjoyable hunt and I left with plenty of fresh venison for the freezer.

Cheers,

Russ

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@Badboymelvin
Russ a bit over gunned in an understatement but dead is dead. That's brilliant performance from the hydro but what were the internals like.
I was thinking of trying the hydros in the Whelen at 2,900fps on scrub bulls but I chose the 310gn Woodleigh RNSP.
Bob