‘Middle Ground’ Culling Calibre

[TringSaint]

It’s primarily park fallow when they’re hyper aware that I see run when they’re full of adrenaline and milling.

I headshoot most of them in the park, but will take chest shots when they’re over 200M in order to get them moving in the right direction.

Others using .243s, 6.5x55, .308 etc have all found they run on when chest shot using a variety of bullets (copper and lead), but my .300 knocked them flat, which I attribute to the larger frontal area, combined with the high velocity.

Why not try hilar or low neck? Drops them on the spot

 

[rem284]

Whilst I am a man bun gun owner myself one of my mates has a 6.5-.284 and it certainly is a hard hitting round. Not nice on chest shot CWD if you want to salvage any meat but dont see many (if any) runners.

Just shoot more and throw the front end away

 

[Brave Echo Niner]

Why not try hilar or low neck? Drops them on the spot

Low neck is not really a clean killing shot, so definitely not one I’ll consider.
It will paralyse the deer, therefore dropping it, but it will likely need a follow up shot, or it is going to be conscious for a prolonged time while it expires.
The aim for me is being more humane at the expense of meat damage, not just to drop them, but have them still conscious.

Hilar is a useful tool, but gives you less margin for error in certain directions when shooting at range.

 

[Brave Echo Niner]

From the comments I’ll consider a 6.5X284 or 6.5 PRC, or perhaps going to a faster 7MM instead.

Thank you all for your input!

Ben

 

[Hambone]

.257 Weatherby Magnum ticks all the box's from what I see. Reloading is probably necessary UK (unless you like pricy ammo) but you wouldn't want it for plinking anyway. Not sure about USA ammo prices.

 

[TringSaint]

Low neck is not really a clean killing shot, so definitely not one I’ll consider.
It will paralyse the deer, therefore dropping it, but it will likely need a follow up shot, or it is going to be conscious for a prolonged time while it expires.
The aim for me is being more humane at the expense of meat damage, not just to drop them, but have them still conscious.

Hilar is a useful tool, but gives you less margin for error in certain directions when shooting at range.

Eh?
I have killed loads of deer with a low neck shot. In fact it’s my favourite aim point.
Maybe you aren’t using the right bullet, aiming in the wrong spot or expecting perfection??

 

[Brave Echo Niner]

Eh?
I have killed loads of deer with a low neck shot. In fact it’s my favourite aim point.
Maybe you aren’t using the right bullet, aiming in the wrong spot or expecting perfection??

Is it dead when it hits the ground though, like a high neck or head shot, or is it still conscious at that point. I would say the latter.

I am not alone in holding this view about low neck shots, as a very well regarded and arguably most knowledgable deer veterinarian in the country makes the same point when teaching about that shot placement.

 

[Hambone]

I have had to dispatch 3 deer (2 x roe + 1 x fallow) that dropped on the spot with low neck shots. All 3 I thought were instant death. I no longer try.

 

[VSS]

Eh?
I have killed loads of deer with a low neck shot. In fact it’s my favourite aim point.
Maybe you aren’t using the right bullet, aiming in the wrong spot or expecting perfection??

I think it's a horrible aim point. Probably the worst, imo.

 

[Stalker-of-the-deer]

If you want to put somthing down on the floor at distance i would use a 300 win mag and pin them through both shoulders. Though thats not ideal as you loose so much meat

Or, use a sensible caliber and just accept the fact that they will run a little....

Let's be honest you drill anything in the heart and lungs its not going anywhere very far or very fast...

Just my 10p

 

[Buchan]

Eh?
I have killed loads of deer with a low neck shot. In fact it’s my favourite aim point.
Maybe you aren’t using the right bullet, aiming in the wrong spot or expecting perfection??

Breaking the spine at that point will firstly paralysis, so there are better places to shoot. If your shot drifts a little low and takes out neck vessels, death will be more rapid.

 

[TringSaint]

Is it dead when it hits the ground though, like a high neck or head shot, or is it still conscious at that point. I would say the latter.

I am not alone in holding this view about low neck shots, as a very well regarded and arguably most knowledgable deer veterinarian in the country makes the same point when teaching about that shot placement.

Er, yeah! They are dead.
120gn ballistic tip smashing through the cervical spine at 2700fps, destroying all major nerves and blood vessels going to the brain kills most things.
Only deader if you take their head off.
They drop like a rock.

I will use low neck out to 200 on roe and fallow, and 150-170 on cwd.

As I say, right bullet in the right place and they fall over dead. Wrong bullet or wrong place and off they trot.

 

[TringSaint]

Breaking the spine at that point will firstly paralysis, so there are better places to shoot. If your shot drifts a little low and takes out neck vessels, death will be more rapid.

Ballistic tip sorts that out.

 

[sauer]

Yeah and youlose the saddle or a chunk of it

Don't see why you wouldn't go lower for the heart

 

[25 Sharps]

@Brave Echo Niner

Based on the performance I get from my .280 and your shortlist I would whole heartedly suggest .284 win with yew tree 124 gr HP.

 

[25 Sharps]

Plus it’ll work with your bolt face.

 

[njc110381]

If you're shooting two .30's at the moment, smaller makes sense. .257 or .264 fast would be my choice. I use a .25-06 because it's also a brilliant foxing round. I can't see a 7mm doing much your WSM can't do.

 

[75]

Ballistic tip sorts that out.

As I'm sure you're aware, ballistic tip has little to do with expansion so don't kid yourself that the little bit of plastic makes it any more suitable for the shot placement than a soft point.

 

[75]

From the comments I’ll consider a 6.5X284 or 6.5 PRC, or perhaps going to a faster 7MM instead.

Thank you all for your input!

Ben

I've shot a lot with 6.5-284 (but no where near as many as Ronin!) in a range of lead and non lead bullets. It's a lovely cartridge and it works but I can't say I notice any difference in "bang flops" over other calibres I've shot (currently running it alongside 308).

Shot placement is everything and there is no holy grail that will guarantee deer don't run.

 

[TringSaint]

As I'm sure you're aware, ballistic tip has little to do with expansion so don't kid yourself that the little bit of plastic makes it any more suitable for the shot placement than a soft point.

I would beg to differ, esp when you hit bone.
I have shot ballistic tip rounds for 15 years a found them to cause excellent damage to the spine a surrounding network of blood vessels when used in a low neck shot.
Got to stick the bullet in the right place tho!!