Deflection

[Sol]

Discovered 3 reds In an area we never see them quick ride home for the .243 and on return I was able too get a nice shoulder shot off, I wait for it too tip and It just keeps standing... and standing... and standing.

After a few minutes I close the distance and wrap around so I can take a broadside shot as It could care less about me on it, I take another shot and Its still on its feet for a good amount of time and even when walking up too it Its eyes were closed, and It had a blink reaction so yet another shot into the back of the head too truly end this situation.

on recovery I'm baffled too learn why It shook the first shot off, it completely bounced off the humerus deflecting it into the cavity and out the neck in the opening of the rib-cage where people "stick" deer too bleed, unfortunately for me and the deer whilst the shot hut it hard there wasn't nearly enough blood loss, what Is unfortunate given how close It is too the arteries for the heart.

 

[Freeforester]

Lead or copper? Asking for a friend, of course

 

[Tim.243]

Discovered 3 reds In an area we never see them quick ride home for the .243 and on return I was able too get a nice shoulder shot off, I wait for it too tip and It just keeps standing... and standing... and standing.

After a few minutes I close the distance and wrap around so I can take a broadside shot as It could care less about me on it, I take another shot and Its still on its feet for a good amount of time and even when walking up too it Its eyes were closed, and It had a blink reaction so yet another shot into the back of the head too truly end this situation.

on recovery I'm baffled too learn why It shook the first shot off, it completely bounced off the humerus deflecting it into the cavity and out the neck in the opening of the rib-cage where people "stick" deer too bleed, unfortunately for me and the deer whilst the shot hut it hard there wasn't nearly enough blood loss, what Is unfortunate given how close It is too the arteries for the heart.

If it took that to finish it without it running no greens spilt and over quite quickly then that is it.
Each deer is different, get past the why's/what's because you won't replicate the past.
You can only do your best and from what you wrote nothing else much to change.

 

[Mike1979]

At least you finished it off which is the main thing. I personally prefer not to use the .243 on the larger species after I had a deflection (and that was on a roe).

 

[homer]

Discovered 3 reds In an area we never see them quick ride home for the .243 and on return I was able too get a nice shoulder shot off, I wait for it too tip and It just keeps standing... and standing... and standing.

After a few minutes I close the distance and wrap around so I can take a broadside shot as It could care less about me on it, I take another shot and Its still on its feet for a good amount of time and even when walking up too it Its eyes were closed, and It had a blink reaction so yet another shot into the back of the head too truly end this situation.

on recovery I'm baffled too learn why It shook the first shot off, it completely bounced off the humerus deflecting it into the cavity and out the neck in the opening of the rib-cage where people "stick" deer too bleed, unfortunately for me and the deer whilst the shot hut it hard there wasn't nearly enough blood loss, what Is unfortunate given how close It is too the arteries for the heart.

Bullets can do some strange things when they hit deer. Every now and then you'll see a result that make you question what on earth happened. Dont dwell on it, just carry on.

 

[Sol]

Lead or copper? Asking for a friend, of course

Lead! surprisingly, Its certainly something I would associate more with copper, especially on a sub 100yd shot on (originally) non-nervous deer.

 

[Sol]

At least you finished it off which is the main thing. I personally prefer not to use the .243 on the larger species after I had a deflection (and that was on a roe).

Bullets do weird things when the least you expect them too I supose, at least this makes a bit of sense the humerus Is a strong bone but on a roe Is wild.

I've never really heard any issues with .243 on reds locally but I'm aware its overall renowned as a cartridge that's "enough" too kill but not a lot of margin of error either, same time 270+ Is a pretty big gun for them too, however with the lead ban I feel like I would be more and more less likely too attempt too use a .243

 

[Tim.243]

I cant say I've had or heard of much issues of a 243 on reds locally, however It definitely hammers into me that with the lead ban I dont think I would risk copper out of a .243 the bone isn't even shattered, I'll inspect it when butchering and i'll post it.

Sol, ignore that .243 comment as the old wives tales will mess with your head, just keep plugging away.

 

[Selous]

I had a red stand and wobble for a few seconds with a top of heart/lung shot with a 30-06 yesterday evening. It didn’t take a step but it stood for much longer than expected, 5-10 seconds. It happens but I suspect less commonly with larger calibres.

 

[Norfolk Deer Search]

Once the bullet leaves the barrel of a rifle, you are in a chain of events that you have NO control over!

One of those things, you got the animal, nothings lost so happy days.

 

[Norfolk Deer Search]

I’ve seen a stag shot with a 300 RUM 200gn Sierra gameking and it took bullet and walked off like it was an inconvenience.

We did get it on the second shot, like said bullets to funny things.

 

[VSS]

Sounds like you handled the situation well.
As others have said, don't dwell on it. Put it down to one of those strange anomalies, and move on.

 

[Sheamus]

Had a guy out with me a number of years ago armed with a custom built 243.
Walked him 80 yards into two Stags. He shot both broadside one after another within seconds.
I dispatched both with his gun several minutes later.
I retrieved one bullet out of the offside lung in the one stag.
The other was a complete pass through. Both were double lung shots leaving tiny poxy holes.
No where near enough trauma caused to vital organs to stop them..

 

[Sheamus]

Sounds like you handled the situation well.
As others have said, don't dwell on it. Put it down to one of those strange anomalies, and move on.

The Welsh Oricle loves a bit of a$$ kissing don't you
It doesn't sound like a well handled or thought out situation to me. In fact far from it.
Why choose a shoulder shot that could potentially hit heavy bone??
When other alternative shot placements are available??
Especially with a light calibre projectile?
To me it sounds like a rushed ill thought out target engagement..
Luckily it ended well this time..

 

[Norfolk Deer Search]

I’ve seen a lot of big lowland stags shot with a 243, but as @Sheamus says it all comes down to placement!

 

[andyk]

Least reaction I’ve had to shots was with my 30-06 on some staggies. Shot 3 from a group and non seemed too concerned for a while before finally collapsing.

That was with Sako hammerhead bullets that are very hard.

If it keeps happening, then worth thinking about but otherwise don’t sweat it, sometimes weird stuff just happens. Dwell on it too much and you start to doubt yourself, which is when the real screw ups happen.

 

[VSS]

The Welsh Oricle loves a bit of a$$ kissing don't you
It doesn't sound like a well handled or thought out situation to me. In fact far from it.
Why choose a shoulder shot that could potentially hit heavy bone??
When other alternative shot placements are available??
Especially with a light calibre projectile?
To me it sounds like a rushed ill thought out target engagement..
Luckily it ended well this time..

Why don't you just back off, you miserable little tick?

Everyone has to start somewhere, and learn by overcoming situations such as the one that Sol found herself in.
For a young lass with some physical limitations I think she's doing fantastically well for herself getting started in the deer world against all the odds, and a bit of encouragement goes a long way.

She certainly doesn't need someone like you pi$$ing on her chips, when what she needed was reassurance.
So just shut up.

 

[Heym SR20]

With the 243, especially with lead bullets, in particular the RWS 100gn you need to avoid the big fore leg bones especially on the way in. This will have prevented the bullet penetrating through all the nerves and heart and lung etc. if you had put the bullet two inches further back I suspect the result would have been different.

I must admit, that I turned away from the 243 on bigger deer for the above reason, but given the penetrating ability of monolithics I now have no issue of shooting reds with them.

However Reds are big beasts, and stags in particular are very much bigger than Roe and Fallow. I have Red stags with 7mm both lead and copper just stand there after the shot as if nothing has happened and after what feels like and age fall over dead. On later examination heart and main aorta are all damaged and leaking blood, but they are big animals and it takes longer for blood pressure to drop.

Edit, my favourite shot on bigger deer is when their head is facing to the right but they are quartering away. Shoot fir the front edge of farside shoulder plate about half way up - the bullet will go behind the nearside shoulder and going through the lungs, heart and all the major blood vessels and nerves and will often the front of the spine a good smack as well. This usually drops the beast on the spot. If you go a little bit back you go straight through the liver as well (which causes massive bleed).

Going on the left hand side, the rumen often pushes a lot further forward into the diaphragm and rumens are quite good at stopping bullets and there is little in they way of major blood vessels.

Also a good look at the HILAR shot position- you want to be shooting half way up but in front of the foreleg.

Red are quite different in shape to Roe, with the front legs almost looking as if they are bit further back. With Roe it doesn’t matter - just go up the front leg and squeeze trigger. With reds you need to a bit further forward of tye leg bones.

 

[Mickeydredd]

With the 243, especially with lead bullets, in particular the RWS 100gn you need to avoid the big fore leg bones especially on the way in. This will have prevented the bullet penetrating through all the nerves and heart and lung etc. if you had put the bullet two inches further back I suspect the result would have been different.

I’ve shot two decent size Red stags in the last couple of years with the 25-06 like this and both dropped to shot…then 10 seconds later they have got up and trotted off like nothing had happened.

I always try to get in close and use the head/neck shot on stags. I’ve found that even with a perfect heart shot the 120g Federal bullet from this calibre rarely exits.

This nice young lad was shot around the atlas joint from behind on Sunday, dropped on the spot and lights out!

 

[Sheamus]

Why don't you just back off, you miserable little tick?

Everyone has to start somewhere, and learn by overcoming situations such as the one that Sol found herself in.
For a young lass with some physical limitations I think she's doing fantastically well for herself getting started in the deer world against all the odds, and a bit of encouragement goes a long way.

She certainly doesn't need someone like you pi$$ing on her chips, when what she needed was reassurance.
So just shut up.

The truth often offends the weak minded and I shall never back off from it..
The young lass will take it as constructive criticism and carry on moving forward.
Without doubt i can bring the best out of the Welsh Oricle thats for sure