First hunt of the new season

[Ron M.]

My brother and his family joined the boss lady and I at the family cabin, for the first deer hunt of the year. Hanna, my niece got a nice buck, Howard, my brother got a doe as did my wife Susan. I got this fella this late afternoon.



Nice healthy spike, perfect for meat. I got a 90lb hog last night, going to grind some venison and pork for sausage tomorrow evening when I get home. The smoker will be busy over Thanksgiving making sausage, bacon, and jerky.

[Franz Maurer]

Great, now do tell what guns were used, what calibers, what bullet types, at what distance, were the bullets recovered?, did they expand nicely or fragment? were the wound tracks remarkable or meat damage acceptable ?
there's noting on your picture to indicate shot placement
were you aiming for the left eye with a frangible ?
 

[Ron M.]

The Spike I shot was taken with a Howa 1500 243. I used a hand loaded Hornady 95gr SST. The bullet stopped against the offside skin retained about 1/2 its weight. The shot hit just in front of the shoulder and destroyed the lungs. Very little meat loss and the deer went about 10 yards before dropping. My wife got her doe with a Ruger M77 in 7-08 using a hand loaded 140gr  Barnes TTSX, the bullet passed through and wasn't found. She basically blew up the heart on her deer, typical heart shot the deer jumped and ran about 30 yards then dropped. 

Howard always uses a 30-06 and Hanna used a 243. I didn't see the shots, but both deer were lung shots and didn't go far. The 30-06 was a pass through and the 243 ws one of my loads and preformed the same as my shot.

[Franz Maurer]

That is splendid !
Thanks for the details.
Here in occupied kalifornia the oppressors will soon completely limit us to lead free only projectiles so it's good to hear the 30 caliber ttsx performed well with penetration to spare.
The impending restrictions on online ammo purchases starting new year and following background checks and fees for loaded ammunition will make it very difficult and costly to be compliant which is exactly the intent.
I have yet to see a single local store stock any lead free comm block calibers and even just tsx bullets in .310 or .311 diameters. The noose keeps tightening and the timid remain mostly oblivious.
I am stocked with lead free in 270win for immediate needs until I gather more experience in reloading the 'odder' calibers with lead free goodness.

[Ron M.]

Got this dude right at sunrise Saturday, 120 yard shot with the same 243 as the spike, bullet went through both shoulders and stopped just under the offside hide. Bang/flop type shot, he didn't take a step after the hit. I'm done for the season, the wife wants to keep trying for a good buck. My son and his wife both got does this morning and plan to try for a buck this evening if the weather holds.