Posted by Brian_mo on 11/28/2007, 10:02 pm
24.208.126.116
I tagged my first deer with a muzzleloader Monday evening. As I walked out to the truck before dark I saw a doe feeding in a narrow food plot along the edge of a block of timber. Fortunatly, the wind was right and I was able to ambush her at the corner of the timber. I had a thirty yard quartering shot. I hit her through the shoulder with .54 caliber RB over 70 grains of goex. She went about 100 yards and piled up. The ball didn't completely penetrate (too much angle I guess) so there was no blood trail I could find. I took off in the direction she went and walked right to her.
When I field dressed her, I was surprised at the lack of damage to the heart and lungs compared to expanding bullets. I was also surprised by the huge amount of internal blood loss. She had to have bled out in about ten seconds or so.
Overall, I was impressed and I think I will carry this rifle for the regular firearms season next year. I learned two lessons. I believe I will raise my powder charge as high as accuracy will allow to help ensure complete penetration in case I need to blood trail the next deer. Also, when I threw my coveralls in the truck and took off after the deer, I left my reloads and equipment in the pockets of the coveralls. Good thing I didn't need a follow up shot. Need to have a bag before next season.
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