[Riposte1]

I admit my experience is probably not the norm but I have been on hand to see 5 deer shot with a .243 (one was my son's first deer).

2 left a blood trail, but one of those thinned and quit after about 100 yards and the deer was lost (found it a long time later, but of course too late). The other one was shot again after it ran some 200 yards and did not really need to be followed up.

Of the other three, one was hit in the neck (spine) and dropped there, the other two left no trail and were only recovered days later (both were hit behind the shoulder through the lungs, though one was hit a total of 5 times, 2 hits were not good).

I shot a deer with a .223 using the 77gr BTHP ammo. It measured out exatly 300 yards. It left a small blood trail and was recovered 80 yards from the spot. This bullet struck the shoulder blade above the center line but did not break it (this bone is pretty flexible in a deer).

Can't say as I have much confidence in either round for putting deer down on the spot but they will certainly kill deer if the bullet goes in the right place.

Riposte