A few years back I picked up a Rem 788 in .243 at a gun auction. I got it for my daughter and son to start deer hunting with. I put a 3 to 9 scope on it and got a couple boxes of 100 gr. Federal shells and headed for the range. What a pleasent little gun to shoot. And very nice groups to boot. I had a mule deer doe permit and desided to break in the .243. I hit her well in the chest and she walked off toward some bush so I hit her again. She went down dead but there was no blood trail at all in the snow. Then my daughter shot a whitetail doe and the it only went about 50 yds. and was dead. But no blood trail and we had a bit of a time finding it. Then I shot a nice whitetail buck (they are big bodied in Alberta just like Sask. as Skeeter pointed out) He only went about 60 yds. but I did not find him till two days later. No blood trail or sign of a fit at the place he was shot.

I have since talked to a friend that suggested I use Nosler partition bullets for better results. Thats what the kids are hunting with now and we will see if they work better.

I usually use a .264 win. mag. and have never lost an animal or had much trouble finding a shot critter.

Robin.