ORIGINAL: cayugad
Is that green part in the picture the aero tip? 9 inches into fresh cut spruce is impressive in and among itself. I wonder why people would have a hard time getting full penetration of a deer with that? Maybe they are shooting the pure lead hollow points.
I notice frontier gander was using a modest charge of 70 grains BP. Odd as it may seem, a more modest charge may help with penetration up to a point.
I bought a leftover doe tag for 444 and hunting the opening weekend of 3rd season. I hunted in dense oak brush. Too bad I didn't have a buck tag, because I had two within 20 yards. In any event, knowing the shots would be close, and wanting to finally recover a 385 GP bullet (which up to now I haven't), i sighted for a very, very, modest charge of 50 grains Goex 3f MV of 1100 fps. I was sighted dead on for 75 yards and was limiting my shots for the same distance.
Sunday evening, justas legal huntingtime was expiring, Idischarged the385 GP into a young aspen about 7" wide where I shot it.Really shook the tree but the tree did catch the bullet.I don't know how deep it went though. In any event, inside of 75 yards, I feel confident that the bullet would make the opposite side of a double lung if not pass through.