ORIGINAL: tjacobi
First year of ML hunting for deer and we have noticed little to no blood after making good vital shots. We are all shooting T/C Triumphs with 150gr 777 and 250gr Hornady SST sabots. In most cases there would be no blood from point of impact out to 40-50 yards then very little blood until we find our deer on the ground in which there is massive blood. After shotgun hunting in Iowa for 25+ years I was very surprised at this with our M/L's. Is this common or were our results uncommon even though same experience on 3 out of 3 deer? I should mention all shots taken were within 70 yards.
Since your in Iowa ya wanna shoot long bean fields or picked corn fields, so switch to 300g SW and shoot for high in the frontshoulder. Another option is to switch to a Barnes T-EZ 290 with supplied sabot, switch to a Crushed Rib sabot if that supplied sabot is too tight in your Triumph.If ya wanna give up about30 yards (MPBR of 170), switch to a Nosler Parition 300g HG with Crushed Rib sabot.
When you gutted thedeer was the exit hole the same size as the entrance hole? When you take "behind the shoulder shots", the SW is known to not expand when it doesn't hit bone/ribs(ie between the ribs)and "pencil thru" the vitals with the same size exist hole as entrance hole, i.e.little expansion.
Best Wishes on your "bullet quest".
Chap
PS. Board, Should this go to the SW/SST Scorecard?