Originally Posted by
Ohiohunter76
Hi guys, So I shot my first deer with a Barnes T-EZ on Saturday. Hit her through the lungs around 20 yards, She went about 50-60 yards and down she went. I got a pass through but the bullet didn't expand at all. My question is was she too close for the bullet not to expand? I kinda confused about this. I'm shooting 100 grains of Blackhorn 209 out of a T/C Triumph. This was my first deer that I have ever shot with a muzzleloader, I just figured the Barnes would have expanded, I didn't recover the bullet but the entry and exit were the same size.
I have found over the years of ML hunting that often 'pointy tipped' bullets load with a healthy does of powder will often drive right through a thin skinned deer without expanding. Yet that same bullet many yards down range with less velocity and energy will work perfectly.
I really think the meplat of the bullet especially from a muzzleloader has a direct correlation on the results of the bullet especially at close ranges.
I would speculate if you had made that same shot with the same bullet and range but pushed the bullet through the shoulder bone it would have worked flawlessly.
All of this goes against the norm, but it certainly what I have observed.
I also would add one of the big errors in choosing a ML bullet is the bullets BC. The higher the BC the more you might see it do exactly what your bullet did.
The worst part.... it is not always consistent - sometimes it will pencil sometimes it will not....