Hi all,

What started off as a very slow hunting season has progressively picked up lately. This cooler weather seems to be helping. Here's what I've done so far,

50 Caliber T/C Black Diamond - 3 Deer ( 8 point, 2 does)
54 Caliber T/C Fire Hawk - 1 Deer (6 point )

Not too bad for public land in Georgia. However, I'm having issues with my bullets and wanted to get your thoughts.

I shoot 250 grain Shockwaves with a 100 grain charge out of my black diamond. Of the three deer i've killed, 1 dropped instantly, but the other two ran almost 80 - 100 yards and didn't leave a blood trail. Both shots were lung hits, but the deer didn't bleed. This seems to be consisant with others I've talked to. My uncle lost a nice 8 point last weekend when it didn't bleed. He found it two days later after the coyotes had thier meal.

Someone told me I need to up my powder charge so the bullet will reach the velocity it was designed for, but I really don't want to do this if I don't have to.

Has anyone else had any problems with the shockwave or thoughts that might help me resolve my problem.

one of my brother-in-laws has the black d.and he shoots the same bullet with 3 50gr pellets.I was in the shooting house with him and watched him shoot a 150 pound buck at 50 yards he hit it through both shoulders and it hit the ground hard stone dead.The next day one about a 130 pounds came out in the field at 250 yards he waited for a broad side shot when the bullet hit him it bucked and ran i said you hit him good we got down and went to where he was standing there was some hair and a chunk of meat but no blood we followed his tracks about 20 yards and started finding lung blood he went about 70 yards into a pinestand and went down .The bullet hit right behind the shoulder and went through to the skin on the other side,he was pudding on the inside,and the bullet mushroomed perfect.His brother changed to powerbelts and gave him the bullets and sabots he had left they were the 44 ca xtp 240 gr or close to that with the green sabots he tried them with the 3 pellets and it tore the sabots to shreds he droped back to 2 pellets and they done fine but only out to 120 yards .

I have had that problem in the past, light bullet weight. Pistol bullets used in sabots for ML's need the weight for better penetration. I use 300gr. & get pass through hits on deer.

I agree with smokepolehall. Think about this, most jacketed .45cal bullets are designed with the .45ACP round in mind - with a muzzle velocity of 900fps. Your load HAS to be going close to 1900fps. That kind of difference can either punch the bullet through with minimal damage or shatter it inside the body cavity with little hole for blood to drip.

A heavier bullet will carry MUCH more impact energy with a lower velocity, allowing the bullet to perform closer to it's design AND create more shock to the quarry. Personally, I prefer the heavier all lead bullets like those made by Precision Rifle . Those have performed in an outstanding manner for all my needs.

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Why did you buy a poly-tip, copper-clad rifle style bullet designed for high speeds and bigger game -- then use it on smaller, thin-skinned whitetails with only non-magnum velocities? Add a 30-grain pellet or pull the aero-tip off the Shockwave before loading it. That should alleviate to a large degree your lack of blood/lack of expansion problem.

What should I do? I'm shooting the same bullet and charge (250gr S.W. 2 50gr 777 pellets) out of an Encore Katadhin. The Katadhin is the 20 inch carbine barrel. I like the accuracy I'm getting with this set up but now you have me wondering about how well it will work on the kill. Our M/L season doesn't open until after Christmas so I don't know. Not only am I new to this forum Iam also new to M/L. Any help is appreciated.

Bow Didly,

If you've already worked this load up - I don't see a reason to change it until you see how it performs for you on game. If your really worried, try the 300gr version of the Shockwaves/SSTs....................they'll carry more energy into your prey.