13pointjomc

iSnipe will straighten this out!hahaha

2feathers

For years I used a 30/06 and Hornady 150gr BTSP. All were lung & heart shots on deer and they all went 30 to 70 yds.
The last 2 deer I shot with a .243 and Sierra 85gr HP bullets and they didn't go more than a step or two.These were both lung shots.
My belief, in this case, is the smaller bullets expend all of their energy inside the deer more efficiently.
To me, using more powerful guns gives you more penetration and more meat damage on deer, but doesn't necessarily kill any more efficiently.

DANTHEHUNTER

I like short range shots like these to be with my 45/70. That old boy is just awesome,any farther and it will be my .270wsm-or .300wm.I just cant tell you how great the 45/70 is at deer killing,it is like the old 30/30 they just work.

ths78

I've used buckshot, slug, 44Mag, 30-30, 45-70, 308, 30-06, 270, 7Mag, 8mm, and ML. Deer seldom fall DRT, and usually run 30-50 yards. Soft points seem to kill the fastest in each of these, although I really like the SSTs as well. NosParts and BSTs kill well, but deer usually run the farthest with them. Additionally, deer usually run about 20 yards before they begin to bleed well with any bullet for me, whether the shot hit the shoulder or lungs. Low body shots and heart shots bleed out more quickly. Deer shot with a 30-30 run the same distance as other calibers, but hardly ever leave a good blood trail. If I hunt an area where i know shots will be no more than 50 yards, I usually grab my slug gun, 45-70, or 44 mag pistol. For stands where my shots can range out to 125 yds or so, I almost always use my 308. for bean fields I use a 30-06 or 270 most often, and occasionally a 7mag.

Teach Deer

From what I have read here, hunters seem to be getting very different results in the same situation, but that seems to answer the question itself.

As for my experience...
.270 Winchester (130-150 grain): deer have traveled 30 yards after the shot, consistently (two rare exceptions: one DRT, and one that traveled over 150 yards, little blood trail, big 8 point buck)

.30-06 Sprg (150-180 grain): deer have traveled about 15 yards after the shot, but with a few DRTs (Nosler Partition).

.308 Winchester (150 grain): deer have traveled about 30-45 yards after the shot, no DRTs

7mm RM (150-160 grain): with one exception (a gut shot at 275 yards that went 10 yards and a basketball sized exit wound), all have been DRT. Prefer Winchester BST for accuracy (1/2 MOA). Most destructive was Federal Premium 160 Nosler Partitions (literally blew the deer in two halves held together by a bit of skin)...I hunt with a 7mm RM but it is extremely destructive.

zrexpilot

.22 hornert, 23 deer and hogs and hogs with it, all DRT ! one complete miss
45 gr hollow points and one 50 gr BT.
Shot placement !

.243 cant remeber all but around 200 deer and hogs. 70% DRT the others anywhere from 10 to 100 yd sprint.

3 with the 7-08 1 DRT
2 sprinted about 30 yds.