Oledaswede

I'm getting tired of losing meat on deer due to the extended
Damage that my .270 & .243 do on well placed shots. Hits in
the cage end up with bloodshot shoulders or back straps. As
I'm a meat hunter, I'm not happy about it. Years ago I used
.32WSP, 30/30, & 30-06 and don't remember such damage.
My question is, is a 308 any better than .270 & .243 for collateral
damage?

Topgun 3006

No! If you're putting the proper bullet from those calibers through the ribs to take out the lungs there should be very little, if any, collateral damage like you mentioned. What bullets are you using in the .243 and .270 that are causing so much damage?

Champlain Islander

I agree with TG. Do a high center shot and no matter what you hit them with they go down but lots of shoulder meat will be ruined. The perfect archery type hit in the lungs or heart will not ruin anything.

Bullcamp82834

* Stay away from the high velocity rounds.

OR

* Place your shots where they won't bloodshot much usable meat. (as previously noted)

There......problem solved.

Oledaswede

Remington core lokt, & I am putting it where it should be, although sometimes there is a slight angle. And I've killed a lot of deer.

Oledaswede

Oh, & 150 grain in 270 & 100 grain in 243

Bullcamp82834

The best deer killer I ever used that wouldn't ruin a quarter if you happened to put a bullet through was the 35 Whelen using 250 grain CoreLokts. 2400fps. Enough velocity to go 300 if you have to.

salukipv1

consider the Barnes TSX bullets, high weight retention, they expand but don't seem to "blow up" upon impact and punch straight through in many instances.

Champlain Islander

I agree and have been using that bullet for both deer and elk for quite a few years. I always got factory loads from Federal in their vital shok line. Now Barnes was bought by Remington so Federal doesn't offer them. I have a few boxes left but will have to try out other loads to find a replacement.

nchawkeye

Any caliber adequate for deer will cause meat damage to the off side if the angle is right...Bullets into backstraps are caused by shots that were too high though...

Neck shots cause less meat damage if done properly...If meat hunting simply wait for a perfectly broadside shot and keep the bullet in the lower third of the deer...

Nosler Partitions will give you less meat damage but the deer will travel farther than those hit with CoreLokts on lung shots...