Haven't updated my thread in a while so I thought I would! Didn't want to post my mistakes, but I will!
Well to say I had a good Wyoming hunt (2014), I'd be lying! I thought I was ready, but I wasn't. I used all the tools I had and couldn't connect. It was a real eye opener and I questioned myself as a shooter.
Two different deer, two different days, both at 850. The first deer I fired at was 4 shots. I had a rock solid rest, rear bag, level was level, no wind that I could tell, but it was very calm. First shot he hunched up, ran about 20 yards and stood there with his head down staring, I was thinking he was gonna tip over. Nope! On the forth shot, he went *** over tin cups, feet in the air, white belly showing! I look through my spotter, he is laying there with his head up! ***! He gets up, hops the fence. I gave him two hours and then went on the trail. Get over the bank, looking around, flush him out and couldn't shoot. He runs all of 1000+ yards and stops on the side hill. Crack!!!! Another guy in camp shoots him. It is what it is, the deers still on his feet, he's fair game in my eyes. Plus he would have went on the neighbors property anyway and might not have seen him again. The guy that got him is good people, so I'm ok with that. So trying to tell my hunting partners I hit him, they called BS. They are not LR fans! Well while skinning the deer, a bullet hole was discovered! Right in the neck! (I got a picture). It passed between his vertebrae and his wind pipe! No expansion! I'm not real happy at this point, taking **** from others.
Next day, another buck, bigger probably 150". Same thing, rest, rear bag, solid, calm, I was relaxed. Two shots later, no deer. Went and looked, I ended up jumping the deer, runs 1000+ yards, no signs of being hit, began feeding, then lays down. Next day, waiting to see if he comes back, he didn't. Went over to the property line and scanned the neighbors fields. I see him up and feeding! So I feel better about that I guess!
I ended up shooting a scrub 11 point at 75 yards, he might go 100-120" if that.
I dunno........... I'm going back to the range and recheck the gun. I did shoot when I got there! I shot a playing card at 500 yards and was about .5" off from the club, in the 2 of clubs. Sorry to rant.
I did end up talking to Berger, they sent me a new box of bullets to try!!!