?? Wonder if I made a bad choice

[adam32+P]

Sounds like you just plain missed. It happens to everyone.

 

[7sand8s]

Sounds like you just plain missed. It happens to everyone.

No I didn't

 

[LVJ76]

Are you sure? Typically the issue with target bullets is over expansion due to jackets being too soft.

I would guess you double shouldered him due to wind and it didn't exit. Entrance wounds rarely bleed much. Is that possible?

The known issue with Bergers target bullets is lack of expansion especially if the hollow tip is not unclogged.

Even on Hunting bullets you have to clear the tip just in case. As @B-LOT Banga mentioned, some drill open the tips to ensure expansion

Some tipped bullets do over expand or fragment, especially at magnum velocities

 

[7sand8s]

I think you have a dead deer out there.

A 210 HVLD vs a 208 LRHT...not buying it. I don't think the bullet failed. Lots of folks claim no blood on a Berger, but get to watch the animal die in their site.

Crazy things happen when you get stung by a bee and don't know it. OR you just grazed him enough to spin him around and not put him down.

I don't think I missed and didn't graze him. It's a transmission line for power company. He ran back 20yrds and disappeared into the thicket. But no blood at POI and within the first 30-40 yrds in the woods. I haven't looked any farther. Waiting on a dog that is trained in this stuff

 

[Shane Lindsey]

In the "beginning" all Berger bullets had thinner jackets. They noticed they were having a hard time in matches heating up in the chambers too long. They re-named them to the hunting bullet and made thicker jackets for the match bullets.

History of the Match Grade Berger Hunting VLD

The story of the Berger Hunting VLD is a story of discovery rather than design. The VLD bullet design was created by Ballistician Bill Davis during a project that also involved Dr. Lou Palmisano and Ferris Pindell of PPC fame. Bill’s goal was to produce a bullet design that performed better in...

bergerbullets.com

 

[Shane Lindsey]

I don't think I missed and didn't graze him. It's a transmission line for power company. He ran back 20yrds and disappeared into the thicket. But no blood at POI and within the first 30-40 yrds in the woods. I haven't looked any farther. Waiting on a dog that is trained in this stuff

So you only looked 40 yards from the point where the animal was last seen?

 

[7sand8s]

So you only looked 40 yards from the point where the animal was last seen?

50-60max….didn't want to stink it up for the dog…this isn't a wide open prairie…it full of cat briars and green briars and swamp land

 

[Muddyboots]

I shot a nice buck Thanksgiving morning with .270 with 156HH that is a laser if you follow this rifle. The buck did not bronco kick, no hunch up, no nothing. Just hit full throttle and went out of sight 200 yards into hedgerow. Took a while to actually find impact point but only after I used my rangefinder to shoot back at my sitting position. This allowed me to get into area of impact and was able then find track then blood about 25 yards from impact. End of story. Deer can go amazing distances with heart ripped off inside, lungs turned to goop. Even if it penciled through which not likely with that bullet, I would use rangefinder to re-verify last known standing accurately, and then follow observed path into cover. You may not even find blood right up to dead deer. But if you have good spot of last sight, you should follow the same direction for at least 250 yards or more.

 

[LVJ76]

I shot a nice buck Thanksgiving morning with .270 with 156HH that is a laser if you follow this rifle. The buck did not bronco kick, no hunch up, no nothing. Just hit full throttle and went out of sight 200 yards into hedgerow. Took a while to actually find impact point but only after I used my rangefinder to shoot back at my sitting position. This allowed me to get into area of impact and was able then find track then blood about 25 yards from impact. End of story. Deer can go amazing distances with heart ripped off inside, lungs turned to goop. Even if it penciled through which not likely with that bullet, I would use rangefinder to re-verify last known standing accurately, and then follow observed path into cover. You may not even find blood right up to dead deer. But if you have good spot of last sight, you should follow the same direction for at least 250 yards or more.

Agreed, if hit that deer is dead.

 

[7sand8s]

I shot a nice buck Thanksgiving morning with .270 with 156HH that is a laser if you follow this rifle. The buck did not bronco kick, no hunch up, no nothing. Just hit full throttle and went out of sight 200 yards into hedgerow. Took a while to actually find impact point but only after I used my rangefinder to shoot back at my sitting position. This allowed me to get into area of impact and was able then find track then blood about 25 yards from impact. End of story. Deer can go amazing distances with heart ripped off inside, lungs turned to goop. Even if it penciled through which not likely with that bullet, I would use rangefinder to re-verify last known standing accurately, and then follow observed path into cover. You may not even find blood right up to dead deer. But if you have good spot of last sight, you should follow the same direction for at least 250 yards or more.

I know exactly where he was standing, it was on my corn pile.

 

[Shane Lindsey]

50-60max….didn't want to stink it up for the dog…this isn't a wide open prairie…it full of cat briars and green briars and swamp land

Take the flagging tape..

My son shot a buck at like 3 yards from the blind last year with his bow. Great blood...then it stopped.

Deer was shot by my buddy during the last few weeks of season...Limping across the road...

Things happen in the world of hunting...

 

[7sand8s]

Take the flagging tape..

My son shot a buck at like 3 yards from the blind last year with his bow. Great blood...then it stopped.

Deer was shot by my buddy during the last few weeks of season...Limping across the road...

Things happen in the world of hunting...

This wasn't a bow shot

 

[HeadedWest]

I normally shoot Hornady ELDX 200gr. I was out of those and couldn't find any at all…my buddy the shoots long range recommended the bullets I have pictured BERGER 208gr long range hybrid…I bought them and found a good load for my gun. I shoot deer out to 500 so I'm puzzled at the shot I took with this new ammo. Deer was perfectly broadside 290yrds…I was in box stand using bags. Made what thought was a perfect shot. Deer ran off. I haven't found one ounce of blood anywhere. Did I make the wrong choice in bullet? Should I not shoot these at deer?

If you double lunged him, didn't see any blood, he might went 40 yards and piled up. That's was my experience with two deer, in two days, back to back out in Montana.. After them experiences, and learning that the berger hunting bullet were thin skinned, I stopped using them. Pick your own poison . Vaccine or no vaccine . We are all mortal, except our souls.

 

[7sand8s]

If you double lunged him, didn't see any blood, he might went 40 yards and piled up. That's was my experience with two deer in two days out in back to back out in Montana.. After that and finding out that the berger hunting bullet were thin skinned, I stopped using them. Pick your own poison . Vaccine or no vaccine . We are all mortal except the souls.

Are you saying you had no blood with yours either?