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sabot deflection?

jag
I hope this is ok to post here, you guys are very knowledgable, not sure who to ask...Just got back from opener in minnesota..1 hr into hunt a bruiser 150" comes 40 yds..put it on'm, squeeze, he takes off, thought I heard him thrashing around about 100 yds away but couldn't see. Hunt over....or so I thought...Anyway, never found him, or any blood!...just some bone frags?? Now I've shot big deer, I was very relaxed and confidant, cross hairs were steady and I'm shooting 3" at 100yds. after a day of searching, I gave up, went back to same stand and notice a branch 25 ft away has a nick in it almost like it got hit by wad, not a 1/2 moon like youd expect from a slug...so, sorry for long post, just wanted to give some background....how much could a branch, 25 ft away, 3/8" diameter, deflect a copper solid still going another 100ft? thanks for input!
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4 comments

Date Votes
  • Tailgunner1954
    A LOT.

    A "kiss" (just enough to bruse the bark) will also cause more deflection than a direct hit on the branch will.

    I've seen 150gr bullets from a 30-06 just kiss a 1/4" twig and enter the target fully sidewase. Target was only 5yd (15') beyond the twig
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  • SCOUT5
    I was using a 20ga, rifled barrel, scoped, with Remington copper solids. I have killed dozens of deer with this set up. Working my way up a finger ridge I see a doe on the next finger. I wanted one more for the freezer. I sit down, elbow on knee, very still good rest, 80 yard shot. Squeezed the trigger, she ran over the ridge, I knew she would be lying dead over there. Looked, and looked, looked some more, nothing.

    I went to the spot I shot from, put the empty hull on a tree branch. Then I hiked back over the where the does was dialed my scop up and sighted back to the empty hull. I found a tree limb, about 1 1/4" in diameter with about a 3/8" deep bullet gouge in top of it. Only thing I could come up with was it deflected the bullet enough to go over the doe's back.

    One of only 2 shots with that gun and copper solid slugs I have fired (hunting) that did not put a deer down. It happens.

    You found bone fragments but no blood, wonder where the slug hit him.
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  • jag
    thanks guys!...scouts- I was going to guess the leg, good bone with no blood...just got that confirmed!..one of the guys killed him last night, knee blown off! feel much better now instead of getting eaten by coyotes!...a little exageration too, was a 140, the side I saw had taller tines than the opposite side...
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  • Grasshopper
    quote:Originally posted by jag
    thanks guys!...scouts- I was going to guess the leg, good bone with no blood...just got that confirmed!..one of the guys killed him last night, knee blown off! feel much better now instead of getting eaten by coyotes!...a little exageration too, was a 140, the side I saw had taller tines than the opposite side...



    Yes ,glad that he was taken,,,hate to see any injured, don't find animals..[B)] Had my first 2 years ago,,though was a perfect shot,,went down and all,,,,waited to get her about 5 minutes and was gone,,blood trail for about 200 yrds. then nothing.[B)].. It happens
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