My wife and I both shoot core-loks in our 270 win and 308. The last two deer we shot had to be tracked for 100 yards with little or no blood trail. I accuse her of shooting blood less bullets. I want to try something else.
Deer loads/ blood trails advise.
- Thread starter Allen Roberts
- Start date
There are a lots of other bullets that will work well & not so well like your experience. The biggest factor IMHO for short blood trails will be shot placement. CNS shot placement = DRT. Master the high shoulder & DRT will be the norm.
Nothing wrong with the core lock offerings. Just adjust your shot placment. Research the vital V & the high shoulder shot.
If you insist on shooting the deer further back a Nosler Ballistic tip may Achieve your goal due to massive energy dump ( hydrostatic shock) at impact.
Lots of ways to go. My personal preference will be a controlled expansion copper or Gilding metal projectile.
Nothing wrong with the core lock offerings. Just adjust your shot placment. Research the vital V & the high shoulder shot.
If you insist on shooting the deer further back a Nosler Ballistic tip may Achieve your goal due to massive energy dump ( hydrostatic shock) at impact.
Lots of ways to go. My personal preference will be a controlled expansion copper or Gilding metal projectile.
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Downeast
Gold $$ Contributor
Like @SD guy said.
High shoulder shot. Hitting behind the shoulder into the heart/lung area will kill them but on many occasions not right then. My goal is to see a white belly laying on the ground after the shot. Hit at the point of the shoulder. That will severe/damage the spine. Hit low and you will hit the top of the heart and the lungs. Either way the deer will go down. I've never seen a deer run with two broken shoulders but have seen them drag their hind quarters. If you can get away with it a solid neck shot will put them down too.
I hunt in coastal NC where we have thick cutovers and swamps. Let a deer run 50 yards into a cutover full of logging debris and briars and you may never find it.
And my go-to bullet has always been Nosler Ballistic Tips. I want to see daylight through the hole.
High shoulder shot. Hitting behind the shoulder into the heart/lung area will kill them but on many occasions not right then. My goal is to see a white belly laying on the ground after the shot. Hit at the point of the shoulder. That will severe/damage the spine. Hit low and you will hit the top of the heart and the lungs. Either way the deer will go down. I've never seen a deer run with two broken shoulders but have seen them drag their hind quarters. If you can get away with it a solid neck shot will put them down too.
I hunt in coastal NC where we have thick cutovers and swamps. Let a deer run 50 yards into a cutover full of logging debris and briars and you may never find it.
And my go-to bullet has always been Nosler Ballistic Tips. I want to see daylight through the hole.
Gary in MD
Gold $$ Contributor
Yup, high shoulder usually drops them in place. Maybe, you lose a little shoulder meat, but the deer is dead right there. The fastest kills, other than shoulder shots, has been with more fragile bullets. Ballistic tips will be tough to beat, I've had great results with them, Bergers, & Sierras.
Accubonds is your friend...
long40shot
Gold $$ Contributor
I would not give up on the Core-lock. Like the others have said i would adjust your shot placement. Also, if your schedule allows, get out and practice a little more. Being said all that, Hornady SSTs are a fine deer bullet too.
i've had good luck with core lock bullets
What is the normal range that you are shooting? Are you shooting from a stand? Are you shooting with a rest? Do you have scopes on your rifles?
I'm with everyone here that says that the core-lock is not your problem. You should concentrate on shot placement.
I'm not in favor of the high shoulder shot. Too much chance of creating a mess. I would prefer a neck shot, and if the yardage is under say 150 yds..
make it as close to the head as possible.
You should practice being able to place a bullet within 1" of point of aim at the range you are shooting deer. Remember, "aim small, miss small".
I'm with everyone here that says that the core-lock is not your problem. You should concentrate on shot placement.
I'm not in favor of the high shoulder shot. Too much chance of creating a mess. I would prefer a neck shot, and if the yardage is under say 150 yds..
make it as close to the head as possible.
You should practice being able to place a bullet within 1" of point of aim at the range you are shooting deer. Remember, "aim small, miss small".
wboggs
Gold $$ Contributor
I agree with the others on shot placement. You don't give the hunt details such as range, bullet placement, bullet weight but core- usually leave a blood trail. But, strange things can happen. I once shot a whitetail though both lungs at 15yds with a .270 wby loaded with a 130 nosler part at 3300fps. He didn't even break stride and there was not the expected large blood spray on the ground. I was shocked to say the least but he was dead about 50 yds away. Bullet had penetrsted completely. It can happen with any.bullet.
I'll give you my take on the 308,I'm on the sniper team deer control program citywide, last year four of us killed north on 200 whitetails, we use a 168 grain Sierra bthp duty round,every deer shot 90% dropped instantly in their tracks,mostly neck shots and,behind the shoulder none made it more than 30 yards before cartwheeling drt.Bear in mind blood trails on higher shots leave little blood trails due to the heavy winter coats soaking most up before hitting the ground. I start October 1st again on the program.This round may work in your environment it has ours,shots are 50 to 150 yards only due to shooting stations in heavily populated suburban environments.Our rifles are suppressed.
There are no absolutes when it comes to hunting. Shot placement is critical but so is the bullet construction. But the unexpected can always happen. I have personally seen deer hit with a 7mm magnum, drop, then run off.
Yea, the high shoulder shot with a heavy bullet will drop them if placed in that spot but in hunting, depending on the distance, weather, and your field skills, shots are not always perfectly placed. If fact most of the time, they are not.
For me the behind the shoulder shot (in the vitals) has always worked if I make the shot where I intended. I have taken a number of deer with a variety of calibers such as the 30 06, 308, and 243. This area (behind the shoulder) gives you more margin of error (area) of shot placement. Have I had to track some deer hit in this area? Yes, of course, but usually only a short distance, under 100 yards.
I found that lighter, fast expanding bullet such as the 85 Sierra BTHP in the 243 in the vital areas (behind the shoulder) drops them quickly due to the massive internal damage. With the 30 caliber rifles, I like the 150 grain, higher velocity options. I found the lung shot to be very effective since they will either drop quickly or only run a short distance due to blood filling the lungs. Heart shots often result in a deer running, sometimes a considerable distance.
The Remington Core Lock bullets have a long reputation for success but, yes there are advanced bullet designs today such as the Accubond bullets but, in my experience, deer are not that difficult of an animal to take down. For white tail deer, I would choose the lighter Remington big game bullets with the higher velocity and go for the classic broadside behind the shoulder shot.
Yea, the high shoulder shot with a heavy bullet will drop them if placed in that spot but in hunting, depending on the distance, weather, and your field skills, shots are not always perfectly placed. If fact most of the time, they are not.
For me the behind the shoulder shot (in the vitals) has always worked if I make the shot where I intended. I have taken a number of deer with a variety of calibers such as the 30 06, 308, and 243. This area (behind the shoulder) gives you more margin of error (area) of shot placement. Have I had to track some deer hit in this area? Yes, of course, but usually only a short distance, under 100 yards.
I found that lighter, fast expanding bullet such as the 85 Sierra BTHP in the 243 in the vital areas (behind the shoulder) drops them quickly due to the massive internal damage. With the 30 caliber rifles, I like the 150 grain, higher velocity options. I found the lung shot to be very effective since they will either drop quickly or only run a short distance due to blood filling the lungs. Heart shots often result in a deer running, sometimes a considerable distance.
The Remington Core Lock bullets have a long reputation for success but, yes there are advanced bullet designs today such as the Accubond bullets but, in my experience, deer are not that difficult of an animal to take down. For white tail deer, I would choose the lighter Remington big game bullets with the higher velocity and go for the classic broadside behind the shoulder shot.
As I read all the comments, it seems that everyone describes the shot they make broadside and describe shooting the point of the shoulder; but is that the front point, the rear point, or the top of the shoulder blade? I have put many people in deer stands and always tried to analyze their mistakes and successes. The most common mistake I saw was people not figuring the angle the deer was from their line of sight. I.e. where the bullet would enter and the direction of travel through the body. An example is a deer looking like he is broadside, but he is actually angled slightly so his hind end is left of the line of sight, resulting in a gut shot deer, but missing the heart, liver and lungs because the shooter shot the same place he would shoot on a perpendicular broadside shot.
I have found that head shots can be disastrous.
Add to that that there are so many ways to hunt deer. Here in the south, you are often in a stand that allows bracing like shooting off of a bench. Other times a ground blind, tree climber, or some other type of hide that requires ability to shoot from less steady rests. Then, throw in low light situations that demand a good scope. I have come to really like center dot illuminated scopes.
So instead of rambling I will let this website I found demonstrate what I mean. It's not perfect, but it does depict angles. I wish someone would design a computer simulation allowing someone to see a deer's vitals and visualize where you need to aim to hit vitals.
Where to Shoot a Deer
I have found that head shots can be disastrous.
Add to that that there are so many ways to hunt deer. Here in the south, you are often in a stand that allows bracing like shooting off of a bench. Other times a ground blind, tree climber, or some other type of hide that requires ability to shoot from less steady rests. Then, throw in low light situations that demand a good scope. I have come to really like center dot illuminated scopes.
So instead of rambling I will let this website I found demonstrate what I mean. It's not perfect, but it does depict angles. I wish someone would design a computer simulation allowing someone to see a deer's vitals and visualize where you need to aim to hit vitals.
Where to Shoot a Deer
1) different shot placement, 2) more velocity, and 3) a more frangible/faster expanding bullet.
Shoulder and neck work great. There is of course potentially meat loss for the shoulder shots and a destructive bullet.
In the 308 you could try a different bullet, or a load with more velocity.
In terms of the best blood trail, a bigger caliber and good size exit wound helps with this, but doesn't necessarily kill quicker.
Fastest killing weapons I have seen are fast 6 mm/25 cal rounds. They have good expansion and impart a lot of hydrostatic shot. They also tend to have modest recoil and are easy for most shooters to place shots well.
Generally though Core-Lokts tend to perform pretty well for a basic low-tech bullet, unless you are shooting at long range or weird angles.
Shoulder and neck work great. There is of course potentially meat loss for the shoulder shots and a destructive bullet.
In the 308 you could try a different bullet, or a load with more velocity.
In terms of the best blood trail, a bigger caliber and good size exit wound helps with this, but doesn't necessarily kill quicker.
Fastest killing weapons I have seen are fast 6 mm/25 cal rounds. They have good expansion and impart a lot of hydrostatic shot. They also tend to have modest recoil and are easy for most shooters to place shots well.
Generally though Core-Lokts tend to perform pretty well for a basic low-tech bullet, unless you are shooting at long range or weird angles.
Put, a 130 grain, Berger Classic Hunter or, Nosler Bal Tip, in that, .270 and you will Smile at the "Kills",..
they Produce at,. 3,000 - 3,100 muzzle, FPS. ( Boiler Room with, Bal Tips and Shoulder or, B. Room with Bergers ! )
150 grain, ELD-X's, in the .308 Win and Drive them, as FAST as, you can,. Get them !
With, the thick Jacket on ELD-X's, you SHOULD Get, Full Penetration and, a Blood Trail,.. IF,. needed !
ELD-X's, were Used on 3 Deer and, a 5 x 6 Bull Elk, in my Family with,. GREAT, results !
Pass Thru's on, the 3 Deer, @ 225 to 497, yards ( DRT, in 25 yards ).
Deep Penetration, + Femur Bone Breaking, on the Quartering angle, ( Clipped front, shoulder blade ) Elk, at 247 yds,. w / 150 gr. ELD- X, from, a 7mm-08 !
they Produce at,. 3,000 - 3,100 muzzle, FPS. ( Boiler Room with, Bal Tips and Shoulder or, B. Room with Bergers ! )
150 grain, ELD-X's, in the .308 Win and Drive them, as FAST as, you can,. Get them !
With, the thick Jacket on ELD-X's, you SHOULD Get, Full Penetration and, a Blood Trail,.. IF,. needed !
ELD-X's, were Used on 3 Deer and, a 5 x 6 Bull Elk, in my Family with,. GREAT, results !
Pass Thru's on, the 3 Deer, @ 225 to 497, yards ( DRT, in 25 yards ).
Deep Penetration, + Femur Bone Breaking, on the Quartering angle, ( Clipped front, shoulder blade ) Elk, at 247 yds,. w / 150 gr. ELD- X, from, a 7mm-08 !
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6mm ARC bolt action for me, though I am a fan of tough constructed bullets that penetrate. 90 gr cx. 87 gr Absolute Hammer & 108 gr Absolute hunter have performed very well for me.
Link knot Wlled, offered is outstanding! & worth repeating.
Where to Shoot a Deer
Barnes TTSX in your flavor of cartridge. Caliber diameter hole in, jellied heart/ lung area. Always a $.50 piece size hole on the exit. A blood trail very similar to a complete pass-through of an arrow. All have dropped either on the spot or maybe a 50 yard gallop at best. 20+ whitetails as examples.
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