SC Heart Shot

[markT]

I bought a new hunting rifle for deer this year. Savage 110 high country in .243. Due to ammo shortage I found some 85 gr Nosler Partition bullets and hand loaded some rounds. I sighted in my rifle at 100 yds because most shots are around that range. Last evening 6 deer stepped out at 180 yds. I held over about 4” and totally misjudged the bullet drop. Deer was hit and ran 20 yds, staggered and fell over. When I got to the deer I saw the entrance wound and it looked like the exit wound. I took it to my friend and we processed / skinned ( wouldn’t that be deskinned) anyway. Looked inside to see what the bullet did. Check out the heart. Absolutely crazy. I don’t understand why the entrance looks like it does.

 

[Dub]

wow!

 

[muleystalker]

Looks good to me, was there an exit hole?

 

[markT]

It went straight thru. Nicked his right leg. Jelly’ed the bottom of his rib cage. I’m not advertising for Nosler but I can not believe what this bullet does and don’t want to turn this thread into a bullet performance urinary contest. Please also know that I’m new to hunting deer and have only shot Winchester factory ammo in the past.

 

[Field_2_Fork]

Looks like an excellent shot and bullet performance to me. Lots of blood because it was likely erupting out of there like a geyser for the few seconds it took to drop. I'd be ecstatic!

 

[Kracken McGraw]

Something seems a little askew with that. A .243 shouldn’t drop but a couple of inches or more at that range if sighted in at 100. Congratulations on a nice deer!

 

[Mark W]

I just loaded up some of those 85 grain Nosler Partitions to test in my 1:12 twist 6 BRA. It’s good to see that they will perform, although I’m sure that .243 is pushing them a little harder than my BRA will.

 

[Bojo]

nice job OP

 

[Downeast]

We quit shooting them in the heart. Really. It's the best piece of meat on a deer. Still a good hit but next time be careful.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

Was anyone like me? I was a little hesitant to open this post because I thought it might be a pic of the borrowed name “Texas Heart Shot”.

 

[chop house]

We quit shooting them in the heart. Really. It's the best piece of meat on a deer. Still a good hit but next time be careful.

yep. i shot a deer once with a .444 leverevolution hornady factory round. hit it too low and it opened up the sternum like an ied was put inside. deer was easy to recover, the heart was never found.

 

[David Milisock]

Something seems a little askew with that. A .243 shouldn’t drop but a couple of inches or more at that range if sighted in at 100. Congratulations on a nice deer!

I think the shot and bullet performance was good. In my experience the shooter probably thought he held 4" higher but didn't or maybe his zero wasn't what he thought or the shot in the field was a bit off.

In any case a clean kill.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

I think the shot and bullet performance was good. In my experience the shooter probably thought he held 4" higher but didn't or maybe his zero wasn't what he thought or the shot in the field was a bit off.

In any case a clean kill.

I wasn’t being negative in any way. I just meant if the shot was placed four inches over the deer and this was the results, I would be checking for loose scope mounts or something else that would cause this.

 

[Cryhavoc]

Yummmm.....that would have been some tasty heart...thanks for sharing!

 

[Kurz]

Last evening 6 deer stepped out at 180 yds. I held over about 4” and totally misjudged the bullet drop. Deer was hit and ran 20 yds, staggered and fell over.

First of all, great work! Nice doe for the table.

Second, I would head back to the range to test some of that load at 200 yards just to see how things work out. The term 'held over' might be a little bit misplaced in your description. Be sure to check for loose anything as suggested above. But test the load to see what it yields at 100 yards and 200 yards.

Thanks for the post!

I forgot to add that Stuffed Heart is one of my all-time favorite dishes when it's fresh from harvesting.

 

[David Milisock]

I wasn’t being negative in any way. I just meant if the shot was placed four inches over the deer and this was the results, I would be checking for loose scope mounts or something else that would cause this.

I would certainly not think that you were being negative I would do those checks, but I'd bet it's all ok and furthermore bet that field conditions are to blame. I'd also add that the end results were due to a combination of all the preparation the hunter took.

Now I suggest they enjoy the venison!

 

[jepp2]

Good thing you don't live in TX. (If you don't know, look up the meaning of Texas heart shot...)

 

[D Coots]

Without a rest I could wiggle 4" at 180 yards.

 

[MikeT49]

I just loaded up some of those 85 grain Nosler Partitions to test in my 1:12 twist 6 BRA. It’s good to see that they will perform, although I’m sure that .243 is pushing them a little harder than my BRA will.

You will like their performance on deer. I'm running them in a 243W at ~3100 out of a 22" barrel. Didn't gun hunt in 2020. During the 2019 WI gun season I shot a 2 1/2 yr old 160# (field dressed) forky behind the front shoulder. Hit a little higher than I wanted. He looked up at me and his tail came up, I knew he was about to bolt. I hurried the shot. He went about 3 feet straight down. The lungs were mush. That same year one of my hunting buds also shot a big bodied 9 point 6 1/2 yr old (185# field dressed). Also a behind the shoulder shot. That buck went about 50 yards and piled up. This is my most recent experiences relating to 85 Partitions. They flat out work.

 

[David Milisock]

Without a rest I could wiggle 4" at 180 yards.

I've been there!!