Federal Power Shok bullet failure.

[pacobillie]

I am returning from a week of hunting in northern Alberta (Peace Country). I had a troubling bullet failure on a Whitetail Deer, that I shot. Broadside shot at 127 yards. 30-06 with 150 gr. Bullet. The bullet hit thr humerus, just above the tip of the elbow, and fragmented on impact, sending shrapnel through the chest cavity. The entry hole was 2x4 inches. There was no exit hole. The deer died quickly and only went 25 yards, because the heart was blown up. If it had been a tougher critter, it would still running, albeit limping. The shot was a tad low, but well within the vital zone.

I normally shoot my own reloads, but since I flew to AB, I used a borrowed rifle and factory ammo. The AB friend Inwas hunting with says he will consider other ammo choices for the future.

The strange thing is that I have killed multiple deer over the years with that rifle and ammo, and all have been bang-flops or near bang-flops, although no large bones were encountered on previous occasions. The day prior, I had shot a large mule deer buck, who did not take a single step, although it took 2 shots in the lungs to put him down.

What is your own experience with Federal Power-Shok (blue box)?

 

[armilaria]

I have always had good luck with the blue box federal one both 308 and 300. Has been my go to Ammo for over 12 years. Not to say I have had the odd bad shot. I blame the shooter (me) for that. Most of mine have been through on through. Don’t think I have ever retrieved a spent federal bullet. Just my experience.

 

[hawk-i]

Federal Blue Box 150 gr 270win ammo is my go to for one of my 270's (rem 700 ADL), have had great success on animals up to moose with power shok.

Mind you, I don't shoot for bone and have the patience to wait for that classic broadside shot or let the animal walk.

 

[pacobillie]

Federal Blue Box 150 gr 270win ammo is my go to for one of my 270's (rem 700 ADL), have had great success on animals up to moose with power shok.

Mind you, I don't shoot for bone and have the patience to wait for that classic broadside shot or let the animal walk.

I was not aiming for bone, but the crease of the shoulder. The shot was a tad too low. It hit the bottom of the humerus. An inch or even half an inch higher would have been a pass through.

 

[45ACPKING]

I've been dumping deer and a couple moose with the 180gr .303brit powershok bullets for over 20 years now. Never had a single failure.
With any product there can be irregularities though so I'm not discounting the OP's experience on this particular hunt.
At least the bullet caused the deer to die quick

 

[Snider shooter]

Bullet did its job. So the bullet fragmented but still killed the dear. I don’t see how the bullet failed. I have seen recovered perfect mushroom shaped bullets that didn’t do as well as what you described. Needed another shot to put them down.
One shot one kill. We have seen too many pictures of perfectly mushroomed bullets and it is now what we expect from every bullet. Doesn’t happen in the real world.

 

[Butcherbill]

I’ve shot a handful of deer with federal blue box .303 Brit 180gr and all were full pass through shots, really nice exit holes and minimal meat damage to the surrounding entry and exit areas. With the exception of hitting the far side leg on a quartering shot, but that’s to be expected I find. No fragments were ever found, nor were any bullets recovered. I’ve always found the Speer hot core to be a great preforming bullet for the price, very accurate out of my no.4 as well.

 

[kodiakjack]

I am returning from a week of hunting in northern Alberta (Peace Country). I had a troubling bullet failure on a Whitetail Deer, that I shot. Broadside shot at 127 yards. 30-06 with 150 gr. Bullet. The bullet hit the humerus, just above the tip of the elbow, and fragmented on impact, sending shrapnel through the chest cavity. The entry hole was 2x4 inches. There was no exit hole.

Not sure what you mean by “elbow”…

The deer died quickly and only went 25 yards, because the heart was blown up. If it had been a tougher critter, it would still running, albeit limping. The shot was a tad low, but well within the vital zone.

I’m confused… the Humerus (or “elbow”?) isn’t “well within the vital zone”… It’s well outside it.


But regardless, I have a hard time attributing “bullet failure” to this scenario. You hit one of the most robust bones in the deer’s body. No bullet manufacturer will claim that their bullets will perform consistently when impacting a major bone. If anything, I’d say the bullet performed BETTER than expected considering the ill shot placement and impact with bone.

 

[Eagleye]

Well, IMHO that skeleton picture is not particularly accurate in the front scapula/leg area.
When the front leg is "back" it covers the heart area, when forward that area is exposed.
Scapula is too far forward in the picture, making the humerus a bit forward as well.

FWIW, I have penetrated major bone on much bigger animals than deer with Nosler Partitions
and Swift A-Frames, and they always made it into the vitals. A bullet that disintegrates is a
failure in my books, regardless if the animal dies soon or not. Dave.

 

[pacobillie]

Well, IMHO that skeleton picture is not particularly accurate in the front scapula/leg area.
When the front leg is "back" it covers the heart area, when forward that area is exposed.
Scapula is too far forward in the picture, making the humerus a bit forward as well.

FWIW, I have penetrated major bone on much bigger animals than deer with Nosler Partitions
and Swift A-Frames, and they always made it into the vitals. A bullet that disintegrates is a
failure in my books, regardless if the animal dies soon or not. Dave.

View attachment 542311

The shot was on th green X, maybe jusut a tad below, but the near front leg must have been flexed a bit, because the deer was feeding on a broken oats bale.

 

[pacobillie]

Not sure what you mean by “elbow”…

I’m confused… the Humerus (or “elbow”?) isn’t “well within the vital zone”… It’s well outside it.


But regardless, I have a hard time attributing “bullet failure” to this scenario. You hit one of the most robust bones in the deer’s body. No bullet manufacturer will claim that their bullets will perform consistently when impacting a major bone. If anything, I’d say the bullet performed BETTER than expected considering the ill shot placement and impact with bone.

That picture is not of a whitetail deer.

 

[prairie lover]

Hitting bigger bone is a tough test on any bullet. Especially a cup and core. A 150gr 30 cal flat base sp is a rather short bullet, with a low sectional density. Something to keep in mind. I think it did ok given what it hit. Did any pieces such as the jacket make it to the other side of the far ribs?

 

[Steyr101]

FWIW, I have penetrated major bone on much bigger animals than deer with Nosler Partitions
and Swift A-Frames, and they always made it into the vitals. A bullet that disintegrates is a
failure in my books, regardless if the animal dies soon or not. Dave.]

Agreed Dave, and it's why we pay whatever the price difference is and use premium bullets. When shooting at big game, a premium bullet is the only thing i'll use. Partitions, A-Frames, TTSX, etc. I've also had great success with Accubonds.

Cheapo bullets will do fine 98% of the time, but may fail when shot placement isn't ideal.

 

[cosmic]

Hmmm... A 30-06 will push a 150 gr bullet to over 3000 fps. I would say this is sub-optimal for a cup and core bullet. The choice becomes go to a heavier cup and core bullet, say 180 to 200 gr. Or go to a premium bullet at 150 grains that can handle the velocity.
Myself, I would go with the heavy bullet, something like a 200 grain flat base Hornady or Sierra.

 

[Longwalker]

I think the bullet did what it was designed to do. A 150 gr. cup and core bullet is not a strong bullet, it is quite fragile. But they usually kill deer quickly because they open quickly. Hitting the humerus is likely to break up most any cup and core bullet and limit penetration. Good thing deer aren't so big. I used Federal blue box power shok bullets in .308" for perhaps ten animals. No problems with deer. But I have seen that bullet stop dead and fail to penetrate through the humerus/scapula joint in a calf elk. For animals bigger than deer, I prefer 180 grain cup and core or 165 gr. premium bullets for the extra bone breaking ability along with adequate penetration.

 

[9.3mauser]

A bullet that disintegrates is a
failure in my books, regardless if the animal dies soon or not.

This can't be emphasized enough. If the bullet comes apart or fails to penetrate, then whether the animal dies or not, or is recovered, becomes a matter of dumb luck. Save the cheap cup & core for practice, and use premium bullets for the one or two shots you'll fire at game.