30-06 Ballistic Breakdown From This Year's Final Whitetail (DIAL UP WARNING)

gunasauras

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Shot my last Whitetail of the season tonight (secondary antlerless tag), 17 Nov 07 at 4:45pm. For this one, I used my Winchester Model 70 in 30-06. Receiver is full bedded with Devcon Titanium in an Electric Blue laminate stock and sports original barrel (22" length) that is fully free floated. Optics are Leupold VX-1 in Weaver Extension Rings w/ Weaver 2 piece bases. Stock sports an Eagle LH cheek piece (I'm a lefty).
PB170020.jpg

Handloads were Hornandy #3031 150gr .308 spire point over 48gr of W748 seated to cannelure with no crimp in Speer chromed brass cases ignited with Winchester Large Rifle Primers. This particular load chronographs at 2580 FPS over the screens of my Pact Chrony. Rifle groups them just over 1/2" at 100M off the bench when I do my part. With them zeroed 2" high at 100M, it prints 1" low at 200M.
Deer was shot at 197 meters (ranged before the shot). First shot entered RH side 4" back from the shoulder and 3.5" below top of spine. Projectile broke ribs upon entrance and exit, and was not retrieved. Deer staggered and took three steps right before blowing steam out the exit hole then I put another one in him. Second round entered low oblique on RH side, nicked gut, struck rib on LH side and deflected towards LH shoulder, lodging just under the hide in crease of LH shoulder. (sorry, I didn't take autopsy pics, no camera with me while hunting). First round was obviously fatal, but my credo is, keep shooting until he's down. When I arrived to start gutting, I realised I had just shot a buck. Likely a 1 1/2 yr old, but both his spikes were broken completely off (likely from fighting). Regardless, antlerless is antlerless here (regs state anything under 4" spikes is considered antlerless) so freezer will be full soon. Here's some pics of the ammo, before and after.
Comparative of loaded cartridge, projectile fresh out of the box, and the projectile retrieved from the deer this evening.
PB170012.jpg

Closer pics of the recovered projectile:
PB170019.jpg

PB170018.jpg

PB170015.jpg

PB170014.jpg


The bullet held up quite well, and performed exactly as I would expect as witnessed in the pics above. It expanded to .634" and weighed 136gr when retrieved. That's just over 90% weight retention. Verdict, this light handload/accurate rifle combo works great! Think it's a keeper.....
 
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