This season is shaping up the same as last year. History, last day of late muzzy last year I shot a doe that I tracked for 2 hours(easily a mile or two). Lost it when it crossed a creek that I had no way around. Yesterday I walked up on a mom with little ones. When I shot it dropped and thrashed around. By the time I had the gun reloaded it jumped up and went trotting(kinda funny) down through the woods. I had blood where it was thrashing, but only found a few drops in the dirt(leaves have only started coming down). Jumped them once, mom and two little ones. I waited an hour and went back at it. No sign of blood so my dad and I started walking. Looked for two hours with nothing. Went home to drop some clothes and thought there was a spot where deer liked to bed that we didn't check. Went back out to check that area. Low and behold I found a mom and one little one. Yep I shot the wrong dang deer, but it's dead somewhere just not where they bedded. So got a crew and started searching again. Covered about every square inch of that woods with nothing. Called it off another hour and a half and said the yotes will be eating good.
Now, I'm really disappointed in the performance from last year and now. The gun shoots great, but I'm questioning the balls I'm using. We've always used the Hornady swagged balls with good luck. But I'm thinking that because they are pure lead and flatten on contact with anything are they the best idea. I'm wondering if using a slightly harder alloy of lead will get more penetration. I know that the deer my dad and I have shot we've found the ball flat as a pancake still in the deer. The one I keep on my desk still has the pattern of the patch imprinted in the slightly rounded side where the powder charge imprinted it in the lead.
I don't know I'm just really down and miffed right now. Almost wrapped the gun around a tree yesterday. Seriously, I had it by the business end and wound up, just couldn't swing.
Now, I'm really disappointed in the performance from last year and now. The gun shoots great, but I'm questioning the balls I'm using. We've always used the Hornady swagged balls with good luck. But I'm thinking that because they are pure lead and flatten on contact with anything are they the best idea. I'm wondering if using a slightly harder alloy of lead will get more penetration. I know that the deer my dad and I have shot we've found the ball flat as a pancake still in the deer. The one I keep on my desk still has the pattern of the patch imprinted in the slightly rounded side where the powder charge imprinted it in the lead.
I don't know I'm just really down and miffed right now. Almost wrapped the gun around a tree yesterday. Seriously, I had it by the business end and wound up, just couldn't swing.