- Joined
- Jan 5, 2022
- Messages
- 522
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- 791
Facing a bit of a dilemma with the Arrowhead 300gr NSR bullets I have been using for almost a couple seasons now. I have no complaints about their accuracy at all (have shot them out to 200yrds on deer to this point, and holes touching at the same distance on paper). My concern is with their inconsistent results on deer. I have had anything from six inch exit wounds to no exit holes at all, with massive internal damage. Aside from the destroyed meat, my only real issue is getting that exit wound. For example, at the end of the 2022 hunting season I shot a doe at 10yrds. She dropped on the spot from a shoulder shot; however, there was no exit wound. There was massive internal damage, and the bullet blew to pieces inside her, but I just lost a nice buck recently with not a drop of blood to be found. He actually bedded down about 15yrds after the initial shot behind some brush. I reloaded and continued to wait for him to get up. As the minutes passed it was becoming later and later with darkness approaching. I determined that I couldn't wait any longer and maneuvered for the best shot possible (really a guess at his body position, because all I could see were his antlers). I also had to blow through some brush. The result was probably a miss, and he got up and limped off. I never saw a drop of blood when I went to look. I waited another 3-4 hours to pick up the trail, hoping he might expire in that time frame. There was no blood to be found. I can only assume I hit him in the leg and it wasn't a lethal shot. All that being said, I am looking for a bullet that will completely pass through, leaving me with the best possible blood trail. I liked the 300gr bonded Furys, but accuracy fell apart somewhere between 100 and 200yrds. At 200 yards there was no grouping at all. My rifle builder recommended I switch to the 300gr NSR bullets, which I did and they have been excellent in regard to accuracy, but inconsistent upon impact. I am shooting this bullet using 78grns of H322 out of a 26" Brux barrel with a 1:20 twist. I have also tried IMR 4198 with decent results, but the H322 worked best with both Arrowheads and Furys. I thought about trying a wad above the powder, in conjunction with the Furys but don't want to add that step due to time loss reloading in the field. Thoughts????