Hello I had a successful first hunt opening day(a first for me). Doe and buck 50-70 yds away. Using factory black ammo, which I belive is the ftx bullets. Both hit right behind the shoulder but both managed to run 50 and 70 yds or so.
In fact i shot the doe first, she was in a group of does and bucks but being first light I couldn't see how many points the bucks are. They have to have 4 on one side at minimun this year. I lined up on her and fired. She stood a second and so did the other deer and then they ran off so I thought I missed.
I sat there for a bit cuz the deer were still in the brush but I couldnt get a shot. Then a buck walked out but I couldnt tell the size and another couple does but they were moving in and out so no shot. Then this buck stepped out, same area as the doe but a bit farther away and had the magic 4 points on one side. I lined up and fired, he jumped and ran. So I waited a few minutes and wandered over.
When I got the clearing I passed where the doe had been and I saw a bunch of blood, like someone had a high power fan running and then threw a bucket of red water in it. I tracked the doe probably 50 yds. Hit right behind the shoulder. Dragged her to where I could get with the truck and then went back to look for the buck.
Found where he stood same thing blood everywhere, tracked him over the fence into neighbors field about 70 yds away. Also hit right behind the shoulder .
I am wondering if there are better bullets to use? In the past I have shot deer at those ranges with a 50 cal muzzle loader using Thomson center .45 bullets in a sabot.
What's interesting is with the black powder, there was not much blood trail but usually the deer died on the spot(not always) or ran a few feet. With the 450 going a bit faster, I would have thought I would have seen a lot more damage to the deer and a they would be more likely to drop on the spot.
Instead despite being hit in the killzone, they acted like they did not even get hit. The buck jumped a bit and ran but no stagger or falldown, and the doe just stood there a few seconds frozen and looking around before running.
I am wondering if anybody else has the same experience and switched to different bullet? I am wondering if the bullet did not open up like it was supposed to or something? When gutting I didn't see the insides all torn to he'll or a huge exit hole like with the muzzle loader.