Thread: Introducing Larry

Well done. Also enjoyed your story and I respect your decision to name Larry. Having a possessed dog was probably what you were missing. When I shot my first deer a possessed dog who belonged to the guy who took us hunting was also present. He is still there, about 800m from where I shot my hind.

I got quite a few after that and saw hundreds in range in Fiordland with no time to shoot them. Something about that frustration ruins your hunting ability. I probably have to start over now as it has been a few years.

Well done!

Its not unusual for low chest shot deer to be runners, regardless of the caliber or bullet. Higher up on the shoulder will drop them because thats where the mass of nerve connections are. Low down is the blood pumping and breathing department and it takes a while for the oxygen in the blood to be depleted - so they can get quite a distance - especially if heart shot. Well, that's how I understand it and reinforced through my own experience.

The 120 grn Nosler is an excellent projectile and Ive shot many deer with them without fault (including runners). But they are still just a lump of lead and copper so you can't blame them for not doing what we want every single time. I don't think Nosler will change their design just because Larry didn't give up the fight immediately.

I think that you should just get into it and don't go fiddling with bullets and stuff - Larry's cousins are likely as not to drop on the spot when served exactly the same medicine next time.

Originally Posted by Tahr

Well done!

Its not unusual for low chest shot deer to be runners, regardless of the caliber or bullet. Higher up on the shoulder will drop them because thats where the mass of nerve connections are. Low down is the blood pumping and breathing department and it takes a while for the oxygen in the blood to be depleted - so they can get quite a distance - especially if heart shot. Well, that's how I understand it and reinforced through my own experience.

The 120 grn Nosler is an excellent projectile and Ive shot many deer with them without fault (including runners). But they are still just a lump of lead and copper so you can't blame them for not doing what we want every single time. I don't think Nosler will change their design just because Larry didn't give up the fight immediately.

I think that you should just get into it and don't go fiddling with bullets and stuff - Larry's cousins are likely as not to drop on the spot when served exactly the same medicine next time.

I have less experience but was tempted to post this. If an animal is alerted and thus pumping adrenaline they can run 200m with no heart at all. Low on the lungs the animal and the upper part will still work while the blood drains out the bottom.

A ballistic tip is designed not to blow up on a wet hide at 15m when the projectile is traveling 3200ft/sec. If it goes low through the lungs and you are not lucky enough to hit even a rib on the way in, there is not much resistance there to open the projectile.

I would say it worked not too bad under the circumstances. A projectile that is 100% reliable from 5m to 500m is a paradox, but it provides food for conversation.

Thanks guys. My friend Chris wanted me to keep the head as a milestone in the sense of this being my first. Initially I didn't think it was important, but he has been killing stuff for a long time, and knew the significance of it.

I wanted to do this for another reason. To me, being able to shoot a deer completes a cycle.

1 Learn to shoot

2 Learn to reload

3 Learn to stalk

4 bring back an animal

5 Learn to butcher and store

6 Learn to cook and take time to enjoy.

7 Begin again

I was stuck on number 3. Now I've closed the circle and am learning in practical firsthand terms what it means.

"That which we learn, we learn by doing" - Aristotle

Originally Posted by Max Headroom

Thanks guys. My friend Chris wanted me to keep the head as a milestone in the sense of this being my first. Initially I didn't think it was important, but he has been killing stuff for a long time, and knew the significance of it.

I wanted to do this for another reason. To me, being able to shoot a deer completes a cycle.

1 Learn to shoot

2 Learn to reload

3 Learn to stalk

4 bring back an animal

5 Learn to butcher and store

6 Learn to cook and take time to enjoy.

7 Begin again

I was stuck on number 3. Now I've closed the circle and am learning in practical firsthand terms what it means.

"That which we learn, we learn by doing" - Aristotle

Yes, all of that. Another good out come is that you have disabused the forum members of the terrible thought that you actually look like your avatar.

Well done on Larry. Only one bit of bad news. No deer will ever taste as good as Larry will.....All kidding aside- congratulations and he should be a very good eater.

I had a mate nearly lose a deer with the same issue, but his weren't Nosler. His was an SST at about 100. Took a shot to the neck and flipped over feet in there air and stopped. Everyone was standing shaking their hands etc when the bugger woke up and walked off. They put one through the front of the chest but with the adrenaline now running he just kept walking. Found him later (about a couple hours) and I saw him so I finished the job with a 303. Boom, Flop. (215gr round nose every time...) I took the shot as I was not sure if it was the same monster or another one (I wont show the pic as this is your thread..). It happens sometimes.

The first shot was well placed at close the the base of the neck just below the spine. But it pencilled through missing arteries and bone at just the right point....so it does happen, unfortunately.

Yes @Tahr and @bully, maybe I was a little hasty when I looked at that photo last night on the phone.

However....

Now not to detract at all from Max's achievement. I think we're all stoked for the guy.

The point of impact is not low, as in too low, assuming it wasn't steeply downhill? The point of impact is very close to or right on the top of the heart. In that area, the main pulmonary and aorta arteries run into the heart, surrounded by quite dense and blood filled lung tissue. If the bullet had opened up fast and partially fragmented as it should, you'd expect it to cause huge damage to the main arteries and lungs with a very fast bleed out - I would expect it to run a short distance and not collapse on the spot, but not that far.

The contradiction is that for years guys have been complaining about Nosler BTs breaking up and under penetrating. The flipside is that sometimes they just don't seem to fragment at all, and do what Max has observed. So my comment about the Nosler is probably a bit biased, cos I gave up with them some time ago due to a lack of consistent outcomes with shot placement being mostly equal. I just couldn't get them to perform reliably. I think it was @300_BLK who said recently he gave up with them too for similar reasons.

So yeah, just responded last night to Max's observation that the bullet didn't appear to have created much of a wound channel.

Again, happy to be challenged with this view! Perhaps Nosler has toughened up the 120gr BTs in response to all the criticism of them being too fragile, and I just don't know about it.

Originally Posted by Flyblown

Yes @Tahr and @bully, maybe I was a little hasty when I looked at that photo last night on the phone.

However....

Now not to detract at all from Max's achievement. I think we're all stoked for the guy.

The point of impact is not low, as in too low, assuming it wasn't steeply downhill? The point of impact is very close to or right on the top of the heart. In that area, the main pulmonary and aorta arteries run into the heart, surrounded by quite dense and blood filled lung tissue. If the bullet had opened up fast and partially fragmented as it should, you'd expect it to cause huge damage to the main arteries and lungs with a very fast bleed out - I would expect it to run a short distance and not collapse on the spot, but not that far.

The contradiction is that for years guys have been complaining about Nosler BTs breaking up and under penetrating. The flipside is that sometimes they just don't seem to fragment at all, and do what Max has observed. So my comment about the Nosler is probably a bit biased, cos I gave up with them some time ago due to a lack of consistent outcomes with shot placement being mostly equal. I just couldn't get them to perform reliably. I think it was @300_BLK who said recently he gave up with them too for similar reasons.

So yeah, just responded last night to Max's observation that the bullet didn't appear to have created much of a wound channel.

Again, happy to be challenged with this view! Perhaps Nosler has toughened up the 120gr BTs in response to all the criticism of them being too fragile, and I just don't know about it.

The way I see it.... If you don't want it to run take out the front shoulder/leg I guess that's in line with tahr saying hit bone. Better to loose a front leg than a whole deer. This is the problem with a "meat saver shot". Taking nothing away from max however, under pressure with your first deer. It all ended well, no problems.

Just to say, I'm not ticked off about the Nosler doing what it did. Nobody can make a magic projectile that does everything for everyone.

It's all experience that makes my knowledge a bit richer.

Larry's still hanging in the garage, even if we had to go a little further to get him.

A shout out to the guy who helped me get Larry.

Originally Posted by Max Headroom

Attachment 105556

A shout out to the guy who helped me get Larry.

I read that book last week while at Mavora, second time reading it, still a great book.
he must be due for a second book by now!!!

Well done Max.....you will never forget slaying that beastie......

Congrats on the first deer Max. Always a cool feeling. Be good eating for sure.

Don't be afraid to take the neck and front wheels as well (especially when you are close to the truck). Braised neck roast, or osso bucco, or a blade roast are bloody delicious and simple ways to cook the front end.

Awesome max!

well done max, but why "larry"? was it wearing a leisure suit ?