Thread: 223 on deer

Bit of a rubbish morning this morning…. I sent an 80gr ELD-M on its way to a stag, but failed to retrieve it. The stag that is. Shot setup was good, I saw the hit and found and followed a good blood trail, until it wasn’t a good blood trail anymore.

I’ve run the shot through my mind a thousand times since, and I’m pretty sure I overestimated the wind. I was holding into the base of the neck slightly, to account for what I estimated to be about 8mph wind. I reckon there was less wind and I’ve hit too far forward in the fleshy part of the neck.

Just felt that fessing up to failures was useful to the thread. No problem with the bullet or delivery system - I just messed it up. The .223 is going to continue to be carried this roar. I’ll be back out there in a few days and see if I find him dead and causing a smell.