Lost a Buck...help

[TX_Kevin]

Exactly this .270 and bigger don't expand fast enough at 50 yards or closer, tracked several deer for my brother when we were young that ran 100-400 yards shooting them at 60 yards and closer with a 7 mag. Either neck, head, or shoulder shoot them that close. Or use a 223,22-250,243 awesome at close range

A 7 mag does fine so long as you know it's a fast round that won't expand much at closer ranges. I don't shoot a gun much manymore, but for whitetail I shoot a Hornady SST and it blows a huge hole in both sides. Simple solution. And you can double lung them too. I expect the same is true of a 270.

To the OP, congrats on a great buck and finding him too!

[Caddy]

Congrats

[BowOnly81]

Congrats on finding him. Good buck too!

[Atfulldraw]

Only amateurs get worked up to a lather over the various calibers and their ability to kill Texas WT deer. The pros know that bullet placement is the key. One of the finest dog men in south Texas has kept records on the caliber used on deer his dogs have tracked and guess what? the 7 mag is the winner. But I will bet that in recent times the 7 mag has replaced the older 270, 30-06 and 25-06 guns in use in south TX, so my guess is that it doesn't prove that a 7 mag is inherently worse than other calibers, just that many people shoot them poorly due to recoil ending up with poor shot placement.

You found your deer under less than ideal circumstances, congratulations and know that it would not have been any deader with a different caliber.

this follows what we have seen as well.
I cringe a little when they pull out a magnum....

I just wish more people knew what he accomplished with his love of the .270 & 7x57...

I had a feeling the deer would be no more than 20-30yds when he last saw him...I've been there & a vital shot with bullet failure or not in a good boiler room hit (or lost trail to rain) they seldom make further than that when they hit the safety of the thicket.

They will usually stop & cough once in the brush...run till dead.

Great hill country deer!!

7x57 is on my list.

I've killed 3 elk with a crappy Kilimanjaro 7x57....unfortunately, not mine.

[Bisch]

The only deer rifle i own is a 7x57 FN Mauser made for the Argentine national army a loooooooong time ago. The rifle with my hand loads has killed evey deer i have ever shot at with it! I would not trade that gun for anything. I have not shot it in at least 12-14yrs, since I went bow only.

To the OP, glad the buck was recovered.

Bisch

[Artos]

this follows what we have seen as well.
I cringe a little when they pull out a magnum....



7x57 is on my list.

I've killed 3 elk with a crappy Kilimanjaro 7x57....unfortunately, not mine.

I keep thinking a 6.5x55 mountain gun, but my great grandmother's .257 Roberts refuses to give up the ghost.

I hope this thread has been educational & for those who have never experienced bullet failure with a good hit remember it. Last sighting is usually never more than 50yds once they hit cover of safety if you hit them with a good boiler.

[WCB]

Just can't believe you would use a **** poor caliber like a .270...

Congrats on a fine Hill Country buck!!

And I've shot several deer with both a 30.06 and arrows through heart/lungs and had them run over 100yds before dying. If it ain't shoulder/neck/head, adrenaline can really get them far.

[3DW5]

Awesome Buck, sure glad you found him....

[Mac5dawg]

Congrats finding him.

[Hart8]

Nice buck! Man,it happens...I shot a doe behind the shoulder a few years back with a Remington Classic chambered in .338 Win Mag.Shooting 200 gr.ballistic tips,and she ran 100 yds,and jumped a friggin fence!

[jcd49]

Don't give up, that deer is dead.

[txdukklr]

Caliber is not the issue. I shot two deer this year with my 7 mag and dropped em. My brother in law shot one same weekend with the same 7 mag and the deer went a mile and a half and we had to get a dog. Good job on the deer!!!

[TRich]

Congrats on finding your buck and not giving up.

[Backwoods101]

You have to know how to shoot them.... And i am not talking abou aiming.



Shoot a deer behind the shoulder at close range with a rifle like that and youre asking for trouble. And the OP got it LOL.



Shoot deer IN the shoulder. They dont run. High shoulder shot. Puts em down every time. "But but but but it wastes meat!! waaahhh!!!" Guess what? When you lose an entire deer, that wastes more meat than blowing up a shoulder....







I wish you luck in the track. I hope you find him.

Nailed it! Shoulder every time!

[Zookeeper]

Thats why a 270 will make you a real good tracker. Run off gun is what I call them after 10 years chasin 4 different guys lost wonded deer on our lease. I know everyone thinks thier great but Ive seen much different results. I hope you find it & buy a 25-06 and hit them like Thor's hammer! good luck

This type of post is why I mainly just drop in and browse TBH. It has absolutely no positive in put yet berates everyone with a different opinion.

Congratulations on a very nice deer.