Looking for some one's else's insight,

I have used Remington core Lokts for well over 40 years. No complaints.Due to ammo shortage and change in ownership of Reminton I found some boxes of Hornady American Whitetail and tried them.

I found the accuracy to be very good to excellent. I used them to harvest two deer in the past 2022 season.

Only question is, one of the two deer was not a pass through shot. No blood trail. The animal didn't run far but I had to look for it.

Anyone else have trouble with getting a pass through shot with Hornady american whitetail ammo or was this just a fluke?

Caliber?
Shot placement?

this^^^ some times it happens with any bullet , shot placement and what you hit are huge.

I purposely didn't state caliber because I didn't want to start that discussion.

Both deer were shot in the left front leg at 80 to 110 yards, approximately, angling away. Both bullets penetrated the heart.

One animal the bullet exited the right side rib cage back of the right shoulder and left a good blood trail.

The other animal the bullet didn't exit. It didn't run any further but since the bullet didn't exit there was no blood trail. The animal ran down into the woods. I had to look for it for awhile. I believe many people wouldn't have found it.

Just wondering if anyone else has had this problem or like I said maybe it was a fluke.

I don't want to say anything inflammatory. The animal the bullet didn't pass through, the one in question. The bullet hit the leg bone so square I didn't salvage any meat off that front leg. I have never had that happen before either.

I purposely didn't state caliber because I didn't want to start that discussion.

Both deer were shot in the left front leg at 80 to 110 yards, approximately, angling away. Both bullets penetrated the heart.

One animal the bullet exited the right side rib cage back of the right shoulder and left a good blood trail.

The other animal the bullet didn't exit. It didn't run any further but since the bullet didn't exit there was no blood trail. The animal ran down into the woods. I had to look for it for awhile. I believe many people wouldn't have found it.

Just wondering if anyone else has had this problem or like I said maybe it was a fluke.

I don't want to say anything inflammatory. The animal the bullet didn't pass through, the one in question. The bullet hit the leg bone so square I didn't salvage any meat off that front leg. I have never had that happen before either.

Sorry, I guess I posted my reply twice

It is all about how much bone it breaks and how much energy is absorbed. I have had bullets just inside the hide with a 300 H&H and 180 grain Nosler Partitions. They just broke a BUNCH of bone getting there!

Yeah, we tried those also in 7mm/08, .243, and .308. We didn’t like them in any of those calibers. Same issue you ran into.
I’m shooting (.308) Barnes VOR TX and have several boxes of it. Along with soft points that are just as deadly as the Core Lokts for me. I’ve said it before, when you find the ammo you’re looking for buy in bulk. And don’t be afraid to contact the manufacturer if looking for something specific.

Thanks.

I mostly wanted other opinions on Hornady american whitetail ammo. Like I stated I never used it before. I am impressed with the accuracy at the range. Just concerned with the bullet performance after my experience this past deer season.

Only real reason it bothers me, I suppose, since the bullet didn't pass through there was no blood trail. In a brushy woods I am convinced some people wouldn't have found him. I spent some time looking.

I’d say the circumstances, range, the bullet hitting the leg, and angle all played a factor and it probably was just a fluke.

Here's the Deal

I'm telling you this because your issue would & will be a moot subject IfYou aim 1.5 to 2" higher And shoot at the upper Scapula. Deer will absolutely Fold like a Dove

was the bullet less than 150gr and moving faster than 2800fps at the muzzle. because I would be surprised if a bullet that meats that criteria would mak an exit after hitting the leg bone like that


and yes if you can aim for where the scapula is next to the spine or the forward edge of that intersection they fold on the spot

I have used them in several calibers and they have always shot well. Most have left an exit, the ones that didn’t hit lots of bone. But they were not hard to find, most dropped where the stood. My son has used them exclusively in his .243. Always done a great job, leaving a great trail.

Thanks for your input.

To 330 trapper.

Believe me I know exactly what you mean. But that only works if the animal is at right angles. At a right angle you can hit both shoulders / legs. At a quartering angle you get what I experienced. One leg and heart / lungs.

I am not going to pass up that shot

I'll go ahead and ask....Are you shooting a 6.5 Creedmore?

Fixed it for you.

LOL, I KNEW someone would ask.

And for the record...

I try to AVOID shoulder/ leg bones.
Wastes too much meat, double lung and/ or heart

Sierra game kings are the answer your looking for for deer

So here goes the discussion I didn't want to start.

I am shooting a .243, 100 grain bulletts, and have been since I was 16. I am 64 now. You do the math. My Dad shot an 06. I have seen deer shot with most popular calibers up to 7mm remington magnum.

I once witnessed a friend of mine shoot a buck fawn with a .270, 130 grain bullet, at about 50 yards. The bullett didn't punch through. I thought it was a fluke, Remington core lokt factory ammo. I always wondered if it was a bad load.

Bottom line. A deer shot through the heart / lungs will run more or less 75 yards. Usually down into a ditch. Dad always lunged his deer because if he shoulder shot them he would have to through away the "off" shoulder. I like the .243 because I can shoulder shoot them and usually only loose two handfuls of meat.

This is the first time I had to throw away an entire front leg and it was the "impact" leg.

Thanks again for your input