Some does need to be culled and the Ranch Manager was driving me around. He was skeptical of me using a pistol that had not been proven. I had tried to ease his fears by loading and placing my 30-30 in the front seat with us. The Deer seemed to be well content to stay on the wheat pasture next door shall I say? Shortly we spotted some does heading away from us, going slowly up a hill. He pointed at one and said take that one. At just 40yds away, That deer was walking straight away from me. Manager says get ready sometimes they will stop and I am saying yep especially when I whistle,,, I whistle and the deer stops and is turned and offering a quartering shot. Manager asking can you still take it? I get out a Yep,,and start my squeeze. I have 2LB triggers on nearly all of my pistols and rifles. Just as I am almost there, the Doe takes a step to the right, and the Manager is saying Ohhh she turning,,, and My Mind is screaming No,,,, The shot rang out sometime during the middle of all this conversation. It was one of those things you just can't take back. The Deer Jumped into the air and violently shuddered. She tried to run and got about 18yds and fell over. During which time the manager is hollering you got her you got her. I was not sure about the whole thing since I had learned about following through. What I mean is that I was watching and seeing that Deer turn, the recoil and hit, just did not seem quite right. I just could not be sure about that hit. When I walked up that hill and saw the shot in the hind quarter, I was crestfallen. My disquietude had me thinking that the meat was going to be ruined with a shot in the left hind quarter. Gutting the deer eased any anxiety and I was amazed that the guts were not scrambled. What did get scrambled (or pulverized was the liver ) The bullet went in that left hind quarter and went through to the right shoulder, and exited. It did not break any bones! Not even a rib. It was not till I butchered the deer that I discovered where the bullet had exited. From what I can figure is, when the deer stepped and the bullet hit, Simultaneous, the front leg was away from the body just enough that the bullet did not break that leg. The hemorrhaging was discovered when I cut the front shoulder blade. I saw the hole in between the ribs and checked the hide and saw that hole too. I was glad that the bullet went through the deer and did not spoil the meat with a lot of torn up intestines. I was glad that I finally got to use that 45 to take an animal. Load was the 335 Leadhead cast w/21.5 grs of H110. Chronographed at 1200 FPS. 4 5/8" Ruger Bisley. I do know that a lighter load would probably have done just fine. But this combo has been working well, punching paper, and I thought I would stay with it.
As we were leaving the ranch, 2 does stood by the road, giving a perfect broadside offering at just 20yds. We just laughed and shook our heads.
Pic on Bragging Board.

Stuff does happen, but I think you "used enough gun" as they say😄 That slug at that speed has got to hit like a freight train! Good deal.

Great story,congratulations

Cool story and congrats on your hunt. Good performance.

That's why I love the big bores,that margin for error they give on the not so perfect shots. Sometimes you just can't stop the shot and you sure can't call that bullet back after you send it.

Congrats! Enjoyed the story!

JDK That is about what the manager said,, He also added that if I had have hit that Deer broadside It might have just knocked it down.
junebug SO true.

Added Pics of the gun and ammo on bragging board. I am a little challenged on posting pics and such.

Awesome finish! Felt like I was in the seat with ya.

Using a big heavy bullet to get the job done. Even when things go bad for you. Heavy large caliber bullets always exceed the expectations of the - on paper - ft/lbs energy. A fast small bullet would have ruined the meat and perhaps would not have anchored the deer. Congratulations.

Very good write up. Nice to have a hunt end well.

Bob R

CT, You`ve been there and done that.............

True Hogs never seem to stand still,,, And we never know just what an animal is going to do.