By Glen Wunderlich

Charter Member Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA)

As Michigan’s Regular Firearms deer season comes to an end, I am going to take this opportunity to explain why the choice of ammo – and, specifically, bullets – can make all the difference in outcomes.  Long ago, I have come to the conclusion that a bullet with proven design characteristics and elements that produces controlled expansion is always my choice for deer hunting; varmint hunting is a different matter and is not the issue.  We’re talking deer hunting.

Never before has there been more varieties in conventional store-bought ammo.  Some folks may opt for price, others accuracy or just plain availability.  However, without understanding what happens to that bullet when it strikes the target, may leave hunters at a distinct disadvantage afield.

Many YouTube videos exist that depict penetration and expansion characteristics when chosen projectiles are fired into ballistic gel.  This is always helpful and can lead shooters to make educated decisions as to ammo choices.  With this in mind, I made the video below to unscientifically demonstrate vast differences in two bullet designs: Hornady’s flex tip and Federal’s with its proprietary Fusion projectile as they strike bone.

Before going any further, it’s understood that my test is extreme; however, it demonstrates the integrity of both.  My personal choice is neither, but its proven design fits the bill for me:  Barnes Vortex – a copper hollow-point offering that produces controlled expansion results regularly.

Two cases in point this deer season; one is a sizeable buck that I took and another is a doe shot by my pal, Joe, with the Hornady Flex Tip.  My buck was taken at 108 yards and Joe’s doe was shot at less than that.

When I decided to let that Barnes bullet fly, the deer had moved to a quartering-away position.  To me that meant I’d aim a bit farther back than straight broadside shots and the suppressed .450 Bushmaster round from my Ruger American hit the mark, as evidenced by the “mule kick” and “thump” sound of the bullet.  The mortally wounded deer piled up within 70 yards.  Because of the angle, there was no usual exit wound, but that bullet traveled through the vitals lengthwise taking out both lungs. It’s rare for this bullet not to pass through, but the total distance of travel of the projectile after impact was impressive upon inspection.

When Joe punched his doe, he mentioned he too saw the mule kick from the Flex Tip.  He didn’t hear the impact, but his hearing has diminished over the years.  It was assumed to be an easy recovery, as he marked the scene, although no evidence was found: no hair, no blood and no deer.

I was back at headquarters pacifying his trusty tracking dog, Junior, when he radioed me.  To give the dog some excitement, we took him along for the seemingly easy recovery.  We were totally dumbfounded when after over an hour later we had no clues.  For the first time, Junior, came up as empty as were our hearts.

Next morning, back at it with the dog.  Same results.  Nothing but someone else’s dead by that expired on my property.

The following day, I found Joe’s deer some 70 yards from the scene of the crime in plain view.  Why the dog never found it, may be attributable to a lack of blood trail.  Although Joe mentioned the direction of the fleeing, accompanying antlerless deer, we blew the chance to recover it before spoiling.  The dog seemed to be trailing the other deer to Nowheresville.

Upon inspection of the wound, I noticed an entry hole but merely as spec of blood on the opposite side – apparently from a small bullet fragment.  It was an accurate shot in the ribs but that explosive bullet never produced the exit hole we desire.   Had it been shot in the same place with a better bullet, I suspect we’d have had no problem finding the prize.  Dang it!