There’s zoomed in pictures showing there’s no holes in the cavity.
My opinion is that the bullet traveled parallel to the rib cage, and was not a perpendicular impact into the rib cage as described. I believe this due to the elongated horizontal intercostal muscle contusion, rib contusions(bone bruise) on the 1st-7th ribs(circled on rib pictures), possible fracture of the 5th rib(thin line), and the stated bruising on the lung tissue without lacerations by the OPs friend. These cannot happen without significant trauma.He said zero tissue damage to lungs or vitals, the lung from the impact side looked bruised but there were no holes or lacerations.
Bowfinn looked harder.My opinion is that the bullet traveled parallel to the rib cage, and was not a perpendicular impact into the rib cage as described. I believe this due to the elongated horizontal intercostal muscle contusion, rib contusions(bone bruise) on the 1st-7th ribs(circled on rib pictures), possible fracture of the 5th rib(thin line), and the stated bruising on the lung tissue without lacerations by the OPs friend. These cannot happen without significant trauma.
I wonder if a small hole on the front of the shoulder was missed because the tissue damage behind the shoulder was so obvious.
Also if the bullet actually hit broad side as described. When looking at the location of the heavy damage is not around or through any areas of heavy bone (humerus and the spine of the scapulae). I find it unlikely that a bullet would fail to penetrate the body(thin) part of the scapula and a ribs.
To wrap this all up my opinion is that the deer wasn’t as broad side as thought by the shooter. It’s happened to me several times.
Edit-deleted duplicate picture