145 Speer hot cor from a 280 Rem. 400 ish lb black bear, 61 yds. Through both shoulders, my son found it laying in the bottom of the bait can that the bear was standing in front of.
165 Sierra Gameking fired from my dad's '06. This dates back to 1994. Didn't know till 2006 that his velocity was around 2650. This bullet killed a 358" bull elk at an unknown distance, said he held "about a foot high". I found the bullet in the shoulder while we were processing the bull.
154 Hornady Interlock fired from a 7x57 Mauser. No idea what muzzle velocity was, probably 2600-2650 ish. Killed my grandpa's bighorn sheep at 175 yds. Dates back to 1996. Most memorable hunt I've ever been on.
148 gr of a 155 gr Federal Edge TLR 7 mag. 500 meters. Spindly 5x5. Best part, no load development. Factory ammo, factory gun. Sorry nothing special here.
Here are a couple from my 300WSM. 180 grain Accubonds with a muzzle velocity of 2925fps.
First one was recovered from under the offside hide of a moose at 221 yards. This was the second shot, the first exited. It weighs 124.8 grains for 69% retention.
The second one was recovered in the rear ham of a caribou shot nearly head on in the chest at 67 yards. It weighs 104.1 grains for 58% weight retention. That bullets tracked down a 12" section of spine and shattered every veterbrae, that's a pretty rough ride for any bullet.
These are the only two bullets I've recovered from about 80 shots on game with this rifle and load. The overwhelming majority of these exited with a clear wound track through and through. I did have one stop in a moose somewhere in the guts that I did not recover.
308 federal terminal ascent 175 grain. Cow elk slightly quarting away at about 70 yards. Shattered offside femur and lodged in muscle just under the skin.
On the left:
200 gain nosler accubond (Sako)
77.5 grain of H1000
2852 FPS in Sako
2nd shot on raghorn Elk at 275 through shoulder blades. First shot was through lungs and pass through.
On the right:
300 Win Mag
Federal premium factory load (discontinued)
180 grain TSX BT
MV 2918 FPS.
2nd shot on 6x6 Elk at 605 through shoulder blades. First shot was through lungs and pass through.
Have not weighed either but both did their job. Both elk stopped dead in tracks on the double lung. Second shot dropped both elk to the ground on taking out their shoulders.
270 win 150 nosler partition factory loaded by federal. It was leaving the barrel a little slow, approx 2750 FPS. Retained 63%. Range was approx 150 yards, 1 shot through vitals. Over the counter, general season public land bull. Scored just under 340”
Shot a 5x5 bull last year in the same area and was using a 150 grain cup and core bullet that I’ve had great experiences with at extended ranges 350-550 yards) but they were essentially blowing up on the front shoulder at 100 yards. Took a few additional shots to finish the 5x5 bull off.
Moral of the story, bullet selection is important at short ranges and high muzzle velocities on large game. Not so important at longer ranges