Scot, Don't beat yourself to death over this!

Anyone who has never made a poor shot, wounded an animal, ect. hasn't done that much hunting.

The key issue is the bullet didn't hit where you wanted! I have used the 100gr. Nosler BT to shoot one deer in the neck. It worked perfectly! Now before I burst into flames from the flamethrowers, let me say I understand one deer is no large study. I shot it at 35 yards and nothing could have dropped it any faster. The point is, the bullet isn't made for smashing through the entire head to get to the brain, the placement prevented performance. I have both a .257 Roberts and .25-06 and wouldn't hesitate to take either one for deer. The smaller, fast bullets work best when placed into the vitals not shoulders. I like fast .25 cal's and have been playing with different bullets for them. Placement of the bullet is as critical to its performance as how it's constructed! The X's make tiny holes all the way through when fired through the ribs up close because the petals break off. They would be a good choice for those who prefer shoulder shots.

I killed my biggest buck the same time I made my worst choices! I was in high school, had gotten up late, ( late night before), put on cowboy boots, grabbed only a knife and water and went hunting. I was close to home (45 miles maybe) in an area I was very familiar with so I figured I'd get away with lacking a few things. I drove into an area I'd seen a big buck in earlier in the summer, when I saw the big tracks crossing the road I parked the pick-up and went hunting.

I followed the tracks quietly into some manzinita and he stood up out of his bed at 25 yards.
Here's where I learned so much I raised the rifle to line of sight and could only see hair! I looked for the dark patch I thought was his ear hole and pulled the trigger. My '06 roared and I thought I'd see it collapse. It Did NOT! As it started running straight away up a small hill it looked better farther away, and when the crosshairs settled on the back of the head I pulled the trigger again. This time there was a dust cloud.

I was stunned! I'd just taken the biggest Blacktail I'd ever seen!

My scope was on 9x because I'd been using it instead of bino's the night before! Two very big mistakes!
I no longer even think about cowboy boots when headed out the door to hunt anything. My variables stay on the lowest setting unless I'm making a slow deliberately planned shot. I have several pairs of bino's and leave a pair in each rig I'm apt to jump into to run out for a quick hunt in. I've taken only three deer with head shots, one had been hit by a car and was suffering a broken back. One was a doe on a cull hunt taken with my dime shooting .22-250, and the other was this beautiful buck.

I had hit the buck in the jaw three inches low of my aim point. What I was really aiming at was the dark patch in front of his eye, had I not dropped him running away I'd have been the cause of a very miserable death! I was almost literally sick when I saw what I'd done. The only saving grace was I had been shooting jackrabbits all summer with this rifle and was pretty good with it off-hand which allowed the follow-up shot.

We have all made a blunder at one time or another. The key is to realize what caused it and fix it. Usually it's the guy behind the gun that needs an adjustment first.

I'n not sure how your scabbard caused the scope to be off unless something was really loose already. I have an AO scope on the .25-06 that would make a really close shot blurry if it's set for a long way off but again, set it for a close quick shot. There's plenty of time to adjust it for a long deliberate shot.

Incidently I think the Sierra HP Gameking is one of the most underrated deer bullets and when I've tired of the bullets I'm using now I'm going to try them next.

Take care of the scope issues and re-zero the rifle. Then take the Nosler BT out again. Just put them into the heart / lung area and you'll get over this blunder in one shot! Nate

I think that the Nosler Solid Base is a better bullet for deer. It's very accurate in my 6mm Rem., and does an excellent job on mule deer.