When I go forward to the deer I've just shot I generaly first look at the entry wound, second the exit wound and third search for where the bullet hit the backstop.

How often do you find that the bullet has made a long skid mark indicating it has hit the ground but carried on? How far do you reckon it goes and does it worry you?

I usually have skid marks when I hunt Buffalo, but other than that, I can control it!

Buffalobwana
ROTFLMAO

I have found that camp food is what gives me skid marks. I know my guide in Alaska gets them too but I have never seen a deer with them?

You should pack Immodium AD in your hunting gear...it works for me.

Reed

Maybe you should try wiping.

That's why I only take old underwear on my hunting trips! When it's time for a change, just toss the old one in the camp fire! (and get upwind)

This post was not what I thought it would be about

I have encountered the same thing, especially with 45/70 projectiles they seem to skim more than other calibres I own actually. I would like to think that most of the energy has expended by the time it goes through the game and then hits the ground, but I still would not want to be behind it.

Enough of the crap stuff, and this is no BS:

I shot a fallow deer at a measured 342 yards with the 416 Rigby and a 350 grain X Bullet. My buddy was video taping. I have the tape. He was zoomed in to maximum useful magnification.

When the bullet hit, low in the chest, a flourish of deer intestines popped out of the deer's abdomen, and then two puffs of dust were seen about 100 and 200 yards sequentially in a straight line beyond the deer as the bullet skipped across the plain and on into the timber.

Those were "skid marks!", but I did not go looking for them.

The bullet skipped like a stone upon a pond, and I saw it as I lowered my gun from recoil. The video tape confirmed it.

DaggaRon:

Having used 400-grain Barnes "X" bullets in rather "warm" loads from my .416 Remington Magnum... I fully believe you.

As always... before you shoot, check your backstop.

Russ

And you can't have too much gun?

I do not beoeive to much gun is possible

While the first few posts where amussing. This subject is why we should all ways check our back stop.
To many people think that thats only for if you miss, but the truth is more often then not a bullet will acheive full penitration, and once it has it is still a deadly force to be reaconed with.
I have never seen the skid marks left by one of my bullets after hitting game, but I'm sure they are out there. I have shot X bullets for years and the vast number of them go all the way through.
X-Ring

I spent a good part of this winter shooting 55 gr ballistic tips out of my 6ppc, at about 3400 fps. At 100 yards, there was a slight rise behind my target, and the bullets were making an interesting trail in the snow. There'd be a furrow for about 6 feet, and then scrapnel. I picked up four or five tips, and a bunch of pieces of core and jacket.

A solid or heavy bullet may skip, but I'm not worried about a 55 gr b-tip...... Still, backstops are not optional. FWIW, Dutch.

And all this time I thought "skid marks" were exactly that in muddy areas caused by bucks mounting does! Really, thats what we call them... She stands still, and he moves her...oh baby, you move me... Chuck

What a messy thread.

One word...BABYWIPES!!! Never leave home without them.