I shot a buck on 1-20-17 with a 140 grain 7-08 federal fusion. Bout a 60 yard shot. No blood no hair. Searched for hours. Fast forward to yesterday. The buck was killed by another club member. My bullet never entered the body of the deer. It rode a full 3 1/2" under the skin. There were no limbs or brush in the way when I shot so that explanation doesn't work. I cut it out to see if it expanded. WTF!?!?

That's wild. Have you tried shooting core lokt's out? That's what I'm shooting out of my 7-08 with no issues.

Did it deflect off of a rib?

That's crazy.

I ain't never seen that before.

Man I have folded up some big deer and pigs with that gun and bullet combo. It didn't even break a rib. It's almost like the bullet ran out of gas

That's crazy! I shoot fusion too. Groups great but I've shot a couple of deer and never get an exit. All have dropped so it hasn't been an issue. That is until the last buck i shot ran into a 3 year old cutover. I almost didn't find him. No blood. No nothing. I happen to stumble on him and luckily he didn't go too far. Now I'm scared to shoot fusions. I need a blood trail if they run.

Barnes ttsx will fix that problem fast

Try Winchester ACCUBONDS EHH. That is you are going to try something else. Probably less powder than normal in that shell.
how was the deer standing when you shot ? Broadside, angling, Dead on ?????

Fusion sucks . You drive your avalanche to dicks to go get them?

I wrote a long post describing the whole scenario then deleted it. Figured it would be a little boring to read. I was sitting on the ground overlooking a hard wood bottom and he came from behind me headed down hill. He was quartering away but at 60 yards, that shouldn't matter. It was the only shot I had and figured it would go thru the ribs towards the opposite should after it hit lungs.

. Ain't got no damn avalanche. That's the first animal I ever lost with fusion ammo

Get a 257. Just quit using my 7mm-08.

Is that the entrance hole in the top of the pic?

i never liked 7-08

You better watch your mouth. Around here, that's like saying someone's wife is ugly.

Now a .270 on the other hand...

I've never lost a deer with fusions. 7/08, 270, 7mag. I have no idea what happened here.

they do seem to like them .

Guilty myself. Love the round.

Very weird! I have had great success with the round in general(killed many with .308) and my son has smacked a doe with the 7-08 with no issues.

I had something similar happen years ago with a Winchester Silver tip out of a 30.06. Luckily I had back up in a semi auto. Similar 60 yard shot quartering away. Round was lodged just under the skin. Small 5 point and was my first deer ever. Man was that a while ago!