I did. I stand corrected if you used game kings. But it sure sounds like bullet failure.

Sounds like your hunting buddies have all the knowledge on guns and ballistics that Field and Stream could ever offer them. They are the reason that brothers and sisters shouldn't marry each other.

I am 75 and have killed a "few" deer, many in the hill country. Ignore the folks giving you a hard time. The 7-08s that friends use are deer killing machines. I do not have, nor have I ever pulled the tigger on one. Main reason is that most of my so called deer rifles were built before the 7-08 was born. .243s kill deer. .308s kill deer. 7-08 is in between. Heck, I even killed one a long time ago and in a land far, far away with a .22lr, after a mental lapse that it might PO the game warden.

The 7-08 is a modern version of the 7MM Mauser that has been killing men and animals since about 1893. The Mauser has a great track record from rabbit sized game all the way to Elephant. It just requires the right bullet placed in the right spot. Happy hunting, jack