Shooting a Cow! Help!

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dubious

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I've just agreed to drive 3 hours to slaughter a steer tomorrow. My non-gunny friend was going to shoot it, but I have better aim and butchering knowledge so I agreed to come along in exchange for a lot of grass fed happy beef. Where should I aim? My present knowledge is to aim directly between the eye and the ear. I learned this from THR and it has worked well on a couple of goats. I'm concerned, after reading about cow anatomy, that the brain is high up near the ear. I'm going to use a winchester 30-30 or a .44 mag redhawk. Please advise me soon, I'm leaving early tomorrow morning. I think I know what to do, more or less, as far as butchering.

I'm not looking forward to this, but it is exciting and scary.
 
Between and just above the eyes, a bit more straight down than 45 degrees. Or behind the ear at a 45 degree angle. That's what I'd think would be best. Basically you want to hit low-center part of the brain. Turn 'em off like a light.

Also, don't place the muzzle directly against the steer. For the handgun, have it at least 6 to 10 inches away. Might get ugly otherwise. For the 30-30, 8 to 10 feet is good I'd think.

For the record, I don't know what I'm talking about experience-wise. I just read alot.


-T.
 
Ugggh.... :banghead:
gonna be a long day...

Ok, those distances are exactly what I would use myself. Thanks. I will take your angles into consideration.

Anyone else?
 
Winchester: How does that help me? I don't see where the cow is shot. That's not helpful from what I can tell...
 
Like I said, low center. Maybe even a bit back from center. You want to destroy the area where the spinal cord meets the brain, leaning more towards brain than spine.


-T.

EDIT: Be sure to let us know how it goes.
 
Last edited:
I'm thinking a side shot, by the way... a straight on shot seems less likely and more difficult.
 
Winchester: How does that help me? I don't see where the cow is shot. That's not helpful from what I can tell...
Click to expand...

Wait.See the foliowing advice!
If no 45/70 ,30/30,30.06,whatever.
You'll come through.I shot a dozen on my granddads farm and I'm only in therapy once a month!
The head shot between the eyes.
 
"Into the brain" somehow but...running google image search on "steer skull", the "behind the ear" shot looks too screwy due to horns :). Either through the top or right through an eyeball (splash! eww).
 
T.

I'm not sure what you mean by "low center". Center relative to what?
 
When I was a kid on the farm dad used a 20 Ga shot gun with # 6 shot to drop steers. With the muzzle 2 feet from the head the shot would hit them a bit high between the eyes.
 
I think Winchester is drunk
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Jim Beam is drunk.
Winchester is as sober as Judge Jack Weinstein on a good night figuring out anti-gun decisions.
The rifle head shot straight on between the eyes from about 3-4 yards will kill the cow instantly.
Trust me.Don't be dubious.:D
Wear some protective clothing for the splatter.
 
Tuck, that's also how I remember it being done. This isn't hunting. If you bring too much gun you're liable to have a bullet zipping around where you don't want it. Also you'll have to stand so far back you may just mangle the head, which is pretty nasty. I suggest the light shotgun at close range.
 
Cosmo, I much appreciate your advice, but please know that I will have a safe backdrop ALWAYS. I'm a safety nerd. I have held back many a shot at deer because I didn't have a safe backdrop... even with a bow.

Also, if I use my redhawk I'm trying to decide between JHP, which did not fully penetrate a living goat skull, and 310gr hardcast... which I've never shot at an animal before.

Here's my .44 recipes:

Paladin:
240gr JHP or FMJ Titegroup 9gr (.76cc) 1219fps

Grizzly:
310 GR Trueshot HRD CAST H110 18.0gr (1.18cc) 1266fps

Creampuff:
210gr BearCreek LSWC Unique 7gr (.76cc)
 
Here. Try this instead
Click to expand...

Those extra 3 hours from Phoenix have given you a slight tactical advantage.
But I still am dubious about dubious doing anything but the tried and true head on shot between the eyes from easy 1st down yardage(3-4).
With enough gun ,.243 or better to me,he's home free.
 
Yikes... that pamphlet recommends NOT shooting the brain (but instead the jugular or trachea) and using a 9mm. I have a 9mm, but I think I'll stick to my .44 mag (or 30/30) thanks.
 
Big-ass sword, about 2 vertebrae down from the skull...

Or drop a .30-30 just above those soulful eyes...

Or put 'em in a squeeze cage, and use a 10 pound sledge. That's cheapest.

I grew up on a farm.

The adults were worried when us kids started feeding The Steer.

We made sure he was happy. Lots of special food. Lots of grain. Sugar and apples and all sorts of stuff.

We named him T-Bone.

We were kids, but we weren't idiots.
 
Ever see the movie "Napolean Dynamite"?
Click to expand...

Yeah it's kinda like that, but I'm not a wuss.

squeeze cage
Click to expand...

This steer has the honor of gettin capped by me... i.e. NOT going in a squeeze cage, and never experiencing that slaughterhouse BS. Hopefully it won't kick me to death.
 
I wasn't suggesting he use a .22 or a 9mm like the articles suggest. I figure the .44 with the shot placement and other advice from the articles will do the trick.

Or... you could use a Barrett .50 from 10 yards and completely annihilate its skull. It'd never feel a thing.


-T.
 
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