- Joined
- Jan 28, 2003
- Messages
- 13,334
Shot Placement, what does that really mean?
It means different things for different people but the plain and simple answer is putting your projectile into the vital killing zone of the animal.
And it all depends on what a person is shooting and what type of bullets they're using as to what the position of the animal should be.
If you are a big bore guy it doesn't really matter which direction the animal is facing. A 270 gr .375 or a 250 gr .338 etc, etc in a solidly built bullet will reach the vitals of any animal in North America from any angle. All one has to do is imagine a basket ball between the front shoulders and make sure your bullet is going to hit that ball.
A true dangerous game round is capable of reaching the vitals on any animal on the planet from any angle. PERIOD.
I often hear people say I can't believe these African hunting videos, those guys were taking Texas heart shots on those animals while they were running away.
YES after the first shot on a nicely broadside facing DG animal you'd better be shooting him as long as you can see him and he's still standing. Then give him a few more after he's down.
I've got a very nice collection of solids and softs that I've collected from the north end of south running buffalo. A .458Lott or a .470NE will punch a solid or an X for that matter, all the way through a buff length wise and you usually find the bullet in the skin on the off side if it didn't exit.
On deer and elk we tend not to shoot at them after the first shot because we don't want to ruin meat. I think this is the reason why many animals are lost each year. If you are shooting a capable caliber (such as a .30-06 with 180gr bullets on deer) a Texas heart shot will in fact make it to the vitals possibly saving you long hour of tracking.
I am not suggesting that you take a rear facing shot on the first round. Rather I am suggesting that you use a cartridge capable of penetrating the vitals from less than ideal angles because in the real world stuff happens more often that most will admit.
Part two
We as Americans are sold on the idea of the behind the shoulder placement. This is because we fear meat loss and our ancestors used muzzle loader which would not always reliably penetrate bone. This shot has become ingrained in our brains from hunter yore of our mountain men ancestors.
I shoot them further forward and higher than most Americans do because I’ve seen how well it works in Africa, and guess what boys and girls? It works just the same here. Drops critters like a lightening bolt, still gets the top of the heart and lungs and there is no tracking with two broken shoulders.
Meat damage is really not as bad as you'd expect if you are using a cartridge of reasonable velocity. even if you are using a eargasplitzenloudenboomer you are hitting them in a place that doesn't carry much useable meat in the first place.
Just my humble opinion.
Greg
WARNING NONE OF THIS STUFF APPLIES TO BOWHUNTERS (That is whole other ball game!)
It means different things for different people but the plain and simple answer is putting your projectile into the vital killing zone of the animal.
And it all depends on what a person is shooting and what type of bullets they're using as to what the position of the animal should be.
If you are a big bore guy it doesn't really matter which direction the animal is facing. A 270 gr .375 or a 250 gr .338 etc, etc in a solidly built bullet will reach the vitals of any animal in North America from any angle. All one has to do is imagine a basket ball between the front shoulders and make sure your bullet is going to hit that ball.
A true dangerous game round is capable of reaching the vitals on any animal on the planet from any angle. PERIOD.
I often hear people say I can't believe these African hunting videos, those guys were taking Texas heart shots on those animals while they were running away.
YES after the first shot on a nicely broadside facing DG animal you'd better be shooting him as long as you can see him and he's still standing. Then give him a few more after he's down.
I've got a very nice collection of solids and softs that I've collected from the north end of south running buffalo. A .458Lott or a .470NE will punch a solid or an X for that matter, all the way through a buff length wise and you usually find the bullet in the skin on the off side if it didn't exit.
On deer and elk we tend not to shoot at them after the first shot because we don't want to ruin meat. I think this is the reason why many animals are lost each year. If you are shooting a capable caliber (such as a .30-06 with 180gr bullets on deer) a Texas heart shot will in fact make it to the vitals possibly saving you long hour of tracking.
I am not suggesting that you take a rear facing shot on the first round. Rather I am suggesting that you use a cartridge capable of penetrating the vitals from less than ideal angles because in the real world stuff happens more often that most will admit.
Part two
We as Americans are sold on the idea of the behind the shoulder placement. This is because we fear meat loss and our ancestors used muzzle loader which would not always reliably penetrate bone. This shot has become ingrained in our brains from hunter yore of our mountain men ancestors.
I shoot them further forward and higher than most Americans do because I’ve seen how well it works in Africa, and guess what boys and girls? It works just the same here. Drops critters like a lightening bolt, still gets the top of the heart and lungs and there is no tracking with two broken shoulders.
Meat damage is really not as bad as you'd expect if you are using a cartridge of reasonable velocity. even if you are using a eargasplitzenloudenboomer you are hitting them in a place that doesn't carry much useable meat in the first place.
Just my humble opinion.
Greg
WARNING NONE OF THIS STUFF APPLIES TO BOWHUNTERS (That is whole other ball game!)
