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> Precision long range hunting and shooting
> Making the Best of a Bad Shot
Making the Best of a Bad Shot
@ 02:26 pm (GMT) |
Lane SalvatoI had a chance to see what happened when I made a poor shot over the weekend. I was using the 168 grain ELD-M with my 308 hunting for Whitetail Deer. This particular buck was a bit over 200 yards. I just didn't get the bullet forward enough or low enough and ended up hitting him in the spine.It took me about 5 minutes to get to the buck from my hide position and he was dead by the time I got to him. When examining the wound his spine was broken cleanly in half and there was an exit wound of at least 1-inch in diameter. We never want to make a bad shot, make a marginal hit, or in any other way cause a delayed kill. However, this happens to anyone who hunts regularly. The tendency toward lighter cartridges is one thing if all other factors are perfect. When it goes bad there isn't any such thing as overkill. A heavy bullet that wounds violently shot out of an adequate caliber for the game at hand is something that is of great value. Nathan's 90% rule discussed at length in the cartridges book is something of even greater value. I'd encourage anyone who has not read it to get it. The book helped me a lot. |
Replies
@ 07:35 am (GMT) |
Thomas KitchenRe: Making the Best of a Bad Shota picture speaks a thousands words doesn't it.great to see you brought the book Frank and you are off to do some of your own testing. just why we are talking about eld-x whats interesting is even with the sst hornady had what i would call traditional calibers weights 130-150gr in 270. 139gr in 7mm they then brought out the eld-x which is a softer projectiles and upped the weights to help with penetration 145gr in 270 and 150gr in 7mm upto 175gr, pretty much heavier weights then they had traditional had across the board. now i see in 6mm they had a 103gr eld-x that they have advertised as a 6mm creedmoor projectile but now they have released a 90gr eld-x they state is for the 243 win. this would be because of the 1-10 twist that 243 normally has but its 5gr lighter then the 95gr sst that came before it. so now you got to wonder is it as violent as other eld-x's or have they toughened it up a little to help on bigger animals at high velocity (hornady states 50-300lbs medium game) or will the low bc slow it down enough? i got few 243 projectiles to test so might have to grab a box of factory ammo to test on game |
@ 06:46 am (GMT) |
Frank VallichRe: Making the Best of a Bad ShotQuote: Caleb - Thats a great checklist. But sometimes you've got maybe those first two breaths and then your whitetail has disappeared back into the brush. This seems especially prevalent with animals that I'm most interested in after answering that second question!
Best to be able to breath and think clearly. Nothing worse than a bad shot and wounded prey. Ethical kills requires the ability to maintain control and deep breaths provide control for clear thought process. Try it the next time the adrenaline flows. It takes control to breathe and this provides clarity of thought. If the animal escapes, that is just how it is. It is not likely to stalk you unless it is a grizzly. Then you better clear out or prepare for a life or death scenario! |
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