Importance of Shot Placement vs Power

There has been lots of talk about killing deer etc with 32, 36, 40, 45 - 72 Cal roundballs etc. Yes all will kill if shot was taken from a decent distance and hit in the vitals. Blood Trails will always very regardless of caliber or charge. As a guy who processes over 1000 deer a year I see all kinds of hits. From shoulder blown to pieces to spine hits, gut shots, butt hits and everything in between. A larger caliber should NEVER be an excuse to make up for poor shot placement. I recently watched a video of a guy who shot a deer at 100 yards using a .50 cal BMG round if unfamiliar its a huge round designed to take out light armor and vehicles as well as people initial intended for military use going 3000fps with 700 grain bullet creating 14,000 ft/lbs of energy. The guy hit the deer in front of the shoulder and the deer ran off with little blood and was seen with hole in it later that day as well as next few days alive. The next day he hit a deer in chest at same distance and the exit hole was so big they couldn't show it on video. Bottom line is use the most accurate caliber you have that is adequate/legal/humane to hunt deer. Guns are tools - in mechanics you always want to use the right tool for the job. The same thing applies here. Now: I will be the first person to admit I challenge myself while hunting using a recurve this year, while leaving a $2500 new wheel bow at home, also using flintlock only this year while leaving modern CF's with high dollar scope/thermals in the safe. But I practiced all off season and ongoing throughout the season with recurve - I can hit ethically out to 40 yards with it but have limited my shot to only 20 yards in the woods on game. Same thing with flintlock I can hit well out to and past 150 yards with the 54 rifle but again I limit my shots in woods on game to 75 yards. Basically, I always use the rule take your max range your good at on paper then divide it by 2 on game and that's my max distance. I don't make any exceptions to the self-imposed limitations. There's to many variables that happen in the woods game moves, leaves/brush, limited light, unknow distance, etc. all come into play. In the processing shop each year we cut the top off a 2- liter bottle and label it for the year and its called the "death cup". We pull everything from deer broadheads, 22lr bullets, bird shot, buck shot, heck I've pulled out headlight pieces to broken off antler tips all nonlethal hits. Of course we pull out a mess of lethal hits too.
One more thing people come in getting upset if they did not get a pass through with gun. To me this is better as the deer literally soaked up 100 percent of energy the bullet delivered vs blowing through the deer and only part of energy being delivered to the deer the rest is expended on wherever the bullet/ball hits after. Sure pass throughs lead to better blood trails but its give and take. Anyways I been thinking about making this post for a few weeks and finally spoke my mind. Thanks for listening.

Well said. We have the same philosophy.

Basically, I always use the rule take your max range your good at on paper then divide it by 2 on game and that's my max distance.

I had never heard this rule but it is a good one. I've pretty much been doing this but now I'll make it a rule to follow always. Thanks

I agree until this:

Johnny Too-Tall said:

One more thing people come in getting upset if they did not get a pass through with gun. To me this is better as the deer literally soaked up 100 percent of energy the bullet delivered vs blowing through the deer and only part of energy being delivered to the deer

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Damage and wound channel is what matters. Having "energy to spare" in a passthru means you delivered energy sufficient to create the longest wound channel and most damage possible...ALL OTHER THINGS BEING EQUAL. In the same wound channel scenario, the same style, size, weight, bullet that goes all the way through delivered THE SAME ENERGY of a lower powered one to the point the lower powered one stopped! Think about it...if you have a choice of a bullet stopping in the first lung or penetrating both and leaving two holes, which do you want?

Spikebuck said:

I agree until this:


Damage and wound channel is what matters. Having "energy to spare" in a passthru means you delivered energy sufficient to create the longest wound channel and most damage possible...ALL OTHER THINGS BEING EQUAL. In the same wound channel scenario, the same style, size, weight, bullet that goes all the way through delivered THE SAME ENERGY of a lower powered one to the point the lower powered one stopped! Think about it...if you have a choice of a bullet stopping in the first lung or penetrating both and leaving two holes, which do you want?

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95% of all bullets we recover from deer go completely through the deer and stop at hide on far side. But I agree double lung is better than one lung. And yes damage and wound channel are very important. Like 75% of the guides I know will not allow hunters to use a 6.5 creed because it makes a small hole in and out. and ask any person that uses dogs for game recovery as a profession the number one rifle caliber they are called for is 6.5 creed. Its not even the calibers fault but bullet selection you have to use a bullet that will expand and not a target round.
But it doesn't take much to kill take out both lungs if you hit it square in chest behind shoulder. Heck the 10 year old neighbor kid killed a deer with a really cheap fiberglass recurve bow with wooden arrow with field point molded on (came as a kit for like $49 or something). His mom called and said he shot a deer in the yard could I help. The arrow took out both lungs with about a 20 pound draw. Arrow went right between ribs. Lucky yes, but being deer weren't in season and he obviously didn't have a license it created a problem. But that's another story.

I started out and grew up small game hunting with airguns. Very quickly I came to understand the importance of knowing your game, weapon, and ability. Then keep all shots well within those limits.

Whatever I'm hunting, I not only study their patterns and behaviors. But also study their anatomy. Where is the off switch. What position does the animal need to be in for me to hit it?

At what range can I consistently hit that mark with my weapon of choice and KNOW in will be an instant lights out?

Then, if the shot presents itself, I will take it. If I am not 100% confident of the animal dropping on the spot I will let it walk.

I don't divide my range in half, but I do keep my shots well under the range of 100% confidence.