Bullet Placement
01-12-2007, 07:58 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Evadale, Texas
Posts: 625
Bullet Placement
I was having a convo. with a guy at work, and thought i would ask yall here as well. He only shoots for the vitals (heart/lungs), I mostly go for head/neck shots. His argument is a bigger target area. My argument is my gun is sighted in at 100yards inside a 1"-5shot group, so why bother, if i miss its a clean miss, if I hit it drops rite there. Why sight your gun in for even a 2" circle and not go for a head/neck shot?? I meen trophy bucks ok yea you dont wanna mess up a good shoulder mount, but just your average buck that your gonna prolly just have to eat. Why not go for the one shot wonder? just my 2cents in a ?
01-12-2007, 09:13 PM
#2
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Saskatchewan Canada
Posts: 6,921
RE: Bullet Placement
A debate that leads neither party to agree but I'll play along. I for one don't advocate head and neck shots b/c it is the one part on an animal that moves the most and often without warning. Also the fact that most don't consider their true zero when aquiring the target of a within range animal can make the perfect hold and shot to be misery 1 or 2 off can be a big deal on a neck or head shot. I have seen botched head and neck shot, it was enough for me to take this placement out of the question. It has nothing to do with ability but rather respect for the animal in my case. I consider myself a decent shot but shooting off a bench means nothing in the field IMHO. All it tells me is my scope is on and what I am capable of under little pressure. Yeah it is a confidence boost to bang out .5" groups but thats it. WhenI hit an animal in the lungs the feeling is much better than measure CtoC after a range session and I have yet to try to figure out if I hit within an 1" of where I was aiming. Notched tag and no suffering are allI need to go home happy.
As far as wasing meat, that is bogus the amount of meat that comes from the ribs of the deer isn't worth the worry. Butcher one and you'll see their is more meat off the neck then the ribs!!
I agree with your co-worker larger room of error makes the vitals a higher % shot and the best one to take. Put a bullet into any portion of the lungs and you have a filled tag. You can't say the same with aslight missof the neck or head. Oh itprobably will kill them but you might not be the one doing the eating[&:]!
Just my pennies worth
As far as wasing meat, that is bogus the amount of meat that comes from the ribs of the deer isn't worth the worry. Butcher one and you'll see their is more meat off the neck then the ribs!!
I agree with your co-worker larger room of error makes the vitals a higher % shot and the best one to take. Put a bullet into any portion of the lungs and you have a filled tag. You can't say the same with aslight missof the neck or head. Oh itprobably will kill them but you might not be the one doing the eating[&:]!
Just my pennies worth
01-13-2007, 08:11 AM
#5
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: S.W. Pa.-- Heart in North Central Pa. mountains-
Posts: 2,600
RE: Bullet Placement
I have killed many deer with head/neck shots. It depends mostly to me on the situation at the time, and most importantly, the distance to the target. I ALWAYS try to get a rest of some sort. If I don't feel comfortable about making that type of shot, I'll put it in the heart/lung cavity. I have killed FAR more deer with chest shots than head/neck shots, but I am not at all adverse to taking that shot if the situation is right at that time.
01-13-2007, 02:22 PM
#7
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 518
RE: Bullet Placement
ORIGINAL: Pawildman
I have killed many deer with head/neck shots. It depends mostly to me on the situation at the time, and most importantly, the distance to the target. I ALWAYS try to get a rest of some sort. If I don't feel comfortable about making that type of shot, I'll put it in the heart/lung cavity. I have killed FAR more deer with chest shots than head/neck shots, but I am not at all adverse to taking that shot if the situation is right at that time.
I have killed many deer with head/neck shots. It depends mostly to me on the situation at the time, and most importantly, the distance to the target. I ALWAYS try to get a rest of some sort. If I don't feel comfortable about making that type of shot, I'll put it in the heart/lung cavity. I have killed FAR more deer with chest shots than head/neck shots, but I am not at all adverse to taking that shot if the situation is right at that time.
01-13-2007, 07:47 PM
#8
Fork Horn
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Florida
Posts: 310
RE: Bullet Placement
ORIGINAL: skeeter 7MM
A debate that leads neither party to agree but I'll play along. I for one don't advocate head and neck shots b/c it is the one part on an animal that moves the most and often without warning. Also the fact that most don't consider their true zero when aquiring the target of a within range animal can make the perfect hold and shot to be misery 1 or 2 off can be a big deal on a neck or head shot. I have seen botched head and neck shot, it was enough for me to take this placement out of the question. It has nothing to do with ability but rather respect for the animal in my case. I consider myself a decent shot but shooting off a bench means nothing in the field IMHO. All it tells me is my scope is on and what I am capable of under little pressure. Yeah it is a confidence boost to bang out .5" groups but thats it. WhenI hit an animal in the lungs the feeling is much better than measure CtoC after a range session and I have yet to try to figure out if I hit within an 1" of where I was aiming. Notched tag and no suffering are allI need to go home happy.
As far as wasing meat, that is bogus the amount of meat that comes from the ribs of the deer isn't worth the worry. Butcher one and you'll see their is more meat off the neck then the ribs!!
I agree with your co-worker larger room of error makes the vitals a higher % shot and the best one to take. Put a bullet into any portion of the lungs and you have a filled tag. You can't say the same with aslight missof the neck or head. Oh itprobably will kill them but you might not be the one doing the eating[&:]!
Just my pennies worth
A debate that leads neither party to agree but I'll play along. I for one don't advocate head and neck shots b/c it is the one part on an animal that moves the most and often without warning. Also the fact that most don't consider their true zero when aquiring the target of a within range animal can make the perfect hold and shot to be misery 1 or 2 off can be a big deal on a neck or head shot. I have seen botched head and neck shot, it was enough for me to take this placement out of the question. It has nothing to do with ability but rather respect for the animal in my case. I consider myself a decent shot but shooting off a bench means nothing in the field IMHO. All it tells me is my scope is on and what I am capable of under little pressure. Yeah it is a confidence boost to bang out .5" groups but thats it. WhenI hit an animal in the lungs the feeling is much better than measure CtoC after a range session and I have yet to try to figure out if I hit within an 1" of where I was aiming. Notched tag and no suffering are allI need to go home happy.
As far as wasing meat, that is bogus the amount of meat that comes from the ribs of the deer isn't worth the worry. Butcher one and you'll see their is more meat off the neck then the ribs!!
I agree with your co-worker larger room of error makes the vitals a higher % shot and the best one to take. Put a bullet into any portion of the lungs and you have a filled tag. You can't say the same with aslight missof the neck or head. Oh itprobably will kill them but you might not be the one doing the eating[&:]!
Just my pennies worth
01-13-2007, 09:21 PM
#9
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 309
RE: Bullet Placement
I too, agree with Skeeter. A proper shoulder/high shoulder shotusually drops 'em where they are. Behind the shoulder is a dead anything and the ribs don't blow up like a shoulder or neck roast!
I'm sure most of us have had a deer make that small move or take another step just as we were squeezing off.Aiming at the shoulder or ribs still amounted to a clean kill. I can't say what would happen if the crosshairs were on the neck and it moved!! Coyote bait?
I'm sure most of us have had a deer make that small move or take another step just as we were squeezing off.Aiming at the shoulder or ribs still amounted to a clean kill. I can't say what would happen if the crosshairs were on the neck and it moved!! Coyote bait?
