What I mean by picked shot is there are limits to where you can shoot a critter with your chosen rifle/caliber/bullet combination. If you are willing to pass on quesionable shots, fine. I have been known to shot deer that I bounce while moving. Often, I am looking at the south end of a north bound deer. My bullet must be capable of penetrating to the vital area of the deer. Take my hunt to South Dakota. While moving into a new stand, I had to walk past quite a bit of thick brush. Really gnarly stuff. Reminded me to mountain laurel without leaves. Anyway, I bounced a really sweet buck and shot him on the 2nd hop. The bullet entered the deer just in front of his left hip and exited through his right shoulder. He died very quickly. Now, when you step up to muleys you get an increase in body size. Not a huge increase, but an increase. More body mass = more required of my bullet. Then we consider elk. Elk are pretty big critters. How about a moose? Really big. I want a bullet that will work on anything from pronghorns to moose. Since I respect the game I hunt, I feel it is my responsibility to make certain that my chosen cartridge/load will kill as cleanly as possible.

One rifle. One load. One scope. While I love buying new guns and tinkering with loads, I have decided that focussing on one rifle/load combination will provide me with the best chance to become truly deadly. Perhaps it is that fact that my Model 70 just feels perfectly bonded to me me when I am using it. "Beware of the man with one rifle, he probably knows how to use it."