I too would pass on either shot. I've taken a straight down spine shot and it is very tough to be spot on. In my case, I missed slightly to the right and made a 1 lung shot. Lucky for me it was in the early AM and I had all day if I needed it to track. Well, it was early season and it did take most of the day to recover my buck. And it was partly by chance that I found it having run out of blood and making circles in heavy foliage. Luckily I caught a glimpse of white. After that experience, I refuse to take the spine shot. As for the frontal, I just wouldn't consider it.