I doubt that you have shot a lot of elk. I have shot three that did not fall down and one that did. The one that dropped instantly was shot just behind the left eye. The others were double lung shot and they went from a short distance of 80 yards to a half mile before getting dropped with a second shot. The 80 yard one had a 50cal. hole directly through the heart and she walked the 80 yards. Since I hunt alone and a shot elk seems to want to go to the bottom of a canyon; I like the ability of a quick second shot. I saw a couple of bull elk drop instantly on being hit with a muzzleloader on one of the outdoor shows, and I sure would like to know what they were using as mine do not seem to be that frail. I usually get drawn for antlerless (cow) muzzleloader elk as that is the only chance to really get a draw with any regularity. I have been drawn four out of seven years. Maybe the cows are tougher than the bulls???