ORIGINAL: waiting_for_a_gift
The situations I was referring to were low shoulder hits. If you hit the lower end of the humerus or below it, sometimes there is no penetration of the chest cavity, even with a 30-06. I can remember twice with 30-06, twice with .35 Rem, several times with arrows hits like this. The results are always the same, lots of blood at first, then you lose them.
Then you arent really talking about the shoulder. When we talk about a shoulder hit, we are talking about a direct hit to the scalpula (sp?), which is otherwise, and correct me if I am wrong, referred to as a shoulder blade. Now, if you are hitting BELOW the humerous, it is flat out just a bad shot. Seems like it would be classified as more of a leg shot to me. And, regarding your comment that you have seen a 30-06 not penetrate it (the humerous), I am going to have to say that is pretty inaccurate. I have seen a 30.06 penetrate many thick metals, as well as seeing it penetrate wood up to 10 inches thick (low density softwood). I cant see how a bullet carrying so much KE couldnt penetrate the humerous