RE: Hunting with a .500 S&W
Let me clear it up....um...lets see.
JUST because the .500 is a "big" caliber, doesn't mean that it will produce and BIG blood trail!!! There we go... thats what I was getting at.
You can take a .22LR and if the bullet hits the heart and makes an exit hole low enough, you SHOULD have a massive blood trail. A good shot will make the animal bleed out before it has time to "clog" up.
In my opinion shot placement is more important that what caliber or bullet styleyou use. The bullet type doesn't have anything to do with it (IMO). A blood trail is made by the bullet causing internal bleeding which the blood is then released by the exit hole. The bullet, now matter what caliber or type CAN'T do its job if its doesn't hit the target.
My statement about "its a combo of things" was for the most part b/c I didn't feel like you coming back and me having to do this and so on.....to be honest with you.