I guess while having shot a few big game animals in the head because that was the only shooting scenario. I'd say it depends on how comfortable you are in all manners of shooting positions to make that shot. It's not as easy as some think to hit it right in the brain. A lot of times head shots have not hit the brain but caused enough brain trauma the animal either is comatose or knocked out to the point the hunter usually puts in a finishing shot. I have seen animals running around with their jaws shot off. But in defense a nasty gut shot or busted legs is just as equal of slow painful death.

I never understood someone saying the term wasting of meat from bullet impact. If you shot them where your suppose to then you waste only a rib or occasional off shoulder from a quartering away shot. Blasting through both shoulders is for sure way to make you throw some meat away.