I agree with the need to use "point of aim" as a useful and meaningful term to avoid misleading one's self or others.

"Shot placement" occurs off of a benchrest after two minutes of preparation, sandbagged rests, no fatigue, even and very controlled breathing, and a 15 second trigger pull with warm fingers. This is the "laser beam" that most folks trot out as being the answer to all things. Too bad the "laser beam" isn't actually the same thing that gets unleashed on our precious wildlife out in the field under actual hunting conditions.

"Point of Aim" addresses the fact that this is hunting not target range practice on the old 100 yard bullseye and that when bench rest dependent folks get out of the laboratory and into field situations their laser beams don't always hit game as infallibly as what we hear claimed on this forum.

BTW, when "shot placement" don't live up to the realities of "point of aim" is where marginal rounds and "not using enough gun" for any given game are more likely to fail to get the job done and the resultant misadventures never get told in the bar nor mentioned on this Forum. For those who will put forth the myth that more robust cartridges can't be shot accurately, I don't buy it at all. I refuse to give in to the American fascination with fashionably succumbing to recoil sensitivity.

EKM