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Long range elk "mistake"
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<blockquote data-quote="SBruce" data-source="post: 565513" data-attributes="member: 21068"><p>I've been waiting for this thread to get through the initial swarm of bashes and complements before I said anything, but here it is;</p><p> </p><p>Rich, </p><p> </p><p>First off I'd personally really like to know what bullet it is that you used and feel like it probably didn't expand like it should. I know you've elected not to mention it publicly, but please PM me the details if you would. I've never shot an elk at all, but I don't want to use a questionable bullet on LR deer or antelope either. I'd at least like to know the velocity limitations on said bullet.</p><p> </p><p>I realize all bullets can and do fail. Hell, I've seen Sierra Gamekings mushroom perfectly yet only penetrate 12", staying just inside the offside hide of a whitetail buck and he went about feeding just like nothing had happened and finally laid down and died 5 minutes later!! That's still a mystery to me, but I Kid you not, it happened right before my eyes. I dont remember the vitals that were hit, it was a friend of mine doing the shooting, but I believe his lung or lungs were hit. That bullet expanded and retained over 50% of it's weight, but the deer didn't act hit in any way whatsoever!! The bullet didn't pass through and it shoud've!! I still cant believe it today!</p><p> </p><p>Now to pass on another story.</p><p> </p><p>The first big game animal I've lost was the season of 2010. My son made a wonderful running shot on a whitetail doe at about 150 yds. Sent her tumbling end over end <u>literally</u> and then nothing......No movement except her head flopped up into view above the grass every now and then, we assumed she was down for the count with a spine/shoulder shot and I proceeded to fill 2 of my doe fawn tags by shooting the two fawns that were out beyond her in the clearing. </p><p> </p><p>Two shots, right over where she lay and still nothing. So we decide to go cross the river and backtrack to where all 3 of the deer lay and get them cleaned (an 800+ yd walk total). No sooner than we approached and she was up, bleated a couple times, jumped across the river and crashed into the willows on the other side. Then we heard another bleat come from her but couldn't see her. There was blood where she laid originally, and blood in the water from her crossing. My son couldn't shoot because when she crossed, she actually put herself closer towards us and I was then between her and the rifle! Glad he didn't shoot, but I wished I'd of had a shotgun with 00 buck at the ready. </p><p> </p><p>My son made the 800 yd dash to get back on the other side of the river where she'd went. I stayed at the ready on my side of the river where she'd crossed. It got dark and he couldn't find her. I did hear another bleat and some more crashing once he got close, but those 10' tall willows were just too thick for him or I to see her, even with flashlights, and we had to call it "too dark". </p><p> </p><p>Went back the next morning and found blood where she'd laid down right across the river in the thick tall willows but no blood trail and no deer, we searched for about 3 hours.</p><p> </p><p>Just judging by where he shot this years running doe (same spot, same distance) my guess is he hit barely below the spine close enough to temporarily paralize her, but no real vital damage.? This years doe didn't get away however, and we found her laying dead right where he last saw her with a spine shot above the liver and massive internal bleeding.</p><p> </p><p>It sucks when it happens, but it's happened to all of us that have spent any time hunting. Long range or not, it happens. I applaud you for posting this thread and please do let me know which bullet it is that you don't have much faith in at this point.</p><p> </p><p>Thanks,</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="SBruce, post: 565513, member: 21068"] I've been waiting for this thread to get through the initial swarm of bashes and complements before I said anything, but here it is; Rich, First off I'd personally really like to know what bullet it is that you used and feel like it probably didn't expand like it should. I know you've elected not to mention it publicly, but please PM me the details if you would. I've never shot an elk at all, but I don't want to use a questionable bullet on LR deer or antelope either. I'd at least like to know the velocity limitations on said bullet. I realize all bullets can and do fail. Hell, I've seen Sierra Gamekings mushroom perfectly yet only penetrate 12", staying just inside the offside hide of a whitetail buck and he went about feeding just like nothing had happened and finally laid down and died 5 minutes later!! That's still a mystery to me, but I Kid you not, it happened right before my eyes. I dont remember the vitals that were hit, it was a friend of mine doing the shooting, but I believe his lung or lungs were hit. That bullet expanded and retained over 50% of it's weight, but the deer didn't act hit in any way whatsoever!! The bullet didn't pass through and it shoud've!! I still cant believe it today! Now to pass on another story. The first big game animal I've lost was the season of 2010. My son made a wonderful running shot on a whitetail doe at about 150 yds. Sent her tumbling end over end [U]literally[/U] and then nothing......No movement except her head flopped up into view above the grass every now and then, we assumed she was down for the count with a spine/shoulder shot and I proceeded to fill 2 of my doe fawn tags by shooting the two fawns that were out beyond her in the clearing. Two shots, right over where she lay and still nothing. So we decide to go cross the river and backtrack to where all 3 of the deer lay and get them cleaned (an 800+ yd walk total). No sooner than we approached and she was up, bleated a couple times, jumped across the river and crashed into the willows on the other side. Then we heard another bleat come from her but couldn't see her. There was blood where she laid originally, and blood in the water from her crossing. My son couldn't shoot because when she crossed, she actually put herself closer towards us and I was then between her and the rifle! Glad he didn't shoot, but I wished I'd of had a shotgun with 00 buck at the ready. My son made the 800 yd dash to get back on the other side of the river where she'd went. I stayed at the ready on my side of the river where she'd crossed. It got dark and he couldn't find her. I did hear another bleat and some more crashing once he got close, but those 10' tall willows were just too thick for him or I to see her, even with flashlights, and we had to call it "too dark". Went back the next morning and found blood where she'd laid down right across the river in the thick tall willows but no blood trail and no deer, we searched for about 3 hours. Just judging by where he shot this years running doe (same spot, same distance) my guess is he hit barely below the spine close enough to temporarily paralize her, but no real vital damage.? This years doe didn't get away however, and we found her laying dead right where he last saw her with a spine shot above the liver and massive internal bleeding. It sucks when it happens, but it's happened to all of us that have spent any time hunting. Long range or not, it happens. I applaud you for posting this thread and please do let me know which bullet it is that you don't have much faith in at this point. Thanks, [/QUOTE]
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