FIGJAM
Well-Known Member
You are right. Shoot them in the correct spot they die. Even with a 223 they will die. But what I am talking about is if you don't shoot them in the right spot. Example 2 years ago we are on a bull hunt, great guy from pa shoots an elk just over 400 and as he shoots the elk steps and he hits it in the hind quarters, we never found the elk. Same hunt his friend is shooting a 300wby improved and again shoots him in the hind quarters but closer to 500. Well that shot went through both hind quarters and broke him down. He went home with the elk.
Another my daughter 12 years old shot a deer this year with a 243 at 120 in the sand hills. Bullet selection was a poor choice I chose a 90 grn ballistic tip. Well it blew up on his front shoulder and we never found him. Last example that made my mind up. This year I watched a guy use a 6.5 creed and shoot an elk that was quartering away just a bit and he hit him perfect. It didn't have the juice to make it through. So that elk is dead now but we couldn't find the blood to track him. I took the same shot with a 300 wby imp and that elk spit that bullet out his mouth and we ate good that year. So yes bullet weight, speed, and energy at the target make up a lot. And while I realize smaller calibers will work I still say bigger is better. And for the last few years I would have agreed with you but I changed my mind. And I am not saying for YOU you should change anything as a matter of fact I will still hunt with my saum. But I shoot 4500 rounds a year and hit where I want to hit. And I k ow the limitations of my gun.
Hard to believe that guy hit that elk perfect with the creed and you lost it - it obviously wasn't a perfect shot. I rarely have passthroughs on elk and havent needed a blood trail to find them - could just be where I hunt