The efficient killer

[Stephen Borud]

I've partook and witnessed dozens of big game animals being taken with longbows, recurves, crossbows, flintlocks, percussions, HI powers, and BPCR. They all kill but what makes one of these a more efficient killer then the others. What do we consider an efficient kill? Is it a high shoulder blade/spine shot? Drop in there track shot? Is it the weapon that penetrates the most? Or is it the weapon that causes the most blood loss?

We all know that shot placement and penetration are the keys to any successful clean kill. I will give you some examples. A few years ago I took my wife out antelope hunting. We grabbed my 25-06 with 120 grain core lock bullets. She made a perfect shot on a broadside antelope doe at 200 yards. After the bullet struck the doe the front leg went up and it took off on a dead run, head down full speed! We all know that's what we want to see on a good shot. The doe acted like she was going to die. We watched the doe run down the hill and out of sight. We celebrated and relived the shot for several minutes before we took off to look at my wife's trophy. When we got to within a 100 yards we saw her doe bedded down, fully alive and coherent. This totally devasted my wife. We waited until the doe stood up and my wife laid another shot into this wounded doe on the opposite side as the first shot. The bullet broke the other fromt leg but was not lethal. At this point my wife was in tears as she watched this doe lay back down with her head up unable to run. I told her to shoot it again but she couldn't. I shouldered my 50 Sharps and put her down immediately! Would I call this gun an efficient killer? Yes I would, the bullet was the failure not the gun! The shooter did her job as well.

This year my oldest son went antelope hunting for the first time. I purchased some Berger 117 grain bullets. One shot at 74 yards and it was over, the buck never took another step. A neck shot did the trick. The same 25-06 was used.

I killed a spike bull elk with my longbow this year, two blade Bear broad head, 20 yard or so shot. The elk didn't know what hit him, he bleed out in under 50 yards. I watched my other two hunting pards kill bulls with there compounds in the same week. All died quickly!

I shot an antelope doe a couple years ago threw the chest with my 50
Sharps, the bullet exited a half in below her rectum, she ran about twenty yards and died. I've killed antelope bucks at 200 yards broadside with a 45 Sharps that ran 50 yards. I killed a whitetail buck at 174 yards that ran 80 yards with a 45 Sharps.
My first deer kill was with a 44 flinter at 40 yards, that doe ran 50 yards before she piled up. My second deer I killed was with the same flinter, it was a cold morning, 20 yard shot and she ran about 80 yards. I've taken several animals with a 45-70 Springfield, and a 405 grain bullet. The most animals I have killed with a gun has been with my 50 Sharps, the gun flat kills, does it kill better then the other rifles I've hunted with? No they all kill the same. I just like my 50, its comfortable to me! I have a favorite longbow, does it kill any better then my other bows? Nope I just happen to be fond of this particular bow! Tapered, straight sides bullets, no difference in the animals death. I hunted with 44 Sharps, 270s, 44-40s, 300 Win Mags, 303 British, 6.5 X 55 Mausers, 25-06 etc.

A sharp broadhead, a good bullet, a well placed shot, good penetration, confidence in your abilities as a shooter and weapon! All these factors make for clean kills!

Just some thoughts from a hunter. Agree or disagree, it's up to you.

Merry Christmas my friends! May the good Lord bless you all with peace.

SB