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

[Don McDowell]

Merry Christmas Stephen. Thanks so much for your hunting stories.

[Stephen Borud]

Thanks Don!

[Kurt]

Stephen,

I have hunted with everything you listed. Your right, they all get the job done.

But I prefer my .44-77 Hartford

Merry Christmas.

Kurt

[Rick Mulhern]

Thanks Don!

Stephen

My experience has been over many years that it ain't what they're shot with....but where they're hit! I've had buddies in Alabama complain to me that their bucks run when shot and they've been confounded as to what they need to use to get a DRT effect! My reply was that unless an animal has the central nervous system destroyed, meaning a spine or neck shot....they're gonna run because they're tuff as all get out and will always make the mad dash to death! I've shot bucks with every caliber from the lousy .30 M1 Carbine (when a kid) to the .458 Winchester using various types of bullets! Once upon a time I was sitting on the side of a mountain northwest of Pagosa Springs, Colorado when a very large mule deer bounded down the mountain and stopped broadside on a ledge 125 yards from me. I stuck a 180 grainer from a 300 Win Mag into the middle of his left shoulder moving at 3200 fps and I saw the hair bulge up when it hit! That buck I knew was deader than a hammer but it turned....ran straight toward where I was sitting and at 50 yards it turned straight down hill like he'd been shot in the arse with a Roman candle! The next shot was into his neck and that ended his departure! When I got to him it was plain to see that both of his front shoulders were broken but he acted like the first shot was a clean miss! The second shot broke his neck! First shot I ever made on a whitetail with my Sharps was from a 45/90 and it was a yearling we wanted for camp meat! It wouldn't have weighed in at 75#! Deer was hit behind the shoulder with a 487 grainer from a mould that Bill Bagwell put me onto and best I recall was of 1-40 alloy...soft! That yearling wasn't but about 60 yards distance and it took off like a hot drag racer; ran 150 yards or so before piling up! Exit hole was about 3" diameter. I've never had occasion to shoot a buck with my 50 but maybe I ain't done yet!

MERRY CHRISTMAS to ya!

[Stephen Borud]

Kurt, it's good to have a favorite!

SB

[Stephen Borud]

Rick I shot a whitetail doe one time with my 300 Win Mag at under a 100 yards. That 180 grain bullet went right into her heart! She took off over a hill like nothing happened. I walked over to where I had shot her looking for blood in the foot deep snow. A few specks here and there and that was it. She ran about 80 yards then laid down and curled her head around to her side and died. She was one tough doe. She was the biggest doe I had ever shot, tipping the scales at around 230 lbs.
I've watched some recent hunting shows that focus on long range shots, they all take the high shoulder spine shots so the animal falls in its tracks.

SB

[Gussy]

I have shot a bunch of deer and elk and a few bear. Shot with several cals and different bullets.

I believe it's the bullet used first then shot placement second. A light, fast bullet doesn't seem to get the job done for me. I've had a couple experiences with that combination, to include a .45 cal round ball out of a ML, and they will get the job done but not to my liking. I had good placement on 2 shots and the deer acted like they weren't even hit and I watched them run quite a ways then pile up. Heavy big bullets worked the best and out of smokeless guns Nosler partition worked best.

[Rick Mulhern]

Stephen

I've quite often wondered if those high shoulder shots aren't intentional!

[Rick Mulhern]

Gussy

Sometimes moments of opportunity arise right out of the blue! Such was the occasion one day for me during the 2014 deer season. I had my 22/250 with me at the time when a nice buck presented himself at 246 yards. I have a 1~7" ROT in this barrel and I shoot Sierra 90 gr. HPBT in it. I hit this buck slightly aft of the right shoulder and immediately if not sooner his nose hit the dirt....never kicked!!

Go figure!

The back straps were delicious!