Partitions my favorite

[WildlifeAssassin]

I have a question for you, what is the logic behind shooting the lead cow?

From my understanding the lead cow is the most experienced cow who is in charge of herd safety and leading the herd to traditional feeding, calving and security areas. Yet I constantly hear hunters commenting on shooting the "lead cow". It seems to me shooting the lead cow provides the oldest, toughest meat and is the worst cow to take in regards to herd stability and safety. Is there something I am missing?

Please don't take this as an attack, congrats on filling your tag, I am truly just curious if there is something about herd dynamics I don't understand. If you are bothered by this let me know and I'll delete it and start a new thread.

[duckmen1]

i agree but in my sercumstance the lead cow was much further uphill making a much shorter hall out and the other cows had younger ones with them and didnt want to shoot a cow and take it away from the yearling even though they were getting pretty big. in this case was a better decision to me. plus i know the meat may not be as tender the way some cook it but my steak meat gets sliced lunch meat thin and put on an open fire for a few seconds per side and just pulls apart when finished. roasts are slow cooked resulting to tender know matter how old the animal is and stew meat is the same way. and rest is burger so it all works out. also more meat is better for spreading around to family and close friends. good point though. i would love to hear others opinion on the subject.

[Gutpile]

I have a question for you, what is the logic behind shooting the lead cow?

From my understanding the lead cow is the most experienced cow who is in charge of herd safety and leading the herd to traditional feeding, calving and security areas. Yet I constantly hear hunters commenting on shooting the "lead cow". It seems to me shooting the lead cow provides the oldest, toughest meat and is the worst cow to take in regards to herd stability and safety. Is there something I am missing?

Please don't take this as an attack, congrats on filling your tag, I am truly just curious if there is something about herd dynamics I don't understand. If you are bothered by this let me know and I'll delete it and start a new thread.

Well if thats not a threadjack I dont know what is.   

He probably shot the lead cow to test the partition.   

[hoyt2002]

My wife still shoots partitions and wont let me switch her over to the accubonds. both are great bullets i prefure the accubonds but you cant gowrong.

[WildlifeAssassin]

i agree but in my sercumstance the lead cow was much further uphill making a much shorter hall out and the other cows had younger ones with them and didnt want to shoot a cow and take it away from the yearling even though they were getting pretty big. in this case was a better decision to me. plus i know the meat may not be as tender the way some cook it but my steak meat gets sliced lunch meat thin and put on an open fire for a few seconds per side and just pulls apart when finished. roasts are slow cooked resulting to tender know matter how old the animal is and stew meat is the same way. and rest is burger so it all works out. also more meat is better for spreading around to family and close friends. good point though. i would love to hear others opinion on the subject.

Thanks for the explanation and sorry for the thread jack. I have just heard "I shot the lead cow" like 5 times in the past 2 months and this question has been bothering me. On a thread related note I shoot 7mm mag partitions for bear and accubonds for ungulates. I am very satisfied with both rounds, all animals have died within 25 yards.

[duckmen1]

its fine with me. like i said thats a good question and should probably ask starting a new thread under elk catagory. its an idea to see what peoples opinions are
accubond are a good choice also and we have had good luck hunting with them i just havent developed an accurate load out of the 300wsm yet
as far as factory loads go back when i didnt reload i always liked fusions. had good accuracy and did awsome on big game. never had an animal go pass 30 yards with couple dropping in there track out of 6 animals we have taken with them.they had great penetration as well as expansion causing lots of damage. loved the price to.

[sirmissalot]

I have a question for you, what is the logic behind shooting the lead cow?

From my understanding the lead cow is the most experienced cow who is in charge of herd safety and leading the herd to traditional feeding, calving and security areas. Yet I constantly hear hunters commenting on shooting the "lead cow". It seems to me shooting the lead cow provides the oldest, toughest meat and is the worst cow to take in regards to herd stability and safety. Is there something I am missing?

Please don't take this as an attack, congrats on filling your tag, I am truly just curious if there is something about herd dynamics I don't understand. If you are bothered by this let me know and I'll delete it and start a new thread.

Most people who claim they shot a big lead cow are probably just BSing. I hear it all the time, but how do you know you killed the lead cow? Is it just the biggest cow, or the one in the lead? What if the one in the lead isn't the biggest? Did you watch the herd and notice the same cow appears to be taking the lead? Not calling BS on duckmen, or anyone else in particular I've just noticed many people shoot a big cow and call it the lead cow... because thats what they have heard said before.

Anyways, partitions are a sweet bullet and an obvious proven killer, but I can't get past the fact that often times the lead tip gets bent or smashed. Not sure if it affects the flight or not but bugs me enough to pick the accubond instead. Other than I usually shoot barnes.

[kentrek]

but I can't get past the fact that often times the lead tip gets bent or smashed. Not sure if it affects the flight or not but bugs me enough to pick the accubond instead.

a bent lead tip will have deduct from the BC and accuracy performance of the bullet..but this wont be noticed until shooting at further ranges

shouldnt be a problem for 95 % of hunters shooting 500 an under

[bobcat]

Anyways, partitions are a sweet bullet and an obvious proven killer, but I can't get past the fact that often times the lead tip gets bent or smashed. Not sure if it affects the flight or not but bugs me enough to pick the accubond instead. Other than I usually shoot barns.

Same reason I don't use Partitions anymore.

[duckmen1]

this was the biggest and oldest one in the herd. i dont think any of the there elk were over 3 1/2 and i was told this was a 5 1/2 by the taxidermist when he looked at the teeth. getting a tan hide done. i guess i could have worded it differently but figured she was the lead cow since she was the biggest and oldest one making her the most experienced. she was pretty grey when the others were bright tan
but how about we just call her a big girl.

[huntnphool]

Anyways, partitions are a sweet bullet and an obvious proven killer, but I can't get past the fact that often times the lead tip gets bent or smashed. Not sure if it affects the flight or not but bugs me enough to pick the accubond instead. Other than I usually shoot barns.

Same reason I don't use Partitions anymore.

LOL

[Blacklab]

but I can't get past the fact that often times the lead tip gets bent or smashed. Not sure if it affects the flight or not but bugs me enough to pick the accubond instead.

a bent lead tip will have deduct from the BC and accuracy performance of the bullet..but this wont be noticed until shooting at further ranges

shouldnt be a problem for 95 % of hunters shooting 500 an under

Measure from the ogive   

[duckmen1]

Tested the 180 gr. partitions and getting 2870 fps out of the 300wsm at 3/4 " to 1" groups. Going to try neck sizing and see what happens and will make the decision from there to send in for the custom dial for my scope.
that seems like better speed for the size of the bullet compared to 165gr. for this gun.