Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Muzzleloader Hunting => Topic started by: atfulldraw on September 27, 2014, 07:51:54 AM

Title: Shot placement on elk.
Post by: atfulldraw on September 27, 2014, 07:51:54 AM: To start I'm a bow hunter and there are shots you want to avoid. My question is can you shot an elk facing you or do you have to wait for it to turn and can you shoot through the front shoulder? Shooting a 300 grain hornady bullet and 100 grains of 777. Thanks for the input.
Title: Re: Shot placement on elk.
Post by: LOVEMYLABXS on September 27, 2014, 08:02:52 AM: Depending on how close you are and how comfortable you are with your rifle aim small miss small I'd hold right under his chin and try to break the neck.
Title: Re: Shot placement on elk.
Post by: Chukarhead on September 27, 2014, 09:56:13 AM: Follow-up shots aren't really an option. I've tracked wounded elk for miles/many hours, and don't wish to repeat that. A shot through the shoulder might work, or might not. Best bet is to keep shot placement as you would with archery tackle, but with longer range.
Title: Re: Shot placement on elk.
Post by: Damnimissed on September 27, 2014, 12:54:59 PM: Quote from: Chukarhead on September 27, 2014, 09:56:13 AM
Follow-up shots aren't really an option. I've tracked wounded elk for miles/many hours, and don't wish to repeat that. A shot through the shoulder might work, or might not. Best bet is to keep shot placement as you would with archery tackle, but with longer range.

I agree, with the exception of the frontal shot. Most archery guys won't do it. I'll take a frontal shot up to probably 70 yards. Other than that is treat it like a bow with really long range.
Title: Re: Shot placement on elk.
Post by: Sabotloader on September 27, 2014, 07:13:14 PM: Quote from: atfulldraw on September 27, 2014, 07:51:54 AM
To start I'm a bow hunter and there are shots you want to avoid. My question is can you shot an elk facing you or do you have to wait for it to turn and can you shoot through the front shoulder? Shooting a 300 grain hornady bullet and 100 grains of 777. Thanks for the input.

I would not have and have not had any problems with a frontal shot in the chest. If your bullet creates the necessary 'hydrostatic shock' it is going to do a number on the chest cavity anyway you shoot it in there. For you it might be the normal thing that you do in bow hunting. Take the shot and if it is a know good shot do not rush in - let the animal lie down.
Title: Re: Shot placement on elk.
Post by: huntnnw on September 28, 2014, 10:55:30 PM: With todays bullets that are legal here...I have no worries under 70yards hitting bone. I have done penetration tests with Barnes and all lead it is staggering the difference. I have seen Barnes blow thru front shoulders and exit!
Title: Re: Shot placement on elk.
Post by: Big Horn on November 03, 2014, 09:18:10 PM: Quote from: huntnnw on September 28, 2014, 10:55:30 PM
With todays bullets that are legal here...I have no worries under 70yards hitting bone. I have done penetration tests with Barnes and all lead it is staggering the difference. I have seen Barnes blow thru front shoulders and exit!
:yeah:
Title: Re: Shot placement on elk.
Post by: usmc74 on November 06, 2014, 05:12:51 AM: Quote from: huntnnw on September 28, 2014, 10:55:30 PM
With todays bullets that are legal here...I have no worries under 70yards hitting bone. I have done penetration tests with Barnes and all lead it is staggering the difference. I have seen Barnes blow thru front shoulders and exit!

My Barnes 290 TMZ that missed, blew all the way through an 8" cedar tree. I was a bowhunter also, and was worried about a shoulder shot......no worries anymore
Title: Re: Shot placement on elk.
Post by: elkboy on November 06, 2014, 05:42:58 PM: I know this thread is about elk, but I took a frontal chest shot on large buck deer (230 pounds) at 45 yards a few years ago. It was with a 348 gr. lead Powerbelt, not the 300 gr. Bloodline I am shooting now, but it still downed the animal quickly. I think if you are close enough to really hit the center of the animal's brisket, then it is an ethical shot on an elk. Of course, nothing beats the broadside shot.
Title: Re: Shot placement on elk.
Post by: BIGMIKE on November 07, 2014, 08:28:31 PM: Shoot!
Title: Re: Shot placement on elk.
Post by: usmc74 on November 08, 2014, 02:04:59 PM: The tree I killed this season
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi251.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fgg297%2Fyoda71%2FIMG_1576.jpg&hash=19f1b0ed52e2cb9c78662c4236105951d08c219c)
Title: Re: Shot placement on elk.
Post by: usmc74 on November 08, 2014, 02:37:32 PM: This was the 290 TMZ recovered from my elk, 68 yard shot

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi251.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fgg297%2Fyoda71%2FBarnes2.jpg&hash=683fb69f34a69b4fac9d55284e776b917da61f68)
Title: Re: Shot placement on elk.
Post by: HntnFsh on November 08, 2014, 05:48:14 PM: The TMZ I recovered from my elk.
And the one that I recovered from the forleg of my elk that was completely healed over and encapsulated.
Title: Re: Shot placement on elk.
Post by: HntnFsh on November 08, 2014, 05:51:28 PM: Dont know if the last one is a TMZ but pretty sure its a Barnes bullet.
Title: Re: Shot placement on elk.
Post by: usmc74 on November 08, 2014, 06:21:21 PM: Looks kind of like the SST to me
Title: Re: Shot placement on elk.
Post by: erk444 on November 09, 2014, 01:15:29 PM: Hey usmc, what gun are you shooting and what twist rate?
Title: Re: Shot placement on elk.
Post by: usmc74 on November 09, 2014, 02:01:06 PM: Quote from: erk444 on November 09, 2014, 01:15:29 PM
Hey usmc, what gun are you shooting and what twist rate?

I shoot a Knight bighorn, 1-28 twist, TMZ 290, 110 gr 777 3F

Pic is my buddy w/ a TC renegade...has a GM hunter barrel on it