Post by: Hyde on October 25, 2010, 08:59:54 PM
You are creeping along a trail at the edge of a meadow. You have the wind, but this bull caught your movement and is about to explode straight away. Do you take the shot? What caliber are you carrying, and where are you aiming? The distance is as you see it, about 60 yards or so.
Post by: Ihuntelk2 on October 25, 2010, 09:00:51 PM
Post by: HuntingFanatic on October 25, 2010, 09:03:06 PM
Post by: haugenna on October 25, 2010, 09:05:35 PM
Post by: DOUBLELUNG on October 25, 2010, 09:06:14 PM
Post by: boneaddict on October 25, 2010, 09:07:03 PM
Post by: Hyde on October 25, 2010, 09:09:04 PM
What is the distance?
Edited original post. About 60 yards.
Post by: HardCorpsHuntr on October 25, 2010, 09:10:15 PM
The range appears to be less than 100 yards. I shoot him in the face. With my modern, 7mm or .30cal center-fire rifle.
:chuckle: And I've seen him do it too!
Post by: Lowedog on October 25, 2010, 09:12:56 PM
Post by: Gobble Gobble on October 25, 2010, 09:14:47 PM
Post by: woodswalker on October 25, 2010, 09:15:10 PM
Center-fire rifle...he will hit the dirt. just under and to the rt of the chin for the neck shot.
muzzy? depends...
Post by: elkster23 on October 25, 2010, 09:15:43 PM
Post by: GUHunter on October 25, 2010, 09:27:32 PM
Center-fire rifle...he will hit the dirt. just under and to the rt of the chin for the neck shot.:yeah:
Post by: mjbskwim on October 25, 2010, 09:38:24 PM
I would have to talk myself out of it with a bow,but with a rifle there is no question
If I can't drop him at 60 with a rifle,I'll burn my tag.Even my old 32special
That tree would do nothing at that distance to a bullet.Plus plenty of target showing.
Post by: ser300wsm on October 25, 2010, 09:40:34 PM
Post by: carpsniperg2 on October 25, 2010, 09:44:45 PM
Post by: Wyoming08 on October 25, 2010, 09:45:26 PM
:o No with a bow for sure....but with a rifle....he is the next candidate for As He Lays.....and not posing for the picture. :chuckle:
:yeah: He's already in the back of the truck. :o
Post by: elkster23 on October 25, 2010, 09:47:06 PM
Post by: Little Fish on October 26, 2010, 09:42:04 AM
Post by: whacker1 on October 26, 2010, 09:58:24 AM
Bow - no way
Muzzleloader - I would probably wait to see if he would give me a better shot
300 RUM - I would take the shot.
Post by: bobcat on October 26, 2010, 10:03:07 AM
bow, he walks
Center-fire rifle...he will hit the dirt. just under and to the rt of the chin for the neck shot.
muzzy? depends...
:yeah:
Exactly where I would aim. To me the head shot is not a very good shot. Target is too small. Besides that you'd ruin the skull plate. That's too nice of a bull to split those antlers in half.
Post by: dickwilly on October 26, 2010, 10:06:05 AM
Post by: Elkpiss on October 26, 2010, 10:18:23 AM
Post by: markts on October 26, 2010, 10:19:44 AM
Post by: HUNT on October 26, 2010, 10:22:45 AM
Post by: chester on October 26, 2010, 10:32:23 AM
Post by: Curly on October 26, 2010, 10:40:06 AM
Dead elk. looks flat so easy drag out :IBCOOL:
I don't know about you, but I don't think there is an easy drag out for an elk unless it gets dropped on a snowy hillside just uphill from the truck.
Anyway, I'd take the neck shot.
Post by: Wenatcheejay on October 26, 2010, 10:43:35 AM
Post by: shedcrazy on October 26, 2010, 10:45:01 AM
Post by: Woodchuck on October 26, 2010, 10:46:22 AM
Post by: elkslare on October 26, 2010, 10:57:58 AM
Post by: KillerBeee on October 26, 2010, 12:57:14 PM
Post by: BlackRidge on October 26, 2010, 01:00:43 PM
Rifle: Neck shot w/ the .270 (Barnes TSX) and I'm confident he'd go down quick. Worst case scanario, I'd be tracking him for a few
Post by: BoomWhop on October 26, 2010, 01:05:32 PM
Post by: PA BEN on October 26, 2010, 01:15:43 PM
Post by: JackOfAllTrades on October 26, 2010, 01:42:10 PM
Either between the eyes, or let him walk(rifle)
:yeah:
Lever gun.. Iron sights. 30-30. sighted for 0 at 125yds. Put the bead a tad low right between the peepers.
Ruger 77, Scoped 30-338 sighted for 0 at 300yds. Put the crosshairs a tad low right between the peepers.
Ruger Redhawk, Iron sights. 44mag with 300gn Sierra SP, sighted for 0 at 75yds. Dead nuts right between the peepers. (IN the left eye would be effective too.)
There are two more risky options, but you've got to be a good off-hand shot, most likely with irons on short barreled rifle and or pistol as a long barrel and scope would slow your movement to aquire and target. As he's getting up and most suredly going to turn quartering away, you're already estimating where his vitals will be and you shoot as the vital zone comes across the sights. But that's a spit second decision to make, as if the vitals don't cross your hold, you'd be better to let him walk. The next would be to estimate the depth of his spine and actually take a shot at the neck and break his spine. Right behind the jaw would do the same thing. Did that with a deer once. I don't know that I'd recommend it on a bigger animal.
Unfortunately most hunters don't shoot enough to be able to place shots with such delicate accuracy. Most hunters come to the range, print pretty groups at much longer distances from a sand bag rest on a bench. 9 of 10 don't practice off hand shooting. And most hunters don't know the absolute trajectory of their bullets, with scope mounting taken into perspective. People SELDOM practice with their 300yd rifle at 50yds.
-Steve
Post by: bobcat on October 26, 2010, 01:49:10 PM
Post by: C-Money on October 26, 2010, 01:57:54 PM
Post by: Hyde on October 26, 2010, 07:55:51 PM
I posted this pic because I have personal experience with this scenario (except it was a spike). I pondered what to do in the few seconds I had, I could tell he was about to haul ass so I took the highest percentage shot which was right behind the shoulder. My 250 grain Partition out of my 338 WM busted through the jackpine like it wasn't even there and the elk dropped in his tracks. I probably wouldn't take that shot if I were carrying a 243, 270, or anything with 150 or smaller grain bullet. Now if that elk were say 150 or 200+ yards out, I wouldn't attempt to shoot through the trees, even with a 338 WM. But at 60 yards....? That is EXACTLY why I carry a 338 WM for elk. Sure, a 270 will kill an elk just fine, but in a once in a lifetime scenario, I want the deck stacked all the way!
And I agree whole heartedly with Bobcat, a head shot is completely out of the question.
Post by: bobcat on October 26, 2010, 08:29:44 PM
Post by: tshoote30 on October 26, 2010, 08:36:36 PM
Post by: Lowedog on October 26, 2010, 08:43:27 PM
I'm surprised at how many would take a neck shot at that distance. Any neck shot on an elk is risky at best due to their anatomy. That is a once in a lifetime bull for 99% of us. Maybe the bull would get away, because in my scenario, in about 3 seconds, he is going to explode in a cloud of dust and all you'll have then is the "Texas Heart Shot" for about 3 seconds before he makes the trees.
I posted this pic because I have personal experience with this scenario (except it was a spike). I pondered what to do in the few seconds I had, I could tell he was about to haul ass so I took the highest percentage shot which was right behind the shoulder. My 250 grain Partition out of my 338 WM busted through the jackpine like it wasn't even there and the elk dropped in his tracks. I probably wouldn't take that shot if I were carrying a 243, 270, or anything with 150 or smaller grain bullet. Now if that elk were say 150 or 200+ yards out, I wouldn't attempt to shoot through the trees, even with a 338 WM. But at 60 yards....? That is EXACTLY why I carry a 338 WM for elk. Sure, a 270 will kill an elk just fine, but in a once in a lifetime scenario, I want the deck stacked all the way!
And I agree whole heartedly with Bobcat, a head shot is completely out of the question.
That jack pine has a large tree right behind it covering most of the vitals. I too am surprised at the number of people who have said they would take this shot. Kind of an eye opener really. Lets a person know why things like this are not all that uncommon. http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,59924.0.html (http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,59924.0.html)
Post by: bobcat on October 26, 2010, 08:49:52 PM
Post by: Hyde on October 26, 2010, 08:55:18 PM
Post by: dirty24d on October 26, 2010, 08:58:18 PM
Post by: Lowedog on October 26, 2010, 08:59:13 PM
Post by: tshoote30 on October 26, 2010, 09:09:56 PM
Post by: bobcat on October 26, 2010, 09:55:15 PM
Post by: 7mag. on October 26, 2010, 10:07:15 PM
Post by: hoosier85 on October 27, 2010, 02:23:46 AM
Post by: NWBREW on October 27, 2010, 03:02:59 AM
But with that elk standing there at 60 yards and me with a 30-06 or better, I WOULD take either a neck shot or a lung shot.
:yeah: I would take that shot with a 270.........60 yards..neck shot. Dead elk. Bow....I don't see how you could take that shot.
Post by: tshoote30 on October 27, 2010, 04:50:32 AM
Ass shot? Are you serious? No way would I do that, it would defeat the purpose of even killing him. That's where all the good meat is. If you're going to shoot an elk in a place that's going to destroy most of the good meat, you may as well not even shoot the elk at all. But with that elk standing there at 60 yards and me with a 30-06 or better, I WOULD take either a neck shot or a lung shot.
Yes true, thought about that after i wrote it, no ass shot defeats the purpose Duh :bash: :bash: still would would throw lead at a head shot or lung shot.
Post by: Gutpile on October 27, 2010, 05:20:50 AM
That little tree isn't going to deflect a bullet enough with the elk standing right next to the tree. It may not deflect a bullet at all. And with a good scope you could probably thread a bullet through a small opening in the tree if you had to. I think that would be much better odds than aiming between the eyes. :twocents:
I agree. I'd take that shot in a heartbeat. No question about it. Muzzy and Modern.
Post by: bobcat on October 27, 2010, 07:27:17 AM
But with that elk standing there at 60 yards and me with a 30-06 or better, I WOULD take either a neck shot or a lung shot.
:yeah: I would take that shot with a 270.........60 yards..neck shot. Dead elk. Bow....I don't see how you could take that shot.
I agree. In my mind, the 270 = 30-06. (I have one of each)
Post by: MtnMuley on October 27, 2010, 08:01:57 AM
Post by: Alchase on October 27, 2010, 09:55:46 AM
300 Win Mag.
Post by: Cleve on October 27, 2010, 10:01:53 AM
Post by: Machias on October 27, 2010, 10:08:10 AM
Post by: Raul Duke on October 27, 2010, 10:08:55 AM
threw the brush high shoulder, or in the neck.
Either way, a gut pile stays where he last stands.
Post by: spikehunter on October 27, 2010, 03:02:54 PM
Post by: jaymark6655 on October 27, 2010, 04:47:17 PM
Post by: Pathfinder101 on October 27, 2010, 05:06:37 PM
Post by: Atroxus on October 27, 2010, 06:31:14 PM
Post by: elkspert on October 27, 2010, 06:36:01 PM
Post by: mebco09 on October 27, 2010, 09:06:25 PM
Post by: ing on October 27, 2010, 09:15:13 PM
Post by: 6x6rack on October 27, 2010, 11:00:23 PM
Post by: littlemac on October 28, 2010, 12:48:35 AM
I have carried a 300 Wthrby for many years and when I started hunting out of state I went to a 340 Wthrby, knowing I would have the possibility of longer shots. I shot 180 Nosler Partitions in the 300 and now shoot 210 Partitions with the 340.
I made a similar shot this year in New Mexico at nearly the same yardage but without the distraction of the pine. I put the shot on the back side of the left shoulder and with collateral damage took out two ribs on entry, top of heart, lungs and two ribs on the exit.
While enough gun is an asset, bullet placement is every bit as important. In the scenario of the picture there seems to be ample area for good bullet placement on the shoulder off hand, even better with a tree rest or sticks.
Post by: Ellensburg on October 28, 2010, 11:24:28 AM