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My next big game rifle will be a lefty Browning Stainless Stalker in 30/06. (If I don't blow all the money on shotguns and duck hunting
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Drop shot, I'm not sure what the answer is either, but here's my 2 cents. I truly believe there is such thing as too much gun for an animal. I can't speak to elk, I've never shot one. But IMHO, when I've used my .243 on deer, I've dropped them with one shot. I used a .300 mag once on one, and blast if it didn't take two shots to dispatch it. While shot placement is always a rule to take into consdideration, this deer that took the .300 mag twice was about 75 yards, broadside for the first shot in the shoulder. went running pell mell away from me before stopping about 150 yards out behind brush, finally stepped out enough to put another bullet into it. It dropped then. Two bullet channels in that deer, both in the shoulder, but narrow holes on the exit. Before folks ask if I had FMJs, no, they were 180 grain softtips. My theory was that the bullet just goes to fastf ast through lightskinned game, where as the slower .243 has time to create a wound channel that drops them. No disagreeing with the .30-06 and .338 both probably being great calibers. Need to use an adequate caliber, and be sure of that shot placement is the most important thing.wwb said:I've heard a couple theories on why it happens, but I don't think anybody knows for sure.
I've shot an elk with a .30-'06, about a 180 yard shot, broadside, and when I hit him, he dropped like he'd been hit with Thor's Hammer.
My hunting partner had basically the same shot, except it was closer - about 125 yards - and he was shooting a .300 Weatherby Mag. His hit was basically the same as mine, and he's shooting quite a boomer, but his elk ran about 50 yards before it dropped.
I've seen the same thing with whitetails and a .30-30; sometimes they drop right in their tracks, and sometimes they go 30-50 yards. When you field dress them, the heart and one or both lungs are hit - the internal damage looks the same.
Howcome?