Technologist
AH member
We often discuss cartridge selection talking about "sensible minimums" and various thresholds. A lot of us, however, don't really have any concrete and comprehensive data on performance on game that could support all these rock-hard claims that I and others make when we're discussing calibres.
In fact, I don't even have any anecdotes on my rifle ever failing me. I've missed exactly one wild boar, and I've wounded exactly one moose. We never found the moose, so I can't give you a report on that. Except for those two animals, every single animal that I've ever shot at has died. Usually they die within five meters of where they were when hit. My only experience of shot animals not dying immediately is when the shot has been kinda off, like a shot near the spine, but only damaging one lung and so. I had a tendency to shoot too high in low light conditions.
Granted, I haven't shot all that many animals (definitely less than 100 all in all), but still. I also have passed on a lot of opportunities, because I haven't had a good angle. I'm still gaining confidence as a hunter.
Anyways, this wasn't the point of my thread. What I wanted to ask you guys for is this: when have you been failed by the performance of your rifle+caliber+bullet+velocity combination?
In fact, I don't even have any anecdotes on my rifle ever failing me. I've missed exactly one wild boar, and I've wounded exactly one moose. We never found the moose, so I can't give you a report on that. Except for those two animals, every single animal that I've ever shot at has died. Usually they die within five meters of where they were when hit. My only experience of shot animals not dying immediately is when the shot has been kinda off, like a shot near the spine, but only damaging one lung and so. I had a tendency to shoot too high in low light conditions.
Granted, I haven't shot all that many animals (definitely less than 100 all in all), but still. I also have passed on a lot of opportunities, because I haven't had a good angle. I'm still gaining confidence as a hunter.
Anyways, this wasn't the point of my thread. What I wanted to ask you guys for is this: when have you been failed by the performance of your rifle+caliber+bullet+velocity combination?