My wife just tagged an elk with a 300 yard head shot, using a 100 gr jacketed 243 rifle. I told her to go for the heart when we first spotted the elk, but it vanished in the brush before she could take a sure aim. When it appeared again up the mountain at 300 yards, it stopped with it's body almost dead lengthwise, which presented only a paunch or texas heart shot, neither of which the 234 is capable of taking on. But its head was turned back watching her, as the elk pondered whether to run some more or what, so the invite to stay for dinner was presented just under and forward of the eye, and went back to shatter the atlas joint. All thoughts of running were instantly abandoned!
After witnessing the shot and cutting up the meat, with less than a half pound of bloody meat. I've concluded that for my next big game hunting I will be using paper patched tin lead bullets, (patched with the GOP method) at velocities of 3300 to 3400 fps from a 30-06.
I have head shot a fair number of deer down through the years, but always refrained from it in preference to chest shots if a good broadside or quartering shot could be made. The main reason I didn't like head shots was that I've always used deep penetrating bullets, which because their impact isn't extremely violent, can leave a wounded animal if the bullet doesn't hit the skull solidly. With an explosive bullet, we have another matter. Any kind of solid head or neck hit will open up a 4 inch cavity with instant knockdown, no getting up, and sticking isn't required, as bleed out is rapid, and complete if the distance to walk to the animal is 100 yards or more. (Her elk was almost done bleeding when we got up to it.) There is no adrenalin laden meat, so flavor is tops and freezer storage life is optimum.
My decision wasn't made just because of this one elk kill. A local hunter who is over 80 years old, has been using Hornady 110 gr RN 30 cal bullets at 3200 fps for the deer him and his wife have taken for at least 30 years. His reason is named above, and he had partially sold me on the idea before my wifes elk. If the range is too long for a certain head shot, they aim for the lungs, which is what I propose to do. Same if the animal is moving and presents a broadside picture.
If you are wondering why all the fuss when even a 22 LR will kill deer cleanly with head shots. (IF THE BRAIN IS HIT!) -- The reason I'm hot about using cast is two fold. First is the matter of ultra high speed cast and a flatter trajectory than ever deemed possible with cast bullets. When I first developed the GOP method I wasn't hotly inspired because lead bullets cannot be made that will penetrate deep and produce relitively slim wound channels if velocities go too high. It was already easy to obtain the 2400 2600 fps speeds that lead will withstand and penetrate deep in all weather. Second is the matter of using any deep penetrating bullet on head neck shots and them not having the massive shock needed for sure and instant kills if the bullet hits some distance from the brain. These will do it superbly well, and still leave the option of lung shots if one wants to preserve a good rack for mounting or if the range is too long for the head neck shot. In this case, velocity will have slowed until the bullet will penetate very well without over destruction.
If the concept sounds good to you, check out our website, and look around on this forum for more information about GOP (Glue On Patch) bullets. They are super for all varmints, even pure lead can be shot at extreme velocities, patching is as wraping a bandade on your finger, no sizing or equipment for it is needed, gas check cost is eliminated and accuracy will be superior to any standard cast.
