Technically speaking ugulates don't have shoulders at least not in the same sense as humans do. They do not have any bone to bone connection at the end of that front leg like we do with our shoulder sockets. It is just held in place by muscle and tendons.
If any of you shoulder shooting experts had ever actually disected a dead critter you'd likely know that. Clearly some here don't.
The heart is far far lower in the chest than where that scapula is so the comment above about
"How are you going to put the bullet through the heart if you are scared to shoot through the shoulder??"
shows a clear failure to understand deer anatomy 101.
Now I guess it kinda sorta depends on just what one calls a "shoulder" which as I've stated is something that technically a deer doesn't even have. I'm assuming (always a dangerous thing especially when the thing being discussed doesn't exactly even exist) that one is talking about that flat bone at the top to which the rest of the leg structure is attached. That's what "most" folks refer to as the "shoulder of a deer". At least that's where most folks point when indicating a shoulder shot.
IF you shoot there the one thing you will never hit is the heart. I truly wonder just how many have even an inkling just where the heart really sits in the chest of ugulates. Many of the tales I've read of bullets going thru this and that and hitting the heart tell me that particular person sure doesn't. I generally try to refrain from calling attention to such gross errors of anatomy. Unless bullets take 90 degree turns they don't hit that high and hit the heart both.
If one refers to the large upper bone of the leg as shoulder then there is a wee tad bit more credence but not a lot really. Look some time at a skeletal diagram of a deer or elk or whatever and you'll see what I mean. It really ain't exactly in line with where they heart really is located. I really love it when folks "center punch the lungs and heart. Yeah right.
I've said all this to say that it is clear most folks who bitch and moan about the piss poor bullets have no clue about deer anatomy 101 or where the heart, lungs, liver, "shoulder" or the leg bones of deer really lie in the body and in relationship to each other. It's also obvious that folks wish to blame all their errors and those of their hunting companions on the bullet used rather than the piss poor shooting that was done.
If you do not recover the deer you have absolutely no clue where the bullet hit and to say otherwise for the most part shows your lack of real world experience. Sure we all "think we know" where our bullets went but most times when the game is not recover that ain't where it went. Just as with my one deer shot with the .243 Winchester. I know where I think the bullet went, where it should have gone but the deer was not recovered so I fully admit I have no clue what really happened. Most likely not what I think did or should have cuz if it did that deer should have been recovered. Since it wasn't I'll always wonder was it me, the bullet or something else altogether. Was probably just a piss poor shot that looked good to me.
So all you arm chair internet know it all experts just keep on blaming the bullet for your failures. We'll keep chuckling away and knowing better. Just cuz a bullet did NOT do what you expected it would or hoped it would or thought it would does not constitute a bullet failure. Most always they do exactly what they are designed to do. If you use the wrong bullet the fault is yours NOT the bullet's. But go ahead and cry and moan it runs up the post count at least.
