I am somewhat new to hunting (but not to shooting) so I really don't know what the reason is for my luck. I have taken 5 animals in my short stint of hunting. All of them have gone straight down. With the exception of one, a spine shot (not aiming for the spine...got lucky. I was shooting at a deer higher than me, fairly close, and the shot went high) all have been heart or heart/lung hits. Now, 3 weren't killed immediately, just went down and didn't get up. Those were hogs and they kicked while on the ground for a few seconds to one that kicked for about 20 seconds. Then there was an Axis that was hit in the heart, went straight down and died right away, or at least didn't move but was dead when I walked up to it.
All animals where shot with the same rifle in .30-06 and at 100 yards or under with Remington 150 grain Core-lokts. Again, I really don't know what was truly the cause of these incidents. I am hoping my luck stays the same but I know it won't. Also, I have passed on dozens of shots I just didn't feel right taking. So, maybe it was careful shot placement...the round I was using, etc...I don't really know.