02-10-2012, 05:45 PM
Hi John,
Well said, it isn't the caliber, weight of the bullet, bullet construction, velocity, muzzle energy, power factor, knock down index or any of the things conveniently calculatable that results in humane kills. All it takes is the removal of a vital organ to kill an animal and that takes very little energy. But it is absolutely required that the vital organ be hit to achieve the goal.
I've had a long and experienced hunting career spanning over 50 years on multiple continents and have taken big game with everything from longbows, recurve bows, compound bows, muzzle loaders, air rifles, rimfire rifles, shot guns and centerfire rifles of nearly all descriptions. I've faced charging dangerous game and I've followed wounded cape buffalo into tall grass so I understand the difference between killing and stopping an animal.
Bullet placement trumps all other considerations assuming the bullet has the required penetration to get the job done. Debating if a 100 grain or a 123 grain or a 140 grain bullet is required is largely academic and mostly debated by those with the least experience, although I do see highly experienced individuals get sucked into the mire from time to time.
I simply limit my range and circumstances so that I know with absolute certainty, I can destroy the vital organ I intend to destroy, given the accuracy, along with bullet mass and construction, I have at hand.
I remember posting a video on the old site of a Blessbuck I heart shot with a .22 hornet at 200 yards. It went down in 8 seconds, all recorded on the video. Many howled that this was unethical. I knew without a shadow of doubt what would happen when I pulled the trigger. That caliber meets none of the requirements of hunting big game, yet I have taken dozens big game animals with it and never failed to recover one.
The 6.5 Grendel is a wonderfully capable big game cartridge and when used within the shooters capabilities is capable of taking any big game animal in North America cleanly and humanely. However for the biggest of bears, I would choose a more capable caliber and fall back to my .375 H&H. I would not hesitate to use the 6.5 Grendel for black bears, elk, moose or even inland grizzlies. Again using it within my known capabilities to destroy the intended vital organs.
As to the 6.8 or 6.5 Grendel, under 300 yards, I don't care which is which. There are many more important things to consider with the hunt.
To your point, bullet placement trumps all, we would all be better served studying our intended game animals anatomy in detail than debating caliber nuances. For my first trip to Africa, I bought a couple of books specifically on shot placement. They depicted skelital construction and vital organ locations with overlays. These proved invaluable to me, especially since many African animals have their hearts positioned further forward, some are even forward of the front leg. It is a shame to me that we, in Notrh America pay relatively little attention to precicely where the vital organs are located in relation to other structures bone and muscle mass, so that we can more wisely choose our bullet placements.
Bob
Well said, it isn't the caliber, weight of the bullet, bullet construction, velocity, muzzle energy, power factor, knock down index or any of the things conveniently calculatable that results in humane kills. All it takes is the removal of a vital organ to kill an animal and that takes very little energy. But it is absolutely required that the vital organ be hit to achieve the goal.
I've had a long and experienced hunting career spanning over 50 years on multiple continents and have taken big game with everything from longbows, recurve bows, compound bows, muzzle loaders, air rifles, rimfire rifles, shot guns and centerfire rifles of nearly all descriptions. I've faced charging dangerous game and I've followed wounded cape buffalo into tall grass so I understand the difference between killing and stopping an animal.
Bullet placement trumps all other considerations assuming the bullet has the required penetration to get the job done. Debating if a 100 grain or a 123 grain or a 140 grain bullet is required is largely academic and mostly debated by those with the least experience, although I do see highly experienced individuals get sucked into the mire from time to time.
I simply limit my range and circumstances so that I know with absolute certainty, I can destroy the vital organ I intend to destroy, given the accuracy, along with bullet mass and construction, I have at hand.
I remember posting a video on the old site of a Blessbuck I heart shot with a .22 hornet at 200 yards. It went down in 8 seconds, all recorded on the video. Many howled that this was unethical. I knew without a shadow of doubt what would happen when I pulled the trigger. That caliber meets none of the requirements of hunting big game, yet I have taken dozens big game animals with it and never failed to recover one.
The 6.5 Grendel is a wonderfully capable big game cartridge and when used within the shooters capabilities is capable of taking any big game animal in North America cleanly and humanely. However for the biggest of bears, I would choose a more capable caliber and fall back to my .375 H&H. I would not hesitate to use the 6.5 Grendel for black bears, elk, moose or even inland grizzlies. Again using it within my known capabilities to destroy the intended vital organs.
As to the 6.8 or 6.5 Grendel, under 300 yards, I don't care which is which. There are many more important things to consider with the hunt.
To your point, bullet placement trumps all, we would all be better served studying our intended game animals anatomy in detail than debating caliber nuances. For my first trip to Africa, I bought a couple of books specifically on shot placement. They depicted skelital construction and vital organ locations with overlays. These proved invaluable to me, especially since many African animals have their hearts positioned further forward, some are even forward of the front leg. It is a shame to me that we, in Notrh America pay relatively little attention to precicely where the vital organs are located in relation to other structures bone and muscle mass, so that we can more wisely choose our bullet placements.
Bob