Hydrostatic shock

[alberta_outdoors]

I know why it jellied and yes I hit bone. I hit a lot more bone on the moose. My question I guess was has anyone ever seen or had this happen to them? I'd never had a bullet from my 30-06 stop inside an animal. I'm not complaining. Not too hard to track an animal when he's laying in his tracks. The loss of meat I'll complain about though. He wasn't that big in the body to begin with.

 

[Kevin M.]

Facinating thread.

Lots of good info here.

 

[hoytcanon]

I predict you will have continued success in your non-bang-flopping endevours. I thought you were implying that since your animals didn't go straight down nobody's did, but I've been wrong before.



Nope, because with the bullets usually used in those calibers (I have them all BTW, and all but one of your list) they aren't particularily quick killers of little stuff.

I wasn't implying anything... I was stating MY experience over the past 35+ years of hunting...

I quoted those calibers, because judging by your avatar, I figured you had them... I have noted a tendancy by those experienced in hunting African game to overgun for NA game... which is just fine, if that is your preference... better overgunned than undergunned... my personal philosophy though is to be "sufficiently" gunned... but truth be told, 99% of my biggame hunting has been with archery gear. Good shooting.

 

[Dogleg]

I've also got 35+ years of big game hunting in, we must be about the same age. Not an uncommon age for members of this site.

One thing that I may have to offer on a thread about "hydo-static shock" is a disproportional amount of killing experience. This year I shot 87 large animals. Last year 27 give or take. The previous year was slow at 11 but I never hunted in Canada at all. It keeps going like that.

Along the way I've drawn some conclusions, shared a few, and kept some to myself.

 

[hoytcanon]

I've also got 35+ years of big game hunting in, we must be about the same age. Not an uncommon age for members of this site.

One thing that I may have to offer on a thread about "hydo-static shock" is a disproportional amount of killing experience. This year I shot 87 large animals. Last year 27 give or take. The previous year was slow at 11 but I never hunted in Canada at all. It keeps going like that.

Along the way I've drawn some conclusions, shared a few, and kept some to myself.

Good on you! I have neither the time nor money to shoot 87 large animals a year... I wish that it were so, but it ain't... my 2, 3, 4 or 5 will have to do. Family and work responsibilities keep me from fully entertaining my outdoor passions.

 

[Dogleg]

The best part is that I'll do it again this year.

 

[hoytcanon]

The best part is that I'll do it again this year.

Quite a few years ago I had planned two trips to Zimbabwe (before the unrest) to bowhunt plains game... a good friend was living there and had befriended a couple of landowners who operated hunting operations... unfortunately, trip one was cancelled due to the arrival of my eldest daughter and trip two was cancelled due to the arrival of my son... I am not kicking, they are the best things in my life... but my dream of hunting Africa seems a distant possibility at this stage... perhaps one day I'll get it done. Until then, I'll read about your adventures on CGN.

 

[guntech]

I had the strangest thing happen with a mule deer buck that I shot a couple years ago. The shot was a touch over 300 meters with him standing broadside, I steadied up with my 300wsm pushing a 208gr amax and placed one right in the middle of he boiler room. He went staight down on his side like he got hit by a car! When I got up to him I was shocked to discover that the bullet didnt even make it through the front side rib! It exploded on the hide but in the process it delived enough energy to rip the front side shoulder right off, and there was a chunck of coagulated blood 12" long hanging from its mouth.

Have shot a couple more since with the same bullet but at closer distance. Both had 1 1/4" entrance holes and tremendous exit holes....bullet sounded like it hit a rock! None of these deer have taken a single step...I have switched to the 165 Gmx however....only because I fear if I havea shot that is off by a little bit I might hit a shoulder and lose an animal.

A-MAX®

Designed by match shooters for match shooters. With an ultra-low drag tip, our A-Max match bullets feature an aerodynamic secant ogive that delivers flat trajectories with excellent uniformity and concentricity.

Rapid, explosive expansion with limited penetration.
Recommended muzzle velocity range: 2000+ fps.
These bullets are not recommended for hunting.

 

[Why not?]

Good on you! I have neither the time nor money to shoot 87 large animals a year... I wish that it were so, but it ain't... my 2, 3, 4 or 5 will have to do. Family and work responsibilities keep me from fully entertaining my outdoor passions.

Good on you, too, hoytcanon! Nothing is more important in life than family and loved ones. Your time will come, and you will be blessed for your sacrifice.

Best,
Ted

 

[Dogleg]

Quite a few years ago I had planned two trips to Zimbabwe (before the unrest) to bowhunt plains game... a good friend was living there and had befriended a couple of landowners who operated hunting operations... unfortunately, trip one was cancelled due to the arrival of my eldest daughter and trip two was cancelled due to the arrival of my son... I am not kicking, they are the best things in my life... but my dream of hunting Africa seems a distant possibility at this stage... perhaps one day I'll get it done. Until then, I'll read about your adventures on CGN.

My wife has gone hunting with me in SA, and Australia a couple of times. My son is comeing with me in August, and my daughter is indicateing that her turn must be comeing.