Risks of Taking a Headshot?

[sjemac]

the only time i would ever attempt a head shot is with a .22lr.... and thats after many days with out food and the family was starving. IMHO there is always a better option, if not wait for the next deer

And that's precisely why your family would be starving while mine would be munching on deer ribs.

 

[captonion]

I passed up on a head shot yesterday. It was a nice buck, but all I could see was the head @ 75-80yds. I had a good rest ,but I had taken a Ruger 44 semi , and wasn't confident I could pull it off. If I had my 25-06 I wouldn't have hesitated, and would have that buck hanging today.OH WELL.

 

[thebigslide]

Not at all as likely.If I am aiming at the heart,I would have to miss by more than six inches to make a gut shot.To take out an eye when aiming for the brain,I would only have to miss the center of the brain by a couple of inches.The larger the target,the lower the odds of missing the target,and the lungs are several times the size of the brain.

Below is a quote from a previous post that demonstrates that a straight on head shot can cause a crippling wound without being fatal,

Even half a foot behind the diaphragm is still a good kill. A bullet in the liver is a dead animal even if you have to track it 150 yards. Better than tracking it a mile because you jumped it after blowing off it's face.