head on shot


Guest mims

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I have a question. I was watching a RT dvd deer hunt and the host waited for a broadside shot with a firearm when he had a head on shot. Would it not be better to shoot the deer from head on that way a shot missed high/low or left/right would hit either organs or shoulder. Is the braodside better for gun or is it for the camera or a holdover from bow hunting?

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Re: head on shot

Well, I think a broadside exposes much more of the "kill zone" so there's a greater room for error. A head on will certainly kill a deer, in fact I killed 2 of my 3 deer last year with head on's. One was at about 20 yards and I didn't want him getting any closer and the other was at about 100 yards, but it was the only shot offered and I really wanted to take out the buck because he had a badly broken rear leg. Not my preferred shot placement and it's sure a bad mess when it's time to gut one that's been shot end to end... tongue.gif

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Re: head on shot

The main problem I have been warned about with a head on shot is hitting the point of the sternum may deflect a bullet so it only goes through the side meat and doesn't ever enter the boiler room. Ive been told to shoot just off center if I had to take a head on shot but to hold out for a side or quartering shot if at all possible.

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Re: head on shot

Done it before, and will do it again. Shot a doe at 85yds, never kicked or anything, actually thought I missed. She made the fatal mistake of running right in front of me broadside at about 40yds, ole .270 barked again, down she went. When I skinned her I found my first bullet had hit right where I aimed.

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Re: head on shot

Not a problem. Using any type of legal firearm it works great. I prefer it to a quartering away shot. The only drawback is it reduces the kill area and if you are into mounts, it can make a big hole. The bullet will indeed penetrate the chest and enter the vital area. Deer are not armor plated. Bullets will penetrate most any part of a deer. Now if it were elk, or moose, thats a little different, but deer, blast em.

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Re: head on shot

Not the preferred shot, but I'd probably take it with a rifle on a standing deer.

2 years ago, my buddy took a head on shot at a doe...was off just a little and it glanced off her left shoulder. We ended up getting her, but just those couple inches off made it a lot tougher.

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Re: head on shot

i actually don't mind the head on shot at all. took my first antelope that way. the biggest and strongest arguement i have for not doing it, would be that yes, if the angle is right, the bullet punches right through and ends up into one of the hind quarters. but you can lose a little meat or go home empty. if it was a choice of not having deer meat at all for a year, i'd take whatever shot i had

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