Crossroad

[Vince]

I talked with Barnes yesterday regarding this issue.
They informed me that either caliber would work but that is do best to place the bullet in the shoulder instead of behind the shoulder.
I've always gone for the heart/lung shots but it looks like I'm going to change my thinking a little and go for the shoulder. They said it would work, either caliber, if I did a heart/lung shot, but shooting in the shoulder trends to work best due to the amount of penetration these bullets have. Even on elk or moose they recommend a shoulder shot.

 

[SJB358]

I'd still wanna try em. Trust but verify.

 

[Vince]

I'd still wanna try em. Trust but verify.

I plan to.
I just thought calling them would give me more information for making my decision. I'll have some time this weekend to load up some reduced velocity loads for this test. [emoji4]



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[SJB358]

I'd still wanna try em. Trust but verify.

I plan to.
I just thought calling them would give me more information for making my decision. I'll have some time this weekend to load up some reduced velocity loads for this test. [emoji4]



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Plus, for selfish reasons, I wanna see what they do as well.. :lol:

 

[wildgene]

...well, I guess I might as well drop my $0.03 into the jukebox...

...I shot a nice antelope buck @350yds. w/ a 175gr. GrandSlam (I was elk hunting), went thru both ribs just below the spine, I finally caught up w/ him 3/4mi. later when he finally ran out of blood. I'd be a little concerned that even a "light" .338 load would carry the same risk on something the same size as a Coues deer. No doubt Barnes work great, but they seem to be a little finicky w/ a very small "performance window" & not every shot is @ exactly 325yds. where the "optimum velocity" is. And it's probably not very PC of me to say it, but anyone who actually recommends a "shoulder shot" to promote their bullets ought to reconsider their design. They don't stand much higher in my book than the "pundits" of the '80's who decided the minimum for elk was a .338 & a 9.3 or .375 was much better, & that a "Texas Heart Shot" was perfectly acceptable, allowing you to "break 'em down", so you could get close enough to finish 'em because you spent a lot of money on their gear & guide recommendations (my opinions, you want opinions get yer own :roll: :mrgreen: )...

...ignore the rant, the 6.5 will plant 'em DOA just as well as the .338, & probably easier...

 

[Vince]

Don't hold back Gene.
Tell us how you really feel.
It's the unvarnished opinions that I seek. You have them so I thank you for sharing.

Vince

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[salmonchaser]

Vince, I'm siding with Guy and Gene on this. 6.5 and ballistic tip.

 

[Vince]

I will admit to not favoring a shoulder shot at the outset and have lost a deer, unrecovered after being hit, due to placement of a homogeneous bullet behind the shoulder. I have also seen a more fragile bullet, Ballistic Tip, work at the same distance with great aplomb.
Being a meat hunter first I'm not inclined to like shooting the shoulder.

Vince

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[SJB358]

...well, I guess I might as well drop my $0.03 into the jukebox...

...I shot a nice antelope buck @350yds. w/ a 175gr. GrandSlam (I was elk hunting), went thru both ribs just below the spine, I finally caught up w/ him 3/4mi. later when he finally ran out of blood. I'd be a little concerned that even a "light" .338 load would carry the same risk on something the same size as a Coues deer. No doubt Barnes work great, but they seem to be a little finicky w/ a very small "performance window" & not every shot is @ exactly 325yds. where the "optimum velocity" is. And it's probably not very PC of me to say it, but anyone who actually recommends a "shoulder shot" to promote their bullets ought to reconsider their design. They don't stand much higher in my book than the "pundits" of the '80's who decided the minimum for elk was a .338 & a 9.3 or .375 was much better, & that a "Texas Heart Shot" was perfectly acceptable, allowing you to "break 'em down", so you could get close enough to finish 'em because you spent a lot of money on their gear & guide recommendations (my opinions, you want opinions get yer own :roll: :mrgreen: )...

...ignore the rant, the 6.5 will plant 'em DOA just as well as the .338, & probably easier...

I think Gene summed up what I was thinking. The Barnes excel at high speeds most of the time and being I don't particularly like to hammer good meat, near or far I try to stay off front legs as much as I can.