Double-tapping with a .243 vs one shot with 30-06?

[Bighorner]

I voluntarily shoot 150 TSX Barns out of my 7 RM and am very happy with the results.

 

[3855WIN]

What do you think is an appropriate lead free bullet for hunting in California? I was very disappointed with the performance of a Winchester "Copper Impact" 30-06 on a ram I shot last weekend, took multiple shots to the chest with the 30-06, and then some more finishing shots from a sidearm to finally take it down.

Post image of ram you killed last week.

 

[Redmt]

Barnes, Leupold and a correctly placed shot.

 

[belshawelk]

Copper bullets stay together and very well may pass through without much expansion if it just hits tissue. I shoot an LRX out of both my .30 Nosler and 6.5-300. They are flying way faster than your 30-06. I specifically switched to the LRX on my Nosler .30 because I want to be able to hit an apposing shoulder and break it down much like a bear ( front shoulder). Shot a cow two years ago in the chest at 35 yards. Bullet stopped at rear hind quarter.

Maybe try and LRX or different brand.?

 

[T.R.]

Your post supports my experiences downing a Wyoming bull elk in 1987. My rifle was a Savage 99 in .308 shooting 180 grain Core-lokt ammo. Two quick shots into the chest organs did the job quickly. Distance was about 150 yards or so. When you do the math, two .308 strikes puts more shock energy into the animal than just one shot from a 300 Win MAG.

It has been my experience toppling many pronghorn antelope with my .243 rifle that 95 grain bullets are typically more accurate. This is an excellent choice for long distance shooting as trajectory is quite flat indeed. TR

 

[nrpate05]

Your post supports my experiences downing a Wyoming bull elk in 1987. My rifle was a Savage 99 in .308 shooting 180 grain Core-lokt ammo. Two quick shots into the chest organs did the job quickly. Distance was about 150 yards or so. When you do the math, two .308 strikes puts more shock energy into the animal than just one shot from a 300 Win MAG.

It has been my experience toppling many pronghorn antelope with my .243 rifle that 95 grain bullets are typically more accurate. This is an excellent choice for long distance shooting as trajectory is quite flat indeed. TR

Luckily 'shock energy' doesn't have a whole lot to do with killing an animal!

 

[T.R.]

You are incorrect about the energy of an expanding bullet striking chest organs. Two shots do far more damage than just one shot. TR

 

[howl]

You can tune an AR to shoot pretty flat and use a trigger that fires twice faster than you can pull the trigger on a BAR twice. Your spread will open up quickly as distance increases. Even with the much lower recoil of .223, it's a short range deal.

This is as ill-advised as using a .243 to start with.

 

[DoveEater]

Post image of ram you killed last week.

 

[El Jason]

I use coppers in my 6.5CM and rarely have to worry about a second shot to kill stuff. YMMV.

 

[mevertsen]

It looks like a gut shot? With the way it looks hanging?

If that's the case, don't matter what you shoot.

If that's not the case, then I have no explanation, and I apologize for the assumption.

Also keep in mind, no matter what you shoot, only one thing instantly incapacitating.

1. CNS

Then, if you destroy the left ventricle, the heart can't pump any more blood then, slowing things down fast.

Everything else can possibly result in the animal surviving for some time, which may seem like forever, but in reality isn't that long.

 

[Ben Long]

I firmly believe in sending a second or third round if need be. But that would never be my plan. The second shot is never as good as the first one. For one thing the animal will likely be moving and secondly my adrenaline is going to be kicking in. I would wager that some of my most wild misses were follow-up shots.

 

[howl]

My first deer was shot perfectly; the first time. Shot number two on the running deer hit the back leg. It may have twitched after crashing to a stop fifty yards in front of me. So I then proceeded to miss the neck entirely. At this point it appeared very dead. So I settled down to hyperventilate quietly while still covering the deer lest it attempt further escape.

The joke taken up by those later present was that the impact of each shot moved it, then I would shoot it again. They story has been retold by others until the deer has now been perforated no less than six times.

 

[pilsner]

My first deer was shot perfectly; the first time. Shot number two on the running deer hit the back leg. It may have twitched after crashing to a stop fifty yards in front of me. So I then proceeded to miss the neck entirely. At this point it appeared very dead. So I settled down to hyperventilate quietly while still covering the deer lest it attempt further escape.

The joke taken up by those later present was that the impact of each shot moved it, then I would shoot it again. They story has been retold by others until the deer has now been perforated no less than six times.

if your first shot was "perfect" then it couldn't have been upright or running to get shot a second time.

 

[GlockZ]

I wouldn't rely on double tapping anything, use a good bullet, as others have posted, the Barnes TTSX 80gr in 6mm/243 is great on deer sized game, get them to fly around the 3200fps mark and go hunting.

 

[6mm Remington]

My son has used the 90gr. Nosler E-tip in his 6mm Remington which is a Ruger MKII with a 22" barrel with great success. He has taken if I remember correctly 3 antelope with one shot each. Shot distances right about 300 yards. One buck deer roughly 200 yards one shot. Also a nice big cow elk with one shot at about 350 yards. The bullet hit tight behind the right shoulder and exited her left shoulder right in the middle of the shoulder. She went the furthest of any of his animals so far and staggered about 20 yards and tipped over.