Thanks for sharing that photo. Nasty. If more members posted their photos and stories, we'd all have greater opportunity to see, read, learn - benefit. If the photos, stories, and examples don't get posted because of fear of counterattack on the Forum, we lose the learning opportunity. I don't shoot enough game animals on an annual basis to ever learn what can be learned collectively. And the bullet manufacturers? How better for them to identify performance related issues than by seeing the results of their products in use? This provides them the opportunity to identify underperformance issues sooner, rather than later, in their manufacturing cycle. We've seen this very process play out in the past with new bullet introductions. It was the information from the end users that sent the manufacturer back to revisit and modify the bullet design/construction.
Scot E;
You stated "the extra weight helps ensure expansion". I don't understand that statement (unless you meant the additional weight helps retain downrange bullet velocity necessary for bullet expansion at extreme long range impacts), but I know the extra weight will slow muzzle velocity to help reduce the odds of an explosive impact splatter at closer ranges. The higher the impact velocity, the greater the odds of these impact splatters, particularly with highly frangible, fragmenting bullets. And it only makes sense that bullets beginning life with longer shafts of lead core should improve the odds that the rear-most lead core will survive sufficiently intact to help ensure deeper penetrations.
bigngreen has stressed avoiding the shoulders on elk. I advise avoiding the shoulders on all large game animals you intend to eat with frangible bullets, when possible. Not only to minimize meat loss, but also because any bullet that does fragment upon impact is more apt to reach the lungs if only passing thru the thinner layer of rib meat, compared to passing thru thicker shoulder meat and/or bone. In other words, increase the odds of favorable bullet performance.
Target the ribs with the highly frangible, fragmenting VLDs. They are not designed for deep penetration, compared to many other bullets that have been developed over the years. No matter the fact that someone, somewhere, will identify an example of undesired performance from any specific bullet. I'm betting on the averages, both when selecting a bullet, and when selecting shot placement, knowing that I could still suffer an undesireable surprise.
This Thread began with a member posting his experiences of bullets failing to expand, which I consider the more troublesome mode of underperformance. Because there's very little I can do to offset that mode of failure, other than cross my fingers and hope the bullet tumbles on thru the vitals. Now the Thread's transitioned into some of these frangible bullets coming unglued upon entry side impact. There's a recently posted photo of a Mule deer buck shot with a 280 AI, 168gr VLD that also splattered on the entry side.
http://www.longrangehunting.com/forums/f84/3rd-season-colorado-163211/ This buck stood back up 1 1/2 hours after being shot, because the bullet failed to penetrate sufficiently. Shot location was clearly into the vitals, but somewhat into the shoulder meat, based on the photo. Normally a killing shot with any expanding bullet that penetrates. Not a killing shot if the bullet lets go upon impact on the entry side hide and fails to reach into the boiler room.
And the All-Time Beyond Belief incident is SHRTSHTR's 300gr OTM on the doe antelope at ~800yds - this at a significantly reduced impact velocity. Worst luck EVER.
If you want to target the tougher, thicker front shoulders on close range, high velocity impacting shots, shoot a controlled expansion bullet. At least some portion of those bullets may penetrate into the vital organs. And the complimentary benefit is, you'll waste less shoulder meat.
So how to proceed into the unknown? The unknown of will I bump into the targeted game up close, or far away. I'm a broken record. Play the odds to your favor and benefit. Carry cartridges loaded with two different bullets. One better suited for each potential opportunity. It works very well.
