Thread: oryx projectiles

I've shot a reasonable amount of cattle both wild and domestic. The wild ones were bush animals and generally under 100 yards. All of the wild cattle were taken with Hornady 174 gr round nose projectiles doing roughly 2400 fps out of a.... tadaar 303. Any angle in the chest dropped them with no fuss from yearlings to full grown bulls.
Ive shot over thirty domestic beef with everything from a bolt gun to a 300 winchester magnum. If a head shot can be taken with a good angle and the appropriate projectile there should not be a problem. Having said that I did have a rising two year old Hereford steer get up after having a 150 gr sierra from a 308 put right between the eyes at about 40 yards (slightly from above). He went down as expected and then got straight back up looking abit bemused (as was I) and got another one just to the left which did the job. I talked to a vet about it and he said the projectile more than like went between the hemispheres of the brain but didnt quite destroy them. Ive taken his advice since and if head shooting front on I shoot an inch to the left or right and have not had an issue, side ways is better.
A bit of advice for the inexperienced with this type of shooting is to bare in mind what could happen when shooting for the head with a marginal calibre or regardless of calibre poor placement and getting it wrong. The chances of another shot are close to none in the bush.

Troy