I am now wondering why anyone would consider using buck shot for hunting, when slugs, round balls or rifle's do a better job.
: I've heard of guys, on forums saying they need a wider pattern for shooting running deer so that some of the pellets might hit it. This goes against my grain, considerably, as you've probably noticed. So, the immediate question that comes to mind is, what good are 2 shot in the joels, on the shoulder or in the guts, or hind end of that running deer, or the two taht actually hit the lung area but stop on ribs? Why not put a rifle bullet, slug or round ball through it's lungs and be done with it- ?
; If one needs a big pattern to hit with a couple or few pellets, that person should learn to shoot before going hunting. I don't know of any deer seasons that call for shot only, but usually allow buck shot or slugs. Put a slug through a deer's lungs and it will die, whereas the 4 pellets that hit the lung area, stopped on the ribs or on the leg that angled back over the lungs while walking.
; As to the moose, I've cut and wrapped too any of them to believe a #6 shot, or buck shot for that matter will penetrate a moose rib - most of which are over 1-1/8" wide, and 3/8" thick and act like springs when hit or the 1/2" in between each rib comprised of 3/4" of fibrous muscle, just to get to the first lung. To get to there, they have to penetrate 2" of hair, 1/4" of hide, 1" or more of fat, connective tissue and 1" of muscle - before hitting the rib or muscle between the ribs. sorry, something just doesn't add up.
; Friend of mine shot a black bear while at work on perimeter security shift, 5 times with 00 buck, the first shot at 20 yards, then closer each successive shot. The bear kept walking towards him after each shot. The 5th, knocked it down and he frantically radioed 'inside' for someone to bring him more ammo. He'd only taken 5 rounds from the locker when he signed out the pelter. At that time, the bear which had been rolling around and growling had almost gained it's feet again and was maddern, well, you get the picture. By the time we got out, my friend had gone up a ladder to the roof and the bear had expired at it's base. Total time alive after the first shot - 'bout 5 min. It was a descent sized bear, but far from huge, maybe 275 to 325 pounds. It's head had been riddled with pellets, one eye gone along with an ear shredded but no pellets had found the brain. The chest shots, the first three fired, did make it to the lungs for some of the pellets, which finally did him in. We had a grand old time disecting that bear.
; The very next night, the shift change gaurd, shot another bear as it stood up in a dumpster as he walked by. That load of buck shot at about 6 feet to the side of it's head worked well.
; After that, I always carried my own rifle or handguns on night gaurd duty, shooting 7 problem bears that fall.