Muzzleloader and short range shots

[tasaman]

I did same thing with a small buck few years ago. No blood. Walked and walked and walked and no blood. Since then I started to take high shoulder shots with SST bullets and then my tracking stopped. Drops them instantly. A high lung shot with a SST will not give a blood trail. Blood will pool in the chest cavity and not hit the ground. SST don't always expand and will "pencil in and pencil out" leaving a tiny hole which doesn't lend it's self to a blood trail. I love the SST for accuracy but at black powder and Triple 7 speeds I shoot for the shoulder. If you want a reliable blood trail I suggest two bullets. XTP in 250gr or 300gr. Not the magnum 300 but the regular. Also Barnes Expanders or Knight Red Hots (same bullet)in any weight. Leaves a massive blood trail no matter what you hit.

 

[Atchman2]

Regarding the aiming point. I shoot thousands of air rifle pellets per year. Most of the time the rifles are sighted in at 20 yards. At very close range you have to aim high to get a hit. Then again at 30 yards you aim high again! It is the most counter intuitive thing to deal with, but I've missed five yard squirrels because I didn't aim high on the shot.

 

[fredfred]

Maybe a pitcher will help some of you goobers