Granted my examples are few but all the same I have shot two bulls with the Berger 250 grain 338. One was 40 yards and quartering away. Hit him between the last two ribs and the bullet exited the sternum between the front legs. He looked like a wrecking ball hit him as he was flung over on top of his shoulders. The exit hole was about 2 inches in diameter. The heart was destroyed. Incidentally this bull was a 6 point scoring right at 320.
The second bull was a medium 5 point shot at 150 yards. I hit him lower than I planned. About 3 inches above the sternum behind the right shoulder and he immediately hit the ground. He was still thrashing around so I shot him in the neck. I still don't understand how this bull was immobilized so quickly with hardly any vitals being hit. The heart had several small punctures but they weren't bleeding profusely. I was above him when I shot and the bullet went through part of the sternum on the way out. The exit was about an inch in diameter
I have only seen one elk( other than these 2) hit the ground at the shot and he was hit through the shoulder and into the neck.
I have been taught that knock down power was a figment of people's imagination but these two examples really have me wondering. Is the 338 that much better? Is the Berger something special? Is the combo magical ? I don't have a clue but these two have me wondering for sure. I've got another tag for this fall so with luck I'll have one more to report on.
YMMV, Fred
