I took a shot with my M355. I thought I was going to take it in the right lung and into the heart. It hit the shoulder blade and it lodged. Feel real bad about that shot as the deer did die, but not quickly. I was so sure of the power that I took a less than good shot thinking that the M355 would make up for any screw up on my part. I was wrong and the animal suffered for it.PastorSlaughter wrote:I bought an Excalibur Equinox this summer and I've been very impressed with it. Shot 3 mature does so far this season. It has 225 pound draw weight and it is awesome!
But I've also been wondering about the 405. Would it shoot hard enough to go right through a shoulder blade? I know there are so many variables: arrow weight, broadhead weight, mechanical v. fixed blades, etc. I shoot 125 grain mechanicals and total arrow weight is just over 400.
Yesterday morning I had a pretty big 9 point buck in the crosshairs at 13 yards. But it was a quartering-to angle and I didn't want to take that shot. I'm hunting in a suburban area. So, they need to go down quickly when I shoot or there could be real big problems if it dies on other property.
In the past, in the woods, I've hit shoulders with arrows with poor results... And I've also shot right through them with guns.
What about the 405? Anybody have shoulder shot experience with it? And what are your recommendations?
I know I made a good decision to not take that shot yesterday morning. But I still keep replaying it over and over in my mind!
I have been amazed at the penetrating power of an Excalibur but the extreme angle was a recipe for deflection.
All my bolts in the past and since have sailed through deer like paper.
Even my Axium did not take notice of deer as the bolts just glided through.
But none of these shots have encountered the shoulder.
Relatively straight on I think may have been another story but I don't know for sure.
This shot was 30 yds, Diablo bolt with 150 gr Bolt Cutter.
Now that you have me thinking again as a test I might set up the shoulder of my next deer at 20-25 yds and send a bolt through the shoulder at 30 degree angle.
At least the bone as I hate to waste good meat.