I set out with Mr. Watts to get his first big game with a new muzzleloader (even though a modern in-line version with optics). After a full day of hard hunting I decided we should sit in the water hole that the bison had been coming to. We got in the water and I put two large boards in front of us covering us up to our shoulders. We waited an eternity and suddenly a large bull of around 1800 pounds came down into the tank and stood not 15 feet from us. We could hear him breathing when the sound of rocks tumbling diverted our attention. The second male came down to the waters edge and browsed on some loose grasses. Last but not least, the small cow we were after for its fine, delicate meat came half way down the enbankment. A 300 grain Barnes MZ pushed by 150 grains of Triple 7 powder to 2000 fps hit the cow front on between the neck and shoulder. The cow ran 20 yards, spun in a circle and fell over dead. The bullet exited in front of the pelvic on the opposite side from the entry.
Lastly, I had Mr. Smith with his Browning A-Bolt, with the muzzle tuning thing with holes in it. The caliber was 30-06. We hunted for whatever meat animal presented itself. We hunted all day and 10 minutes before dark he decided a lone Scimitar Horned Oryx bull was to be his. I asked what bullet he was shooting and he said "30-06". I told him I meant what weight bullet and he said "30-06" . Okay then - I thought. He stalked a long way to get a clear shot and took it. I did not see any reaction, did not hear the bullet hit flesh and found no blood or hair. However, 100 yards away was a very dead Oryx with a hole in the shoulder precisely where I asked him to shoot it. The exit hole was behind the other shoulder. I then learned that the 65 year old Newlywed of one week was a novice hunter with no idea what weight bullet or anything else other than the 30-06 caliber designation. The ammo was marked PETERS on the box and 150 gr CL - PSP. It was newer ammo, not the antique stuff. I will post a photo when I get one as my camera failed on that one.
