Ideal shot placement for Copper Hunting bullets

[2rocky]

Since my state has made me switch to copper, I've found I'm choosing a little different shot placement than I would with my typical bonded lead bullets. I'm not as concerned about avoiding bone because I shoot a larger caliber already and it made me wonder if folks who shoot lighter weight projectiles on larger critters have changed their Point of Aim too to take advantage of increased penetration and slower expansion?

Chat GPT told me this when i asked:

Copper (Monolithic) Bullets​

Think: penetration first, smaller wound channel

Ideal Shot Angles​

Copper bullets excel at tougher angles:


Quartering-to
Quartering-away
Straight-on (high chest)
Texas heart shot (only if ethical/legal and you’re confident)


Because they retain nearly 100% weight and don’t deform as much, copper bullets break bone well and still reach vitals.

Best Placement​

Shoulder / high shoulder
On the crease, but favor bone
Through heavy muscle if it leads to vitals


Why:
Copper bullets need resistance to open reliably. Bone + muscle = better expansion and more internal damage.

Less Ideal​

Pure behind-the-shoulder lung shots at lower impact velocity
Very long-range shots where velocity may drop below expansion threshold


They’ll still kill, but blood trails may be lighter and animals can go farther.

 

[Elkmagnet]

I aim for bone. Usually offside sholder though. "Just shoot at the offside sholder." That's what I told my kiddo. If you break the offside sholder you really should recover the elk.
This is a pic of the offside sholder joint on a cow he shot quartering away. Entrance at back rib. He hit the joint at the scapula.
6 creedmoor 89gr hammer HBC.
Note the lack of blood shot meat.

 

[Big Sky Guy]

Forget caliber and bullet, let’s talk shot placement

It seems we have ad nauseum conversation and debate about what is the best caliber to get a blood trail out of an elk. Followed up by, what is the best bullet to get a blood trail out of an elk. It’s been my experience over the years that shot placement is far more important than either the...

www.hunttalk.com

This was a pretty good thread and I think it works for copper even better?

 

[F250]

Since my state has made me switch to copper, I've found I'm choosing a little different shot placement than I would with my typical bonded lead bullets. I'm not as concerned about avoiding bone because I shoot a larger caliber already and it made me wonder if folks who shoot lighter weight projectiles on larger critters have changed their Point of Aim too to take advantage of increased penetration and slower expansion?

Chat GPT told me this when i asked:

Copper (Monolithic) Bullets​

Think: penetration first, smaller wound channel

Ideal Shot Angles​

Copper bullets excel at tougher angles:


Quartering-to
Quartering-away
Straight-on (high chest)
Texas heart shot (only if ethical/legal and you’re confident)


Because they retain nearly 100% weight and don’t deform as much, copper bullets break bone well and still reach vitals.

Best Placement​

Shoulder / high shoulder
On the crease, but favor bone
Through heavy muscle if it leads to vitals


Why:
Copper bullets need resistance to open reliably. Bone + muscle = better expansion and more internal damage.

Less Ideal​

Pure behind-the-shoulder lung shots at lower impact velocity
Very long-range shots where velocity may drop below expansion threshold


They’ll still kill, but blood trails may be lighter and animals can go farther.

What state went to lead free for rifle ammo ?

 

[Sheltowee]

I've converted to Hammers for my hunting loads. Killed two deer last year with 95gr. HHTs out of a .257Ackley but didn't get great blood trails holding middle behind the shoulder. I'm going to test outcomes when busting scapulae and/or holding lower in order to center punch the heart.

 

[WapitiBob]

Several inches behind the crease or straight on, I like to eat what I shoot so I try to stay away from bones.
Go light for caliber and light a fire behind them.

 

[2rocky]

What state went to lead free for rifle ammo ?

this one

 

[Big Sky Guy]

this one

Wow. California is old news and all Google shows, so if it's a different state that's all he was asking . . .

 

[Sask hunter]

I shoot lead and copper and never aimed different with one VS the other

 

[NoWiser]

I exclusively shoot copper and always go for a double-lung broadside shot. My goal is a quick kill with the least amount of meat wasted. I’ve never had an issue. Same deal every time if I do my part - short blood trail to a dead animal with no bloodshot meat or busted up quarters full of bone fragments.

 

[Caseknife]

Don't do anything different than CnC, which I haven't shot at a big game animal for close to 35 years. Dad told me when I started hunting in the 70's to aim for the boiler room. I am in the same school of thought as @NoWiser .