Yellowhammer,
You are pretty much spot on. Shooting game running in thick cover is much more difficult than in wide open spaces. As you say, 0-3 seconds is pretty much it in the thick stuff. In the open spaces of Wyoming it's a bit different, but even that can be difficult depending on just how an animal is running. As I said earlier, it's a judgement call.
A hit with the STW and TSX pretty much puts them down even if it isn't a perfect hit. It could require a follow up, but in open places that usually isn't as difficult.
In truth I would not feel as comfortable taking that shot with my trusty 25-06.
You are also right that with proper shot placement, the TSX from the STW is not generally so bad. A shot in the wrong place can ruin some very tasty meat, and has to me on occasion.
I shot a whitetail buck one time with a .338 Win Mag and a 210 gr. TSX at about 75 yards, DRT. I have seen much more damage over and over through the years from a 30-06 and even the 270. That's what I like about the TSX. It's not magical but it is pretty darn good.
Before someone piles on for the thought of using a 338 Win Mag for deer, think out of the box a bit. If you don't have grizzlies running around and don't have enough money to hunt them in the first place, what else will you do with a .338? Owning one is a pleasure, to me at least, and that's why I have it. Being able to use it on game available to me is just plum nice. Choosing the right bullet makes all the difference.
My Sub-MOA Weatherby Vanguard .338 Win. Mag.
Below is the deer I shot with the .338 and the TSX. If you look past the blood spattered here and there, you will see a fairly small exit wound.
I would like to say all exits are like that while still being DRT, but it doesn't always turn out that way. An improper shot can sometimes be
rather nasty looking, even with a TSX. It just depends.
This is the impact side. You can barely tell where the bullet hit.
Here is the exit.
Oh, and I even took a mule deer one time with a .300 Win Mag, and whitetail with a .35 Whelen. Wonderful cartridge, the Whelen.
If you think I'm bad, here's what my son used one time to take a whitetail. We don't have "eliephants" running
around our lower 40, but we still manage to have a good time.