Posted By: Texas buckeye
4 down with 4 shots from the 22-250 - 08/29/16 07:05 AM
Frustratingly buggy night, no wind made for a skeeter assault on my neck and back as I just wasn't expecting calm winds. On to the hunt:
Arrived at the lease and immediately had a lone pig in the field, suspected it was the boat that had been a regular to one of my feeders lately (fortunately after the deer had eaten all the corn, told my family he could smell something good was in there but just didn't have it figured out yet
) and after one shot to the head, he dropped like a sack of coal and I saw it was the hog I suspected, an approx 175 lb juvenile boar.
looked again in the field after several hours of work, and saw a decent sized sounder, but neary all the way across the field. Thought "why not?" And took off after them. Made my way to where I identified a big sow (based on the piglets around her) and got close enough for the shot. Now I am carrying my gun (savage 22/250 with gen 1 x-sight on it), bipod trigger stick, and pulsar thermal monacle. Given the bolt action nature of the savage, I wasn't expecting more than one shot so I picked the one I wanted. Shot, dropped the sow. I then grab the thermal which I laid on the ground, saw a bunch of hogs running away, but some little ones were hanging around. Chamber another, get them in the x-sight, fire, drop a second. Again, look through thermal and see a small group of piglets still hanging, so re-chamber, find pigs, shoot. This one I hit in the hips, blew a leg nearly clean off, but it was squealing. I guess that did it for the rest as they were gone.
Big sow ended up being around 175-200. Nice big sow to take out. Piglets were a male and female, so getting rid of some babymakers made it worth while.
I have been using my x-sight because my thermal scope had been getting some warranty work. Fortunately it is back, so I should be able to do a little more damage with the semi-auto 5.56 topped with the thermal. The x-sight has been serviceable at best. I have shot 6 hogs with it so far while the thermal has been in the shop, but I am anxious to get my thermal back. If for no other reason than the semi- vs bolt action.
I continue to be impressed with the 22-250 50gr soft points I am using. 6 shots, 6 kills. Not bad. As I always say, it's about shot placement. If I really needed a second night gun, I would get a different scope for the 22-250, but I will keep things the way they are until I a forced to make a change. Don't know if that will happen though.
Btw, pics will follow in the am when I have better light.
Arrived at the lease and immediately had a lone pig in the field, suspected it was the boat that had been a regular to one of my feeders lately (fortunately after the deer had eaten all the corn, told my family he could smell something good was in there but just didn't have it figured out yet
) and after one shot to the head, he dropped like a sack of coal and I saw it was the hog I suspected, an approx 175 lb juvenile boar. looked again in the field after several hours of work, and saw a decent sized sounder, but neary all the way across the field. Thought "why not?" And took off after them. Made my way to where I identified a big sow (based on the piglets around her) and got close enough for the shot. Now I am carrying my gun (savage 22/250 with gen 1 x-sight on it), bipod trigger stick, and pulsar thermal monacle. Given the bolt action nature of the savage, I wasn't expecting more than one shot so I picked the one I wanted. Shot, dropped the sow. I then grab the thermal which I laid on the ground, saw a bunch of hogs running away, but some little ones were hanging around. Chamber another, get them in the x-sight, fire, drop a second. Again, look through thermal and see a small group of piglets still hanging, so re-chamber, find pigs, shoot. This one I hit in the hips, blew a leg nearly clean off, but it was squealing. I guess that did it for the rest as they were gone.
Big sow ended up being around 175-200. Nice big sow to take out. Piglets were a male and female, so getting rid of some babymakers made it worth while.
I have been using my x-sight because my thermal scope had been getting some warranty work. Fortunately it is back, so I should be able to do a little more damage with the semi-auto 5.56 topped with the thermal. The x-sight has been serviceable at best. I have shot 6 hogs with it so far while the thermal has been in the shop, but I am anxious to get my thermal back. If for no other reason than the semi- vs bolt action.
I continue to be impressed with the 22-250 50gr soft points I am using. 6 shots, 6 kills. Not bad. As I always say, it's about shot placement. If I really needed a second night gun, I would get a different scope for the 22-250, but I will keep things the way they are until I a forced to make a change. Don't know if that will happen though.
Btw, pics will follow in the am when I have better light.
