I had the joy of spending a few days in Texas last week to do a bit of Turkey and Pig hunting. The Turkey's were a bust, but this little piggie decided to come out and play.



The piggy came out very late, as usual. I made him out coming down the road and towards the feeder. Before I had time to get my .257 Bob up, he vanished behind a clump of trees. I figured he was using a bit of cover to try and get a pile of corn we keep in a hog trap. I could make his back out behind the trap, but that would be a very wasteful shot. Surely if I waited a few moments he'd come around. A couple minutes later, Right on queue, that's exactly what he did.

I couldn't make out the crosshairs in the darkness and had to work with the fatter duplex bars and do a bit of correlation on the pigs head. I shot a little far back, hit him in the neck and he went straight down. A couple of kicks from him prompted me to send a second round into his head, finishing the job. I'm pretty sure the first shot was a kill shot, but I didn't want him getting away.

The load: .257 Roberts, 90 gr. Barnes Banded Solid, and enough H4350 for 3,000 fps.

We couldn't find the first round's entrance or exit holes - fully sealed up in the neck. The second round hit bone in the head and left an inch sized exit with plenty of blood loss.

The Barnes Banded, btw, was because I was looking to pop a turkey and do a full mount. Never did see a turkey, but I am pleased to report that properly placed they will do the job on a piggie.

Piggie weighed in at 130# and wasn't breeding yet. I can't wait to get hold of that meat!

Robert--great job,and if this is to become a "habit" as it does with many, I recommend sending one of your Leupolds back for refit with a heavy duplex reticle. Makes lots of difference in low light situations. And, those "couple of kicks" are par for the course. Don't think 1% of my hog kills have been drop and no moves, as they all seem to wiggle a bit, whether neck, spine or whatever.

Nice hog a great shooting, Robert! Congratulations!

Why the solid bullet? Nice hog and good shooting.

Hi Rick,

quote:

Originally posted by rnovi:

The Barnes Banded, btw, was because I was looking to pop a turkey and do a full mount. Never did see a turkey, but I am pleased to report that properly placed they will do the job on a piggie.

Dusty,

Interesting call on the Heavy Duplex. I've never used one before, but with this hunt I've begun to consider that there are, in fact, viable differences between "Hunting Scopes" and "Target Scopes". A Heavy Duplex might indeed be in my future...

I suspect that I'm going to keep doing a lot of late night hoggin'. I've got a .375 H&H with an e-dot on it. I may well have to limber that up next time!

Nice looking pig rnovi.

Will be some fine groceries too.

Try the Bushnell Firefly Reticle

put some money in a good 50 mm scope with ill. reticle. it is worth it!