Well, at long last, it seems I have the decades-old 22" Contender barrel in .25 Bullberry (.25x30-30) in final form and ready for action. It took a little tinkering to get it to where I wanted it, and that included adding a bit of steel putty to the dovetail slots in the barrel that someone had roughed up years ago. The "lips" were all but gone and the metal was pulled outward, so I -- over the course of several days -- took a hardened steel punch and and attempted to re-form the damage. Before doing that and adding the steel putty, the forward dovetail lock would simply come out with the forend when removing it. (The hanger bar system that came with it held things together, but I don't care for that type of set-up.)

Anyway, as things were, forend tension couldn't remain consistent, and it made accuracy a bit less than repeatable. But now, all seems to be well in that regard.

I originally had it in a traditional Boyd's ambi stock set, but after selling my 6.5 BRM setup, I swapped out to a left-handed thumbhole, which I much prefer.

I've also settled on a load: the Speer 87 grain Hot Core Spitzer ahead of Hodgdon's CFE-223. That powder is giving me quite a bit more muzzle velocity than the VARGET and AA2495 I started with, and I'm over 2900 fps with a load that is mild and that still leaves a tiny bit of soot on the necks. The load virtually duplicates the original .250-3000 offering that was renown for its effectiveness on medium game. I also have a load with the 85 grain Ballistic Tip that's around 2950 fps. In test medium, the 87 grain Hot Core, with an impact speed of just over 2320 fps, consistently expanded to more than 0.6" and retained more than 80 grains of its original weight. I can live with that. But I don't think a hog can LOL. Many years ago, I used the 85 grain Nosler BT on a variety of game, so I'm no stranger to its lethality and have no qualms about putting it into action if need be.

The scope is a used S&B Klassik that I picked up for a very good deal on another forum. It's a German-made (most Klassiks are now made in Hungary) 2.5-10x56 with the illuminated L3/fein reticle.

I have about 50 rounds loaded up, so now I just need a cooperative target to properly christen this new-to-me "old" barrel.

Get dem hogs Bobby.

quote:

Originally posted by custombolt:
Get dem hogs Bobby.

I wish they'd show up. Haven't seen one in AGES.

I think I found all our pigs Bobby! My son got on a deer lease just out side of town. I helped him put up a blind and two feeders. He set up two cell cameras. First evening feed he had 4 sounders with about 10 different size pigs in each. His only sit so far had three down with two recovered! There have been at least 3 morning with sounders under the feeders. He sent me a picture this morning of a huge boar! Bought tripod winch up feeder, boar's back was just under the winch. Second picture showed just how wide he was also. He has no time for pig shooting!

He needs to get busy on those hogs ha ha! The last two I saw and shot were May 25th and June 6th. My trigger finger is having constant spasms.