I picked up a box of Federal Premium 180 gr. Triple Shok bullets for my .300 WSM today. I want to test them on something BIG before our hunt in Namibia next year. Does anybody know of a VERY affordable (or free) hunt for something BIG here in Texas. I would really like to whack a pig over 400 or 500 lbs. but those are pretty hard to come by. Does anyone know of a farmer or someone who has lots of wild pigs and wants them gone? I'd be glad to help out.

You need to get a life.

Eland Slayer: I can't be of any help on the large animal, however, you might think about getting some of that geletin media to test bullets. It doesn't fall down and go dead, but you can sure as heck see what damage your bullet will do. If I'm not mistaken, I thought Midway was selling blocks of the stuff, or the ingredients to make blocks of it. Tom Purdom

Go on a bison hunt

MrHawg

I have a great life, thank you very much. Maybe you're the one who needs to get a life if you have nothing better to do than criticize people here on AR.

I have a neighbor's rotweiler you can shoot. My .177 cal pellet gun just ain't cuttin it. You will have no problems with the bullets you mentioned, if you do your part.

Me Too!

You might try to line up a hunt for Nilgai. Not too expensive and I understand very tasty. Should be someone in you area that will let you shoot one pretty reasonable.
I wouldn't worry about testing that bullet. If it is accurate in your gun, you are good to go for any plains game you're going to find.

Do an eland cow hunt at http://www.campcooley.com/hunting.htm
Best wishes!

Actually, the Camp Cooley Ranch is where I shot my Eland bull in 2003. Beautiful ranch. I had a really good guide and we have become good friends since. He left 2 years ago and the operation has completely gone to shit. The owner is from Germany and has NO concept whatsoever of game management. It's a shame, because it's one of the nicest pieces of property I've hunted on.

look at the King Ranch website. They list Nilgai hunts at fairly reasonable prices, bulls or cows.

How about those mountain lion's!

quote:

Originally posted by MrHawg:
You need to get a life.

Hey MrHawg, I've read Eland Slayer's post 5-6 times and don't understand "what" seems to have upset you. Would you (or anyone who knows) explain it to me?
---

Hey Eland Slayer, A big old Hog would be a fine Hunt for the new rifle. Same for the other Hunts the guys mentioned. Best of luck with the new rifle.

Just so everyone knows, just the bullets are new, not the gun. I've had the gun for 3 years and I LOVE it. I've been shooting 150 gr. Winchester Ballistic Silvertips in it for Whitetail and Pigs and they work fine. But, I'm probably going to be using the Fed. Prem. 180 gr. TSX's in Namibia next year. That's why I'm going this morning to see how they shoot in my rifle.

quote:

Originally posted by Eland Slayer:
He left 2 years ago and the operation has completely gone to shit.

What do you base that on? The Double Rifle guys are looking at booking a hunt there -- see the Double Rifle board here. PM me if you want but I wonder if the guy you are talking about is someone I know of through a friend of mine who was in the operations side of the ranch -- probably not as he was more involved in the cattle end.

Charles,

I base that on several experiences we had while hunting there. We made a total of 3 trips to the ranch after my Eland. Here's my story: The first day, we were stalking a herd of Eland. We got to a sharp little hill that allowed us to get to within 50-60 yards of the herd bull. I thought the hunt was going to be over quick. My dad was videoing the hunt and we couldn't both get on him at the same time, so we were going to sit there and wait a while for the bull to get in a more open area. About that time my guide whispers, "Damn! Look over there to the right." What I saw made me pretty mad. There was a small road between us and the herd. It turns out the attourney of the ranch owner was visiting from Germany and he decided to go for a little jog in his white jumpsuite along with his little Yorkshire Terrier (the owner knew we were hunting in that area). Of course the herd spooked and off they went. That particular bull was never seen again. We confronted the owner about this little event and we were promptly told by him, "If you don't like it, you can get the hell off the ranch". Well, we just decided to suffer and keep trying for a bull. I did eventually get a nice, mature bull but we had several more little run in's with the owner. I would not recommend that anyone go hunting there unless it is under new management and/or ownership. They won't be getting any more of my money. The main reason I decided to keep trying for a good bull was because it was a great price. (They were having a herd reduction sale and a trophy bull was only $1,750 but now they're back to $3,000). The only thing keeping the hunting operation going was my friend who was the guide and now that he's left, some other guy has taken over. I've talked to him over the phone. They don't know the first thing about managing their animals. If you would like more info, PM me and I'll be happy to help.

quote:

Originally posted by Hot Core:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by MrHawg:
You need to get a life.

Hey MrHawg, I've read Eland Slayer's post 5-6 times and don't understand "what" seems to have upset you. Would you (or anyone who knows) explain it to me?
QUOTE]

I guess it's the part about killing an animal strictly for the purpose of testing a bullet. Sure, I'm all for using the best bullet out there and all, but I don't think it's necessary to go shoot something just to see how the bullet is going to work on something else. We all know that a TSX is an excellent bullet. Take them to the range, and if they shoot for you, take them hunting. They will work fine as long as you do your part.

Eland Slayer,

Thanks for the information.

Pick up road kills.

You need to befriend the manager of the local rendering plant. They have fresh, and some not so fresh, animals coming in every day. Slip him something they may let you blast some corpses.

Go to your local livestock auction co., and buy and old cow. they should run you about $35-40cwt. 900lbs x $35 = $315. All you will need then is a trailer, a place to turn it out and shoot it, and some buzzards.

Hog Killer

I'm putting another vote in for the Nilgai. Great eating, generous portions, and a challenge to hunt. You won't be overgunned, and will likely have to use some skills in the hunt.

Years ago (50) my dad wanted try some new bullets he had bought from P.O. Ackley. Very, very tough 30 calibers with heavy copper jackets in 146 grains (that was their average - P.O. didn't care much that they didn't turn out at an even weight!)

Anyway, we had a ranch and dad spotted a steer that was due for slaughter in the following few weeks, so he shot him. So much for the morality of why you kill an animal - just so long as you do it humanely and use the animal (hint: we call that hunting)

what did he learn - not much since the bullet penetrated the steer shoulder to shoulder, plus the fence post behind him. Being out of steers that needed killing, he had to settle for knowing lots of penetration was likely. Used those bullets for a number of elk (25+) in the subsequent years with his 300 Wby.

Maybe the gelatin in addition to the Nilgai is a good idea. But trying the new bullets out is a GREAT idea, imho !

I don't see anything wrong with blasting hogs.

They are a menace to farmers and other game animals and livestock.

The pigs themselves can be given away pretty quickly to hungry people in the area. In fact, you could probably donate it to local hunting clubs for their game dinners if you didn't want any of the meat.

I'm sure that it wouldn't go to waste.

quote:

Originally posted by MrHawg:
...I guess it's the part about killing an animal strictly for the purpose of testing a bullet. Sure, I'm all for using the best bullet out there and all, but I don't think it's necessary to go shoot something just to see how the bullet is going to work on something else. We all know that a TSX is an excellent bullet. Take them to the range, and if they shoot for you, take them hunting. They will work fine as long as you do your part.

Hey MrHawg, Interesting comments in your attempt to explain your "logic", or "lack of logic".

You start out saying he should not kill something with the bullet (to see how it works for him) and then you say get it sighted in and go hunt to kill something with it.

No desire to argue with you about any of this though.
---

Hey Eland Slayer, Good hunting and clean 1-shot kills to you.

quote:

Originally posted by Hog Killer:
Go to your local livestock auction co., and buy and old cow. they should run you about $35-40cwt. 900lbs x $35 = $315. All you will need then is a trailer, a place to turn it out and shoot it, and some buzzards.

Hog Killer

Why waste it? even an old cow makes acceptable beef jerky...

AllanD