I bought a NIB Winchester Classic Stainless in .375 H&H with open sights. I replaced the factory stock with a McMillan stock, had it glass bedded, and pillar bedded, and I also had the actioned smoothed out and a trigger job done with pull set at 3 pounds. I mounted an Elite 3200 1.5x-4.5x-32mm Firefly in Warne silver removable rings and mounts. Using Federal Premium 300 grain Nosler Partions, I can keep groups at an unbeleiveable sub 1/2" at 100 yards. :eek:
Now, as for the hunt....
I was hunting in the Hill Country of Texas - a place called Bradie - about 1.5 hours WNW of Austin. It was a 3,700 acre private ranch, loaded with quality deer and numerous hogs of all sizes.
This year, however, hunting was tough. Why? Because the moon was bright - meaning that the hogs (and deer) were feeding at night. Also, it was hot - meaning that they don't travel much during the hotter temps during the day. In addition, there was a lot of rain during the spring, summer, and fall, meaning a lot of food was available so that the hogs wouldn't come to the corn feeders.
Anyway, I did manage to see 2 small hogs come to the feeder. Yes, they were way too small for my .375. I estimated them at under 40 pounds - but that's all I saw.
So I shot one right in the neck at about 50 yards, and it dropped like rocket. Interesting thing was that, after reviewing it back again on video, it was kicking it's legs after it was shot, and it appeared that his head was still up. Does that mean that the little piggy wasn't killed instantly from the force of such a cannon?
The next pig next to it didn't even run at the sound of the shot, or even after seeing his friend get hit not 3 feet away from him. So I shot that pig too. Went straight down at a shot placed right behind the shoulder. When the bullet his the second pig, the exit hole caused so much damage, that the blood splattered against the first pig that was dead on the ground. When I went to pick them up, there was, what seemed like, a gallon or so of blood on the ground.
Was the .375 too much gun for these pigs - yea, of course. But I still think that it wouldn't be too much gun for pigs in the 200+ pound range. Last thing you need is a wounded pig come after you. :eek:
Zachary
