The 223's furthest confirmed

[Hildy]

Went out today to hunt whistlepigs (groundhog, woodchuck)

Spotted one at about 60 yards on a bank. Layed prone to take it off the 6-9" bipod when he spotted me and went down the hole. I wasn't going to wait around so I continued along.

While walking along my fenceline in the field, I spot a hog at the next fenceline over. That is maybe 125 yards from where I was at. Well, the way the ground is right there, I would have to stand to take the shot. Figuring I would be better off shooting prone, I moved back 100 yards to a higher vantage point. After several minutes, the whistlepig reappeared and began to slowly walk the hegderow. After it advanced 10 yards or so, I ran like hell into the thick brush where I couldn't see it. A minute later and it stuck half of it's body into the open giving me a frontal body shot at 225+ yards.

I placed the crosshairs right on it's head/neck and fired. An abrupt concussion put me off target until I regained focus. The hog repeatedly rolled around until falling into it's own hole.

Upon inspection, I noticed quite a large amount of fur and blood around the hog's position. Two small trees were blasted with fur.

The gun was obviously a Handi....223 HB 22" with a 4-12x40 fine crosshair and a Shooter's Ridge 6-9" bipod using Winchester 45 grain JHP's. The gun will shoot 1/2" groups with this setup. Haven't done a thing to it since I bought it. Has the best factory trigger I have ever seen.

Going to a different spot tomorrow with the same setup. The field is infested and I can get shots up to 250 yards. Should be a good one

[Beekeeper]

After it advanced 10 yards or so, I ran like hell into the thick brush where I couldn't see it.

   :-D :shock: :shock: What did it do, shoot at ya :shock:  :shock:  :-D LOL

Good shooting.

[bigjeepman]

That is some nice shooting Hildy. You say you havn't done anything to your Handi since you bought it. Did you buy it new? You said the factory trigger was the best you have ever seen. Have you measured what the pull weight is?

Just curious .... as both of my Handi's triggers measure at 4.5 lbs and I bought the last one used. This is too heavy for me but might be okay to other shooters/hunters.

[MSP Ret]

Great story and great shot Hildy, sounds like your in for a good time in that area....<><.... :grin:

[Hildy]

LMAO @ Beekeeper. Nice spot, I never saw that. I'll leave it in though  for kicks and giggles.

bigjeepman, I bought the gun new at Gander Mountain for 189.99 several months ago. I was out of the store with it for $206. There was actually two 223 HB's there but I took the one that looked the best to me.
    I never tested the trigger pull, but put it this way, the trigger on my 17HMR has a polished sear, lighter spring, and was shimmed. Now, the trigger on the 223 is nicer than that one for pull, though it doesn't break as nicely. I honestly couldn't even throw an estimate at you because I have never used a tigger pull tester.

MSP, thanks for the great comments, and yes, I will admit it was one of my better shots while hunting groundhogs. Sometime today I am heading out again so I can report back on how I made out.

Good Shootin'

[Nuttinbutchunks]

Man... Al these stories remind me that I gotta get out and find a place to kill things locally.

Nice shot. It's always gratifyiing to hit something at that distance and see it spatter.  :grin:

[Hildy]

Got number 3 for the year.

A 100 yard shot using 50 grain V-Max's @ 3300fps. No exit, no blood, no nothin'. Just a dead whistlepig.

Missed one also. 125 yard shot while he was standing. No idea how I missed. Most likely because the gun is sighted in for different ammo, but man did it piss me off.

[Nuttinbutchunks]

It's amazing how the ones you think are salm dunks are more often missed.