Another 7x57 Hog

[rickt300]

I meant to use my 358 but due to a handloading mistake by yours truly my backup rifle was carried instead. It was loaded with my favorite deer bullet the 160 grain Sierra gameking pushed by 47.0 grains of AA4350. I was sneaking up on feeders during the full moon last night when I saw a black shape so large I thought it must be a cow or a large calf. I looked at it thru my 4x Redfield widefield at 40 yards and still could not be sure without hitting it with the spot light. I know cows are not supposed to be active at night but I have seen them moving around after dark and the moon was so bright I had to be sure. I hit him with my handheld spot light while lining him up with the scope, yep a big hog. I hit him at the top of the shoulder in the spine and down he went. I went to look at him and he was down and still kicking a bit so I put a finisher in him.  I couldn't pick his head up or drag him an inch. I went and got the truck, tied a rope around his neck and drtagged him to the cabin. When it got daylight I took some pictures and measured him. laying on his side he was 22 inches thick. His body was 5 feet and 2 inchs long from ham to nose. His tail was 11 inches long. Big Hog!  He also smelled like boiled piss. He had nice teeth and was average ugly in the face. This hog was not to be eaten and I couldn't afford to mount him so I dragged him to a ditch with the truck and pushed him off into it for the coyotes. Perhaps when the vultures, coyotes and ants are done I will have a nice large skull for my mantle.  Neither bullet exited. When the first shot hit him it sounded like a baseball bat hitting a 2x4. Sure wish I had seated those bullets deeper in the 358 as this is what I bought it for. Still the old 7x57 is still pretty usefull.

[kombi1976]

My goodness......5' 2" long!!
Talk about a big 'un.
Did you take a pic, Rick?
I'd love to see it.
It's a pity you on had that inferior Gameking bullet to use..... 
Goodwork, mate!
The classic 7mm Mauser does it again.
Paul Mauser would be proud.

[nomosendero]

Congrats!! It is always good to shoot a Big Hog, even if you can't eat them.

That is a very accurate bullet, at least in the 7mm's I shot it in.

I killed many a Whitetail with that bullet using 7mm mags. The bullet was a little soft for 7mag velocities, but I "lunged" them, which worked fine. It does not surprise me that the bullet made it to the spine & did the job. It also does not surprise me that the bullet did not exit, I saw that alot on Deer, much less Hogs. I just prefer a bullet that will exit in case I don't spine them or I don't break them down & they run a little ways. It sure makes them easier to find & especially in the dark. But no reason to doubt that it will kill a Hog.

Again, congrats!!!